Chapter Eighteen: The Curse of Faith

Cordelia had never thought she would see the day she returned to the room on the seventh floor with a silver knocker. If she was being honest, she never thought she would have to duel Tom again either after the Triwizard Tournament.

A duel certainly wasn't her first or most preferred option, but considering their history it was the only one that ensured Tom would stay true to his word if she won. Her victory in the past and significant developments throughout the previous year also helped steel Cordelia's resolve and agree to the duel.

After all, if she had beat him once she could do so again.

The room of requirements brought about bitter memories as Cordelia strolled through the columns of bookshelves and stray desks before finally reaching a strip of bare space near the centre of the room, one that, unlike last time, was already transformed into a duelling platform.

"We should set our terms before the duel, don't you think?"

Tom seemed almost reflective as he leaned against the far wall of the room, so similar yet different to the boy who had been standing at that very spot a year ago. But Cordelia wasn't one to talk, after all, she wasn't the same witch from sixth year either.

"I don't care about terms so long as you deal with your rumour when I win."

It was clear the head boy didn't take too kindly to her choice of words but chose to reserve his anger annoyance for later. Instead, Tom simply gestured towards the platform and made his way to the far side as he spoke.

"Fine. If you win, then I will make my knights dismiss the rumour."

"But?"

The smirk on his lips seemed to impossibly tighten as Tom took his position, waiting for Cordelia to do the same before he spoke.

"If I win, my knights will do the same for a price."

The proposition seemed almost too good to be true, but Tom Riddle was a wizard known for always having tricks up his sleeve thus Cordelia couldn't help but feel hesitant to accept the offer without hearing out every condition.

"What price?"

"Your assistance."

Cordelia couldn't help but take a moment to think her decision through.

Helping Tom wasn't nearly as bad of an offer as she had predicted when they arranged to meet at the room of requirements, but Cordelia also knew his offer held hidden ulterior motives he would no doubt use to pave the path to his future as a Dark Lord.

As she stared him down from her side of the platform, Cordelia couldn't help but ask herself if that was something she was willing to risk to save her reputation. But then the clock ticked onto the next second and her doubt slipped away as the head girl came to a realisation.

In a world where one's reputation and blood made them who they were, Cordelia wasn't keen on having either be questioned even before she could make a name for herself.

"I agree."

Brown clashed with blue as the two brunettes shifted their stances to better accommodate the curses they were no doubt ready to throw.

One thing was for certain, neither of the snakes was keen on holding back as each of them compiled a list of their favourite curses and hexes, their minds reeling a mile a minute.

"Aren't you going to bow, Riddle?"

Rather than sending her a sneer or the usual insult, Tom merely walked forward towards the centre, prompting Cordelia to follow after until their backs touched. Each wielded their wands in their right hands and mentally counted to three before turning and firing their spells.

"Sectumsempra."

"Expulso."

Both Slytherins had opted for physically jarring curses, but while Cordelia had cast a smaller curse known to wound the victim but not hurt them too badly, Tom had chosen a curse that would end the duel instantly due to the number of wounds his opponent would be subjected to.

If, of course, the curse landed.

Cordelia couldn't help but feel shocked at the head boy's choice of curse but quickly ducked to the side before it could hit her. Unfortunately, she wasn't fast enough to completely dodge it and thus had to face several lashes on the length of her left arm.

Her pained yelp had Tom smirking even as he recovered from facing the brunt of her curse and nearly flying off the platform.

Both of them were injured, however, the brown-eyed Dark Lord was quicker to recover and wasted no time in casting another spell.

"Locomotor Wibbly!"

Tom was coming after her limbs, that much was certain. After all, he could easily win the duel if he made Cordelia immobile or unfit to continue.

However, this time she was luckier than the last and cast a quick shield before the curse could hit her. Cordelia took the opportunity to quickly cast a healing charm at her arm and mutter a spell to help keep her long brown strands of hair out of her face.

It was only when Tom had battered her green layer of magic with one too many curses that Cordelia chose to let her shield dissolve and used the sudden change to send a quick curse his way.

"Stupefy."

If the Black heir was lucky before, this time her luck and reflexes had failed her as the hex hit Cordelia right in the stomach, sending the witch tumbling back. Thankfully, she found purchase and ground her knees into the carpeted stage, allowing her to remain on the elevated platform and not fall off.

Mind reeling, heart racing and limbs wildly holding onto the stage, Cordelia quickly grabbed her wand and retaliated while Tom uttered his spell.

"Aguamenti."

"Inferno."

The two brunettes couldn't help but feel a sense of Deja Vu as they watched Tom's orange flames be doused in Cordelia's burst of clear water. Maybe it was their recollection of their previous duel, or perhaps the two had simply gotten tired of edging each other on, but as their spells fought in the air and died down the two strengthened their resolves and returned to the battle with more malice than before.

A bat bogey jinx was sent towards Tom, making the male retaliate with a 'Rictumsemtra' followed by a 'Dispelo' that Cordelia blocked, making the blue-eyed witch burst out in giggles as she attempted to gather enough breath to mutter the counter curse.

"Finite Incatatem."

Just as the Black-McMillan heir got rid of her opponent's hex, she muttered a hex Riddle hadn't seen coming as he tended to the slashes on his knee.

"Stupefy!"

Cordelia didn't know if it was luck or skill, but somehow Tom quickly moved to the side and dodged her spell.

He took a moment to glare at her before Tom made his next move, this time opting for a curse he knew she wouldn't be able to avoid.

"Crucio!"

Cordelia would have liked to think she tried to fight off or dodge his curse, but that would be a lie. In reality, she couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal crawl through her as she watched the bright red light barrel her way.

There was a moment, a split second when Cordelia saw an opening in his curse, when she could have cast one of her own so that the two of them would experience the torture together, but as she felt Tom's Crucio hit her chest the brunette realised she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Because Melania might have spent hours on end training Cordelia that summer, but nothing would compare to the inhuman apathy Riddle held. One that allowed him to approach her side of the platform and worsen his Crucio as he watched Cordelia writhe on the floor.

The pain was immeasurable. One that had her fisting her palms and clenching her teeth until her fingernails drew blood and her mouth felt sore. Yet through it all, Cordelia didn't once allow herself to say anything, even going as far as to try and silence her screams as she fell to the floor and curled into a ball.

Perhaps it was a lack of reason to continue proving himself, or perhaps Tom didn't want to ruin the chances of going through with his future plans. Whatever was his reasoning, the brunet found himself letting up the curse far too early, choosing instead to gaze at Cordelia's crumpled form with his brown orbs hiding malicious intent.

"We start tomorrow. Be up early."

She wasn't certain, but as Cordelia watched Tom walk away from the platform and leave the room of requirements, she couldn't help but feel more than just her resolve break.

Tom Riddle wasn't who he used to be a year ago, and Cordelia had been a fool to think otherwise.

Now, she would pay the price.