The Golden Age of Hollywood . Tom Riddle

Chapter 16

            Edmund Rosier knew he was smart and observant. He and Voldemort had their falling-outs and disagreements, but his skills were the reason the Dark Lord kept him close. And this year it was clear that Voldemort had ostracized himself from everybody, including his closest allies, became unreachable and closed in himself. Edmund had seen how Voldemort and Norma looked when they left his mother's birthday party, then, just days later in Hogwarts Express, Voldemort's stunned face and Norma's sad but resolute expression, followed by swift parting. From that moment, she hadn't spoken to the Dark Lord, and it was already early October. Knowing these facts, even a fool could and easily out two and two together.

Rosier was leaning on a wall in the shadows of the Slytherin common room, patiently waiting for Lucretia Black to leave Norma alone. Eventually, the girl excused herself and went to the dorms. Rosier walked to Norma assured- Voldemort spent all his free time hidden away in a library these days, meaning there was no chance he will walk in on them. Without even saying a greeting, Edmund dropped into a chair opposite from Norma, matching her slumped position. She didn't react.

"So. You and Voldemort split up?" He asked casually.

Norma rolled her eyes.

"I'm sure entire school knows about it at this point," she said.

"Quite the opposite, actually: only the closest few know. But the general public will notice soon enough."

Norma didn't reply. She kept aimlessly scribbling with her quill on a piece of parchment to distract herself. Edmund watched her attentively.

"What happened between you two anyway?" he asked.

The question made Norma look up, her eyebrow raised.

"He didn't tell you?" she asked, and Edmund shook his head. "Well, to put it short, I didn't like being humiliated and forgotten, only brought up when a service was needed."

An uncomfortable silence followed, Edmund observing Norma quietly for a minute. She had gone back to looking at her parchment.

"Don't think I'm rude, please, but you don't look so good right now," he said after a while, making Norma sign and drop the quill.

"Because I don't feel good," she hissed with growing frustration. "I feel awful! I still love To-Voldemort. I just don't feel like I can solve our problems."

Edmund smirked, making sure to cover his mouth with his hand.

"Do you still call him "Tom"? You've almost said his name."

Norma threw him a murderous look from underneath her lashes.

"Only in private," she said tersely. "But it doesn't give you a permit to call him by name. To you, and everybody else, he's Voldemort."

"I wouldn't think of it."

"Good," Norma's tone was sharp.

Edmund nodded and leaned on a table.

"After all, what happened between you two?"

Norma's eyes narrowed and she curled her lip, and yet her voice remained steady.

"Did you come here for gossip? You can leave then."

Edmund stopped himself from wincing at her harsh words. The conversation was much harder than he expected, but then again, he should have known, having never spoken to Norma about serious topics. He would have to pull on her heartstrings, and it was a risky thing to do, if Voldemort was anything to go by.

"No, I came here for help," said Edmund. "Believe it or not, the Dark Lord had been affected by this breakup, he'd largely abandoned his duties. Some are beginning to lose faith in him."