Motivation ⌁ Tom Riddle ✔

38

"Is this really necessary? I highly doubt you'll be needing to drag her around with you everywhere."

"He's got a point, you know?"

Tom held a firm yet protective hold around Abigail's bicep, having dragged her from the courtyard up to the library where he knew none of his Knights would be. It wasn't hard to notice that Bellatrix wanted Abigail gone immediately, and he wasn't about to just give her up that easily.

"You're not to leave my sight," Tom said, his voice sounded strong and stern. Abigail didn't even try to escape.

"I still do not understand. Are you really going to force me to follow you everywhere?"

Tom simply nodded, not slowing down the slightest. Avery followed close behind the two, awaiting whatever plan Tom might have in mind.

"Why?"

"Just stop asking questions," Tom hissed over his shoulder.

The three reached the library in time not to have been noticed by any unwanted company, and they slowed their pace toward the very end of the library where it was quiet. They sat around a small round table, Abigail still as confused as ever, and she watched Tom curiously. Her heart beat pounded against Tom's ears, and that was exactly what he preferred.

Avery seemed to be the only one to jump straight to conclusions. He looked at Tom eagerly, his eyebrows slightly raised. "So, what do we do?"

Tom, however, did not have an answer to this. And he was well aware that he could not protect his live horcrux forever. He simply shook his head, eyes focused on the patterns and vandalism printed in the table.

"I'm sorry - but, could one of you please explain to me what the bloody hell is going on?" Abigail pleaded, desperation and confusion clear in her voice.

Tom caught Avery's eye and shook his head, signalling him to keep quiet. Avery couldn't help but jump straight to the point, and Tom wanted to avoid frightening her more than she probably already was. But Avery had other things in mind.

He turned to Abigail and said, "just keep away from any Slytherin you happen to see. At the moment they cannot be trusted. Except, of course, for Tom and I. We're OK."

It confused Tom as to how Avery wasn't confused, not even the slightest. He didn't know that Abigail was Tom's horcrux, and he probably should have had questions at this moment as to why Tom was so desperate to keep Abigail safe.

Abigail glanced at Tom questioningly, but he simply nodded her way.

"In fact, we should probably find a way to escort you out of Hogwarts. It isn't safe for you here, anymore," Tom concluded, thinking his thoughts aloud.

"And the Mudbloods? The other Half-bloods? Though I don't think other Half-bloods are in true danger since--"

"No - we don't need to worry about them right now."

Abigail glanced back and forth between the two Slytherins in confusion.

"I'm not going anywhere until I finish this year," Abigail scoffed loudly, snapping the two boys out of their argument. "How dare the two of you speak of me as though I am not here? In fact, I have Muggle Studies in seven minutes, so I'll just be -"

"You aren't going anywhere, you can worry about muggles later," Tom growled, forcing Abigail to sit again. "This is more important," Tom glanced at Avery. "I should have killed her when I had the chance - we wouldn't even be needing to have this conversation."