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SEPTEMBER 1944

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A green skull with a snake protruding from its mouth, shining in the sky.

An heirloom gold ring, setting with a large, black stone.

A group of hooded, masked men.

Aliena held back a sigh. The book she was currently reading didn't contain any information that might help her, but that wasn't surprising. It was a book about art of divination, and that wasn't what interested her, or even what she had any particular talent for. It was scrying, but apart from her mother's notes, she had access to nothing on the subject. There were no books related to scrying in the library, at least not in the part accessible to students. She might have been able to find something in the restricted section, but she still had to have access to it.

She was faced with a major problem. She wasn't taking any divination-related classes, and had never set foot in this classroom. In her third year, she had chosen to study arithmancy and ancient runes. It seemed a wise choice at the time, as runes were directly linked to her mother's magical culture and to scrying. Divination was only good for children. Everyone thought they could read the future in the stars or tea leaves, but it didn't work like that. It wasn't that simple. Scrying, on the other hand, offered more possibilities. Those who mastered the secrets of it could not only see the future, but also past events and so, have a clearer, more precise vision of the course of events.

And because of this, Aliena couldn't go to the divination professor and ask him to give her the authorization she needed to access the restricted section — Not him, not anyone else. Everyone would find it strange that a seventeen-year-old girl with no particular attraction to divination should be interested in its obscure alternative. They weren't stupid, they'd soon understand why. They'd ask questions, make the connection with her mother and her family heritage, and understand what she was. What she was capable of, and then, troubles would begin. She couldn't afford that.

"Can't they go bellow somewhere else ?"snarled Elaine beside her, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Aliena looked up from her book. Her friend was glowering at a group of slytherin students, clumped together in a corner of the common room, who were bawling their eyes out.

"It's quidditch trials tomorrow, they're all excited as pixies,"she replied, plunging back into her reading.

She frowned. She already read that sentence before. She kept rereading the same page, but couldn't even memorize a single word because what she was reading seemed so insipid. And downright stupid.

"Argh, Dumbledore's going to have my hide with this transfiguration homework !"complained the brun girl, running a hand through her hair."How does he want us to go fifty centimeters of parchment about the method to turn a toad into an ammonite ? We're doing it, period. There's nothing else to say !"

"Want to take a look at mine ?"

Elaine shook her head, moving some strands that had escaped from her bun.

"No, he'll figure it out. It's fine … "she sighed."What are you reading by the way ?"

"Nothing important,"Aliena shrugged.

Elaine, intrigued, lifted the cover of her book with her fingertips to read the title. She couldn't hold back her giggle any longer.

"What the ... 'Divination - Meaning of signs and omens' ? Aliena, for Merlin's sake, why do you read that ?!"

"Personal curiosity, I guess."

"Aliena, please. You don't even follow the divination class, you never did in four years. You don't like divination. You said divination is—"

"Divination is bullshit,"cut in Keiran Nott, who passed right by the table where they were studying.

"Nott,"Aliena hissed through her teeth.

He greeted them in turn, then, with a movement of his chin, pointed to the book she was reading.

"You've changed your mind ? You've decided to open your closed, narrow mind to other ... Forms of magic ?"

Aliena didn't answer, and gave him an evil look, which made the slytherin boy smile even more. She hated that little smug smile he had the secret. She would have liked so much to make him swallow it. That and his whole person.

"No of course not, you're too good for that,"he said, his voice laced with sarcasm."But if you want, I can help you. I got an E on my O.W.L.s in fifth year."

"See Elaine ?"Aliena replied, looking at her directly."Proof that divination is bullshit. Idiots can have good grades and think they are good on it. Yet, even the world's worst soothsayer would know that I'd rather kiss a ghoul than ask Nott for help."

"Don't began Blethey, I was nice,"he warned her.

"Youdon't began. I don't need your help, for this or for anything. You can go now, thank you."

Nott rolled his eyes.

"You're lucky I have other, more urgent things to do."

On these words, he walked away, joining Abraxas Malfoy and Marius Lestrange who were waiting for him near to the common room door. She watched as the three of them made their way down the dungeon corridors, while Elaine cleared her throat, uncomfortable.

"Aliena you ... You don't try to ..."she stammered, searching for words."I don't know what you are or aren't doing but, reassure me … It has nothing to do with your parents' death, does it ?"

Aliena turned back to her. And at her friend's worried expression, the weight of remorse came to weigh down her stomach a little more. Her research had absolutely nothing to do with her parents' death, but she preferred not to deny it. Perhaps it was better for Elaine to think that, rather than knowing the truth.

"I can't imagine what it's like, to lose the people you care about the most …. But if you want to talk about it - or not, I'm not forcing you to do it - I'm here. You know that. I'll always be there for you, you're my friend."

Elaine placed her hand on hers and squeezed it gently.

"I know. And don't worry, it's nothing important. Really. It's just keeping me busy while you finish your homework,"she taunted her with a wry grin.

The brune girl clenched her jaw, skeptical, but returned all the same to her parchment, grumbling.

Aliena looked at her with a heavy heart. She couldn't tell her. She couldn't tell her about her visions or about Tom Riddle. It was too much to handle. She couldn't tell anyone. She had to keep it to herself.

It was for the best.

At the end of September, Professor Slughorn's class took a turn that Aliena had not anticipated. The seventh years were already few many, only the best - those who had scored above a E in their OWLS - were allowed to continue this cursus. And that day, Slughorn had had the brilliant idea of having them work in pairs. He seemed so delighted with himself that his large moustache twitched with every word he uttered.

The young woman met Elaine's gaze, which was just as depressed as she was. The chances of them being together were close to zero. Slughorn was going to divide them by level group, and he always made a point of honor at mixing boys and girls together. For social mixing, he said. Aliena would have like to make him eat his hat. It was just an excuse he put it forward during class, because afterwards, he'd organized little dinners behind their backs with only his male students. What a hypocrite.

"I warn you, if I end up with Duarte, I will pretend to faint,"her friend whispered.

Aliena smirked. She agreed with her. Denis Duarte was a real walking danger. He still sometimes confused asphodel root with aconit root ; and had the power to make any liquid explode, even water. He'd achieved this feat in his third year and yet, no one had figured out how he'd done it. It was a miracle he was still in potions. And alive.

"Sallow and Pewerett."

"Rosier and Abbott."

"Bletchey and Riddle."

Aliena held back a sigh.

Of course he did it. Slughorn hadn't been able to resist putting together his two best students.

"Lucky girl,"Elaine purred with a mischevilious winke.

"We can switch if you want,"she snarled.

"And deprive this poor Slughorn of the pleasure of seeing his two best students together ? By Salazar Slytherin, I wouldn't dare !"Elaine said, placing a hand over her heart, pretending.

Aliena rolled her eyes, then looked towards the table occupied by Tom a little further on. The other students were already gathering their things and joining their partners, but he didn't move though. He wouldn't, she knew it. It was up to her to move. She gritted her teeth and joined him, dragging one's feet. She hesitated for a long time to throw her bag on the workbench to show her displeasure.

"Don't make that face Bletchey, it doesn't suit you. Besides, everyone would love to be in your shoes. With me, it's the best grade guaranteed,"Tom grinned.

"I don't need you to get a good grade,"she replied, stung to the quick.

"No, that's true. But I didn't expect any less from a future mediwizard. That's still what you want to do after graduating, isn't it ?"

She lifted her eyes to him, surprised. How did he know ? She had spoken to Slughorn about her desire to become a mediwizard in fifth year, and in view of her results, he had strongly encouraged her in that direction. Since then, he would sometimes make a comment in class when she passed one of the potions with flying colours *"*Well done, Miss Bletchey, but that's not surprising coming from a talented future mediwizard". It was anecdotal. And yet, Tom had held it back ?

Aliena nodded all the same, lips pursed, then chose to seize the perch that he had unwillingly handed to her.

"And what about you ? What are your plans after Hogwarts ?"

"I'm still thinking about it,"he shrugged.

She frowned slighly. Thinking about what ? To murder other people ?

"Sure,"she replied, looking him in the eyes.

Tom raised an eyebrow at her slightly condescending tone.

"Excuse me ?"

"I'm sure that, given yourprestigiousresults,"she pressed deliberately her words."You're spoilt for choice in terms of your future. You'll drown in job offers after graduating."

He didn't answer, but she saw the features of his face harden lightly. He moved, and a glint on his left hand caught her attention. He was wearing a gold ring with a dark stone and it clicked in her head. "An heirloom gold ring, setting with a large, black stone." It was the ring she had seen in her dream. She knew it was important to him, but she didn't know how much. The rest was still hazy in her mind, just waiting to come out, but she didn't want to take another scrying potion. Not now, not so soon after the last one. She still shuddered at the memory of the ravenclaw girl's lifeless body. And sometimes, she felt like the basilisk was following her down the corridors, ready to attack. She could almost hear its high-pitched, menacing hissing in her ears.

Aliena shook her head. This was not the time to be thinking about that, not when she was less than a meter from the source of her visions. From Tom.

"Take this exercise as a first training for your futur N.E.W.T exams. It's nothing impossible if you've been paying attention, we've already seen most of the potions together in class."

Slughorn passed between the tables of the new pairs, handing out a list of ingredients for the potions he wanted them to prepare. Aliena took a quick look on it. It wasn't as simple as he'd said. The potions - a poison and its antitode - were complex, even for their level.

"I'll take care of the poison, and you the antidote ?"suggested Tom, even if his question was purely rhetorical. He didn't expect an answer."That seems rather appropriate to me."

She winced ; he couldn't have meant it better. But she refrained from commenting and, taking care to keep a safe distance from him, began her potion. She follow the instructions in her book. It was a complicated antitode, which requiring a great deal of rigor and attention, but nothing impossible for her. She began by finely cutting the wiggentree bark, then grinded the newt eyes. She added them to her mixture which gave off a faint smell of treacle. It was a good sign.

She and Tom worked meticulously, preparing their respective potions in the greatest calm. They didn't speak to each other. Nor did they pay attention to the few complaints from neighboring tables. They were solely focused on their tasks, when suddenly, Tom stretched out his arm towards her.

"Give me the —"

Aliena jumped back, staring in dread at his thin-fingered hand, which hung in the air just in front of her nose. She turned her head towards Tom. He was already looking at her, his eyes dark and his eyebrows raised. She could have sworn seeing a spark glow in the depths of his ink-irises. A spark that disappeared as quickly as it had arrived, to the point where she finally wondered if she hadn't imagined it.

"— belladona,"he breathed, finally.

A cold shiver ran up her spine. With a trembling hand, she handed him the jar, taking care not to touch his fingers in the process, and then, turned fully her attention to her cauldron. She cursed herself inwardly, but did her best not to let anything show. She could still felt Tom's burning gaze on her, but she ignore it.

Or at least, she did her best to ignore him and refrained from looking in his direction.

At the end of the class, she didn't linger any longer and hurried out of the dungeons. As if the fires of hell were chasing her.

She had screwed up and she knew it. But it was too late, the damage had been done.