Winters Cloak | S.S

20 | Coward

"I have waited for this opportunity...and yet here you all are, ungrateful." He walked around in a steady pace, eyeing each visitor or newcomer with a blistering smile. "Half of you did not show up to our last meeting! Such disloyalty will not be tolerated." A few people looked out in the distance, or kept their heads down in shame as they listened to him speak.

"We tried our best, my Lord." A familiar voice you recognised from the Ministry was heard. Your mouth turned agape. You could only see a bit of blonde and a tall figure as the smoke clouded your vision.

"Your best is not enough. You all know who you are." Riddle stated. Once his eyes met yours for a brief second, you couldn't help but freeze. You could have swore you saw an evil glint rummage in his previously unfazed eyes. You hadn't noticed but he was staring at you for longer than just a moment. "And you might be...?"

You gulped as he inched closer, frantically glancing around to find Severus but you could not find him anywhere. Death eaters as he liked to call them, all turned their heads to observe you.

All eyes were now on you. Your heart skipped a beat, feeling the intense pressure on your chest as if it was being crushed by an immense boulder. Yet, you still couldn't find Severus in the crowd.

So much for helping me.

"I asked you a question!" He shouts.

His eyes darkening by the second. For some reason, your mouth felt dry and you couldn't croak a single word out. Your heart continued to stammer and your mind raced with so many thoughts.

"She is the Prophecy. We shouldn't obstruct her, she may be of some use, perhaps?" Severus slid in past you and stood in front of you. Shielding you away from the unwelcoming red eyes.

You sighed in relief. Took him long enough.

"Well then Severus, you are my loyal servant. I shall have her join us." Riddle nudged Severus aside as he continued his walk to you. Eyeing Severus in slight panic again, he just raised his eyebrows. Not intervening anymore. It was all up to you now.

"I'll serve you the best I can." You muttered. He did not respond but took in your image. Chattering could be heard from the crowd, until Riddle raised his hand. Everybody immediately went silent.

Once it was dead quiet, he took another step closer to you. Slow steps as if he was dragging them. He was quite charming to look at.

"You are young." He stated with an obvious tone. You grimaced at him, trying to understand what he was trying to imply. "So weak and fragile, my dear." His hand was sharply lifted, you jolted a bit once his palm pressed against your cheek.

You couldn't utter a single word out, it felt absolutely humiliating. Your cheeks started to heat up and you didn't like this one bit.

"She is here for the dark mark." Severus stepped in again. Trying to make Riddle pay less attention to you. You gave Snape a fearful look, which drove him to question his own motives—he looked back at you with a mysterious expression.

Now that you were here, you didn't want to get the dark mark.

The atmosphere was icy cold, prickling at your skin. You had never felt more uncomfortable than now.

"Severus." Riddle showed his palm to him, no verbally telling him to stay quiet, just like the rest of the death eaters. Severus looked at him with displeasure—his hand clenching and unclenching.

You took a glance at Riddle's profile, his skin was paler then ever. But his natural human features were still there. He hadn't removed his palm off your face yet. "She can speak for herself." He turned his head back to you.