Motivation ⌁ Tom Riddle ✔

26

"Isn't this amazing?" Alison shook her head, eyes the size of saucers and a grin so wide it almost went off her cheeks.

"What?" I asked groggily.

It was a relief being able to leave that room. Safe to say, Madam Dansin wasn't very happy to see me again so soon, and she was much more stern with me. It would have been much easier had Emily or Billy done a warmth spell on me or something. My throat still felt frozen, but it wasn't as bad as what it was before. Plus, Tom was good at spells, it would have been much appreciated had he done something to help other than walk away.

"You practically conquered death for the first time," Alison grinned. "Had you been down there for a second longer you'd have died and had Billy been a second longer you'd have frozen - if he didn't run."

"That's what you call it?" I chuckled dryly, hugging the grey blankets around me that Madam Dansin had given before I left. "Conquering death? Would I not have to die but live in order for it to be conquering death?"

"Shh," Alison whispered. "Nobody has to know. Besides, you're lucky you have the rest of the day off otherwise Professor Slughorn would have your ass for not completing that work he gave us. I didn't even finish it, Chris is doing it for me."

"Wait, what work? When did we get work?"

Alison frowned and chewed the inside of her lip. "Did we not get work?"

I gave her a blank stare and blinked slowly. Alison burst into a fit of giggles. "I'm only joking. I was just trying to freak you out."

Suddenly a small set of running footsteps rounded the corner and a little, dirty-blond haired boy, not more than eleven or twelve, stopped in front of Alison and I, panting heavily. He dropped his hands to his knees and said, between pants:

"Whichever one of you is Abigail Benjamin, Professor Dippet would like for you to be in his office. Please tell me one you is Abigail Benjamin. I've been runnin' 'round for half an hour."

Alison and I exchanged looks, thanked the panting boy, and slowly walked towards the Headmasters office. I wondered why he wanted to see me. All of a sudden, a brick landed in the pit of my stomach, leaving me gulping down lumps and bile that kept forming in my cold, frozen throat. What if he'd found out about what I am? Of course, nothing bad would have happened, but I'd still rather that information be to myself.

"What do you suppose he wants?" Alison asked as we reached the statue to the Headmasters Office.

"I don't know. But, what's the password?"

Alison bit her lip and said, "hold on a second," and disappeared quickly down a corridor. I raised an eyebrow, but obeyed anyway. Where else would I have gone? A minute later, Alison returned with just herself.

"I spoke with Stephen Weasley's younger brother, he knows pretty much everything around here. Says the Headmaster is obsessed with sea creatures."

"OK, so what is it, then?"

Alison smirked. "Merpeople."

I jumped as the statue in front of me moved, allowing me to ascend the stairs that I didn't even know were there. I looked back at Alison.

"Go on, then. I'll be around somewhere. See ya."

"Just hope I'm not the one who is blamed for the ice-skating," I murmured under my breath, and knocked on the door.

"Enter."

I opened the door. This was the first time I'd ever been in the Headmasters Office, and it was much bigger than I had expected. Portraits of past Headmasters were lined up far, almost up to the roof. And since the room was rather circular, the portraits went right around, leaving only a gap. There were all sorts of weird objects and telescopes everywhere. And, right up the front, was a large desk with a golden chair behind it with the Headmaster seated. But, on the other side of the desk were two chairs with two students in it that I hoped I wouldn't have to see again.