"𝕬re you sure you want to go to Hogsmeade today?" James queried to me as we were gathered in the common room, waiting to go down for the carriages to get to the village.
It had been a few weeks since the meeting with Dumbledore and I was beginning to accept the fact that everyone else wants to fight in this war despite my efforts to tell them no. Like Dumbledore said, it's their life, their choice, I can't really stop them as much as I want to. Regulus is still on the fence but he doesn't have to decide right now with being the year below us, he doesn't have to rush into anything which i'm happy about.
Dumbledore has been trying to find out more about my condition and why I seem to differ from Remus when we were both bitten by Greyback at the same time, in theory we should be the same. Remus doesn't have glowing eyes fortunately for him. In the mean time, Dumbledore has been training me in occulemcy every other night in case i'm in the situation I might need it. In a few days it would be the full moon and with training with occulemcy, i'm more tired than I usually am, hence why James was being extra protective and cautious.
"I'm sure James, I don't want to miss out, i'll be okay" I reassured him, kissing his lips softly, feeling him melt into it.
"Okay but if you start to get really tired, we will come back and leave everyone else" He compromised, flickering his eyes between mine, my heart warming from his loving concern.
"I can agree to that" I nodded, smiling when he kissed my forehead delicately, just as Sirius came down the steps after we were all waiting for him to do his hair.
"I can't believe the nine of us had to squeeze into one carriage..I hope your hair time was worth it" Marlene scoffed as we all stumbled out of the last remaining carriage after all being crammed up together.
"Totally worth it, right Moony?" Sirius responded, smirking at my brother who stared flatly at the boy before cracking his bones.
"Definitely, Pads" He grumbled, shaking his head and walking away.
"Prongs, we going in?" Sirius called to James beside me as we approached outside of Zonkos, Marlene, Lily and Mary already sauntering off towards the boutique, Alice already here with Frank, Remus and Peter leaving for Honeydukes.
"Go" I urged him away towards Sirius when he looked conflicted, kissing my cheek as he walked into the joke shop, "And then there were two"
"The best two" Regulus grinned, strolling beside me as we walked around the cold village, the January weather being particularly bitter, which is why I had James' scarf around my neck, his scent constantly filling my lungs.
"So where do you want to go?"
"I actually need to get some quills"
"Well go on in there i'll wait outside" I told him, pointing to the shop. He looked at me skeptically, glancing around,
"I don't want to leave you alone"
"Oh please, Reg, I can handle myself" I told him, ushering him towards the shop whilst I stood outside, waiting for him. I stood for a few moments, observing the peacefulness of the village, it seemed to be fairly quiet, most people probably escaping the cold and going into the shops or pubs for a drink.
All of a sudden I felt a hand wrap tightly around my wrist, yanking me into one of the alleys, clamping a hand over my mouth to muffle my scream. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He pulled his hand of my mouth after pulling us into an empty dark alley between the shops, warning me not to make a sound. I had my suspicions who this was, but I had never seen him before so I didn't know for sure. I am hoping it's not who I think it is. His face was extremely chiselled and sharp, his bright green eyes piercing into my soul, his dark hair neatly styled on his head. He looked...charming almost?
"Melody Hope Lupin" He greeted in his cold, merciless voice, "The special werewolf"
Yep, definitely him.
I knew now was not the time to look visibly scared of his presence. I could do it. I was a braveheart, a Gryffindor. I would not fear him the way he wanted me to. He's intimidating, there's no doubt as he prowled around her inspecting every detail. I would not yield to him.
"Hello, Tom Riddle" I hummed, keeping my body relaxed rather then tense when he let out a low chuckle. An evil chuckle.
"Rather formal of you, Dumbledore must have taught you well" He tutted, moving close to me in one swift movement, tracing over one of my scars with his sharp finger.
"What are you doing?" I snorted, not being able to control myself from laughing at his strange actions.
"You have to understand, Melody, some of mine aren't very pleased you have took one of their own, threatening you would tear them to smithereens if they went so much as near you again. I want to know why they were cowardly over you"
"Cowardly" I grinned, that's good to know, "Walburga and Orion are no courageous, brave people. They yield and bow" I returned, hinting to him. I don't bow down to anyone and I'm certainly not going to start now.
"Interesting. Very interesting. The Blacks are some of my loyal ones though, they were displeased from their loss"
"I don't take idle to people hurting those I love, Tom. Sirius and Regulus belong with me, as far as I'm concerned they are worthy of more than the name of Black"
"Love is weak" He hissed, his eyes turning dangerously like a snake, slits in the middle of his bright green orbs.
"Weak because it can hurt you, or weak because some are dammed enough to never receive or feel it?" I continued, him pressing me up against the wall, his hands either side of me and his jaw locked in anger. "Oh, that's you, isn't it?"
"Yes" He spat, shaking with rage as I stared up at him before shifting my gaze to the sky.
"What's up?"
"You are an insufferable girl"
"No, I don't believe the words 'you are an insufferable girl' are upwards, the answer was the sky. I appreciate the compliment though"
"Why are not-"
"What? Scared of you? You are quite intimidating, I'll give you that but i'm not sure how I can be scared of you when I turn into a fully fledged monster every month" I finished, meeting his gaze and yawning tiredly, "I'm very fatigued, you know?"
"Evidently" He nodded, calming down considerably, "What has Dumbledore offered you?"
"Nothing" I shrugged, "He has given me opportunities, yes, however he hasn't offered me anything you would be interested in. If you are looking to kill me, would I be allowed to eat some chocolate first?"
"I'm not going to kill you...today unfortunately"
"Yes, rather unfortunate"
"Shut up. They told me your eyes glow. Why are they not glowing?"
"I'm not mad" I said simply, wrinkling my nose, "My boyfriend is getting closer to me, I suggest we finish this discussion quickly, I'd turn you in but as I said earlier I'm rather fatigued"
He barked out a laugh again, shaking his head at me and taking his arms off the wall around me before his face turned serious again, "Join me"
"Pardon?" I nearly choked out, not believing the words he just spoke out of his mouth.
Is he serious?
Join him?
"You can hear your companion heading this way but you can't hear me. I said join me" He repeated, leaving me dumbfounded.
"Personally, i'm not one for a snake tattoo-"
"This is not a joking matter. You could be great on my side, we would rule the Wizarding World. Dumbledore has been in power far too long" He stated, glancing over my shoulder as James began calling out to me down the alley before turning back to me, "I would give you power some could only dream of maintaining"
"What is your feud with Dumbledore?" I quizzed, examining as his fists clenched and his teeth grinded together.
"Elody!"
"I will find you again" He told me, before apparating off just as James appeared around the corner, looking frantic as I stared at where the dark wizard was just standing.
"What the fuck just happened to you?" He queried, concerned as he tilted my head side to side, noticing my frozen state.
"You would not believe me if I told you" I uttered, moving my eyes over to him and smiling faintly, "I'm tired"
"You're always tired, my love" He mumbled, scooping me up bridal style into my arms, carrying me back up towards the castle, kissing my forehead every couple of seconds, "Reg had no idea where you went, I told him i'd find you and take you back to the castle"
"I'm okay"
"You can't be wandering around on your own, Lunes love, remember what Dumbledore said-"
"Tom may take an interest in me" I murmured, "Yes, I believe he was right about that" I spoke, him freezing in his spot, looking down at me.
"W-What's that supposed to mean?" He spluttered, his panic rising as he gazed down at me, stepping on to a warm carriage, holding me on his lap as the carriage set off.
"I'll uh tell you when we're back in the dorm" I whispered, snuggling into his body, brushing my lips over his neck, the interaction I just had still engraved in my mind. Riddle's words replaying over and over again.
"Elody, you're scaring me"
"I-i'm okay, James, don't worry" I assured him with a smile, raising my head to kiss his lips softly, "I love you"
"I love you, very much" He hummed, rubbing his nose against mine affectionately before peppering kisses all over my face, a giggle escaping my lips, "Deeply, madly, unconditionally forever and ever" He whispered, lifting up my promise ring and brushing his lips over it just as we rendered near the castle.
•••
"Are you fucking serious?" He asked as I explained everything to him once we got to his dorm, what happened with Riddle and every tiny detail of what he said.
"No i'm fucking you" I responded simply, laying back on his bed after sliding under the covers, still tired.
"You need to tell Dumbledore"
"What? No fucking way! He wanted me to join him for a reason and i'm not telling Dumbledore what happened until he tells me what is going on because I have a feeling he knows. If he wants me to inform him of everything, he needs to do the same"
"Still though Lunes, we need to tell someone, we need to make sure you're safe" He murmured, laying down beside me, lifting my head onto his chest. "I don't want you to get hurt, I-I couldn't live with myself"
"He won't kill me, he wants me for a reason I just don't know why yet" I uttered to him, closing my eyes and listening to his steady heartbeat, "We keep this between us for now until we know what's going on"
"Okay, my love" He agreed quietly, kissing the top of my head, "Go to sleep Elody, i'm here"
"Yeah, i'm going to do that" I managed to speak out, drifting further into sleep as he chuckled, making me feel the vibrations off his chest.
•1936 words•