It was a few days after the First Task and Eridanus was currently on his way towards the library to do some more research. He still hadn't been able to figure out a cure and he hadn't had time to do anymore work on it. Although he loved his cousin, Draco had been by his side constantly since he'd arrived at Hogwarts so Eridanus just needed some alone. There was only so much pretentiousness Eri could take and Draco had crossed that limit which was saying a lot considering the family they came from.

Eridanus really enjoyed the time he had alone, always being one to enjoy the tranquility of it all. Due to his childhood, he had gotten used to being alone and unlike his cousin who craved attention and affection, Eridanus felt very much the opposite. Usually, when he was alone was when he was finally able to relax. To be himself. If he was needed somewhere, it usually was for something bad - like having to decide the fate of another human being. Anyone would want to get away from that - especially a teenage boy who was just trying to live a normal life. But of course, nothing about his situation was normal.

He took in a breath as he entered the library, allowing the crisp smell of worn books and dust to fill his senses. He felt the urge to sneeze but held it in as he went over to the section that he had grown to know all too well during his short week stay at Hogwarts. Curses and Counter-Curses, by Vindictus Viridian caught his eye. It was one of his most read texts but still, he pulled it off of the shelf, making his way over to an empty table in the corner of the library. Perhaps there would be some information that Eridanus had missed before. After a quick glance around the library, he took note of how it was mostly empty save for a few students here and there. That was perfect for him. He didn't need to risk anyone catching sight of what he was trying to do. He could only imagine the rumours that would stem from it. He settled down and prepared for a long day of research.

Eridanus had just finished writing down a few notes when he heard a groan coming from the other side of the bookshelf. Normally, Eridanus would've let it be but his curiosity of what was going on so close to him intrigued him enough to move a few books aside. The Slytherin nearly groaned himself when he saw none other than Harry Potter staring back at him sheepishly. He should really learn that nothing good happened when you were curious about others.

"Oh, hey there, Eridanus." Harry waved awkwardly while Eridanus merely gave him a blank stare.

"Hello, Potter, what a surprise it is to find you in a library. Doesn't exactly seem like your kind of place."

Harry's eyes narrowed at the comment, eventually deciding that he needed to come around from the bookshelf to face Eridanus head on. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

Eridanus's lips twitched upwards slightly. He didn't know why he found teasing Harry to be so fun. Perhaps Draco had rubbed off on him too much. "It can mean whatever you want it to mean, Potter."

Harry's mouth opened and closed a few times, clearly confused on what to say. He eventually decided that shifting the attention off of him was the best way to proceed. "And what about you?"

"And what about me?" Eridanus sighed. Now that teasing Harry was over, he was starting to miss his alone time.

"Why are you here looking up..." Harry leaned over Eridanus's shoulder, his stomach brushing up against him as he tried to peak at the book Eridanus had checked out. The Slytherin stiffened before quickly shooting out of his seat and turning around so he was staring at Harry.

"Merlin! Do you have any sense of personal space, Potter?" Eridanus snapped, surprising Harry who blinked at him in shock. "And not that it's any of your business but I was just doing some light reading."

"Why would you read if you didn't need to? You're already plenty smart already." Eridanus really couldn't believe that the boy who was supposed to be the saviour of the Wizarding World, could be so dumb. It was quite hard to believe that they were in good hands.

Eridanus sighed, wondering why he hadn't just left yet. "Well then as I'm sure your friend, Granger, would know, there is never too much knowledge one can possess." As he talked, he moved to the other side of the table before taking a seat once more. Harry, followed suit, and sat in the seat that Eridanus had once been occupying.

Hoping that the Gryffindor would get the hint and leave, Eridanus resumed reading in his book. Harry, however, didn't leave and instead sat staring at the other boy, his eyes squinted in thought.

"You sent me that note, didn't you?" Harry's question startled Eridanus enough that he stopped reading to look back at the boy. Perhaps the messy haired boy wasn't quite as oblivious as he seemed.

"Why on earth would you think that?" Eridanus tried to deflect while Harry merely smirked.

"Well first off, you didn't question what the note was about."

Dammit. Was he really going to be outsmarted by Harry Potter? If only Draco were here now. Eridanus was sure that his cousin would have many words. He tried to shrug nonchalantly. "Or perhaps I just really don't care about your personal affairs. For all I know, it could've been a love note that you were sent."

Why did he say that? Eridanus cursed himself internally as he tried to continue reading his book but his eyes kept drifting up to see Harry's reaction.

Harry's head was tilted like a curious puppy. "Would you send me a love note, Eridanus?"

Eridanus didn't know why he could feel heat blooming in his cheeks but he quickly ignored the feeling. "Of course not." He slammed his book shut as he stood up. "Now stop thinking of such absurdities, Potter."

Harry grinned. "I mean, you can send me a love note if you want. I won't be opposed -"

"I think that's enough, Potter. I'll be going now - but not because I'm embarrassed or anything of the sort." Eridanus didn't know why he had become so flustered. "You did a good job on your first task but you're still quite dirty so I suggest you freshen up with a bath."

Harry looked down at himself. "I'm not dirty!"

Eridanus sighed in exasperation. "Just do it. And pass the message on to Diggory, would you?" He didn't wait for Harry's response as he walked away, putting the book back on the shelf before walking out of the library. He wanted to get as far away from Harry as possible as he cooled down. He still didn't understand what had just happened but for some reason, he couldn't get the idea of giving Harry a love note out of his mind. Which was absolutely ridiculous. He had much better things to focus on.

Like how he hadn't found out any more useful information. It seemed like he was going in circles, never making any progress. Would there even be such a cure to exist? Perhaps he could ask Draco, his cousin had always been good at potions. But then he would need to tell him why he needed such a thing. Eridanus really didn't want to bother his cousin with the details. Draco was still too young and innocent, he didn't want to take that away from him yet. The prejudiced world they lived in would do that to him soon enough.

It seemed that the fates seemed to know that Eridanus needed a distraction and so they gave him one - but of the wrong kind. He stopped dead in his tracks as images began to flash through his mind. It was a man. He had a family: a wife, kids. But he had betrayed the Dark Lord. And so he had to die. He didn't want to but he had no choice.

Pain suddenly raked over his entire body. He couldn't even move - it was so paralyzing. Eridanus wanted to scream at the agony that was going through him but even that would be too much. So he stood alone in an empty hallway, crouched down with his back against the wall. He gripped his hair tightly in his fists, nearly pulling out the strands. But that pain was nothing to him compared to the burning fire he felt all over his body. He was trembling slightly, teeth chattering as a chill went through him. He didn't know how the corridor had suddenly become so much colder. Winter would be approaching them soon.

"Are you alright?" He heard a light and wispy voice ask as the pain started to subside. He looked up, worry coursing him as he met the eyes of a platinum blonde girl with no shoes on. He briefly noticed how her robes had the Ravenclaw emblem. But he didn't recognize her, not taking notice of most people outside of his immediate circle - and Harry and his friends. Everyone else was insignificant in his mind, not even worthy of a second thought.

'Y-Yeah. I'm fine." He quickly stood up, unable to believe that he had let himself be so vulnerable out in the open where any one could find him. He brushed out his slacks, making sure to get rid of the wrinkles and dirt.

"Was it the nargels?" The girl asked, eyes impossibly wide with her head tilted. She seemed to have such a child like innocence to her - something that Eridanus could never relate to. He had never had the opportunity to be either a child or innocent.

"The what?" He'd never heard of those before - and he had read many books on different types of magical creatures.

The girl merely smiled at him. "Here, take this. I found that in times of pain it helped me."

Eridanus' brows furrowed as he stared at the girl's open up palm in which was a small necklace with a cork on the end of it. "Oh, no thank you."

"I think you'd be surprised by how much weight is lifted when you accept the help of others."

Eridanus hesitantly took the necklace out the girl's hand. Both the necklace and she was kind of odd but he couldn't deny that he now felt a lot calmer than he had before. "Thanks."

She smiled - or really, her smile never left. "I hope it helps you Eridanus Lestrange." And with that she skipped away, leaving Eridanus very confused on what had just transpired.

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Sorry for the short chapter! I tried to lengthen it as much as I could. But hopefully the next chapter will be much longer.

Please do let me know what you think! What did you think of Harry & Eridanus' interaction? What about the strange girl?

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