Dose of Darkness | Tom Riddle |

Chapter Twelve: Full Moon

Had the night not been so grim by the events taking place, there would have been more of an appreciation for the fullest of moons high in the sky.

It was something a Ravenclaw would appreciate, but the way it illuminated all of the surrounding stars, anyone would stop their world for a night like this.

But all Eleanor could do was hug her cold shoulders and walk off the school grounds into the outskirts Forbidden Forest, changing her heels to flats with the wave of her wand and not yet finding the energy to summon a shawl. She followed closely behind Tom, not scared nor curious, but something else entirely.

"I'm convinced you're going to kill me, you do know that, right?" Eleanor loathed, her ankles becoming more uncomfortable after every step over a gnarled branch in the ground and step above a rock.

The grounds were hardly flat and she especially didn't ruin her dress.

"I'm convinced you've pretended to be smart for several years now if you mean what you say." Tom said, his long legs carrying him a lot quicker ahead of her.

But then the trees dispersed and the ground became more firm under her flats.

In the clearing, the small body of water created the most peculiar illusion with a perfectly solid reflection of not just the vibrant moon but even the little specks that were the stars. The very image of the lake startled her though and she reeled back to the vivid images Rose's mind displayed and realized there was nothing beautiful about this.

She turned back around to find Tom, looking terrifyingly handsome.

Even as she stared at him like he were a shadow with the face of a ghost, his appearance couldn't rid her of her fears.

She knew they weren't supposed to be here.

Before Eleanor could protest, there was a collective whoosh in the air and rustle in the trees, signifying the landing shadows that then became the people she knew as Death Eaters. Abraxas, Orion, Dolohov, Evan, Nott, Yaxley and even young Avery. All of them looked strikingly formal and prepared for what was to come, even if there was all a hint of dismay on their faces.

"Tonight's events will not be altered," Tom said, drawing her attention back to him. "all because you wanted to play hero, Eleanor."

She then felt slightly ashamed for what had happened at the trigger of his words.

"But Rose's part in this has already ended. Essentially, you and Malfoy with the other intolerant brats played with the equivalent of a dead horse tonight."

Regardless of the bit of shame, it was quite a relief to know she was useless to Tom.

For now at least.

"Rose had predicted tonight as a milestone for us before I even knew what it would be. And, she's going to help us."

Then, Eleanor was provoked to think back to the awful images she saw in Rose's head earlier in the night. Surely Tom did not see the same and she knew he wouldn't believe her even if she spoke up. But she had to try.

When the blonde had emerged from the shadows of the others, Eleanor tilted her head.

"What you saw is different from her newest interpretation of your 'milestone' Tom. I could care less for whatever schemes you conduct but please, not tonight." Eleanor urged, feeling a stronger compulsion to protect them. "Something awful is going to happen."

She's never felt it before and she didn't know what made her so eager to stop this before it got messy.

Tom only laughed, his white smile glowing in the moonlight. He didn't care.