I spent the rest of the week in the Gryffindor common room. Pretending to study for our final exams the rest of the week.
Grisha and Torin would sometime keep me company.
When they didn't, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter kept me company.
It was a few minutes before supper when James turned to look at me, an amused gleam in his eye.
"So, how do you think you did in the Herbology final?" He asked, as he leaned back.
"Well, I suppose." I replied softly as Alice's cat, Mocha, hopped onto my lap.
"Mangy ball of fur..." James murmured.
"Leave her alone, she's done nothing to you." I replied as I reached over and scratched the back of her ear as she meowed happily.
Sirius scoffed, wrinkling his nose at the cat as I ignored them.
"Have you had a chance to study for the Potions final exam?" Remus asked, eyeing opened Potions book on the armrest of the chair.
I frowned, "I just started reviewing all of my notes, and checking a few things within the book. So, no. I haven't had a chance." I replied, frowning.
"What about Astronomy, and Charms...?" Sirius asked.
"I've already studied for both." I replied, gesturing towards the charts and parchment paper sitting on the ground next to my book bag.
All four exchanged surprised looks before turning to look back at me.
"So, are rumors true?" Peter asked, inquisitively.
I frowned, tilting my head to the side as I looked at him. "Rumors? What rumors?" I asked.
"Well, there's a rumor going around of Sirius and you. That both of you are going together." Peter replied.
"Ah. Erm. No, those rumors are just that Sirius and have only ever been friends. Nothing more than that." I replied.
All of them exchanged a concerned look before Remus leaned forward, "Annie, the rumor was started by Malfoy... He said he was there when you told Riddle that you two were going together." He told me.
I grumbled, dropping my head onto the back of the chair. "No, he has it all wrong." I whispered, shaking my head.
"What actually happened then?" Sirius asked.
"Bella, Andi, and Cissy invited me to sit with them. They were teasing me about Riddle being interested in me. He heard and began demanding things. I might've told him that you and I were going together but it was out of anger. I swear I'm not trying to throw myself at you or anything..." I hurriedly explained.
Sirius smiled amused, "It's alright. I can see why you would try to use me as a diversion from Riddle. The bloke absolutely loathes me." He replied amused.
I snorted shaking my head at him, "Only you would be this amused by this bit of information." I mumbled shaking my head at him in response. "So, you're alright with everything thinking this? You don't mind?" I asked.
"No. Well, I mean, as long as no one gets hurt, I'll be fine." He told me.
I sighed, "Riddle is going to become more insistent. If you truly are alright with this, then we'll have to make sure that no one finds out that this is all a farce. He'll only become more persistent if he suspects I've lied to him." I told him.
"I don't have a problem with it." He replied, honestly.
I found myself nodding at him before I turned to look at his friends. "Not a word to anyone about this. Not Lily, Alice, Torin, or anyone we know. Do you understand?" I asked.
They exchanged a look before nodding in response. "You have our word." They replied simultaneously.
That's how Sirius and I wound up getting tricked into going to Hogsmeade with our groups of friends.
When the group split up to go to different shops, Sirius and I did too. He went to Honeydukes, while I went to the book shop to look for and aquire a book I wished to buy and read.
I had only begun my search when I heard someone speak.
"Came here alone?"
I bit back a gasp, before turning to look.
Tom stood there, leaning against one of the bookshelves, smirking at me.
"What do you want, Riddle?" I asked.
"To speak to you. Isn't it obvious?" He dryly asked.
"About what? It seems every time that we speak, all we do is argue. If that is the case, then I strongly suggest you leave me alone. I don't have the energy to be arguing with you today." I replied as I turned back to the shelves and scanned the book spines.
"No, I'm not here to argue. I'm here to tell you of something interesting I just saw as I walked over here..." He replied.
I rolled my eyes and continued to scan the spines of the books.
"Black is seeing someone besides you..." He said, causing me to stiffen.
I shook my head, pulling out the book I had been searching for, and quickly made my way towards the cash register.
I could feel him follow me, as I did. I did my best to ignore his presence as I paid for my book and rushed out.
He caught up to me as I walked out of the book and headed in the direction away from the town.
"Where are you going now?" He finally asked in exasperation.
"To find a place to read. Now leave me alone." I grumbled as I walked towards the place I usually stopped to read.
He ignored me and continued to follow me. "And leave you to your own expense? I don't think so." He replied, a small smile appearing on his lips as he followed me.
The day had grown warmer than I expected, when I reached a place that held a nice eclipse from the sun, I quickly slid off my cloak, placed it on the ground before sitting down and opening my book.
I only managed to read up to the third chapter of the book when I head a small tapping.
Tom smirked as he threw a small rock, and watched it bounce off the trees and rolled down bigger rocks before landing a few inches on the ground in front of him. Before he lifted it again and threw it once more.
"Must you do that here?" I asked, glaring at him.
"Where else shall I go?" He asked me, amused.
"Wherever you wish to go. Personally, I don't care. I just want you to leave me alone." I mumbled, shaking my head at him.
"Friends don't leave friends alone in places like these." He replied.
"Friends don't keep secrets from their friends." I sniped, slamming the cover of my book closed.
I heard him sigh as I got to my feet, and pushed passed him to head back to the school.
"Wait." He said, as he pulled me to a stop, by grabbing by my arm.
"What is it now, Riddle?" I asked exasperated.
When he didn't answer me, I took a deep breath, before slowly looking up to meet his eyes.
"What do you really want from me, Tom?" I asked again.
He frowned, his grasp around my arm, before sighing and looking around.
"I don't know what you are referring to. I've always been clear of my intentions towards you." He replied.
"Honestly, you act like you want to be friends with me, then the next day you act like I'm the worst thing you've come across. What do you want from me?" I asked him again.
"I want you to be safe. I want you to listen to me. I want you to stay away from Black. I want you- I want you to be with me." He finally said, before letting me go and turning away.
I stared at him, shocked before blinking away tears.
No, he's lying. He has to be.
"I can't be with someone who hides things from me the moment he decides it's of convience to do so." I replied, in a hurt tone.
When he turned back to face me, his face was angry. Of course he was, when wasn't he.
"I've been trying to protect you. You don't get to judge my choices, when all I've been trying to do is protect you." He replied.
"Protect me? From what?" I asked, frowned confused as to what he was referring to.
He groaned, shaking his head, "We can't discuss this here. Come on, we need to start heading back to the school." He replied as he began moving back in the direction of the school.
"Are you going to tell me what is going on?" I asked as he dropped my arm and placed his arm around me as we passed a group of students who were staring at us with mouths gaping.
"Not now. We will speak about this when we are alone again." He replied, quietly.
"You do realize this will only look bad to everyone, don't you?" I replied.
"I could care less what everyone thinks. I know what is truth about me and you. I could care less about the thought of everyone here." He replied, scoffing as he sped up.