Chapter X: Wickedmoon
Darkblood who rise up at the New moon,
Can be easily slaughtered by noon,
Dark Dimleeches, in other's shadow, -so shall be their fates.
Leech for torment, without batting an eyelid, operates.
Darkblood does not love, and does not want to be loved.
If the Darkblood disappears, you should be worried.
Note to the Gifts # 6
Tina and Newt had been very shocked by Mr Riddle's arrival. Tina had been fretting all evening thinking about what awaited the Black girls and the Riddle twins once they got home. Tina had been raised in a loving family with her sister Queenie before their parents died of the Dragon's fever, this violence had surprised and shocked her to the highest degree.
Eddy could not blame her. What he had witnessed had very nearly brought out his Obscurus. If Newt had not smelled him and had not prepared him hot chocolate to calm him down, no doubt he would have exploded at Medusa's slap.
He really did not know on which foot to dance with the young girl. She had kissed him! He had kissed Medusa Riddle and loved it. It was his first kiss, but he thought it was so sweet; it was well worth all the punishment as Arthur Weasley had confided to him a few months earlier.
Only, he doubted he still wanted to kiss the young girl after what had happened. In fact, once again he was in a mess of confused feelings about the Riddles. He hoped that Sal was okay, but he doubted it and dared not send a letter the rest of the vacation.
September arrived after he bought his new school supplies and finished his last vacation homework in a hurry. They had arrived at the station early that day with Newt. He had an appointment with his publisher just after dropping it off. The first children had not yet arrived; they were practically alone on the quay. There was the lady with the carriage and the driver chatting in the distance near the main engine and a wizard technician fixing something on the tracks. Newt eyed them a little dreamily then turned to Eddy.
"A new year is starting. Are you ready?"
"Sort of, yes," he admitted. "I hope it will be a little calmer than last year."
His tutor nodded softly.
"I hope your friends are well. Greet Salazar for me. Tina already told you that, but it was a joy to have him at home despite everything."
Eddy nodded vaguely as Charm rubbed against his legs.
"You're going to Brazil, all of a sudden?" asked Eddy who had seen Tina start packing their bags the night before.
"Once I have made the corrections given by my editor, yes. I have a few friends to see before I leave. After Brazil, we will bring Pascal back to a reserve in Romania."
The first children and their families arrived on Platform 9 ¾ and Eddy watched them. He then turned to his tutor who was patting him on the shoulder for his attention.
"I think Albus told you that too, but I'd like you to stay away from Professor Riddle. The little I saw worried me a lot."
"I don't need Dumbledore to see it," Eddy gritted. "I know he was your teacher and he's your friend, Newt, but Dumbledore has a lot to blame himself for, too."
He did not want to say more and dragged his suitcase inside the waggon with a vague goodbye. He saw Newt 's pained expression and blamed himself, but didn't turn around. Charm eventually joined him and no doubt that Newt was now going to his appointment.
He settled into a bench seat with his things, his arms folded. Gwendal and Kheiron soon arrived with their suitcase. They greeted him happily.
"Umbridge is looking for you, Lee. If I were you, I would avoid her as much as possible," Kheiron confided to him, wedging the cage of his owl Sigfrid on the bench.
Eddy wondered why Dolores Umbridge was looking for him. Ever since she learned of his Obscurial state, she avoided him like the plague. He would even have liked it to remain the same for a long time. He chatted with his comrades for a while, playing an explosive battle game.
After the train had been running for several hours, Rita Skeeter appeared at the entrance of their compartment. She was wearing her witch uniform and looked sulky. However, she managed to put the hint of a smile on her face.
"Hello, leeches!"
"What do you want, Skeeter?" Shafiq growled, looking up from his deck of cards.
Eddy wondered what she was doing alone. She had in her hand a parchment and a small quill.
"Now that Little Hogwarts Illustrated is under my responsibility, I am looking for new columnists. Any volunteers? I already have Xenophilius Lovegood as well as Nancy Parkinson."
"No thank you", retorted Gwendal very uncomfortable. "We'll get over it. Go back to torturing first years with Black."
But Rita did not seem in a hurry to join her classmate. She glared impatiently at Eddy stroking Charm. It was like she had completely forgotten the day she had spent in Selsey with her friends, him, and Salazar.
"Lee, I'd like to put you to work. I'd like you to write an article about your Obscurial status" for better clarity and continuity. It would be so interesting and selling for the LHI!
"Uh… no! Thanks. Go away now."
Rita scowled but agreed to clear the floor.
The train eventually stops. Eddy followed his comrades to the dock and then rode with them and Lovegood in a thestrals-drawn carriage.
"I've always wondered what pulled the carriages," Kheiron muttered. "Now I understand."
His comrades gave him a sympathetic but equally curious look.
"My grandmother died this summer," the boy whispered, turning his head toward the window.
"You don't have to have seen death to see thestrals," Xenophilius replied dreamily.
Unwilling to retort to the teenager the others remain silent. They arrived at the entrance of the castle. As they chatted and walked up the stairs, Eddy tried to spot two particular people in the crowd. However, he did not see them and entered the Great Hall.
They sat down and Eddy noticed Medusa at the start of the Slytherin table. She was alone and playing with her ribbon in her hair. Salazar was at the other end of the table, dozens of meters from his twin, while Bellatrix spoke with Lestrange. Rita wasn't near her either, and had sat down next to Umbridge.
"The Gorgon sisters had a fight," Gwendal remarked. "I wonder what happened this summer. Even the Riddle twins are separated."
Eddy had a small idea but he preferred to keep quiet.
At the head table in amazement, Professor Dumbledore and Riddle were chatting. Their conversation seemed to be very polite but the slight frown of the professor of defense could not hide a certain annoyance. Riddle stood up and fetched the first years once the other students were seated. On his way to the door he offered a big smile to Eddy, who bit back a shudder. This smile seemed to be very sincere and it disturbed him.
The first years entered following Mr. Riddle who had resumed an expressionless mask. He led them, ice-cold to the center of the room where the Sorting Hat was.
The old hâte, then, started to sing a song.
I may not be very beautiful,
But my powers are quite helpful.
From Brave Gryffindor, one day I was made.
Would you like to meet some strong head?
Bravery is not without wisdom,
At Ravenclaw you will therefore perform.
If you value fairness over honours,
Hufflepuff will love the big heart of yours.
Then there are finally the cunning Slytherins,
In their house, you'll achieve great things.
Under the tutelage of the serpent, we learn so well,
He knows how to make King, an orphan born from a hovel.
Remember to guard your heart and mind,
While within you, magic grows;
So, beware, the darkness can bind.
After these verses, the students hesitated briefly before starting to applaud. Having never experienced a repartition before, Eddy didn't know if it was a common thing every school year. The glare Riddle cast at the Sorting Hat confirmed to him that he hadn't liked its song. Even Dumbledore, Eddy noticed, looked a little troubled.
"Greta Arterton," the professor called.
A little girl came forward and the sorting continued. There were almost forty students to be divided. Narcissa Black was called and as soon as the Sorting Hat had brushed her head she was sent to Slytherin near her sister who had saved a place for her.
Lucius Malfoy a fierce-looking little blond boy soon joined them. A chubby little boy was sent to Ravenclaw, then another little girl sat on the stool.
"She's my little sister, " Kheiron told him. "Amaya."
Little Amaya Shafiq was immediately sent to Slytherin and the sorting ended on her. Eddy noticed that a majority of students had been sent to Slytherin compared to the other houses which looked disappointed with the few new arrivals.
"The Sorting Hat was right in his verses," Gwendal murmured. "In recent years, our house has been the largest. Who would like to go to others?"
Eddy did not answer him as Dumbledore stood up to ask for silence. He knows how to make King, an orphan born from a hovel, he thought as he watched Professor Riddle return to his table. He had the strange impression that this sentence concerned him, but did not consider it. Dumbledore spoke in a clear voice:
"Dear students, welcome to all our newcomers and welcome back to all our older students. May this year be a source of wealth and learning for all of you. In addition to the elementary rules that Mr Picott had displayed in the Hall, I must remind you that the forbidden forest is still prohibited."
Dumbledore gave the congregation a small wink, and Eddy was sure it was addressed to him and Salazar. He turned to present with the back of his hand a young blonde woman with glasses. She had a heart-shaped face and large, innocent eyes behind the thick glass of her magnifying glasses.
"I would like to introduce you to Miss Charity Burbage, who will take the job of Professor of Muggle Studies that has been vacant until now. Wish her a warm welcome. Enjoy your food!"
The students applauded the young woman limply and the dishes finally appeared. As Eddy helped himself to a braised chicken leg, he saw Shafiq's gaze resting on Miss Burbage. He exchanged a knowing look with Gwendal.
"How long do you think she will stay? I bet ten galleons that she won't stay for more than four months."
"You really are intractable," growled Gwendal. "She seems to be tougher, I say she will last until the end of the year."
"Bet. Prepare your purse, Pettigrew."
"What? What's the problem?" asked Eddy with his mouth full, taken aback by the exchange.
"The Muggle Studies teacher. Since it is not a much chosen subject, for a few years, this job has been synonymous with bad luck. The last teacher had a serious accident on the stairs last year before you came. He still hasn't left St Mungo yet. The one before, Marcus told me, was attacked near the Forbidden Forest."
"Dumbledore persists in recruiting them," Gwendal laughed. "Do you want to bet with us on what will happen to her?"
"No way."
He glared at Professor Riddle and was sure he had something to do with it. He looked around for Salazar, who was sketching casually in his notebook. Eddy found him pale and icy, he had heavy, purplish dark circles under his eyes. He wondered how their last days of vacation had ended.
"So you're the Obscurial?" a small voice creaked in his ear cutting off his thoughts.
The little blond boy, Lucius Malfoy who had been sorted earlier was looking at him questioningly.
"Yeah. Got a problem, brat?"
Malfoy smirked and stuffed his portion of ravioli. He chewed slowly and finally answered:
"None. Bellatrix told me you were her favourite little pet. Is it true that you were raised by a Magic-Zoologist? So we have to accept animals now in addition to mudbloods?"
"Shut up," he retorted violently.
It was so dry and wild that his usual unpredictable magic answered for him. The dumplings on Malfoy's plate rose inches from his face and one by one clung to his face like a strange beauty mask. Bellatrix and Narcissa burst out laughing while the boy was red with rage and tomato sauce.
"You're going to pay me for it, Mutt!"
"Be careful then, I bite hard," retorted Eddy, turning to continue his conversation with Gwendal.
Malfoy's childish remark had nonetheless ignited a burning inferno of anger within him and he found it difficult to follow the discussions with his friends. Everything seemed terribly far away. After a while playing with his pudding he noticed that Medusa was watching him at the end of the table. When their eyes met, she looked away and swallowed her lemon curd angrily.
They finally got up when the banquet was over. Eddy again no longer knew where he was and followed the movement of his comrades towards the dungeon. Percival Rosier gave the new password to them – Blooded Blurred-and he was able to return.
Eddy was in a hurry to go to bed. But once again, his natural bad luck had decided to play tricks on him. He felt a small hand gripping his uniform violently. It was Umbridge and she was furious.
"Oh you! You! We need to talk, Obscurial!
She was planting her hands on her hips in the middle of the common room while some students took a funny look at their duo.
"What else did I do? I'm tired, I would like to go to bed."
"You will go when you have recognized your paternity!"
"W-what?" he stammered.
"Your abominable alley cat has impregnated my Froufrou! She had a litter of little red bastards during the holidays!"
"But what do you want me to do? You have kittens, good for you."
"We will share the costs in this case", belched the little witch. "Your cat, my cat, our little ones! You have to pay me and Froufrou a pension."
"Not my problem," he growled, pulling away as the students chuckled. "You just have to give them away or sell them!"
Embarrassed and ashamed, he got ready to leave but Dolores' hand tried again to catch him. His anger of the last days and the anguish of the revelations of the summer exploded in front of the aggressiveness of the little witch. She couldn't touch him and a wisp of magic threw her across the room like a rag doll.
"He got her up in the air!" whispered Tony Nott.
The other students had fallen silent, while Umbridge sat up miserably. Her little knot in her hair had fallen out and she was wearing a terrified grimace. Some students looked similar. Some looked horrified, others, worried.
"You see, Lucius," Bellatrix snapped in a sofa, while cuddling Narcissa. "He bites quite hard."
Lucius nodded ruefully, his face pale.
It was too much for him. Eddy turned on his heels and ran towards his dormitory, refusing to meet any eyes. Charm was just on his bed and meowed at his approach.
"You, we will have to talk about your friend," Eddy growled to his Kneazle.
This one made him a little playful paw and darted him with a look that could say: "Let's talk about your friends, instead."
And speaking of friend, Salazar emerged from the bathroom in black pajamas with his toiletry bag under his arm. He didn't glance at Eddy and went back to bed.
"Sal," he called out. "Are you doing well?"
Without a word, the teenager pulled the hangings from his bed and Gwendal, Kheiron and Tony arrived at that moment. Eddy stomped into his own, tugging at the drapes so hard they tore and he swore.
Unable to fix them or do anything else, he lay there in a rage. That night, he hated being here, hated the classes, hated the people, -Charm included- and worst of all: he hated himself.
.
.
Classes started slowly. Taking advantage of a late summer, the students had the chance to have long sunny days to chase away the stress of the start of the school year. Eddy didn't care. His first class of the week was cataclysmic in both Transfiguration and Charms. Despite his efforts, he still couldn't really make progress. His magic refused to listen to him. In Potions it was hardly better, only the courses of Botany and Care of Magical Creatures managed to give him hope.
So he hurried off, in a hurry to get back to the Herbology class following Professor Sprout. She was a very young teacher, but Eddy loved her teaching style. She had gentleness and a way of explaining that the young man liked. When Sprout had learned of his Obscurial status the previous year she had even been kind enough to lend him a book on exotic plants.
Today's lesson was on Fly-Lycourish, a curious plant that looked like a huge reddish flower. A carnivorous plant, that fed on small field mice and insects in the forests of Asia. They had to feed and fertilize the plant to ensure it reached the size of an average human by the end of the year.
Still, Eddy had trouble concentrating as he shoved flies near a pistil of the plant. He felt observed. When he looked up, he saw that Salazar and Medusa were watching him from their own pot. When their eyes met, they quickly looked away. Besides, the other students were a little tense in his presence; the incident with Umbridge must have quickly made the rounds of the school.
In the afternoon in Care of Magical Creatures, they had to study Thestrals with Kettleburn but Salazar did not join him. He paired up with Rita while Eddy was with Gwendal.
Eddy leaned over to give the animal a meatball as his classmate tried to fill in the diagram they had to complete by the end of the hour. Gwendal had told him that he had lost his father a few years earlier. He had been living with his aunt Mathilda and his cousin Peter ever since. He was perfectly able to see the Thestrals but did not like them too much.
Eddy turned his head, Salazar was riding a thestral, nonchalantly seated. Skeeter was advancing on the assignement by herself with a dull expression.
"You set the rump too high, Skeeter," Sal muttered. The blonde hissed dismissively, eager to get the job done.
Eddy turned to his comrade while Kettleburn asked Salazar to get off the animal's back. Gwendal looked pensive.
"Riddle is weirder than before. He doesn't talk to you anymore, I thought you were friends?"
"I don't know what's wrong with him," Eddy admitted. "He came to my house for a few days this summer but his father didn't know."
Salazar descended from the back of the Thestral, still stoic and with a closed face, indifferent to the professor who was heading towards another group.
"Get a Howler for a lie is not death either. There it looks like he's about to collapse," Gwendal whispered. "Alright, I think I'm almost done. What do you call the thing that connects the wings together?"
"Uh… the membrane, 'guess?"
"Let's put that."
The lesson was over, and the day had come to an end. Some students were already heading to the park to enjoy the sun. Eddy expected to see Salazar sneaking into the forbidden forest but that was not the case. He walked quietly towards the black lake. Recovering his things, Eddy followed him from afar.
Salazar had landed in the sun and was scribbling in his notebook, his feet in the water. Some students took advantage of the freshness of the water not far from him without daring to disturb him. Eddy sat down next to his comrade. He had felt him approach but didn't flinch.
No one spoke as they enjoyed the last rays of the afternoon. Eddy didn't know how to approach the situation with his comrade. Salazar had lost weight, he noticed. His face had lost the last roundness of childhood and had sunk a lot. His dark circles looked like two bruises under his blue eyes that he did not deign to raise towards him.
"Are you going to ignore me like last year?" scolded Eddy.
Salazar tensed slightly but did not respond, continuing to draw. Between his scribbles, he was sketching the landscape offered by Hogwarts.
"I'm sorry it happened like this. But your disdain is starting to piss me off, Sal. Please speak."
"Medusa is right, I should never have come to your home," he finally whispered hoarsely.
No doubt, it was his first sentence for a long time. Eddy still remembered very well the execrable words of Medusa and even more the slap she had given him.
"Was it a bad idea because your father disagrees or because you don't want us to be friends anymore?"
Salazar gave a kind of cold chuckle that made him shiver. He leaned over and Eddy noticed that he was wearing around his neck the same locket he had seen hanging around his father's neck last year. The serpent of gemstones glowed with an icy aura in the sunlight.
"My mother said something to me once. Sometimes the best way to show someone you appreciate them is to push them away. So walk away."
He plunged back into his notebook, leaving Eddy speechless.
"One last thing… doesn't ever go to the Forbidden Forest again."
The annoyance was such that he forced himself to get up and walk in the opposite direction to avoid an unfortunate gesture towards his comrade. His cryptic phrases annoyed and confused him because like everything Sal said, there was some truth in it.
The rest of the week's classes were dreary and lonely. The Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson was taught by a surprisingly courteous and charming Riddle. Umbridge and a Hufflepuff girl, Margaret Bones kept sighing at the little smiles the professor gave. Eddy in front of them in class with Gwendal, had the impression of passing the hour in front of a blower. At the end of the lesson on offensive spells, Riddle warned them that he would be replaced the following week. As Eddy wondered where the professor was going yet again, he gave the young man a quiet look. He looked calm, serene and that didn't bode well for him.
On the eve of the weekend, Eddy on a sofa finishing an assignment saw Lucius Malfoy in front of him. He was all trembling and pale. Seeing this obnoxious brat so worried about him gave him a fleeting moment of perverse joy.
"What do you want?"
"Dumbledore gave me a letter to deliver to you. I am not an owl, Mutt."
"But you do it so well," Eddy scoffed as he retrieved the missive.
As he plunged back into his history of magic homework, Lucius hadn't moved.
"What?"
"We usually say thank you. And on your duty it's Sibeon Anvilhead the dwarf behind the Nubian revolt, not 'Subcon the Angry Lad'. Bella warned me, but you really are a dunce."
The boy ran away from Narcissa and Bellatrix before he could teach him respect. Bellatrix spent a lot of time with her sister and little with Medusa and Rita. The two young girls at a chess table were casting inquisitive glances at the young Black. For a moment Medusa's gaze fell on him and she gave him a grimace of contempt. This hurt him so he discreetly opened Dumbledore's letter.
"Hello Eddy,
I hope your return to school has gone well. I would love to chat with you. Come to my office tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. There's a lot we need to discuss..
PS: Applebitte ice creams are my favourite sorbets. »
Eddy refrained from rolling his eyes. Of course Dumbledore wanted to talk to him. Not knowing how to position himself with the old man, he stuffed his letter in his pocket and said to himself that he would be better rested tomorrow to think about it with a clear head.
The next day, after writing a letter to Newt and Tina, Eddy shuffled off to his meeting with Dumbledore. Somehow, he would have liked to dodge this interview but knew that the old man had no intention of letting go of him anytime soon.
After having given the password, the gargoyle rolled up on itself to reveal its staircase that he took. He then knocked on the door, chewing his tongue. Dumbledore waved him inside.
He looked tired but smiled at him.
"Come in, Eddy. I'm content to see you. We have a lot to tell to each other."
Eddy was less sure but consented to sit down when the professor invited him. He darted him with his electric blue eyes and offered him a candy before deciding to speak:
"Newt told me about your research. I'm glad to know that you were able to get some answers to your questions. Even if they had a certain cost unfortunately."
"The Obscurus continues to grow," Eddy said stiffly. "I feel it more and more and I find it more and more difficult to control myself. The other day I sent Umbridge flying."
"I know about it, Eddy. Miss Umbridge seems to have recovered, as she was again this morning trying to sell her kittens to her classmate. Mr Picott gave her detention after surprising her. But I have to confess that I didn't ask you to come, to you about Umbridge, Eddy. I think we need to increase the doses of your potions now. Given the power of the Obscurus you harbour this is something necessary."
"Does that mean I could do even less magic and be even weaker?" Eddy asked in a cold voice.
"Tina and Newt are working on a new recipe. Professor Slughorn and I are trying to collaborate on this. It will probably only be temporary, but I think it would do you good."
Eddy did not know what to say. Since discovering part of his past and having his own father try to shoot him, he felt he had changed. His magic was more explosive than ever as a result of this.
"Newt was also very worried after you got on the Hogwarts Express," Dumbledore whispered softly. He texted me right after he left you. I know Salazar Riddle spent a few days with you, and if the Scamanders were pleased with his presence, is there anything you would like to tell me, Eddy?"
Eddy chewed his tongue again. He observed Fawkes grooming himself with his beak, then the portraits of the various directors. Behind Dumbledore gleamed a sword of great purity in the name of Godric Gryffindor. Not taking his eyes off the sword, Eddy whispered:
"This summer…I worked on Diagon Alley…I met Medusa there. And she told me about something."
He almost felt Dumbledore tense. He sat up in his chair and crossed his long fingers in front of him.
"She told me you tried to take them off when they were little."
"That's right, Eddy," Dumbledore sighed finally. "Miss Riddle told you the truth."
Eddy didn't know if he should react in any way to these revelations and preferred to remain silent.
"I think I've told you enough about Professor Riddle to explain my actions to you. You see, almost nine years ago I was invited like Tom to a party organized by the Ministry of Magic. He had already been working at Hogwarts for a short time but was very secretive about his family life. I had never met his wife or his children. During this evening, I was able to see them for the first time. The observation that appeared to me was violent. The Riddle twins were the saddest kids I've come across in my long career. The Tom Riddle I had known hadn't changed with respect to the others, quite the contrary. This saddened me but I resolved to do nothing. However, later I was able to catch the eye of the very young Salazar. What I saw in his eyes was a cry for help. This boy was calling me for help with all his might out of legilimency."
Dumbledore sighed and Eddy found him even older as a result. The old man resumed slowly.
"I had never known such great power in a child. After thinking for weeks, I said to myself that if anything could be done for these children, it had to be done. Gideon and Fabian Prewett were former students, as their parents; old acquaintances of mine who also never trusted Mr Riddle. After giving them my plan, they agreed to participate. Only things didn't go as planned in Knockturn Alley where the three Riddles were. I had been told that Meroe Riddle was a squib and as a result, our vigilance was lowered and it was fatal. Gideon and the Riddle elf were killed as Mrs Riddle fled with her children, taking Fabian with her. At present, it is still untraceable."
That was what Medusa had confided to him over the summer. Dumbledore continued in a slow voice:
"Mrs Riddle is what you call a Darkblood and I found out that day. It is in many ways a curse for wizards. It is rare for wizards with these kinds of gifts to reach adulthood.
"For what?" whispered Eddy.
"Because the Darkbloods if loved end up swallowing up those who love them. They are wizards or witches condemned to loneliness by nature but needing to vampirize others. Loneliness makes people dangerous unfortunately. I think Mrs Riddle still has Fabian Prewett somewhere. As a result, Tom, in addition to the testimony of his family, has enough to blackmail me with a hostage. That's why I can't quickly act against him."
Dumbledore then cast a soft look at Eddy, who was confused and not quite sure how to position himself.
"I realize speaking to you as you search for yours that taking children away from their parents is the cruellest thing, but I had to try something."
"You did what you could," Eddy muttered uncertainly.
The young wizard thought that if he had been taken away from his abusive father sooner, maybe he would have been normal and not completely shattered much like Medusa and Salazar.
"I understand your decision, but that's none of my business. I would just like to finish my schooling in peace. I cut ties with the Riddles. Okay for the potions, for the rest, I want to have peace."
Dumbledore looked pained at his bitter voice but nodded slowly. He got up and walked him to the door of his office.
"I'm glad I was able to clear up these few points with you. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to let me know. I will always be there to assist you."
Eddy nodded vaguely and went down the hall. Putting his hands in his pockets, he smelled the letter he had written for his guardians and changed course to send it. In the sunny park, he found Charm tanning near Froufrou on a statue of a boar. His Kneazle got up and went after him:
"Don't give him any more babies, Umbridge will be unbearable otherwise," he warned.
The cat meowed and Eddy didn't know if he agreed or not. He crossed the park and saw Medusa and Salazar looking down at each other. Again, they seemed to feel his presence and turned around, giving him a gloomy look. Eddy looked away and hurried to the Owlhouse.
He entered the building, dodging the owl droppings on the grey stone. Arrived on the first floor he was surprised to find Skeeter who quickly hid something behind her.
They looked at each other for a moment, then, Eddy noticed a small wisp of white smoke behind Rita.
"You scared me," blurted the young girl. "I thought it was a teacher or the janitor."
She removed her hand from her back. She held a cigarette between her fingers, which she smoked greedily. She had also changed over the summer, she looked less surly but a little more alone. Eddy shrugged and leaned over to an owl to hang the missive on. Rita was still watching him as she smoked.
"Didn't you have any trouble with your parents about the story on the beach?" he finally asked.
She stubbed out her cigarette in an owl's feeder and lit one immediately afterwards with her matches.
"Oh no," said the young girl, puffing out her smoke. My parents are less strict than those of Bella and Medusa. I got a live howler for not telling them, that's all."
"How are you with the girls?" Are you separated?"
"Are you asking because you have a little crush on Medusa, Lee?" cackled the girl. "You are not the only one in this situation. You will pass."
"Oh, shut up," he hissed, blushing.
He turned to let go of the owl, which flew off into the midday sun. Rita blew her smoke again and consented to answer him:
"Bella is avoiding Med and me. Just like Salazar with Med and you I noticed. I hope they will pass… it's not really like before."
"Yeah," he muttered, not really knowing what that 'before'.
"Do you want one?" Rita said, handing him the pack of cigarettes. "It fills the loneliness sometimes, or the boredom. I do not know."
"It's not really the best for your health."
"Oh come on, you're going to die soon anyway. You will die, I will die, and everyone will die! So don't die stupid."
Rolling his eyes at the falsely philosophical arguments of the young girl, he consented to take a cigarette, which he lit. The taste was awful, with tears in his eyes he coughed it out of his mouth. Rita chuckled as she took the cigarette from him.
"It's disgusting," he cursed, trying to get the taste off his tongue. You really have to be a masochist to enjoy it.
"A little, no doubt. We all have a part of masochism in us and you should stop masochism precisely. You look terrible, Lee."
"I know," he grumbled.
Rita finished her cigarette, tossed it behind her, and retrieved her bag from an owl perch. She waited for him as he descended the stairs to the park.
"You know, when you're not with your girlfriends, you're almost appreciable."
"Flattering will get you nowhere. But if you really want to please me, an article from you on the Obscurus in you would be appreciated."
"Not even in a dream," he growled. "See you."
"Come see me if you change your mind," cooed the petulant blonde before taking the opposite path to his.
When she had moved away, Eddy felt his feet give way under his weight. He felt weak and muddy; it had nothing to do with the cigarette he had smoked. Rita was already far away and he did not manage to call her for help. Stunned, he dragged himself against the stone stairs of the Owlhouse. He felt it, something rumbled inside him, tense and furious. This thing was growing fast.
.
.
Tom had spent the day at the Ministry. His weekends had been often spent there lately. During these two days, most of the Ministry officials were not at their posts, and he could meet his comrades as he pleased. After having dinner with Cygnus Black, Abraxas Malfoy and Ismaelion Zabini, he gave them the last recommendations. They listened to him with an attentive and servile ear. As usual.
After leaving Hogwarts, he had kept in touch with his classmates. Already at school, he had seen the potential of these among the Slytherins. Some were rich, others powerful, or some just puppet to manipulate. And they served him with adoration. Their business together was going well. Soon the world would be at his feet and that could only be counted in a few years. He felt it. But he still had minor details to settle.
He left the ministry and Apparated back to his home.
With autumn approaching, his swamp was ringed with mists that deepened in the night. He entered his house. The elves Tinny and Duddy had left a snack for him in the large carved stone dining room. He felt a presence emerge behind him.
Meroe was there, near the hearth of the fireplace, her shadow cut into dangerous Chinese shadows by the greenish flames. She had a strange little smile on her face that Tom knew well.
"I wasn't expecting you anytime soon," the parseltongue woman whispered.
"Because you were expecting me?" he scoffed syrupy.
He downed the rest of his drink in one gulp as she slowly walked towards him. They hadn't spoken since he had picked up his children from the Scamanders' place. This enraged him, his wife disobeyed him, like Medusa and Salazar. It was therefore another minor concern to be resolved to ensure his peace of mind.
He felt the Darkblood stick behind him, she was there, very close to rubbing the tips of her breasts against his shoulder blades.
"I wish I could talk to you," she whispered.
"That's not really what you want in the first place. But I can consent to both," he answered, turning around.
His wife's dark eyes gleamed. He grabbed her hand and apparated with her to her room.
Meroe lived in the attic, in a large room with a dark mansard roof. A large bed, a trunk and a huge mirror serving as furniture. They threw themselves on the sheets and undressed without speaking or even kissing. They did not need it, or even want it, neither of them. They had always united coldly like this. Tom felt little desire unlike his wife who was inflated and it had always been like that. He had known only a few women before his own and the carnal experience had quickly put him off.
With Meroe, it was a little different, because she only expected a few moments from him without asking for tenderness or love.
And on that, they understood each other. In his company, the exercise of sex had become a little more pleasant. He groaned, biting his wife's shoulder as her long fingernails left marks on his back. They fussed over each other for a moment, scratching and biting at the skin that came within reach —because that was what their hugs were all about. After a jolt of lively pleasure, they separated and each fell on one side of the mattress.
If Tom didn't like sex that much, he appreciated these calm moments just after the act. For a brief time, he only felt relief and tranquillity. No doubt once the world was at his feet he would feel the same lively happiness. His wife lay beside him, her long vine body encircled by a curtain of black hair. She gently grabbed his hand, resting her lips on Gaunt 's ring as if she drunk it out. He wrenched his hand from her grip and turned to her.
"So, you wanted to talk to me?
She got up a little, patting the cushion on which her head was. His long, sunken face expressed a sort of puzzled concern.
"The Scamanders have left the country. They are in Brazil as I heard. You're not going to send me there?
She looked worried but Tom knew that was not why she had seduced him tonight. He was going to pull the worms out of her but had to sort out a few minor details himself.
"No. Leave them for now. They are just two doting old wizards like Dumbledore."
At the mention of Dumbledore, Meroe froze and his eyes narrowed. She hadn't forgotten the old fool who had tried to snatch their children from her and felt a hatred that was almost more tenacious than he was towards the headmaster of the school.
"Do you remember our Wickedmoon?" he asked point-blank.
She had a mocking laugh. In traditional usage, the honeymoon represented the first moments of a marriage, often sweet and suave. After having quickly passed the ring on their finger in a sorcerers monastery in Greece, they had known nothing of all that. Tom had immersed himself in his research and Meroe with Nagini had murdered several aurors who were a little too curious on his order. They had then left the country to spread this wicked partnership elsewhere.
"I was thinking of those times spent in Bulgaria. How about we both pay a little visit to the Karkaroffs? Prince is in charge for the week."
She raised an inquisitive eyebrow, then stood up, trailing her long hair like a dangerous shadow.
"Little Igor must have grown up a lot," she thought aloud. "What are we going to do there?"
"I have a little mission for you, dear. You'll do just fine."
She gave a sort of cheerful chuckle but didn't try to find out more. Tom got dressed quickly. The childishness was over and he still had to work tonight. As he finished buttoning up his trousers, he saw his wife's gaze in the reflection of the mirror facing the bed. She stared at a point in the room, her eyebrows furrowed. Tom knew then that she was finally going to say what she was thinking. He bit back a smile. Sometimes there is no point in forcing; you just have to know how to wait.
"When I was at the Scamanders…I heard them talking about the boy just like in their book. So the boy is a Romani, like me?"
"Indeed. You care about your people now?"
"I don't care about these people, the blood of mine is more important. The pup' still speaks Romani?"
"Why do you care?" Tom froze as he finished getting dressed.
"Nothing important," his wife lied so badly that he almost rolled his eyes. "You don't come across romani every day."
She looked away toward the back of the room and got dressed in turn so as not to look at him.
"Don't worry about the boy. I have plans for him, just as for Medusa and Salazar. Rest. If all goes as planned, in a few months you will be able to swallow Dumbledore's bodies and his own."
She let out a high-pitched whistle of wicked joy.
"Do not say such things, or you'll get me more excited."
.