Instead of feeling sad and betrayed, Skuld Weasley was furious.
"I told you that everyone is equal. You can trust me, Skuld. I would never hurt you."
"The problem, dear Tom, is that you've already done it."
"You know."
"Of course I know, you underestimate me, Lord Voldemort."
"You are intelligent, Skuld Weasley. You would be unique and essential in my ranks. Imagine what we could become together—controlling the wizarding world and the Muggles. No one will look down on you again. We would be the future of the magical world."
"What good is it to be essential in your ranks if you are alone, without strength, and will never return to what you were before?"
"It will matter because Lord Voldemort will rise again, and all those who doubted or abandoned me will suffer the consequences."
"I have my doubts, Tom Riddle."
"Think carefully, Skuld. We are more similar than you think. We are both rejected, powerful. We don't let ourselves be easily stepped on, and we don't want that thing called love."
"We are not alike, Tom. You are evil, you kill and destroy. I just want to feel good."
"They don't deserve us, Skuld. Join me, and we will be invincible and powerful. Everyone will know your name—Mistress of Fate."
"Tell me more, Tom."
. . . . .
She stopped in front of the sink with a snake carved into it.
Then she remembered her family—how they looked at her, how they smiled when she was far away.
And she did it.
"Open up."
Instead of words, a goosebump-inducing hiss emerged, and then the sink opened into a dark tunnel.
She closed her eyes and slid down it.
Twisting, descending...
And she came down.
She lit her wand, clutching the diary and her black Muggle pen tightly to her side, and began to walk into the dark room.
It must be miles below the school...
She didn't look up much, Tom had warned her about the beast, and she knew enough to avoid looking up.
"The heir of Slytherin comes to wake you up." She didn't hiss again, and in response, she heard something shuffling.
She had done it.
She had just made the worst mistake of her life.
Oh, Skuld, you little mess.
. . . . .
Skuld took the potion that Madame Pomfrey gave her to calm her nerves and sighed, controlling her breathing.
Another anxiety attack.
"Honey, you've had three this week," the nurse spoke with concern. "This isn't good at all. You must stop whatever is causing these attacks. I will talk to Professor Dumbledore myself if it's about studies..."
"It's just that I'm worried, you know... boys, studies, and so on," she replied with a false smile, feeling noticeably calmer.
The nurse scrutinized her closely.
No, this wasn't normal.
"I may be a nurse at a school, but I am very observant, and I know something is chasing you. Look at those dark circles! You're too young to bear such weight on your shoulders. You can tell me anything, honey."
Skuld felt a pang in her chest.
Was that concern?
"I'm fine, Madam Pomfrey," she said, rising from the stretcher and smoothing her green skirt. "Thank you again, but I must go."
The nurse sighed and allowed the girl to leave.
. . . . .
From now on, everything must be perfect.
Everything must be done to the letter.
After leaving the diary in a key place for her younger sister to find, she returned to the Great Hall with her stomach growling.
She waited for her there.
When she saw her, Skuld smiled and handed her a plate full of her favorite food.
"you're not so bad."
. . . . .
One thing Skuld Weasley hated was not understanding something.
She didn't understand the hatred she received, and that only fueled her growth.
She despised ignorance, and Professor Lockhart didn't even know what a Boggart was.
This meant she tended to lose some points, but it was nothing to worry about.
She didn't care about the House Cup. She was concerned about Tom, about what she should do, and about who she had pledged loyalty to.
Finally, class ended, and that meant she had some free time.
Free time—a term that felt strange to her.
Between her duties, worries about her family, and now Tom, she hardly had a moment to breathe.
Oh, so young and yet so mature.
[T/N: If you like this chapter then leave a comment, write a review, and drop some stones! If you want to read some advanced chapters then check out my Patreon.]
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