The Secret of Tom Riddle's Diary

Chapter Twenty-Two - A Quiet Train Ride

An awkward silence settled on the eight Slytherins preparing to return to Hogwarts for their Fourth year of school.  If someone had been comparing the icy relationship between Rozier and Avery last year at the beginning to the complete silence that filled the compartment on the return trip to Hogwarts, one might have thought that they were all mad at each other.

Take, Michael Gideon for instance.  As he sat. eyes twitching around the room, wary of each person.  The summer had started out wonderful.  The young man who absolutely adored his Muggle Father got to spend a two week vacation in the Bahamas with his family.  But tragedy struck on the return trip.  None other than Lord Voldemort himself was waiting for him.  His mother was extremely chastised for marrying the Muggle when she had a marriage contract with Rufus Avery.  He peeked at Victoria, knowing that was her Uncle and Guardian.  Then, the Dark Lord pointed his wand at his father, and said,

“Avada Kedavra –“

Michael Gideon didn’t have his wand with him in the present.  His mother had presented hers though and was prepared to defend her living son, when her own wand whipped out of her hand and landed in the hands of the Dark Lord.  Two Death Eaters had grabbed Michael and made him approach the Dark Lord.

“If you want your son to survive to the end of the school year, Black –“ He had told his mother.  His mother had originally been a Black, a more distant cousin to Bellatrix, Narcissa, Andromeda, and even Sirius.  “Then, when we contact you, you will do exactly as we say.”

Her wand had been returned to her, and the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters had disappeared.  But since then, there had been no sign of them.
Michael continued to look at Victoria Avery, her own dark expressions making him feel that right now she was contemplating following through on the Dark Lord’s threat for him.  But she wasn’t the only one.  Taylor Nott, Adriana Pucey, and Ethan Rosier’s parents had been among the other Death Eaters present when his father had been killed.  Each of those had a similar expression to his.  Michael gulped and kept his head down.

Jonathan Bulstrode did not attempt to console his friend.  At the moment, he didn’t dare.  Just two weeks ago, his father had caved and taken the Dark Mark.  Both he and his sister’s status as outsiders should be changing.  They were now among the rich and elite.  His father would be one of the potioneers under Severus Snape himself. 

But since his father had accepted the position, he had told his son.

“Jonathan,” he said with a grave look.  “You cannot remain friends with the Half-Blood.  Something is about to happen.  Only when I communicate with you can you –“

Jonathan had wanted to tell the Dark Lord and his father where to shove the command, but he saw the pained expression on his father when he returned from his first time in the Dark Lord’s service.  And his father had said.

“Next summer, you will be presented before the Dark Lord and weighed.  You do not want to do anything this year that would make that moment difficult for you.”

Jonathan had written a painful letter to his friend.  If he knew the dagger that such a communication would push into his heart – the letter came the day after his father’s death.

Jonathan’s friendship was destroyed forever.

Michael McCarthey should have been the happiest on the train.  His father had received a summons to Riddle Manor and while not in the Inner Circle had gone on a few raids with the Dark Lord.  Michael’s troubles were with the dark thoughts of his friend.  His father after one of those raids had taken him aside. 

“Back off on that friendship with Ethan.  The boy’s fixation with Avery has him in serious trouble.” 

Michael had warned his friend about his father’s message, and he had paid for it dearly.  His father who normally did not punish extremely had punished him with the Cruciatus Curse.  Michael had learned his lesson.  Fear to speak to Ethan and uncertainty with where he stood with the Queen herself, Victoria, led him to keep his peace.