Tom looked angrily at Rebecca, who was giving the jobs for the night. He couldn't believe that she was Head Girl, especially with the fact that she was a Mudblood.
"Tom? Were you listening?" she asked in her quiet manner. He shook his head, expecting her to burst out yelling at him.
"You and the fifth years need to go watch the halls from the Slytherin corridor to the Hupplepuff corridor," she explained again. Tom nodded, ignoring her voice.
"Sounds good," he said, and he led the fifth years into the halls. He assigned them a section of the corridors, and they set off. He sat down on a window sill and opened his Dark Arts book he had asked Slughorn to especially permit him to take from the Restricted Section.
He must have fallen asleep, because he felt someone shaking him gently. He woke up and looked icily at Rebecca, who took a step away.
"Umm, it's nine o'clock now. You can go back to your dorm," she said. Tom nodded and bid her good-night. She smiled and walked away, waving at her Prefect friends Kristen and Mark to wait up for her. He looked bitterly at her and began to walk down the stairs to the Slytherin Common Room.
"Password?" the painting asked.
"Pure-blood," he said, feeling pride that he was going to get rid of the Muggleborns. He couldn't wait until he got rid of Rebecca, once and for all.
"Tom! Look at this sign!" a hideous girl named Olga shouted as Tom strolled into the room. He walked over to the bulletin board, shocked to see the notice.
Headmaster Armando Dippet and the staff of Hogwarts
Is proud to announce it's first ever
Masquerade Gala
When: December 5th
Where: The Great Hall
Time: From 6 pm to 12 pm
Students 3rd year and over are required
To attend this gala.
1st and 2nd years are prohibited to attend.
Dress robes MUST be worn.
Partners are optional.
"It sounds nice," Tom said dully. Olga stared at him, hoping that he would ask her. Instead, he ignored her and walked up the stairs to the boy's dormitory.
--------------
"Now, the gala is tomorrow. As you know, you must attend. I ensure you have found partners?" Professor Dumbledore asked, and almost everyone nodded. Tom noticed that Kristen and Mark had nodded, but Rebecca hadn't. He also noticed that Olga was staring at him for the tenth day in a row, and he wished to sock her in the eye. He was definitely not going to ask her.
"I see. Well, your homework is written on the board. You may be dismissed," Dumbledore said as the bell rang shrilly, almost sounding like Peeves. "Miss Cristobal? Mr. Riddle? May I speak with you for a moment?" Everyone stared at them as they slowly walked up to the desk.
"Ahh! The two Head students. I hope you have found a partner for the gala," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. Rebecca put her head down, and for the first time ever at his time during Hogwarts, Tom noticed that she was very pretty.
"I'm sorry, sir. But I have found none," she said solemnly. Dumbledore nodded and looked at Tom.
"And you, my boy?" he asked fondly.
"None, sir," he said, putting his charms on. Dumbledore stood up and nodded, smiling.
"It is fine, then. Now go to your next class," he said, and he left to his room, closing the door swiftly. Rebecca began to walk back, but Tom suddenly grabbed her hand. She looked into his eyes, and he dropped it.
"Sorry," he apologized, and she nodded. He watched her as he gathered her materials and left the room, bidding Dumbledore a good day. Tom did the same and left.
"It's okay," Tom heard a distant voice consoling. He peeked around the corner to see Rebecca holding a Biting Frisbee in one hand, and the other on the boy's shoulder. He noticed that the boy was a First year.
"Shh. Don't worry. I won't tell Dumbledore," Rebecca promised, and the boy nodded.
"But if I see you again, you might not be so lucky," Rebecca said sternly, and the boy nodded, running off towards Tom. Tom began to walk around the corner when he spotted Olga and her friends walking towards Rebecca, a look of distaste on their faces.
"Look! It's Mudblood!" Olga shrieked, and her friends shrilly laughed.
"How did she even get Head Girl when her skull is the size of a concussed troll?" Brianna, Olga's best friend, mocked, and the girls laughed.
"Olga!" Tom shouted from the other end of the hallway. The girls turned to see Tom, his face red with anger.
"Hi Tom!" Olga said flirtatiously, and her friends giggled. Rebecca remained silent.
"Ten points from Slytherin," Tom said, but Olga's face remained looking smug.
"Why did you reduce ten points from us, Tom? It's all the Mudblood's fault-"
"Shut up!" he said, his voice having a tough edge to it. "It's not Rebecca's fault! Olga, it's all your fault for starting the teasing! Next time I catch you, you get detention!" Olga's face crumpled to a mean frown.
"Stick up for her, will you?" Olga asked bitterly. Tom looked past her to see Rebecca beginning to slowly walk down the hall, away from the argument. She turned around one more time, and Tom saw tears falling down her cheeks.
"Huh?" Olga asked. Tom looked at her, his face becoming hot with anger.
"Olga, did you ever think I would ask you out to the dumb gala?" Tom asked her, an edge to his voice. Olga nodded.
"Then it's you who has the skull sized of a concussed troll," Tom retorted, and he turned his back. He calmly walked down the hallway, in the opposite direction from Rebecca.
