Chapter Three

Hogwarts, 1943

Tom's POV

Tom Riddle spent most of Monday trying to catch Victoria Potter on her own. To his irritation, it proved torturously difficult. If she wasn't flanked by Lana Morton or Ruth Vance, then Alphard Black was trailing after her, sniffing apologetically and looking like a lost puppy. He almost managed to get her after lunch when she was walking up to Arthimacy on her own but, to Tom's rage, her two brothers seemed to appear from nowhere and corralled her into a conversation.

It was not until the end of the day, when they were queuing up for Ancient Ruins, that Tom was successful. By this point, his nerves were at breaking point and the Slytherin boys were giving him a wide berth; at lunchtime he'd almost cursed Malfoy for talking too loudly.

Luckily only a handful of sixth year students opted for Ancient Ruins and, when Tom approached the classroom, Victoria was standing alone. She smiled as she noticed him, which Tom took as a good sign. Ever since Saturday evening, when she'd demonstrated her prowess at Legilimency, he'd been incredibly on edge. His plan was not supposed to go like this. Victoria was meant to be coming over to his side, falling under his spell in his effort to recruit more students to his ways of thinking. He had never considered she might have an advantage over him. But her smile reassured him. It was the same look most girls in Hogwarts gave him, so at least he'd retained some power over her.

'Hello Tom.'

She looked a good deal happier than she had on Saturday night. Although he usually avoided the school grape vine, he'd heard via Avery- who was a notorious gossip- that Victoria and Alphard had reconciled after an unknown argument over the weekend. This was not good news in Tom's opinion; Alphard Black was a complication that needed to be erased.

'Good afternoon, Miss Potter,' he said, deliberately using his smoothest voice.

To his surprise, Victoria rolled her pretty hazel eyes. 'Why on earth are you so formal all the time? I feel like you know me well enough to call me Victoria.'

Tom immediately felt on the back foot. This was not how the conversation should have started. Whenever he addressed other girls like that, they went weak at the knees. It was supposed to be gentlemanly for fuck's sake.

'Okay then, Victoria,' he forced himself to sound polite again.

Before she could do anything else to thwart him, the classroom door opened and Professor Ridley summoned them in to the room. As there were only a handful of students, they tended to spread out onto their own desks. This time, however, Tom followed Victoria and pulled up the chair directly next to hers. As he sat down, he caught a vanilla scent from her hair. It was distractingly pleasant and made him scowl.

'I need to speak with you,' Tom urged, as they were getting their books and homework out. He was determined to regain control of the situation.

Victoria did not look surprised. Instead she gave him a teasing grin. 'It seems I intrigued you on Saturday with my talents.'

Tom glanced around the classroom to check no one was listening in. Thankfully, everyone else was sorting out their textbooks and making enough noise to mask their conversation.

'I want to know how you did what you did.'

'I assume you're familiar with Legilimency?' Her expression was maddening.

'That wasn't Legilimency.' Tom thought he was doing a good job at keeping his temper in check. If this had been Avery or Lestrange he would have cursed them by now. 'Legilimency is emotions and feelings and memories. It doesn't allow you to read thoughts like the pages of a book.'

He thought back to Saturday night. Victoria had admitted to 'reading his mind,' then she'd flounced off to patrol the perimeter of the Forest as though nothing had happened. He'd never seen anything like it.

'You seem to know a lot about it,' she retorted.

Tom glared at her, abandoning his attempts to be civil. 'If you're reading my mind, I have a right to know about it.'

'Alright, alright. I might as well tell you the rest. No one else knows anything, so it can hardy hurt to tell you more.'

Tom was surprised but pleased at her capitulation. He was not used to being told no. Luckily Professor Ridley was handing back homework and talking loudly about Newt mock exams, so they were able to keep up a quiet conversation without attracting attention.

'I don't know what it is. I call it Legilimency but it's something more,' muttered Victoria, her eyes on the teacher. 'I've always been able to do some form of it, but it's gotten stronger with time.'

'Can you do it with everyone?' Tom was half-impressed, half-concerned. The idea that there might be someone in Hogwarts with a talent he did not possess was unsettling to say the least.

'Yes. It's easier with some people though. Those who wear their emotions on their sleeve are the easiest. With them it's like having a book forced right up in front of your eyes. It takes a lot of effort not to read.'

'What about me?'

Victoria chuckled softly and ran a hand through her long, dark hair. 'Don't worry, Tom. You're much harder. I can't get full thoughts from you, just glimpses. You're probably the second trickiest to do it on after Dumbledore.'

Tom looked up sharply. 'You're lying.'

'I'm not, I can do the same to Professor Dumbledore as I can do to you.'

'Are you reading my mind right now?'

'No.'

'How do I know you're telling the truth?'

Victoria inclined her head and her hazel eyes met his. 'Tom, it's not like a stream of noises just flowing into my brain. I have to concentrate. I need eye contact and I need to stare at you for a few moments.'

Tom tore his gaze away quickly. His mind was whirling, which was most unfortunate given what Victoria had just told him. If she was telling the truth- and annoyingly her own mind was closed like a brick wall to him so he couldn't check- then this was a game-changer. To have someone who could dip into Albus Dumbledore's thoughts, well that was worth all the gold in Gringotts. Of course he needed to be careful. He must temper his own thoughts when around Victoria. But he could do that. He had superb self-control after all.

'Why doesn't anyone else know?' Tom was genuinely intrigued about this. He'd noticed from his day of following her that Victoria was rarely alone. That she hadn't confided something like this to her dull friends or idiot boyfriend surprised him.

Victoria shrugged. 'It's not something I want people to know.'

'So why did you tell me?'

Victoria looked up at him again and seemed to consider the matter. 'I don't know. I've just been feeling so...bored recently. I'm fed up of everyone and everything. Do you ever feel like that?'

'Every day of my life,' muttered Tom honestly.

Neither of them spoke for a while because Professor Ridley had commanded the class' attention towards the board. The rune translation he was explaining was particularly tricky, so Tom busied himself by making copious notes. It was only when they'd been set some independent translation work that Victoria broke the silence.

'I could help you with your own Legilimency, if you like.' She said this very casually but Tom had a feeling that she'd been building up to it.

'I thought you said it wasn't Legilimency that you can do?'

She sighed with exasperation. 'I don't think it is. But I'm sure the skills are transferable.'

Tom considered the matter for a moment. He was already a skilled Legilimens himself and Victoria's talent didn't sound like something you could teach. It made him think of Parseltongue, which was something he'd been born with. Still, there didn't seem any harm in what Victoria was suggesting. And now that he knew of her skills he was determined to bring her over into his group of followers.

'Okay,' he agreed. 'And I'll teach you how to duel while we're at it.'

Victoria looked affronted. 'I know how to duel thank you very much.'

Tom grinned at her. 'Not like me, you don't.'

/

Victoria's POV

Friday night found Victoria, Lana and Ruth closeted away in their dormitory getting ready for the first Slug Club dinner of term. Victoria was invited on account of her marks and family connections, Ruth for similar reasons, and Lana simply because she knew how to make Slughorn laugh.

Victoria was looking forward to the dinner but it had little to do with Slug Club. This time the main attraction was Tom Riddle who she had not stopped thinking about all week. They had even planned Legilimency and duelling lessons, which Victoria was keen to get underway.

'Zip me up will you?' asked Lana.

Victoria pushed away thoughts of Tom Riddle and crossed the room to help her friend. Lana was wearing a red dress that went perfectly with her blonde hair. She had accessorised with plain silver jewellery, a neat up-do and subtle make-up. She looked stunning.

'Making quite the effort, aren't you?' said Victoria as she worked the zipper of Lana's dress. Victoria herself had gone for a midnight blue dress that Ruth said brought out her eyes, and a couple of items of her mother's jewellery.

'We've got the after-party, remember?' explained Lana impatiently.

'Is that real?' demanded Ruth, who was reclining on her bed and ignoring Lana's protests that she would crumple her dress. 'I thought that was a joke.'

'Of course it's not a joke,' frowned Lana. She stepped away from Victoria and examined herself in the full-length mirror. 'Olive Hornby has been planning it all term apparently.'

'You don't even like Olive Hornby,' pointed out Victoria.

Lana rolled her eyes as though talking to a pair of simpletons. 'No, but I like the Slytherin boys. Hence why I shall be going to the after-party in their common room this evening.'

Ruth pulled a face but Victoria kept quiet. If she accompanied Lana then she might be able to chat with Tom some more. After all, there was no way they'd get Alfie to set foot in the Slytherin common room.

'We'd better go,' said Ruth, glancing at her watch. 'If you can tear yourself away from that mirror, Lana.'

Lana stuck her tongue out at Ruth and the three girls headed down to the common room together.

Victoria was unsurprised to see Alfie waiting for her at the foot of the staircase. He looked particularly dashing in immaculate black dress robes. He stood alone with his hands in his pockets and smiled as the girls appeared.

'You look gorgeous,' he murmured, as he leant forward to kiss Victoria.

Alfie had been on his best behaviour all week ever since he'd drunkenly pushed Victoria up against a wall and she'd had to get him off with a Stinging Jinx. Victoria hadn't told Ruth and Lana what had happened; she had been concerned that Ruth would urge her to dump Alfie and that Lana would fail to see what all the fuss was about. In fact, the only person she'd hinted to about the incident had been Tom Riddle during prefect duty.

Victoria made herself push thoughts of Tom Riddle from her mind once more. She took Alfie's warm hand in hers. What was the matter with her? She had a lovely boyfriend who worshipped her. She could be friends with Riddle but that was it.

'Everyone ready?' asked Alfie happily. 'You all look lovely, by the way.'

'You flatterer,' laughed Lana. 'Right, let's get going. I don't want to be last and end up next to Olive Hornby.'

The four of them left Gryffindor tower and made their way down through the castle to the dungeons. By the time they'd reached the Entrance Hall, they could already hear music floating up from Slughorn's rooms below. The majority of students they passed were heading to the Great Hall as usual, and Victoria and the others got their fair share of envious glances.

Victoria pushed open the door to Slughorn's office and looked around, unable to stop herself grinning with amusement. A large, ornately decorated table had been placed in the middle of the room, with what looked like real fairies dancing above rose centrepieces. A four person band had set up in the corner and was playing a lively, jazz tune. Drinks floated through the air on their own, refilling glasses or appearing in a guest's open hand.

Ruth snorted. 'Understated as ever.'

The room was already full of people. Victoria noticed her two brothers, James and Monty, standing together looking amused. A gaggle of underage Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were sneaking Mulled Mead into their glasses. The sixth year Slytherin boys were laughing with one another and eyeing up a seventh year girl. And, in the centre of everything, Professor Slughorn held court with Tom Riddle and a handful of guests Victoria had never met before.

'Ah, Miss Potter!' boomed Slughorn excitedly. 'Welcome, welcome. And, the same to you all of course. Miss Morton, Miss Vance, Mr Black.' He bowed politely to the new arrivals.

Victoria immediately found herself swept into the centre of the room by Slughorn who began introducing her to his guests. 'This is Roman Baulder, editor of Transfiguration Today. This is Emilia Staunton, Chief Potioneer of the Potions Order. And I'm sure you know Richard Dox of the Chudley Canons!'

Victoria greeted everyone in turn and tried to memorise their names. She wondered if this would be her in a few years time; dragged back to Hogwarts to help Slughorn sniff out the next generation of talent.

'Good evening, Victoria.' Tom smiled at Victoria and pressed a glass of elf wine into her hand. He was looking particularly dapper in his dress robes and seemed to know it.

'Hello Tom,' breathed Lana from Victoria's side.

Tom spared Lana the briefest of glances. 'Good evening, Miss Morton.' Then he turned his attention back to Victoria. 'You look lovely tonight by the way.'

Alfie cleared his throat loudly but Tom merely smiled politely. 'Evening, Black.'

'Riddle.' Alfie nodded and looked as though he were chewing on a lemon.

But before anything else could be said, Slughorn clapped his hands and silence fell over the room. 'I believe we are all here now so please do make your way over to the table. You will find name cards for your assigned seat.'

Victoria was not surprised to find herself sat opposite Slughorn. Tom took the seat next to her and they were quickly surrounded by Slughorn's non-Hogwarts guests. Victoria saw Alfie scowl as he was seated at the far end of the table between Olive Hornby and James Potter. Lana and Ruth, meanwhile, had found themselves in the middle of Avery, Malfoy, Lestrange and Nott. Lana noticed who Victoria was sitting next to and threw her a highly disgruntled look.

'These two are my best students, you know, Emilia.' Slughorn gestured at Victoria and Tom.

The Potioneer eyed them both beadily. 'Are either of you particularly interested in Potions?'

Before either of them could answer, Slughorn had jumped in. 'Interested in Potions? I'm telling you, Emilia, I've not seen talent like it since your own days at Hogwarts.'

Victoria caught Tom's eye and busied herself with her drink so she didn't have to answer. Instead, she watched as Tom did the talking. He was interesting to observe and certainly had a knack for conversation. Victoria listened as he spoke smoothly, asked lots of polite questions, and maintained a respectable deference to Slughorn. It was quite the act, she mused.

Dinner went on and Victoria noticed how much she was enjoying herself. The guests asked lots of questions of her and Tom and it was surprisingly easy to make small talk once she'd had a couple of drinks inside her. Luckily, Slughorn was remarkably lax about alcohol where the sixth and seventh years were concerned and, by the time they had scrapped away the last of their pudding, Victoria had had four or five glasses of wine.

After dinner, the table vanished into thin air and everyone mingled around the fireplace sipping brandy. Victoria had ended up in a circle with Tom, Slughorn and a witch who was in some senior position at the Ministry.

'I must say, you two make a lovely couple,' said the Ministry witch approvingly. 'Very respectable. The Ministry would like that indeed if either of you were to consider a career there.'

Victoria coughed on her brandy and Tom grinned widely. 'Oh I'm afraid we're not a couple Madam Boot, just friends.'

Slughorn rocked backwards on the balls of his feet and waved a finger at them jovially. 'We'll see, we'll see. I wouldn't bet against it, Madam Boot, that's all I'll say on the matter.'

Victoria felt her cheeks blush. She glanced around and was relieved to see that Alfie was on the other side of the room being cornered by Olive Hornby and another Slytherin girl.

Several moments later, Lana appeared at her elbow looking excited. 'Vic, the after-party's starting in a few minutes.'

'I will pretend that I did not hear that, Miss Morton!' smiled Slughorn. He shook his head dramatically. 'Ah to be a youth again! Come Madam Boot, let us leave the young folk to be merry.'

'Will you be coming, Tom?' asked Lana.

'I should think so as it's my house common room.'

Lana hesitated, clearly unsure if he was being rude or not. She seemed to decide on the latter, and fixed a dazzling smile upon her face. 'Well I shall see you there in that case. Come on, Vic.'

Victoria said goodbye to Slughorn, shared an eye roll with Tom, and permitted herself to be dragged out of the room by Lana. Ruth and Alfie were waiting for them outside. Ruth looked perfectly content but Alfie seemed irritable.

'How did you manage to be sat next to Riddle?' demanded Lana as soon as the door had closed behind them.

Victoria rolled her eyes by way of an answer. 'Don't worry, he was talking about you for the whole meal.'

'Really?'

'Of course not. Now, are we going to this party or what?'

'Yes!' beamed Lana. 'Olive Hornby and the other Slytherins have already gone to get things set up, Loads of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs are coming as well apparently.'

Alfie huffed loudly. 'Well, doesn't that sound like fun. Vic, Ruth, are you ready to go back to the Tower?'

'I'd said I'd go with Lana, Alfie,' Victoria explained.

'What?' he sighed. 'But I thought we could spend the rest of the evening together.'

'I'm not leaving her to go to a party on her own.'

Alfie gestured at Ruth. 'You'll go with her won't you?'

'Erm, well yes if she wants me to.'

'Ruth isn't bothered about parties,' Victoria snapped at Alfie. 'And she has two Muggle Studies essays to write tomorrow. I'd already said I'd go with Lana.'

Lana and Ruth shuffled on their feet and exchanged looks. It could not have been clearer that they wanted to be far away from this domestic.

'So you're saying that you'd rather spend the evening with a bunch of slimy Slytherins rather than me?' demanded Alfie.

'Yes, if you're going to be like this!'

'Like what?'

'Jealous and possessive like usual!'

'Well can you blame me?' shouted Alfie. 'When Riddle was undressing you with his eyes for the whole dinner.'

'Don't be ridiculous,' snapped Victoria. 'Next time I'll just stay in Gryffindor Tower. At least then you'll know where I am at all times.'

Alfie looked for a moment as though he might say something else. But then he threw his hands into the air, exclaimed loudly and stalked off. They could hear him muttering angrily all down the corridor.

Once he had disappeared, Lana and Ruth looked at Victoria with raised eyebrows. 'Wow, that escalated quickly,' muttered Ruth.

Victoria spun away in frustration and began marching down to the Slytherin common room. 'Come on, let's go to this bloody party. See you later, Ruth.'

She reached the common room door and, not knowing the password, banged on it so loudly that a couple of nearby portraits gave her scandalised looks. Victoria didn't care. She had been having such a lovely evening and now it had been derailed by her boyfriend's stupidity.

The door swung open to reveal Olive Hornby on the threshold. Olive was one of the Slytherin sixth years and tonight she had put as much effort in as Lana. She had curled her auburn hair and chosen an emerald dress that complemented her green eyes. She was also bedecked in heavy jewellery that looked suspiciously like real diamonds.

'Oh, hello,' said Olive unenthusiastically. Victoria had never had much to do with her, but Olive and Lana didn't get on due to them having clashed over the same boys a few too many times.

Olive stood aside to let them in and Victoria stomped into the room towards the drinks table. The Slytherins had made quite the effort and the large volume of drink and the loud music almost made up for the fact that their common room was gloomy with several emerald tinged skulls. Quite a few people were already there, mainly those who had not been at Slug Club. The majority of Slytherin house had joined in, along with a lot of Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws and even a couple of lone Gryffindors.

Victoria reached the alcohol, seized a bottle of Firewhiskey, and poured a very generous measure into her glass. She downed it in one, letting the warmth fill her from head to toe. She was just about to top herself up when she felt a cool hand rest gently on her arm.

'Is that a good idea?'

Victoria looked up to see Tom Riddle watching her with mild concern. Feeling impatient, she shook off his arm and filled her glass up. Then she picked up the bottle for good measure and went to sit on a comfortable looking sofa in the corner.

'What's the matter?' asked Tom.

He took a seat next to her on the sofa. It was not large and their knees touched. Victoria tried to ignore the sparks shooting up her leg and focused on her drink instead.

'Alfie being a twat as per usual.'

Tom grinned. 'Very ladylike.'

'If you're going to mock me, Riddle, please go away.'

'On the contrary, I was planning on keeping you company.' Tom conjured a glass from thin air and poured both of them another measure of Firewhiskey. He clinked his glass against Victoria's.

Victoria downed her glass and collapsed back against the sofa cushions. She knew it wasn't very dignified but she didn't particularly care at this moment. Tom was watching her with a grin upon his face as though her drunken stroppiness was amusing him. For some reason this only served to irritate her more.

'Why are you suddenly talking to me all the time, Tom?'

'What do you mean?' asked Tom innocently.

'Until this term I can count the number of conversations we've had on one hand. Now all of a sudden you want to be all friendly.'

Tom took a sip of whiskey and looked thoughtful. 'I suppose you intrigue me.'

'I intrigue you? What on earth is intriguing about me? You're the one who's the handsome enigma.'

Tom grinned roguishly at her. 'You think I'm handsome?'

Victoria felt her cheeks redden. 'I just meant that you're quite mysterious. No one knows much about you.'

'There's not much to know,' murmured Tom. 'Besides you don't appreciate yourself. I happen to find you very interesting.'

He leant closer and looked directly into Victoria's eyes. His own were so dark they were almost black. They seemed to draw Victoria in. She imagined closing the space between them and pressing her lips against his. It was such an appealing thought that, for half a moment, she considered just going for it. There were mere inches between them as it was. She could smell his alluring scent, like outdoors after the rain.

'Hi Tom!' Lana had appeared at the sofa looking eager-eyed and slightly tipsy.

Victoria leant as far away from Tom as the sofa permitted and tried to look innocent.

'Good evening again, Miss Morton,' said Tom cautiously.

Lana looked as though she was building herself up to something and, before Victoria could do anything, she had asked Tom if he wanted to dance. Some of their fellow students had cleared a space in the middle of the room and were dancing away to the wireless.

'Sorry, Miss Morton, but I'm afraid I don't dance. I'm sure Lestrange or Avery would oblige you.'

He said this very politely but it didn't stop Lana flushing with embarrassment. Victoria was about to get up and lead her away but, before she had the chance, Lana dashed off across the room towards the drinks table. Victoria watched as she opened a fresh bottle of wine and poured over a third of it into her glass.

'She likes you, you know,' Victoria told Tom in a low voice. 'Please be nice to her.'

'I'm aware that she likes me,' said Tom in a matter of fact tone, 'But I'm not interested I'm afraid.'

Victoria was feeling too drunk to argue. Instead she took the bottle from Tom and filled their glasses again.

'Should you be drinking much more?'

'Who are you my father?'

'No, thank God.'

Victoria leant back against the sofa. Her shoulder was touching Tom's chest but she made no effort to move and nor did he. A sudden interesting thought came to mind.

'So, tell me Tom, who are you interested in?'

Tom raised an eyebrow and took a sip of whiskey. 'I'm not at liberty to divulge that.'

'Come on,' she teased. 'Just tell me what your type is. I've never seen you with a girl but you get plenty of offers.'

Tom shrugged and looked as though he was enjoying this turn in conversation. 'I prefer tall dark-haired girls with red-rose lips and a penchant for Firewhiskey.' He raised a hand and gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Victoria's skin burned where he touched her.

'Tom, I-'

But something on the other side of the room caught her eye. Two people were snogging enthusiastically by the drinks table. Olive Hornby and her Slytherin girl gang were watching from a distance, flicking their hair and whispering loudly.

Victoria gasped aloud as the kissing couple turned around. Lana was snogging the face off of William Lestrange. Her hands were grasping his shoulders and his arms were wrapped around her waist. They were going at it so furiously that people were backing away in alarm.

Victoria tapped Tom on the arm and gestured across the room. 'Fantastic. I always wanted to spend more time with Lestrange. Cheers!' She clinked her glass against Tom's and drained it in one.

A/N:

Thank you so much for reading the latest chapter and extra thanks to those who have been favouriting and following- it means so much! Please please please leave me a review as they are great to read and I love seeing that I've got a new one.

Just a quick note on the story. This will follow Tom Riddle at Hogwarts but will veer off canon at times. For example, the Horcruxes, Tom meeting the Gaunts etc. will still happen but things will happen in different ways and at different times than in the books.

Next chapter will see us return to 1997 where Neville and Seamus have just found a body...