Blush

Hufflepuff

"You're a beautiful woman, Higurashi-san, did you know?"

A pretty blush stained her cheeks, as the Slytherin boy kissed the back of her hand. The Hufflepuff glanced away from him quickly, knowing that the other students lazing about Hogsmeade were beginning to whisper frantically amongst themselves at his declaration. "Um," she whispered, "t-that's very nice of you, Riddle-san."

Smiling somewhat, Tom Riddle tugged the tiny Hufflepuff into his side. His eyes were guarded while trained upon her, as he said, "Allow me to treat you to a butterbeer, Higurashi-san."

The formality sounding so odd upon his tongue, Higurashi Kagome giggled slightly. She knew that many of the British students merely gave her an odd look whenever she chose to include her foreign language, and she found it rather endearing that he took it upon himself to learn such. "I would really prefer if you continued to use my first name, Riddle-san," she informed him. "Higurashi-san makes me feel so old."

"Then I must insist that you call me by my given name, as well," the boy replied smoothly. Inwardly he cringed at the notion, hating the vile muggle name that his mother decided to bestow upon him, but he found it necessary if he wished to gain the tiny Hufflepuff's favor.

The smile she gifted him with was pretty, as she flushed a bit more. "Ah," she muttered, "but Tom-san sounds a bit awkward, does it not? Perhaps Riddle-kun?"

"I am afraid I'm not familiar with that suffix," he said. "However, if you feel that it is too awkward to use one with my name, I would not be adverse to you merely dropping it from my name entirely."

Her blush stretched a little further, as she shook her head lightly. "I'm not entirely certain how my mother would react to me addressing anyone with such familiarity."

Tom blinked, before he said, "I'm certain that she would understand that such familiarity is not required here in Europe. While in Rome, as they say."

"Maybe you're right," her smile turned brilliant, as she added, "Tom."

As he held the door open to the Three Broomsticks, Tom Riddle watched the transfer student with a well-hidden and malicious smirk.