A Riddle Full of Trouble.

Chapter 12: The Bridge.

"Remember where we've been to?
Remember what I told you?
"I love you
To the moon and back,
as long as we are true to each other,
we'll be on the right track."

I'll look up at the stars and say your name,
I remember when you first came
Into my life and made it right
Before you came here I was afraid of the height
but now I'll jump down and I won't look
I remember when you first took
my hand and then you said
"Forever here, I shall be
Forever here, when you need me."

And I gazed upon your green eyes
and with a sigh, I looked down and I replied
"I really do trust you
and I can't deny
that I truly love you, with all my heart
I know you do try
to be the best
to impress,
I will love you, 'til my last breath..."

And if I am gone,
Don't you fret and cry
Just look at the forest
underneath the night sky,
You can remember me, and say my name
You can remember when I first came
into your life, and how I tried
to make you feel like you're the best person around,
'cause we are now,
forever bound
By our love, that none can break
a love that many would claim as "fake"
But we didn't listen, because we knew
that our love for each other, was and will always be true."

- beautiful poem written by -Blade-

The carriage ride was in a comfortable silence, his eyes bore into mine, even though my head was turned slightly away, I could feel it. No attempt at conversation was made, and it was fine, I loved it.

I knew that he was thinking about me, that much was obvious, but I couldn't help but wonder which part of me he was analysing.

All of a sudden, the thestrals stopped, and I jumped, his Laugh broke the silence, it was a horrible laugh, used to make fun of other's pain, I couldn't help but shiver, my hand did not take his offer to help me out, my heart stopped me, instead I gracefully slid out, and started to tread across the frosty ground.

I barely heard a whisper before he was there, beside me.

"Aerwyn, you know I don't mean it like that!"

I sniffed, when a mermaid is annoyed, they hiss loudly, showing their sharp teeth and green tongues, but I definitely could not do that, so I settled with a stony glare off into the distance.

We had reached a bridge, I didn't want to go into Hogsmeade immediately, so I stopped, looking out at the freezing water of the river, it lead into the black lake.

Tom tried to grab my shoulder, but I brushed him off, backing away, into the wall.
"Aerwyn, dear, what's wrong?"

That was it, Tom had called me many names, mud blood, blondey (before I slapped him) Miss Ulaa, the list went on, but never, ever, had Tom Marvolo Riddle given me a term of endearment, and I didn't think he ever would.
"What's with you, Riddle?"

He was clever, he was, but I was perceptive, both mermaids and veelas have sharp eyesight, and I caught a little twitch in his eye.

"What do you mean? I'm just trying to be friends with you!" Liar.

"No Tom, your false charm doesn't work on me, you are trying to use me for your own gains! Have you noticed how much you've changed these past months, it's all a show. Pull that mask off, Tom, what's going on?"

His grin had faded slightly, "I don't know what you're talking about! What's wrong?"

"Just stop your bunch of lies, Tom, before you wade in to deep, you horrible piece of...." I went on to list quite a few rude names, refraining from slipping into mermish, as I ranted, I watched his expression change from charming to indescribable, when his nose began to flare, I knew he snapped, and pushed myself further into the wall.

It was a bad idea, I knew, but I had to stop the facade.

His hands went to my shoulders, pushing me back, so I was almost hanging over the edge of the bridge. His icy blue eyes bore into mine, they were unforgiving.

I cursed myself.

"You do know that I could haul your pretty little body into the river right now? And you would probably break your legs."

I stayed silent, knowing that if he did, I would survive, and swim to the black lake.

"But Professor Slughorn told me something interesting the other day." He laughed, a cold, hard, laugh. "You're allergic to water." He chucked. "And, unless he was lying, which he probably isn't, old Slughorn could never hold a secret, you would almost definitely die, unless I saved you." He smiled, a maniacal smile, "speechless now, little fish."

I almost groaned aloud, of course Dumbledore had told the teachers that I was allergic to water.

His grin spread, evidently he took my silence as confirmation,"so, it's true, to a certain degree, at least, of course, you must drink it. The last time you passed out, I saw Dumbledore give you loads to drink. So I reckon you could survive a few seconds, maybe if I submerged you bit by agonizing bit, you would be in so much pain that you would feel sorry for your actions." Again, he paused. As if contemplating how pleasing my pain would be to him. "I might just do it, say that the bridge collapsed, and I tried to save you, but I was too late..."

I panicked, so I did the only thing I could do, I kissed him.

Square on the mouth.

Oops.

The last thought I had before the vision took over was that his lips were soft.

In the vision, there was a man, clothed in black, his pale, white face was marked with slits for nostrils, and blood red eyes. Snake like.

A fire burned in the middle of the clearing, casting light over silent figures most were human, but there were two giants, who's faces were cruel, rough, like rock. Most of the wizards in the clearing were exhausted, some had injurys, and some had odd masks on, hoods covering their heads. It was a sinister place, made even spookier by the distorted view I had of the scene around me.

I caught a glimpse of what must have been Rubeus Hagrid, who looked in his late sixties, he was a few years younger than me, a third year, it seemed strange to watch him now. He was bound to a tree, his sixteen foot frame shaking.

It occurred to me that this must be at least fifty years in the future.

It also occurred to me that I might not be alive by then.

That snapped me back to reality, and I realized that Tom was kissing me back.

To be perfectly honest, I wasn't complaining. So, as we were snogging, I just relaxed into it.

Yes, enjoyment aside, I was shell shocked.

It was then that Tom pulled back with a gasp, and pushed himself away from me, using his hands, which were still on my shoulders.

As I tumbled towards the dark, rushing waster, my ears detected a cry, a male cry.
Tom's cry.
My, he was a good kisser.

And then I hit the water and my tail popped out like a muggle jack in the box.