Gypsy

Chapter Thirty One

We sat in the library in silence for some time after my statement. Vanessa staring at me and me staring at the flames.

"Can you give me time?" Her tone was curious.

"Time to do what?" I placed my glass on a table to my right, it made a small clink that I flinched at.

She sighed and leaned forward, "if this is your plan, fine. But I need some time to try and get you out of here, get us all out of here." Her brow crinkled, "Master Malfoy will be holding his annual ball soon. In honour of the Minister of Magic, that might just give us enough cover to get you to that forest."

I thought about it, they would be preoccupied then. "I need to figure out how to protect my mother."

"Where is she?"

I waved a hand, "somewhere on the grounds, she was moved here to be closer to me when I was in a coma. I haven't seen her yet, it seems unlikely I will before all this is done." My heart ached at the thought of leaving her without saying goodbye, she probably wouldn't let me knowingly walk into my death though, so it was probably for the best.

"I can find her, unlike you I can come and go as I please." She scoffed, "Lord Malfoy 'trusts' me." Her finger touched her brand, "he put this on me personally, likes to do it to all his 'collection'. I sucked in a breath, I couldn't allow myself to think of him as the lesser of two evils. He simply preferred smaller and more personal means of subjugation, as opposed to Riddle's world domination.

"Can you get her to safety?"

Vanessa nodded, "I still have friends, but I need a promise from you."

"Anything."

Smiling she took a sip of her drink, "you might regret that." Her glass clinked down next to mine on the table, "make them suffer." I didn't doubt what she meant, and I also knew that if it was within my power I would make them both suffer greatly.

I gave her a nod and held out my hand, she smirked and shook it. Yawning she looked out the window, and seemed surprised to find that night had fallen while we sat here plotting. "I best return to my chambers, the staff talk you see."

I dreaded returning to mine, no doubt it was destroyed under Riddle's anger. But I agreed and bid her goodnight, staying a moment longer to bask in the warmth of the fire before making my way back to my room.

The corridor was cold, not as cold as the room felt when I entered. Malfoy was seated by the fire, playing game of chess against himself. Riddle was hunched over his desk, paperwork in hand and didn't even glance up when I entered. Silently I made my way to the bathroom and shut the door, curious I opened the bottom cupboard under the sink. I almost laughed when I noticed the absence of the scissors. Closing the door, I took a look at what Iron had done to my hair. It wasn't half bad, he had kept it shoulder length in the front, and cut it shorter towards the back. The fizziness seemed less too, and I wondered if he had snuck some kind of product into it. Shrugging, I turned from the mirror and striped out of my stolen/borrowed clothes. The shower was lovely and warm when I hopped into it, and for that I was grateful, I would probably never feel clean again after been left dirty for so long when I was stuck in my mind prison. Scrubbing vigorously with a random bottle of soap I had found, the only one that didn't smell of Riddle or Malfoy, I was finally satisfied with my cleanliness after five minutes and turned off the water. Dripping wet I went to grab a towel from a hook, but they were all gone. Dumbfounded I stared at where they normally were, I could have sworn there were two hanging there when I came in. Frowning, I went to the cabinet I kept my pyjamas in, they were likewise missing. I looked for my previous clothes, and they were also gone. A yelp of frustration left me and I stomped my foot, pricks. Wet and shivering, I weighed my options. Obviously they wanted me to walk out there naked, another attempt at making me realise who was in charge. I'd rather freeze.

I stood there for about ten minutes, stubbornly glaring at the door as my shivers got stronger and more obvious. The room was getting colder? I walked over to the heating vent and felt for the air, it was chilly, they had done something to it. Cursing them again, I sat down on the drying mat that was in front of the shower, too bloody small to dry myself off with or use to keep warm. And I waited.

Another ten minutes past, and then another, and finally there was a frustrated sound from behind the closed bathroom door and it slammed open. "For gods sake Tony." Malfoy stared down at me, I glared back and held up my middle finger. He looked offended, good.

"F--Fu---Fuck y--you." My teeth chattered, and air puffed out from between my lips. They must have been steadily lowering the temperature in the room.

"Leave her," a glowering Riddle appeared in the doorway.

Malfoy looked exasperated between myself and Riddle. "She'll freeze Tom." Riddle smirked, he held up his wand and the room dropped a few more degrees, cursing him I tucked my head and body further into themselves.

"She won't, she isn't stubborn enough to let herself die from hyperthermia." He looked so certain, I knew in that moment that he was dead wrong. Keep underestimating me Riddle, I dare you.

Malfoy stood still for a moment, cursed under his breath and leaned back against the bathroom wall. The cold was affecting him to, I could see Goosebumps on his skin. Riddle however stood just outside the door, clearly the cold was enchanted to only be in this room. And we waited, I didn't take my gaze from Riddle or Malfoy. It was funny for a few minutes to see Malfoy fight against his instincts to see me uncomfortable, Lord Voldemort had no such qualms. Slowly I started to get sleepy, the water that hadn't air dried in my hair began to crystalize. I slumped slightly to the side and Malfoy made to step forward, stopped when his Master said 'no'. Bracing myself with my arm I gently lowered my shaking body to the ground, keeping most of my modesty while doing so, not that it mattered. Foetal position didn't keep me any warmer, but I lacked the incentive to hop up again. Sleepily I closed my eyes, Riddle looked almost concerned for a moment and I thought he might admit defeat, but he stayed where he was. Gently I drifted off into a half-wakefulness, they were muttering to each other.

"She's too bloody stubborn now," there were footsteps and I blearily opened my eyes. Malfoy looked back at Riddle as he stood over me, "she'll die."

Riddle hummed, and waved his hand. The temperature in the room began to raise, it made my body ache and I groaned. "Leave her in here, if she wishes to be warmed properly she can make her way to the bed." He looked down at me, "consider this your punishment for cutting your hair."

He turned and walked from sight, I lay shivering for a moment before a warm coat was placed over me. "Why do you have to make this so damned hard on yourself?" Grumbled Malfoy as he stood sans coat.

"W--why d--do you have to b--be such a pr--prick?" He growled at my answer and stormed out of the room, victory.

The temperature in the room didn't change much after that, it went up to a slightly more comfortable feel but not much. I still refused to move, laying on that simple bath mat with a coat over me was as much as a victory as I was going to get today. Shuffling around into a more comfortable position, I laid my head on my hands and closed my eyes. I was just warm enough to sleep, gods knew I hand slept on less comfortable beds than this.