The Fearsome Name of Riddle

A Plan Failed

As the days grew longer, there was an itch of impatience that annoyed Victoria Malfoy. The Basilisk had terrified her but the more muggleborns were petrified and not killed, the more that fear died.

Victoria stood with her back against the wall in the first floor corridor. She was leaning against Tom's shoulder as they stood watching their classmates hurry down the corridors like they would be attacked at any minute. The new rules had restricted any after class activities. All students could only leave the common rooms for classes and meal times. Prefects and staff were to escort the younger years between destinations, keeping students in large groups. It made communicating with the Basilisk difficult. 

"Don't look so sour," Tom told her, watching her glare at the anxious but very much alive Myrtle Warren as she scampered down the corridor after a Ravenclaw prefect. 

"They're all going to be cured," Victoria sneered as she pushed off the wall and moved like she was going to follow the crowds of students but she turned and waited for him instead. "Isn't that wonderful, Tom. All those mudbloods are to be fed mandrake root and they're all going to be just fine." 

"Yes, splendid." Tom rolled his eyes as he took a step forward and grabbed her by the shoulders to whisper in her ear. "If you can make Myrtle cry, I can kill her tonight." 

Victoria looked shocked as she looked up at him. He was usually pretty good at telling how someone was feeling but there was something about Victoria's face that he couldn't quite decipher. Part of her looked horrified but there was an excitement in her eyes that almost egged him on. 

"I trust that you can manage that," Tom said, rubbing her shoulder to try and dismiss the idea of her being scared by the path they were taking. 

"Of course I can." A smirk spread across Victoria's face as she turned in his hands. 

"Come on." Dumbledore's authoritative voice turned several heads as he appeared to hurry them along. "One more class to go, no dawdling now."

His eyes lingered on Tom Riddle as the Slytherin prefect took his girlfriend by the hand and pulled her down the corridor. They blended in with the crowds until Tom guided them down to the dungeons. 

“What is this?” Victoria asked, eyes wide as he pushed them into a room she'd never seen before. 

It felt almost oppressive in there. Dark and lit on by a multitude of flickering candles. The dark magic was thick in the air as Victoria looked down at the circle on the floor with a jagged looking knife in the centre. 

“Tom, what are you doing?”

“I just need your help with one little thing,” Tom said, shutting and locking the heavy wooden door behind them. “How much do you know about a bit of rare magic called a horcrux?”

Victoria shook her head with a light shrug. The word was completely foreign to her. 

“With this knife,” Tom explained, moving past her and picking up the iron blade. Kneeling down, he looked up at Victoria as he offered her the dagger. “You will carve runes into me, one on my chest and one on my back. When I speak the magic, you hold the wand and speak it with me. It will scour my soul so that when it splits, I can attach it to my diary.”

“You're removing a piece of your soul?” Victoria's voice shook as Tom put the dagger into her hands. 

“Victoria,” Tom said softly, the warm candlelight flickering red in his eyes, “when I do this, I become immortal.”

“You want me to cut you?” Victoria asked, fingers closing around the handle as her other hand on his shoulder. 

“Don't be afraid.” He shrugged his robes from his shoulders and began to unbutton his shirt as he stared up into her eyes. “The rite of the horcrux is one of the greatest feats of magic in the world. Do this with me, my love, please.”