Chapter 6

After the dessert the dinning table was deserted in favour of the living room where a light music was playing. Few couples were dancing in the middle while the others chatted. Tom considered asking Olivia to dance but she didn't strike him like the type that liked dancing or even liked to be touched. He just took a seat beside her in a corner of the room instead.

"So Riddle," she called out while shifiting in the red velvet couch she was seated on, "you were raised in an orphanage huh?"

He smiled at the sound his surname name, he preferred when people didn't call him by his bland first name.

"Yes, I was born there," he said. "My mother died giving birth to me and I don't know much about my father except his name which is the same as mine. I was named after him and Marvolo is the name of my grandfather. That is what Sister Marie Clarence told me anyway."

"mmh interesting," she reflected, "I don't know who my father is either. My mom was a bit of a free spirit. I doubt she knew him herself. The stories she told me about him had a lot of inconsistencies to say the least. One day he was a famous auror fighting dangerous criminals, the next day he was a nomad shoemaker going from town to town to sell his merchandise. Whoever he was, I'm not sure I want to know honestly. Do you want to know who your father is?"

She looked at him, while she picked up her glass of butterbeer. She did not drink it. She looked genuinely curious to hear his answer. He was sceptical as to why she was suddenly interested in his life. But he wasn't really worried. She had probably decided that she might as well get to know the annoying British boy that couldn't seem to leave her alone or maybe his charms had started working already. The latter was more likely.

"I do. You have a part of you that is clear. I don't. I never knew my mother or my father. I have no idea where I come from. So to me knowing is important."

She nodded slowly with a smile. That was the third smile. Something was definitely wrong. Her behaviour didn't feel right. She was playing with her glass but didn't seem to want to drink from it anytime soon. She was trying too hard to appear casual but seemed preoccupied. But what really bothered him was the smiles. She was being way too friendly.

"Whoever they were they must have been amazing to have a son like you." She said suddenly.

Okay that was the last straw.

"I thought you said I was a noisy british man," he said.

"Oh I still think you are a huge pain in the ass. But anyone with a minimum of intelligence can tell your magical abilities are slightly above the norm." She replied

There she was again complementing him. Although he wanted to attribute this sudden change to his charm and good looks he knew it wasn't the case. She was manipulating him. But for what? What did she want from him?

They did not have a chance to continue their little talk however. Slughorn interrupted his two favourites students to introduce them to some friends of his. The rest of the night went in the same fashion leaving them no space or time to be alone any longer.

The last trace of winter was completely disappearing. The ice had started breaking already. From his window he could see the water emerging from the Lake. His favourite season was coming to an end. And as sad as it was he wasn't too mad at the ray of sunshine that was dancing on his cheek. It was refreshing to feel the warmth of the sun after months of cold. He closed his eyes and took a quiet breath, soaking in the moment. A huge sound got him out of his peaceful meditation.

"What did I miss?" Asked the intruder.

Tom turned to Olivia that had just banged her books loudly at the table, like it was her habit.

"Could you make more lady-like entrances in the future, please?" He said

He wasn't afraid to be sarcastic with her anymore, he knew she liked the banter. They had gotten a lot more comfortable with each other in the past weeks. Olivia's behavior towards him had gotten more and more suspicious with time. She was playful, funny and more opened than ever. Their study sessions had helped a lot. Tom was no where near discovering what was up with her but he was more hopeful than he had been. He knew that with her, trust mattered a lot and although she joked around with him he could sense she didn't trust him. He needed to have a 'moment' with her. One of those significant ones that made people feel connected with an other individual on a intimate level. And what was more intimate than to date someone? That was his new plan: Making her fall in love with him. He had few months ahead of him which was plenty of time. Girls always fell at his feet easily. Although Olivia was different from the girls that run after him, she couldn't be that different.

"I don't like you like this," she said pointing at his face with circle motions.

"Like how?" He asked puzzled.

"All witty and stuff. Go back to the well-mannered good boy you are."

"Bite me, Olivia." He retorted.

"Charming, but not quite what I meant," she said with a smile.

She started to open her bag getting out her books and tools.

"Crap, I forgot my parchemin on the dissertation. I have to go back and get it.'

"Great she is late AND unprepared," Tom complaint to an invisible presence.

She rolled her eyes and picked her bag to leave.

"You can leave your bag here," he suggested, "It's only unnecessary weight."

She hesitated before finally dropping her bag on the chair.

"I won't be long," she said.

Tom nodded. He waited impatiently for her to be far away before grabbing the leather bag. It was obviously old with cracks on the corners of it. It was light as most of its content was in front of him on the table. He found some bubble gum paper, an old feather and some notes. But the jackpot was the small pocket book that was lodge in a corner. Tom took it out and read the title with a smile of victory: "Hogwarts: The Ultimate Guide". He pulled his wand out swiftly and pointed at it.

"Revelio," he said

He thought that he would need to try few more spells but the book started shaking in his hands. There was a small 'pop' and it became twice the size it was before. The black writings faded to give place to sophisticated silver ones that read: "The origins of parseltongue."

He wasn't sure what he had expected but he had not expected that. Olivia was researching on parseltongue? Why? Was she a parselmouth? Is it why she was always with Dumbledore? Maybe she just discovered her gift and needed someone to help her understand it. If that was the case she went to the wrong person. And all that talk about using powers not to hurt people. Was she talking about herself? Did she hurt someone by sending a snake to attack them? Why is why she was suddenly so interesting in him? Did she know he was a parselmouth? The only person that knew this about him happen to be the person she spent the most time with. But if that was it why not just ask him about it? None of it made sense.

Recently Tom had discovered that being a parselmouth was rarer than he first expected. No one in the castle as far as he knew had the ability. He was persuaded that it was a hereditary trait from his father's side and had been searching for his father's name in the Hogwarts Registry. He hadn't had any luck yet but he was sure it could not be had by a Muggle-born. And up until now he had assumed that Olivia was Muggle-born. Maybe she had also ended up in that muggle orphanage by mistake like him. Putting the book back in its place he thought that if someone else was to have the gift it was no surprise to him that it would be her.