Tom watches as most everyone leaves for the Winter Break - very few of the Slytherins stay for the winter holidays, preferring to go back to their Manors and their parents. The thought makes the usual small flash of jealous hurt flare in his chest, but he pushes it away as usual - he's made it this long without any family, he doesn't need them now. And Evelynn's words in that first Potions class with her convinced him that much more.
"You to, huh?" Speaking of whom...
Tom glances over at Evelynn Peverell when she sits down as well, only a foot or so between them on the bench. He gives her a half-hearted glare, saying "Like you know what this is like." He then meets a cool green gaze, and immediately wants to grab those words and shove them back into his mouth. Her expression alone says 'Yes, I most certainly do know what its like to watch everyone around you go off and enjoy their holiday with friends and family.'
All Evelynn says, though, is "Never had a Christmas with family, actually. Haven't got a clue what they're in for."
Tom blinks, then says "I thought you said you lived with your nonmagical relatives."
She gives him a small nod, and says "I did. But, just because they shared blood with me doesn't mean they were family. They never wanted me to begin with, and they made sure I knew it. So, while they celebrated Christmas, I never got to join in."
She keeps writing in her notebook for another few moments - which he's long-since suspected is much more than a book of Potions notes, but its all he sees in it whenever he gets a peek - then gets up and says "I'll see you in the Common Room, Tom."
She heads off down a corridor, maybe to the library? Who knows, he does know he'll never be able to follow her though. He keeps his gaze on her until she disappears, discretely keeping track of Dumbledore as he does the same. That old man has been staring at Evelynn almost nonstop since she arrived, and its really grating on Tom's nerves - Evelynn's a mystery, but his mystery. Certainly not Dumbledore's - she hates him, even more than he does. And that is quite the feat, considering just how much he hates the old man - for Evelynn, though, it seems like its much more personal than for Tom. Yeah, the man scared him witless when he set his wardrobe on fire - all to prove a bloody point, as if making his wand light up or transfiguring his chair into something wouldn't have worked - but Evelynn's hatred seems to have much deeper roots.
Another thing to learn about her, though he doesn't even know where to begin. Perhaps he can corner her in the Orphanage at some point, make her tell him the entire story? How he's supposed to make her do so is another mystery - she's not afraid of him or his group of acquaintances, having no need for protection since she's easily as strong as he is, and he finds he doesn't want to hurt her.
For whatever reason, be it her power or her own charisma when she uses it or even the fact that she's such an intriguing mystery, he finds he doesn't want to harm her. Why that is…is entirely beyond him, he's never hesitated before when it comes to making someone do what he wants. If intimidation doesn't work, he'll go through with his threats - except he's yet to actually threaten her either. He tried, once - the time Headmaster Dippet called them both into his office and said Evelynn would be staying at Wool's with him - but before he could even truly think up a threat for her she was already swearing a Wizard's Oath not to tell anyone anything.
She's the most confusing, mind-boggling person he's ever met, and the one person he can't figure out…and its making him all the more determined to do so. Especially since she all but teases him at times, seeming to hang a bit of that mystery out for him like a carrot on a bloody string when she makes a comment or gets into a debate about Charms with Dorea and Walburga.
When he next finds Evelynn, its about two hours later and he's sitting in front of the fireplace reading a book in the Common Room - had he not been there, he's certain he'd have no clue when she was ever getting back.
As it is, the air chills just the slightest bit and he can sense Evelynn's anticipation in it.
He just senses the hidden entrance to the Common Room reveal itself for a minute, but nobody comes in…that he can see. When he stretches his magic out, however, there's…something there.
Something elusive, trying to really sense it is like trying to grasp smoke on the wind. But…its got that same chill that Evelynn's magic has, a less-oppressive version of the power he felt that brought her to Hogwarts and healed her. Merlin, in fact its like the exact opposite of that oppressive power - you couldn't not sense it when she first arrived and made her miracle-recovery, this is all but nonexistent! He can barely detect it before its just gone.
About ten minutes later, she walks out of the girl's dorms.
At Tom's stunned expression, Evelynn gives him a confused look and asks "What?"
"Where- how- when-" This girl is unbelievable! Nobody's ever managed to surprise him like this before! To the point of being unable to form any words!
Evelynn gives him a raised eyebrow, and says "I said I'd see you in the common room."
Tom exclaims "And then you left the Great Hall, I came back here to read, and haven't seen you again until just now. When you left the Girl's dorm."
Evelynn shrugs and says "Maybe I came in and you didn't notice me." She sits down on the other end of the couch and pulls out Beedle the Bard, but Tom isn't done. No, not by far - they're alone, and he's just had another shining example of why she's such an intriguing mystery.
Merlin himself couldn't stop him from questioning her now.
Tom shuts his own book and says "I don't think so. I think I did notice when you came back, but you were hiding. I notice a lot of things, Evelynn. I noticed when you were about to arrive on Halloween, even before everything went dark and the fires all died suddenly. I noticed the air had gone cold, a cold that seeps into your bones no matter how many warming charms you cast. I noticed your own body gives off that same chill, instead of heat like literally everyone else. I noticed your magic does the same, like its hinting at that power being yours. I noticed you're the only person in the entire school who can keep up with me in terms of magic, and you do it effortlessly."
Its become something of an unspoken challenge between them, without ever having been acknowledged until now. He loves the rush, the feeling of anticipation as he wonders what she'll do next in class - bar Transfiguration, where she purposefully doesn't show off her skills to Dumbledore whatsoever. And, even then, he'll get caught up in trying to outdo her when the old man isn't watching.
Usually in the Common Room, where at one point Mark Flint Conjured a bag of marbles and made a little competition between the two of them - Transfigure something that the other can't top. She beat him, or would've if he's sure she hadn't purposefully given him an idea at the last moment via her lightning-shaped scar. She brushed her bangs out of her eyes, revealing the mark on her forehead she usually keeps covered, and he got the idea for a bolt of lightning striking the ground and spreading outwards.
He's yet to say what it is he wants for beating her, but- wait. That's it. He can say he wants the truth from her, her real story. He'll build up to it though, call in the debt if its necessary - he doesn't want it to be necessary, though. That's the thing that's confusing him the most even now. Still, he'll wait and gather more information, make a working theory before cornering her about it - if there's one thing he hates, its being wrong. Not knowing something is also up there, but its better than making a fool of himself by chasing after dead-ends and giving someone the opportunity to laugh at him.
Evelynn's voice brings him out of his thoughts, asking "What are you thinking about so intensely? Your boring holes into my head, Tom."
Dammit, he wasn't even a quarter of the way through the list he's all but written down of the things he's noticed about her that he's sure nobody else has. As it is, he simply says "You." And it's the truth.
Evelynn blushes for a moment, and says "I'm flattered." He'd think she was mocking him, but she adds "Never thought I'd get attention from a bloody prodigy like yourself."
Tom blinks in shock, and asks "What?" Come again? Explain that, Evelynn!
Evelynn blinks, asking "What, about you bring a prodigy? Its true, Tom. You think its normal for a child to learn to read minds all on their own? Or to learn two languages at once? You, Tom Marvolo Riddle, are the kind of child genius that's born once, maybe twice a century. Anything you put your mind to, you not only succeed at but go so far past everyone's expectations that its truly mind-blowing."
She doesn't exactly sing his praises, more like lays them out like cards on a table as if they're talking about the weather - he'd think she was trying to get close to him at last, trying to butter him up with false praises and such, but…she's not wrong. He's noticed all these things about himself and others as well - hell, he figures anyone else would've destroyed their minds trying to learn Legillimency on their own. She's also not even looking at him, gesturing with her hands as she keeps talking about how he's likely the most brilliant person born in fifty years easily, making him think this truly is how she sees him rather than her being afraid or trying to get him to accept her into his group.
It's a slightly scary - terrifying - thought, if only because he has no idea what to make of it. She sees his potential, says she can think of so many things he could do with absurd ease including becoming Minister for Magic, invent a few dozen new spells and potions, etc. and it hasn't either drawn her in or pushed her away like literally everyone else around them.
Dumbledore looks at him and sees a monster, he's sure - its plain as day when you know what to look for, the lack of any chances and the cold suspicion that's ever-present on his face when it comes to him.
Slughorn sees a brilliant student, who's had a run of bad luck given to him and hasn't yet let it beat him - likely the next Merlin, he'd guess.
The Slytherins see him as a miracle, someone to follow unquestioningly.
The rest of the student body sees exactly what he wants them to see, model student, perfect manners - polite, if a bit cool and unapproachable at times.
Evelynn, though…she sees what he could do, can do, she apparently sees so many different paths he could take that its absolutely mind-boggling in and of itself, and yet…she treats him like a normal person. It should infuriate him, should make him rage and rail against it because he's not and she's just now saying she knows perfectly well he's not, but…then again, she's treating him as though they're equals. As though he's not the monster that Dumbledore seems to be trying to paint him as.
Will he ever figure this girl out?! At this rate...never.
He barely notices when Evelynn stops talking, too lost in his own thoughts and confused feelings to respond to her - hell, he didn't even hear the rest of what she was saying! He has to wonder, though, if she truly sees him, inner darkness and violence in the mix, or just sees the brilliant student he shows the rest of the school. Something tells him its the latter, but he's not entirely sure.
He can hardly question why she knows he can read minds, she's let him see her emotions enough times to know she's perfectly aware of what he's been trying to do…and lets him anyway, the bloody tease. Never looks away, never forces him out - just keeps him confined to her emotions, letting him know exactly how she's feeling. He's yet to try and pry into her memories, for a number of reasons - he doesn't want to give her a reason to throw him out and lock the door entirely, she'd most certainly know he was doing as much...and it might hurt her.
She seems to know a lot about him, but just how much is one of the mysteries surrounding her.
She's going to do his head in one of these days, he's sure of it. And he highly suspects she'll do it on purpose, to.
Tom heads to his dorm room, leaving the 'end of the year party' in the Slytherin Common Room early - he has no real desire to celebrate, despite the detail that its his birthday. And nobody knows, he hasn't told a single- why, in Merlin's name, is there a card and shrunken box on his pillow?! When he picks it up and opens it, there's words written in it.
Nobody deserves to have their birthday overlooked, not for any reason. I have to hold off on giving you your gift until later in the year, but I think you'll like it. Happy Birthday, Tom.
What he finds in the box, after finding no trace of magic bar a shrinking Charm and then enlarging it, is…a cake. Vanilla, with chocolate frosting. How in the world?!
He checks it for spells, Potions, etc. that might be used to hurt or control him, but it comes up clean except for a stasis spell to keep it fresh. The card comes up just as free of such spells, leaving him even more confused than before - starting with who, for Merlin's sake, knows its his birthday when he hasn't told a single soul in Hogwarts.
Dumbledore certainly wouldn't give a damn enough to make him a cake and a card, and he can't think of anyone else that would know when his birthday actually is.
It's the confusion that gives him another suspect - Evelynn. Only she has ever been able to make him this confused. And it seems she knows his birthday, for Merlin's sake - how?! How could she possibly know when his birthday is when he's never told anyone since coming here?!
Though, what kind of gift she would think he'd like is an intriguing question. As confusing as Evelynn Peverell is...he's certain she'll come up with an interesting gift.
When his head hits the pillow, card safely tucked in his trunk for later comparison to Evelynn's handwriting - not that there's much need, he thinks - he blames the warmth in him on the cake that was still warm.
And he pretends not to notice the way Evelynn's eyes gleam at him or her lips twitch like she wants to smile at him the next morning.
AN: Hey, everyone! Next chapter is up, and I hope you like it! Yes, Evelynn is driving Tom up one wall and down the other - and she's not even really trying! No, really, she's not actively trying to be such a tease to Tom! The entire House is real sure there's more to her than she's letting on...and Tom's absolutely determined to figure it out. And he hasn't got the slightest clue, not really. He's far too observant not to notice some things...but he simply doesn't know what to look for. If you can't tell...I'm kinda enjoying driving poor Tom crazy observing little things about Evelynn while not knowing if they mean anything or not.
Yes, I'm planning on something with that game of marbles - just go with it, please? It just won't be for a while. As for the present for Tom...just wait and see. Something I eventually wondered why canon Harry didn't try. *evil grin*
Anyway, enjoy! More chapters coming soon, please review!