AUTHOR'S NOTE: So thank your to everyone who read my prevous chapter and reviewed. My thanks especially goes out to psychotic luv, and Gelassenheit. :) I know the spelling and stuff was pretty bad, but it was because I was in a hurry to get it up for you guys. Anyway, I hope this one will be better and I'll try to make it longer too. Enjoy :) Read and review?
Chapter Two
Do Think Twice
~SsS~
I awoke to the bright morning sun in my eyes, the colour red against my closed eyelids. I squeezed them tight before opening them and bracing myself for the blinding light. The rain had finally stopped and we were graced with a sunny day for once. I smiled and stretched before stepping out of bed, slipping my slippers on and wrapping my dark green robe around my body. I was usually one of the late risers which meant I could take as long as I liked in the showers. Unless of course it was cleaning day, then we were all up early and limited to five or ten minutes. I padded over to the bathroom down the hallway, my ears perking up to the sound of children already laughing and playing with one another. I noticed Tom was in his room with his door shut and most likely locked, too. If he was awake or not, I wasn't sure.
The bathroom in the orphanage always smelled like baby powder and flowers. There was a bath tub - I had been told that you only got to soak in it when you were ill - and a shower beside it. The loos were separate, of course, with different stalls for privacy just like at school, and the boys' and girls' toilets were separated. I kicked off my slippers and stripped down and stepped in the shower, waiting until the water got nice and warm before I began to wash. I kept my shower short so I was down in the kitchen at a decent time, and just caught the end of breakfast. The only occupants at the dinner table were Sadie and Marcus - twins. They were eight years old with blonde hair and freckled faces. Their noses were small, too, like they had been pushed in when they were babies. I smiled and nodded to them, to which they returned equally toothy grins and giggled with each other. I took a glass of orange juice that was laid out on the table by the chef, Steve, and took a sip. I much preferred pumpkin juice...
Thinking of pumpkin juice and the delicious breakfasts at home and Hogwarts, I suddenly remembered my deal with Tom, who now had made an appearance. He sauntered over from the bottom step, stifling Sadie and Marcus's giggles and sending them diving into their oatmeal bowls, stuffing their faces to keep busy. I frowned. Did Tom really have that effect on these children? It shouldn't have surprised me. Despite his polite demeanour when talking to others, I was sure even a baby could tell a dark force followed him around.
"Morning Mr. Riddle!" one boy yelled as he ran past and out of the front door, followed by his friend. They were always outside...
"Mr. Riddle?" I muttered under my breath. It did not go unnoticed by Tom.
"That would be my surname," he drawled, buttering himself some toast. I glared.
"Thanks, I never would have guessed." He nodded as if I was serious and then remained silence, his mouth set in a tight line as always, his eyes fixed on what ever he was focusing on. I was glad it was the bread getting the glare and not me. Why was he so rude? It wasn't as if I had done anything wrong, and I wasn't exactly speaking to him, either. It was his fault for thinking everything revolved around him...
"Next Saturday," Tom said suddenly. I looked at him like he was mad.
"What are you on about?"
"Shopping. Next Saturday, Hanson." Oh, right. Well, I guess it was an okay day. But hadn't he said we'd go in five weeks?
"You said-"
"In five weeks. I think I know what I said. It was only a few days ago." I glared. Honestly, he was going to give me early frown lines.
"Would you stop interrupting me? It's rude," I snapped, walking over and putting my glass in the sink.
"Why? I know what you're going to say, anyway, so why waste your breath?" I stared at him incredulously. How did that even make sense? First of all, he couldn't read minds as far as I knew. Secondly, I could have an important question.
"Fine, what ever," I said. "But why so soon?" Sadie and Marcus seemed to have finished their oatmeal; I looked over in their direction and they were both gone.
"Because. We can get the best supplies and not have to worry about anything being out of stock," Tom replied. He set his stare on me now and I fidgeted uncomfortably. I really had to spend a whole day alone with him? In such a place as Diagon Alley ... Well, that wasn't the worst part. At least that place was always swamped with witches and wizards. Knocturn Alley, on the other hand seemed just like his place to go. I froze for a moment as my mind played possible scenarios in my head, such as being dragged into some shop where they tortured you until you bought their products. Or a book store, perhaps, that had books that would turn into some form of monster and attack you as soon as you looked at it. Monster Book of Monsters, I thought, and then turned to look up at Tom. He wouldn't do that to me, right? I mean, he was a student after all.… He had probably only shot a few hexes at students, but they most likely deserved it...
"So," he continued, looking at me as though I was some strange alien creature. I hadn't noticed my hands clutching the edges of the counter top behind me. I let go and felt my face start to burn and turned around to wash my hands for no reason but to busy myself with something.
"So?" I asked, my voice higher than usual. I swallowed and turned off the tap, drying my hands on the nearest towel. I cleared my throat and said, "so what?" in my normal voice. I saw him smirk and drum his long, pale fingers on the table.
"So are you still coming?" I nodded quickly, noting the impatience in his voice. His smirk faded and I wondered if he was disappointed.
"Right," he said and added, "we'll stop at Gringott's first, because I hate going there and I won't stop in the middle of getting what we need." I felt rather insulted for some reason. My parents weren't poor; we had money, if not a small fortune. Was he implying that I had insufficient funds? My glare returned.
"Obviously, Riddle, what would be the point in that other than wasting time?" I made sure to add some extra ice to my tone, hoping to get a rise out of him, but was only rewarded with a dark chuckle.
"Just reminding you, Hanson. Wouldn't want you to show up and expect someone to buy everything for you." He smirked as my jaw dropped and I instinctively reached for my wand that wasn't there (I had packed it away safely in my room), ready to jinx him.
"Ah, ah, ah," he said in an taunting tone. "Not in present company."
"No one is PRESENT, Riddle," I seethed. His smirk grew to a condescending grin, his eyes lighting up with a malicious glint.
"Not yet. You know, these kids have a tendency to pop out of no where." I huffed and stuffed my hands in my pockets to keep from lashing out. I was sure I was overreacting. Either that, or I was finally cracking; the only conversations I had had recently were with three to four year olds, Mrs. Cole (who was too sweet to really have a discussion about anything worthwhile), or this nutter. I wished I could have owled Rayne. Only a few more weeks, I told myself.
"Yeah, because they're totally going to come in here when you're here," I countered, standing up straight to try and match his height. He still towered over me.
"Dare to elaborate, Hanson?" he asked in a dangerously calm voice, his eyes flashing. "Please, humour me." I took this as my queue to either leave or be quiet.
"It's not worth my time," I said, and turned to walk out when a cold hand grabbed my shoulder and spun me around. Despite what he had said, I came face to face with a yew wand, the tip poised on my nose. Gasping, I stumbled backward and grabbed the counter to steady myself.
"You should be careful, Hanson," he hissed, his eyes boring into mine. "Words are often the fault of consequences, and you're very much headed in that direction." We stayed there for a moment, me being too shaken to move, and Tom looking like he was debating on giving me that consequence. It felt like several minutes had passed until we heard the familiar sound of Mrs. Cole coming down the hallway. Tom drew back and forced his wand back into his pocket, pulling his sweater over his pocket. Before I knew what was happening, he was talking to me like nothing happened.
"So like I said, Clarice, I really do think you have a knack for art," said Tom as though in polite conversation. I stared disbelievingly at him and forced my jaw shut as Mrs. Cole came into view.
"Oh, good morning Tom, Clarice." Tom shot her a pleasant, and what was supposed to be a charming smile, but I only saw deceit.
"Good to see you, Mrs. Cole," said Tom. "I was just telling Clarice she should apply for the art classes at our school. Have you seen her drawings?" Mrs. Cole had to be the stupidest woman I knew. She fell for everything! Even when the children lied to her about breaking things. "It was the wind," they'd say.
"Is that so?" she said, smiling at me. I looked at Tom and saw his warning look. I felt forced to nod and fake a smile.
"Oh yes, ever since I was a child," I said, shooting a pointed look at Tom who merely smiled at me, his fingers tucked into his wand pocket. Mrs. Cole chuckled.
"I'd very much like to see them sometime, Clarice, but right now I'm afraid little Johnny's fallen ill with the flu. Will you excuse me?" she said, winding her way through Tom and I. "Oh, and do feel free to help yourself to breakfast if you haven't already eaten," she added, and slipped around the corner. I turned on Tom who looked very smug and pleased with himself.
"Do think twice about what you say," he said, tapping his pocket as if to remind me of what could happen if I didn't keep my mouth shut in the future. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a book I'd like to finish." With that, he walked around me and up the stairs, leaving me seething. I had received a threat, but really, that was the worse he could do. Right?
~SsS~
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, I hoped you guys liked it. I'll have them go to Diagon Alley either in the next chapter or the one after that. I just thought that having them banter was the only place I could go with this story at the moment, as I didn't want it to go too fast. I'm still working on the plot so I'll be able to get more ideas soon. I really liked this chapter though ... it was fun to write ... Remember, critism is always welcome ... that comes reviews, people, ;) Thanks for reading! XOXO xXx-Voldy's-Gone-Moldy-xXX
