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

Entry #18

The light coming from the window hit his closed eyelids. Elliott muttered something intelligible before he opened his eyes. He lifted his head which had been buried in his arms and looked around. He felt terrible.

It took a moment, but he remembered what had happened last night. Tom had betrayed him. Elliott had ran away like an idiot and had hid in the only abandoned place he knew about: the second floor lavatory. He had been right about that, as no one entered it. He had sat down by the tainted windows, half hidden by some stalls. He remembered crying, before he had fallen asleep.

And now he noticed that he had passed the night here. It was pretty silent around him, except for soft cries from a closed stall a few meters away. He guessed that it was probably Myrtle, the ghost haunting the place.

Elliott rose up and walked to the mirrors over the sinks. His reflection didn't smile. His blond hair was all messed-up. He passed a hand in his hair, trying to flatten the rebellious bangs.

He looked down, staring at the sinks. He wished he could open the Chamber of Secrets and just hide in there till the end of the world. However, he had no idea how to speak parseltongue...

"Who are you?" asked a small voice behind him.

Elliott saw a girl behind him in the mirror. She had glasses and the same transparent glow of ghosts. He slowly turned towards her and tried to smile.

"I'm Elliott Deschamps," he simply answered.

"What are you doing here?"

"That is a good question." Elliott paused and thought. "I guess I'm just taking a break from everyone."

"Why?"

"God, you have a lot of questions, don't you?"

Myrtle seemed embarrassed and looked down.

"It's just that... No one's been here for weeks now. And then a boy shows up suddenly..."

Elliott smiled sadly. "I know the girl's lavatory isn't the right place to be for me, but I don't have anywhere else to go."

"...Why..." Myrtle twisted her hands in hesitation. "Why were you crying last night?"

"Huh?" Elliott's eyes widened in surprise. She had seen that?

"You looked very sad. I didn't want to bother you, so I didn't come out, but..."

Elliott smiled sadly.

"I learnt some things I would have preferred not knowing about. Sorry if I bothered you."

"No, no, it was fine!" Myrtle smiled hesitantly. "I don't see lots of people coming here, so..."

"I... It's quite sad, isn't it?" Elliott looked at Myrtle. "That you had to die, only to become a ghost destined to stay alone. It isn't fair."

Myrtle didn't answer and let the blonde continue.

"What's the point of becoming a ghost if you are bound to be lonely for all of eternity?"

"Well, huh, I..." Myrtle shook her head. "I think... I think I will make friends eventually. With people like you, who come here."

"I certainly hope so... But how will choose? How will you find those who won't betray you, who won't use you?"

Myrtle didn't talk for a moment.

"Is that what happened?" she simply asked.

Elliott didn't answer and looked away.

"I wish you wouldn't have died, Myrtle..." he said softly. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..."