Begged and borrowed time - Tom Riddle

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏

At precisely eleven o'clock that night, August and Tom cautiously exited the common room, their footsteps echoing in the deserted corridors.

August purposefully took a few steps ahead, creating a physical barrier between herself and Riddle, silently hoping to avoid any unwanted interaction with him. The tension between them was palpable, charged with unspoken animosity.

"Any other sleepwalking incidents this month, Flamel?" his voice laced with a mixture of amusement and underlying malice. August's muscles tensed, her fists involuntarily clenching at her sides.

She knew it would be wisest to ignore him and continue walking without acknowledging his presence. But she couldn't.

"What were you doing then?" she asked, her voice betrayed a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her-frustration, confusion, and an unquenchable thirst for the truth.

"I'm not quite sure what you mean, March," Riddle replied with a calculated ambiguity.

"You are," she persisted, her voice carrying an undercurrent of anger. "That night. The night we got caught. What were you doing there?" Her words hung in the air, an echo of the unspoken accusations that had haunted her since that fateful night.

Riddle's response was as enigmatic as ever, his voice betraying neither remorse nor satisfaction. "I don't believe that's any of your concern. However, I did engage in activities that were not permitted, and now I must face the consequences. I see no need to explain myself to you," he retorted.

August felt a surge of frustration welling up within her, her breath hitching slightly as she let out a huff of exasperation. Her bangs danced with the gust of wind, mirroring the turbulence of her emotions.

Filch was already waiting there, a grim expression etched upon his face. To August's surprise, Harry, Hermione, and Draco were also present. She had momentarily forgotten that Malfoy had received a detention as well.

"Follow me," commanded Filch, his voice filled with a twisted sense of satisfaction. He lit a lamp, casting an eerie glow in the dim surroundings, and led the group outside. His predatory gaze swept over them, as if relishing in their predicament. "I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh?" he taunted, his voice dripping with malice.

They trudged across the dark grounds, the soft crunch of their footsteps accompanied by Neville's intermittent sniffs. August couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation, her mind racing with thoughts of the impending punishment. It had to be something truly dreadful if Filch was reveling in their misery. The clouds raced across the moon, casting fleeting shadows upon them, adding to the air of foreboding.

As they approached Hagrid's hut, its warm light spilling from the windows, August couldn't help but notice a slight smile tugging at the corner of Harry's lips. It was a small, almost imperceptible gesture, but it spoke volumes. She understood the unspoken connection between Harry and Hagrid.

Filch, ever eager to assert his authority, seized upon it with a sneering remark. "I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Well, think again, boy. It's into the Forest you're going, and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece."

Neville emitted a small moan of distress, his grip tightening on the sleeve of Harry's robe. Even Malfoy, known for his cool and composed demeanor, came to an abrupt halt. His voice lacked its usual confidence as he repeated, "The Forest? We can't go in there at night. There are all sorts of things in there - werewolves, I heard."

Neville's fear was palpable, the sound of his choked noise reverberating through the tense air. Harry secretly reveled in the slight panic that tinged Malfoy's voice, a fleeting moment of satisfaction amidst the looming danger.