I woke up in a cold sweat I was too familiar with. I knew yesterday was not a dream. I had slept the day away after Riddle put me under a sleeping charm. I wasn't sure how to react to what had happened. Grief? Fear? Despair? It felt like a mix of the three; what was I supposed to do now? I looked out the window in our dorm room to see quidditch practice happening, people flying on their brooms having a laugh when someone got hit with the ball. Why couldn't I be like that? Oblivious.
-
Walking into potions class the next day, my eyes quickly went to Riddle. He didn't even glance my way, which I think I may have been grateful for. The entire class, it felt like I was glancing at him. I expect to see you at our tutoring sessions... I forgot about the tutoring sessions and what I used to look forward to I severely dreaded. The class ended, and knowing what that meant, I took longer than usual to get out of my seat. Next was tutoring with riddle in the Slytherin common room. I stood up, my body already lightly shaking. The walk down to the dungeons felt like it would never end the anxiety would stay there, crawling down my back, slime thick while rolling down. Then I got to the right wall. He was standing there waiting for me. "We are going to take our tutoring session elsewhere for today," he said.
I readjusted my grip on the books in my hand and asked, "Where?"
For a few seconds, he didn't say anything, then he calmly said, "follow me." His shoes echoed in the hallways while walking. I left the books on the table in the Slytherin common room, assuming we were going to the library.
I followed him when after a while, we had made it to... The bathroom Mrytle was killed? Nobody used that bathroom after what had happened; why were we going there? He led me inside, taking me near the sinks. I waited for what he would do; next. The words he said sounded strange, and it sounded like parseltongue. "Close your eyes; I'm serious. If you open them, you will never be able to open them again." I closed my eyes in fear, grabbing onto his robe with two of my fingers. Rubbing the fabric between my fingers, the fear I felt was starting to rise.
My shoe clicks echoed through what sounded like stone walls. Based on how far we walked, it felt like a hallway. "You can open your eyes for right now, but when I tell you to close them, you have to, immediately." He said in a calm tone.
I nodded my head. Opening my eyes, I saw a massive statue of a face in front of me and more stones in the shape of snakes. The ground was very wet, in some places puddles. I avoided that area. Looking at tom, I asked, "what is this?"
Tom looked around, "I haven't decided completely on a name yet. I'm thinking The Chamber of Secrets".
It defiantly was a secret. I didn't know this existed until now. "Why are we here?" I asked.
"I wanted to show you something," he responded. "But you will have to keep your eyes closed."
"Ok," I said quietly. I'm unsure if I was ready for whatever he had to show me.
"Close them" in response, I closed my eyes and started to fidget with my finger. I heard him step closer, and it seemed like he was going behind me. I heard him say something but wasn't sure what he said, suddenly I heard loud splashes and noises of what sounded like a body being dragged on the stone, like skin, maybe a snake? Fear was all I felt. It was coming close, whatever it was. "Tom..." I slowly said. I took a step back, "Tom, where are you?"
"Behind you," he said calmly. The thought of him being there gave me a small amount of ease but not enough. I started to shake slightly.
"What is it?" I asked.
"This is the basilisk," he said proudly. I remember learning that the basilisk was very dangerous. I didn't think they were real. "Or the creature of mine that killed Mrytle."
"What?" I asked. My voice was getting shaky. I took another step back and bumped into him. "Tom, can we leave," he didn't say anything. "Tom, please, I want to leave." As I heard it coming closer, I could feel more scared. "Tom!" I said a bit louder.
I felt his whisper right by my ear, "you're fine." He put his hands over my eyes, "just keep your eyes closed." I was pushing myself onto his chest. I went up and grabbed his arm. Riddle put me here, and now I was holding onto him like a child. His breath was minty, and he smelled like an expensive but dark cologne. "Do you want to leave?" His words tickled my ear, "so soon?" He said in a sarcastic joking tone.
"Yes, Tom." I was pushing so hard into him from fear it felt like I was going to push him over," I want to leave." I said, calming my voice down.
He paused for a second, then muttered something under his breath. The thing slid away from us. I could hear it slipping further and further away. I let out a relieved sigh. He took my wrist and started to lead me back out. I felt the need to keep my eyes closed. "You can open your eyes now." When I opened my eyes, I had to Readjust them to the light. We were back in the bathroom. "You can leave now," he said.
I looked at him, confused, "that was it?"
"Go back to your dorm room or something." I walked away, making my way to stay in my safe bed. Questions ran through me about what had just happened and what would come. What even was that? That was it? Why would he show me something I wasn't even allowed to see? I hope that doesn't become the study spot.