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Chapter Five: The Hufflepuff Common Room

Tom had never been inside the Hufflepuff common room before tonight. It descended to the basement of the castle near the kitchens, which was situated directly above the Great Hall. The perpetual coolness of the dungeons did not seem to penetrate here, in fact it was positively inviting and warm.

As a Slytherin, the boy felt no desire to have come. Until tonight there had been no reason for associating with Hufflepuff. The better part of an hour was wasted by the entrance. It was rather dull, staring at a tawdry painting of a fruit bowl. It had been boring, but there was no doubt this was the way to approach Sarah.

Finally, a Hufflepuff came along and spoke the password. Riddle invisible, stealthily trudged in. There was one terrible moment where the other boy felt him and almost screamed.

But being quick, Riddle covered the other's mouth and proceeded to confound him. The boy went onwards very confused and blissfully ignorant. The Confundus charm is becoming my signature move, thought Tom with a laugh at himself.

Riddle was still sporting the broken nose from when the Purebloods attacked him last night. He knew the spell to heal minor scrapes immediately, but did not wish to do so. The attention this brought was exactly what was needed for gaining Sarah's affections.

Tom noted the atmosphere. It looked like Professor Beery's greenhouses because of the flowers and potted plants hanging everywhere. But Professor Beery was not a Hufflepuff.

Their Common room was adorned with yellow rugs, ample blankets and carpeting. He could see Sarah reposed on a fat yellow armchair in the centre, talking to friends and downing Butterbeer.

He decided to remain invisible and watch for awhile. Nobody must discover this. Only the Head Girl would know that Tom Riddle had visited the Hufffepuff Common Room.

After another hour of time wasted, she told her friends a hasty goodbye with an excuse to study alone. What was more true, was that Sarah Smith enjoyed being alone. Sometimes. And being popular made that solitude difficult.

Riddle followed her blue plaid tartan bathrobe. She was holding a candle.

It took a few minutes for Sarah to get through the narrow tunnel. Riddle grabbed onto her elbow as lightly as possible and then tugged on her sleeve.

"Sarah, it is Tom. May we go somewhere private?"

Thankfully Sarah was not as flustered or frightened as expected.

"Of course. My private room is perfect. So you've done a Disillusionment Charm. I'm impressed."

And she did look impressed by his talents. "However, you did break the rules sneaking in like that. How long have you been doing it?"

Riddle decided to appear, casting the charm off and he materialized.

"Tonight was my first night, I can assure you."

Riddle felt forced to stoop so low as to play on her sympathies and look like one to be pitied. He must let go of pride if he was to have her. He looked like a whipped puppy.

"Well, it was breaking the rules. But I suppose since you wanted to see me, and I like you, I shouldn't say anything. Oh, just look at you! Tom, what really happened last night? I've been hearing all sorts of things. I don't know what or who to believe."

"Let's get inside, and I'll relate the entire story," said Tom and he guided her with his arm on the small of her back.

"It's just this way," pointed Sarah. "The third one down from here. On the right."

Inside, Sarah kept busy folding clothes and listening to Tom's explanation. It was not the truth but an exaggerated tale and certainly there was no mention of the bet being played out concerning her.

"Last night, I sat alone in my Common Room and stayed up past midnight with extra work," he noted that Sarah already looked sympathetic. "And several elder boys jumped me. They said horrible things to me Sarah and they accused me of being a Mudblood!"

Riddle was very theatrical in hotness and anger.

"It was six against one!," he exaggerated. "Very brave of them," was added sarcastically.

"They're cowards to attack someone just because they aren't pure. The things that must go on in that snake pit of the Slytherin common room!"

It was evident she was disgusted.

"I'd like to take on each of them. One by one," noted Tom vengefully.

"Oh, Tom. They're all bigger and older than you," and it was plain to see Sarah did not believe in this little Third year. She still underestimated his powers.

"Did you know that the Lestrange boy who hit me was your cousin?"

She was unfazed. "My first cousin on my mother's side. We are all inter-related somehow. I mean – us Purebloods."

By this faltering, Riddle was rudely reminded of being less than pure. But the Head Girl wasn't a harsh judge. She was unfailingly kind.

"Purebloods only mate with their own. Sarah, I can't see how you could even consider a lowly Half-blood! That Michael, I mean," he spat, but really thinking inwardly of his own Half-blood status.

The anger had spit out and Riddle regretted revealing this, but it impulsively burst forth. He was still stewing over last night's abuse.

"Michael Bradshaw is decent - but I've come to realize we will only be acquaintances."

Sarah's brown eyes locked onto Riddle's darker ones and saw potential there. Here was a young boy, a very handsome one that could make Raphael jealous.

She saw he was eyeing her now too, staring at the badge with Head Girl inscribed on it. It was with an envious and a hungry look. But the Head Girl only saw it as need.

Sarah at once busied herself about the room, folding clothes and putting them in the sturdy, mahogany drawers.

"So, how are things in the Junior Healer's program? You are studying alongside Raphael aren't you?"

"It is going splendidly. Raphael will be my lab partner."

Sarah took note of that as an interesting tidbit not to be forgotten.

He watched her folding shirts. The elves had brought up the laundry but it was always the students duty to put them away. Riddle took note of the ample garments and the luxurious silks, tartans, satins and even organdies. Again he was reminded how wealthy most of the Purebloods were.

"I've signed up for Beery's choir and his theater arts. So has my sister. I can't wait until mid-terms when we're doing a production for Hogwarts!"

"The artistic pursuits do keep our Herbology professor preoccupied," noted Tom casually and spoken very kindly. "But nobody told me you had a sister?"

"Mary is a First year. She's the sweetest little girl. She's not in Hufflepuff house. Ravenclaw. Yes, she's a good girl. But asks me such embarrassing questions in front of people! As a little sister, I think she can't help her curiosity!"

Riddle listened and listened more. The more he listened, the more the Head Girl naturally grew to like him.

For a quarter of an hour she was hanging clothes up without magic, bustling about and as always appearing vivacious with all her enthusiasm. It was a rule of Hogwarts not to use spells outside the classroom and as Head Girl, Sarah felt obligated to be an example. She refused all help from Tom.

"But sometimes I use magic outside of class. I'm sure you'd understand that. I've not tried a Disillusionment charm though. Maybe you can show me someday."

Sarah laughed gaily but nervously looked over her shoulder. She'd propped the window open. It was plain she was waiting for an important owl.

But nothing was said of the matter. Whatever it was, she wouldn't make it the visitor's affair.

Sarah flounced on the bed beside him. "Now let me see if I can't fix your nose."

The Head Girl's wand came out, holding it steadily and Tom made no objection.

Sarah looked nervous but the incantation 'Episkey' soon sounded. Almost at once, the broken nose was healed with a soft blue light and a hot searing feeling, and then an icy sensation.

"Thanks," muttered Tom, rubbing his nose. It was perfect again.

And almost instantly an owl swooped into the room, bearing a heavy parcel.

Sarah jumped to retrieve it and opened the seal. She sat down again at the foot of the bed.

"This is terrible! Oh, why must I be the one to bear such brutal tidings..."

She went from cheerfulness to misery all in a moment.

"Half my relatives have been slain by Grindelwald! I have family living in Germany, you see. They were kept as prisoners of war by the Dark Wizard because of their insubordination. They did not like Lord Gindelwald's plotting and so were sent to Nurmengard. Can you blame them? This is an official report of their deaths and their last words, intended to reach my family here in England. It was sent out to me, as well as father..."

Sarah couldn't help but sob.

"I've lost my mother due to the Dragon Pox several years ago. And now tragedy hits again."

"I'm sorry," said the boy and he squeezed her hand.

"Do you mind, Tom? I apologize for being such an unhappy host."

"No matter. You need rest and comfort, Sarah." Tom looked sorry, but inside he wasn't at all. There couldn't have been a better weak moment than this. He was secretly almost joyous.

Tom decided to expostulate and comment on it. "The wars have left their mark. I have lost my precious innocence. Youth may no longer have so many tender years! Last summer, during the muggle Blitzkrieg I was forced to hide in the cellar at the orphanage. It was during the bombings with sirens blaring, people screaming and all the windows were shattered. Sarah, I was terrified. All the poor young waifs like me were scared. I cried myself to sleep. Can you believe it?"

This account was true, but an exaggeration. Whilst Tom had been scared he could die, he had not actually shed tears. What was more, that night's dangers proved an opportunity to terrify the children with his magic. Tom had realized in the mayhem that the trace on himself would be impossible to locate and so was able to terrorize some orphans, even molesting them.

"Oh, Tom! I can sympathize with your plight. On a night like this, I miss my mother. I am after all, really half an orphan.

"I hate this. I hate Grindelwald and his reign of terror. When will it stop?"

"Someday our Transfiguration master will topple him. Dumbledore told me he's been looking for him, trying to catch him off guard."

"Nobody can catch him, say the Aurors. Oh, it won't be for years!"

Sarah hugged Riddle's shoulders and wailed without restraint, rocking herself.

Riddle went forward, pressing his advantage. "Sarah, don't lament so. You've much greater talents than most girls - er witches," and privately Tom was thinking she was also the best prize. "You're gracious and intelligent, and I can see from tonight you know how to have fun. The future is looking bright, isn't it?"

Sarah managed a weak laugh. She took out a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes.

"I saw from observation that Hufflepuffs like to have fun. Just as long as nobody's watching!"

"We are hard workers. But it's our best kept secret that we play hard too."

"A secret you say? Well then, your secret is safe with me," he said jokingly.

Sarah felt idealized and comforted. For a second she almost forgot the letters bearing the morbid news.

"I understand tragedy completely. My life before Hogwarts was a dreary one of dreadful drudgery until I discovered magic. How good of me to be here in your time of need!"

"Yes," conceded Sarah ruefully between hiccups, clutching him in an embrace. "I believe we are rapidly getting closer because of this. How can you not be my friend after sharing all this? Yes, Tom. We are going to be good friends!"

The Head Girl, as one who was loyal and true, loved making new friends. The more the merrier. She leaned further in and suddenly kissed him on his cheek.

These affections weren't exactly what Riddle sought, but it was a start.

Sarah curled up peaceably on the bed and Riddle joined.

They lay peaceably for several minutes, enjoying the quiet. Riddle knew Sarah wanted solace, and he did not want her to dismiss him when they were so close.

Sarah thought of Raphael and she wanted more. It was almost greedy. But she must make her beau jealous by using this boy.

Her head turned to Tom and her hand slid down his chest, resting on his stomach. Sarah did not dare touch his crotch, that would be too groping and too soon.

She got on top of him and her lips went for him. At once Riddle had an explosion of desire inside him, selfish and determined and passionate. But it wasn't love, it was all for him. He felt his pants grow wet and he longed to complete the act.

But Sarah would only kiss, and she was on top of him. With affection, she held his face and wondered if he even needed to shave yet.

She kissed him again, holding his face.

Riddle was growing unhappy with this. The first kiss had just happened. It had fulfilled some of his animalistic desire, but it could not suffice.

He maneuvered Sarah to repose on the bed and switched to himself on top. Sarah panted, turned on with a bead of sweat running down the auburn head.

He took the initiative, knowing he could and broke open the buttons of her bodice, underneath the heavy schoolrobes.

Riddle sighed hungrily and buried his black-haired head into the folds. It smelled sweet like honey and lilies of the valley.

The mouth found a nipple and he sucked on it, drawing and drawing from it, filling himself with the need. It may have been an unconscious desire for motherly affection, which he might get with this young woman.

Sarah laughed at these bold advances. "Oh, go ahead you naughty, little boy! How did you know? I love this."

Riddle groaned and out of spite for being called a naughty little boy yanked on a bit of the flesh and nibbled it until it was bitten.

The Head Girl was certain that Tom Riddle was a decent boy, and somebody to trust. He was worth using as an object to cause contention with Raphael.

"What a comfort you are to me, Tom. But now I really must ask you to go."

Riddle couldn't hide his disappointment.

""We will have better times some other night. I promise, Tom. I know I can trust you. But now I really must grieve the loss of grandparents, and my aunts and uncles. You understand don't you?"

"Yes," and Riddle withdrew himself.

But as a final farewell Sarah launched off the bed and planted another kiss on his forehead. "Good night and sweet dreams, Tom."

"Tomorrow night, then?"

Sarah's face fell. "I promised Raphael to be there for exam review in the library. How about next Friday at nightfall?"

"Very well. Good night, dear Sarah. For a lonely orphan, your company was a pleasure."

With a strange, mysterious smile Sarah watched him depart.

It was convenient to wait a week, it gave Tom more time to plot their next encounter. He had come so close. And yet Tom Riddle left the Head Girl's lair still a virgin. Taking the Pureblood's maidenhead must wait, but he was determined to make it happen, and prove that he'd won the bet and taken the prize, this jewel who was most worthy. She had unwittingly given him time.

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