Gypsy

Chapter Fourteen

"And where have you been Mudblood?" I froze in the corridor, cursing my luck and turning to face Riddle. He was leaning against a gargoyle, and probably had been for some time, there was no other reason besides catching me to be waiting in this particular corridor.

"Walking," I tried to look him in the eye, instead mumbled at my thankfully shoed feet.

"Hmm," footsteps came closer and I tensed even more, he roughly lifted my chin with his fingers and looked me in the eye. Apparently sensing no lie, as I hadn't actually told one, he released my face. My skin ached where he had grabbed it, I would have even more bruises to explain away tomorrow. Thinking he was done with me, I edged to the side. "Where do you think you are going?"

"I—I thought you were done with me..."

Riddle smirked and moved in closer, his dark green eyes glinting with red. "Don't you know? I'll never be done with you." I shivered at the ominous words. "You won't be staying in the Hufflepuff dorm tonight."

I knew what that meant, I'd be in the heads dorm tonight, probably being crucio'd until I passed out. "They'll wonder where I am..."

"We both know they won't. After Parkinson's little stunt in Herbology, I am well aware you know she is pretending to be you." His eyes glinted dangerously, "If she knows what is good for her she will continue to do so without further complaint."

Slowly, as if he knew I would wet myself if he moved any faster, Riddle wrapped an arm around my waist and gently guided me away from the Hufflepuff dorms. His hand tightened around the dip in my side, squeezing for only a moment and so lightly that I barely noticed.

"And if you know what is good for you, you won't kick up a fuss tonight."

"What are you going to do?" He walked me past the entrance to the Great Hall; thankfully there were no students about.

"Test your abilities; I believe you have had enough time since our last interlude to recover from it." It was a statement not a question, so I couldn't even suggest the idea of putting this off for another night.

We walked silently, the paintings around us giggling to one another as they took in the sight of us. Probably wondering what the exalted Tom Riddle was doing with a lowly Mudblood, one of them actually asked the question as we walked, for some reason the boy guiding me ignored it rather than use the opportunity to taunt me more. Soon enough we came to the painting that guarded the head's dorm. I hadn't had an opportunity to study it before, so briefly admired the wide picture with its sweeping hills and (ironic) Nymph guardians. They giggled and fluttered about in a spring, lightly touching each other as they looked down at us.

"Password?" one with red hair queried, speaking to Riddle but eyes on me.

"Purity." The portrait immediately swung open. I wondered for a moment at the password, but then remembered that Head Girl was a Slytherin-Gena Irons- it only made sense they would have such a bias password.

The public part of the dorm was actually quite tasteful, it had a wide open feel to it with only two large black sofas near the fire. One of them was currently occupied by the Head Girl; she immediately stood up when we entered.

"My Lord," inclining her head at Riddle, she only glared at me and the arm around my waist.

"Leave us, stay in the Slytherin dorms tonight."

For a second I thought she might argue, but Irons left without a word, only bowing her head again.

The offending arm about my body finally left, I took a safe step away from Riddle. He hadn't yet brandished his wand at me so I figured he was in a good mood.