The Head Boy's Secretary

LadyLuthor: Thanks for the review, i appreciate it! I hope I keep writing.




Continuation of.....


Chapter Thirteen: Shadows of Death


***


The dance turned out to be awful for our Alice. She could not enjoy herself and was too ashamed to find her friends in the crowd. They all had dates to take them on the dance floor.

Alice stayed conveniently near the exits and waited for the Head Boy to escort her in. On tiptoe she searched the throng for the tall profile of Tom Riddle. He wasn’t present.

Alice felt like a fool for believing him. He was a liar, she realized. The hope he’d show up was dashed in her heart. He probably never planned on coming at all!

And this was the night when she first espied the follower whom she knew to be Alphard Black lurking nearby, apparently alone. He had not a date either and so Alice saw it as the perfect chance to make an introduction.

Because he was alone Alice felt confident enough. Alphard disappeared behind a tapestry towards a scenic window. Alice followed the shadow.

Alice and Alphard stood alone together, moonlight beaming in through the garret window.

He was ignoring her, gazing in rumination out of the window, looking at the gibbous moon. Something was obviously troubling the boy. Alice was not much shorter than him as she reached his forehead. It gave her a clear look at the troubled expression in his eyes.

She looked in Alphard's eyes. "You're Alphard right? I'm Alice - Mr. Riddle's Secretary. Alice Whitman of Ravenclaw."

"You're....the Head Boy's Secretary? The girl who-," Alphard was very nervous. He rummaged in his pockets. He looked unsure with what to do with a girl. He did not know how to talk to one, especially when she knew his Lord and Master. That caused a lot of problems in communication already.

"I have this," said Alphard. He took out a hair ribbon with polka dots.

"Oh that’s mine! Thanks," said Alice, beaming.

Alphard smiled triumphantly. "Say...Why don't we have a go at the dance floor?"

Awkwardly the twelve-year-old Slytherin took Alice's hand and held it gently. He led her out and they danced for awhile together. Something was going to blossom between them. Not love, but at least a boy-girl romance.

Towards the end of the night, Alice was feeling like a different girl altogether. Alphard had brought something out in her she didn’t know she had.

After a bit too many glasses of mead, they lounged together on a cushion. It was surprising that Alphard’s head lied in Alice’s lap!

Alice stroked his hair and chattered away about everything from classes, to Quidditch, the weather and everything in between.

It was towards the end of the night now. Alice saw dark, shadowy looks from a few of the older boys. She knew they were checking her out.

Alice stroked Alphard’s raven locks some more, and asked out of sheer curiosity, “Who are those boys that have been watching us all night?” Of course Alice was sure that they must be part of Riddle’s gang. And Alice was eager to know all she could.

“My cousins….There’s Rabastan Lestrange. And I’m distantly related to Wilkes over there…We’re all interrelated aren’t we?”

Alphard looked up towards Alice, inclining his head. Alice looked startled and surprised.

At once Alphard correctly interpreted the gesture. He bolted straight up.

“Alice! You are a Ravenclaw Pureblood, are you not? Most of the muggle-borns shits are in Hufflepuff. But you’re in Ravenclaw and most have good blood there….You’re too pretty not to be.”

Nervously, Alphard blushed to admit it. He sat up and cupped those florentine breasts under Alice’s gown.

“I’m not a muggle-born, Alphard. But don’t worry I’m still Half-blood.”

Alphard jumped up from where he’d reposed in her lap. He looked panicked, and his hand went off Alice’s chest at once.

The cousins were still watching. At the sight of them, Alphard’s face darkened, falling into terror and anger at the same time. “You’re not even Pure! I wasted my time….You liar! Don’t you know that to talk to a Black boy – as we’re all members of the Dark Order– you must be a Pureblood witch attending this school!…Not-not-”

“No, I didn’t know that,” snapped Alice, equally angered.

“Everybody at Hogwarts knows we don’t associate with-with the lesser kinds! Least of all becoming your boyfriend. You’re a liar, Alice!”

“I am not! I never said I was Pureblood!” she whined.

Alice felt tears sting her eyes. She really liked this boy. She saw more of Riddle’s followers, watching and looking at her threateningly.

Alphard had his wand out so fast, looking as vicious as a dog.

With a spell Alice’s jaw locked and she felt her tongue twist painfully into a knot.

“Girls who lie deserve to have their mouths, jinxed!”

And Alphard stole away in anger, giving one last longing look to Alice. He did want her, but he wanted more the acceptance and approval of his followers. Alphard knew he needed to do a lot to prove to be a worthy member of the Dark Order. Having a Half-blooded girlfriend was not one of them, despite that he really liked the girl.

Alice wandered away from the party, and thought at least the night was over. It was well into the eleventh hour.

More and more tears accumulated down her face. Alice was glad she couldn’t open her mouth to taste them.

She dabbed with a handkerchief. Tears continued to spill.

Alice decided she would go to Riddle. She had a funny hunch that he must be holed up in his study. For the Secretary knew his mannerisms and habits by now, and she could see that he liked to hit the books hard. He probably studied magic more than any student in the whole castle.

Alice was at her lowest and most down trodden as she plodded to the library at a languid pace.

There was a way Riddle had taught to sneak into the Restricted Section and get to the secret door before anybody saw, which was through her own Disillushionment Charm. The front of the library had been full of boys and girls Alphard’s age in Second Year or younger. They were doing homework, and hurrying to finish their assignments. But Alphard’s case was different, he had more responsibility than they did, Alice knew. For as a member of Riddle’s gang he was constantly tested.

She knocked on the door timidly. From a distance the occupier of the study made the door unlock with a spell.

Alice slipped in, hanging her head in defeat. She didn’t want Master Riddle to see the tears. Alice no longer thought of him as ‘mister’ but rather as he said to be called, ‘Master’ or ‘Master Riddle.’

He was completely absorbed at a bookshelf when she saw him. He was checking some facts and figures for himself.

His back turned, Alice was glad he couldn’t see the crying.

“Yes?”

He still did not turn to look at her, but somehow could detect who was in the room.

Riddle smirked and decided to act aloof. As if he had not the tact to know why she was here! But he knew exactly why she must be disappointed with him, yet he did not yet know what went on with Alphard.

“What do you want with me girl? I have only an hour left for experiments…” He was lieing, for he had ample time. But Tom Riddle truly did not care to talk.

“You know why I’m here! You said you’d be in the Great Hall for the party…Why didn’t you at least show up?”

Riddle glanced at her a second and as expected saw those tears. He tried not to look too amused, his mouth twisted awfully though, and he arched an eyebrow with rude doubtfulness.

“It is incidental that I agreed to take you to the dance….I meant no such promise by it.”

Riddle ruthlessly plundered the tomes on his desk, careless to the pain, hurt and suffering he’d inflicted on this girl. It was simply fact that he chose to let her down. He was cool, and detached, almost neglectful with communication right now.

“But Master!”

“Good night! And don’t forget – my Secretary - four o’clock sharp tomorrow afternoon.”

He did not even look at her, but bowed his head over the studies.

The hand flew across the parchment, as he scribbled away and dipped the quill in his inkwell.

Alice fought back a sob. Then she forced herself to turn away from the remorseless sight.