To Answer A Riddle [Tom Riddle Era / Harry Potter]

Entry #5

It took two weeks for Elliott to get used to Hogwarts. Whether it was the moving staircases, the never ending corridors or the talking portraits, it was all very different form Beaux-Bâtons. After a couple of days and Tom's help, he managed to not get lost when he wandered in the school.

He became good friends with Sybill who helped him out in divination. No incident happened again, and the teacher didn't try to help Elliott. They focused on crystal balls reading. Elliott had either lots of fun or was bored as hell. Sybill took all the divination stuff surprisingly seriously while Elliott always made up what he was supposed to be seeing in the crystal. However, it always made Sybill laugh so it wasn't all that bad.

The other classes were okay, and Dumbledore made no attempt at stopping Elliot from being friends with Tom, even when he saw that their friendship was deepening. Soon, you couldn't see Tom without Elliott, or Elliott without Tom. They got along way too well, some could say.

Elliott came to understand that Tom showed a very different side of him when he was with him. When with Avery or other close classmates, he was cold and manipulative. That did not stop a group of Slytherin to form a tight gang with Tom at their head, thought he rarely ordered them around.

When the dark-haired sorcerer was with Elliott, he was nicer, more open and somehow nastier. He spoke his mind more often than in public. Elliott did not mind at all. He liked having him as a friend, as he shared his aversion for others and Elliott often agreed with his most daring schemes.

So when Tom proposed to steal restricted books in the library that night, Elliott agreed without a second thought. He had wanted to do it since the day Tom had mentioned it. He didn't mind which books they took, as long as it wasn't noticed and that it permitted him to get stronger.

He was failing hard at transfiguration and was behind in charms and potion making. Even if he was good at defense against the dark arts, it wasn't going to help when he'd have to pass the O.W.L exam. The only powerful spells he knew where forbidden to use at school. He had to find a way to learn more and faster, and he believed that some of the books in the library might be able to do so.

So here they were, in the corridors at one o'clock in the morning. Their wands were out and a soft light came out of it. Their footsteps were almost silent. They did not speak with each other: they knew very well a word could sell them out.

Tom suddenly stopped Elliott, who was walking behind him. He pushed him against the wall and put a finger on his own lips. Elliott whispered a spell which put out the light of his wand. Tom did the same and they waited in silence, leaning as close possible to the wall.

Soon, a humming was heard and footsteps coming toward them from the corridor perpendicular to theirs. Elliott closed his eyes and prayed that the person would pass right beside them and not turn. Luckily, the man continued his walk and didn't even glance in their direction. Elliott recognized Professor Slughorn, the potion master.

Thank God he hadn't seen them. Getting caught by the Head of your own house was worse than a simple professor.

Elliott felt Tom's hand grab his wrist, pulling him slightly forward. They continued on a little without any light, till they felt it was safe once again. They however tried to keep their lights as dim as possible to avoid waking up the portraits who didn't mind complaining out loud about the light.

Finally, after about another ten minutes of walking in the labyrinth formed by Hogwarts' corridors, Tom and Elliott reached the library. They got in without any problem, the door unlocked with a simple alohomora from Elliott. They closed the door behind them and Tom walked over to the restricted section of the library, followed by his blonde friend.