The Beginning of the End ? Tom Riddle

Chapter 5

" Aye Layla, mind if I get my hands on one of those?" I heard a voice that sounded familiar ask Layla who had moved from us back to the middle of the party. Unable to see who it was I leaned back against the couch defeated. But to my surprise someone sat to my right.

Reinhardt Lestrange is who I find upon looking up, slightly surprised I meet his eyes, but he doesn't get to respond before he breaks into a small fit of coughs after trying the Cigarillo. I chuckle and pat his shoulder reassuringly.

" You good there? Have you ever had one before?" I asked through chuckles as he stopped coughing, shaking his head then taking a breathe of fresh air and tilting his hanging head up to me.

" Nah, but they were supposed to be blueberry flavored, and I figured they couldn't be that bad." He laughed a little at his own foolishness.

" Guess you were wrong." Sean spoke up with a chuckle from my left,  where he sat on the couch we inhabited.

" Guess I was." Reinhardt replied. He then turned to the lot of them and introduced himself.

" Reinhardt Lestrange, Slytherin, but you guys can call me Rein." He smiled as the others exchanged formalities back.

" So how do you know Isla?" Asked Raidon suspiciously to no ones surprise, he seeked clarification and confirmation at all times. My breath caught in my throat, but Rein turned to me a gave me a quick reassuring glance. I forgot, he can't talk about Toms group openly either.

" Just by chance, bumped into her in the hall, and after I helped her up, we realized we were heading in the same direction and chatted." He lied on the spot, incredibly naturally I might add. Though his manipulation of the truth worked to our advantage, as I saw Raidon let his guard down.

By the end of the night, well, really early morning, I got to know Rein, and he was a pretty chill guy outside of Toms group. My friends seemed to get along with him too, which was guiltily relieving in a way. I still felt as if I had a double life I was keeping secret, although I worried things were just getting started.

The lot of us decided to get back to our dorms at about 3 am, and gathered our things. Slipping another sausage piece off the charcuterie board I turned to do a headcount and make sure we weren't missing anyone. When I only came up with 6 including Rein, I started to worry. Nagini, that's who we lost. As I told my friends they began searching the room.I spotted her first in a corner, squinting my eyes a bit I made out another familiar face.

She was talking to Hergualdus Avery. My senses heightened in cautious concern. I didn't want to assume all of Toms gang were bad people, Rein wasn't as much as I thought, but they were still sketchy.

I walked over to Sean, but still kept my eyes on the former two. Unable to whisper over 'safe and sound' that was blasting through the common room, I raised my voice and alerted him to Nagini and Hergualdus. I asked Sean to go bring her upstairs to her dorm as I stepped in to chat with Hergualdus.

We walked over, and as Sean swiftly cut in and moved a star eyed Nagini away, I confronted Hergualdus.

" What are you doing with her." I asked suspicion relevant in my tone. He rolled his eyes lightly, but looked to me with a charming smile.

" Hello to you too Isla, lovely party no? The charcuterie board was a nice, classy touch." He spoke with a casual elegance that nearly made me forget I was supposed to be interrogating  him. I understood why Nagini was pulled to him so easily. He had a magnetic charm to him that was easy to get swept up in.

" Hergualdus." I warned.

" No need for such formalities, since we're co-workers in way now, call me Aldus." He avoided again.

" Aldus, make sure Tom knows, I'll comply with his request to join his little group, but my friends are off limits. They are to remain untouched, do you hear me?" I said sternly and lowly. My friends were my family and I would protect them at all costs. I could handle things on my own.

" Admirable protectiveness you have for them, but you're mistaken Isla, I simply came to this party with Rein, nothing relating to the group." He contradicted my accusation. I sighed and looked back over to Sean, who gave me a thumbs up as he leaded Nagini, who remained oblivious, upstairs.

" Then I suppose I'll see you next week." I ended the conversation, before making my way over to my friends. I was alerted when Aldus started following us, then remembered he came here with Rein and they were walking back too.

Reluctantly I let Mae branch off with Aldus and Rein as they headed to the Slytherin Dungeons. Killian, Raidon and I got back to the Gryffindor common room, and bid each other tired 'good night's' before heading up for some rest. The whole weekend was still ahead of us.