Perfidy | Tom Riddle |

7.

August 31, 1943

2 weeks had gone by and for a certain fact, she knew that the boys were all looking for her. Word of an unknown, powerful, and curly-haired witch was circulating all around Diagon Alley, the events that had transpired at the Malfoy's became hot gossip in the wizarding world.

They couldn't find her just yet, the whole point of being nameless and essentially a ghost was important to her plan. For safety measures to ensure she won't run into Abraxas, the scarlet-eyed boy, or the rest of the boy's Lyra had no choice but to cast a simple disguise over her face every time she went out in public. It's not as if they would recognize her but it was uncertain whether the Malfoy heir shared his memories of the girl who helped him stop a pub fight. One always has to take extra precautions, that's what she had learned in the past 2 years.

One day was left until Hogwarts began, she had one of two options, either enter Hogwarts from the secret tunnel in honeydukes, where Abeforth, Dumbledore's brother ensures the safety of the tunnel that hid behind his sisters painting. Or try to enter the platform and take the train to Hogwarts, but both plans were uncertain and had their flaws. Abeforth might not allow her access to the tunnel and could try to kill her thinking she's trying to sneak in as a follower of Grindelwald, on the train, there could be too many questions asked about her there it also leaves a chance of her running into the boys with no way to escape.

"How is it you 6 idiots can't find 1 simple witch." He took a long drag from his cigarette. Riddle became annoyed and impatient, it's been 2 weeks since he was embarrassed and defeated by that curly-haired woman. He wanted to know who she was, why did she possess such powerful magic, but most importantly how did she beat him. Looking around with the table Malfoy, Nott, Lestrange, Rosier, Avery, and Mulciber were all sitting around him at The Three Broomsticks, each with a drink in their hand.

"She's not 1 simple witch Riddle, you saw what she did at the ball, more importantly, did you see how fast she was running, did she think we were going to kill her or something ?" Mulciber laughed at the memory of that night. " From conversing with house-elves to almost killing Riddle, quite the woman she is."

"What I'm curious about is Malfoy, how could you completely invite a stranger to the Manor, I mean you said it yourself she talked to your mother, wined, dined, gave quite the show all without even leaving her name." Lestrange leaned over the table with both elbows propped against the wooden table and took a sip of his drink.

Their attention turned from Riddle to Malfoy all waiting for the idiotic explanation he'd provide.

"She was attractive, strong, and threatened to use the cruciatus in order to help me, did I also mention she was attractive." he smiled at the boys, trying to lighten up the mood.

Tom slammed his glass on the table, causing a reaction from the boys. "Did you ever not once think she did it to get proximate to you, what if that was her orchestration, get close to a potent wizarding family, place herself at the ball, and endeavor something."

"Riddle's right Malfoy what if she was planning something. Merlin's beard what if she was working for Grindelwald." Lestrange sounded equally as frustrated as Riddle.

"I highly doubt her plan was to converse with the help and then show off her powers in a duel she had no idea was impending Lestrange." Abraxas gripped his glass on the verge of it shattering.

Rosier placed his hand over Malfoys shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze "Enough you two, stop it people can hear us. This isn't the place to discuss things like this. Remember we're here to see if she'll show up."

Madam Rosmerta the owner of The Three Broomsticks had informed the boys that she had become quite the regular in the previous weeks, but that it had been days since she last saw her. When asked about her name or any sort of information about her. Madam Rosmerta drew blank, stating that she always paid with a galleon and never shared one thing about herself, the only thing she knew was that the girl had traveled there recently.

She's all Tom could think about, and the same goes for Lyra. The pair constantly thought about one another, wondering who they were and what power both displayed. Both didn't hesitate to use brutal spells, to do anything to win.

He thought about her eyes, and how her smile would not well hide the darkness and emptiness in them. Even though she presented herself to be kind, and flashed a smile to everyone she looked at during the ball. He knew that it was all an act and that her true self was the one she displayed during their duel. But why was she there? What was her purpose in befriending the Malfoy boy and scoring an invite to a ball where the most powerful families would be attending?

And so the boys sat in silence, while Riddle had his head clouded with memories of her, waiting to see if she'd show. But what they didn't know was the clever witch was sitting in the pub all along, disguised, pleased with herself while she watched the boys frantically and nervously wait for her arrival.