Veiled Truths - Tom Riddle

Prologue

The dim light of the hallway cast long shadows on the stone walls, the flickering torch flames the only source of illumination in the cold, subterranean passageways of Hogwarts. Aria Greengrass found herself pressed against the wall, Alexei Dolohov's lips urgently moving against hers. His hands roamed over her back, pulling her closer as if trying to merge their bodies into one.

Aria's heart raced, not entirely from passion but from a growing sense of unease. She had agreed to this stolen moment in the dark corridor, far from the prying eyes of their classmates, but now, something inside her was pulling away. She broke the kiss, pressing her hands against Alexei's chest to create some distance.

"Alexei, wait," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

He pulled back, his breath heavy, eyes dark with desire. "What is it, Дорогая*?" he asked, confusion and frustration mingling in his voice.

Aria looked away, unable to meet his intense gaze. "I... I can't do this anymore," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alexei's brows furrowed, a mix of hurt and anger flashing across his face. "What do you mean? We've been seeing each other for months now," he said, his voice rising with the weight of his emotions.

Aria swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. "I know, Alexei. And I'm sorry. It's just... I can't give you what you want. I can't keep pretending this is enough for me," she said, her voice breaking slightly.

Alexei stepped back, his expression turning cold. "So, what then? Was this all just a game to you?" he demanded, his tone sharp.

Aria shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "No, it wasn't a game. I care about you, Alexei. But I can't be what you need," she said, her voice trembling with sincerity.

Alexei's anger seemed to dissipate, replaced by a deep sadness. "I thought we had something real, Aria," he said quietly, his voice filled with pain.

Aria reached out, touching his arm gently. "We did. But sometimes, caring about someone means knowing when to let them go," she said softly.

Alexei looked at her, his eyes searching hers for answers. "Is there someone else?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Aria shook her head. "No, there's no one else. I just need to figure things out on my own," she said, hoping he would understand.

Alexei nodded slowly, stepping back and running a hand through his hair. "I guess this is goodbye then," he said, his voice heavy with resignation.

Aria's heart ached as she watched him turn and walk away, the weight of her decision settling heavily on her shoulders. She leaned against the cold stone wall, taking a deep breath and trying to steady her emotions.

As the sound of Alexei's footsteps faded, Aria heard a faint noise coming from a hidden room down the corridor. Her curiosity piqued, and her sense of responsibility kicking in, she pulled out her wand and cautiously approached the source of the noise. The closer she got, the louder and more unsettling the sounds became.

Reaching the door, she hesitated for a moment, listening intently. The noises inside were unmistakable now - a mix of hushed voices and something that sounded disturbingly like a struggle. Gathering her courage, Aria pushed the door open slightly and peered inside.

What she saw made her heart pound in her chest. Shadows moved violently in the dimly lit room, and a figure loomed over another, casting a menacing presence. Before she could fully comprehend the scene, a sudden flash of light and a powerful force knocked her backwards, sending her sprawling to the ground.

Pain shot through her body as darkness closed in around her vision. The last thing she heard before losing consciousness was the chilling laughter of someone she couldn't quite recognize. And then, everything went black.

*Дорогая - Darling