𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐇; Tom Riddle

chapter twenty-three

isolation;

As it's the third week of December, most students had gone home for the holidays, and to my dismay, I had to stay at Hogwarts as I had no home to go to. Unless I'd fancy returning to the orphanage that crawls and scythes with muggles. Surprisingly, Elizabeth hadn't gone home yet. Odd, but more convenient for me. I suppose she doesn't wish to return home - given the state she's in.

My body plopped down into a bliss of cold sheets, glaring over at the empty bed that Elizabeth Kane used to lie in so often. I then turned my attention toward the other beds and spotted Kiara Weasley, fast asleep with the thin covers thrown over her head. Katherine was nowhere to be seen.

I sat alone with my thoughts in the quiet room, and I was finally certain of what I was to do. Over the few months, I and Elizabeth Kane have spent together, the spark of trust that had ignited between us had been extinguished into ashes.

It wasn't entirely my fault, there were other parties involved. Ultimately, though, It was my failure that lead to our untimely demise. I'd scared her away and now she was off. I must earn her trust once more, and this time I cannot let it be blown away from my grasp by idiotic weasels. That is imperative. After what she's been through, how could I ever possibly do that?

I stood up from my bed, and quietly stalked my way towards Elizabeth's. As I neared it, a few loud snores came from Kiara, making my head fly in her direction. I shot her presumably sleeping body a pointed look, my eyes narrowing as I turned to face Elizabeth's bed once more.

I crouched down, and with force, I pulled her chest from underneath the bed. The items inside clattered and clashed, causing a jarring crash to erupt from it. I grimaced as my eyes raced towards Kiara's bed, and to my fortune, she remained soundly in slumber. I went on my feet as I brought my wand out, and whispered quietly.

"Muffliato."

My eyes narrowed once more as I came closer to Kiara, and I hovered over her for a few moments. I watched her. Then, after assuring she was fast asleep, I returned to the chest beneath Elizabeth's bed.

As my hands reached for it, I paused. I thought of the possibilities that Elizabeth could've cast a protective charm on the chest, but decided that I had no time to ponder, as Kiara could've awoken at any given moment, or Katherine could return if she decided she wanted to. As my hands pried, it was locked shut. She'd used a charm. I grumbled to myself, once again brandishing out my wand with stealth.

"Alohomora," I said assertively, watching as the chest still would not open. I was disappointed, to say the very least.

I could only assume that whatever she hid in that chest was important to her, since she'd cast so many protective charms. My hands rested on each other as I thought. I promptly backed away from the chest and pointed my wand toward it.

"Cistem Aperio!" I shouted, and watched as the chest then flew open.

Sparing no given time, I then began rummaging through her things, inspecting each one with woeful thought. Seemingly, none of the items seemed to have much importance to me or her, until, I came across a book.

My interest was more than piqued, I was intrigued. A diary. Suddenly, it felt as if all my worries had the answers lying just beneath the worn cover of this diary. It was a sight for sore eyes.

I praised myself mentally, knowing that this sacred text full of Elizabeth Kane's most careful secrets would surely give me answers on how I could regain her trust. As I began to flip through the pages, I heard distant steps come from behind me.

They echoed closer each second. I slammed the book shut, and quickly threw all her items back into the chest. As I heard her enter our dormitories from behind me, I kicked the chest back underneath her bed with my foot and sat down on the bed. As she entered the room, she eyed me with a certain suspicion.