Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter but I own Apollymi.
The first thing she had done in aid of teaching Tom was make him request work from the matrons himself. And upon being spoken to the first thing the matrons had said to him was:
"Why Tom have you come out of your shell?"
And Riddle, being Riddle who was never actually in a shell of any type, had shot her a look to which she had merely shrugged.
"Yes." Tom answered with a small sweet but unsure smile on his face and damn him if it wasn't completely believable.
And that had been that.
And from there it had taken a few days but she managed to make him socialize with the other children - through blatant manipulation, threats, and well-placed taunts that said that Tom Riddle was scared to get along with snot nosed brats. At first, she had been unsure as to if Tom would fuck things up - over her dead body! - but after watching the boy physically suck it up, she had been pleasantly surprised.
Apollymi had given him a good ten minutes before the stress of being friendly wore him down but like always, the tenacious little bugger proved her wrong by lasting a good thirty by playing a timid round of tag with a group of girls.
Which was a fact that made her giggle because Tom was already coming into his own as a casanova.
"So what did we learn today?" She had asked him once they were back in the safety of their room and Tom shot her a weary glare.
"That you would eagerly throw me to the wolves." He growled out as he crawled into his bed and with a sharp heave, Apollymi threw her pillow at the Debbie Downer and blew a raspberry.
"That's disgusting Apollymi."
"Your face is disgusting," She retorted on reflex as she ignored his reply of 'real mature, mate'. "now what did we learn?"
Tom gave a heavy sigh.
"How to be nice." He said drolly. "Because being nice can get you friends and those friends can be allies."
Apollymi nodded, satisfied with the answer she received.
"And don't you forget it." She told him. "Friends - actual ones, not just pawns - can mean the difference between life and death or failure or success."
Laying back in bed, she pulled the covers close around her shoulders as she closed her eyes.
"Take what I'm saying to heart Tom because as much as it pains me to say, you'll need more than just me to make it to the top."
Tom's slight hum was promising, because if anything he'd think on her once at least twice but that was fine.
It only took him one try to commit things to memory.
One of Apollymi's main goals was to make sure to show Tom that kids who seemed to be sweethearts got what they wanted.
After all Tom generally listened better when he had something to gain from it.
"If someone adores you they'll do almost whatever you want," She told him as she held up the teddy bear she had received as a birthday gift as an example. "But you have to make sure to temper your requests. Don't ask too much, too soon or you'll scare an ally away."
"And I can't make them do what I want, why?" Tom asked her with his brow quirked and Apollymi quickly gave him a smack upside the head.
Her palm connected with a dull thwack and he gave a sharp flinch.
"Ow!" The boy hissed as his eyes lit up in rage but the young redhead merely cocked a hip, unafraid and Tom - sensing that - pouted at her lack of a reaction.
"It's almost as if you're purposely ignoring what I'm telling you," She sniffed with narrowed eyes. "First you must catch them with honey Tom, love can make people do wonderful and terrible things."
Rubbing the back of his head, the future dark lord was silent for a moment before he narrowed his eyes.
"And if honey doesn't work?"
Apollymi hummed.
"Well then you try harder to make them like you and if that doesn't work you strive to gain their respect instead of their affections." She told him as she twirled a blood colored strand around her finger. "But if all else fails - I heard that terror is right proper motivation."
The dark little smirk Tom sent her way clearly told her that the boy was looking forward to the application of those tactics and with a sigh, Apollymi smacked him upside the head once more.
"Ow!"
"It's a last goddamn resort Tom!"
"Fine!"
Leaving the boy to grumble to himself, Apollymi quickly plastered a cheery smile on her face and turned around to view a matron walking into the room.
"Good evening Miss. Wybie!" Apollymi chirped as she flashed the short, stout woman a pair of cow eyes and Tom - who was standing nearby - seemed disturbed by her complete 360 change in personality. "How was your day?"
A warm, gushing chuckle filled the air as the elderly woman reached down to pat her warm brown cheek and the young redhead grinned.
"Oh, it's been quite alright dear child," Miss Wybie cooed. "I was out doing some errands all morning but on the bright side - I still managed to snag you some writing paper!"
Eyes practically mooning, Apollymi gave a tiny squeal.
"Thank you so much Miss. Wybie!" She gasped as she was handed a tiny leather bound notebook - the likes of which she cradled to her chest reverently. "I'll treasure it always."
She was given a smile.
"I'm sure you will." The woman said. "But be sure to keep this under wraps eh? This is my little gift to you for all your hard work for me."
Blue eyes slide to Tom who also flashed her a sweet yet bashful smile.
"And I'm sure a dashing young man like yourself can keep a secret?" She asked conspiratorially and nodding eagerly, Tom gave up a crooked grin.
"Of course ma'am!" He very nearly chirped and Apollymi was once again impressed at how well the boy could act.
"Well then I'm glad! Mayhaps there's a tiny gift in your future lad." And with a friendly wink, Miss Wybie was turning a corner and was out of their sights.
In a flash Tom turned towards her, his dark eyes burned something fierce and reverent as he regarded her and her prize.
"Teach me." He rasped and Apollymi gave him a small smirk.
"But aren't I already?"
Here's the new chapter! Please keep in mind that I'm in University and that I am quite busy. I actually really like Apollymi as a character, she's probably one of my few more "evil" or "morally ambiguous" SI/SI-OC's. She's both a snake in the grass and a badger in the ground.
How did you guys like the interaction?
What do you guys think about their relationship?
Please review! I'll try to update as soon as I can.
