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

Entry #9

Elliott's footsteps echoed in the empty corridors. He tried to remain as calm as possible. This was no different from the time that he'd stolen the books from the library with Tom... Except that he was alone this time, and that everything rested on his shoulders. He couldn't mess this up. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself.

He took a deep breath. Most students were eating in the Great Hall or relaxing in their common rooms. Some were at Slughorn's party... and then there was Elliott, wandering in the halls, trying to steal the potion master's ingredients.

Secretly, he was hoping that if he got all the ingredients, they wouldn't have to...

Well, kill someone.

Elliott might have done some questionable things in his life, but killing someone who was innocent was out of the question. If it was the price of his immortality, then he'd have to agree with dying one day.

There had to be another way.

And to find this other way, he had to get the ingredients necessary. He had a list of all of them in his robes' pocket. He mentally repeated them in his mind.

Soon, he reached Slughorn's room where he stored all his potion ingredients. He looked around and saw no one. He slipped inside and found himself surrounded by things of all sorts. What if a teacher came in and saw him?

Just say that you were searching for Slughorn to talk about your disastrous exam results, had advised Tom.

Easier said than done, thought Elliott with a small grimace. His friend was not the one who had to find some random ingredients in a room full of stuff. He wished he had been the one to make small talk with the teacher.

However, he knew it wouldn't have been possible: he hadn't been invited. Even if he had been, his social skills weren't as good as Tom's. Tom could literally manipulate anyone he wanted to. The only one who didn't seem to buy his act was Professor Dumbedore, but then again, he wasn't at the Slug Party.

Elliott sighed and began rummaging in the many shelves and racks.

***

There were many people at the party which Tom knew. Avery and Lestrange had both been invited and chatted among each other. He knew he could count on their support if something went wrong. There was the seeker of Griffindor's quidditch team, Tyler-something. He couldn't remember his last name. A Hufflepuff boy was there along two Ravenclaw girls.

Tom recognized one of them as the girl which Elliott liked to hang out with. They often met up when Tom had a quidditch match or practice. If he remembered correctly, they were both in the same divination class. And her name... Sybill, was it?

Tom wasn't sure, but it didn't matter. He may use her later but not right now. He wasn't here for her. He had come to seek information from Slughorn.

And he was going to get it, whatever he had to do.

***

About half of the ingredients were in Elliott's bag. It was quite hard to find them in the mess that was taking place in the many large shelves.

He suddenly heard footsteps coming towards the small room. He looked around: there was nowhere to hide. He quickly glued himself on the wall, near the door.

Someone opened the door and almost hit him, but he managed to move in time. His heart was beating fast in his chest.

Please don't go in, please don't go in...