Chapter 5 – Innocent Manipulation
"I can NOT believe you Serena!" Heather cried in a high pitched, pretending-to-be-shocked voice, later that night in the dormitory.
"That's crazy. " Eve agreed. Serena just shook her head.
"It's not a big deal," She said.
"Yes it is!" They cried. She rolled her eyes. "Whatever, I'm going to bed. In case you have forgotten, we do have class tomorrow." She said, crawling under her blankets. Heather and Eve ignored her and continued talking. Serena closed her eyes and it wasn't long before she drifted off into a quiet sleep.
The next morning was more of the same of the night before. Actually, all day was like that. Heather and Eve just didn't want to shut up about it.
"I still can't believe you Serena," Heather was saying over dinner. Serena ignored her and decided to change the topic.
"Are we going to Hogsmeade this tomorrow?" She asked.
"Of course!" Eve answered, as if it was stupid of Serena to even ask. She smiled and helped herself to another piece of bread as Lucius Malfoy walked by. Heather and he locked eyes as he passed, and Eve and Serena desperately tried to hide their laughter when Heather winked at him. He nodded in acknowledgement to the wink and continued on his way.
"Shut up guys," Heather said, turning back to them and their loud giggles. That little bit pretty much silenced Heather's lecture to Serena.
After dinner, they made their way back up to their dormitories where they all sat in the common room and gossiped for an hour before going to bed.
The next morning, after breakfast, they made their way down to the main entrance to get ready to leave for Hogsmeade. Once they were there, they traveled all around the town, buying cute little things they thought were neat and daring each other to do stupid things that would make them look like idiots. Finally, after awhile they got tired and cold of walking around outside and decided to go to the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer to warm themselves.
They pushed in through the group of people waiting outside the door and into the warm, cozy pub. They walked to the back where there was one empty table and quickly occupied it, throwing all their bags onto one chair, and sitting in the other three.
Once they were settled in, the waitress came over, took their order and left the girls to go get their butterbeers.
"It's so cold outside," Serena said, rubbing her hands over the warm mug of beer.
"I know, it's freezing," Heather said, doing the same. Eve was already busy drinking hers. They were busy talking when the door opened again and in walked Tom Riddle and his gang.
Serena dropped her mouth and moved out of view, blushing. Heather and Eve looked at each other as if planning something wicked, and slightly giggled. Eve stood up and waved at Tom.
"Shit! What the fuck are you guys doing?" Serena asked, trying to pull her down.
"Tom! Come sit with us!" Eve shouted. Tom's brow crossed in irritation as he looked to see who was addressing him. But, once he saw that Eve waving him over and Serena was looking away, obviously embarrassed, Tom smiled and walked over, leaving his 'gang' looking confused and slightly pissed off, Bellatrix Lestrange especially. She shot them a dirty look before turning back to her 'friends'. Tom made his way over to them, his friends sitting down at a table on the other side of the room. As Tom neared them, Heather took the bags from the chair next to Serena and Serena tried her best not to appear pissed off or embarrassed. It didn't quiet work though.
"Tom! You must join us!" Eve said, pushing out the chair for him. Tom smiled and sat down in it.
"Thanks," He said, glancing at Serena. Eve and Heather smiled mischievously at each other.
"So, how are those tutorial sessions going?" Heather asked.
"Quite well, actually. We're getting a lot accomplished," He said.
"Yes, I think that was obvious when we walked in on you two last time," Eve said.
"Merlin! Ok. That's enough," Serena said. "So, did you turn it in to Dumbledore?" She asked, hoping to change the course of the conversation.
"Yes, I did and I believe we were the first people to finish it." He said smugly. Serena smiled.
"You know, it looks like you two are getting along brilliantly, so I think Heather and I will depart." Eve said as they both stood up. Serena's mouth dropped.
"No!" She said, about to stand up too when Tom grabbed her arm and kept her seated. She was too preoccupied to notice though and could only make outraged faces at them as they left, sniggering loudly. Serena sighed, and forced a smile.
"I'm sorry, they can be really stupid sometimes," She said.
"It's ok," Tom said, looking over Serena and making her extremely self-conscious. She did not want to be left alone with him, especially after the other night. It was too easy for things to happen.
"So…." Serena started, not really knowing anything to talk about.
"I don't know if you've heard, but the Headmaster is planning a Ball for Halloween," Tom said. Serena looked at him.
"Really?" Tom nodded.
"And how would you know that?" She asked him.
"I have my ways," He said. Serena smiled.
"How come they haven't announced it yet? It's in a couple weeks," She said.
"I'm sure he'll inform us about it this week, possibly even tonight at dinner," Tom said. Serena nodded.
"So, I'm informing you now that well be going together," He said. She lifted her carefully styled eyebrows in disbelief.
"Oh, we are?" She asked.
"Yes," He said.
"Is this your way of asking me?" She asked.
"No," He said, "I'm not asking you."
"No, you're telling me," She said, shaking her head.
"You don't want to go?" He asked her, with a slight and subtle edge.
"I didn't say that. I just think it's funny how you asked me, or 'informed me' that we're going together." She said. Tom smirked. He looked like he was about to say something more but was interrupted by the waitress.
"I'm sorry, but it's been requested that you two…get a room. And the two girls that have complained have even offered to pay for it," She said.
Serena's mouth dropped and Tom smiled.
"Thank you, but I really should be on my way," Serena said to both the waitress and Tom. The waitress shrugged and left.
"So, you don't want to take advantage of a free room?" Tom asked. Serena looked at Tom in surprise.
"Some prefect you are," She said flirtatiously. "But I really do need to leave." Tom nodded.
"I'll walk you out," He said.
"It's not necessary," She said.
"It's fine, I needed pick something up before I head back as well." He said, walking with her to the door. A chilly breeze met them when they opened the door, and so did Heather and Eve's loud cackling. Serena looked back at Tom.
"Good bye. And thank you." He nodded in return and made his way up an alley and out of sight.
"You fucking bitches! That was not cool. At all!" Serena yelled.
"So, what happened?" Heather asked, linking arms with her as Eve did the same on the other side.
"No, seriously. That wasn't cool," Serena said.
"Oh you're fine," Heather said.
"Bitches," Serena muttered under her breath.
"So what happened?" Eve repeated. Serena sighed.
"Well, he told me that we're apparently having a Halloween ball," She said.
"Are we really!" Heather asked. Serena nodded.
"That's so cool!" Eve said.
"I know," Serena said.
"And…." Heather prodded.
"Well, he kind of asked me to go with him. Well, it was more like he told me we were going together, but yeah…" She said almost immediately igniting screams and giggles from the other two. Talking about that, and when they were going to get dresses and who Eve and Heather were likely to go with took up the whole trip back to the castle.
That night at dinner Headmaster Dippet announced the Halloween dance to the school. It was only going to be open to 5th,6th, and 7th years though, which would mean it would be really fun. Now all the girls were buzzing with excitement, wondering who their dates would be, when they would get their dresses, etc. Serena and her girls walked back up to the dormitories talking about the exact same things. It was only two weeks away and everyone was excited.