Perfidy | Tom Riddle |

13.

She experienced her day without running into the boys or Tom, trying to avert them as much as possible. Instead, she spent most of it with Septimus where the two got along and had herbology together. Sitting together in the library Lyra had grabbed a history of the dark arts book reading every page encrypting it into her memories. If she couldn't find Voldemort's identity yet the least she could do is try to find out every single little thing she can about the magic behind Horcruxes. Frustrated after failing to find some text about them she snapped her book close and pulled out the third one, starting all over again.

"Seems like you're looking for something?" Septimus, who sat across from Lyra observed how frustrated she looked.

"More like trying to gather more information about something I know somewhat of. But I doubt a school library would possess what I'm looking for." sighing, not wanting to read anymore she looked up at him and shook her head.

He stood up and began to put the books away, "Wait what are you doing I'm reading these."

"Lyra you're on your third book in an hour. Trust me what you need to do is eat, and what you look at that." he looked at his wrist with no watch present, "it's dinner time. let's go."so he hauled her up and dragged her out into the dining hall.

They stood in between their tables, "I forgot we sit at separate tables Weasley." she looked over to the Slytherin dining table where Mulciber and Nott were frantically waving for her to join them.

"You know you should get acquainted with your house too, after all, you'll be spending most of your time around them. But if it makes you uncomfortable you can always join my friends and me."

"As much as I would like to sit at your table and provoke a scandal. I feel if I do I'll definitely be the black sheep of Slytherin. Thank you though for the offer." parting away from her new friend she walked over to the group when Mulciber stood up, seized her bag and sat her down between him and Nott right across from Tom.

"What's with you and Weasley, I'm a little hurt you've been neglecting me for him." Mulciber frowned as he filled Lyras plate with food.

"We had another class together and he's been showing me around that's all." receiving a bite of the mashed potatoes, he had fixated for her.

"I could've shown you around, I'm an excellent guide for students."

"Mulciber if you're sober enough then you could show me around." her remark caused a few laughs from the surrounding group, "See even she knows about your drinking habit. Nice one Lenkrov."

"Oh shut it Rosier as if you don't retain the same habits as well." he eyed the curly golden-haired boy. They started to bicker which she had already come accustomed to, the group seems to consistently remind her of similar times at her own Slytherin table years ago.

She reached for her bag and pulled out a book she managed to swipe before Septimus dragged her away and turned her focus onto it while eating dinner with the unoccupied hand.

"Runes et Sanguinem Magicae? Why does someone need a Runes and Blood magic directory at Hogwarts?" whipping her head up, his black eyes, which now under this light seem to represent an unusually deep brown was attentive to the book she was researching.

"You speak Latin I see" her attention focused once again onto the pages, not wanting to look at him.

"You avoided my question I see."

Flinging her book shut which resulted in the group turning their eye on the two, Lyra gave a fake smile, "Not avoiding anything Riddle, since you're so interested I'm reading out of curiosity."

Returning a bland smile back at her while placing his elbows crossed onto the wooden table," Runes and blood magic have been outdated for centuries, what would cause you to be so curious about it. It's almost as if you're devising something." raising an eyebrow at her.

"Well smartass."

"Lyra don't" placed his hand on top of her's, Mulciber was worried she would push him too far, Riddle was already angry for what happened in potions and Mulciber hoped she would let it go. Instead, she knocked his hand away, not glancing towards him.

"Since you seem to love to jump to conclusions, why don't you divulge me what it is you believe I plan on achieving with this book then." her palm motioned towards the book in front of her. Riddle didn't mention anything, and he dug his nails into his skin, feeling the blood running from the deep marks. Never in all his years of Hogwarts, did anyone dare speak to him with such vulgarity.

"For a woman you-"

"For a woman I what, I dare you to finish whatever stupid remark you're thinking." Completely forgetting she was in the '40s for a second, sexism was up until now a widespread attitude towards women.

He stood up with his palms flattened against the table leaning over, " For a woman, you certainly lack class and respect. So vulgar, didn't your parents instruct you how to respect others."

Mirroring Riddle she did exactly as he achieved standing up enraged with the comment about parents, "As a man, you should know when to shut the fuck up with your stupid remarks. Looks like your parents didn't teach you how to remove the stick up your arse, who the hell are you for me to show any respect or class to?"

"Mom, dad please the children are watching," Abraxas said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Shut up Malfoy." they both said in unison. Gradually their argument was capturing the attention of other students.

"If you were ever my daughter, I would've abandoned you the moment you were born." His remark severely wounded Lyra, she had constantly wondered the reason for her being an orphan, why her parents had abandoned her in that horrid hell hole.

The boys seemed shocked at Riddle's statement, they all knew Lyra was from an orphanage but she didn't know that they did, that they had tried to dig into her past and uncover her identity.

For the first time in years, she lost her temper and snapped at him. "I pity the woman who will one day have to love someone as sexist, narcissistic, and moronic as you. Your parents should've plunged you off at the orphanage right after you were popped out. They apparently didn't love you enough as a child seeing as how you've turned out to be an absolute fucking wanker."

Lyra secured her book and flung her bag over her shoulder beginning to walk away from the dining hall. But she heard rapid footsteps following her knowing it definitely was Riddle. Picking up her pace she tried to shake him off but failed to do so when she felt a sturdy pair of hands wrap around her arm and began to drag her painfully towards the astronomy tower.

Riddle locked the door and cast a silencing spell around the area. He gripped her throat, squeezing it, and forced her back towards the wall. Hard.

"Don't you ever speak to me that way around the others. Don't think I haven't forgotten the scar you so happily left me with. I will give you another one, one you won't be capable to relieve with your insufficient potions." The crazed look in his eyes almost alarmed her. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't speak, his icy grip was unduly strong restricting her airflow, feeling every limited breath burn her chest. She had tried to force him away and clawed at his arms deeply leaving lines of blood.

With the searing back pain, the struggle to push him away, and the combination of him squeezing the life out of her. She felt herself growing weak, Tom however maintained his grip not loosening it.

All she heard before everything turned black was, "Riddle stop you'll kill her!"