my riddle to solve (tom riddle)

fourteen

(I've attached a song that I personally think goes well with the chapter! I'd recommend listening while you read!)

Adelaide had set up part of the room so that it looked a bit like a medical office. She had obviously used a bit of Transfiguration, since I highly doubted that her medical kit included all of this. Her honey-blonde hair had been tied back in a messy knot, her clothes still soaked with Abraxas' blood. It was a bit unnerving, if I was being completely honest.

"Okay, so what I'm going to do is stick you with a needle. It'll be attached to a little tube that'll allow the blood to flow into here," she explained as she showed me a large glass vial that had lines with number markings scribbled all over it. I had never been one to fear needles, but the idea of getting blood sucked out of me was still a bit daunting. Everyone was circled around us, and I felt a bit stuffy.

"All of you, go tend to Malfoy on the couch. The Calming Draught will have stabilized his vitals for the time being. Except you Alcott, I might need a bit of help." Adelaide decided.

"I'm staying," demanded Riddle as he pulled up a chair next to mine. Adelaide shrugged, figuring it was better not to argue with him.

"You're going to have to take off your sweater," she said as she fumbled around with some of her supplies. I peeled it off quickly, and pushed it into Riddle's lap.

"She's not taking anything else off," Riddle articulated protectively.

"Yes, she is. You have to be naked when your blood is drawn," Adelaide told him. Before Riddle could object, Lestrange spoke up.

"She's just teasing. Let's get this over with, before Riddle has an aneurysm." Adelaide laughed and gave me a smirk as she started to roll my sleeve to expose the lower half of my arm. My wrist was unusually bare, which made me come to a realization. I quickly whipped my head to the side to speak to Riddle.

"I left my bracelet in the library," I whispered to him hastily.

"I'll get it for you later, Darling," he assured me as he reached out to hold my hand. Adelaide and Lestrange exchanged a look. I was absolutely certain that she would tease me about this later.

She cleaned off my forearm with rubbing alcohol and a cotton pad before bringing out the needle. She connected it with the tube and placed the vial on the nearby counter.

"You're going to have to let go of her. That's just standard procedure," she told Riddle. He squeezed my hand tighter and glared at her.

"I will not be doing that."

"Well then, this is going to hurt her; if her bloodways are being obstructed in any way," she informed him. And with that, he reluctantly let go of me. He moved his hand down to rest on my upper thigh, which made my breath hitch out of surprise. Adelaide was also surprised by this; I watched her bite her lip in analysis.

"No, you can't do that either. If her heart rate is all weird, then the blood won't come out properly."

Riddle let out an exasperated sigh as he removed his hand from me. Adelaide smiled and turned her head towards me. I trusted my best friend wholeheartedly, but this whole blood donation concept was definitely a new one for me. I really hoped that she knew what she was doing.

"You're going to feel a little pinch," she mentioned as I felt the needle pierce my skin. I watched as she fidgeted with it a bit, tapping at the tube until dark liquid started to flow from it.

"If I were you, I wouldn't watch. It could make you nauseous. It'll take about thirty minutes for the vial to be full, then I'll be able to transfer it to Malfoy," she informed me. I heeded her warning, and turned my head so I could talk to Riddle.