Taking Over Me

Chapter 6 - Year 1 - 1938

The rest of my classes went by quickly. Soon it was time for dinner and I met up with Ronnie before we got to the Great Hall. We started comparing classes and discussing what we'd done after Herbology. Apparently, she was a natural born broom rider, according to her Flying instructor. She explained in great detail how it felt to be flying on a broom. Her description made me hungry to try for myself.

Even though I'm a pureblood, my parents refused to let me think about flying until I had lessons. I think their nervousness might have had something to do with my mother's intense fear of heights and my father's uncle, who died after sleeping on his broom and falling to his death from five hundred feet in the air.  Despite their reservations and all of the horror stories I'd been told growing up, I couldn't wait to try flying. The idea of being able to fly wherever I wanted as free as a bird sounded amazing.   

Ronnie excused herself near the end of dinner, saying that she was going to meet some friends from her Transfiguration class.

I told her I had to go meet someone in the library and we parted way. I ran up to the Ravenclaw Tower and grabbed my Potions books along with a few quills and a pot of ink. I also snagged my school map since I'd yet to visit the library and didn't feel like wandering the corridors looking for a library in this massive school.

Using the map, I managed to find the library with minimal issues. I spotted Riddle sitting at a table in the far corner. He looked up as I approached.

"Hi RIddle, I hope you haven't been waiting long." I pulled out another chair and spread out my supplies on half of the table.

Riddle shook his head. "It hasn't been too long. I wasn't hungry so I came here early and wandered around. You should see the selection of spellbooks they have. There must be a billion different spells in them. It would be impossible for one person to learn them all."

I smiled. "Why would you need to learn them all? It's not like it'll do you any good. All you really need to know are a few hundred to do what you want. What would be the point of learning all those spells? There's no way you'd ever use them all."

"It's not about practicality, it's about power and respect. If I knew that many spells, then I'd be the most powerful wizard in history. I'd be free to do what I want and no one could ever hurt me."

I rolled my eyes. "Now you're just being dramatic. What could you possibly want all that power for?"

"To, to, to-" Riddle trailed off, unsure of what to say.

I nodded. "I thought as much. Now should we get started on our Potions homework? Granted, it will be pretty easy considering Professor Slughorn practically gave us the answers in class."

"If it's so easy, then let's wait to start. I've got a few questions that I can't ask my housemates."

I frowned, not liking where this was heading. "I might be willing to answer them."

He smiled and I realized that it made him look much nicer and more approachable. "All right, my first question is, what is the deal with blood status here? I can tell it's important from the way my housemates act, but I don't really understand it."

I sighed. I hated the blood purity dilemma; but that could be because I am a pureblood and haven't had to worry about being thought of as a lesser wizard. "It's not exactly my favorite subject. I'd rather not talk-"

"Please," he grabbed my hand with both of his and I stopped moving. "Please Shay, sorry, Mari, tell me about the blood types at least if you won't explain the debate to me." He squeezed my hand lightly and I caved.