A contradiction, this is what the wizard had found Constance Merryweather to be. Everything about her was refuting. Her opal green orbs that seemed a shimmer dulled by her bashful smile, her perfectly worded whispers silencing the rage filled roars, even the clothes she ware, dusky pink and soft blues, and her hair, partly braided and tied with a blue ribbon, allowing her to be shielded with a mass of black veiling. Other girls spending hours where she seemed to spend minutes in preparation, to those around her Constance seemed a simple girl, mealy making it through each day, just another wand in the air, but Tom saw her, saw how she glided though the sea of bodies freely, how she gracefully danced to the shadows of the crowds, gaining trust and sympathy with her innocent façade.

She was invisible and everything about her was molded to be so. To blend into the background, oh she was such an interesting instrument.

The journal had been moved, as she said she would do. However Tom had no quibbled with this, the journal was merely a catalyst, guiding him to his latest toy.

Unlike Valencia he took his time, watching her, after all each person is handled individually. Tom had a plan… he's looked into her records, it would seem she was quite the student, but reluctant and fleeting in some subjects, when Potions was one of them he smiled, after all Slughorn adored the boy; easy enough to suggest that the charming, exceeding lad was to help a downfallen student… almost too easy

It was a Wednesday, potions started and Tom smiled, laughing with his followers as some Hufflepuff nearly blows themselves up as they hear a voice rise "do you really think that necessary, Professor?"

"Constance my dear you are a very talented witch, with great potential however potions isn't really you strong suite now is it? The help will be good for you, and I have just the student… Riddle, could you come here please and bring your things" the girls green eyes turn to look as the Slytherin leaves his pack to follow the professor's direction

Coming to stand beside the pair the head boy slaps on his best smile, Constance seeming greatly confused with a frowned brow "Professor…"

Smiling at them the old man nods "Tom, this is Constance Merryweather, I'd like you to give her some assistance, tutoring if you will"

"Of course professor" he smiles, watching as the oblivious man takes his leave, it was just yesterday he'd said how he noticed the quiet girl was having trouble, already his toys react so precisely

He takes a seat beside Constance, her ebony curls masking her face as she stairs the cauldron. Leaning forward he tilts his head "Hello I'm…"

"I know who you are, everyone knows who you are…" she says timidly, not even turning to meet his gaze

He nodded then, a bitter smile coming into view "you don't want me here do you?"

He doll like hand stilled, mechanically her head swayed, green opal gems meeting caramel swirls "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, this was just a shock. One doesn't appreciate being told their below par after all"

She was well practiced, he'd give her that! Smiling at him so effortlessly, while secretly restraining the urge to pry out each one of his teeth "well don't worry, before the week is out you'll be the best in the year, after myself obviously"

They laughed together, forced bitterness. That was the moment this would take time, breaking her would require restraint and delicacy, it was a challenge and Tom was for too excited.

The day had been long, tiring for the Ravenclaw, now as Constance sits in the courtyard and scribbled away at her journal she felt something was amiss, her skin shuddered with Goosebumps. Girls she had never even spoken to came to her after class, asking about the infamous Tom Riddle, people were looking at her, speaking to her, she didn't like it.

With the quill in her hand she closes her eyes, back resting on the old oak of the tree shielding her from the burn of the winter air. Without warning a heckling hissing came from above, with a shock she jumped, finding a snake nestling against the bark.

A blur of silver patched white leaps from nothingness, razor fangs ripping the serpent from its place. A smile comes to Constance face, watching as her companion eagerly, happily plucks the intruder apart, bathing the pasture below in scarlet.

"Good kitty" she giggles and pets the blood stained feline, unaware of the black blown eyes watching from the far shadows. A vacant, lifeless expression lingering on such a powerful gaze

A short while later Constance returned to her chambers, as she faded down into the comfort of her bed she heard the hiss of her darling pet. Raising her brow she looks to him as he stands, scratching at her satchel "Jinx, what's the matter?"

However as she opens it her green orbs flare with horror filled rage. Tipping out the bag her hands search, frantic and needy, her journal was missing; her secret. She raced around the school, reattaching each step with diligence and care, but to no avail. Once she returned to the empty common room she ripped it apart, tossed each bed, smashed each breakable, sliced open every pillow and keepsake until she stood panting in the middle of the debris and screamed "where is it!?"

Tom however sat smiling in the confines of his personal bed chambers, he looks over the blonde girl fixing her robes sheepishly, while he sits shameless, covered by the soft sheets alone "goodnight Tom"

He doesn't move as she speaks, to engulfed in the book in his hands as he waves her off, continuing his reading as she leaves

Diary

This insufferable place is preposterous. A tutor, the buffoon thinks I need a tutor?

It took every fiber of my being not to hex the man into an unmarked grave. Not only that, he has given me some self-obsessed Slytherin, Tom Riddle.

I wonder why I ever agreed to come here; I could be at home right now, reading in the gardens, practicing my duel techniques, hunting with father, but no, here I stay, getting my education. One day I'll burn this place to the ground, locking all these fools inside and dine, dance, their screams harmonizing to create the sweetest song.

It will be beautiful…

Tom smiled at the thought of her words, the image of flames licking up to burn the stars, each scream echoing against the rumble of falling stone, like a piano key to a string. She was right, it would be beautiful!

He stands to dress, knowing the journal had to be returned, that Constance would be studying in the library, as he learned she did every Wednesday. Unaware of her knowing her journal was missing…

On entering the library he sees her, sitting where she always did, however something was off, he fingers stuttered on the table and her lip twitched up between her teeth. He had intended to bump into her, slip the journal into her satchel and leave, but then she stood, walking away from the library.

With a disgruntled grown he followed her down the halls, his brow lined with confusion as his pray lead him to the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom. The room was as it had been for the past week, desks lined at the wall and the mirror mounted wardrobe in place, but the Ravenclaw was nowhere to be seen.

Taking silent steps into the room he scanned the shadows, after all the girl had spent years blending in. suddenly a blinding white light emerged all around him, stunned, perplexed and panicked Tom pulls out his wand, looking around him to find a white circle "well hello there…"

His head snaps up to find his pray, who had without warning become the predator "what is this? Release me immediately!"

Her dynamic seemed to have melted away, no more was the shy, reclusive child, but a confidant, strong willed woman "it's a binding charm, you should know that Tom, after all you're the one who demonstrated it last year, remember?"

His gaze burns into her as he demands once more "you will release me at once! Wait until Headmaster Dippet hears of this?"

A stifled giggle turns into a shake of her head as she smiles "come on now Tom, we both know Dippet will never find out about this meeting, unless you wish to tarnish your perfect reputation by being branded a thief and a stalker?"

He looks at her with wide eyes, bemused to say the least. Taking a step forward Constance speaks "do you think me an idiot Tom? That I wouldn't realize the truth, hear the echoed footsteps or see the moving shadows? You're not as stealthy as you think"

Collecting his thoughts he questions "no, you can't…"

"Oh but my boy I do, I know everything. Did you enjoy my little mention of you, I do hope so… I have to say I was surprised you took such lengths to get my little diary. The snakes were a nice touch, one a distraction while the other steals from me… I didn't realize that until later, it did, unset me for a moment… so I applaud you" she smiles, bringing to circle the dark figure

Standing tall, seemingly unyielding he asks "why? Would you go to all this trouble? Do you fancy me that much?"

At his cockiness Constance tilts her head, her smile no longer shy but proud, conquering and cruel "now why would I fancy you; because you're handsome, confident, popular, a liar, a dominator… or perhaps because you're the hair to Salazar Slytherin?"

Every nerve in the wizard's body runs cold and before he can snarl to her Constance takes another step closer to the circle "I don't know what you're driveling about"

"Please Tom, no need to be modest. You see when someone takes an interest in me; I take an interest in why. I looked you up, not hard as you're the most popular boy in school but still, your mother's lineage links straight to him. Now that past of yours, it would seem you have quite the temper, such passion…" she takes another step closer, he watched her, she knew, she knew and she wasn't afraid of him, had seemingly outwitted him. He couldn't have that, couldn't allow that!

She leaned in, smirk readily in place as she opens her mouth to speak only for the length of the circle to emerge as strong arms reach out to merge the Ravenclaw inside. With one hand ripping her wand to the floor, gripping her wrist painfully and the other securing his wand to her slender throat Tom grins cruelly "you should really pay more attention in class Constance. Then you'd know never step to close to a binding circle… it'll pull you in"

He looked into her opal green gem's and expected fear, rage, pleading to escape her but she just looked at him, seeming to examine the boy "what? No last words?"

Her marble skin seems to harden as she asks "so that's your great plan, you're going to kill me? Come along then Tom…"

His mind fills with puzzlement; she wanted him to kill her? Wait, why was he shaking? He'd spent his whole life punishing and hurting people, it was one of the few things that brought him joy in a harsh world.

Staring into his black pools, Constance shines with realization, her lip twitching upward "oh… you've never done this before have you?"

Tom doesn't move, just stares at the spot on her neck joined to his wand. Fixates on it, he was going to kill her, the rage in him screamed for it!

Constance however is calm, collected as her free hand slowly rises to his neck, securing him in place as she pushes herself forward, into the wood "it's alright; I'll guide you through it. Now Tom, I need you to relax, that shaking is normal; it's human nature to repel murder, but you need to breath, sink it in, take your time, enjoy it…"

He looks at her like she's insane… and maybe she is, his eyes flickering from her neck to her eyes "come on Tom, just say the words. You can tell them I attacked you and with proof like my diary, who would deny it?"

It would be easy, he'd built himself up for this, the kill he longed for and now here it was, this girl had manipulated him, tricked him, trapped him and he knew the words, the killing curse, all he had to do was say them.

"Come on, kill me…" her lips almost graze his, her breath hot on his skin

As his eyes meet hers he shoves her back, panting hard, looking at his hands, he could do it, he could have done it, so why hadn't he? Constance let's her eyes was over him, he was still shaking.

Picking up her wand, with a flick the circle disintegrates. She strolls over to him, a curious pride in her smile, her hand glides to his cheek, shocking the boy from his trance "that was good Tom, so very good… you have such potential"

He looks her in the eye, a strange spark he's never seen before, not even in the mirror. Without a hint of emotion he questions "what do you want of me?"

Her smile widened, her other hand rising to cup his handsome face, pulling him forward, seemingly going to kiss him as she whispers "oh, Tom… I want to help you"

Their eyes meet then, for a moment, a lifetime as she tenderly brushes past him, not turning back as he watches her leave with wide eyes, thinking to himself… what the fuck just happened?

HEY GUYS! THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEW'S THEY ARE MY MOTERVATION AND I REALLY HOPE YOU KEEP THEM COMING AND ENJOY THIS STORY :)

THANKS SO MUCH,

JJ