Across any Divide

Chapter 11

"Care to get drunk tonight?" Riddle poked his head into Malfoy's room. Draco glanced up from the Transfiguration book he was reading, regarding his fellow Slytherin with a look of grand boredom.

"I supposed," Malfoy drawled after a moments contemplation. "That bloody ball is tomorrow."

"I'm more than aware," Riddle answered sharply as he strode into the room. He threw himself down into an armchair as he asked, "Have you figured out what you're going to wear?"

Draco nearly laughed. "That's what you want to discuss? Our outfits?"

Riddle didn't have the decency to look sheepish. He simply shrugged and shook his hair from his eyes. "Well, then, are you ready to attend the party where supposedly our soulmate awaits us? Our permanent ball and chain, a shackle to the Ministry, the lock on the leash they have tied around our necks?"

Draco reached for the whiskey bottle he kept on hand as he scowled, "Bloody hell, Riddle."

Riddle simply smirked as he extended a waiting hand for the bottle. "Outfits or our dismal destiny. Your choice."

Draco chose not to speak, and for several minutes silence reigned between them. The whiskey was the only thing he could feel - the heavy weight of the ball was pressing on him like a wet blanket. Riddle bringing up what hung in the balance didn't help settle his mind on the matter one bit.

"Seen anything in your mirror?" His curiosity demanded an answer.

Riddle looked up in surprise from the bottle he lifted to his lips. "Your voluntarily choosing to discuss this?"

"Apparently tonight I am," Draco growled. Riddle didn't push him; he took another swig from the bottle, savoring the burn as it traveled down his throat before speaking. "I see her now. Pretty regularly."

Draco eyed Riddle curiously for a moment before he admitted, "Me too."

"When do you check your mirror?" Riddle asked curiously. Draco reached for the bottle as he answered, "Whenever. Usually between classes or whatever."

"Not at night?" Matteo pressed.

Draco shot him a curios glance. "No... not usually. I mean, sometimes, but it doesn't always work."

Matteo processed this for a moment before he carefully said, "I see her at night."

Draco cocked a brow, "Like, as in you watch her sleep?"

"Don't go making it creepy," Matteo snarled defensively. "That's just when my mirror works best."

Malfoy didn't respond for a moment. He took another swig of the whiskey as he churned through Riddle's words. "So, you know who she is?"

Riddle didn't look up from his blank stare into the fire. "If you're asking if I'll recognize her if I see her tomorrow, the answer is yes."

Draco didn't say anything for a moment. He was about to speak again when Riddle spoke up first. "Even if we meet them tomorrow, we can't like them. We have to get rid of them - pay them off, make them disappear, kill them - whatever it takes. Finish out our parole and be done with blasted country."

Riddle's sour words washed over Draco with a shock of mild surprise. He studied his old friend for a moment before carefully asking, "Everything alright, mate?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Riddle snapped immediately. Draco shrugged defensively, "You just seem -"

"I'm perfectly fucking fine," Matteo scowled, "I never wanted anything to do with her, and looking into the damned mirror changes none of that. If I see her tomorrow, if I choose to speak to her, it will be purely to figure out which way will be the easiest way to handle the situation."