Disclaimer : I do not own Harry Potter or the characters in the canon. All credits go to J.K. Rowling.
Prologue
He was always a little odd. No one else saw it.
But Amalthea did.
It was the red flash in his usually serene eyes when something ticked him off.
It was the tightening of the corners of his mouth when something did not go his way.
A peek behind the usually calm façade of his. A warning that all was not what it seemed.
She tried to stay away from him. Lord knows, she tried. She told herself repeatedly, that no good would come of getting close to him. She even tried to physically avoid him.
But the dangerous pull towards him was too strong.
Chapter One: Said The Spider to the Fly
It would be quite a disappointment to your father and I, if you refuse to attend again, this year. And I think you've disappointed us quite enough, Amalthea.
The words from her mother's letter played through her head on a continuous loop. It was one thing to feel like a disappointment, and quite another to be told directly.
First in her family to ever be sorted into Slytherin. Her family, that boasted of being direct descendants of Godric Gryffindor himself. No wonder her parents had not gotten over that disappointment, even seven years later. To add insult to the injury, no one understood why she had been sorted into Slytherin. She was not ambitious or cunning. Maybe she would have been better off in Hufflepuff, since courage and superior intelligence were not exactly her strong suit either.
"Miss Marchbanks, is something wrong?" came a polite voice.
She looked up to see her Transfiguration teacher, Professor Dumbledore surveying her with puzzlement.
Along with the rest of the class.
Merlin, she'd been caught up in her internal musings. Again.
"I'm sorry, Professor, did you ask something?" she stammered.
"Well I was asking the incantation for a Vanishing Spell."
Oh bollocks, she'd forgotten. What was it? Evanoso, Evacneso?
"Evanesco." said a clear voice from behind her
"Ah, yes. Thank you, Mr. Riddle. Five points to Slytherin."
Cheeks on fire, Amalthea slid down her seat slightly. She really needed to fix this drifting off habit of hers.
The lesson passed without any further incident. As Professor Dumbledore swept out of the classroom, she picked up her bag and started out the door.
"Marchbanks. Wait just one moment."
Riddle?
Surprised, and not just a little nervous, Amalthea swung around to look at the handsome Head boy.
"Yes?"
"I wanted to talk to you about your habit of getting distracted in class. You've lost Slytherin house quite a few points over the past few weeks. You are lucky Professor Dumbledore is lenient, else you'd have lost points today as too."
Amalthea felt a surge of irritation at his supercilious tone.
"What is your point?"
"My point is you need to do something about it. You're going to make us lose the House Cup at this rate."
"Five or ten points lost over daydreaming will make us lose the House Cup?" she asked incredulously.
He only shrugged in response.
Amalthea struggled to bring her temper under control. She hated making scenes, and if she wanted to continue her peaceful life of solitude and staying in the corner, she needed to just give in and accept the blame.
Just like she did at home.
"I'm sorry, I'll try not to do it again." she said quietly.
"I should hope so." he said snidely.
Jaw clenching, Amalthea felt her usually serene countenance shatter.
"There's no need to be an arse, Riddle." she snapped.
She saw his eyes narrow at the insult.
"I may be an arse, Marchbanks but you're quite vexing yourself."
She felt herself turn pink. Turning to leave, she felt a hand on her arm.
"Running away into a corner as usual?" he questioned.
He noticed?
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered.
"Oh, come now, Marchbanks. You can't think I'm a total idiot," said Tom, "We're both in the same year. In the same house. And yet I seldom see you around aside from classes."
"It's just a coincidence, I'm sure," she replied, looking avidly at the ground.
He leaned back into the wall focusing his intent gaze on her.
"You know, Marchbanks. People call me anti-social, but you're worse. Aside from meals and classes, I don't think I have even seen you around. Why?"
Amalthea didn't reply, hoping he would stop his probing and just go away.
"You know. I do believe we shall be seeing more of each other soon," he chuckled, "Curiosity is, after all, a besetting sin of mine."
"I am sure you have more of those," muttered Amalthea.
"Curiosities?"
"Sins." she snapped, "Are we done here?"
"For now. We'll talk again soon."
And with those words he straightened, and walked out, leaving a very bewildered witch in his wake.
Amalthea managed to avoid Riddle for the next few days. It was harder, now that he was actively seeking her out, and so it was no surprise that on the fifth day, he managed to corner her outside the Charms classroom.
"You've been avoiding me," he stated.
"I thought it was best. We should stay as far as we can from each other." said Amalthea, in a stubborn voice.
"You drew that conclusion from one conversation? Come now, Marchbanks, you can do better than that."
She clamped her mouth shut in an effort to hold back the retort she wanted to give.
He sighed.
"I suppose you're too afraid to hold a simple conversation. Pity."
"Sod off, Tom," she replied unthinkingly.
Her eyes widened as she realized what she'd blurted out. She watched as the corner of his mouth lifted into a charmingly crooked smile.
"I think not," he replied, "In fact, why don't we go to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"
"You're-what? Are you asking me out on a date? Did you not just hear what I said?" she sputtered.
He gave her a boyish grin that made her heart stutter. No, she told herself sternly, not him. You can't fall for him.
"A date..." said Tom thoughtfully, "Hmm…I suppose one could call it that. Come now, Marchbanks. You don't mean to say you're afraid of me."
Despite herself, Amalthea felt her temper rise.
"I am not afraid of you, you pompous-" she shut her mouth, horrified at the slip.
"Perfect." said Tom smoothly, "I shall meet you outside the Great Hall at six. Do try not to be late."
And, for the second time, Amalthea found herself looking at Tom walk away, leaving her stunned.
What have I gotten myself into?
Despite the fact that she kept telling herself she did not care what Tom Riddle thought of her, Amalthea found herself the next day, rummaged through her things trying to find something that would make her look, at the very least, moderately attractive for...her date.
Her date with Tom Riddle.
"This is so ridiculous." she groaned, falling on to her bed.
Her roommate, Lucilla Black, who was sitting on the bed next to her, looked up from her book.
"Everything alright?" she inquired politely.
"Oh-uh- yes. I was just trying to look for a suitable dress for-for Hogsmeade." Amalthea replied quickly.
Lucilla gave a wry smile.
"Well if you would like my opinion. I quite like the green one. It compliments your hair."
Amalthea picked up the said dress and gave her a grateful smile.
"Thank you."
"Think nothing of it. I hope you enjoy...Hogsmeade."
I doubt it, thought Amalthea.
A/N: New Replacement chapter. The last one was too inconsistent and full of holes. I hope everyone enjoys this one!