Prologue

"Fuck. Shit. Oh God, she's fucking dead." Gazing at the frozen body in front of her, she began to hyperventilate. Backing away, she looked wildly around the room.

"No... fuck. God damn it. What the fuck am I going to do?" Grabbing her hair, the girl pulled her locks, hard. The pain did nothing to help.

"I'm sorry, Master." A hissing noise reached her, and she turned in anger, hissing back.

"Get back in the FUCKING CHAMBER! I TOLD YOU, EYES FUCKING CLOSED! ALWAYS!" Yelling at the snake was the first action that brought a moderate amount of peace, but it paled in comparison to the torrent of panic that was threatening to overtake her. The snake retreated quickly in fear of its master's rage.

"This wasn't supposed to happen. No one was supposed to die." She felt like a writhing mass of unstable magic, she needed to lash out. She slammed her fist into the mirror, shattering the glass, and also what felt like two knuckles.

"Fuck, why did I do that? Shit that hurts. Episky." Mending her knuckles finally brought her around. She needed to do something about this. Hide the body, perhaps have the basilisk to eat it. Maybe she could... God, she was thinking about covering up a student's death. What is wrong with me? No, I have to do it. I won't let this be how my life ends.

"Ow." The foreign, and distinctly male voice grabbed her attention and gripped her heart painfully. Did someone else see? Did someone else know? Was she going to have to end two lives tonight? How did things keep getting worse?

She quickly turned on her heel and strode towards where she heard the sound. She was helped out by the soft shuffling of someone moving slightly. Approaching the very same stall that held the girl's corpse, she opened the door. Instead of the previous body that occupied the stall, however, now there was a young man. One who was very much alive, even if he didn't look to be in the best condition.

Raising her wand to point it at his face, she demanded, "Who are you?" She despised the slight tremble in her voice, but she was only just barely holding things together. Perhaps he wouldn't notice.

As the man opened his eyes, she immediately found herself looking deep into his vibrant emerald orbs. They took her breath away for a split moment. As the man opened his mouth to reply, she took note of the rest of his face. His untidy black hair, angular face and the most intriguing scar on his forehead.

"Emily fucking Riddle. Why am I not fucking surprised."