Fred and George and the Toilers of Trouble (Year 1) ✔

Chapter 26:13

The vision shifted, then recombined seconds later as he stalked Tom Riddle and Aruzula Darc through the corridors.

"Do you really think he would do such a thing?" Aruzula asked.

"Hagrid was the one petrifying the students," Tom explained. "He was trying to help you this whole time. Of course, it was wrong — but he did it for you. Clearly, he made up this entire story about Slytherin's monster because he was jealous...of what we have together."

"But that story is real. The heir —"

"It doesn't matter. Hagrid was not strong enough to truly help you. I am," Riddle interrupted, his silky voice more captivating than ever.

When they reached the fourth floor corridor to stand outside her portrait frame, his suggestions became bolder.

"Let's lock him away in there for killing Myrtle. You should be free, and he deserves it." Tom broke, his eyes narrowing. "Although we shouldn't have been surprised, really. He's part giant. You know that, don't you? Worse than a Mudblood, if you ask me. That's why he cares more about animals than humans. It was too hard for him to deny his savage nature...his tendency toward aggression. How long until he kills again, I wonder? This is the right decision."

Aruzula, her face completely shrouded behind her hair, couldn't respond. Droplets of paint dribbled onto her Hufflepuff robe.

"I'll bring him here. You wait."

And as Tom turned to seek out Hagrid, Vindictus Viridian stepped out from around the corner.

"I knew it all along. Hagrid is too pure to be the Heir," he accused, pointing at them as he walked with long strides. "It's one of you!"

"Whatever do you mean, Professor Viridian?" Tom asked, with a sly grin.

"How foolish do you think I am, Riddle?" asked Vindictus, a hand moving to his wand. "You're the reason Professor Gregorovitch left his post as Charms instructor your first year. And don't think I haven't been watching you, Miss Darc. Your name was absent from the Sorting scroll. What is your end in this?"

Tom Riddle stepped back, as Aruzula faced the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. She no longer resembled anything human, but an enchanted portrait that lingered outside of its frame.

"Yes, you're correct. Aruzula Darc is the one. She released the monster on the school," the boy declared to her shock.

"And the entrance to the Chamber?" the Professor wondered, coming closer to them.

"It's right here, sir. Through this portrait," said Tom, moving aside. "You need merely step into it."

Vindictus approached the frame with caution. And as he leaned close, Tom Riddle grabbed hold of Aruzula's hand and smacked it across their professor's face. Fleshy paint splashed over his nose and cheeks.

"Wh-what are you doing?" he said in shock, reaching up to touch the warm, dripping paint.

Suddenly expressionless, Riddle's face went rigid.

"What Hagrid could not," he said, before shoving Vindictus aggressively into the canvas.

The teacher toppled headlong into the painting. His eyes widened, and he screamed out for help as his body shrunk to fit the scene. With a nasty grin, Tom transfigured a quill from his pocket into a paintbrush. He pulled back Aruzula's hair to reveal her face, then dabbed at the tears soaking from her dark eyelashes. He brought the transfigured brush to the canvas and painted a mask onto their professor's quivering head.

The corridor went deathly quiet.

The eight of them who dared to learn the truth stood by in equal silence, as they watched Aruzula's face stabilize — the many ridges of brush strokes flattening until her skin was soft and supple once more. Each of the observers gasped, as the scene began to spin and alter in a way that no other memory had done within the Pensieve. They were now watching the hallway through a rectangular window, surrounded by darkness.