Tom stared at his own reflection. Revulsion coursed through him as he ran a hand down the material of his Dress Robes.
He didn't want to go to the Yule Ball anyway, but Dippet had insisted that the Prefects attend as it did reflect well on the school. But just who Dippet was trying to impress was anyone's guess.
The Dress Robes were given to him as a reward for good behavior since Tom couldn't physically afford to buy his own. Dumbledore was sure to send the package as discreetly as he could to him, for Tom didn't need to give his peers reasons to pry and question him. Though he doubt anybody would even have the bottle to question him aside from Bennett but even she wasn't that foolish enough, or so he liked to have thought.
Smoothing down the sleeves of his robe he couldn't help but think about whether she was going to turn up with some lapdog bound to her side or if she would turn up at all, it's not like he had bothered to inform her that she had to attend. But he wasn't bothered if she did end up turning up with a date, she could be with who ever she wanted, she was beneath him if she thought with her hormones rather than her head. But with that being said, he couldn't help but feel like she had the potential to become a great follower. Headstrong and belligerent was just some of the qualities of becoming a Death Eater. But she wouldn't become one of them, he wouldn't allow it.
"Here Riddle!" Tom looked over his shoulder at Frances Whitehouse who was patting his neck with some strong smelling Aftershave. "Are you going with your boyfriend then?" He sneered.
Tom instantly knew who he was referring to. Frances had some weird obsessive notion in his head that Tom and Lestrange were somewhat 'involved' with one and other.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you're obsession with all things homosexual is a cover up for your own insecurities Francesca." Tom retorted in the same tone.
Frances's face dropped and no sooner had Tom smirked, he had stomped over and grabbed him by the front of his robes, his fist threatening to make acquaintance with Tom's face. A frightening silence descended into the Dormitory as the two boys glared at one and other.
"You're not so fucking tough without your pansy boys around to help you are you?" Frances seethed but Tom didn't feel at all intimidated. Frances opened his mouth to say something else but paused when he felt something jab the underside of his chin. Casting his eyes down he could see Tom's hand gripping the base of his wand tightly, causing his knuckles to turn white from the pressure.
"Get off me." Tom growled and no sooner had he said it, Frances had released the front of his robes. But before he had even the slightest chance to withdraw to other side of the room, Tom exclaimed "Stupefy!"
Frances was instantly flung to the other side of the Dormitory. His back almost crunching as it collided with the far wall. Reaching a shaky hand to the back of his head, he retracted it to find a sticky warm residue of blood on his fingers.
Tom stalked over to Frances, an arrogant smirk possessing his pale face, like a lion goading a frightened Gazelle. Pointing his wand at Frances again it was now that he muttered 'Obliviate'.
"Ronnie you look stunning!" Mildred cooed as Veronica shifted uneasily towards the Great Hall, her arms trying to cover and shield the dress as much as she could do, though it seemed impossible.
Many students watched as Mildred practically dragged her by the arm towards the source of the loud music and chatter.
"I hate this..." Veronica whispered loudly to her as she defiantly tried to ground her heels into the floor to prevent her from moving forward but to no avail.
"Why? You look great and no doubt you'll have all the lads falling over each other to ask you to dance!" Mildred replied optimistically. Veronica couldn't help but agree that she did look good, whether that was vain or not, she didn't care. The white silk dress covered her body like a well fitted glove, hugging and pulling in over her hour glass figure. The plunge neck line didn't look too much like she was trying to get boys to look down at her chest, but seemed modest and with a touch of class. Her hair was tied up into a neat pleat at the back, leaving two wavy tresses of silver hair to hang beside her full fringe. She wore minimal make up, as she didn't need to cake up her already evened skin, though her lips were painted with Rouge lipstick. On the outside, she looked beautiful. But on the inside she felt far from it.
"Milly! Over here!" Both girls looked up as they entered the Great Hall that was immensely decorated with Christmas decorations, noticing Rufus flailing his arms wildly from beside a table with snacks and drinks upon, Mildred continued to drag Veronica over towards him, squeaking and squealing as she did so.
"You look gorgeous!" She smiled as she pecked him on the lips. Veronica chose at this point to look elsewhere, shyly rubbing her forearms as she looked round at the various heads of her peers, dressed up and looking sophisticated for once.
"Er- more like you do." Rufus traced a finger gently down the center of Mildred's exposed back. Instantly she let out a small shiver as she back stepped into his chest, slowly letting her hand slip undetected to his thigh. Keeping her eyes focused on the band that was playing, she let her fingers grasp his inner thigh. Rufus unintentionally jolted on the spot, inhaling deeply against the shell of Mildred's ear, he whispered something incoherent to her.
Veronica rolled her eyes at the pair and made a clicking noise with her tongue before deciding it was best to vacate the vicinity, or at least go and see where Alphard was.
As Veronica sauntered past, there was only one pair of eyes that were watching her with so much envy and hatred that if looks could kill, Veronica would have been struck down to an early grave in the worst way possible right there and then.
Myrtle glared at the back of her head from where she stood, on the sidelines of the Great Hall. Turning on the spot so she was facing the stone wall, she reached inside her bra and retrieved the small vial of Tom's Amortentia. Checking to see if anyone was looking she closed it within her palm and headed off in the direction of Veronica, keeping an ever so close eye on her although there was a fair bit distance between each other.
Hands closed over Alphard's eyes temporarily blinding him for a moment as a female voice spoke in his ear. "Guess who."
Alphard grinned broadly. Pulling on the skinny arms of the female, he pulled her to him and almost planted a kiss on her lips. Although confused as to why he didn't actually reach the lips he soon realized he had almost kissed Veronica.
Startled to say the least, Veronica pulled out of Alphard's grasp shyly, her cheeks growing pink with embarrassment.
"Sorry I thought you were somebody else" Alphard laughed as he scratched the back of his head nervously. Veronica shrugged it off, only noticing how handsome he looked when he wore his Dress Robes. But of course she would refuse to let those thoughts be mixed with something other than family based.
"Clearly" She smiled. "Who did you come with?" She asked casually as she looked around for Alphard's mystery date.
Alphard who was trying his hardest not to be looking her up and down, quietly sipped on his drink before responding nonchalantly. "Audrey Newman"
"Ah I see," She said as she picked a piece of lint from off his shoulder blade. "You seem to be spending a lot of time with her, Are you two going out now?" She silently hoped that she didn't sound like she was bothered, but as much as she was aware she wasn't.
He hadn't been expecting that sort of question. His tone quieted to a slight hush as he lent in further to her, eyes cautiously looking for anybody listening in. "Yeah but keep it to yourself alright? I don't want people knowing, especially not Walburga."
Veronica curled her eyebrow up in confusion and gave a little snort. "Do you honestly think I'd go and tell Walburga anything? I've told you loads of times; I'd rather treat her like a mushroom and keep her in the dark." She laughed.
The pair's casual chatter soon dispersed when Frances Whitehouse interrupted them, his face looking groggy and worst for where.
"What the fuck has happened to you? Don't tell me you've had a shag before you even got here." Alphard joked.
Frances shot his friend an icy glare. "No I didn't. I must have fallen asleep or something, I forgot all about the Yule Ball until Zandra Edwards started sending out the search party to find me." He groaned as he clicked his neck loudly.
"You've got blood on your collar." Veronica piped up as she walked behind him a little. "It looks like you've hit your head."
Alphard looked at the large patch of blood on the back of Frances's shirt. "Yeah I reckon you fell on your head mate, you sure you don't remember anything?"
Frances let out an agitated sigh as he saw Zandra Edwards pushing her way forcefully through the crowd of students. "No I don't." Almost immediately his tone changed into a cheery one. "Zandra you look stunning!"
Zandra let out an ear splitting smack against Frances's already groggy face. Her own face, filled with anger and outrage. "I told you to be early! People think I've come on my own like I'm some desperate loner!"
"Oh my god!" He groaned loudly. "How many more times? I must have fainted! I didn't forget on purpose you numpty." Frances's protests were dying away as both Alphard and Veronica began to walk away, giving both Frances and Zandra time to air out their differences with at least a little privacy.
"Did you come with anyone?" Alphard asked as they passed several dancing couples. "I mean, I know you said you weren't going with anyone but I didn't expect to see you here tonight."
"I came with Mildred, but since her and Rufus are practically dry humping near the Pumpkin pasties I'm sure this is a sign I'm on my own. I mean if it wasn't for Dippet wanting the Prefects to attend, I'd probably be sat on my own in the Common Room so either way, I'm just a loner. "She laughed.
"You have me?" Alphard chimed in innocently.
Veronica narrowed her eyes at him in a playful way before tucking some of her silvery blonde hair behind her ears. "You have Audrey."
"Touché. But she's not here now is she? So do me the honour and let me have my first dance with you." He grinned wildly, almost dazzling her with his pearly whites. Veronica pulled a confused expression as she watched as Alphard bowed courteously before taking her hand, whether she wanted him to or not and placed it along with her other hand on the tops of his shoulders. His own snaked around her waist, pulling her into him with a sturdy grip.
They both danced in sync with each other. Veronica felt her cheeks burn again as Alphard shifted his hands further round her tiny waist. For once in her life Veronica felt at ease with a boy (although she couldn't class him as being 'any' boy, he was her cousin after all). But she genuinely felt happy and she enjoyed being able to laugh away any negative thoughts she had.
"I see they sent you your dress then," Alphard nodded at her attire. Veronica pulled a confused expression before he elaborated. "Cygnus told me."
"If it hadn't had been for Milly, I think I'd have tore it up." She admitted.
"C'mon Ron, they're only being nice. They're your parents for Merlin's sake, cut them some slack."
"You've changed your tune. It wasn't so long ago you bad mouthing them saying they weren't fit to be called parents!" Veronica argued.
"Don't cause shit Ronnie, especially not tonight. I can't be bothered with it." Alphard reasoned though slight agitation laced his tone.
"Fine. I won't." She snapped as she retracted away from him. Snatching back her arms she pushed abruptly past him.
"Is everything okay?" Asked Audrey as she appeared almost instantly beside Alphard's side unexpectedly. Both pairs of eyes followed Veronica as she disappeared into the sea of students.
"Yeah why wouldn't it be?" He lied although Audrey seemed far from convinced. "Come here" He spoke gently as he left her a lingering kiss upon her lips. Alphard almost forgot that it wasn't Veronica he was kissing, for if he had, he would have accidentally miscalled Audrey by another name. He couldn't help it, not since the scent of Vanilla and Bubblegum lingered upon his robes.
"Tom m'boy have you come alone?" Slughorn asked. His squinty eyes seemed to lose focus a little (though Tom put it down the Cherry lacquer he was drinking). Tom stood beside Slughorn, who was greedily helping himself to a bowl of crystallized fruit; deliberately picking out the Pineapple, near the podium of which the band 'The Trolls' were performing on.
"Yes Professor" He admitted.
Slughorn pulled a flabbergasted expression, dusting the floor with lonely crumbs that had gathered upon his Indigo colored robes, as he stared at Tom with an incredulous expression. "My dear boy, I would have thought all the girls would be lining up to be here with you tonight, a charming boy such as yourself."
If it had been anyone else, they would have felt flattered but not Tom. He didn't want to be associated with the pathetic scum that roamed these halls let alone be tarred with the same brush as them.
Clearing his throat he proceeded with "The Prefects will be having the last dance as well. Just thought you should know" He winked.
Tom forced a polite smile for Slughorn's benefit (although you could say it was for his own since he still needed to ask him about Horcruxes). "I'll be sure to bear that in mind Professor."
"Good. You'll want to get a move on before all the good ones have been taken!" Beamed Slughorn as he helped himself to another handful of crystallised Pineapple.
Tom grumbled something incoherent but regardless of such, responded with a grateful nod.
"You're a disgusting pig!" Roared an angry voice in the distance.
Tom jerked his head in the direction of the noise, feeling nothing but curiosity at the familiar tone.
"Come off it, I reckon you would" Winked Flint as he reached a hand behind Veronica and gave her backside a quick squeeze.
Veronica instantly revolted on the spot. Anger flashed in her eyes as she slapped Flint's hand away with such force that the sound could be heard over the loud music.
"You are the most vulgar, naive, disgusting creature I have EVER had the misfortune to know. Do you know that?" She seethed.
Flint, who it was evident that had been drinking before hand, swayed on the spot, his eyes rolling ever so slightly as he looked down at his now growing red hand. "I reckon you need a d-drink. Calm that temper of yours." He smiled as he thrust his over spilling Goblet containing a mixture that not even Flint was sure of to Veronica, who in turn, curled her upper lip in disgust.
"I'd rather not thanks." She said and to add insult to injury, she picked up a charmed; self cleaning Goblet from off the table nearby and poured herself some Advocaat.
"You need" Hiccup. "to let your hair down love... F-F-For F-Fuck sake!" Flint's good natured aura changed dramatically. Veronica furrowed her brows for a moment, her acid tongue ready to strike when she instead decided to hold it only because she noticed Flint wasn't even looking at her anymore but more so, looking past her. "Can't go anywhere without your fucking BOYFRIEND turning up!" He complained loudly. His finger tried to point but somehow his arm drooped and he ended up pointing at Veronica's feet, almost showering her with the contents of his drink.
Veronica jumped back slightly to avoid staining her dress but somehow, managed to collide into a stone like chest. Twisting her head slowly to the owner of the torso, her eyes inadvertently made contact with a pair of cold grey eyes.
"Tom?" She almost squeaked in a tone that surprised her entirely.
"Why don't you tell the Mudblood exactly how repulsive he and the rest of his vermin are?" Tom patronized as he stared down at Veronica, an uninterested gleam in his eyes before he flicked his eyes back to Flint in a tormenting fashion.
"You're a fucking faggot Riddle. You forget w-w-what we all know about you-"
"Will you just shut up Flint!" Veronica groaned in irritation as she reached around onto the table and picked up the nearest thing she could grab, that being a lonely Mince Pie, before hurling it at Flint. The tiny pie bounced against Flint's forehead, but instead of slipping away into a crumbled mess on the floor, it remained half stuck on his forehead, refusing to slip away.
Veronica stifled a laugh as she saw a woozy Flint reach up to touch the foreign object, only to have him pull an extremely outraged expression as he picked pieces of sweet pastry from his Sandy Blonde hair.
"Y-You Bitch!" Was Flint's last feeble attempt at an insult before he wobbled away, leaving a trail of crumbs behind him.
Both Veronica and Tom stared at Flint's messy withdrawal from the crowd before they turned to each other.
"Didn't think to use your wand?" Tom sneered in a snubbing sort of way.
Veronica glanced down at her attire with open arms before retaliating. "Look at how we're dressed Tom. It's a BALL not a DUEL. I didn't think the first thing to bring with me was my wand. "
Tom looked uninterested as he turned his attention to the packed dance floor. "We're supposed to dance you know." Of course he was going to please Slughorn and try to convince to Veronica to dance with him much to his distaste, but biding his time and anger would pay off immensely in the end once he was able to pick apart Slughorn's brain. So keeping calm and reserved was the way forward.
Veronica curled her eyebrow. "And you're telling me this why?" She spoke sarcastically. "Oh and need I say it's thanks to you keeping quiet, that I found out about the Ball at the very last minute. So thanks a-fucking-lot. If you think we're going to dance together, you're sorely mistaken because I'd rather stick pins in my eyes." She laughed, but in a less than humorous fashion.
Placing down her Goblet for a moment she too, took the time to scope out the Great Hall, more or less in search of Mildred and Rufus, although the chances that they would still be actually inside the Great Hall or even clothed were slim to none.
Myrtle shifted uneasily from across the Hall. Watching Veronica with an eagle like vision had been long and tiresome but she hadn't given up her drive. She watched as Flint, herFlint, reached over and grasp Veronica's flesh so easily. Although Myrtle chose not to see it, Veronica did reject him. But Myrtle didn't care; all she wanted was revenge on the girl that she so longed to be like: The skinny one, the beautiful one, the popular one, the one who Flint wanted to be with. Veronica Bennett really would rue the day she had ever bullied Myrtle.
Touching an unsteady hand onto the table beside Veronica and Tom, Myrtle stood beside herself. Daring not to peer up in case Veronica would notice, she pretended to decipher which finger food she wanted to eat, but in actual fact she was trying to prize off the bottled cork of the Amortentia.
There was a loud clank beside her. Myrtle stared up with wide eyes that were magnified by the thick lenses of her glasses.
"...If you think we're going to dance together, you're sorely mistaken because I'd rather stick pins in my eyes." Veronica spoke cockily as she placed her half empty Goblet onto the table.
Myrtle's heart raced. Adrenaline coursed through her veins like electricity as she quickly bit the cork with her teeth harshly and removed it within record time.
Her nubby fingers etched towards the Goblet as her eyes, that dared not blink, watched Veronica so intensely for fear she would be found out. The tiny vial of Amortentia shook slightly against the pressure of her unsteady hand as she stretched further and further until her hand was hovering over the cup.
Hand slowly tipping downwards, the pinky mother-of-pearl liquid flowed from within the confines of the vial into the Goblet.
It was only till the very last drop fell helplessly into the cup that Myrtle withdrew her hand away. Eye-ing the now empty bottle like a startled wild animal, she quickly replaced the bottle within her bra and took off away from the table so she was as far away from Veronica Bennett as possible.
Veronica was about to pick up her Goblet once more when Tom grabbed her arm harshly. Veronica peered up at him with an unnerved expression as she saw his eyes glimmer red, the same red that she saw before he attacked her and the Hufflepuff girl.
"It's Slughorn's orders." He growled as his fingers dug deeper into her flesh.
"Get off of me." She whispered harshly as she tugged her arm back freely, although with great difficulty. Tom and Veronica never ceased eye contact. Although Veronica felt incredibly intimidated, she would never let him know. "You can explain to Slughorn why you'll be on your own, when I'll be dancing with someone else." She warned as she picked up her Goblet again and drained the remains. "Now leave me the fuck alone Tom." She snapped again before turning her back on him and sauntering away.
Minutes passed unknowingly as Veronica was reunited with Mildred and Rufus whose hair and clothes seemed to be disheveled but more or less, seemed less sexually deprived than before. They were stood dancing and laughing like the rest of the students, enjoying what time they had left of Christmas Eve. But Veronica felt odd, her body felt tingly, her heart gave off a weird achy feeling the more she tried to ignore it. Occasionally she would phase out of it and feel completely normal but then she'd slip back into the foreign feeling.
"Milly... I feel weird." Veronica said quickly as she tapped Mildred on the arm.
Mildred turned on her heel and gave Veronica a confused look. "Why? You haven't been drinking have you?"
"No..." Veronica trailed off vaguely. "I only had a glass of Advocaat. But that was when I was talking to..." And suddenly her heart gave a huge leap as she dreamily sighed "Tom."
Mildred's eyes grew three times larger than normal as she stared, bewildered at Veronica. Pressing a comforting hand to her forehead she said "Are you coming down with a stomach bug? You sound delirious."
Veronica swatted the hand away irritably. "No of course I'm not being delirious. Why would you say that? Are you trying to say I don't love Tom?" She snapped.
"What!" Both Mildred and Rufus exclaimed in unison as they stared at Veronica with confused expressions.
"Where is Tom? I can't see him." Veronica spoke sadly as she stood on her tip toes to find him. "I need to find him, Milly help me find him?" She pleaded.
"Okay you got me. Now drop the joke Ron you're starting to scare me." Mildred said through an unsure smile.
"If you're going to doubt my love for Tom then I'll find him on my own. You all want to keep me and him apart" Veronica barked.
"You can't let her go Mil. She's either gone and bumped her head or she's taken something. We need to keep an eye on her." Rufus spoke in a low tone as they stared at Veronica, who had chose to fold her arms in a childlike fashion.
"Do you think Tom might have slipped her a potion?" Asked Mildred as she looked to Rufus for answers.
Rufus pondered a moment but then shook his head. "Only if it was a love potion, and I highly doubt that. He's gay int' he?... Hang on a minute. Where is she?" Both heads snapped back to the spot where Veronica was stood brooding, only to find thin air in her place.
Veronica grew instantly irritable. All she wanted to do was be with Tom, was that too much to ask? Apparently it was as she was almost boxed into the wall like some frightened rodent by Mildred and Rufus. As she watched their heads close in together in private chat, Veronica saw her opportunity to escape.
Slipping away had been more or less simple and the adrenaline that was flowing through her was thrilling but at the same time it did nothing to what she was feeling. The intense longing to be close to Tom, to be able to hold him and caress him in a way she had never done before. Her mind was racing at a mile a minute; she didn't know what she was going to do when she saw him. All she knew was that whatever happens, least she'd know she had given everything to the person she 'loved'.