TOM RIDDLES POV

I watch her leave the warmth of the common room, Merlin she is exactly what I want. I can't believe I've never noticed her before tonight, I physically can't see how my eyes could skip over her. She stands out from the crowd, her long white hair, her beautiful glistening green eyes, her slender pianist hands and that's only the surface. She hates me. I love that in girls. I loathe it when simpering nitwits like Hornby try to get me to 'be their boyfriend' I feel like slapping them about the face.

I turn to Abraxus, he's still grinning like an idiot, so, he thinks he has a date with my intended girlfriend does he? We'll soon fix that. I could feel my anger grow and it obviously showed as his face suddenly became sullen and devoid of any laughter. I growl in my throat before speaking.

"Needless to say 'Ab'' you wont be going on that little date." I smirk as his eyes widen at the use of her nickname

"But Riddle, it's only as friends. She only kissed me to make you annoyed, unfortunately."

"Don't think I am unaware of your feelings towards Charlotte and if they remain unchecked like this I will have to take steps against you. Hexes to make your face look, well, you'll see."

"It wont happen again Riddle. I swear."

"It better not." I growl "Now why don't you turn your attention to Hornby, get her out of my way, I don't care how, just do it."

"Yes of course Tom." Abraxus muttered, clenching his hands, I couldn't help but let a small grin past my lips, seriously, he is so weak I couldn't quite believe that he would relinquish his claim of Lottie so quickly but, it is better for both of them that way. Maybe he realized that.

I nod curtly at him and hurry to pick up my bag from across the room narrowly avoiding another attack by Hornby, this time, already being in a bad mood from Lottie's first reaction to me I turn at her and glare. I glare until she slithers away over to her other simpering friends who had seemed to find my display rather cruel. What would they do to a man who was pursuing them in that manner? Tell them by all means to carry on? Well, it wouldn't surprise me with their hormones.

Sighing audibly to let my 'friends' know that I am not happy with these 'fan girl' attacks I make my way out of the common room, feeling the cold nip at my feet. Swiftly I make my way to potions where I am sure Lottie has gone, a thought suddenly strikes me like a fist, but it doesn't trouble me for long. It nagged though, right in the back of my mind. Don't I look like a bit of a love struck puppy following her to potions? But I chuckled the thought away, of course I didn't, who would think that I could ever behave in a manner that would communicate love to anybody, let alone be in love myself.

Before me the doors to the classroom loom, I push them open with one hand holding a Muggle book in the other. It made me sick to carry it. Physically wanting to tear it to pieces but I knew it was one of her favourites, I personally couldn't see the appeal of reading about some people trying to survive a zombie plague/epidemic but evidentially she did. I scan the room for her and smirk when I see her in the farthest corner of the room, as if she is trying to hide. Her eyes caught my own and the look of disgust is evident, so, I grab the cauldron right next to her.

"Hello Lottie." I smile an odd trace of warmth in my voice.

I growl inside and curse myself for showing my emotion; next time I spoke I would be a mask of calm and icy behaviour. Well. That's gone out the window; I look swiftly at her and have to do a double take, her hair –tied with a black ribbon- falls partly out of the loose bun at the back of her head and her eyes seem to glisten with the light from the shimmering cauldron. She stares at me with those eyes and I can feel myself grinning stupidly.

"Hello Riddle." She coolly addresses, God, this is torture why can't she just fancy me like everyone else.

"You should have waited for me, we could have walked together." I smile as I see her crumple up some parchment in frustration, deciding to make the best of a worsening situation I near her ear and take a silent gulp, I can smell her soft aroma and her hair tickles my nose "It would have been my pleasure to escort you to class."

I can't help but feel a little hurt and a small fleeting feeling of satisfaction when I see a small shiver run up her back but I realise when she turns to look at me that her eyes are not full of hate like I expected but full of pain and anguish, she takes a shuddering breath and rapidly changes her expression to one of fury but it was too late I've noticed now. It can't have been me could it? My heart still hurts from the tremor she sent through it with her look of profound sadness, her whole face had contorted with sorrow. I have to find out why. No point in asking her, she won't tell me. It will have to be Abraxus. He would tell me whether he liked it or not.

"Riddle, please, go away."

Lottie's voice cracked over the 'please' and my heart broke in two, I gritted my teeth and since we are the only ones in class I swiftly turn her head towards me and take her hand in my own, the pieces of my broken heart shattered when I see small pearly tears roll down her cheeks. She seems furious with herself. No Slytherin should cry. No self respecting Slytherin should cry in front of me, and Lottie certainly wouldn't want to cry with me there.

"No, I won't leave you. What is the matter…please Lottie. If there's anything I-"

I heard the door open to the class and a very ruffled looking Gryffindor stumble in, I growl and drop Lottie's hand and move over to the other side of the classroom. It was all well and good being sentimental when it was just me and her but there is no way that I'm going to shatter my reputation. Things were too close to being completed. Too close to being ready. I stare at Lottie every chance I can, she seems to be a little better, well not in tears but not her usual bubbly self and I felt rage in my heart. Who could have made her this way? I'll find out and I'll make them pay I vow.