Chapter 7

"You happen to have many qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his hand-picked students. His own very rare gift, Parseltongue - resourcefulness - determination - a certain disregard for rules"HP2

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Evelyn was immensely excited to go back to Hogwarts. The forth year was the middle of the school career, she felt she wasn't too much young nor too much old.She was sure she would have loved that year.At the first occasion, she dragged Riddle to her tower and made him stand in front of the door of her common room, where the doorknob said its usual riddle."I spit like bacon,I am made with an eggI have a backbone but lack a good legI peel layers like onions but still remain wholeI am long as a flagpole yet fit in a holeWho am I?".Riddle smirked, saying confidently "A snake".She giggled "Exactly!"."It was easy" he said a bit disappointed."Yeah. I got this riddle and it reminded me of you" she explained pushing him far from the door and down the tower."How sweet" he gave her a defiant smile "I guess it wouldn't hard for me to sneak into your tower sometimes"."You are smart enough to be a Ravenclaw" she confirmed.They walked together to their Transfiguration lesson."How your holidays had been?"."Awful" she said with a bad face."Same as mines. The opposite of what your cousin claims"."Yeah, she had fun. But all I wanted was to come back here" she said with satisfaction.Riddle smiled and reached his seat while she joined her housemates.It was nice to be back home, with all those students and professors And her goal was to astonish them all.

Professor Slughorn thought that it would be great to start he new year with a Potion tournament, without realizing that it sounded like it meant starting with the final exams.Evelyn wasn't good enough in that subject and the word Tournament was driving her insane.As if he read her mind, Riddle stopped next to her while she was desperately reading the new Potion book."Slept well?" He asked lightly.She eyed him sceptical "When did you start to care about how I sleep?".He smirked opening his mouth to reply but the arrival of the teacher silenced him."Burke and Riddle, perfect" professor Slughorn moved towards the other students to match them.Evelyn widened her eyes, turning to see the boy who silently stepped closer.He slightly winked at her shocked face, inhaling in a cocky way "Ready to work?".She rolled her eyes but she accepted the challenge "Sure, Slytherin"."Awesome, Ravenclaw".They had to try to make some Veritaserum.It was a long and complicated job, but the result was also dangerous.Riddle started to work like it wasn't a group project and she complained."I prefer to operate alone" he simply explained."I can tell the same for me" she searched for the professor, who was busy at his desk."You can fetch the ingredients" Riddle said, writing down fast some lines.He handed her the piece of parchment. She admired his elegant handwriting, but frowned seeing that he changed the doses of each ingredient.If he was trying to make her fail, he was about to fail as well. So she shrugged without complaining and went to pick the ingredients.Then they prepared them together, but she noticed that he wasn't respecting the doses."It says two drops" she complained fearing that the potion was now wasted and they had to start over."The citrus is a catalyst. It will speed up the reactions, so we'll have to hurry a bit" he added a third drop. The potion bubbled louder."If this crazy idea of yours will make us fail and humiliate in front of the school, I swear.." She hissed against him."What?" He turned his face towards her, coming so closer that she felt his breath on her skin."You'll be in big troubles" she menaced."What if I'll make us succeed?".She glanced at the cauldron "Focus on the task. You said we have to hurry now".He kept working while she surrendered to their destiny. If he made them fail, she would have never forgive it to him. And it was nice to imagine how she would have teased him forever.Instead the result was totally unexpected.Professor Slughorn tested the final result and slapped his hands with enthusiasm."Excellent! It can't be more perfect. Fifty points to Slytherin and other fifty to Ravenclaw".Nobody else reached a good result as theirs.Evelyn was speechless, but she learned not to distrust Riddle's weird ideas. She had to know that he would not make himself fail."Congratulations, Slytherin" she whispered to him with a smile."Same to you, Ravenclaw" he replied with a grin.Slughorn approached them again, saying in a confidential tone "You're both invited to my next private parties. I should have made you join earlier. But you are more than welcomed in all the future suppers".When finally the bell rang she was already leaving the room in a hurry, being the first to leave.Joining the Slugclub was her last wish. Suddenly a hand wrapped around her wrist making her abruptly spin and bump against the chest of a tall boy.She gasped struggling away from the grip "What the..."."How did you know when exactly the bell rang?" Riddle asked with amusement."I counted the seconds?"."We had a conversation suspended. I made us brilliantly succeed. And since I'm not in troubles... What's my reward?".She scowled at him "My compliments. What else do you want?"."We could be a good team, Burke. But be careful. There's something different in you. I don't know how to explain it, but I fear you'll get soon into troubles"."Is that a menace?" She was getting nervous because other students could see them together and spread bad rumours."No, but you know how your evil cousin loves you"."I know. And I'll deal with her".

Soon she kept the promise and when Milly tried a prank on her in the Hall, Evelyn humiliated her in front of everyone."Go to play with your mice, silly Milly" Evelyn dismissed her and joined her mates, warmly welcomed by them."That was cool, Evy" Adele complimented her "You've become so lively and reckless. What happened in the holidays?"."Nothing relevant. The fun is now".

Her cousin didn't delay her revenge and caught Evelyn at the first occasion, disarming her and dragging her in a dark corridor in the dungeons."You think you're powerful now? You and your silly hair. I don't care about what trick you used but you can't humiliate me like that, do you understand?".Evelyn acted as she didn't hear her."Look at me!" Milly shouted, but not getting a reaction she increased the tone of her voice "You filth! Look at me!"."There are much more prettier things to lay my eyes on than you" Evelyn spitted.Milly attacked her and the torture started.Milly wanted to break her, but Evelyn grew stronger and she relied on that. So her cousin worsened the attack. She grabbed her arm and used her wand to cut her flesh.Some drops of blood erupted from the cut but Evelyn didn't even wince.The painful inside was so far greater than any physical pain.And she learned it was her best shield.In the end she had to act as she was fainted for the wounds, so Milly left and Evelyn was free to go back to her tower to heal the mess her cousin made.Evelyn hated seeing her own blood. She swore to herself she would have revenged that.

But she some had better work to do first.The headmaster's office was an interesting place, but also so messy that made Evelyn's task harder together with the fact it was very late and dark.She had to check that nobody was nearby and she sneaked inside.But when she hurried away from there, she bumped into the last person she wanted to meet.Riddle stared at her like he knew she was breaking some rule."What were you doing up there?" He asked placing himself in the middle of the way so she couldn't avoid him. He grew taller in the holidays and she felt like a first year student compared to him."None of your business" she replied annoyed."If now I go to report you to the headmaster, who do you think he will believe to? To you...or to me?".She stared at him shocked. She couldn't afford to be blackmailed by someone like him "I hate you, Riddle".He smiled in a defiant way "Oh I know. I hate you too".She inhaled deeply "If you report me, I know enough of your bloody businesses to give troubles to you too".He raised a questioning brow "Do you have proofs?"."I'll find them, don't worry. And surely I can make speak some of those you bullied" she smirked mentally focusing on all the weird rumours she heard about him. He didn't just dislike muggle borns, but all the younger students.He pondered her stare then commented with a weak smile "You grew very confident, that's good. I don't like fighting you. We could become good allies. We just have to be honest to each other. What were you doing there?".Flattery and then attack. She couldn't fall into that simply trap."As I said, Riddle, it's not your business" she tried to walk past him, but he raised an arm, stopping her by grabbing her shoulder."It can't be that hard" he hissed to her ear "What dark stuff are you into to be such a desperate secret?".She stepped back, troubled by how close they were.But that was the reaction he wanted "I got it now. What else was different in you. Your hair doesn't reveal your mood anymore, but your cheeks can reveal something".Evelyn inhaled with irritation and wanted to slap him "Mister I-Know-Everything, you are wasting my time. You better forget about it and we should get into our dorms before someone catch us here".He lingered his eyes on her, then nodded "You're right. I'll walk you back to your dorm".She agreed, thinking of sneaking away as soon as possible, but he grabbed her arm and dragged her into an empty classroom, locking themselves in."Riddle, it's illegal to kidnap me" she complained crossing her arms. If he had in mind to perquisite her in search of something she stole, he would have wasted his time. But the idea that he might seriously do that gave her goosebumps."Well, sit down" he waved to the chairs and moved to sit next to her "I don't mind your business. All I want is that you trust me. You know... secrets of me and you didn't tell them anyone. So I think it would be fair if you let me know something about you".She watched him confused "How can you be so sure that I kept your secrets?"."Because I trust you".He stared at her and she couldn't find anything but honesty. She wondered how he could trust her so much.She sighed playing with the bottom of her robes "I'm sorry to disappointed you, but it's nothing so terrible as you are hoping for. I wasn't doing anything bad"."Then why you can't tell me? Your secrets will be safe with me, don't doubt that".Evelyn hesitated then confessed "I'm looking for a something. It's kinda a quest"."Looking for what?"."Something stupid. But don't worry, I didn't find it"."For what?" He insisted, so coldly that it startled her."A relic" she whispered "Gryffindor's sword. I know it's lost, but my uncle says that it's probably here. And I wished I can find it for him".She feared he might laugh at her, instead he just stared at her with wonder."Maybe you will find it someday. If I'll find any hint I'll tell you"."Really?" She couldn't hide a smile."Sure. I like this kind of stuff"."There is so much magic hidden here, into this castle. Perhaps there's more magic here than in the whole England. I won't just be a mere student. I want to seek knowledge, for myself".She noticed he was staring at her in a weird way, but she couldn't tell if he was amused or he was thinking she was mad."What?" She asked frowning."I simply completely agree with you"."Then, is it what you do when you're looking for troubles at night?"."Not just at night" he gave her a knowing look that made her smirk "But we can cooperate. I don't want you to see me as a rival. I know you're smarted than average students and you're good at keeping secrets. We could become partners in crime".

Evelyn pondered his offer in the following days. She had to think about her studies first of all, but she needed to consider the advantages and disadvantages of accepting that suggestions. She couldn't ask for advice to anyone. Her friends would have immediately said that she and Riddle were dating, others would have called her traitor of her own House. She felt also uneasy because of the rumours of his mischief she heard about in the bathrooms where some younger girls were hiding to cry after some encounter with Riddle.She was lost into her thoughts, roaming in the library, until she gasped seeing someone behind an armchair.There was a boy sitting comfortably on it, but he couldn't notice her.Vincent Fawley was asleep.Evelyn silently stepped closer to him, admiring his gorgeous angelic face in the way she would have never dared with an awake person.It didn't last long because suddenly the boy opened his eyes and saw her."I'm sorry..." She said hurriedly and stepped away turning her back to him, unable to bear his face anymore, whatever emotion crossed it.

Evelyn decided to give it a try. She was too curious to know what adventures Riddle enjoyed.And he invited her for a walk in the forest. In the Forbidden Forest.She went to the meeting point spotting him chatting quietly with a girl with a familiar face, some Slytherin student of their same year. When Riddle caught Evelyn's stare he said bye to the other girl and shoved her away.She didn't dare to ask him about it and simply followed him out of the castle."Are you worried we will get caught?" He asked amused while the castle was disappearing at their back."I am counting the points we will lose" she rolled her eyes "I'm just careful. Don't mistake my silence for fear"."I know you're brave" he said warmly "Any other girl would have feared to step out of the castle alone with a boy like me"."Sure because only Merlin knows what you do to them"."And you think I wouldn't do the same to you?" He eyed her with malice."I decided to try to trust you. It wouldn't bring any advantage to you, having me as your enemy".He laughed softly "My clever girl".Suddenly some cold breeze raised against them, together with something that made Evelyn cover her nose.It smelled of death. And her instinct was shouting at her to run away from there.Also Riddle turned very serious and he raised his wand to make more light around them.He waved her to step closer and she obeyed. They kept walking slowly, but they couldn't say where the menace was coming from.The bad smell was just getting worse, until she felt something soft under her shoe.She looked down seeing the worst nightmare. A corpse.Plenty of worms were eating the rotting flesh.Evelyn jumped back screaming, bumping against something hard. An arm wrapped around her waist for not letting her losing her balance and a hand was pressed on her mouth to suppress her scream.She was made spin to come face to face with Riddle, who had an unreadable gaze.He removed his hand from her mouth making her sign to be silent while her fear turned into something totally different. She was too close to him, a boy, a handsome boy. So dangerously close.He seemed to realize it too and stepped back, pulling her away from the rotting animal.She felt still shocked and confused, the echo of her own scream was still in her mind."I'm sorry" she said softly, when he let her go and she immediately missed the contact with someone safe."You could have attracted something dangerous to us" he said coldly, then gave her a more emphatic glance "It caught you by surprise and you were already stressed. You did nothing bad. Do you want to go back?"."I didn't even understand where we are going, so it's up to you to decide"."We don't have a precise place to go. We are just patrolling, looking for something wrong that could explain the weird things happening in the castle. And you found a dead animal. Something unusual since nature is used to get rid easily of the wasted meat".She shivered for his harsh words. They didn't even analyzed what was the corpse. They took it for an animal, but it could have also been a person."So do you think there's some kind of monster out of here that can sneak inside the castle?"."No" he said slightly annoyed "I'm more keen to think it's someone from inside the castle who comes here in the forbidden forest, breaking the laws and brings bad things inside the castle".She mentally noticed that the two of them were too breaking the same laws. She almost wanted to believe he was referring to themselves."We should report the rotting beast to the housekeeper somehow" he concluded "I think we won't find anything more tonight so let's go back to the castle".She sighed with relief and had to force herself not to run back into her beloved castle.It had been a simple but dreadful walk, but she didn't regret it and was almost tempted to ask him when he was planning to look for new adventures.Instead she said "So it's not you behind the weird things that you've mentioned?".Riddle shot her a bad glance "Why am I always the murderer according to you?"."Because you're the smartest student here and I can't find any other explanation of why the professors didn't fix it yet" she said honestly.His face softened for her flattering words "Maybe they are hiding something, protecting someone they let in this castle without thinking of the consequences".She pondered his words and the only unusual thing that came into her mind was one of the younger Gryffindor students, a clumsy half giant. She felt pity for him because he reminded her of her first years when she was the freak.

In the following weeks they investigated, specially when the Christmas holiday came and Evelyn loved being in the castle while her nasty cousin was far away.She had to keep herself busy, because her silly mind liked to recall the little accident with Riddle, when they were so close, alobe in the forest, his hand over her mouth.Something relevant happened when a weird accident happened right in front of them and other students.People started to scream and ran away creating more chaos.While they were escaping, Evelyn and Riddle ran in the opposite direction, looking for what created that mess.They reached en empty corridor where they saw something flying fast hitting a student who fainted and started to levitate."Merlin! What's going on?" Evelyn gasped.Riddle pulled her by her arm "We have to catch that beast. Now!".They passed close to the levitating boy and Evelyn recognized the handsome face."Could it be... a billywig?" She said to Riddle."I agree, but we have to catch it now" he insisted hurriedly.She hesitated and stepped back "Someone need to warn about what's going on or panic will spread. And I'll deal with him. You go and catch it".Riddle stared at her disagreeing "We can hunt it together and see who will get some extra points"."I don't care about points. Go now" she said tiredly.He lingered with an unreadable look, then turned his back and ran away.