Deadly Obsession ~ Tom Riddle

𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔰𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫

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Riddle gazed down at the book in his lap, finding solace in the quiet of the common room. The fire blazing in the hearth was faint, yet it illuminated the room rather effectively. The icy water of the Black Lake gently washed up against the windows of the Slytherin Common Room, offering a comforting sound.

However, it came to an abrupt end with Rosier's entry. "Where have you been?" He asked the boy as he sat down.

"Quidditch practice. Malfoy and Black should be showing up shortly." Rosier responded, extending his legs as he sank onto the couch.

The prefect nodded and shifted his focus to the article he was reading. Riddle clenched his jaw in frustration as Lestrange entered the room, a smirk on his lips as he neared Rosier.

"What's got you all cheery?" Rosier inquired, lifting his brow in interest. "I'm going to find Beaumont," Lestrange declared, grinning. Riddle's eyes met the boy's, and his smile faded almost instantly. 

"You're having a bit too much fun with her, are you not?" Rosier's tone was humorous as he asked. 

"No such thing as too much fun," the wizard stated with a smirk. 

"What's got you so interested in her?" Rosier's gaze remained locked on the boy. Lestrange returned his gaze to Riddle and Rosier, flashing a crooked grin.

"The challenge. She's a difficult one to crack."

Riddle's expression remained unchanged: "And you think you'll be the one to do it?" Lestrange nodded firmly and smirked.

"I'd love to see you try," Rosier remarked, provoking a crude gesture from Lestrange as he exited the room.  

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Lyra found herself standing at the edge of Black Lake, gazing at the calm surface of the lake. This area of the castle seemed to give her an unusual level of comfort. The gravel crunched beneath her feet as she retreated from the lake, the waves pushing in further. A tiny smile formed on her face at the normality of her current circumstances.

For as long as she could remember, she had yearned for nothing more than to feel safe. Despite how she felt at the time, she knew there was no place more hazardous for her than Hogwarts. Regardless of Albus Dumbledore's promises to protect her, she knew he wouldn't be able to do much if Grindelwald himself showed up to take her back. 

Lyra froze as branches snapped to her side. From the corner of her eye, she noticed a shadowy figure crouching between the trees. She leaned down slowly and grabbed her wand.

Her eyes widened with dread as she caught a glimpse of who it was. It couldn't be, not this fast, she thought as she drew closer to the person.

"How far did you think you could run from us, Rebel?"

Time, space, and everything in between came to a standstill. She recognised that voice all too well. It made her shudder, and the blood in her veins chilled.

Rebel. There was only one person who called her that, and she realised that if he found her, Grindelwald's arrival was almost imminent.

Lyra's gaze met the figure's, and he stared deep into her eyes. It was as if he could see everything she'd concealed the moment she stepped out of Nurmengard, even those she'd known, along with others she'd grown to trust.

"You can't run forever, Rebel. We'll always be searching for you, and you know that I will always find you."

Lyra took a further step towards the trees and was not surprised when he kept still. Keeping their gaze fixed on one other, she blurted out, "How did you find me?" He laughed, and a warm sensation of familiarity washed over her.