Motivation ⌁ Tom Riddle ✔

43

"Stop smiling," Tom uttered, trying hard to avoid the large grin on Abigail's face as she swung their intertwined hands, the pair of them wandering down the corridors.

"Relax, do you see anyone around?"

It was worth noting that people only ever rarely wandered the halls late at night past curfew. What with the attacks that had occurred the year before and a seventh year boy gone 'missing,' it was enough for a student to hide in their dormitory until the end of term arrived. But as Tom brushed his gaze around the walls covered in portraits, where paintings glared at the pair who had their wands lit up, scowling within the shadows, Tom couldn't help but feel they were giving him disapproving looks instead.

Abigail sighed from beside him, and it was clear that she had noticed his worried stare. The only thing that caused Tom to bite his tongue was the fact that he had said only twenty minutes prior to this moment that he had not cared what others thought thereafter.

"Fine, if it really worries you," Abigail sighed, dropping Tom's hand.

"I apologize for my lack of confidence," Tom admitted, fighting the urge to scratch the corner of his forehead in shame. "It's just if Bellatrix or anybody were to see us close like this, you're the first she'd go after, believing that you're the only thing that makes me vulnerable. She'll go after anything that makes me weak."

"Come on, you mustn't worry about her so much. Really, it's only her and about ten others against thousands of other wizards who are most likely against what she desires. It's utterly impossible of her to kill so many witches and wizards."

"It is worth mentioning I am not the only one with the ability to persuade others so easily, Abigail. Before you know it she'll have an entire army."

Before the two had realized, they'd already been standing in front of the Ravenclaw common room.

"I'll leave when you are inside."

It seemed as though Abigail wanted to argue back, but kept her mouth shut and nodded. It took at least an entire minute for Abigail to solve the riddle to be granted access inside, and before she disappeared inside she sent Tom a soft smile, which he did not have time to return to her.

He wandered back cautiously, muttering 'Nox' for he knew the castle like the back of his hand. Sneaking down to a chamber in pitch black granted him the advantage.

When he returned the Slytherin common room, it was dead silent apart from the usual crackle of the fire. A few people were sitting in the black armchairs, and not to his surprise, it was Bellatrix, Avery, and a girl named Eileen Prince.

Bellatrix didn't look up when Tom had entered, as he knew to keep his moves quiet. Instead, her black eyes grazed into the fire, her lips half a smirk and her forefinger twirling her curls spirally around it. Avery was the first to notice Tom and he sent him a swift unnoticed nod. Tom returned it before watching Bellatrix closely, until her eyes finally fixed themselves on him. He walked further into the common room.

"Bellatrix," he greeted her, a sharp poison unintentionally picked up in the tone of his voice.

"Good evening, Tom. Might I ask why you were wandering the castle so late?"

"I was studying. Might I ask you to mind your own business and only question me, well, never?" Tom snapped, remembering that Bellatrix was unaware of his knowledge.

"Forgive me." Bellatrix stood from her claimed armchair and wandered cautiously away from it, standing no more than two meters away from Tom. "We were wondering, Tom, when perhaps we were having another meeting? In the room of requirement? We haven't had one in weeks and I only ever wondered why?"