Chapter IV: Bohemian Apology.
To milk a python, fellow colleagues,
Wedge hashish against its fangs,
This relaxes him considerably.
You'll come out of it extra smoothly.
Codex of Slytherin footnote.
Medusa was the first to leave the Great Hall. There were ten minutes left before the start of Defence Against the Dark Arts class and she knew she had to face him eventually. After serving up an apology to her two best friends, she sped towards the secret passageway connecting the hall to the second floor. From there, she began to run towards the room. Seventh-years were just coming out and giving her a respectful look. A seventh-year Slytherin Berenyce Shacklebolt even wished her well for their upcoming match against Ravenclaw's team. Medusa barely answered to her but her heart swelled with pride.
She loved it, being appreciated and respected. Her father's reputation certainly had something to do with it, but Medusa had soon been able to show her abilities to assert her authority. She was even the only one who could do it since her withdrawn and sensitive twin preferred to disappear into the forbidden forest as soon as something upset him.
It was an attitude she should have hated, but she couldn't blame Sal. When you share a belly for nine months, you then share a lot of things for the rest of your life, she thought.
Sal was the one she was willing to sacrifice a lot for. She walked into the classroom as a final seventh year left, closing behind her.
Her father didn't look up at her, but he knew she was here.
"Good morning, Father. I hope your business has been successful and-
"Enough playing, Medusa. I'm not in the disposition."
Tom Riddle glared at her. With his pale skin, his eyes were just two small shiny onyx. Medusa had always wondered why her father was teaching. Although he excelled in everything, he fundamentally did not like it. After more than ten years teaching at this school, he must have taken advantage of it somewhere and Medusa would be let in on his confidence in due time. Only with her sad report, would she probably be kept out of her father's business for a long time yet.
"Things got complicated," she whispered in a small voice. "Salazar has decided to make friends with Dumbledore's little protege."
"Yes. I saw them together this morning at breakfast. So what?"
So, Salazar had never had any friends except Medusa. And it had to be that boy, as if Sal had guessed his father's mysterious plans for him.
"It's hard to approach him," she muttered. "We had a few altercations. However, I was able to gather some information. He has a yew wand, just like yours, but he doesn't know how to use it. He is incapable of casting the slightest spell, he is the worst student in the class."
The information found an echo in her father. He held his chin with a half smile. Medusa wondered what he was thinking.
"They're spending as much time as possible in the Forbidden Forest," the girl continued. "If you want to go see him, this might be the right pla-
She didn't finish her sentence because her father clicked his tongue in annoyance. With a wave of his hand, he prepared his classroom for their lesson of the day. The tables and chairs went delicately to the back of the room. About twice a term, they had duelling classes and those were the girl's favourite sessions. Medusa loved to fight, seeing the others bend under her spells and curses always felt good.
"If Salazar has it in his pocket, then let's just let it be for now. Dumbledore is watching me and he will have you in his sights too. Let this boy confide in Salazar. For once he knows how to be useful..."
There was all the contempt in the world in his father's voice. Medusa paled. The thought of him going to interrogate Salazar mortified her. Salazar would never answer his questions and their father was bound to use force.
"Rita's got some other information too," Medusa muttered, trying to distract her father from questioning Salazar. "She didn't want to tell me what it is supposedly out of journalistic ethics… but I advise you to read tonight's edition of Little Hogwarts Illustrated."
"Are you letting your comrades manipulate you, Medusa? If Skeeter has important information, she has to give it to you before she goes to write it down in her pathetic chronicle. What if this information had had importance only if few people knew it? No, of course you didn't think about it. Do not get weak; do not be carried away by your feelings.
Her father's dry response froze her on the spot. Medusa lowered her head ruefully as the third year students walked into class. Among them were Sal and Lee. He was as she had left him after their Charms lesson, still so tired with his dark circles under his brown eyes, his freckles on his broken nose. Medusa felt anger rising towards this boy who was giving her a surprised look.
If it was necessary to continue to investigate him to assure Sal some peace of mind, she would do it without hesitation. Now it had become personal.
.
.
When Eddy walked into the Defence Against the Dark Arts class with Sal, he wasn't sure what to expect. But seeing Medusa Riddle livid and trembling in front of Professor Riddle wasn't really part of his expectation. She glared at him as her father put a hand on her shoulder, Eddy immediately lowered his eyes as Salazar had advised. He hated to look down at this girl, but more than his friend's words, his instinct was screaming at him to do it like with Professor Riddle. The latter was also in the core of the room emptied of all its tables.
It was duelling class today, Eddy realized that with anguish.
At Ilvermorny, these courses were optional. Eddy and Sal joined Kheiron and another Gryffindor boy. Charm, hidden in his bag, let out a worried squeal, and Eddy instructed him to remain quiet. Mr. Riddle clapped his hands, and the light from the globe above their heads shifted to an orange glow.
"We're going to resume where we left off last time with the duels."
The students, although silent, quivered with excitement. A few duos seemed to have formed already, ready to work together for the rest of the hour.
"While some of you have been able to progress," Riddle continued in a sweet voice, "Some remain at anunsatisfactory level. The best students will pair up with the less good ones. A little stimulation is in order."
Sal at his side sighed and Eddy realized very late what that meant. Already, Medusa Riddle with a sly smile had planted herself in front of him and pulled his arm:
"Having the best student in the class help the worst is in the order of things, isn't it? Come on, I promise not to mess you up too much. Do you know how to hold a wand, reassure me?"
Eddy gritted his teeth and Medusa pulled him to stand in the corner of the room. Salazar had gone with Skeeter, Bellatrix with Gwendal; they were already starting to send spells. Salazar gave him a worried look that caused him to be thrown against a shelf. The professor, passing close to his son, gave him only a disdainful look.
"I don't know about getting hurt, but I really want to make you swallow your sarcasm," Eddy hissed. "Remember in the girls' bathroom."
Medusa lost her pride and blushed violently. She drew her wand:
"Impedimenta!"
Eddy dodged it at the last moment by ducking. The ray went crashing between Skeeter and a Hufflepuff girl.
"Pimpletongue!" Medusa said furiously.
Again, his reflexes allowed Eddy to avoid the spell.
"It is recommended in a duel to cast spells back," Professor Riddle's voice hissed in his ear.
He had come so quietly behind him that Eddy jumped and Medusa chuckled. Clinging to his wand, he raised his arm mechanically.
"Expelliarmus!", Eddy shouted without anything happening.
Medusa gave another irritating little giggle.
"Start again."
Eddy complied. Again, nothing happened and his teacher urged him to start again. He did it again, and again. After about ten tries, nothing had happened. Medusa couldn't hide her joy and Eddy his spite. A few students had stopped their fight to look at them. He lowered his wand and clenched his fists, ashamed.
"Did I tell you to stop? Start again."
"It doesn't work, Professor," Eddy said between his teeth. "None of the spells work!"
"So why not pack your bags now and go home?" retorted Professor Riddle in an icy voice. "You are wasting my time and energy. In fact, you seem to be wasting a lot of people here, students and teachers alike."
Medusa giggled again as she played with the ribbon bow in her hair. He was fed up with the stares of his classmates, Professor Riddle's cold stare, Medusa's snickers, and the damn ribbon in her hair she was playing with. He felt it the anger increasing within. But this time, Eddy was no longer afraid of his anger. He wanted her to stop.
"Expelliarmus!" Eddy roared.
He was surprised to see thin red sparks shoot out of his wand and fall at Medusa's feet. She made a contemptuous grimace before sending a powerful blue beam in his direction. He received the spell in the face and felt a crack in his nose as he collapsed to the ground. Sniffling in pain, Eddy realized his nose was broken again. He wiped his face angrily, his hands throbbing with rage.
"EXPULSO!"
BANG.
A real spell erupted from his wand, stronger than anything he had anticipated. Medusa let out a scream, the spell throwing her across the room so hard she landed against the shattered windows. She fell into the void. Eddy froze; the students gave a unanimous shout as Professor Riddle cast a powerful purple beam through the shattered window. Slowly, as if held by an invisible lasso Medusa climbed up to their level and crossed the window before falling backwards on the floor. Rita and Bellatrix ran towards her. Medusa was all pale, dishevelled; she had lost her pink ribbon in her fall and looked like she was about to vomit.
When she looked up at him it wasn't a hateful look, on the contrary it was a terrified look.
"The lesson is over. By Friday I want six inches of parchment on the proper use of disarming and protective spells." Professor Riddle said in a cold tone.
The two Gorgons sisters each took their leader under the arm to drag her out of the room. As he was about to retrieve his bag from the back of the class, Professor Riddle called out to him:
"Mr. Lee, just a moment."
The other students ran away, only Sal seemed hesitant. After a nod from Eddy, he reluctantly agreed to leave the room. Eddy picked up his bag and wiped the blood from under his nose.
The young man turned to his teacher as the door slammed.
"Episkey," whispered Mr Riddle.
With a sharp crack, Eddy's nose snapped back into place. He suppressed his cry of pain but not his grimace as the professor sat quietly on his desk playing with his wand.
"A thank you would be appreciated," Riddle said nonchalantly.
"Thank you, Professor."
The professor glared at him with his impassive black eyes, Eddy looked away, staring at his feet. Mr Riddle seemed to be expecting something:
"So this first spell?" It feels good, doesn't it?"
Eddy was not sure if it felt any good, but it was reassuring to know he could cast a spell. But…
"But anger drives you, Mr. Lee," Riddle said, seeming to read his mind. "So it is for sorcerers chosen by a yew wand. This was my case."
Taken aback, Eddy looked down at the wand his teacher was holding. It was of the same wood as his. Charm in his bag, must have sensed his confusion as he fidgeted.
"We will work on these motivations. For sure. I'm not holding you back anymore, but I think in the future you won't need to bring your pet to my classes. You are no longer a child. Be a big boy, Mr. Lee."
Stiffly, Eddy turned on his heels and slammed the door out. Sal was waiting for him leaning against the opposite wall. He seemed to have a thousand questions to ask him. Eddy just replied:
"He fixed my nose and told me to be more careful next time."
The line rang false to his ears so it must have been even worse to Salazar's ears. However, he chose not to answer and went to their next lesson.
When evening came, however, he had the impression that something was wrong. Dumbledore was absent as was Professor McGonagall, only left as mentoring Professor Riddle, reading something at the staff table. As he sat down, Charm on his heels, Eddy noticed that people were looking at him funny. Some were reading a small newspaper with bluish paper.
"I knew it," Trelawney called to him from the Ravenclaw's table behind him. "That's why the Wheel of Destiny stands in your way. That and the caravan… Everything is linked!"
"But what else are you talking about? Did you inhale too much tea steam?" retorted Eddy, completely lost.
In response, she narrowed her protruding eyes. Gwendal handed him the little blue piece of paper that everyone was reading with so much avidity. It was the famous Little Hogwarts Illustrated, which Skeeter had told him about on the first day of class. After a header regarding next week's upcoming match between Slytherin and Hufflepuff and the usual predictions, there was a small column no bigger than a thumbs, with a catchy title:
"Bohemian Apology:"
By Rita S.
Some may have noticed the arrival of an explosive new member in the Slytherin house. As usual, your favourite columnist is there to tell you everything. If our esteemed director presented him as American, EL is not one. He is even rumoured to be a Gypsy. The gypsies being a troubled and mysterious community, Mr E.L. has not finished revealing all his secrets, because he is looking for his family. Are they wizards, or Muggle? We wish E.L. to find his people as soon as possible so that he does not continue to attack ours.
"Will you give me a palm reading?" asked Lestrange sat right next to him and Salazar. "That I know if my fantasies about Bellatrix have a chance of seeing the light of day?"
"Shut up, yucky," Eddy retorted, turning to Salazar. "Skeeter listened to us at the library. How did she get the right to post this?"
"I don't think she had the right," Salazar said, pointing to the entrance to the Great Hall. "Her editor-in-chief disputes her."
Andromeda Black, a pretty girl in seventh year, - big sister of Bellatrix and Head Girl of Ravenclaw, was yelling at the columnist. She looked furious because her expression reminded Eddy oddly of her younger sister. He did not have to come closer to listen like many students, since she was literally screaming:
"You changed the articles behind my back before printing, Skeeter! I can't believe you did that! All this to peddle gossip and spread racist dirt!"
"The newspaper has never sold so well, Andromeda. That's the journalism people want," replied the blonde in a quiet little voice.
"And I never want to read anything like that under my supervision again, do you hear me? One more thing like that and I'll kick you out of the newspaper."
She planted there Skeeter who left nonchalantly to join her comrades. As she passed, she lowered one corner of her tortoiseshell glasses to wink at him. Eddy sighed. Maybe indeed he should have been wary of the three Gorgons. They seemed to want to sell the most intimate of his secrets haphazardly. Some students were commenting on the little box between them. It was no worse than the reaction of the Americans when he confided to one of his comrades his origins.
"Don't listen to them," Sal whispered. "They will pass."
"Muggle -born people will comment on you," Kheiron said, swallowing his fries. "Do you know that in first year two seventh year mudbloods commented on my skin colour? They did not understand they're the minority. My blood is purer than theirs could ever be. But suddenly, you're mudblood or half-blood?"
"But what does it matter to you?" Eddy exasperated.
"Let me know if I can continue talking to you or not," Shafiq retorted as obvious. "My family's reputation is at stake."
"What your family doesn't know can't hurt them," Salazar said softly, slipping a piece of tomato to Charm between his legs, his other hand scribbling.
Shafiq gave him an angry face, so the two boys went back to their fries and scribbles respectively.
.
.
.
For two days, everyone had talked about Rita's article. It wasn't so much Lee's story that the students were interested in, but knowing that Rita had managed to get past Andromeda's surveillance to peddle her rumours. Some looked at the blonde with a new and worried eye.
Medusa considered the article not the best her friend could have written but said nothing. Maybe it was weakness as Medusa's father would have said, but the young girl thought it was a way of sparing her comrade. She must have written the article as quickly as possible so that Black wouldn't notice.
Rita, in any case, was radiant. Bellatrix and Medusa had been congratulating Rita all evening. Maybe now that her father's curiosity about young Lee had been satisfied, he intended to leave Salazar alone? Medusa was not sure when her father was planning to question her twin.
No doubt, he was waiting for Salazar to lower his guard to attack sneakily, and this alternative terrified the young girl.
She shot a look at Salazar as he quietly cut a leech from her side and placed it into a potion. As usual he didn't talk much, but Medusa found him changed. Since Eddy's arrival, Sal was more sociable, a little less pale and dreamy. A surge of joy and jealousy gripped her heart.
Shrivel Potion they had to brew had exactly the right consistency and colour. Medusa was a potion expert; Slughorn kept repeating it while comparing her to her father at the same age. She ran a few drops down her ladle into a vial. Graciously, the young girl stood up to place the sample on Slughorn's desk, who gave her a conspiratorial wink.
The lesson ended like this. Bellatrix and Rita also delivered a perfect sample while at the back of the class Lee and Pettigrew had again failed their potion. How could anyone be so incompetent? This potion was childishly simple.
The bell rang and all the students collected their belongings. All? No, Lee was waiting by Slughorn's office like every Friday. Medusa narrowed her eyes.
"I'll join you in class," she said to her two best friends. "I have something to do."
Her two friends nodded and left her. She left the room last leaving Lee and Slughorn waiting to be alone. After having slammed the door and as ridiculous as it might seem, she stuck her door to the door to listen.
"But what are you doing?" asked a soft voice in his ear.
Medusa suddenly jumped. Her twin stood behind her with a confused expression on his face. She hadn't seen him. Where did he come from?
"It is not seen? I'm study the sexuality of weevils," she growled wryly.
She bit her tongue when Sal frowned uncomprehendingly.
"They don't really have a sexuality, you know, Med," he retorted, always so first-degree. "Well yes, but their mode of reproduction is more complicated than that-
The girl lifted herself from the door to grab her brother's hand.
"Look, whatever Lee tells you, you have to tell Father."
"No way," Salazar retorted violently.
This violence surprised Medusa. Whatever Lee had to hide, he had let her brother into the confidence.
The redhead had just left the classroom, accompanied by Slughorn, slipping small golden vials into the pocket of his robe.
"I'll meet you tonight for your detention at my little party, my elf will sent you a suit, Mr. Lee. Do you happen to know how to play the mandolin? It would be the most beautiful effect tonight. I understand that people of your…hum…ancestry have a special talent for music."
"No," Eddy retorted, refraining from rolling his eyes.
Even to Medusa, her teacher's remark was stupid and clumsy, if not a little vexing. The redhead frowned when he recognized her. She barely suppressed a grimace. Her last face to face with Lee had calmed her down and she didn't want to attack him head-on for quite a while. Her brother and his new friend left leaving Medusa with the old potions professor.
"Miss Riddle, what can I do for you? Your next lesson is about to start, your father is pretty intransigent on punctuality if I'm not mistaken", Slughorn apostrophized her.
Medusa gave him the most wonderful smile.
"He knows I'll be late. I have a few questions for you regarding a potion...
"So a potion would be able to resist you, Medusa?" her teacher teased. "This is a rare thing. Since your father at the same age saw you already gobbled up your potion textbook, I imagine it's a little more advanced potion?"
"Indeed," simpered Medusa, "it's a potion I've never seen before. A little golden potion that I saw a few days ago, I can't identify it, do you have any references for me? I thought it was Felix Felicis, but it's not."
Hesitation and wariness appeared on her old potions professor's face. She had gone too frontally. She might as well round off the corners by now.
"Actually, I was wondering what kind of potion you gave Edward. If he takes treatment, it is our duty as students of the same house to show solidarity. I don't like the idea that my friend is in pain." she whispered in a small, fake contrite voice.
Slughorn's eyes narrowed.
"I think it's up to Mr. Lee and him alone to give you the information you need," the old man replied hesitantly. "It's a very personal matter."
What an old fool! Medusa thought angrily. Without being able to contain herself, she looked her potions professor in the eyes and used legilimency. Slughorn gasped and frowned before saying, dryly:
"Miss Riddle, please stop immediately."
He had felt her enter his thoughts. Hesitantly, Medusa did not know exactly which mask to show the potion's professor. He had felt her. Guess that old slug Slughorn was a better wizard than she thought. They remained speechless for a moment before he resumed in a slightly more playful voice.
"We're going to pretend these last five minutes never happened. I will ask you to go to class now, and I will of course see you this evening."
Medusa hesitated for a moment trying to find an excuse or a way to catch up; she ended up turning on her heels like an automaton. She heard the classroom door slams behind her. Sure she was alone in the hallway, she collapsed. She was soscrewed.
.
.
.
Eddy tried in vain to adjust the collar of his waiter's costume. He felt ridiculous. Even more ridiculous when Slughorn gave them the last recommendations with a little silly tone, -as if he were talking to bunch of idiots. When he finished speaking, the musicians began to play and the first guests, as if attracted by the noise, soon arrived.
So Eddy was in 'detention' with Arthur Weasley a tall, red-haired fifth year boy with blue eyes and a slightly goofy look and with sixth year Kingsley Shacklebolt a tall boy with very dark skin and a tight smile.
"Why are you here?" Weasley asked.
"Bellatrix Black put a firecracker in my cauldron, I mistook it for hers."
"Aaah, you pissed off the Gorgons Sisters. I never managed to catch them in the act; it itches me to stick a punishment on them. I'm prefect, you know."
A chubby witch in a greyish taffeta dress came to take a few dragon-ventricle sandwiches from the Weasley's tray with a greedy air.
She then darted Weasley the very same look. As soon as she turned her back, the two boys shivered together in digust.
There were well over sixty people in Slughorn's magically enlarged office; soon it was almost impossible to move around.
Eddy and Weasley found themselves practically backed against the wall at the back of the room with their tray.
"And you?" Eddy asked. "What happened? Why is a prefect in detention?"
Weasley blushed uncomfortably.
"Slughorn caught me kissing Molly Prewett in a classroom. Me too, in a way I mistook for her."
Eddy couldn't suppress a laugh. His tray almost slipped, he held it just in time.
"You can laugh all you want, but you too will face all the risks for your sweetheart. It will take time, but one day it will happen to you."
"To be happy and silly? I pass."
Weasley sighed. Eddy reached down for Professor Flitwick to grab one of the pickled doxy egg sandwiches on his plate.
"I read your last essay, Mr Lee, " Flitwick squealed. "You will have to work further."
Eddy bit back a groan and Weasley put on an appropriately compassionate expression. The little professor turned to speak to Professor Riddle. The latter shot a cold look at Eddy who preferred to turn immediately towards the back of the room.
"Never liked that guy," Weasley said quietly, picking up another tray from the serving trestle. "Then when you see his daughter… I have nothing against the Riddle boy, he just seems to be constantly bored. What I mean is, if the Gorgons Sisters come after you, I can help you catch them."
"It's going to be fine, it's kind. I feel like they've calmed down. But I'll think about it."
"You actually think? It happens to you?"
That little voice made both of them shivers, Weasley and him. It was Medusa's. Slowly they turned around. She was dressed in a long green silk dress with short sleeves; she had left her eternal little pink ribbon for a silver ribbon. Her hair was styled in a long, intricate braid, wrapped around the ribbon like a sort of snake. If she showed her eternal smile, she was pale. Eddy knew she had missed Defence Against the Dark Arts class and the other classes.
"What do you want, Riddle? Do you have any kittens to strangle?"
"Move away, Weasley, go back and exchange your fluids with Prewett. I wonder what your mother would say about that," she said in a cruel voice.
Weasley looked a little less assured. Eddy rolled his eyes. He was about to move through the guests to avoid her but she planted herself in front of him.
"What's the matter? Do you want to go through the window again?"
Medusa's smile wavered slightly.
"The penguin costume suits you very well. Some are born to serve, isn't it?"
She grabbed a petit fours from his tray, which she swallowed slowly, trying to meet his gaze. He stared at a point in the room so as not to see her black eyes.
There was a woman like a shadow behind a post who was watching their duo in a gloomy way. She was very tall and disturbing with her high, sunken cheekbones and black eyes. Her long black hair was styled in an intricate and sophisticated braid along her dark dress.
Medusa turned around trying to see what he was looking at. When she spotted the woman, she slammed her hand on the tray on purpose and sped between the guests so fast that when the tray hit the floor, she was already far away. It made a devilish noise and several guests raised their outraged heads in his direction. Ashamed and furious, he rushed to pick it all up with Weasley.
"Who is this woman?" Eddy asked, pointing to the witch Medusa was now talking to in a low voice.
"Oh her, she's Professor Riddle's wife. Yes, she's creepy, I agree. 'Looks like a bloody vampire."
Slughorn just greeted the woman warmly next to Medusa while a couple of wizards spoke to Flitwick and Professor Sinistra not far from them. Eddy thought that explained the behaviour of the two twins a little better. The woman inspired him with as much distrust as her husband.
"She raises Thestrals", Kingsley Shacklebolt added, arriving after practically crabbing against the office wall to avoid being crushed. "They are very famous in the Derby world. My father often bets on her thestrals during competitions."
Eddy noted the information to seek confirmation later from Newt if he had any.
"It really is a hiding place here", Shaklebolt said. "Wanna go stretch your legs, Lee? Someone's gotta go around or Slughorn is going to see us."
"Why me?"
""Because you're the youngest and because we're two Gryffindors against a Slytherin? Have a nice walks."
Might as well not make things worse here, thought the waiter as he ran to change the set and leave anyway to attack the crowded room.
"But is it even legal to make us work?" Kingsley asked Arthur before the hubbub of the other diners drowned out the rest of the conversation.
The advantage of this clutter was that it saved him from meeting a lot of people. He only had to hold out his tray for the guests to help themselves, so moving was complicated. Most didn't even look who was serving them. This was the case of Skeeter, and a richly dressed blonde woman –who was probably her mother. The very tall, muscular man with the square jaw who must be his father did not give him a look either. Only Bellatrix managed to glare at him behind her glass of punch, but she looked so bored that the scene was more funny than scary.
Eddy managed to find near the punch bar a bit of a place to rest for a while and catch some oxygen in this human tide. He easily understood why Salazar never came to these parties despite Slughorn's urgings. It was real hell here.
"Good evening Mr. Lee."
Maybe he was indeed in hell, he thought as Professor Riddle used punch next to him. His black wizard's robe seemed to glow like a dark sun, and around his neck, he noticed, there was a curious medallion whose pendant was hidden in the collar of his robe. He was as imposing as usual but sported a charming air. He gave him an enigmatic smile as he raised the glass of punch to him.
"Good evening, Professor," the teenager muttered, staring at his tray.
"Any further progress with your little tantrums? Your little sidekick is right in her ridiculous article, you're pretty insufferable. In a few weeks, you managed to attack my two children. Luckily, I only have two."
He nonchalantly drank his glass of punch. He didn't seem in the least worried or even saddened by the facts he had just stated.
Eddy was about to run into the reduced space left by a huge witch and a vampire when a cold, even icy hand fell on his shoulder. He could feel it despite the thick fabric of his jacket. He shivered.
"Don't always be in such a hurry to go away, Mr. Lee. You have great potential that it would be unfortunate to see wasted. If you need advice, I think I'm the right person."
Eddy did not really know what to answer. After all, in his last lesson he had managed to cast his first real spell! Admittedly at Medusa's expense, but something had happened. Professor Riddle had a wand made of the same wood as his, after all.
"I'll think about it," he muttered. "Thank you for this proposal."
"Very well, now a question torments me", resumed his teacher. "The language you spoke with the Sorting Hat the night you arrived was Romani, correct?"
Uncertain Eddy nodded, choosing to attach the medallion to his teacher's neck as it was right in his field of vision.
"Would you be able to translate a sentence for me?"
For the first time, Eddy looked at his teacher, surprised. It was probably the last thing he expected. He stared at Medusa who was watching them behind Skeeter and her family and replied:
"I'm willing, but I need a favour too. I need permission for a book in the reserve."
"Sure. Which one?"
"None of your business."
"I am obliged to write the title to make you a word. Try, if it is not too much to use your brain," retorted Riddle in an annoyed voice.
"The Hogwarts Student Register," Eddy stammered against his will.
A curious interest crossed his professor's face. He took out his wand discreetly, summoned a parchment and a quill. This one, with a movement of his hand, began to write in a delicate way the desired authorization. Eddy grabbed it and put it in his jacket pocket. He nodded waiting for Mr Riddle to present him with his part of their strange contract.
"It's a phrase I heard years ago, a woman said it before she died. I won't be able to write it down for you."
Eddy thought that indeed it was rare to know speakers of this language, this one being practiced by few people with differences between the countries. The boy nodded as the professor seemed to remember the exact wording. He was surprised that this man had managed to remember a sentence he hadn't understood for years, he obviously has a good memory.
Finally he pronounced the words in an approximate accent. Eddy frowned trying to understand. Riddle started again with a slightly better pronunciation, the noise of the music clearly not helping his understanding.
"I'm not sure I understand," he admitted. "I believe there is the word destroy. Maybe have fun? I... I think you said human at one point, but that sounds weird, maybe it was mar or marel … It means to kill."
Fun to destroy and kill? It was the most gruesome thing anyone could have said to an individual before they died. When Eddy realized this fact, he froze like Professor Riddle did. The boy looked up despite himself at the wizard. What he saw paralyzed him, the professor's eyes were only two red balls of fury. He grabbed his arm violently and Eddy nearly dropped his tray. The professor plunged his red gaze into his.
"Hey!" he managed to scream as he felt Riddle's presence invade his mind.
His cry was loud enough to catch the eye of two guests who gave them a surprised look. Riddle let go of him with a bound and then, like snow melting in the sun, he recomposed a flirtatious fly.
"I see. Thank you for these clarifications, I dare to hope that this little arrangement will remain between us."
Eddy nodded slowly, he had trouble swallowing. He had to find a way to escape. Slughorn just arrived to save him, a glass of punch in his hand and looking a little too flushed and happy to be completely sober. He took the professor to task, who gave him a last menacing look.
"Mr. Lee, don't forget to turn, your legs are still working and my guests are hungry," Slughorn called, snapping Riddle into an aside near a green silk drapery.
Eddy couldn't help but spy on them, focused on his sinister teacher. What Professor Slughorn whispered to him didn't seem to please Riddle as he grew even more livid. Despite everything, he offered a grimace that must have been a smile at the old professor with the walrus moustache. They talked for a few moments but Riddle was frozen like a pillar of salt. Skeeter's mother then went to greet Professor Slughorn diverting his attention. Medusa was not far from Eddy and seemed to have undergone a freezing spell. Mr Riddle walked past her, glaring at his daughter. Without a word she followed him. They slipped out of the office together. Eddy felt himself shaking. He put his tray on the bar and ran away discreetly after them.
As he left the office, a door slammed at the back of the dungeon. He approached it stealthily.
"…I thought you were smarter than that," he heard Professor Riddle's evil voice hiss. "Didn't I tell you not to get involved anymore?"
Eddy heard a loud slapping sound through the door.
The teenager forced himself not to jump. He felt his blood pounding in his chest and his hands shaking.
"You stay out of it. I will not repeat it to you another time."
"Then leave Salazar out of this too!"
There was a silence.
"I forbid you to scream, Medusa. Crucio."
He heard the sound of bodies collapsing and a small, high-pitched moan. Eddy's blood pounded even harder in his veins, he struggled to breathe and felt his magic surge dangerously inside him. He could no longer calm his tremors.
The professor spoke but Eddy didn't understand what he was saying, his voice was no longer a shrill hiss of rage. Higher-pitched whistles joined the hissing of his tongue, these must have been Medusa's. The hissing continued, triggering increasingly cold shivers down Eddy's neck. He was shaking so much he couldn't contain himself at all. Without understanding either how or why he turned on his heels and left the corridor at full speed.
He had to get away as soon as possible. The noise of the music was already far away when Eddy practically crawling managed to find a small cupboard to hide in.
His magic crackled inside him and escaped in small dark sparks. The brooms and buckets in the cupboard moved animated by his tremors.
Eddy closed his eyes and curled up against himself. He tried to repeat Tina's exercises as best he could, inhaling and exhaling in large breath. But it did not seem to work, everything crackled inside him like the beginning of a blaze. Behind his closed eyes, Eddy was for the first time in a long time immersed in his memories. He felt the blows, the cries, the screams and his own terror. No, it had to stop. It absolutely had to stop!
The broom in front of him ignited, Eddy was startled enough to manage to calm down. He chanted in his head Tina's exercises to stop him shaking. He stuffed the flaming broom into a damp bucket to limit the damage, closed the cupboard and stormed out of the room.