𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧 | 𝐭.𝐦.𝐫

𝟏𝟗

It's her grandfather who acts as if nothing's amiss that brings her the most relief when they step back on Black grounds. No alarms blaring signalling soul-carrying dark artifacts are found in range.

Riddle's diary is snug on the inner breast pocket of Aster's robes as they go through the motions of her return and her things are arranged, her books settled on their shelves, her clothes hanged and folded.

One thing she knew was that neither of the two must catch wind of Riddle's resurgence. She knew perfectly well her grandfather's stance when it came to the Dark Lord and now she was going against what he believed in by working with the man.

Sirius himself had faced off against him and his followers, Aster knew from all the tales she was told about the Order of the Phoenix.

Speaking of Sirius, something was off about the man the whole dinner. He was snippier than usual. Usually he'd be poking her some more about her year. Other than glancing at her every so often (to which she did not hide her weird looks) he let her be and sped off somewhere else right after.

Arcturus never really gave Aster a bedtime even when she was younger. It was no use when he'd find her anyway wandering the halls in the middle of the night sneaking back after staying too long in the library. Too engrossed in her books, she forgets she can bring some to her bedroom and read there instead. A few times she really did fall asleep in the library.

Not even the full moon shone through the top of the trees of the Black Forest when Aster finally decided to stop in her tracks. She took out the diary and a simple ballpoint pen. She stole it from Sirius' desk because he'd be the only one having one lying around in their vicinity.

She stands for a while and listens for a low hum. When she finds nothing but the eerie silence of the forest she writes, 'You can come out now.'

Riddle materialises beside her, solid again, rolling his shoulders. "Thank Merlin, took you long enough. I could not stand another day in there. Where did you even bring me?"

"Black Forest."

"Like the cake."

"The forest came before the cake." Aster had remembered arguing about this with Draco once.

"We're in the Black Forest." His head swivelled around before looking at her. "Why are we in the Black Forest?"

"Say Black Forest one more time." Aster sighed. "I had to get us far out enough so I don't trip the alarms that there's a stranger's magical signature on the grounds."

"Ah, the infamous Black paranoia."

"We're always infamous for something," she grumbled before sitting down on the dry grass, Riddle following suit and settling in front of her.

He actually looked confused. "You know you never told me how you became a Black."

"Let's trade information. Let's do the Empyrean Exchange." Aster had been waiting for this ever since the rush that was their deal in that Chamber.

It was less barbaric than veritaserum and fairer too.

"Agreed." Riddle nodded quickly enough.

Both of them pinned down their right pinky finger with their thumbs, curled the remaining fingers and hooked their hands together. Locked until they answer the other's question with nothing but the truth. A finger is freed for every answer and cut if they ever lied. Where did you think the pinky swear come from?

Three exchanges, one for each finger curled. That and both have one chance to pass answering.

Riddle's hands were thin and long, cold, Aster noticed as he asked his previous question again.