Tom was finding it difficult to listen to any conversation that was going around him during breakfast. He was just staring at his plate, thinking about the meeting he had with his ancestor and his snake about love. He was still finding it difficult to believe that he could have fallen in love. But the more he thought, the more he realised, that he was actually in love with her.
She had become his weakness without realising. Salazar was right he can't lose her, he will win her. But that fight last night, he sighed and closed his eyes. He wanted to get away from everything and think, not feeling hungry anymore he stood up and left, not paying any attention to the questionable gazes of his fellow Slytherins.
As he moved towards the doors, she came in along with that Puff Prefect Marcus. He met her gaze for a second, then looked towards Barnes who for some reason was looking very happy that morning. He gritted his teeth on that smug expression on Barnes, not wanting to create any scene there he left Great Hall.
Back at Slytherin table, Abraxas stared as Tom left and looked towards Orion, "Did you see that?"
Orion nodded, " He didn't eat anything. And left early even though he joined only few minutes back."
Then he looked towards the doors and added, "He didn't even replied when I asked about today's lesson and kept on staring at his plate."
"Not that Ori, I mean did you see how he stopped for a second when Evans entered with Barnes ?" Abraxas asked.
"Really? I didn't see that."
Abraxas nodded and gazed towards Hufflepuff table, "Look at her. You observe anything? "
Orion looked towards Hufflepuff table and frowned, "She is behaving just like Tom" He said as he stared at Harry who was also gazing at her plate just like Tom and not eating anything. Somebody added some sandwiches on her plate for which she just shook her head.
He looked towards the wizard sitting next to her. "But why is that idiot Barnes grinning next to her? How can he grin like that and chew his food at the same time? She is upset but he looks very happy about that."
"I think this idiot is the reason why Tom and Evans are behaving this way." Abraxas said while looking towards Marcus.
Orion looked back at him surprised, "What?"
"I think...maybe he created some problem between these two... maybe they broke off because of him.. or maybe she picked him over Tom."
"What? How? How can someone pick this idiot over Tom?" Orion scowled as he stared at Barnes. "Look at him he doesn't even have proper table manners."
Abraxas just shook his head, "I am not sure.. but whatever maybe the reason, our friend needs a helping hand."
Orion moved his gaze towards Abraxas and asked, "You have some plan?"
"Not yet. Let's observe them more during our potions lesson." Abraxas frowned as he looked towards Harry, who just stood up to leave.
Harry was finding it difficult to concentrate on what Marcus was saying. She was still thinking about Tom. She saw him leave Great hall earlier. She didn't know why but when he stared at her for a second her heartbeat increased. The same sensation he brought when she saw him outside potions class. Then, she remembered his accusation. How he thought that she go around with different wizards. She didn't know why but she felt tears prick her eyes again when she thought about their fight.
She avoided looking towards the source of her grief during potions. She even ruined her potion, making it yellow instead of pale blue.
At Slytherin side of the class, Abraxas and Orion observed how Harry ignored Tom, who kept on looking back at her again and again. He would have ruined his potion if Abraxas hadn't stopped him from adding mint leaves instead of ginger roots. All the while they observed that Marcus looked very happy, as he looked back and forth between Tom and Harry.
"I think she is avoiding him again. We need to make them talk to each other." Abraxas said as he looked Tom leave.
"How? She literally ran out of the class once bell rang. How are you going to make them talk to each other? Are you going to lock them together?" Orion asked.
"Ori you are a genius." Abraxas said excitedly.
"That I know. But how will you make them talk with each other?" Orion asked, still unable to understand his plan.
Abraxas looked towards him, "We'll lock them together."
Orion started laughing, "Ha..ha..ha..ha.. Sorry Abraxy.. but I think that you have lost your mind. You are talking about locking Tom. He'll open the door no matter what spell you put on, then punish you for locking him."
Abraxas just shook his head, "That's why we'll lock Evans not Tom. She is the one avoiding him."
Orion raised his eyebrows, "You'll lock her alone?"
"Tch.. Where does Tom go when he wants to be alone?" Abraxas asked.
"Sixth floor room near the entrance to astronomy tower...oooh...now I understand your plan." Orion grinned as he said this.
Abraxas thought then said "We'll need help." He started looking around and saw a fourth year Revenclaw whose sister was a Slytherin. "Hey you... come here. You're Kevin right? Younger brother of Liza? I heard you're a great runner."
Kevin nodded.
Oion smiled and said, "We'll give you two galleons if you would do something for us."
"What?" Kevin frowned at both of them.
Abraxas shook his head and said, "Don't worry it's just a prank."
Kevin narrowed his eyes then said, "Okay. But I'll take three galleons. One additional galleon to keep my mouth shut about whatever prank you want me to help you for."
Abraxas stared at him for a second, then said, "Okay. I'll give you four galleons."
Kevin raised eyebrows. "Four?" He then nodded and said," What do I need to do?"
Harry was sitting in the Library, staring at the title of the chapter of her book she was supposed to be reading. She had been sitting there for last half an hour not doing anything.
Somebody came and stood next to her, she looked up and found a Revenclaw wizard standing there. She raised her eyebrows at him. "Yes?"
"That witch over there is calling you." He said pointing towards the other side of the library.
She looked over there and found that there was nobody. She looked back at that wizard, but he picked up her bag and ran away.
"Hey" She stood up, and ran after him.
She ran after him shouting to stop, as he ran through different floors.
She had to give it to him for being an excellent runner as she was finding it difficult to catch him.
Finally, he stopped and looked back at her, then he put her bag on floor and ran away.
She stared at him with her mouth open, unable to understand why he left her bag there. Maybe it's some trap. She looked up, then around her for some trap. Her wand was also in her bag else she would have acciod her bag.
Slowly, she moved and stopped in front of her bag. It was lying right in front of the door of some classroom which was slightly open. She looked around the door for some trap, then looked inside the room through gap. It looked empty but somebody was sitting on the window ledge, she moved forward to look properly.
"Ow" Somone pushed her from behind, causing her to fall inside that classroom face first, then with a bang the door shut down leaving her locked in that room.
"What are you doing here?"
She looked up when she heard his voice.
It was Tom sitting on the window ledge, he was staring at her with his usual frown.
She narrowed her eyes at him, "What am I doing here?"
She stood up and marched in front of him, then pointed her finger "You.. the leader of that snatcher asking me this?"
Tom just stared at her finger then looked back at her face, "Leader of a Snatcher? So you think I am your leader? You are the only snatcher I know."
Harry gritted her teeth, "That Revenclaw minion of yours ran away with my bag then pushed me in here. DON'T act innocent. I want an apology."
Tom just kept on gazing at her, her eyes which were dull this morning were alight. She was again arguing with him for some unknown reason. He folded his hands then tilted his head to stare at this beautiful creature who made him fall in love, he was trying to understand why he find everything about her endearing.
Harry just kept on tapping her foot waiting for his response. But when he didn't reply and kept on staring at her. She growled, "What? Say something."
Tom could not help but smile when she growled in anger.
"What are you smiling at?" Not getting the type of reaction she expected, she wanted to scream in frustration. "I am leaving."
She moved towards the door and tried to open it. As expected it was locked. She looked for her wand then remembered, it was in her bag, which was lying outside that door.
Rolling her eyes she looked back at him. He was still staring at her with that irritating smile. She narrowed her eyes at him, he thinks this was funny. She put her hands on her hips and said, "Open the door."
Tom just stared at her. She was again standing with the same superior pose even though she was not even carrying her wand. He found it really funny that she was ordering him to open that door and started laughing out loud.
"You bastard. What are you laughing at? Open this door."She gritted her teeth.
Tom just shook his head, "What will I get in return? "
"I'll return that bloody diary of yours. Happy? Now open this door." She said pointing towards that cursed door.
Tom just shook his head. "A kiss. I want a kiss to open that door."
Harry mouth fell open in shock. She narrowed her eyes and said, "I will never kiss you bastard."
"Okay... then we'll stay locked in this room forever." He moved and sat down on a chair then folded his arms and started staring at her. He could spend days by just staring at her.
She gritted her teeth then sat down on a chair on the other side and started glaring at him. She knew he was just bluffing and will open that door to leave himself.
After what felt like hours, Harry started feeling unconfortable. He was still staring at her and had not moved to leave. Maybe it was not a bluff. She can't stay locked in this room.
She looked back at him, and made her puppy dog face, a weapon she learnt while observing other girls, then said, "Tom please."
Tom who had been staring at her, felt his heart miss a beat when she made that innocent face and tilted her head slightly to say please with a pout. Using such measures should be banned. Merlin he really wanted to kiss her now. He just shook his head, "A kiss Harry."
She took a deep breath, and looked back at him "Okay, but I'll kiss you on your cheek."
"No. Only on lips."
Harry just shook her head and started glaring back at him
Tom just smirked and went back to his favourite past time from today onwards, staring at her.
She sat there glaring at him for few more minutes, then took a deep breath and stood up.
Tom also stood up as she walked towards him.
She stopped in front of him and looked up at him.
She narrowed her eyes again, then grabbed he tie to pull him towards her and kissed his lips. She immediately felt that sensation return the moment she touched his lips. She forgot that she was only supposed to peck him lightly. She felt his arms enclose her and he bit her lower lip lightly making her to open her mouth slightly giving his tongue the access to explore her mouth. His scent.. his touches.. their last meeting...
Harry immediately came back to her senses and pushed him back. He looked as if she just snatched his favourite toy. She took a deep breath to calm her heartbeat, "The door Tom."
He just stared at her, then moved towards the door and tapped his wand on it. She opened the door and picked her bag lying outside then looked back at him. They just stared at each other for few seconds, then Harry ran away from him.
He just stood there watching her leave. "She will be the death of me someday."