...But he didn't even blink, he kept looking at her while he was stabbed, his face didn't show any trace of pain. He moved his hand upwards and placed it on her left cheek. He whispered his last words before falling down to his knees, his body becoming a soulless shell.

"Things I do for love,"

Lucretia grimaced "Gross," she muttered as she closed the fresh finished novel and put it aside "What kind of idiot dies for love?"

One that is capable of feeling it, answered her inner voice. She rolled her eyes to herself.

"I'm better off without that ability, thanks." she said "Why would I want to have the greatest weakness of humanity? Being a heartless bitch makes me get the upper hand on others."

So you have a way to fill the blank space in you?

She thought for a while "I don't feel any blankness at all." she said as she laid herself on the floor of the Astronomy Tower, watching the stars. It was 1am at Friday night, another week was over. She had spent it avoiding Chang, mostly. But sometimes she was just too tired to deal with him and those were the only times which she allowed him to be with her.

She didn't feel comfortable when he was near, she hated the way he hugged her. She felt claustrophobic, and she didn't have claustrophobia at all! He was trying to go further and kiss her, but she didn't let him. She wanted to keep avoiding that as long as she could.

There are prettier and more eager girls, and yet it is still me he likes. He's so pathetic. She heaved a sigh. Love is pathetic. What was I expecting?

When she heard the footsteps coming from the stairs, she didn't give a damn. It was dark and she knew whoever was there probably would just take a squint and go away without realising her. Footsteps came closer and closer and finally the door opened slowly. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see any Prefects.

But to her chance, that person saw her and came closer, lying next to her. She heaved a sigh, no one other than Chang would do this "Chang, you are disturbing the time I set aside for myself so go away." she said angrily but when she opened her eyes she was expecting to see a pair of baby blue eyes, not the dark ones "Oh, it's you."

"Seems like you were expecting someone else?" Tom Riddle asked as he raised an eyebrow.

"Wasn't expecting anyone but never thought you would come here," Lucretia replied "Anyway, it is nice that my pain in the arse did not find me."

"Do you come here often, Himura?" Riddle asked as he placed his hands under his head, watching the stars. Lucretia took the same position as she turned her glance to the sky once more.

"Unless there is no lesson, yes." she said "It is peaceful and quiet here, I love reading under the clear sky."

"I guess this one is finished," he said, his eyes didn't leave the sky "I mean the book."

"Yeah," she said but stopped "Wait, how did you know there was a book?"

"My eyes are used to darkness," he answered "And there's a really quick scanning ability, too."

It was still for a while but Lucretia broke it "What brought you up here?" she asked.

"I wanted some peace and loneliness," he replied "My peace rests in the Chamber, but tonight I want to see the stars, not the ceiling."

"You can see the stars when you lie on the grasses of the garden, too."

"But this place is closer to them."

Lucretia found herself smiling "Did you know that Blacks give their children celestial names?"

Riddle shook his head "No, haven't heard about that."

"Mom used to say that it was some kind of tradition." Lucretia explained "But the odd thing is, she is one of the scarce children who wasn't named after a star or what-so-ever."

"So yours is something about the sky, eh?" he asked.

She nodded "Mine is an asteroid, doesn't have a cool story like the others."

"I think you have a really nice name." he said quickly and quietly.

Lucretia felt her cheeks turning pink "T... Thanks." she muttered. Riddle shuddered "I used to take my guitar with me when I came here. Then Filch started to hear the sound of it."

Riddle turned to her, lying on his right side. Lucretia turned to him, too. She was lying on her left side "You have your own guitar with you, in the castle?" he asked. She nodded "Where do you put it? I suppose the answer is not the dormitory."

She found herself smirking "You're not the only one who has found himself some secret rooms, Riddle."

Riddle returned Lucretia her smirk "You manage to attract more of my attention each day, Himura."

"That's an aptitude."

He looked inside her almond shaped eyes, then his lips moved slowly, his voice was lower than a whisper "Sing something for me,"

She wasn't expecting this.

"Um... Alright?" she said and asked "English or Japanese?"

"I always hear you murmur some Japanese songs."

She nodded and thought of a song but at that moment it was like she had forgot all the songs she knew. Then she started to sing the only song that swam across her mind.

I've been believing

In something so distant

As if I was human

And I've been denying

This feeling of hopelessness

In me, in me

All the promises I made

Just to let you down

You believed in me

But I'm broken

I have nothing left

And all I feel is this cruel wanting

We've been falling for all this time

And now I'm lost in paradise

As much as I'd like

The past not to exist

It still does

And as much as I'd like

To feel like I belong here

I'm just as scared as you

I have nothing left

And all I feel is this cruel wanting

We've been falling for all this time

And now I'm lost in paradise

Run away

Run away

One day we won't feel

This pain anymore

Take it all away

Shadows of you

Cause they won't let me go

Until I have nothing left

And all I feel is this cruel wanting

We've been falling for all this time

And now I'm lost in paradise

Alone and lost in paradise

And after she finished the song, none of them said anything. They just lied there, on the cold and dusty floor of the Astronomy Tower, and looked at each other. Somehow they got lost in each other's eyes, under the stars, until Lucretia fell asleep before Tom Riddle did.

(Time skip)

With the extraordinary drowsiness of his, Tom found himself caressing the sleeping girl's hair. He didn't know why he was doing such a meaningless action, since both of them were not capable of feeling the emotions which caused people to do these kind of things.

It's probably because I'm too sleepy.

He knew he should have gone back to the common room but he preferred Himura's soft breaths to Mulciber's snores. As his hand slid down to her cold cheek, he felt her getting relaxed under his touch. She had a peaceful expression. And that moment, he realised that he hadn't appreciated her beauty before, at least not like this.

Or it is because my hormones go mad at night.

Yeah, that makes enough sense.

Hormones or not, she was still beautiful. He knew, from the talks in the dormitory room, that boys took an interest in Himura's body after the day she argued with Chastain, but this was different. He was mature enough to know that beauty didn't mean just a curvy body.

He shook himself, trying to get rid of those thoughts. He drew his hand back and slowly fell asleep as he watched the sleeping girl.

(Time skip)

She opened her eyes with the first rays of sunlight. Shit, we slept here? I hope I don't get ill. She used her hand to shade the light as her eyes found the Heir, who was still sleeping on the cold and dusty floor.

This was probably her first chance to eye him properly, in a girly way.

He looked way too innocent while he was sleeping. Without seeing the evil spark in his eyes, even Lucretia could be fooled by his charm and glamorousness. And at dawn, he looked more charming than ever.

Of course she knew what the girl population thought about Riddle. Well, she could not deny the fact that he was handsome but she only knew that he was handsome, she was not crazy about him, unlike most of the girls in her year.

Raw sunlight was melting as it touched his raven curls, making them look brighter and livelier. His long eyelashes were slightly touching his skin. His thin lips had formed a line, she thought that he was having some kind of dream.

And out of nowhere, she felt a sudden urge to touch his hair.

She shook herself as she realised that. Get your shit straight, Lucretia, she said to herself and poked him "Riddle, get up, it is dawn and we have fallen asleep here." she said, sleepily. Riddle moved uncomfortably in his sleep but not after too long he opened his eyes slowly "Morning, pretty face."

"Pretty face?" Riddle asked as he tried to get used to the sunlight.

"I'm still half sleeping, don't mind if I talk or act nonsense." Lucretia said as she straightened and stood up, walking to the railings. A weak wind was blowing and it made her wavy hair move. Soon Riddle stood up and went near her. Slowly, his eyes found hers.

"Your hair looks like a darker shade of red," he murmured.

"Really?" she asked as she looked at her hair "I guess so."

They stood there for ten more minutes in silence, then Lucretia shook herself "I... I think we should go back to the dormitories to get more sleep. It's Saturday, I want more sleep."

Riddle looked at her for a while, then nodded. She took her book and started walking, Riddle coming right behind her. None of them talked on the way to the dungeons, when they were in the Common Room and were going to head different was for dormitories, they casted each other one last glance.

"See you at breakfast, Riddle."

"See you at breakfast, Himura."

When she finally lied herself on her four poster bed, she was trying to find an explanation for the odd urges she felt when she was with him since last night. They all felt wrong. Everything between them, she was not even sure if there was a thing between them or not, felt wrong.

She felt ease when she was with him, she thought it was because they were alike in many ways. And because of these things they had in common, they had started spending more time with each other. Because they understood each other and since this year, Lucretia hadn't met someone who understood her.

But last night, she felt things other than ease. Thing that she didn't know she was capable of feeling.

I was sleepy, probably my mind is playing tricks on me.

(Time skip)

For the first time in her life, Lucretia Himura overslept and missed the breakfast. When she woke up, it was lunch time and the dormitory room was empty. She cursed the girls for not waking her up and dressed up quickly. After wearing a dark purple t-shirt and black jeans, she rushed down the stairs of the dormitory.

When she got in the Great Hall, breathless, she saw that Riddle was there, eating a chicken while reading something. She walked to the Slytherin table and stood behind him. With a sudden movement, she snatched the book from his hands.

As he saw the book going, he turned back to see the doer. His expression softened as he saw it was no one other than Lucretia "Morning." she said as she shot him an annoying smile and sat near him, eying the book.

"Morning," he said "Aren't you gonna give my book back, Himura?"

"Nope," she said "It looks interesting."

"You can find it interesting after I finish it." Riddle said and with a sudden movement, he took the book.

"Damn the physical superiority." Lucretia murmured, then turned to the food. When she was about to eat the last tomato left on her plate, Chang came. Before she could do something, he sat next to her and kissed her cheek. She tried hard not to grimace.

Riddle put the book on the table and started to watch the scene in front of him.

"Mornin', sweetheart." he said.

Lucretia forced herself to form a smile "Good Morning."

Chang wrapped his left arm around Lucretia's belly and drew her closer. Lucretia tried to resist but Merlin, he was strong. He leaned into her. She got goose bumps when she felt his breath licking her neck.

"I want to spend the day with you." he whispered "You know, doing couple-ish things."

Lucretia gulped. She had to get rid of him. Right. Now.

"I must do my homework." That was all she could manage to say. She could not think of a better lie, a better excuse.

"You can do that later, darlin'," he whispered as he placed a small kiss on her neck.

"Nathaniel, stop." she said, her voice powerful.

"What, am I not allowed to kiss my girlfriend?" he asked.

"Yes."

She heard Riddle snicker from behind her. Ah, he's going to mock about all these. Merlin help me.

As a response, Chang kissed her neck again. She was feeling the anger boiling up inside her.

"Nathaniel, I told you to stop." she said sharply. She turned to face him and curse him when he continued to get on her nerves "Get your..." Before she could finish, she was interrupted by a pair of lips, crashing into hers. It took some time before she could understand what the hell was happening. As soon as she realised, she pulled herself back and slapped Chang.

"WHAT THE FUCK YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?" Lucretia thundered, gaining all the attention of the Great Hall.

"Kissing my girlfriend," Chang said as he caressed his hurting cheek "But I guess she doesn't like to be kissed."

"I'm no girlfriend of yours," Lucretia said, her voice full of disgust "I can't bear this anymore, go find yourself another girl."

Chang stood up "What does that mean, you can't bear?"

Lucretia stood up, too "Did you really think that I was dating you because I liked you?" she asked but her eyes widened when she saw that look on his face "You can't be serious. I thought you were smart, Chang!"

"It was all a lie?"

"Of course it was a lie, I didn't even respond your date, Martha spoke on behalf of me and you started to jump around like some kind of rabbit, dreaming a future with me, if you remember. All of a sudden I became your girlfriend!"

"You could have told me!" Chang shouted.

"I thought it could be fun, how could I know that you were a love bug, who didn't want anything but to make out with me?" Lucretia fired back "Go and find yourself another girl, there are plenty who want nothing but to kiss you."

Chang gritted his teeth and left the Great Hall with quick steps. Lucretia took a deep breath and turned to Riddle, who had a wide grin on his face "Shut up," she said, frustrated.

For the first time in her entire life, she saw Tom Marvolo Riddle burst into laughter.

Hey, how are ya doing?? I hope you're all well!

I need reviews. Like really. I know that there are over 300 reads for this story but no one reviews, why??

Firewhiskey and broomsticks ~