Chapter 32

Anastasia sat with the boys in silence listening to Dippet. None of them looked at each other. Anastasia only raised her eyes occasionally to look around the hall for Tom.

"Until we can discover what monster caused this and who set it loose I'm afraid Hogwarts will have to close. It is no longer safe for you all to stay here." Anastasia felt her hands shake slightly in a mix of anger and dread.

"For now every student will return to their dorms for the night. Preparations for travel will be made tomorrow. Look out for one another and stay safe." Anastasia ran out of the hall followed quickly by Avery, Nott and Mulciber.

"Anastasia slow down!" Avery grabbed her shoulder. "Don't attract attention to yourself." He whispered. Anastasia didn't look at him. None of them even seem to care that Rosier was in the infirmary. Once they reached the Slytherin common room Anastasia headed straight for Tom's dorm. She flung the door open to find him pacing.

"Ah Miss Delaney-" Tom begun. Anastasia heard one of the boys shut the door behind her.

"A girl is dead Tom." Tom settled his eyes on her, looking down to see her chest rising and falling dramatically with each breath.

"I believe you mean my Lord?" He grinned. HIs clam demeanour made her hands shake with anger.

"No I don't. My Lord promised me no one was going to die, so now I'm addressing you Thomas Marvolo Riddle." Anastasia spat, walking right up to him. "What the hell happened? We didn't even scare off the muggle-borns did we? Instead everyone is bloody terrified and Dippet is shutting down Hogwarts and none of you even care about Rosier-" Tom's face jolted and he held up a hand in front of her face.

"What did you just say?" Anastasia took a sharp inhale.

"Dippet just announced it. Until the monster and the person responsible is caught they're sending everyone home." Anastasia's face was red with anger. Tom lowered his hand and motioned for the boys to leave, which they obediently did. Tom returned to pacing across his room.

"Tom it was a complete failure, a girl is dead, Rosier is god-knows-what and now we have to return home." She walked forward and grabbed his arm to stop him from walking. "Avery, Nott and Mucliber are going home to big houses and fancy dinner parties but what are we going home to Tom? You'll go to that orphanage and I'll be sent to my muggle cousins with the creepy friends again." Her tone had softened slightly, as she realised more and more how dire their situation was. "You said we'd never have to go back Tom." She whispered. The pair stood in silence until Tom placed his hands on her shoulders and peered down at her.

"We're not going back. I'll fix this. Anastasia." She looked up to meet his eyes. "We are never going back." Anastasia nodded slightly.

"How are-"

"I know what to do." Tom removed his hands from her and walked towards the door. He stopped with his back to her.

"Anastasia." She turned around the see him peering over his shoulder, clenching his jaw as he held the doorknob.

"Once I've fixed this you're going to be punished for how you just spoke to me." With those words he left her. After a few minutes she went to her dorm and got into bed, praying that Tom would do what he does best.

When she woke up she heard commotion outside. Her heart sunk slightly, thinking everyone must be leaving for home. She walked out into the common room to see all the Slytherin students hovering around Tom who was smiling obnoxiously and shaking their hands. Anastasia made her way over to the boys.

"What on earth is going on?" She whispered to Nott.

"Didn't you hear?" He said grinning. "Our very own Mr Riddle saved the day. Caught the guy who released the big bad monster." Nott winked and went back to clapping. Anastasia raised her eyes to Tom to find him already looking down at her. His grin wavered slightly as they stared. Anastasia couldn't help but release a smile, making Tom grin even more than before while turning back to his fans. She couldn't believe he had actually done it, and even though a girl was dead and Rosier was still in the infirmary she smiled and clapped from pure relief. As teachers came in and ordered everyone to meet in the great hall Tom stayed back and waited for Anastasia. The walked next to each other in silence, Tom nodding and smiling at the students staring at him.

"How did you do it?" She whispered. Tom clasped his hands behind his back.

"Are you not even going to thank me Miss Delaney?" He grinned. Anastasia stopped walking and stared at him. Tom stopped a few paces in front of her and turned to face her.

"Thank you." She whispered, her lips curing upwards. Tom's eyes flickered over her body and nodded before indicating for her to start walking again.

"I'm disappointed you doubted me Miss Delaney. That is something we will have to work on this Summer." Anastasia looked down to the ground, hoping this was Tom's way of inviting her to join him and the boys in the Summer holidays.

"I apologise Mr Riddle. I'm sure that will improve over Summer, with your guidance of course." She felt Tom's shoulder rise and fall slightly next to her, and it took her a moment to realise she had actually made him laugh. She wasn't aware he was able. They sat down next to each other, and as all the students were taking their places an owl flew in and dropped a letter in front of her. Anastasia recognised the handwriting and grabbed it as fast as she could, sticking it into her robe. She looked to her right to see Tom's face had completely changed back to his usual glare. He continued his stare until the pair heard Dippet announce his name and all the students began clapping. Tom forced a grin back onto his face and began to stand up. Before he left he leaned into Anastasia.

"Don't think for a second I've forgotten your behaviour last night Miss Delaney." Tom whispered into the back of her neck. Her eyes shot up to find him already walking towards the front of the hall and her stomach twisted slightly as she remembered how she had spoken to him in front of the other followers.