The Heir of Slytherin

[choki]

Artus finished his bath and changed into his robe. He was walking towards the Prefect room when he spotted Riddle looking at the notice board where the roster was attached.

"I suppose you and I are on duty tonight," Artus spoke.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Arsenio lay there in agony, waiting for someone to find him.

But he was quite aware of the time... It was only 20 minutes until the moment Dumbledore had requested he be in the dungeons.

[Q.Araignee]

Tom turned around with a brief nod. "Apparently so."

Of all the nights for a meddlesome Gryffindor to be on Prefect duty with him, it had to be tonight. Tom seethed inwardly, and had the suspicious thought that Dumbledore had changed the roster- there was no obvious proof, but Tom had learned to look beyond the obvious where he was concerned.

Maintaining a cool and indifferent demeanor, Tom checked the clock in the corner- it was time for them to begin their rounds. With a polite smile, he began walking towards the door to the corridor- slowly enough to not seem rude, but not particularly bothering to wait for Artus.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

He crawled along the ground a few metres, but got nowhere - he was too weak. His head lay on the hard stone floor, and he could feel his heart beat.

It was silent... until Arsenio heard something. It sounded distant at first, then became louder and louder.

It was coming from the walls.

And just as quickly as it had come, it went.

[choki]

Both the prefects walked a few feet apart, without exchanging much of a conversation. His attitude towards Riddle was supposed to be neutral even though he was a Slytherin. Usually, being the cheery person, Artus would strike a conversation with his partner in the midst of the round. But not today. Even he, himself, could not understand why he was acting like that. Besides today was not the first time they had been on rounds together. Just as he was pondering, a mental image of Riddle and Lucia chatting happily popped out of nowhere.

Feeling rather uncomfortable, he came to realise he was all along jealous of Riddle. He had to get it out of his chest.

"Riddle... there's something I want ask," said Artus, breaking the silence.

[Q.Araignee]

Tom tore his attention away from the sound in the walls, and turned to face the Gryffindor Prefect- who hadn't tried to start a conversation once, much to his surprise. Tom decided to appear neutral until he was sure what was wrong.

"Sure, go ahead."

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

He had ten minutes left. It was 10:24.

[choki]

"What is your relationship with... Lucia...." he asked.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

He heard footsteps approaching. He made as much noise as he could and groaned loudly, unable to speak.

It was a pair of footsteps. Two people.

[Q.Araignee]

"Ah, Lucia." Tom smiled knowingly at Artus. "She and I are good friends, we always have been since our first year." He left a dramatic pause before continuing, enjoying the slightly pained look on the Gryffindor's face.
"But that's not what you mean, is it? You want to know if we are romantically involved. Well, if it will put to rest your attempts to win her heart I'd best tell you that I'm planning to ask her out after we've finished tonight."
Tom could have elaborated grandly, had indeed been planning to, but he heard something up ahead. Drawing his wand, he lit it silently- casting it's beam up the corridor with a look for Artus to do the same.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

He moaned, "Help me..."

[choki]

He wished Tom had told him he was just a friend to Lucia... now that he had openly declared his intention, Artus won't back out without a fight. Afterall, he knew Lucia since they were kids and had been good friend ever since.

He noticed Tom paused and lit his wand. Something was ahead but the light wasn't that bright enough to lit up the area.
"Lumos," he casted softly. With the additional beam of light, a brief outline of a person could be seen couching on the stone floor.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Arsenio collapsed on the floor when he saw that it was Artus and Tom Riddle.

"No... stop... no..." he would have wanted anyone to help him but Riddle.

It was he remembered his mission.

It was 10:27pm. In 7 minutes he was supposed to be in the dungeon.

This was going to be difficult; he fainted.

[Q.Araignee]

Tom felt inclined to smile contemptuously, but restrained himself by lowering his wand slightly and turning back to Artus.

"It's alright, it's just Arsenio- a Slytherin."

He walked forward, careful to keep his wand outstretched, until he was at the boys side. By the thin beam of light, Tom could see Arsenio's eyes had rolled into the back of his head- the fool had fainted! Tom almost laughed out loud.

"He looks in a bad way," he called out musingly as he knelt down. "Maybe one of us should go find a teacher, or the Matron." He left the sentence hanging there, insinuating that Artus should go. It wasn't a very powerful hint, more an extremely subtle suggestion.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Noticing the crumpled body lying on the ground, a few of the portraits woke up from light slumber, and started asking Tom and Artus irritating questions.

"I'll go and wake up Dumbledore," said one of the portraits. "Actually, no... he's probably still awake at this time of night... very concerned he is at late, I've heard," he said, as though privy to secret information. "It's that Grindelwald fellow... people are saying that there aren't any wizards on our side talented enough to deal with him. Dorris (she's in his office, you know) suggested that maybe his pride was a little hurt -"

Tom Riddle gave a slight cough. "I'm sure we don't need to raise Dumbledore at this hour - after all, he is indeed as you say, a very busy man."

"No no, you're wrong, young man," piped up another of the portraits. "He gave me specific instructions to come and tell him immediately if there was any funny business going on."

"Funny, he told me that as well," said another portrait.

"Perhaps he didn't have confidence you would do the job," replied the other, scathingly.

"Now, there's no need to be like that," said a portrait of a very elderly witch. "All of you be sensible. I'll just go off and tell him now." She spoke in a soothing voice.

Artus was standing somewhat awkwardly.

In the background, Tom Riddle had silently whipped out his wand, pointing it at Arsenio. He muttered some inaudible word.

Artus jumped - Arsenio had woken up.

Tom read the frame of the portrait of the old lady. Yvonne Black-Smythe.

"It appears that that won't be necessary, Madam Black-Smythe. But thank you for the offer, nonetheless." He smiled a charming smile. She saw through it right away, of course... but didn't altogether mind. She was tired, and wanted to get some sleep.

What was the worst that could happen?