𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡'𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 || 𝘛𝘰𝘮 𝘙𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 (ʀᴇᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ)

| 8 |

Nyx was sitting in the Great Hall alongside with the rest of the students, whom were all gathered to listen to an important announcement the headmaster had to make. Personally, Nyx thought she knew what this was all about.

As most of the students were practically on the edges of their seats, intently waiting for the announcement to be made, Nyx took her time to scanning the crowd of people.

Beside her, Caelum was anxiously tapping his fingers against his leg, a clear sign to his distress. Some of her fellow housemates were snickering amongst one another, relishing the heavy tension, whilst some students whispered rumours to the ones closest to them. However, what really caught her eye was just a few seats down the Slytherin table, Riddle was being poked at by Malfoy, whom she thought  was always cocky and annoying, seemed rather stressed.

His shoulders were tensed, body awfully rigid, and just for a brief moment, right when he turned to stealthily look back to see if anyone was watching him, she caught onto his widened grey eyes that held absolute fear mixed with concern.

Just then, as if seemingly feeling a pair of eyes observing the certain blonde, his frantic gaze clashed with her cold ones. Although she had witnessed everything she needed to see, Abraxas's expression reverted back to a cold facade, clearly trying to manipulate her into thinking everything was normal, but unfortunately for him, it only intrigued her more, suspicion quickly arising within her.

Whatever it was, Malfoy—no—Riddle had done something he shouldn't have.

As much as she wanted to continue their staring competition, she was pulled out of her trance by Professor Dippet's raspy voice, caused by his old age.

"A tragic event had occurred just last night," he started off—clearly not lightly—for worried murmurs began to fill the once silent room, every student anticipating the worst to fall from the headmaster's lips, giving him their full attention. "It is with a heavy heart to announce that miss Myrtle Warren was found dead in the girls' lavatory."

A series of gasps and talking erupted throughout the Great Hall, creating havoc and pausing the headmaster's speech in the process. Most people weren't taking the news lightly, some of them starting to hyperventilate and cry, whilst some others only wore pitied and guilty looks.

They sympathised with the deceased girl, whom they never really knew or cared for. She personally thought it came off like a two sided face. Although she would mourn for the loss of Warren, she couldn't say she would miss her presence, seeing as she didn't exactly know her on a personal basis or anything about her, really.

Professor Dippet called for their attention again, continuing with whatever he had to say, but she didn't quite listen, only catching a certain part when he said something like the culprit behind the murder is still unknown.

Many of the students turned their gazes to a Slytherin girl, sitting slightly hunched over, trying to avoid meeting anyone's eyes. Olive Hornby. She had a reputation for constantly harassing the late girl and always being able to get away with the bully. From what Nyx assumed, students were pointing fingers to Hornby, accusing her for Warren's death.

Even if Hornby was a terrible person, Nyx personally thought she would never take bullying as far to murder. Besides, she had a suspect in mind.

Her gaze drifted back to where Riddle and his gang of boys sat, further down the table, watching as Riddle leaned in beside Malfoy's ear to whisper something to the latter, only to cause Malfoy's body to stiffen.

From what she saw, Riddle looked completely unbothered by the whole ordeal, perhaps—if you may—pleased. The way his lips slightly tilted upwards as if amused by whatever Malfoy was now whispering back to him.

Nyx wanted to continue watching the two interact closely but was once again pulled away. This time, however, was by Caelum.

His dark locks were messy, looking as if he had run his hand through it multiple times—another thing he subconsciously did whenever he felt stressed out, which she picked up on later on.

"Is that why you weren't in bed?" He questioned. Not suspiciously, but more on the curious side.

She furrowed her brows.

When she discovered Warren's body, she immediately went to the headmaster's office to report her findings. Of course, she was immediately interrogated on how she had gained the information and warily questioned as to what she was doing in the bathroom after curfew. Nyx didn't want to undergo more awkward questions if she was to say a cat woke her up and told her to follow it, so she came up with a lie, explaining she had forgotten her wand in the bathroom and went to retrieve it, only to be met with a dead body.

As much as it sounded like an awfully stupid coverup, Dippet bought into her lie before hurrying off to investigate whether or not it was true. And to his absolute horror, it was.

But what didn't quite understand was how Caelum knew of her absence, leading her to voice her thoughts.

"What made you think that?" She returned, slightly coming off colder than she would have hoped, watching as her best friend's expression turn to surprise.

"Oh, it was really early in the morning and I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to see if you were up yet," he explained. He went on. "I saw Feathers—your roommate, I think that was her name—already in the common room so I thought I'd ask if you were up yet. She said you weren't in bed," he finished his explanation.

Well, it made sense, she thought. Right after Professor Dippet had alerted all the other teachers of what had occurred, she was whisked away to answer each of their nagging questions, leaving her no space for a breather. With the ongoing investigation, she was given no time to rest, meaning she had to stay up all night. She didn't get to continue her sleep.

As the thought crossed her mind, she suddenly felt immensely tired.

Caelum was swift to notice her eyelids drop, giving off the impression that she was exhausted—which she was—so decided to leave her be instead.

She was fading out of consciousness from her worn out she was, ready to pass out, but somehow managed to stay awake. She caught on a few words Professor Dippet said, most of them turning into a blur, with only the important ones staying clear in her mind. Which included today, classes, and cancelled.

Thank Merlin, she thought to herself. She'd be able to gain a night's rest at last.

She heard seats scraping against the hard floor, managing to startle her tired body from passing out, taking a bit of time for her to process what was happening around her.

Caelum held out a hand for her to take, which she did graciously, grateful for the kind offer, whilst taking the time to realise the headmaster had finished his speech and was calling everyone back to their common rooms.

Caelum lead her out of the Great Hall along with some other students, helping to support her weight so as she didn't collapse from her fatigue.

Although she should've been busily droning off, her senses were on high alert when she felt a piercing gaze staring right into the side of her head. She turned her head in the direction she thought her observer was, locking eyes with those familiar dark irises belonging to a certain Slytherin Prefect at once.

However, when he realised he was caught, he only gave her a smirk before walking off, disappearing into the crowd as if he was never really there.

Nyx furrowed her brows. Tom Riddle was intently watching her from afar for some reason. Whether because he was suddenly interested in her or thought she suspected him, she wasn't sure, and better yet, he seemed to have something to do with murder.

Something wasn't right.

Something was definitely not right.

A gut feeling told her—havoc was about to ensue.