"𝕴 believe your words were 'i'll find you again', not i'll kidnap you and bring you to a tea party" I recalled, eyeing him as he chuckled, taking a sip of his tea motioning for me to do the same, causing me to look down at the pinky brown tea, an unfamiliar scent filling up my lungs.
Veritaserum. It had to be. Only, I knew veristaserum doesn't work on me for some reason after we played a game of truth or dare in seventh year and Sirius put the serum in and I was easily able to lie. He doesn't need to know that though, he obviously needs to find out something from me.
"As witty as always Melody, I thought it was about time we had a little chat, how about you?"
"I'd have liked you to ask rather than kidnap me to be honest with you, but i'm here now, you've already done that. Let's talk" I hummed, taking a sip of the tea, watching his grin widen when I drank the liquid, the wizard believing I had drank the serum.
"What was a lovely girl like you doing in Knockturn alley without your boyfriend?"
"My fiancé actually. And he was at work, we've moved out of the manor and living in our own house, I was shopping for furniture with Peter" I answered, lying through my teeth whilst maintaining a stoic expression.
"Engaged?" He hummed, tapping his fingers on the wooden table, my eyes shifting away from him and around the room rather, it was dark and empty practically. Much different to mine and James' home. This fit Tom Riddle's aura perfectly.
"Yes, typically that's what having a fiancé means"
"So uptight today" He sighed gently, my gaze shifting back on to his eyes, my eyebrow raising.
"Yes, well forgive me if i'm a little upset you kidnapped me without permission"
"It isn't a kidnapping if you are alert about it" He pointed out, my eyes rolling as my lips twitched up, clapping my hands together slowly.
"I prefer hot chocolate you know...." I informed him, causing him to snap his fingers, a pot of hot chocolate landing in front of me.
"Don't we all?" He grinned, serving himself some of the hot beverage too before passing me some by levitating it over to me with his hand, all the way across the table, "What is Dumbledore having you doing?"
"Nothing. He's being an absolute prat, Reg and I are keeping him on his toes. I think he hates us"
"Regulus Black?"
"Do you know another person I call Reg? I have a cat now, James and I"
"Really? What have you named your cat?" He inquired, leaning back on his chair as I grinned, lifting my hand up for him to get ready, shifting in my seat.
"Duck"
"Are you serious?"
"No, i'm Melody. Sirius is the person who is probably extremely mad i'm gone"
"Duck is a pathetic name for a cat" He scoffed, making me huff, folding my arms over my chest.
"I happen to like Ducks, James and I like ducks"
"You don't name your cat after them though. You name your cat something extraordinary like.....Lil-"
"You're giving me a lecture on names? Voldemort is the best you could come up with and you think Duck for my cat is pathetic?" I challenged, his eyebrows furrowing into a frown, as I slurped up some more of my hot chocolate. It's not as good as Remus and I's but at the end of the day its still hot chocolate.
"Lord Voldemort" He corrected, "And it's an acronym of my name, a name wizard and witches around the world already fear to speak. Do people fear your cat's name?"
"Regulus does, he's scared of ducks" I sighed lightly, smiling at the thought of the boy, "It's a bit weird though, you have to admit, Voldemort. Voldemort. Voldemort. Voldemort. Voldemort. Voldemort . Voldemort Voldemort Voldemort Voldemort-"
"Stop it- you're making it sound weird" He muttered, just as the door clicked open, my eyes widening slightly at the sight of the monstrous beast that ruined mine and Remus' lives forever.
"Get him out of the room before I kill him" I told him dangerously low tone, glaring at the older wizard as the werewolf barred his teeth, growling at me, "Tom I'll kill him. You don't want your mutt dead, do you?"
"I remember you and your brother..." He laughed maniacally, "I got a kick out of you, but fuck did your twin taste good- oh sweet and innocent" He hummed, licking his fingers at the taste my jaw locking in anger.
"Tom" I growled, the wizard just observing me, drinking his tea as more and more anger filled up my veins.
"The blood, the screams...."
Don't do it Melody, this is what he wants. He wants you to get mad, he wants you to feed from your anger and lash out. Don't give him what he wants, don't give him the satisfaction. I didn't look away from the older wizard, trying to block out the monster's words about Remus and I, his point of view of the night as my hands shook vigorously on my lap.
"Now though....i'd like to hear your screams in a whole new light" He cackled, making my head snap towards him, a devilish smirk on his face that made me sick to my stomach, "Pretty little thing, I bet you'd taste just as good as that night, I wonder what else your mouth is good for-"
"Shut up!" I screamed, throwing my hands at him in outrage, an unknown feeling coursing through my veins, as he choked on air, his feet raising off the floor slightly as I carried on whatever I was doing, wishing for nothing more than his lungs to squeeze all of the air of his body. For him to suffer.
And it felt good, thrilling almost.
Tom observed as the werewolf's eyes glowed golden like he had been told they had done before by the Blacks, a feeling of success and accomplishment filling through his body as she pained Greyback with her own bare hands. She was special alright. Her observed the way her lip curled up from the yells and screams, making him smirk. She was enjoying it, just like he had done. She was enjoying killing him and she was almost there.
Until she stopped and he narrowed his eyes at her when he saw her eyes flicker to her left hand, causing her to draw her hands back wide, the werewolf dropping to the floor with a loud thud, gasping for air.
"W-where's my engagement ring?" I choked out, an overwhelming sense of panic coursing through my body as the man grinned, eyeing the werewolf on the floor.
James.
I need James.
"Give me my ring back" I demanded, touching my promise wing, trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall at the back of my eyes from the thought of losing Mia's ring. My ring. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of crying in front of him though, it would only make him enjoy this more, "Give me my ring back!"
"You know, you can't lie to me Melody, you were enjoying that then, weren't you?" he hummed, clasping his hands together and leaning on the table as I scanned around the room ignoring Greyback laying still on the floor, passed out, looking for my ring, "And then it stopped"
"Where's my ring?" I repeated calmly, clenching my hands when he gestured for me to sit down on my seat again.
"You were enjoying it until you remembered your lover. I see it deep within you, Melody, the darkness itching to come out. You are like I. But it's stopping you, this love you claim to feel. You would be stronger without it, more powerful without it. Look at you..." He voiced, lifting his hands up in the air, gesturing to the passed out werewolf on the floor, "You're one of us Melody Lupin"
"I'm nothing like you, Tom" I shook my head, closing my eyes briefly when he laughed again, my promise ring constantly spinning around my finger as my engagement one plagued my mind.
"Is that so? Then tell me, if you hadn't have realised your ring wasn't there, would you have stopped?"
"Of course I would have" I spoke without hesitation. Of course I would have. I wouldn't have killed him, even if it was Greyback.
"I pity you Melody. You're trapped, see I don't know what's worse, being dammed to feel no love or not being able to give it back to the person who gives you more than you can take-"
"You don't know anything about love so don't tell me how my relationship is. I am a receiver, he is a giver there is nothing wrong with that. Not everyone is the same when it comes to love" I recalled, remembering Mia's words from the day at the manor when we were plotting plants together, her hand on mine the entire time reassuring me.
"No, you're right. Not everyone is the same because not everyone can be" He responded, "Love will make you weak Melody, think of how great you would become if you forgot that boy and joined me"
"You know...I thought you loathed to be like Dumbledore, you say he's a fool, an idiot and yet you're both exactly the same. Manipulating young people into a war your too scared, no terrified, to go up head to head against each other because you know you'll be killed" I shot back, watching him grind his teeth together, his hand's fidgeting as he tried to control his temper from my words, letting me know I had struck a nerve.
"Narcissa!" He yelled, causing a blonde girl with facial features like Regulus and Sirius to come quickly into the dining room, eyeing me carefully, "Take her to her chambers and lock the door"
"Yes, my lord" She nodded, gesturing for me to stand up, waiting as I turned back to the older wizard one more time.
"Thank you for the tea party, Dumbledore likes them too" I smirked, turning around and following the older girl up the steps of the manor, hearing him bang his fist on the table, causing me to hum in satisfaction, the older girl shaking her head.
"Melody" She whispered almost silently as we walked through an empty, extremely dark hallway, causing me to turn to her as she nodded for me to enter a bedroom, of which she followed me into, "Here"
"What?" I murmured, feeling her reach out and place my engagement ring back in my hand, nearly making me sob from happiness, "Thank you, thank you so much"
"R-Reggie and Sirius, you did the best for them. I thank you for that, that's why I've done this" She said shakily, closing the door and stepping further in, casting a muffliato, "My house elf, Dobby will come in here in two minutes, i've told him to take you home. You are going to act like you escaped and I will do the same, make it seem like I didn't help you or we will both d-die"
"W-why?" I queried, feeling an immense load of gratitude and appreciation for the woman who had decided to help me and take me out of this place.
"I love my cousins. And I-I know that if someone I loved didn't return home, I-I would be distraught"
"Why are you here? You're good-"
"I love my husband, as you love your fiancé. I will stand by him as you stand by yours, i'm sure you can understand that" She replied with a small smile as I slipped my engagement ring back on to my finger.
"Ma'am" A house elf greeted, popping into the room, the blonde turning to him as he looked at her.
"Don't let me hear where you're going, whisper in his ear. We can't take any chances" She told me wisely, causing me to lean down and whisper the first address that came to mind, the house elf holding his hand out to me.
"Thank you, you have no idea how grateful I am" I told her honestly, her understanding in her grey eyes when she nodded, the elf grabbing my hand, allowing us to spin away with a crack, the last thing I heard was a scream by her, alerting everyone I had escaped.
•••
We landed on a familiar driveway, causing me to turn to the elf, thanking him profusely before he popped away, my legs carrying me forward towards the manor I knew very well, my legs shaking underneath me as my hands shook.
"What do you fucking mean?! Get my fiancée back!" I heard James shout from the living room, my heart aching in my chest from the sound, hearing him cry out, murmurs heard along with sniffs and more yells.
"I don't think he'll kill her, he wants her on his side, he won't kill her. She's safe" Dumbledore told them, causing them all to scoff, growling at him.
"She's not safe until she's in my fucking arms. It's been three fucking days Dumbledore! Three!" James snapped back, as I leaned against the doorway of the living room, eyeing all of the group sat there with distraught or angered expressions, Monty comforting Mia, Peter cuddling himself in a corner, Remus holding onto Sirius, Regulus stood up with James by Dumbledore with the girls curled up on the couch, Minnie sat with them.
Has it been three days? It's that how long i've been out?
"Mr Potter I-"
"Come and hug me then" I whispered, causing everyone to suck in a breath, snapping their heads towards me, James rushing towards me, knocking everything out of the way and bringing me into a bone crushing hug, all of the emotions from the past twenty four hours seeping up to the surface as I choked on a sob, gripping on to him tighter as he cried into my hair, nuzzling his head at him.
"Elody" He cried, sniffing into my neck, his scent filling up my lungs causing me to feel extremely safe and protected in his arms, safe from the whole world, "Y-you're here. You're here- fuck!"
"As you can see, she's fine-"
"Oh fuck off! She's not fucking fine! Get out!" Regulus screamed at the headmaster, pointing to the floo station, as James and I sank to the floor, holding on to each other as if we were about to be taken away again.
"I must really ask questions-"
"Get out!" A voice shouted, although it wasn't Regulus. Or James. It wasn't Remus, Sirius or Peter. It wasn't the girls or Minnie. It was Fleamont Potter, standing with his honorary son, pointing to the fireplace, "Melody will not be answering any questions of any sort today Albus. You can leave now"
"Very well. Welcome back Melody, it's lovely to see you're safe and with us" Dumbledore spoke, standing in the fireplace and flooing off Regulus grumbling words under his breath.
"No thanks to him" Marlene scoffed as more and more of them surrounded us, throwing their arms around me in happiness i'm back, Peter holding back in guilt.
"What happened?" Sirius questioned raspy, picking me up off the floor and allowing James to stand up himself, tiredly placing me down on his lap when he sat down on the couch, everyone looking at me expectantly.
"How are you here?" Remus quizzed instead as Regulus took the seat beside us, James shifting me slightly so my legs were on Regulus' lap, the boy grabbing my hand as James held me upper body into him.
"Malfoy" I revealed almost silently, all of them frowning, "N-narcissa Malfoy, she helped me escape" I told them, Regulus and Sirius exchanging a glance, "Because of you two"
"W-what do you mean because of us?"
"Because she loves you, she helped me get back" I murmured, lifting my head up and resting it on James' cheek, wanting him to hold him close, "S-she gave me my ring back"
"They took your ring?" Mia choked out, shifting her gaze to my left hand as Monty wrapped her arms around her, "A-are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"No, they didn't hurt me. We just talked, Tom and I, a-and. That's it, yeah, that's it. I don't even know how long I was out but you said three days so..." I told them all, leaving out the part about almost killing Greyback, not wanting them to know about that.
"We're so glad you're okay, Mel, we nearly stormed into that manor and killed them all with our bare hands" Marlene breathed out, Dorcas nodding and gripping her hand, my gaze shifting to Peter as a tear rolled down his cheek.
"James let me go" I whispered to him, hearing him mumble something before reluctantly letting me go, approaching Peter, the boy looking up at me.
"M-mel i'm so sorry, I should have, I-I i'm sorry" He cried guiltily, as I climbed onto his lap, wiping my thumbs underneath his eyes, before allowing him to hold onto me.
"It's not your fault Wormy, I don't blame you. There was nothing you could have done. I'm safe anyway. I'm okay, i'm safe. I don't blame you" I reassured him, running my hands through his hair, knowing he was blaming himself for me getting kidnapped even know there is literally nothing he could have done. He didn't know.
After a little while if everyone just staying together, and sharing a hug with me, people began to leave the manor having to go home as it turned dark, leaving just Monty, Mia, James, Sirius, Remus, Regulus and I, Peter having gone home when I reassured him I was okay. Monty and Mia had insisted James and I stay for the night instead of going home, as well as Remus and Sirius so we were all together and safe. This attack really shook them as much as it did me, nothing has really happened like this to us before.
I sat on the couch under the blanket with James gone to the bathroom for a few minutes, Monty and Mia cooking dinner and Remus and Sirius having a shower to relax. Regulus approached me, tugging at my blanket, allowing me to lift it and snuggle up to me inside, holding on to my hand again, letting out a shaky breath.
"I-I know you're not telling us something, mon coeur, I can see it in your eyes something happened" He whispered almost silently, memories of me hurting Greyback filling my mind again as a tear rolled down my cheek again.
It wasn't me almost killing Greyback that was panicking me.
It was the thrilling feeling inside of me that was instead. The part that enjoyed watching him suffer.
"Lo, you can talk to me" He murmured, gripping my hand tighter as I shifted, gazing into his grey eyes, my own clouding over, "It's just us, okay?"
"I-I I nearly k-killed Greyback" I whispered almost inaudibly, the boy staring at me for a second, gulping slightly and nodding his head, "H-he was saying things about us, what he did to us, what he wanted to do with me, i-it was horrible. S-so I wished to squeeze the air out of his lungs and I did- I nearly did and Reg- Reg I-I I liked it. I'm a monster"
"No" He whispered throatily, "No, you're not a monster, you're not a monster at all. He's a monster, you acted on your reaction Lo-"
"I liked it though, Reg, I liked hurting him!"
"Because he he fucking deserves it, that's why you liked it. You wouldn't hurt innocent people like him though, he ruined your lives, he deserved it. You're not like them, Lo, you're good. Mon espoir" He uttered softly, planting a kiss on top of my head, "You're good, I know it"
"You think so?" I murmured, wiping underneath my eyes, as he nodded,
"I know so"
"I know so too" James whispered, walking back into the room, making me sigh as he approached sitting on the other side of me.
He heard.
"You're not a bad person, Elody. Bad things have happened to you, cruel things but you are not bad. They are, you're not. Okay?" He voiced quietly, allowing me to cuddle into him, Regulus on my other side, "We love you for who you are. We're just glad you're home and safe"
"Yeah....he nearly murdered Dumbledore" Regulus joked, a light laugh escaping my lips as James hummed.
"It was your idea, Reggie, don't sell me out. Mum had to take your wand off you"
"I need to learn wandless magic"
"Of course you do"
•3495 words•
Mel and Tom's chats >>
Even though he's a murderer, they seem to enjoy their time together <3
Double update because I wrote these chapters together.