Lucille Carrow

My head feels like it going to explode. A soft groan escapes me and I grab my head between my hands. Stupid headache.

Okay maybe it is my fault to stay up reading till 3am but still. Stupid headache.

Sighing I close my book, pressing my head against the cool material of the table under it. It's the only wooden table in the library that wouldn't pierce in my skin if I lay my head on it. Believe me, I have enough experience to know that.

After a minute of 5, 5 minutes in which I almost fall asleep again, I push away from the table to stretch.

I think it's time to go to my dorm. I'm about 5 hours late for curfew and I have the feeling that if they catch me sleeping here tomorrow I will have detention for the rest of the year.

I swing my bag with books over my shoulder and walk out of the library, pressing the book I was reading against my chest. I know I look like I'm some scared girl out of a horror movie, the kind of girl they monster eats and the main character finds the ripped apart body of. I shake my head to get those nasty thoughts out of my head.

Okay that is enough reading scary stories for you

I chuckle at my own imagination. Still I walk a little faster. Better safe than sorry.

When I neared my dorm I could feel how my shoulders relaxed by the sight of the kitchen door. Yes, our dorm is in the kitchen. It is not hidden at all and there is no password for the door.

This is probably the reason that we always have randomly visitors from other houses. Like that time some students pained our whole dorm bright pink, we still don't know who was responsible for that but I have some suspections.

A scream pulled pulls out of my thoughts. It is not really a scream. It's more like a muffled cry.

My instinct acts before I do and I press myself tightly against the wall, trying to hide myself for whatever is there that makes students cry out.

They come soon into my view and I realize that this is far worse than a monster that roams the halls.

It are three from knights of walpurgis.

The knights of walpurgis are a group Slytherin's who are known for being the best. They are the best students in every class they take, their magic talent incredible.

They are also known for the being bullies. Their talent and pureblood make them believe they are better than anyone. Which results into them pushing everyone with less talent and 'tainted blood' around.

People don't mess with them, knowing that they can hex them and no teacher will interfere. For some reason almost all teacher adore them, only Professor Dumbledore seems to look through their act.

But he can't do anything against them alone so we are stuck with enduring their bullying. Luckily they never notice me or any on my friends, they are more interested in other victims, not boring weak hufflepuffs like us.

At this very moment they are pushing around a first year Slytherin. Well two of them are, Abraxas Malfoy and Nicholas Lestrange. Both of powerful families and both pricks.

Though they aren't the one my eyes are pulled to. Behind them, his hands in his pockets and a wicked going in his eyes as his friends push the crying boy around, walks Tom Riddle.

He is the worst of them all.

He's on the top of every class, teacher's kiss the ground he walks on and he's the leader of the knights of walpurgis. The other members are usually the ones to do the dirty work but he is the one behind it all.

He is the true monster in hogwarts and sadly not one you can make disappear with a spell or some hunting.

My eyes trail back to the crying boy. He keeps apologising to Abraxas and Nicholas who both seem to find it very amusing. Nicholas pushes him around the whole time while Abraxas causes him to trip so he falls on the ground, where he keeps on crying.

Poor boy.

Tom Riddle walks a few metres behind them, an amused glimmer in his dark eyes.

This is probably some stupid joke, or maybe he is a halfblood and they are pissed he is in Slytherin. They have this strange obsession with pure blood.

The boy tries to stand up again, only to be kicked down by Lestrange, which only results in him crying harder.

"Hey!"

Someone shouts.

What idiot is stupid enough to drawn attention to themselves when the knights of walpurgis handling there business?

Four heads snap to my hidden form in the shadows and I realize that that idiot is me.

All four of them, even the young boy, look confused as they spot me. I know what they see. A girl in a yellow hufflepuff cloak who barely stands 5'2 with long brown hair that, without doubt, looks more like a bird nest than anything else. "Shit." I whisper.

Lestrange narrows his eyes at me and all alarm bells in my head go off. They scream at me to turn around and run away.

"What?" He hisses at me.

The message is clear. Turn around and walk away, you have never seen this. Yet my stupid mouth decides that it doesn't agree with him.

"Go bully someone of your own age! You think you are all 'cool' and intimidating just because you are pushing around an 11 year old. Grow up and do something useful with your life."

That isn't the smartest thing to say. It is actually one the worst things to say. I blame it on the lack of sleep. When you are tired you forget to give a damm about most things

This is a moment I wish I could disappear, or at least run faster than these boys.

"Our age?" Lestrange asks. He seems to be the one to speak, the others only watch me with cold eyes. Even the young boy seems to sneer at me. I don't even have the heart to glare back at him, his face still wet from his tears.

"So you would rather have us bully you?"

He is only a few steps away from me and casually grabs his wand, pointing it at me with a sweet smile.

I take one step back. Only one. One out of fear. I can't help myself, I have seen what kind of nasty curses he gives people with that wand.

"N-No. I said someone of your own age. I'm 16 and you guys are 17, I'm not your age. Don't you know how to count, Lestrange?" The words leave my lips before I can stop them. I want to sound confident so they leave me alone, but even I hear my voice shake.

Malfoy is the first to make a sound. He laughs, a deep sound that let shivers run down my back and not in a good way. He, all of them, look at me like I'm their prey. Something to play with before they crash me under their paws, and I certainly don't like this.

"Maybe." Lestrange's voice makes shivers run down my back, and not the good ones. "I don't care about 1 year difference." That sicking sweet smile makes my stomach twist and turn. "Maybe you were right. You are much more fun than this excuse for a wizard."

"That's really sweet of you." I take another step back, my eyes carefully watching Lestrange's wand. If he raises it I'm going to make it for a run.

And hope I don't fall flat on my face.

"But I really don't think you should do this. I mean, you can be nice for once. That shouldn't be so bad, right?"

Why. Can't. I. Keep. My. Mouth. Shut!

The wand raises slightly and I freeze. No matter how bravely I told myself that I would run, I can't even move right now.

My eyes meet those of Lestrange, the wicked humour in his makes me want to run but it seems like my feet are frozen against the floor. I can only watch as he raises his wand, ready to hex me.

"Stop."

It's only one word yet everyone obeys. Maybe it's because of the tone, a tone that demands obedience. Or maybe it's the person who speaks.

Tom Riddle steps past Lestrange like he is nothing but a piece of furniture. He stops a few feet away from me, close enough to force me to look up at him.

"Your name, girl."

I almost lie. Almost do I blur out some strange name that will make him forget about me. But I don't. Not when I see the darkness in his eyes, the dare to lie to him and face the consequences.

"Lucille Carrow." I straighten my back, speaking with pride. I might be not the most talented student or the prettiest girl, I will always carry my family name with pride.

He doesn't smile but somehow I know that I have amused him. I jump a little as his fingers touch my cheek. They are cold as ice and I flinch away. He let his hands go to my hair and plays with a strand of the dark brown hair.

"Tuesday you will come to the abandoned hall in the left wing. Come alone."

My whole body tenses but he pays no mind to me.

"Now go, Lucille. Before I change my mind."

I don't need to be told that twice. Quickly I take one step away. Two. Three. By my fourth step I'm running. Running past a surprised yet amused Abraxas. Past an annoyed Nicholas who gives me a death glare.

I don't stop running until I'm in my dorm.

The sleep won't come for me till many hours later