Chapter 147: Eat Well
Albus Dumbledore had left Hogwarts.
This news was like a sudden blizzard, freezing the entire castle overnight.
The next morning, an unprecedentedly oppressive atmosphere filled the Great Hall.
At the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, everything seemed lifeless. Students stared down at the food on their plates, no one having the appetite to speak. Even the usually boisterous Weasley twins had lost all interest in joking.
Fear, like a thick layer of dust, covered everyone's hearts.
Except for Slytherin and Ravenclaw.
At the Ravenclaw table, the atmosphere seemed somewhat eerie.
Because their prefect, Penelope, had fallen, these students who valued Wisdom did not run around like headless chickens. Instead, they gathered together and engaged in hushed, intense debates.
They analysed the motives of the Board of Governors, calculated the probability of the next victim appearing, and some were even using Arithmancy to deduce the culprit's route.
Even as fear spread, they attempted to dissect it with logic.
Though it did not make them look any more relaxed.
Meanwhile, at the Slytherin table, although it remained quiet, that silence did not come from fear or indifference.
It came from a stability based on a new order.
Tamara Riddle sat at the very head of the long table, in the seat usually reserved for the prefect.
But now, no one felt there was anything wrong with her sitting there.
Even the sixth year prefect, Gemma Farley, would cast a look of awe her way whenever she passed by.
Tamara elegantly sliced a small piece of bacon on her plate, her mood more pleasant than ever before.
Although rain was still falling endlessly outside, in her eyes, today's air was so fresh it was almost intoxicating.
Without that old bee always scrutinising her through half moon glasses, the castle finally revealed its true form.
Survival of the fittest.
Power above all.
"The school feels a bit... empty now, doesn't it?"
Draco Malfoy, sitting beside her, lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of irrepressible smugness.
"I mean, the air has improved. Without that old madman favouring Gryffindor, I feel like we can finally breathe."
Tamara did not speak. She merely curled the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a reserved and cold smile.
That served as her response.
She did not need to speak loudly, nor did she need to deliver any long speech.
In this power vacuum, she only needed to sit there with an air of nonchalance and total control. That alone was enough to make these power worshipping little snakes bow in submission.
This was what she wanted.
Absolute order.
Absolute obedience.
Even Snape, hidden in the shadows, had looked at her with increasingly complex eyes over the past two days.
Tamara conceitedly interpreted this as the loyal servant's recognition and awe of her strength.
Everything was progressing in the best possible direction.
If one did not consider that damned appetite issue.
Tamara looked at the piece of bacon on her plate, from which she had taken only a single bite, and set down her knife and fork in boredom.
This body's digestive system was simply too weak.
Or rather, as the former Dark Lord, she instinctively felt repulsed by such low level behaviour as maintaining a physical form.
"Full."
She wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin, preparing to leave the table and head to the common room to continue her Dark Arts research.
However, at the very moment she stood up, the entire Great Hall suddenly went quiet.
Then came a faint stir.
A set of light, forceful footsteps, completely ignoring all boundaries, walked straight toward the Slytherin table.
Tamara frowned and instinctively looked up.
She saw a red haired figure striding over, braving the astonished gazes of the entire school's staff and students.
Ginny Weasley.
She wore old robes that did not fit properly, held a package tightly wrapped in greaseproof paper, and wore that smile that made Tamara's stomach ache.
"What is she doing here?" Draco frowned, looking disgusted. "Has the Weasley family gone mad? This is Slytherin territory."
Goyle and Crabbe had already stood up, attempting to block this oblivious Gryffindor.
"Move."
Ginny did not even glance at the two hulking boys.
She pushed past them and came straight to Tamara.
The Slytherin students watched this seemingly thin and small red haired girl in stunned silence.
"Senior!"
Her voice was sickeningly sweet, and her eyes sparkled with a morbid fanaticism.
"I knew you hadn't been eating well again."
Ginny ignored Tamara's instantly darkening expression and slapped the greaseproof paper package onto the table in front of her.
"I just got this from the kitchen. A special roast beef sandwich from the house elves, with double cheese and black pepper!"
As Ginny spoke, she roughly tore open the greaseproof paper, revealing a massive sandwich as thick as a brick.
The aroma of meat wafted through the air.
But in Tamara's eyes, it was practically a biochemical weapon radiating malice.
"I'm not hungry."
Tamara refused coldly, her eyes like knives.
"Take it away, Weasley. Don't force me to embarrass you in public."
"No."
Ginny did not accept that at all.
She even went a step further, picking up the sandwich and holding it right to Tamara's lips. Her brown eyes stared intently at Tamara with a persistence that made one's scalp prickle.
"Senior, you're too thin, and your face is so pale. A gust of wind could blow you over."
"My mum said you have to eat more and take care of your body... that way you'll have the strength to do what you want to do, right?"
Tamara felt her temples throbbing.
The string of reason in her mind was on the verge of snapping.
This damned Horcrux puppet actually dared to force the great Dark Lord to eat such greasy junk food in public?
"I said, get lost..."
Tamara's hand was already reaching for her wand.
She swore that even if she were given detention, she would teach this reckless girl a lesson today.
[Ding! System reminder!]
Just a second before Tamara was about to act, that electronic voice that made her teeth itch rang out right on time.
[Detected a Heartfelt Sandwich gifted by Best Friend Ginny Weasley!]
[Item Analysis: A special beef sandwich, containing Miss Ginny's deep concern for the host's health and her sincere wish for the host to grow strong.]
[Behavioural Judgment: Refusing this heavy love will severely hurt a sensitive young girl's soul!]
[If the host insists on refusing this love, the system will automatically activate True Emotion Expression Auxiliary Mode!]
[Punishment: Forced takeover of the host's vocal cords and tear glands for three minutes.]
[Specific Performance: The host will burst into tears in public, hug Miss Ginny Weasley tightly, and shout: Ginny! How lucky I am to have a friend like you!]
.
.....
[Check Out My Patreon For Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/Eldryx]