Abraxas, Burga, Nott and Avery step inside the Room of Requirement. They're sweating. Their movements are hesitant. They really hate those 'meetings'. Tom, Yaxley and Mulciber are already there, at the center of the hall.
The walls are painted black. There is free space for dueling, with no chairs or a table this time. Which only arouses their suspicion. Someone is going to be punished today. For what reason? Hell if they know.
Tom smiles slightly, once the doors open and the group comes into sight. He really loves those moments. Harry has accused him many times of being into sadism. Well, who is he to deny that? Inflicting pain is maybe one of the few things that brings him joy. He feels something at such a time, something that resembles... happiness or glee, if he were to be honest. It's not the same thing though, controlling someone who is defenseless and actually fighting that one person who always always fights back. That's why the happiness that comes from using the Cruciatus is minimum, compared to the times he duels with the Gryffindor during Defense. Oh, those moments are truly spectacular. But, for now, it will have to do.
The four Slytherins stand besides Mulciber and Yaxley, before focusing their attention on him. He knows how aware they are of the reason for today's meeting. That makes things even more exciting. Well, for him, at least.
"Hello everyone." He starts off, voice casual, to make them feel even more unsettled than they are already, "Do you know the reason why you were called here tonight?"
He has eight eyes blinking at him, puzzled. (Minus Mulciber and Yaxley. They know what he's about to refer to.)
"Abraxas?"
The heir of the Malfoy House lifts his head up to look at him directly in the eye, mind shields on. "Yes?"
"Can you take a guess?" He asks mildly.
"Um, you told us to do something... and we didn't do it?"
"No. It's not that. Not this time. Thank you though. Walburga?"
The only girl in the room scolds her face into a neutral expression before responding. "Maybe... you discovered something? About the war?"
He almost grins. He hides it at the last minute. "Yes, that's actually very close to the truth. I did make a discovery. Not for the war though, but for one of you. One of you... is a traitor. One of you searched through my things this afternoon. I didn't deem anything missing but, you know, sniffing around other people's property..." He makes a tsking sound with his teeth, "...not good."
Six eyes worried. Six eyes shifting to each other, looking for answers.
"So here's what I propose." He continues, totally unfazed. "If the accused were to reveal themselves now, I will decrease the punishment to five minutes. If they don't, I will simply leave it at ten, as per usual." He takes another look, particularly at the four people team, which seems separated from the other two boys. "Now what will it be?"
"Give us five minutes."
Oh. That he doesn't expect. Very interesting. It was Abraxas that spoke, quite bravely, might we add.
"Five minutes, you said?" He asks with a sickly sweet tone.
"Yes."
"For what exactly?"
"To decide who will offer himself up for your judgment."
Oh God. Walburga's little lapdogs are way more idiotic than he thought.
"Look." He replies warmly, "I... love the spirit of solidarity you have going on there. It's absolutely heartwarming. But the thing is, someone must be punished. I don't have it in me to punish the wrong person, while the guilty party is merely watching. It's not fair." Of course he does. But this little chaos he has created, it's worth the lie.
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No Pain, No Glory | Tomarry
Fanfiction(An alternative universe where Harry was born in the 1920s and went in school with Tom Riddle. He is still the Chosen One from a prophesy with Grindelwald.) "Harry." "Tom. What the hell do you want now?" "To talk." "I have nothing to talk about with...
