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—RIGEL PANTED, WAKING UP FROM YET ANOTHER NIGHTMARE. It had been a few weeks since Pettigrew's break-in. Rigel was now getting more and more distant from everyone (including Sirius and Remus) everyday.
He rubbed his eyes and stepped out of his bed, walking out of his dorm. "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." He mumbled, pointing his wand at the map in his hands.
The Marauder's map was confiscated from the Weasley twins by Remus, since it was rightfully Rigel's.
••
Rigel sighed, looking at the view on top of the astronomy tower. "Mischief managed." He whispered, watching as the ink disappeared.
He took a deep breath and pointed his wand at the map again, "I swear that I'm up to mischief."
The map started showing writing:
Mr. Prongs would like Rigel to know that he should know the password better than anybody else.
Mr. Padfoot agrees with Mr. Prongs, and would like Rigel to maybe sent a letter to the real Padfoot to know the password?
Mr. Moony would like Mr. Padfoot to know that he's a complete imbecile and that Rigel didn't do this on purpose.
Mr. Prongs would like Rigel to know that he is always there.
Mr. Padfoot would like Mr. Moony to shut up, and would like Rigel to know that the ones that love us, never really leave us.
Mr. Wormtail would like Rigel to know that he is sorry.
Rigel immediately sneered at the last part, his eyes then finding his father's handwriting. He looked up from the map, feeling a slight chill.
A dementor was getting near him, making him tense immediately. He couldn't even move due to the memory now appearing in his head:
"Please! Have mercy!"
"Take Harry and go!"
"—Silly girl!—"
"Expecto Patronum." A voice said behind him, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"What are you doing here?" Rigel scoffed, looking at Tom.
"You're welcome." Tom mumbled, pointing to the dementor that was now gone.
"I didn't need your help."
"Of course you didn't, but would it kill you to say 'thanks' every once in a while?"
"Thanks?" scoffed Rigel, "For what? Ruining my peace?"
"I'm sure you would've gotten great peace living without a soul."
"Atleast I would forget all about you." Rigel shot back, not realizing how Tom's face fell.
Tom didn't even know why Rigel's words actually hurt him, but he merely smiled softly. "I'm sorry." He said, smile vanishing when he saw his glare.
"Leave."
"I would," Tom said, eyes never leaving Rigel's. "but then you'd forget that I actually care for you."
Rigel looked at him in disbelief, smiling bitterly. "How ironic— Lord Voldemort cares for his worst enemy—"
"You are not my worst enemy. Harry Potter was. You're Rigel Black."
Rigel's smile vanished immediately, blinking a few times in shock. "But I want to be your enemy."
"If the thought makes you happy, then sure." Tom shrugged. "However, you're not my enemy. Stop trying to make it happen."
"Only if you stop treating me like I'm a broken doll." Rigel pointed out knowingly, rolling his eyes when Tom's eyes widened a bit. "You think I don't notice the pity looks you give me? Or the way you seem to be walking on eggshells around me as if I'd breakdown any second?"
Tom looked away, rubbing his forehead. "You're taking it the wrong way. I give you pity looks, because I know what it's like to live without your biological parents. I walk on eggshells around you because you always breakdown around me— and I mean that every stress you build up, it crumbles around me all the time, making you think that I'm responsible for it."
"Don't you understand?" Rigel asked, trying to control his anger and confusion. "People either pity me or hate me. Why can't you be part of those who hate me?"
"Why would I do that, Rigel?" Tom questioned back, looking shocked. He sighed when Rigel put his emotionless mask back on.
"Leave. Now."
Tom nodded, looking at him one last time, and left.
