[victoria's pov]

I laid awake in my bed, staring up at the ceiling. It was the same thing that occurred to me every night: wanting to know the connection between Dumbledore and my family. The scar on his hand was too detailed to have been just a dream...

Druella shuffled out of her bed and I watched her in silence as she tiptoed towards the door, her wand in her hand.

She looked toward me and I shut my eyes quickly. As soon as I heard the door shut, I got out of bed and put on a jumper to follow her, my wand tightly gripped.

I watched from inside my room as she left the Slytherin common room. A moment later, I quickly rushed downstairs to follow her steps.

"Where's she going out so late?" I thought. I left the dungeons and found myself on a rifted path. Taking the stairs up, I heard voices follow up ahead and froze in my tracks.

"Voldemort commands it," I heard a boy's voice say.

I tilted my head with the familiarity of the name. I quickly trailed behind and watched as Druella and Cygnus walked away. Druella's tone was of annoyance as she questioned Cygnus.

"This is the third time this week!" she exclaimed. "Does he really find it so mandatory that we-"

"Hush, Druella," Cygnus said and grabbed her by the wrist. "If you get caught speaking like that-"

A voice from the shadows emerged, making the both of them quiet. None other than Abraxas Malfoy stood with a sharp glare at the two.

"You're both late," he snapped. "I suggest you leave your shenanigans here before seeing the Dark Lord." He turned his heel and disappeared into the shadows again.

Quite literally.

The shadow that was cast against the wall was a barrier. As Cygnus and Druella sank into the wall, its magic rippled like water.

My brows furrowed with disbelief as I slowly approached the wall. It looked like a real shadow... perhaps it was. The moon's sudden movement casted the shadow to move inches away from the corner. Fascinating.

"Curious," I muttered. In another situation, I'd be awed. I stepped my first foot, before my body was full through the barrier.

I found myself in the corner of an empty, dark classroom. Despite its abandoned state, the classroom was full of numerous Slytherins–faceless to me because they faced the front. A dozen at least.

My presence was unnoticed as I stayed hidden in the shadows. Druella's blonde hair was the most notable out of everyone else.

"You don't belong here," I thought. She stuck out. Like light.

She sat beside Cygnus and beside him was a boy I knew of, Franklin Crabbe. He was a fit young boy, but dumber than an ostrich. I examined the room again with an intent to find Riddle, but he was nowhere to be seen.

I put on the hood of my jumper and sat myself in the very back, hidden where the light couldn't reach. My ears picked up a conversation happening feet away from me as I watched Druella.

"Has Theodore Nott been invited yet?" a student asked. I recognized them to be Elijah Rookwood. Before he could be answered, Riddle entered the room and silence was placed.
Every head lowered as he passed.

"Lord Voldemort," they greeted.

"Voldemort," I remembered. "Tom Riddle is Lord Voldemort."

Despite the time, Riddle was dressed in traditional robes and marched down the steps. He carried himself slowly yet elegantly like a leader.

And that's exactly what he was.

He stood himself in front of the room and it occurred to me that they had been waiting on him.
Never the other way around.

He examined the room of many and his eyes flashed past me as if I were a fly. Even though we stood across the room, far apart, I could feel the same hot flash from him.

"It has come to my attention that some of you aren't happy with my motives," Riddle finally said. It didn't strike me to hear him get to the point.

"You remember this is all a part of Salazar Slytherin's noble work. Or have you forgotten?"
It was obvious his question was rhetorical, yet many shook their heads in response. He approached Druella and peered into her eyes sharply.

"Has Viridian's death started to make you soft, Rosier?" he asked. "You should feel fortunate I've accepted your plea. Rarely do women know how to follow orders."

"No, I am fortunate, my lord," she said simply.

My heart stopped. All along, Druella had known Serenity was dead. Her grief... it had been a charade all along. She went to him. My ears stopped working as I slowly hid under my desk, not wanting to be seen.

One by one, Riddle began to question some of his subjects.

"Ah now, Carrow," Riddle said with a more aggressive tone. "You've always struggled with temptation and you know I'm not talking about young girls."

Snickers filled the room.

"I see the way you walk past Dippet. With a culpable shade of red painted over your face every. Single. Time."

Carrow stared into the distance without movement. He didn't deny it and Riddle's brows arched low.

"Do you think the old man is foolish?" Riddle demanded. "Dippet can smell fear a mile away and if he could, did you not think I would not notice?"

His tone was loud and formidable now. No one dared to look at the two as Riddle reprimanded the young boy.

"I'm sorry, Lord Voldemort," Carrow said, not daring to look Riddle in the eyes. Riddle's rage was well hidden. The only thing left on his face was a sly twinkle in his eye. He had a plan.

"You will be," Riddle muttered and Carrow suddenly arched back in his chair, screaming in agony. Riddle grabbed his sleeve and pulled it down, revealing a snake tattoo on his wrist.

The snake's body danced around his arm, squeezing his torso and neck. The snake's mouth was pieced into Carrow's wrist as he cried for no help but for mercy.

Druella couldn't find herself to watch. She stared straight ahead as if she were dumb. Cygnus stared as if he was still adjusting to Riddle's severe punishments and Abraxas watched, unfazed.

The rest of the room however, stared ahead at the invisible wall that stood in front of them, blinded by the crying boy and a guilty relief that it wasn't them in Carrow's position, comforted their ears.

I snuffled through my sleeve uncomfortably as the snake tattoo continued to break Carrow's upper arm bones. The room echoed with snaps and my skin cringed from the noise. After long agonising moments, Carrow's tattoo released its bite and it hissed loudly. Riddle traced the tattoo with his index finger as Carrow's arm dropped limp against the desk. His back was arched and Riddle turned to everyone else in the room.

"Let this be a lesson to all," he said softly. "You vowed your life over to me. You will take that vow to the grave."

The room echoed synchronically. "Yes, my lord."

Riddle turned his back on the room and Druella was the first to leave. Cygnus followed after her quickly, aware of the fear and regret that coloured her face. The rest of the Slytherins in the room made their way into the shadow as I shut my eyes as if that'd make me invisible.

Abraxas was the last subject behind. He approached Riddle hesitantly.

"Shall I-"

"No," Riddle interrupted him. "I have the situation handled."

Abraxas nodded and left without another word. Soon after, Riddle's footsteps disappeared and I released a sigh yet no weight was lifted off my chest. I crept out from under the table and pulled out my wand, summoning light.

"Hello, situation," Riddle's voice followed.

I jumped with a surprised scream and shot a curse at Riddle. He disintegrated it without trouble and a smug grin grew on his face. He leaned against the wall as I backed away from him, my wand at the ready.

"What did you do to Carrow?" I demanded.

Riddle shook his head. "The boy did it to himself when he made his vows."

"What vow?" I questioned, nearing him slowly as I saw he was unarmed.

"All in a good time," Riddle said. "At the moment, you're coming with me." He quickly grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me halfway across the room when I pushed him away from me.

"You are not taking me anywhere!" I exclaimed. He turned his attention to me and lunged in front of my face.

"You'll want to see this though," he whispered and held out his hand and I stared at it for a while with a strong urge to leave him alone. After all, the more the dog dug, the deeper it got into trouble. And curiosity killed the cat. But I was neither. I was a obscurial.

"This doesn't mean you've gained my trust," I said, placing my hand over his cold palm.

"Just a tad bit," Riddle said cunningly. I gripped my wand tighter and the light faded as Riddle led me to a shadow against the wall.

"Don't let go," he commanded.

I nodded as he stepped slowly past the barrier. I shut my eyes and when I felt Riddle come to a stop, I opened them. We stood at the edge of a forest, the sun still asleep. The trees reached up to the sky and the wind was slumbered. The rest of the forest was quiet as if time stood still. Only the grass shifted under our feet as we approached the opening centre of the forest.

"Where are we?" I asked him.

My question was answered when he dragged me to the slab that was placed on the ground. I then knew where we were. I had been here in the wintertide.

"Serenity..." I whispered with realisation.

Riddle released my hand and I fell on my knees, tracing the slab that sank into the ground. A tear of mine fell and traced down her name.

"Those tears only mean that she's really gone," Riddle said after a long moment. "It should ease you to know your visions have all been in your head since she's now at peace."

Though I was unaware of his mere kindness, I met his eyes and thanked him for the closure. He watched me for a long time until I stood up, ready to say goodbye one last time to Serenity.

I stood in front of her grave though, still feeling like it wasn't right to leave her alone because of me. I wiped the tears from my eyes and wished I could have poured my heart when hers was still beating. Riddle's arm touched my shoulder as we stayed, swaying with the rested wind.

"Like it or not, no one understands you better than I do," Riddle said. "Despite our differences."

I shook my head, in denial of his words. But I couldn't think of anyone else who I'd grown more similarities with. Even if it meant having blood on our hands.

"Will you take my hand?" Riddle asked me, shifting his body towards me. "Join me."

I thought of many things. I thought of what it'd be like if I didn't have Riddle guiding me and I thought about what it'd be like if Riddle were to continue minding his own business. Yet it seemed like we had revealed too much of ourselves to want to stay away from each other.
"There's one circumstance," I said. "If you want me to trust you."
"Hm?" He raised a brow curiously.
"I refuse to be thrown in the dark of your schemes," I said. "Trust goes both ways, Riddle."

He grinned, amused.

"What is it that you want?" I ask. "What're you trying to achieve?"

"I don't think you'll like it," he said.

"Try me."

He neared me closely, smelling the cologne in his scent.

"Immortality."

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Merriest Christmas (Eve) to all!!

Your author, riddlefiqs.

December 24th, 2023.