Annabeth Chase and Things Are Getting Intense

Chapter Thirty Three

A/N: Hey everyone! I'm sorry I missed the update yesterday. I'd like to say I was busy packing, but that would be a lie. Anyway, I've been actually packing all day today so that's fun (my mom keeps throwing all the clothes she thinks are ugly into the donation bin (I'll probably steal it back later).

Okay so I wanted to talk about what's going to happen when I leave for Israel. I'm leaving Sunday, so I'm not sure if I'll have a chapter that day, but I'll try to get one up. I'm hoping to continue the book/series, but I'm expecting the first couple of weeks to be a bit hectic. 

I think it would be good for me to do something familiar in a new environment so hopefully I'll be able to keep up with updates, but I'm not sure right now how free time I'll have, so we'll see. 

It's going to be like fourteen hours in travel time (I have a layover in France) so maybe I'll get writing done then, but who knows. 

Anyway, here's the chapter. Enjoy!

They landed in the memory exactly as it had been before: Slughorn's office, the sky outside the window dark. Slughorn sitting in his armchair, the boys all sitting on stools and low chairs. Slughorn was holding a wine glass in one hand and digging around in a box of crystalized pineapple with the other.

Just like before, Riddle said, "Sir, is it true Professor Merrythought's retiring?"

"Tom, Tom, if I knew I couldn't tell you." Slughorn waved his finger at Riddle, but ruined the effect by winking. "I must say, I'd like to know where you get your information, boy. More knowledgeable than half the staff, you are."

Riddle smiled and the other boys laughed and looked at him admiringly.

"What with your uncanny ability to know things you shouldn't, and your careful flattery of those who matter—thank you for the pineapple, by the way, you're right, it is my favorite—"

Several of the boys laughed again.

"—I confidently expect you to rise to Minister of Magic within twenty years. Fifteen, if you keep sending me pineapple, I have excellent contacts at the Ministry."

Riddle just smiled while the boys laughed and cast him more admiring looks.

"I don't know what politics would suit me, sir," Riddle said when the laughter stopped. "I don't have the right kind of background, for one thing."

The other boys smirked at each other, like they were enjoying a private joke. They probably knew about Riddle's ancestry, or at least suspected.

"Nonsense," Slughorn said. "Couldn't be more obvious you come from decent wizarding stock, talent like yours. No, you'll go far, Tom, I've never been wrong about a student yet." The small golden clock on Slughorn's desk chimed ten times, and Slughorn jumped and looked around. "Goodness gracious, is it that time already? You'd better get going, boys, or you'll all be in trouble. Lestrange, I want that essay by tomorrow or it's detention. Same for you, Avery."

The boys left the room one by one. With a little effort, Slughorn heaved himself out of his armchair and went to set down his empty wine glass on his desk. There was a small noise and he turned around. Riddle was still standing there, of course.

"Look sharp, Tom. you don't want to be caught out of bed out of hours, and you a prefect..."

"Sir, I wanted to ask you something."

"Ask away then, my dear boy, ask away."

"Sir, I wondered what you know about... about Horcruxes?"

Slughorn stared at him for a moment, his fingers absentmindedly tapping on the stem of his wine glass. "'Project for Defense Against the Dark Arts, is it?"