"How does it feel to be the most sought after girl in the entire school?" Lucinda Agston asked. Odynne shrugged and flipped her delicate curls over her shoulder.
"I wouldn't know, now would I? Seeing as I'm not the most sought after," she said, pursing her lips in thought. "I'm more like the second." She grinned and continued to write her Potions essay.
"No, really though," Lucinda continued, "the boys here can only talk about two things: Quidditch and you. How do you do it?" she asked, resting her head on her hands. Odynne looked up through her lashes at the petit blonde and sighed, setting down her quill.
"I ignore them all, so I don't see how I could be a popular topic in conversation," she said, crossing her arms and leaning back in the chair. Lucinda pouted, clearly upset that she couldn't get any more information out of the raven-haired beauty. "Besides, I'm not interested in any of them," Odynne said, packing up her parchment and ink. "They're all ignorant pigs who think of nothing but sex and that pathetic excuse of a sport." She put the borrowed books back on the shelf and began weaving her way out of the library. Lucinda followed, trying to hike up her gymslip to make it shorter like Odynne's.
The two girls made their way down to the Great Hall for lunch and sat in their places at the Slytherin table; Lucinda sat by her clique of friends and Abraxas sat across from Odynne, who sat to the right of Tom.
"How was your free period?" Tom asked, putting down his book.
"Productive. I'm nearly finished with my Potions essay and I learned that I am apparently the most sought after girl in this school, only after our dear Lucinda." Odynne said, pouring herself some pumpkin juice. Tom chuckled and spooned some of his soup into his mouth.
"You wish you were the most sought after. I would place you at the bottom, just above Myrtle," he said quietly. Odynne smiled and turned to him.
"I'd put you below her for your sheer stupidity. Anyone with any sort of intelligence would rank me above Thompson, at the very least," she said sweetly, sipping her juice. Tom's mouth twitched upwards into a small smile as he turned to his food. Odynne quickly ate so she could write the conclusion to her essay.
"Don't forget to mention how Diablo's theory about the effects of temperature during the aging period tied in with Lysander's experiments," Tom added, looking over her shoulder. "Slughorn would surely mark you down for forgetting such a tiny detail."
"Oh, yes, thank you," Odynne replied snidely. "As if I could forget. Might I remind you you're only the best in potions by two points."
"Actually I think it's three," Tom bit back, delicately wiping his mouth. Odynne huffed and finished writing the final sentence of her essay.
"All right. Let's go," she said, picking up her books and bag.
"Allow me to take your books," said Tom. Odynne handed him her books and followed him out of the hall. He ducked behind a tapestry and held it open for her.
"Are you any closer to finding the entrance?" Odynne whispered.
"Nearly. I found a detailed journal of Slytherin's and it's been exceedingly useful," he said, a wicked gleam in his eye. "It's saying something about the entrance being hidden in plain sight, but not for all to see. The riddles are quite maddening. I doubt he came up with them by himself; he was an idiot when it came to logistics," he spat, disgust clear in his tone.
"We'll figure it out. In the meantime, I've done some research on the kind of magic it takes to brand someone. It's quite complicated, but I'm sure it's nothing you can't handle," Odynne said, getting a book from her bag and handing it to Tom. "You'll have to draw up some designs first and then practice drawing them with your wand, then you will have to practice the incantations. Because you want to the mark to be multi-functional, you will need to layer the spells and weave them together as you're drawing the mark onto someone."
"Excellent. Thank you, Odynne," Tom purred. He trapped her against the wall by placing his hands on either side of her head. Odynne looked up at him, raising a delicate eyebrow. Tom began trailing kisses up and down her throat, stopping to whisper in her ear. "I don't know why you won't let me into your bed. We could have so much fun together."
"You have to earn it, Tom," Odynne murmured, grabbing his hips and pulling them forward, making him flush against her body. Tom chuckled darkly as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I don't earn anything, my dear, I simply take what I want," he said, moving to her lips. Odynne jerked her head to the side, causing Tom to catch her cheek.
"Uh-uh-uh," she softly chided. Tom growled in frustration. Grabbing his tie, she tugged his head down to whisper in his ear. "Try harder and maybe next time I'll let you." She lightly kissed his cheek and ran her thumb over his bottom lip, then slithered out of his hold.
Tom looked irritated as he sat down next to her in potions.
"You'll pay for that," he muttered harshly. Odynne laughed softly.
"I don't think I will," she replied, dutifully taking notes of Slughorn's lecture.
"I'll make sure of it," said Tom, copying down her notes in his neat script. Anticipation flooded her body as she waited for Slughorn to release them to make the potion of the day. Potions was her best and favorite class. Ever since she was a child, Odynne had a natural curiosity of the subject. Numerous books and kits were given to her to study and experiment with until she got to school. As a gift, her father built her a lab in the attic of her home, complete with a stocked closet of ingredients. Many experiments were held and Odynne even dabbled in creating her own potions. All attempts had failed thus far.
"Today you'll be brewing a doxy bite antidote," Professor Slughorn said, ending his lecture. "Be mindful of when you add the eucalyptus syrup, as it can turn the potion a bright yellow instead of the burnt orange that it is supposed to be!" he reminded, opening the supply cabinet. Tom looked at Odynne expectantly and she quickly rose to gather the ingredients for the potion.
During the brewing process, Odynne did not neglect to notice Tom's lingering touch whenever she handed him something and vice versa. Although his touch sent shivers down her spine, she controlled her desire and brewed the potion perfectly.
"Almost messed up a few times, did we?" Tom asked mockingly.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Odynne said quietly. Chuckling, Tom leaned over to whisper in her ear.
"I know you feel something for me, Odynne. You can't hide it. You want me to touch you. You want me to kiss you."
"Maybe or maybe not. Even if I do, I still won't let you in my bed," she quipped, leaving the classroom as the bell rang.
The corridors were crowded, as usual, and people never failed to not grope her as she walked to her next class. Even if it was just a mistake or someone else pushed someone into her, Odynne always felt the hands of people on her. Needless to say, it was an unpleasant feeling.
Professor Merrythought's classroom was nearly full when Odynne arrived, Tom in tow. He sat down in the back row, next to Abraxas, who was quietly flirting with a girl from Hufflepuff. Poor soul. Odynne sat across the isle from Tom at desk with Quintus Thickneese, a rugged Slytherin Quidditch player.
"How are you today, Odynne?" he asked smoothly, kissing the top of her knuckles. Odynne placed a pretty blush on her face.
"Better, now that I have seen you," she said demurely, looking up at him through her long eyelashes. Odynne could practically hear Tom's irritation.
"Are you busy this weekend? It's a Hogsmeade weekend and it would delight me if you could accompany me down to the village."
"Of course," she replied. "Can you pick me up at eleven?"
"Yes." Tom coughed next to Odynne. She turned to him, looking at him innocently. He glowered at her until Merrythought started class.
"We will be practicing defensive spells such as protego and protego maxima. You've been reading about them for a few days, so I should expect you to know the incantations and wand movements for each," she said and with a wave of her wand, the desks vanished and colorful mats and pillows replaced them. "Partner up and use only minor jinxes and hexes! If I catch you using other spells you will receive detention and lose house points!" she warned as the students paired up.
Tom forcefully grabbed Odynne's arm, likely to leave long, thin, finger-shaped bruises. He dragged her over to the corner of the classroom.
"Why are you going and making plans? We're supposed to look for the Chamber this weekend. It's a perfect opportunity because we won't have anybody snooping around while we're looking," he hissed. Odynne looked at him with her eyes wide.
"You never said not to make plans, you just told me what we are going to be doing. Just because I've made plans doesn't mean I still won't help you," she said, hurling a tickling charm at him. Tom blocked it effortlessly and nonverbally and threw tarantellegra at her. With a flick of her wand, Odynne diverted its path and made it hit somebody behind her.
"Must you constantly be a thorn in my side?" he asked as he began casting more spells at her.
"It's my great joy in the world," she said, giggling. After thirty minutes of practicing, Professor Merrythought called the class to attention.
"Excellent job, everyone! Now, these spells will appear on your O.W.L.'s in a few months, so make sure you keep at it. Dismissed!" she said. Students filtered out of the classroom and went to their houses. Odynne followed Tom down to the dungeons where they entered the common room through the portrait. They went to the large table in the far right of the common room. No other students lingered in the area once they saw Tom sit at the table.
As the hour drew to a close, Odynne found herself the only female at the table. Surrounded by members of Tom's inner circle, she dismissed herself, knowing that the other men at the table would not accept her presence during the meeting. Tom stood up as she gathered her books and the others did as well, showing respect. Tom caught her wrist and slipped a small square of parchment in her palm. Odynne nodded slightly.
"Good evening boys. I'll see you at dinner, Tom," she said in farewell. Tom sat down as she turned the corner and went down the stairs to the girls' dormitory.
The sound of girls giggling and gossiping filled the fifth years' dorm as Odynne entered. Feeling a headache coming on, she dropped her bag and left the room with a small book in her hands. She went farther into the dormitory corridor until she met a dead end. There, she pulled one of the lamps forward and the wall swung open to reveal a small room with a fireplace and a small sofa. Odynne pushed the door closed and plopped down on the couch. She unfolded the parchment Tom gave her and read his neat handwriting.
Tomorrow night, one o'clock. Seventh floor corridor
Tom
Odynne threw the parchment in the fire and watched it burn to ash. She would meet Tom tomorrow night, four hours after curfew. Because, really, what else was there to do at this school? With a small smile, she draped her long legs over the arm of the sofa and opened the book to a random page.
Hey guys! So, what did you think? I know Tom is going to seem a little strange in the beginning, but his wickedness and evil ways will become apparent soon.
A little note about Odynne's name:
Odyne is the Greek Goddess of pain and that will snake into the story soon as well.
Enjoy,
CraftyK13