Marauder's Daughter (Eventual Tom Riddle X OC)

Chapter 62: Working Together

I got a single good night's rest back in my own bed in the cottage, where I awoke refreshed and ready for my journey. I would be heading to Little Hangleton today, and it would take the better part of the day just to get there on my bike. I could have Apparated there and made the journey faster, but honestly I wanted to take my bike and just enjoy a good old fashioned road trip along the English countryside. I've only gotten to ride the bike a few times, so I was looking forward to doing that more. I promised the twins I would be at the shop by the end of the week, which should give me ample time to find and destroy the ring.

"Alright Dad, Remy, I'm heading out!" I say as I sling my backpack onto my shoulder and head into the kitchen to say goodbye.

"And you're sure you don't need help?" Dad asks worriedly.

"Nah, this one's unguarded, it should be easy to get." I shrug casually. "Besides, I have company." I add, tapping the pouch around my neck.

"Oh, him. That makes me feel loads better." Dad says sarcastically, glaring at the pouch.

"Be careful Abby, there could still be spells guarding it even if it appears unguarded." Remus warns me wearily. "Be back in time for setting up the twins' shop, you did promise to be there."

"I know, I wouldn't miss it for anything. I don't trust those two to organize and set up the shop without me anyway." I grin cheekily at them and head out the door.

The ride to Little Hangleton started off peacefully enough. I was enjoying the wind blowing in my face and the sun shining down on me. I pulled over though when I had an idea, and I ran my hand along the diary and invited Tom into my realm, but doing like I did a few days ago and let him see what I see in the real world.

"Abigail?" Tom asks curiously, looking at the highway in front of me.

"Hey Tom!" I say cheerily. "Join me in a ride?" I offer up, but take off again on my ride anyway without waiting for a reply.

"This is muggle transportation. Is this quite safe?" He asks curiously, for once there's no venom behind his 'muggle' term he used.

"Yeah, it's a motorcycle." I inform him, my attention on the road ahead of me. "I figured you would enjoy a change of scenery. Normally I would say hang on tight but... well, you know. Sit back and relax."

We chat idly along the route from there, me pointing out landmarks and him asking questions about bikes and other cars I pass. He was frozen as a diary in the 40's, so cars have changed a lot since he last saw them. He was trying to hide it, but I could see he was impressed with the muggle's advancement on transportation. 

We made it to the village as night was falling, and I decide to spend the night at the local inn/pub. I got a lot of strange looks when I came in, they clearly don't get a lot of travelers in this small town.

"I'm uh, going around small towns to learn about some of their legends for a report for Uni." I say to the barkeep as I order a drink and some dinner, she's an older woman who asked what I was doing here. I could spot several of the other locals were listening to my answer skeptically. "I was just passing through, but I figured your town might have a story to add to my report?" I ask innocently, and she sighs and begins to rant. I could tell she was a gossip, and was probably just waiting to rant about the village to someone new.

"Well... I don't know if 'mysterious murders' fit your report, but we do have one story." She starts to say in a heavy country accent, looking at me less than subtly to see if I'm interested, and I lean forward like I am and nod vigorously. Tom scoffs in my mind at the scene, but otherwise stays quiet. "There used to be a family what lived in that large house over there on the hill." She points out the grimy window, and I can just make out the silhouette of the manor. "Only thing is, all three members of the family were found dead one day. The cook is the one what found them all, still laying in their dinner clothes. There were no wounds on them, they all just stopped living at the same time. The only thing was, they all had a terrified expression on their face."