Chapter Fourteen

The event of Irving taking his son out of Hogwarts became the talk of the school. The boy and his father were said to have side-along apparated out of Hogsmeade back to Malfoy Manor. This exit had shook up the Slytherin students as the common room felt a bit more empty. Tom Riddle having come to the conclusion that he had to change strategy. He did realize he got too cocky too early however he noticed none of the other parents have noticed as Prince, Nott, Avery and Lestrange still hung at his every word. Eileen however was his new main lackey so to speak as she had the next best connections in his eyes. He clicked his fingers when she walked in, making her give a quiet sigh. Eileen had learned the hard way to just do everything he asked. She walked over towards him as she sat on the floor besides his chair.

"I want you to write a good letter to Abraxas about me. Express how much regret I have over the entire thing. Butter him up...you know the Malfoy family are brought by flattery. He must return and help us in our cause, his father doesn't understand how important it is" Tom spoke to her with certainty.

"Tom. His father will read every letter that comes from Hogwarts. There's no way I'm going to be able to mention you. One mention of your name and his father won't let him read it" Eileen replied.

"There must be a way...You're a clever girl, surely you must know a way. Surely, Eileen"

"I could try and meet up with him during the Easter break. My father sometimes takes me there. I may be able to speak him then...perhaps you need to stop calling yourself leader in his presence" Eileen spoke gently.

Though his expression made her cower again.

"I am not calling myself leader. I am just the leader. I'm the heir of Slytherin" Tom hissed quietly.

"Yes...Sorry"

"So will you try and do that for me?"

"I will"

Tom just nodding as he put his hand out as if to say 'go'. Eileen nodding back as she got up and walked towards her dormitory. Which she shared with three other girls as she made her way in and flumped herself down on the bed with frustration. One of the girls she shared with looked over at her and asked...

"Why do you let him and everyone else walk all over you?"

Eileen looked up from her bed. The girl had blonde hair and was one of the nicest girls in Slytherin. She was called 'Jean Tiller'. She was a second-year student and had noticed the sudden change and how she missed the days before Tom Riddle arrived. He made the whole house miserable.

"Don't ask, Jean. I survive, that's all you need to know...I survive like a cockroach" Eileen replied.

Druella Rosier (mother of the future Bellatrix, Narcissa and Andromeda ) walked into the dormitory. As she sat on the third empty bed. She was in her second-year like Jean. She and Walburga thought Tom was a wonderful and gifted boy. Eileen couldn't stand her as she sunk her head back into the pillow. Druella had black messy hair.

"Eileen. Tell me what Tom was saying" Druella suddenly spoke as she looked over and saw her.

"Ask him yourself" Eileen said back, barely moving her head.

"Eileen! Tell me now. You can't keep him to yourself. Tell me so I can tell Walburga. Is he really the heir of Slytherin?" Druella asked, now sitting on Eileen's bed.

Eileen muttered something under her breath. Finally forcing herself back into a sitting position. She did enjoy hearing the desperation in her voice as Druella tried to get a bit of information. Though she would never tell her anything, not after the way she and Walburga watched Tom cut her hair and laughed at her torment. She would never forget that. She didn't get any apology either. They just moved on and acted like they didn't watch that.

"I won't tell you anything that Tom has told me in private" Eileen answered.

"Well tell him from me that I admire him very much. Please pass on my message and as Walburga is older, she will be a good help to him. I know he's the heir of Slytherin, I overheard him say it. Please tell him that I and Walburga wish to join his group" Druella pleaded.

"You're going to ask him to marry you next" Jean spoke from her bed with a little smirk.

"Well at least I may get married in the future. Who would want to marry your ugly face?" Druella snarled at her.

"Wash your mouth out with soap why don't you!" Jean snapped back.

Druella gritted her teeth at her like a dog. Turning her attention back to Eileen as she wanted to get more knowledge about Tom Riddle. The sudden exit of Abraxas Malfoy had made the pure-bloods keen to take his place as Tom's new confidant. They didn't understand however that Tom didn't choose his so-called friends because he liked them, he just chose those who were most useful to him. Eileen knew he didn't like her and all she wanted was to get out of it. She wished Druella could take her place.

"Will you put in a word for me?" Druella asked Eileen.

"Gladly" Eileen replied with a false smile.

Rolling her eyes as Druella turned back around. Finally returning to her own bed, she slapped Jean around the head as she did so. She looked excited at the thought of getting into Tom's good books.

...

"What are you reading?" Lucy asked as she let herself into the caretaker's office.

The eleven year old Argus lifted up a muggle newspaper. It was some article about the 'Borley Rectory' fire that destroyed the "most haunted house in Britain". Lucy looking at the photograph, it was months old but obviously Argus liked to look at it every now and now. Lucy came into the caretaker's office on a regular basic now to visit her friend. Her cat 'Mr Filch' walked in behind her and rested himself on Argus' lap.

"You should ask one of the ghosts about what they think" Lucy suggested.

"I have. They think Borley Rector is just muggles pretending that they seen ghosts but I don't think so. No. They just think us non-magical people know nothing but we do" Argus replied firmly with his finger pointing.

He began to stroke Mr Filch; the cat purring on his lap.

"Your brother has a difficult time ahead of him. Is he nervous for his third-year exam?" Lucy asked, changing the subject.

"He will pass with flying colours, no doubt. He has seven exams coming up you know. Including quidditch training. Divination however is a subject he doesn't think he will pass" Argus answered, looking slightly annoyed.

"Why does that bother you?" Lucy questioned with an amused look on her face.

"Because I like reading the textbooks and if he fails, I won't get to read them anymore" Argus admitted.

"Oh. Well if I ever get rich, I will buy you one" Lucy teased.

Argus raised an eyebrow at that suggestion. He paused for a moment as he could hear some running. The sound of Oakleigh's voice made him stay where he was as he was dealing with it. There were some sounds of shouting and the door opened with a loud bang as Oakleigh stormed in with a fourth-year boy with him. This lad had bruised knuckles.

"Add his name to the list, Argus. It's 'Jack Pettigrew'. He was caught beating up another boy and was seen running away after the crime" Oakleigh told him.

Argus quickly getting out his book as he wrote down Jack Pettigrew and put a tick to his name. Oakleigh gave a glare to Lucy and ordered her out, she just nodded meekly as she picked up her cat and walked out the office. Argus giving a sigh as he now was alone with Oakleigh and Jack Pettigrew (uncle of the future Peter Pettigrew). Jack took one look at Argus and scowled, he hated him as much as he hated Oakleigh Burton. Argus was avoided at all costs by the other students (besides Lucy Norris).

"Right, let's go to the dungeons, lad" Oakleigh hissed in Jack's ear.

The students knew resistance was futile as Oakleigh was a burly and tall man. More to the point, he was a wizard. Unlike Filch, he was equal to them in that regard. Argus followed them out of the caretaker's office as they went down to the dungeons. Jack paused slightly as he was pushed into the room with the chains (something Filch would get to keep but never use). Argus was prepared to see them in action as he watched Oakleigh push Jack towards them. The boy looked suddenly terrified as Oakleigh touched the chain, making them all dangle.

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry, Sir" Jack uttered; shaking as Oakleigh grabbed onto his wrist.

Just as Jack had accepted his fate in being chained by his thumbs. Oakleigh let go of him again. Argus dropping his serious gaze, he had seen this reaction a lot of times and it was very effective. Oakleigh just told the lad to hold out his hand (which was already bruised). He gave him one quick cane. Making him flinch as he closed his eyes.

"Now go back upstairs...There is no being chained by your thumbs. Though if I catch you beating up anybody else...I may do it without Headmaster Dippet's knowledge" Oakleigh warned.

Jack giving a nod before running out of the room like the devil was chasing him. It was just an idle threat however. Being hung by your thumbs was abolished long before Argus and Oakleigh were around (the students however didn't know that).

...

The next couple of days consisted of lessons and studying as the students buckled down. Preparing for their exams which was in a few months time. Lucy was currently in the library with Myrtle. Doing their potions homework with difficulty. The girls didn't seem to grasp it. Lucy briefly glimpsed over at Eileen Prince (who never had any problem in potions). She liked the subject a lot in fact. Myrtle also cast a glance over. They had their book 'Magical Drafts and Potions' by Arsenius Jigger open but it didn't seem to be helping. Eileen closed her work book after a few minutes, her homework was complete as she had two pages filled in one both sides to hand in to Horace Slughorn. Lucy and Myrtle meanwhile had half a page each. She briefly stopped at their table, taking a look around to find no Tom Riddle.

"When in doubt...mention a bezoar" Eileen spoke quietly to them.

"Don't help us...Please. I don't want you to get your hair chopped again" Lucy replied almost as quietly back.

"Botched haircut" Eileen insisted; even now.

"I wasn't born yesterday you know. I'm a muggle-born, not an idiot. We have bullies in the muggle world too. Though I suppose I shouldn't have told you that, just gives you and your friends more reason to hate us"

"I don't hate muggle-borns" Eileen told her; sitting down when she felt safe Tom was busy elsewhere as she added "I just pretend to"

Lucy guessed that too as she gave a shrug. Eileen's black hair covering her eyes again as she hated people reading her emotions. She was clearly a broken girl in some way, a deep sadness was in her. Losing a mother at an early age does that to a child though. Without thinking, Eileen began instructing Lucy and Myrtle with the homework; forgetting her so-called friends could walk in and see her "helping out mudbloods again".

"That book isn't as good as common sense. My father always says you have to be born with the knowledge in certain subjects. I have been able to create potions since I was about eight, I can make a potion to make the grass grow thicker" Eileen explained.

"That's wonderful. I seem to grasp the potion making but not the written work for it" Lucy replied.

"It's easy really. Just write down the potions as if you going to put them in the cauldron. You're a Ravenclaw, Myrtle. You should be able to grasp the written work better" Eileen continued, giving pointers to each girl.

She even put her hair out of her eyes as she relaxed. The girls taking her advice on board, Myrtle seemed to grasp the concept quicker. She explained more about potions, looking at the door every few moments. Her heart was pounding at the thought of one of them seeing however she was willing to take a chance. She didn't want the other students to see her as some sort of monster.

"Thank you Eileen. We get it now" Lucy told her; wanting to give her the excuse to leave.

Lucy understood that she must be putting on an act for her Slytherin friends. She didn't want her to be punished again, not on her behalf. Eileen quickly looking over both the girls' homework before putting her hair over her eyes again. Telling them to just treat the written work like the practical work (except on paper). As she made her way out and down the hallway.

...

TBC