The stone walls of the corridor after Potions Class were icy cold, and Tom Riddle's grip on Ares's wrist did not loosen in the slightest. The obsession churning in his eyes had nearly taken tangible form. Slughorn's earlier hint about Flamel's interests was like the final stone dropped into a vessel already on the verge of overflowing.
"Prove it to me, Ares." Tom's voice was hoarse as he pinned him in the shadows beside a suit of armor. "Prove that another path exists, or I don't know what I'll do." The snoozing bean juice staining his cuff gave off a sickly sweet scent that was almost suffocating.
Ares's back pressed tightly against the rough stone wall. The Blood Pact Mark beneath his left eye faintly burned—the sensation of those two powerful minds sweeping over him from afar still lingered. His mismatched eyes met Tom's nearly crazed gaze, and he suddenly realized that all reassurance and guidance had reached their limit.
[Warning! Target's tendency toward soul fragmentation has reached the critical threshold! The "Paradox Path" quest has entered its final stage! (;′??Д?╭)╮]
He could not retreat any further.
Just as the last trace of patience in Tom's eyes was about to burn away, Ares suddenly broke free of his hold. He was not backing down. Instead, he stepped forward and seized Tom's arm in turn.
"Fine." Ares's voice was resolute, carrying a desperate determination Tom had never heard from him before. "We'll prove it another way. Now, come with me to the Forbidden Forest."
The madness in Tom's eyes faltered slightly, disrupted by this sudden initiative. "The Forbidden Forest?"
"Hagrid's spider did not vanish into thin air. The traces of dark magic on that feather are a signpost." Ares pulled him down the corridor at a rapid pace. "Don't