Tʜᴇ Dᴀʀᴋ Lᴏʀᴅ's Aɴɢᴇʟ | Tom Riddle √

40: A Fateful Meeting

Cassiopeia lingered in the Slytherin Common Room until it was clear and empty. She had been discussing Umbridge's new rules with Pansy, Blaise, and Draco until midnight, after which they had retired to their dorms, feeling exhausted. She had informed them that she needed to study some potion notes, showing them the textbook she had with her. Now, it was one in the morning.

Glancing around the Common Room to ensure no one was present to witness her departure, Cassiopeia went back to her room, retrieved the diary quickly, and returned to the Common Room. She cast one last look around the room before leaving. The dungeons were dark, almost pitch black, and she cautiously illuminated the area with her wand.

She took quick steps toward the girls' lavatories on the second floor, scanning her surroundings for Moaning Myrtle, who had a knack for eavesdropping and gossip. Standing in front of a white pillar, Cassiopeia hesitated for a few moments, contemplating whether it was a wise decision to open the Chamber. Not spotting Myrtle, she murmured the Parseltongue word.

In an instant, the white pillars parted, revealing a tunnel. Cassiopeia peered down, noticing that it wasn't deep, and the ground was visible. She wished she could apparate. She jumped into the tunnel, almost falling and covering her black cardigan with dust from her grey pyjamas. She sneezed twice due to the dust and wiped it from her clothes. Looking up, she saw the tunnel closing behind her. She realized her oversight – she hadn't thought about how she would return.

Rubbing her temples, Cassiopeia chided herself for not considering both entering and exiting. Now, there was no turning back until she accomplished her mission.

The scene before her matched her dreams, except for the presence of grey stones shattered around. Cassiopeia reached the Chamber's entrance, clutching the diary tightly as her heart raced. She questioned her readiness to meet him, but knew that one day, she would, and perhaps this was the moment.

She muttered the Parseltongue word again, revealing the familiar damp corridor. However, a striking difference was the presence of the Basilisk's skeleton. She walked toward the Slytherin statue, noticing that some parts of the skeleton were not yet decayed, with black thick dots covering some areas.

Curiosity mixed with fear filled her thoughts as she contemplated the consequences if someone discovered what she was doing. Deep down, she realized she was dealing with dangerous dark magic, created by Voldemort, or Tom Riddle.

Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps in the wet corridor brought her back to reality. Her heart raced with every passing second, and her breaths quickened. The footsteps came to a halt, and she could tell they were only a few feet away. Cassiopeia didn't dare to turn around but tightened her grip on the diary and wand.

"Cassiopeia Black, isn't it?" a familiar voice, once heard only in her dreams, now resounded for real. Her hands shook, knowing exactly who stood behind her. She closed her eyes, silently encouraging herself to remain composed.

Act normal, Cassiopeia!!!

She turned slowly, meeting a tall figure standing a few feet away. She had expected only a soul, but it was a physical presence. Sixteen-year-old Tom Riddle was there before her, just as he appeared in her dreams. His appearance had not changed – the same dark brown eyes, light skin, raven curls, and the school uniform with a Slytherin robe. Cassiopeia's eyes traveled from the bottom to the top of Tom Riddle, her gaze widening.

As their eyes met, she realized it wasn't curiosity but disbelief that marked his expression. He furrowed his brows, taking slow steps toward her.

"How?" was his first question.

"How, what, Riddle?" Cassiopeia replied, not fully comprehending his query. His one-word question had left her dumbfounded.

"How on earth do you still look fifteen after fifty years, Lestrange?" Tom Riddle's voice was a mixture of wonder and disbelief.