The Beginning of the End ? Tom Riddle

Chapter 15

" Lestrange, what progress have you made with Ningrum?" He asked turning his attention to Aldus, who straightened up.

Alarms immediately went off in my head. That was Nagini's last name. They were talking about her.

" The charm works as expected, she's become more trusting of me so it's getting easier to transition her into our way of thinking. We'll have her allegiance by the end of winter." He replied with confidence as I gapped.

" Umm hold on a second, I thought we agreed my friends were off limits. Nagini is the purest soul there is, there's no way you can corrupt her..." I trailed off, trying to keep confidence in my words. I was right, wasn't I?

" You must not know your own friends very well, Isla. Don't you know? She's a maledictus, been under a blood curse since she was born." At Tom's words my heart stopped. There was no way. How could Nagini have been a maledictus all along? Does she even know? What animal does she turn to?

" She'll take the form of a snake, rather ironic no?" Tom added. Shocked into silence all I could do was look up at him.

" That's why you want her? Once she turns permanently you'll use her as another one of your pets?! Is the basilisk down in the Chamber not enough for you Tom?!" I raised my voice. The idea was barbaric.

" The more magical beings we can get to commit to the cause, the more powerful and influential we become." Abraxas spoke this time.

" I stand corrected. It couldn't be worse. I mean do none of you understand that she is a person? She has thoughts and feelings! You speak about her as if she's an object at your disposal!" I argued for my friend.

" Nope. I don't want to hear your sexist comments. There's nothing for you to argue." I spoke raising a hand as I saw multiple mouths open, about to speak.

" It's unfortunate she happens to be your friend, but I doubt you'd put up much of a fight if she wasn't." Xander responded to which my jaw dropped in shock and anger.

" Alright Rosier get up." I told him while getting off the table and pulling my wand from my pocket.

" What?" He asked confused, dumb expression matching the other boys.

" Get. Up." I spoke slower as if to a child, taunting him. Before he could move I cast a wand less 'ascendio' propeling Xander up into the air and out of his seat as he landed on the floor. I swiftly cast a firestorm spell, creating a ring of fire around Xander just as Tom had done with me.

" Fianto Duri. Brachiabindo." I shot off two spells in a row before Xander could stager up. The first made it so I could keep my previous spell going while I cast the second, which bound Xander in tight ropes.

The flames rose in height as they slowly closed in on a panicking Xander. The rest of the group had stood from their seats, shocked and frightened seeing as they were backed up against the wall. Tom stood with them, but a small smirk graced his lips.

" You don't forget anything, do you?" He referred to my use of the firestorm spell, which I learned from him when we dueled earlier in the year.

" Aqua Eructo!!" Xander could be heard shouting the water conjuring spell to no avail.

" Hush love, I'm busy." I looked him up and down, shooting a glare that morphed into smirk before I turned back to Xander.

"Partis Temporus?!" Xander half shouted half begged. The firestorm parted and he rolled out, still bound up.

" Arresto Momentum. Ascendio. Carpe Retractum." In order Xander's movements were slowed, he flew up into the air, and was pulled towards me, landing at my feet with a thud.

" Ooooh..." Lennox exclaimed from his place with the others against the wall. I crouched down next to Xander.

" Let me know when you want to go for round three babe. I didn't even get to blow anything up this time." I shook my head disappointed. He stiffened at my words but was relieved when I cast a 'finite' which terminated the effects of the Brachiabindo and got rid of the ropes, freeing him.

He lay there for a second, sighing in relief, before moving to stand.

" Stupefy." And with that I ended things, watching as he went still, and fell over stunned.

" God damn Isla." Rein exclaimed wide eyed as he stared at his companion on the floor.

" Remind me not to get on your bad side." Lennox spoke with a short nervous chuckle.

" What do we do with him?" Aldus spoke up, as we all looked at Xander.

" I say we leave him there for a while, he can mull things over." I replied with a satisfied smirk.

" He'll be fine." Tom said, earning a smile from me.

" Anyhow now that he's... preoccupied, back to Nagini." I picked the topic back up and re-situated myself atop the table.

" She's bound to the fate of turning permanently Isla. Joining us would be the safest place for her." Tom persuaded as I took this into consideration. He had a point.

Nagini's blood curse couldn't be stopped, but her protection could be assured. Having multiple powerful witches and wizards around her was as safe as it got, I couldn't wish for any less for my friend.

" Aldus is free to continue to pursue her and recruit her on the condition that you do not treat her like an object, and make sure she's safe and well taken care of at all times. Got it?" I proposed.

Aldus looked to Tom, and after receiving a nod, turned back to me.

" Deal."