The Heist
My plan was simple. I turn myself invisible when the librarian goes around to check if every student has left the library. When he locks the door, I find the book and then leave through the front door.
I successfully performed the invisibility spell, which takes a lot of concentration and after I heard the door close, I slowly counted to ten in my head before daring to move or make another noise. For some reason the restricted section did not have any spells protecting it from intruders and not even a key is needed to open the iron door.
I quickly snuck inside and closed the door behind me to hide my presence. It would take ages to find the right book in these masses.
"Lumos", I cast quietly and the tip of my wand lit up. I skimmed the book titles and quietly thank the librarian that the books are sorted by category, this would make my task easier. I looked for the dark arts section but something seemed off. Someone must be watching me and it wasn't Riddle because the prefect is better at hiding than whoever is watching me.
"I know that you are watching me." I said into the dark while looking around to spot the person. No one answered me and nothing moved, I must've been wrong, the paranoia was just messing with me. I quickly read through the book titles until I found the right one.
Secrets of the Darkest Art is spelled on the back of a black book in silver letters and it is framed with delicate silver details. I opened it and quickly skimmed through the topic before shrinking the book in my hand with help of the reducio charm and hiding it in a pocket of my skirt.
I made my way back to the entrance of the restricted section and walked towards the open iron door. I walked through it and quickly turn myself invisible before turning around and waiting for someone to walk out after me. A shadow appears in the door.
"Expelliarmus", their wand flew into my direction and I caught it while my invisibility wore off. "I closed that door behind me." My wand was pointed at them and I was ready to do more then just disarm if they were hurting my mission.
"Easy now, Kathy. I am not a threat to you." My cousin was walking towards me.
I threw his wand back to him.
"What are you doing here Icarus? For Merlin's sake I thought I am forced to erase someone's memory now."
He chuckles awkwardly "Tom wanted me to make sure that everything is going right."
"You are the only risk this mission ever had. I would not get caught alone but I am not able to hide two people." I crossed my arms and I felt mad at Riddle, "No wonder he didn't choose you for this, you didn't even manage to close the bloody door behind you."
"Hey!", he exclaims and mirrored my movement "Don't take your anger out on me, complain to Tom."
"I will. But now we need to get out of here. Quietly. And also close the door behind us." I walked towards the main entrance of the library and Icarus followed me after he had closed the iron door.
I stopped in front of the entrance to the library and turned to look at my cousin "After I open this door, you will find your own way back to the common room. We will not stick together to make it less likely to get caught." He nods in response.
"Alohomora"
We both used a spell that silenced our footsteps and I turned myself invisible. I made my way to the Slytherin common room without any further incidents. As I entered the common room I saw Tom Riddle sitting in a seat near the fire, a book lying in his lap. There were other students sitting around with their friends but most are in their dorms by now since it was almost curfew.
Some students looked up shortly when I entered but quickly turn their attention back to their meaningless conversations and I made my way towards the prefect.
"Good evening Riddle." I sat down in a seat across from him and he looked up from his book. "Good evening, I expected you to carry a book with you."
"Oh, I do have it with me but I thought you might wanted it to be less obvious." He raised his eyebrows at me. "What do you need this book for?"
Tom Riddle sighed and closed his literature before directing his full attention at me. "That is none of your concern." He leaned forward and speaks in a quieter and cold tone. "You owed me a favour and that was to get the book, not to ask questions about it."
My gut was telling me not to give him the book but I nevertheless reached into my pocket and pull out the palm sized book extend my hand towards him. "I hope you know how to expand objects."
He snarked at me "Of course I do."
The attention of the room went towards the entrance of the common room again as Icarus enters the room and he quickly makes his way towards us as the fireplace. Riddle quickly leaned back and put the little book in a pocket. This entrance gave me the opportunity to change the topic "Did you not trust me enough?"
He did not seem surprised and didn't even try to hide it but he didn't answer me either.
"Why did you need Icarus to watch me? He was the only risk to this mission."
My cousin approached quickly enough to hear my last words and he spoke to me in a calm voice: "Kathy, don't worry about it." He seemed a little scared, I'm not sure of what.
"No, Icarus. If I hadn't recognised you immediately I don't know what I would've done. Riddle put your life on the line. And my school record because you don't even know how to cover your bloody tracks." The prefect looked unbothered by this and returned to his book and I felt a hand press down on my shoulder, Icarus tried to silence me.
I shook his hand off my shoulder and stood up "I want an answer Riddle. I'm not some mindless soldier you can send around to do your dirty work." Many students turned their heads now, I was clearly creating a scene.
The clock chimed 9pm and the sound of the clock tower was amplified all around Hogwarts, the curfew has started. Tom stood up. "Everyone return to your bedrooms. The curfew has begun. Get rest for the day ahead"
I was about to follow his order but he threw a look to Icarus behind me, who grabbed my arm to stop me from leaving. I locked eyes with one of my room mates and she shot me a curious look before turning her back on me. The Slytherin common room was almost empty, it was just me, Tom Riddle and my cousin, who proved tonight where his loyalties lie. I tried to shake his grip off but he wouldn't release my arm.
The Slytherin prefect looked at me for some time and it seemed like he was trying to figure out what to do with me. His voice was cold and sharp as he spoke "Miss Lestrange I don't know why you caused such a scene tonight. We made a deal. You just owed me one favour for not telling the teachers that you are repeatedly breaking the rules. And for your information that does make you my mindless soldier."
He clasped his hands behind his back and stood up straighter, something he always does when intimidating students. "I have leverage over you and I can use it to my advantage. You are only lucky that I don't benefit from telling the teachers. I have been merciful to you because I value your abilities but remember that I am the one in power."
His speech made him sound like a dark Lord and it hurt me deeply. The moments I shared with him at midnight in the clock tower and today in the library made me see something in him that he apparently is not. He seemed so genuine and kind in some way by letting me stay at the tower and by distracting me from the O.W.L.'s. But now I look at him full of hate yet I also feel like all of this is my fault. That I should've listened to him and obeyed without questioning his authority. I am near tears but I don't allow myself to cry as I press out my next words: "I'm sorry Riddle. I shouldn't have defied your authority."
He puts his hand under my chin and forces me to meet his eyes. "I forgive you, Katherine. But for your misbehaviour you will forever be in my debt. This should teach you a lesson."
He left the common room without another word and entered the halls of Hogwarts while leaving me and my cousin alone, who had let go of my arm by now.
The tears were finally flowing.
"Kathy... Why do you always have to speak your mind? It has only gotten you into trouble including today. Sometimes it is better to keep your mouth shut to avoid the consequences."
I turned away from him and my voice was merely a whisper. "You.. betrayed me..."
"What?"
"You betrayed me.", my voice was firm now. "What happened to our duo? We promised to protect each other. We promised to be there for each other. We promised..."
"I did protect you.", he grabbed me by my arm again and turned me around to face him. "I followed you to the library to make sure that you are safe. He wanted Avery to do the job at first but I offered to watch you. I tried to warn you when you were clearly overstepping the line. I am here for you right now."
"It seems we have a different definition of protection." I shook his hand off and make my way towards my dorm but I halt when he spoke once again.
"I know that you love to play with fire Kathy, but I don't want you to get burned."
I looked back at him. "Good night, Icarus."