A/N: Thanks very much for all your reviews. Hopefully, you'll like this chapter, things get interesting from here.
Do we really need a disclaimer? Just take a look at the past 9 chapters
Chapter 10- The Hangover
Riddle (in Elena's body) wrenched open the door to Slughorn's lavishly furnished office. Elena, having reached earlier followed him inside only to see the Potions Master engrossed in what looked like a Muggle romance novel. I always knew there was something strange about him…
"Professor, sorry to bother you, at such an…um…inapt time, but you see, Ms Grey and I have had an unfortunate accident, I suppose you could call it that…" Riddle paused waiting for Slughorn's reaction.
Slughorn, after hastily stowing away the lurid red novel in a secret compartment under his floorboard, turned to them and replied "But, surely you are Ms Grey…what do you mean Ms Grey and I?"
"Can't you see we've changed bodies?" Riddle's cultured voice rang with Elena's irritation through the dungeons.
"Professor, I believe that the Felix Felicis you gave us was in fact another potion entirely. It has caused us, as Grey wisely says, to 'exchange bodies' but remain in our own mind and think accordingly. We have no access to each other's memories or thoughts," Riddle said.
After a minute or two, during which Slughorn stood in stunned silence, Elena swore she saw a look of dawning comprehension on his walrus face.
"Oh my dears, I have made a great mistake! I believe the potion that the both of you have taken is none other than the Draught of Somes Verto! I was brewing for the …um…seventh yea-… the headmaster and must have poured that in the bottles instead, as they both look like molten gold." Slughorn finished pathetically.
Even to Elena his excuse was pretty weak, and what he was or wasn't doing with the potion was currently not on Elena's mind who sought only one answer.
"Wait, but you can change us back, right? I mean, there's no way that could be permanent or something…RIGHT?" Elena cut the thick silence.
"Yes, yes of course Tom… uh… Ms Grey," Slughorn said uneasily, "however I'll have to brew the reversal potion which will most definitely take a week or two."
"TWO WEEKS?" Elena, still unused to having a deeper and louder voice, nevertheless used it to her full ability. It echoed through the tiny office causing Riddle to cover his ears and throw her a look of deepest disdain.
"Yes, Ms Grey, two weeks. And now would you and Tom kindly leave my study so I can return to 'Moonlit Tryst upon the Stars', a most captivating novel which I would heartily suggest you read. I have to find out what happens after the house is burnt for the seventh time."
Exchanging an incredulous look with Riddle (or herself really) they decided to leave the Professor alone, lest they be forced to read 'Moonlit Tryst upon the Stars'. They had only taken a few steps out of the office when Slughorn's voice rang out.
"Oh and please try to keep up the appearance of not having switched bodies, as I cannot let Dippe…uhm…I mean we can't let anyone else find out as you never know who will take advantage of you situation. Try to learn as much about each other as you can, so as to not arouse suspicion."
Trying her hardest not to let the swear words escape Riddle's virgin mouth, Elena gnashed her teeth in rage. I can't believe I am stuck in this STUPID body for TWO BLOODY WEEKS! And what's more, RIDLLE IS IN MY BODY! Who know what pandemonium he'll cause in there! Today was just a prime example! UGH!
Before she knew what was going on, a small hand clamped around her wrist and pulled into a concealed tapestry.
"OI WHAT ARE YOU DOI-", she was about to shout when Riddle covered her mouth with her own hand. "Stop shouting," he seethed, "I've pulled you in here so that we can discuss precarious situation and what we can do about it."
"FINE," she said, "First off, I cannot have you dressing like that. People are going to think I'm some kind of a swotter (A/N: that's british slang for 'nerd' in case anyone was confused)." She flicked her wand, muttering some charm, and before he knew it, the skirt Riddle was wearing had shrunk to a quarter of its original length.
"There. That's good for starters, and about the hair…" After much consideration she opted for her usual side fringe and shoulder length wavy hair. Tom looked down in horror and saw that his shirt sleeves had now been rolled up to the elbows and the top three buttons were undone.
"This is not the time for petty details. We have to find out how we are going to keep our friends from discovering what has happened."
"Friends that call you their lord?" She asked smirking "Is there something I should know, Riddle?"
"They merely do that to express their acceptance of my superior skill and power," Tom replied loftily. Elena burst out laughing but once she saw his composed look, she realized that he was completely serious.
After throwing her an angry look, Riddle continued, "And pray tell, how I am supposed to walk in this skirt you have put me in. It is closer to resembling a belt than a skirt."
"I am not going to teach you how to walk Riddle, you're going to have to find out on your own, and besides, this is double the length of my usual attire…By the way, nice wand, really, it's ace. It's been working exceptionally well and seems very powerful."
"I know that my wand is better than all the others (A/N: THATS WHAT HE SAID!), I just want it back before you wreak even more havoc with it."
She huffed and made to leave the enclave. "Before you leave, since you got to choose how I'll be dressing in your body, it is only fair that I should do the same."
Without waiting for an answer he said, "Now, I want my shirt tucked, my pants at a suitable level, my hair looking as though it has seen a comb, and my face shaved."
"I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SHAVE!" she cried out. Riddle rolled his eyes and said, "Presumably you are a witch, and hopefully not a mudblood," he ignored her outrage at the word and ploughed on "so here's the spell which will tell you what to do."
After telling her the incantation, she made to leave for a second time but was again stopped. "Your mind seems to not be working today Grey. How were you planning on entering the Slytherin common room? I of course know the Gryffindor common room as you people just cannot seem to be able to keep your mouths shut about it. But I will need the password."
Sighing, she said "Well the password's bubbletea and the entrance, as I'm sure you know, is behind the Fat Lady's portrait."
"Ah, I see. Now the Slytherin password is the-correct-way-to-create-a-basilisk-is-to-hatch-a-chicken's-egg-under-a-toad." He ignored her incredulous expression and asked THE question he needed answered. "And HOW are we going to bathe? I assure you, scourgify won't take care of it for two whole weeks."
Blushing a color that Tom had never seen appear on his face before, Elena said "Ok, so DON'T LOOK and just um…wait, I know! Disillusionment Charms! Right before stepping in, cast one and we won't need to worry about screwing up our eyelids to not catch a peek."
"I must say Grey, I am impressed. Perhaps your mind is on today. Well, well, we can just go to the common rooms now. And don't forget; meet behind Gregory the Smarmy's statue tomorrow morning before breakfast." Riddle said and climbed out of the tapestry.
Tom made his way back to that infernal madhouse, or the Gryffindor girl's dormitory. Sure enough, three of them were clustered around a fourth who was eagerly reciting all the times she had seen Tom in school today.
"Did you see how he was dressed this morning? I really think that the scruffy look suits him, don't you?"
"Well, he did look ravishing today, but what brought about such a change in him do you think?"
"Well I'm sure Elena, Ms. I-Know-And-Talk-To-Tom-Riddle would know. So tell us, what brought about the dramatic change in his ensemble?"
Tom just stood there, making futile attempts to get over shock of walking in on a rather heated debate about his wardrobe.
"Well, um, he did mention that, um, he was working late on his uh History of Magic essay last night and so uhm forgot to set the alarm this morning." Tom came out with a flimsy explanation leaving the girls less than satisfied.
"Yeah, just admit you're not as good friends with him as you let on, Elena," the platinum blonde (a/n: just so you guys aren't confused, the platinum blonde is KATE and the blonde is CHARLOTTE) smirked.
"No, she is- uh, I mean, I am. We are partners for potions and nearly every other subject. Riddle just, uh, doesn't acknowledge it."
Tom didn't know why he had just blurted that out. He definitely didn't consider himself to be friends with that Grey girl. He didn't even like her…did he? She was nice enough, fiercely loyal, disarmingly intuitive...No, friendship is a sign of weakness, he thought to himself. No one really needs friends to move forward or to succeed in life. In fact, they only serve as hindrance.
But she would make a good Death Eater... if she liked you.
"Right. I really believe you Elena."
Sighing at the ludicrousness of the sixth year girls, he decided to go back to sleep.
"Elena, why are you sleeping in your uniform?"
Stupid, annoying girls.
He opened her trunk and searched around for something that could be deemed appropriate for sleepwear. What he found instead was an excruciatingly short pair of shorts, with what looked like a strange yellow sponge with a face and a pink overweight starfish on them. (A/N: we're sure you ALL know who they are) After further digging he found a matching top…if you could call it a top. It had no sleeves and no buttons either. It looked short enough to come up to just the waistband of her shorts. Was this the kind of clothing she wore? What if someone saw her?
Gritting his teeth, he made his way to the bathroom and put on the dreadful clothing. It was looser than it looked and it did cover everything which was a surprise. When he came out, no one looked at him oddly and in fact, they all seemed used to the fact that Elena dressed differently.
The rest of them, were decked in long lacy nightgowns except for the blonde who was in some kind of a TRANSPARENT negligee. Tom blinked quickly, erasing the image from his mind and climbed into bed. Saying he was scarred for life was an understatement.
Tom couldn't believe he was going to have to go through this for two whole weeks. He sighed. Let the torture commence.
Elena walked back to the Slytherin common room where she gave a portrait of some old bloke the password (the correct way to create a basilisk is to hatch a chicken's egg under a toad) and walked in to the green and silver dormitory.
Immediately, she was ambushed by two random boys in her dorm. "WHOA WHOA, BACK OFF. I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU."
"My lord, we were merely wondering what took you so long although we do have a bit on an idea," the blonde one smirked. She immediately recognised that smirk which she had previously seen on one Draco Malfoy. This must have been his grandfather, Abraxas or something, Slughorn frequently talked about him in potions class in the future. She wondered why he didn't mention Tom. Oh right…He goes by Voldy now.
"Is that why you have become much more pleasant now my lord?" The dark haired one added.
Elena stared shocked. Did they know about her being in Riddle's body?
"Because you've been getting it off with that Grey girl?" He winked.
"WAIT WHAT?" She screamed as it dawned upon her. THEY THOUGHT she was SHAGGING Riddle? Admittedly on several occasions it may have crossed her mind but that was out of the question. This was just too much.
"OF COURSE NOT! WHY WOULD I UHH INDULGE MYSELF…WITH A GRYFFINDOR?"
There was a murmur of agreement but they did not let it go. "But we heard you this morning…and saw you run off with her two times today, once in the forest and once behind some tapestry…"
"Oh, that...uhh, we were just talking about…POTIONS!"
He raised an eyebrow sceptically.
"NO, REALLY!"
"My lord this is extremely hard to believe given the evidence."
"Alright, can you stop calling me 'My Lord' please," she asked.
"But you asked us to call you that in the first place…"
"Well, I changed my mind. I now only go by Tom and it should only be fair that I call you two by your given names." She waited as her genius way to find out their names slowly backfired.
They gave her a strange look and walked away muttering, "He's been addled in the brain. I've heard sex can do that to you. Especially in large doses."
Elena put her head in her hands. Great, now she had another thing on her list. To convince Riddle's doormats…uhh, I mean dorm-mates that she wasn't shagging Tom Riddle.
A/N: There, now Avery and Malfoy told Elena they think she's sleeping with Tom...hmm, what havoc will this cause? And does the rest of the school think so too? You'll find it all out next chapter so PLEASE review! Anyone notice the thats-what-he-said about Tom's 'wand' ? ;)
HERE IS AN EXCERPT FROM ZE NEXTE CHAPTUER (fail french accent)
The house elves brought them immediately and Tom stared condescendingly at his plate of chocolate chip waffles.
"Go on, eat it!" Elena encouraged.
He hesitantly took a bite and chewed thoughtfully. "Hmm, they are good…"
"Good? That's all you can say?"
"Ok fine. They are very good," he took another bite.
She smiled knowingly. "I told you, you would like them."