Aberration; Tom Riddle

XXXIII

 E S T E L L E

The wind was howling and slamming against the windows of the castle. She huddled up closer to the fire and continued to read her book. Dominic had asked her where Tom was and it had been a few hours since he had returned. They were supposed to be studying for the herbology test together and it had already been a hour and he had not returned. Tom seemed to hate him and she couldn't understand why.

Estelle decided to walk around the castle for some fresh air and to see if she could find Dom. She pulled her soft sweater closer towards her as she reached the courtyard. A dark figure was leaning against the wall and she was able to get a closer look when he used a lighter to burn the end of a cigarette. "Tom?"

"What are you doing here Harper?"

"I was looking for Dom."

He took a long drag of his cigarette. "Who the fuck is Dom?"

"You know him. The guy that was with me at Slughorn's dinner party."

"The fucking mudblood?"

"Don't fucking say that. You sound like a right dick," she replied. "Anyway where is he? Dom told me he was going to find you."

A small smirk inched its way onto his lips. "I don't have a clue. Maybe check the fucking girls toilets because he seems to be a creep."

"What are you talking about? Just tell me where he is Riddle, I don't have time for this."

"Like i said I don't know. I'm tired so I'm going to go and sleep- you should too darling," he stated as he crushed the cigarette with his foot. He waved lazily before merging in with the darkness.

Estelle ignored his attitude as she had become inclined to in. 

A disturbing feeling settled in her core.

----

The hall was full of tension.

 It was the evening and they had all be called for a assembly and everyone knew emergency meetings were only called if something terrible had happened. Headmaster Dippet stood on the podium with a expression full of fear and sadness. "I am saddened to inform you that a student from Hufflepuff has been found dead." A series of gasps echoed around the room. "This morning, Dominic Harrow was found in the forbidden forest. It is likely that he walked into the forest and got lost and the wolves were able to find him before he was able to get out. I would like to take a few minutes to mourn his death."

A clump formed in the back of Estelle's throat. How could Dom be dead? He was studying with her yesterday before he went to meet Tom... Although she hadn't asked, she had noticed specks of blood covering his clothes yesterday. He couldn't have killed Dominic- right?

Her eyes darted around the hall and she quickly noticed that Tom was not sitting in his usual seat. He never missed assemblies and as a prefect he was expected to be here, unless he knew what it was going to be about...

Bile rose up her throat as she rushed out the great hall. She ran towards the room of requirement and stormed in.

He was sitting on the couch with a devilish smirk. "Shouldn't you be in the great hall?"

"I need you to answer me honestly," she declared with a slightly shaking voice.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he tried to grab her hand, however she stumbled back and stared at him with tears in her eyes.

"Did you kill Dominic?"

"What?"

"ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTION TOM", she screamed. "DID YOU FUCKING KILL HIM?"

"Where is this coming from Estelle. What are you fucking talking about?"

Tears streamed down her face. "Please- please- please don't tell me you killed him. He was last with you and now he's dead. I SAW BLOOD ON YOUR SHIRT. JUST TELL ME YOU DIDN'T DO IT."

Tom took a deep sigh. "If you would just let me explain-"

"JUST FUCKING DENY IT TOM. IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN YOU RIGHT? YOU COULDN'T HAVE KILLED SOMEONE."

"Just listen to me Harper."

It felt like her soul had shattered into a million different pieces. The person she had started to trust had killed her friend. "You're a fucking murderer. Since i know about your secret, you're going to kill me or erase my memory aren't you?" she whispered.

There was a high risk that erasing large proportions of someone's memories could lead to brain damage and consequently short term memory loss.

Tom stared at her. He was calculating what to do next. "It would be better to get rid of you- but i can't seem to bring myself to do it..." he spoke softly. "Get out and run far away before i change my mind."

Estelle walked out the room and sprinted towards her dorm. As soon as she closed the door, she slid down onto the floor, her head resting on the cold wall behind her. A cascade of tears kissed her cheek as she let out a painful sob.

What was wrong with her?

She should have been telling Headmaster Dippet that Tom had murdered her, however she couldn't do it.