antebellum [t. riddle]

xxxi.

december 1944
tw: blood, depiction of violence

sicaria stared at him, and he looked down at her expectantly. she did not oblige him. 

"you know," she started, looking into riddles eyes. "i don't think there's a word in the english language that accurately describes you."

his lip quirked up slightly. "you're unbelievably difficult."

she looked away and chuckled. was he expecting anything less? he'd stated many times that he viewed her as a challenge, a puzzle to be solved, but still seemed to consistently be surprised every time he uncovered a new layer about her. 

he gestured forward with one arm. they walked together, not touching and not talking, back in the direction of the great hall. in all honesty, sicaria didn't really want to go back and party. she wanted to go to her room and have a bit of fun before the holidays, or at least go out into the courtyard to clear her head, but there was no version of events that didn't lead to riddle following her. she'd just have to find a way to slip off in the commotion of the dance. 

they turned a corner, and saw their four friends talking in hushed angry tones. she stopped and made herself silent, hoping to catch on to a few words of whatever they were talking about, but riddle cleared his throat, seeming to catch on to her plan. the four heads turned like deer caught in headlights. all the anger and unease on their faces dissolved immediately. nott sent riddle a tense look that she could not decipher. 

suddenly, it was like all the animosity in the hallway had disappeared into thin air. malfoy smirked at the pair of them, and rosier gave them a coy smile. 

"back so soon?" lestrange said, barely being able to keep the laughter out of his voice. 

sicaria waited a moment before answering. she'd get nowhere if she asked a question about whatever the hell they were discussing with such hostility. 

she pressed her lips together, but then chose to ignore it. it was pointless. 

"why? didn't miss me?"

they seemed relieved that she didn't ask. 

"no. in fact i'm rather disappointed to see you both." rosier said leaning up against the wall. he raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "ready to tell us what's going on between the two of you?"

riddle stepped toward him but rosier didn't falter. sicaria, on the other hand rolled her eyes. "no idea what you're talking about."

"do you take us for fools? you two-"

she didn't have to listen to this. she couldn't give them an answer she didn't have yet, so she did what she always did. she turned around and started walking away. "goodnight, you five."

they were whispering something she couldn't make out. 

"common room is the other way, edwards."

"not going to the common room, malfoy."

she heard their steps retracing her own and smirked a bit. of course they'd follow her.

"where are you going?"

"not here!"

she continued down the hallway, them walking around her, but she was still determining the destination. several times, there were protestations and complaints from lestrange and nott that going to the forbidden forest in the middle of the night was dangerous and 'scary', but sicaria continued to remind them that they had every right not to come with her.