"That boy is the perfect dreamboat," the Ravenclaw whispered to her companion as the fifth-year prefect passed them on the stairs. Her eyes became dreamy and her voice husky with longing. "Hair as dark as a raven's wing, eyes like the darkest sapphire, porcelain skin, and the lips of a beautiful sinner." She let out a loud sigh and the girl next to her shot the boy a nervous look and giggled.

The prefect overheard the sigh and favoured the girl who'd spoken with a glance, the trace of a smile on his lips. It caused her to flush scarlet, miss a step and grab the handrail to stop herself from falling.

"Oh! Did you see, Olive?" Straightened her glasses and self-consciously tugged at her baggy cardigan. "He smiled! Do you think he likes me? What if he asks me to Hogsmeade with him? What shall I say?"

Her companion's giggling stopped abruptly. "You don't say anything, Myrtle," she peevishly snapped. "He isn't going to ask you. You're far too ugly. You'll be lucky if Rubeus Hagrid speaks to you, never mind someone like Tom Riddle!"

Myrtle Warren scowled. "You're just jealous. He never smiles at you." She turned, watching Tom climb the rest of the stairs, and absent-mindedly picked at the largest pimple on her chin. "Tom's to die for, he really is."

Olive Hornby let out a cruel laugh. "And dying an old maid is what you'll do. Who'd want to be seen with a spotty, ugly thing like you?"

Myrtle let out a high-pitched wail. Her face screwed up, tears trailed down her cheeks and a line of snot ran from her nose. "You're a horrid, horrid girl, Olive Hornby!" And with those words, she took off down the stairs with her 'friend' shouting, "Cry baby," at her.

On the floor above, Tom Riddle turned the corner at the top of the stairs, barely registering the existence of the two bickering Ravenclaws below. His mind was on far more important things, like the prefect round he needed to carry out later and the errand he was currently on. An errand he was already mentally berating himself for volunteering to do.

Why? Why had he agreed to this? What insane thought had been going through his head at the time? He grimaced, acknowledging it probably wasn't that part of his anatomy he'd been thinking with at the time.

The time could have been better spent, either by continuing his search for Salazar's secret chamber or the room the elves used on the seventh floor. Instead, here he was on an 'errand of mercy', all because he'd volunteered to take a parcel to Buffy.

This was a bad idea. He'd decided he needed to keep his distance from the American Witch and once again he was letting his 'curiosity' and baser urges get the better of him.

When he arrived at the infirmary he stopped and frowned at the closed wooden door. Why had he lingered in the Quidditch stadium? He should have left when he'd meant to and then he'd not have been drawn into the drama that occurred later. But he hadn't. Something, an inkling of danger or the faintest brush of warning on his magic, had stopped him. He'd slunk into the shadows of the Quidditch tower and watched Malfoy speaking to Buffy. Then, when she'd flown off, Tom had seen the crafty expression on Malfoy's face before and recognised it...

Back in his first year, Tom had seen that same expression on Malfoy's face before a 'trick' had been played on him. Night after night he'd either had his bed peed in, his books ruined, or the bed curtains caught fire. Sometimes he'd been up all night alternatively retching or sitting on the toilet and had been so ill he had missed lessons. It had been a relentless campaign of bullying that had only stopped when Tom learned to deal with it the magical way. Once he'd asserted his authority, Malfoy couldn't do enough for him.

Now Malfoy was up to his old tricks again. What? Tom knew Malfoy wouldn't dare do anything to him, so it must be Buffy. Abraxas had been very sullen when he'd ordered him to give Buffy a fair try-out and a place on the team if she proved good enough. It suited Tom to have Buffy on the Slytherin team, that way she'd be far too busy to hang around with Dearborn or someone of his ilk.

Tom had watched Malfoy and Flint laugh together before walking off the pitch. He's been the only Slytherin left and should have gone as well, but he didn't. He'd told himself he wasn't doing it to make sure Buffy came back safely. She was an excellent flier and… besides... he didn't care.

Tom let out soft a hiss of self-reproach and reached for the handle on the door. He'd been lying to himself back then. The only reason he hadn't left the stadium was to make sure Buffy did come back in one piece and to help her if she needed it.

"Lie to everyone else, Riddle," he muttered to himself in parseltongue, "but don't lie to yourself. That's the way fools go and you are anything but a fool. Just think of it as a growing stage to get through."

He pushed the infirmary door open, taking in the pristine room with its strong smell of cleaning potion. Madam Bones was over by one of the beds with a patient. Tom caught a glimpse of a hairy face before the curtains closed quickly.

"Madam Bones?" he called quietly, using his hesitant-yet-hopeful orphan smile that generally worked on the softer-hearted. Would it work with the nurse? Uma Crabbe had been turned away at the door when she'd tried visiting Buffy.

The nurse smiled back at him, which was a good sign. Not that he thought anyone in the Crabbe family could out charm him, – very few in Hogwarts could. His smile became broader and more hopeful.

"I take it you wish to see Buffy?" She was still smiling, but there was a steely look in her eye that showed she'd be no pushover.

"If..." He fiddled with the parcel that he held, pretending to be more nervous than he really was. He did feel a little nervous – Madam Bones reminded him of Dumbledore. " If I may? I've been given a few personal items that she might need, gifts from her room mates, and pouch containing a letter from her friend Walburga Black."

Madam Bones gave him a measured look. Would she turn him away? It was probably for the best. He should avoid Buffy but Tom disliked having his plans thwarted. Even the extraordinarily bad ones made on the spur of the moment and no doubt prompted by his over-active hormones.

"Five minutes, Tom. I had to chase that cousin of hers out earlier, he'd sneaked in here behind my back." She regarded him sternly. "I don't want her getting over-excited."

Her rule-abiding, meek cousin, Lovell Lovegood, had sneaked in here? Tom blinked in surprise and then nodded gravely. "Of course, Madam Bones. You can be sure I shan't over stay my welcome."

They came to a bed with curtains drawn around it and the nurse gestured for him to wait. "I'll see if your," the nurse smirked, "Miss Summers is decent."

"She isn't..." his words died away as the nurse disappeared through the curtain.

Tom had the sudden insane urge to throw the parcel on the floor and run. He dragged a hand through his hair, ruffling the front so that it hung over his eyes. How did the nurse know he secretly thought of Buffy as his? He gave himself a mental shake.

Madam Bones was teasing him. Back at the orphanage, Martha made a game of asking the older boys and girls if they were sweet on someone. She'd laugh when they blushed furiously, thinking that their secret had been discovered. And Buffy was not 'his' in that way. Buffy was 'his' in the same way that the toys he'd taken from the other children were.

The curtain moved again and the nurse waved him through. Tom refused to meet the nurse's eyes as he brushed past her, he didn't want to see her knowing expression.

Buffy was sat up in bed, looking a little pale but otherwise well. She greeted him with a breezy, "Hi, Tom, you're looking flushed. Have you been running?"

On the other side of the curtain, Nurse Bones let out a low laugh, and Tom dropped his eyes – silently railing against both of them.

"I was in a rush," he muttered and sat down on the hard wooden chair next to the bed. Without looking at Buffy, he placed the box he'd brought onto the bed. "I was asked to bring you this. Your friends thought that as a prefect I'd have more success in gaining access than they did." He looked up then, his usual cocky demeanour sliding into place. "That isn't because I'm a prefect. The prefect position came later. It is my good looks, charm, and endearing personality that causes me to win where others fail."

Buffy's mischievous smile lit up the room. "You keep telling yourself that, Tom, and one day you might actually meet someone stupid enough to believe it. I don't. And both Lovell and Caradoc have already been in to see me."

Tom's face fell and then hardened. Caradoc? Caradoc Dearborn had already been in here?

"How did they get in?" he asked. He could hear the underlying hiss. It was hard not to fall into parseltongue and tell her exactly what he thought of Dearborn.

Buffy leaned forward, pulling the box up the bed. "Lovell waited outside and sneaked in when the nurse nipped to the restroom. She caught him with me and he bailed when she threatened him with an intestine severing spell." She pouted at Tom.

It drew his attention to her mouth and, from there, his eyes naturally dipped lower, following the line of her creamy throat down to the 'v' of her nightdress. She'd left several buttons undone and Tom could see the swell of her breast and white lace edging of her bra in the gap. He jerked his eyes up, cursing his pubescent hormones, straying thoughts, and the little Witch causing it.

"I don't know why she got so mad," Buffy continued. "He only wanted to make sure I was alright." Buffy sat back against the pillows, ripping at the paper and unwrapping the parcel. "Oh yes! Chocolate Frogs from Uma and Fee. I like the chocolate, but the way the frogs are charmed to move always puts me off eating them. I guess, it's just a charm, right? I'll give the cards to Lovell or Caradoc. They both have collections."

"Why was Deeaaarborn here?" Tom hissed. He didn't care for card collections and he certainly didn't care for 'Caradoc'.

Buffy looked up with a calculating expression. Tom coughed, cleared his throat and used his innocent look. A facial expression he'd spent many years perfecting.

"Dearborn?" he repeated, making sure his voice came out hiss-free. "Tell me, how was he able to visit you when others could not?"

She gave an annoying shrug, seemingly not caring how or why the Gryffindor had been given access. "Maybe it was because of his good looks, charm, and stunning personality?"

That was his line and she'd thrown it back at him! He shot her a disapproving glare, but her attention was on the note. Tom angled his head, trying to read Walburga's flamboyant handwriting.

"Ugh! I should have expected something like this!"

"What does it say?" Was it to do with the Life Debt they owed her? Being brought up in a Muggle orphanage, Tom had never heard of a Life Debt or Blood Magic until Malfoy explained the nature of self-sacrifice and its role in their world. Intrigued with anything new, Tom had followed the short explanation up with a much lengthier session in the library. He still found the concept difficult to understand. Why did the entire Black family feel beholden to her? It was Rigel's debt, let him sort it out.

Buffy read out, "Buffy, I heard you are so desperate for male attention that you have now resorted to chasing Dementors in the hope of gaining a kiss. Sadly, the poor thing you accosted is now feeling a shadow of its former self. I have therefore sent a selection of magical make-up in the hope they improve your looks and brings you better luck next time. Your affectionate friend, Walburga."

Tom let out a bark of laughter. That was not what he'd been expecting from Walburga! Seeing Buffy's annoyed expression, he raised a hand to cover his mouth to cover his smile but his chest continued shaking with smothered laughter.

"That..." he gasped, "would be one way of getting rid of a Life Debt."

"Not funny, Riddle-de-dee." Buffy folded her arms and glared at him. Her eyes had gone hard and glittery. She reminded him of an angry kitten. It only made him laugh all the harder.

"Tell me," he leaned forward, dark eyes sparkling with mischief and mouth curled up at the corners. "Did you really chase that Dementor because you wanted to be kissed?"

"Still not funny, Riddler," she growled. "I could easily find a boy to kiss me." She raised her chin at him in a challenge for him to deny it. "If I wanted to."

Tom rested his forearms on the bed and leaned towards her. He was so close now that he could see the brown flecks in the green of her eyes, smell the vanilla of her shampoo, and see the way her chest rose and fell as she breathed. His body would make him pay for playing like this later, but right now he didn't care. He was too caught up in the moment.

She was still trying to look fierce and he found it cute and oddly endearing. It was like having a tiny kitten threaten you. Although... perhaps he should be more on his guard, not because her magic or physical strength was greater than his own, but because she tempted him with a much more earthy magic.

His eyes bore into hers. It was never easy to know what she was thinking, but behind the death glare he saw mischief, humour and something softer and warmer that made his stomach flip. An array of emotions swirled inside him and he had to stop a silly grin from appearing on his face.

Take control, Riddle!

He tilted his head, appraising her. "I'm getting to you, aren't I?" She was getting to him, but he'd never admit it.

When her cheeks bloomed with pink roses, he felt a flash of triumph. He had gotten to her.

"Er, nope."

"Liar," he replied softly. She really was a terrible liar, if she wanted to do well as a Slytherin she had to learn how to lie better.

I could teach her! Tom mentally crushed the ridiculous thought and at the same time squashed the idiotic bubble of giddiness inside him. For Merlin's sake! He was Tom Riddle; he was special, he would become the greatest Wizard the world had ever known. He would not be led by his teenage hormones!

He rose abruptly to his feet, knowing that he needed to quit whilst still ahead.

"You're going so soon?" she asked in surprise. "I haven't thanked you for casting the slowing spell when I fell. Or helping to take care of me after I landed."

So she knew what he'd done? Someone must have told her and it meant she owed him a future favour that he wouldn't forget. One he wouldn't let his hormones take payment on. "Thank me some other time," he replied. "Madam Bones gave me five minutes to visit. Unlike a cad like Dearborn, I shan't overstay my welcome."

"A cad?" Buffy chuckled.

Tom clucked his tongue. "A cad: a rogue or a scoundrel. That's what most Gryffindors are. Although he is moderately less annoying than Lockhart."

Buffy screwed up her nose in distaste. She also disliked Lockhart. "I bet having Dragon pox wouldn't be as annoying as Lockhart."

"Quite," replied Tom. At least she agreed with him about one Gryffindor.

"And you don't need to worry about Caradoc and his caddish-ness," she added. "He only stayed for a moment. Dumbledore sent him with notes for me and the nurse."

So that was how Caradoc had gotten in! He'd been a simple messenger boy. Another thought hit him, a more uncomfortable one, was that wily old goat Dumbledore pushing Caradoc and Buffy together? It caused a sour taste in his mouth.

"He wanted to warn us that someone from the Ministry is going to interrogate me in the morning." She didn't look happy. She looked... guilty.

He frowned. "Interrogate?" She'd done nothing wrong. Dementors were dangerous and not on any protected species list.

"They want to know about the other Dementors. You know, all the ones I tried to kiss and who managed to get away."

Tom nodded, that made sense. "If there was more than one Dementor up there, how did you escape?" Had she cast a Patronus after all?

Buffy's eyes drifted upwards, looking at the space over his head. Tom realised she'd grown paler. Dark shadows under her eyes stood out in sharp contrast to her pallid skin and she looked exhausted. The Dementors must have sucked out some of her soul while they had her...

It was rare for him to feel compassion for others, not since he'd been small and naïve in the ways of the world, but now Buffy had his sympathy. It was not a good sign, and not one he wanted to encourage. Those sorts of emotions made you weak, and weakness made you vulnerable.

"Um, I don't know. One minute I was driving Malfoy's broom into a Dementor's chest and the next I was surrounded by screaming demons. I don't remember anything else."

Buffy looked up at the ceiling again and this time shook her head at something. Was she seeing Nargles and Wrackspurts again? He resisted the urge to look upwards and instead changed the subject.

"Funny you should mention Malfoy." His dark eyes took on a dangerous glitter. "I have something to tell you about Abraxas Malfoy. Something you should know."

Buffy's eyes sharpened and the atmosphere around Tom changed. It had become... charged, like the air before a summer storm.

What would she do with the information? Seek revenge? Female Slytherins worked differently from their male counterparts, they usually brought their entire families into play when someone badly crossed them. Social slights, shutting people down, and the sudden withdrawal of friendships until penance had been paid. Buffy didn't have a large family whose power she could draw on like that. She was a nobody in the Wizarding World – almost like him.

Keeping his eyes on her, he went on, "Malfoy sent you on a wild Fwooper chase."

Buffy wrinkled her nose. "A wild Froopy what?"

"It's a bird, the kind whose song drives you to insanity if you listen to it for too long. You haven't read your Magical Beasts book," he scolded. "As I was saying, before you interrupted with your ignorance," she gave him a dirty look which he ignored, "he sent you up there knowing that the Snitch wasn't there, it was in –."

"The slimey..." Buffy cut in, "I was gonna say toad, but that's an insult to Knuts."

Tom blinked, wondering what Wizarding currency had to do with this until he remembered her cousin had a toad; it must be called Knuts. A sudden chill came on the back of his neck. A draft? He turned fast, only to see the top of the curtains move as if something had stirred them.

"Tom, where was the Snitch?" Buffy asked, pulling his attention back to her. She looked far too pale, and Tom decided that the pain he'd already inflicted on Malfoy was not enough. She could have died up there. Should he offer her the knowledge of Horcruxes to keep her alive? That way they could both live forever.

"It was in his pocket all along," he replied, deciding that Horcruxes were his discovery and he didn't want to share. If he told everyone the secret to living forever, they'd all want to do it.

"Malfoy realised his joke has backfired," Tom went on. "I believe him when he said he had no idea there was a Dementor up there." He didn't say he'd used Legilimency to uncover the truth. "He wishes to make amends, starting with an apology and begging your forgiveness."

Oh, he'd beg. Tom would make sure of that.

"No," Buffy said firmly.

Tom frowned in surprise. "You don't want Malfoy to apologise?"

"Yes. No! Ugh, maybe. I think he should." Buffy shot a glance upwards again and shook her head. "Okay, let him apologise. He probably won't get his broom back. I think I broke it."

She shook her head again. Tom didn't think the gesture was directed at him. What was she up to? He looked upwards, examining the vaulted ceiling, but saw nothing. The Lovegoods didn't exactly have the best reputation where sanity was concerned. Not that he thought any the less of her for it. From his research, the Gaunts were also known for having odd ways.

'Oh good, we can be odd together,' hisseda voice inside him. Tom rapidly squashed the inner voice and the thought that led to. He needed to get out of here fast, else more 'odd' things might happen.

"I'll leave you to rest." he said, pulling the curtain open.

"Yeah, a girl needs her beauty sleep," Buffy answered pertly.

That made him grin. "And you need it far more than most!"

"Hey!" she called, offended. "That isn't nice."

Tom laughed. "Who said I'm nice?"

He'd only gone a couple of strides when a Chocolate Frog box hit the back of his head. Shocked, he stopped in his tracks. Rubbing the place where the box had hit him, Tom picked the box up and threw it back at her. She caught it deftly and stuck her tongue out at him.

And he didn't know whether to kiss or kill her.

…

A little later, when Madam Bones had calmed down, and the infirmary had grown quiet. Spikey came out and hovered in front of Buffy.

"You heard what Tom said?"

Spikey nodded, as she'd known he would. The little boggart had been trying to cause trouble the entire time Tom had been talking to her.

"Malfoy set me up. He knew I had no chance of finding that Snitch." She didn't like that. It was unlikely he knew about the Dementors but he'd wanted her to spend hours fruitlessly searching for something and then admitting defeat. He'd rigged the damn tryout just so he didn't need to offer her a place on his team.

Again Spikey nodded, his big eyes watching her face – and listening to her feelings

"And, because of him, I'm gonna be interrogated by the Ministry tomorrow."

Spikey nodded, his expression thoughtful.

"And I threw that chocolate box at Tom's head," she added. "He's so prickly. He might not wanna talk to me again."

Spikey shook his head, then nodded.

"You think he will?" Buffy asked hopefully. After all, Spikey was a boggart and was able to read Tom's feelings.

Spikey stretched out, pulled a kissy face, wriggled. and then did a back-flip.

"O-kay," Buffy drawled. "Not sure what to make of any of that."

Was the boggart saying she liked Tom a whole lot more than she pretended, or that Tom liked her? Sometimes she thought he did, other times it was as if he couldn't wait to escape. She sighed, knowing what her mom would say if she told her she was having boy trouble already. 'Honey, you have too much schoolwork to catch up on. The boys can wait.'

Her mom was right. Not only was she a Slayer in this dimension she was also Witch. It would be better if she stuck to the wand waving, did her homework, and found a way to track Dementors. Boys like Tom would need to wait until she'd figured herself out first.

.*.*.*.*.*

A/N;

Despite having a lot of hits on the last chapter I got hardly any reviews ;-((

Thank you to those who took the time to leave feedback. I hope you like my version of Tom?

Chapter title is from a song I had playing in my head when I was planning this out.

Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on