#tom riddle

There's only a fine line between knowledge and self-destruction. By peering into the abyss (into the dark sides of life, into your own fears, into the cruelty of the world), you risk not only seeing your own reflection in it but also losing your own identity. Or why Ginny shouldn't listen too long or too closely to what Tom whispers in her ear.

The clock was 11:50. You were so nervous that you felt like you were going to throw up. Your leg shook non-stop.

—This is wrong.

Your mind couldn't get away from all the possible problems that could arise. Your head was spinning.

—Don't stress— Betty told you, rubbing your back in circles. —Everything will be fine.

Luna lay asleep in bed; at that moment you deeply envied her. The room was dark and the only thing that illuminated it was the brightness of the moon coming in through the window. After a few minutes, you approached the door and slowly turned the silver knobe. You turned to your friend, who was still awake, and gave her a somewhat insecure smile.

You went down the stairs slowly and silently, trying not to stumble in the dark. With delicate but firm steps you crossed the unusually silent corridors of the castle. You arrived at the classroom where you had agreed to meet. There was no one.

The nerves grew even more. Your legs were shaking.

—Tsch— you heard.

You turned with your heart racing towards the place where the sound came from. There, hidden behind a column, was your black-haired friend with her Slytherin robe.

—Pansy!— you exclaimed in a whisper as you approached.

—Shhh— he replied.

In his hand he held a cream-colored parchment with wine-red ornaments. He slowly unfolded it, revealing a map of Hogwarts and its surroundings. On the lines that represented the corridors moved small names of teachers.

—The Marauder’s map.

—Where did you get this?— you asked, stunned.

—From Potter's room— he replied proudly.

—Have you been to Harry's room?!

—Shhhh— he repeated, looking at both sides of the corridor. —It's a long story. I'll tell you if we get out of the castle alive.

You closed your mouth, which had been left open in surprise. Pansy got a little closer.

—McGonagall is on this floor, but in the Gryffindor area— he explained, pointing to the map, where his name moved in circles through a corridor. —Each teacher watches two floors. Flitwick takes care of the three above and Riddle of the last two.

Your heart sank into your chest when you heard his name.

—They are rotating every day— he added.

—What is that?—you asked, pointing to some dashed lines of the map that you had never seen, near the kitchens.

—That's the passage we're going to take to get to the lake.

You both walked on the cold stone floor guided by that strange map. You went down several floors in almost absolute darkness without saying a word; the echo could betray you.

Some paintings tried to interrogate you and bombarded you with questions while you waited for the stairs to move to let you pass to the other side of the castle. Pansy immediately silenced them, muttering: «It's none of your business”.

They complained when you left them with the doubt. You only gave them a smile, although you were still anxious about the possibility of being caught outside your rooms.

You opened the map again and crossed a corridor at full speed trying to dodge Professor Riddle.

The stress caused a strong cramp in your stomach.

When you finally found the hatch attached to the floor that led to the passage, you relaxed a little. Pansy put her fingers between the slits and lifted the metal plate. When she left her on the floor, she made a pretty loud noise despite the care with which he released her.

Your heart accelerated again.

A few steps resounded loudly through the corridor.

You and your friend looked at each other with terror.

Pansy reacted first and got into the hole you had discovered. First the legs, then the torso.

Clack. Clack.

—Hurry up— you whispered with your nerves on edge.

—I'm coming— he replied through his teeth.

She fell to the bottom and a slight crunch of gravel was heard under her feet. You looked for a second towards the corridor and quickly jumped into the hole. With trembling hands you grabbed the plaque that was still on the floor of the castle and carefully placed it in its place.

You were safe and sound.

You released all the air you didn't know you were holding.

Your friend looked at you with a victorious smile.

He took you by the hand and you walked through the narrow underground corridor cautiously. After a few minutes you arrived at the end of the tunnel, which flowed a few meters from Black Lake.

Pansy came out first and ran outdoors.

—We did it!— she shouted, spinning on herself. But then she covered her mouth, realizing she had screamed too loud. You could still get caught.

You smiled showing your teeth and laughed at his enthusiasm.

—How did you get the map?— you asked as you walked towards her trying not to trip over the rocks. The wind blew hard and your hair got disheveled instantly. The temperature had dropped and you hugged yourself to keep warm.

—Draco and I sneak into Potter's room— he replied as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

—Why?

—We wanted to put some spiders on Weasley's bed, pour a potion of oblivion in Potter's cauldron... you know, the typical thing— she explained, kicking a stone that fell into the water. —With a little multi-juice potion anyone can enter the Gryffindor house.

Silence settled between you.

You knelt next to the shore of the lake and listened to the gentle movement of the water. It was almost hypnotic. You closed your eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

—I lied to you— you confessed after a few minutes of comfortable silence.

Pansy fixed her green, feline eyes on you. She approached and sat next to you on the grass.

—What are you talking about?

—I have talked to Professor Riddle.

She took a pack of cigarettes out of his robe and took one between his fingers.

—What did he tell you?

You liked that this time I didn't ask with a mischievous smile. His tone was serious, almost melancholic.

—Nothing special. I answered his questions. We were talking about the unforgivable curses.

She expelled the white smoke through her mouth. The smell of tobacco filled the air.

—Isn't it illegal to talk about that in class?

—Not anymore, It was legalized last year, as long as it is to raise awareness or teach self-defense.

—Smarty— she said now with a smile. —And why are you telling me?

You thought for a few seconds before answering.

—Because there's something... in the way he looks at me...

Your skin bristled when you remembered how his eyes had stuck in yours when you entered the classroom.

—It's... dirty. Inappropriate— you tried to describe frowning.

—Does it bother you?

He took another gash of the cigarette.

—No. That's the problem.

You went back into the narrow underground tunnel, this time exhausted. You dragged your boots through the gravel, unable to lift your legs well. Pansy was also tired; she didn't say it, but you knew it.

—According to that blissful map... where are we?— you asked with heavy eyelids.

—There is little left— she replied, illuminating the map with the tip of his wand.

You yawned hard. From the position of the moon you had deduced before that it would be around two in the morning. The teachers' shifts ended at three, according to Pansy.

You finally reached the crack of the ground.

Your friend turned off the light of her wand, put it in the robe and removed the metal plate again. With a jump he managed to get out and then stretched out his arm to help you.

You grabbed her hard and climbed easily.

—Shit, your stockings— you said as you looked at them.

A fine run ran through the right calf, opening in a major tear on the knee. In the left thigh there was an irregular hole that showed the pale skin.

—It doesn't matter. They look better that way— she whispered with a small smile.

You're back on the road.

You reached the stairs after dodging the kitchen full of house elves who were still working despite being at dawn. There your paths parted: she went down to Slytherin and you had to go up to the top of the castle.

—Be careful, okay? Take the map, you'll give it back to me.

Pansy hugged you tightly and disappeared downstairs.

You opened the map with sweaty hands. You went up to the first floor and advanced stuck to the columns to have a place to hide if necessary. The names moved quickly through the scroll and the darkness made it difficult to understand what was happening around you.

You bit your lip, doubting where to go.

Steps.

—Mischief managed— you whispered as your friend had taught you.

Your stomach was a knot.

You saved the map immediately and hid behind a column.

The steps stopped nearby.

You covered your mouth with your hand.

—I know you're there.

The male voice was firm and deep.

—Shit.

You slowly came out of the shadow of the column, looking down.

—Miss Prewett.

You looked up.

Professor Riddle was in front of you in his elegant black robe to the floor. I was watching you with severity.

Something stirred inside you.

—Professor Riddle, I-

—What are you doing wandering around the castle at this hour?— he interrupted, approaching you.

—I was hungry... and I didn't bring food from home— you lied.

He knew it was a lie. Although your stomach really roared.

He looked at your clothes and noticed your boots stained with fresh mud, but acted as if he hadn't noticed.

—Follow me.

You placed your side next to him immediately.

—I'm very sorry. I shouldn't have gone out.

—Don't worry, I understand you— he said, looking at the end of the corridor. His wand illuminated the road. —I thought you would go to Slytherin, like Mr. Malfoy.

You kept quiet.

—My brother is Slytherin, sir.

—I know. An impulsive young man, don't you think?

You went down the stone stairs.

—Yes— you replied without being sure of what she meant.

—He doesn't look like you at all— he added, looking at you.

Your pulse accelerated. He spoke as if he knew you.

—I'm more like my mother— you said with a smile.

—Then your mother must be charming.

Your cheeks blushed.

—Thank you... she is.

You arrived at the large dining room, empty and gloomy.

Riddle approached the lit kitchen, talked to the elves for a few seconds and returned.

—Do you like cereals?

You nodded, even though it was a lie. He sat in front of you on the other side of the table. Now you couldn't escape his gaze.

—Now are you going to tell me the truth about what you were doing in the hallway?

The abruptness of the question surprised you.

You thought for a moment.

—I was back from Black Lake. I couldn't sleep— you confessed.

A mocking smile appeared on his lips.

—Do you like the lake a lot?

—Yes. When I was little, my brother took me there.

A house elf left a bowl of milk and cereal in front of you.

—Thank you very much— you said with a sincere smile.

The creature returned to the kitchen.

—I feel so sorry for them— you murmured, stirring the milk with the spoon. —They're exploding.

Riddle looked at you intensely.

—I don't understand how Dumbledore allows them to work in those conditions— he said with a strange tone, full of contained anger. —It should be forbidden.

You smiled slightly; you liked that I thought the same as you.

You took a spoonful of cereal.

—Allow me to say that you were brilliant in my class this morning— he said.

You blushed.

—Thank you for the compliment, sir.

—You're welcome.

—Is this your first time as a teacher?— you asked curiously.

—Yes. How do you think I'm doing it?— he said with an arrogant smile, resting his elbows on the table and intertwining his hands. His marked biceps were noticeable under the shirt.

—So far very good... although now I have to make a scroll for Monday.

He laughed softly.

—I'm sorry. That scroll was more for Hufflepuff's. They weren't very attentive.

—It's okay. I like to write.

The conversation didn't last much longer. You finished the bowl and both got up.

You climbed towards Ravenclaw almost silently. From time to time I looked at you sideways and you pretended not to notice. You yawned; you were exhausted.

In a moment, his hand brushed yours.

Your body trembled.

You stopped in front of the entrance to the common room. You were closer than you had thought. You could feel his breath brushing your forehead.

—Please... don't tell Dumbledore that I went out at night— you asked in a pleading voice.

His eyes seemed dark in the twilight.