Chapter 4

Skyler woke up and instantly regretted it. Her stomach churned and her head felt like it had been trampled by a rampaging Hypogriff. She went to the Hospital Wing.

Madam Pomfrey didn't ask any questions, even though it was obvious what she'd been doing, and gave her some green liquid to stop her being sick, and a yellow tablet to sooth her sore head.

She walked to the girl's bathroom, trying to piece together what had happened.

She could remember winning the duel and going up to the common room with a crowd of supporters, she could remember drinking, of course she had or else she wouldn't be so hung over.

She reached the girl's bathroom and walked over to the sink. There was no one else there. She looked critically at herself in the mirror and splashed some cold water on her face to try to wake herself up a bit.

Suddenly, as she glanced at her mouth in the mirror she remembered it.

The kiss. Tom's lips on hers. The feeling, the taste, everything. She leaned heavily on the sink. She remembered Tom had stopped very suddenly, he was... angry with her? Or with himself? She had said something stupid. And he had left. She groaned loudly and hit herself on the forehead with her palm.

"Hellooo!" A loud voice said.

Skyler covered her mouth to stifle a scream.
A ghost appeared. A ghost of a girl. A girl, slightly younger than her with glasses and plaits.

"What do you want?" Skyler demanded, realising it was only Myrtle. She'd seen her before; on her first day when she nearly fainted from shock.

"I want to help you in your problems!" Myrtle said in her high-pitched voice.

"Oh great." Skyler said sarcastically.

"And don't say your problems are bigger than mine, because I'm dead!"

"I know!" She said, exasperated.

"So tell me," Myrtle settled herself on a sink. "What's troubling you?"

"You know... Tom Riddle?"

Myrtle looked excited, "Ooh yes I know him! I see him often, down in the Prefect's baths!" She giggled.

Skyler's cheeks flushed.

"Okay, well he kissed me last night." She said uncomfortably.

"He did?!" Myrtle squealed, "Oh you lucky girl!"

"Not really, he seemed annoyed at me."

"So he was angry? And passionate..." Myrtle sighed dreamily, disappearing down the plughole.

Skyler rolled her eyes and put on some eye-liner.
She sniffed her shirt. It reeked of booze. She walked down to the Prefect's baths, forgetting who was often seen there.
Thankfully he wasn't there. No one was. Skyler got undressed self-consciously and slipped into the water. She turned on some taps, expecting water but squeaking when bubble bath and shampoo started to pour out. She breathed in the scent of lavender and leaned back against the edge of the bath, closing her eyes.

Tom went downstairs for his usual bath. The place seemed deserted. He pulled off his clothes and slid into the bath. There were a lot of bubbles, more than normal.
Suddenly Tom heard a high-pitched giggle and Myrtle came shooting out of a nearby tap.

Tom groaned. "Damn you, Myrtle! Haven't you spied on me enough?"

Myrtle didn't say anything but floated over to the over side of the bath. She pointed down into the water and put her finger to her lips, sniggering.

Then Skyler came bursting out of the water, unable to hold her breath for any longer.

Tom looked shocked then glared at her, "What are you doing here?"

She scowled back, "What the hell do you think? I hid when you came in because I thought you were a Prefect or something."

Tom sighed and leaned his elbow on the side of the bath.

They sat in awkward silence for a few minutes.

Then Skyler said, "Okay, I'm getting out."

Tom looked over at her then looked away, embarrassed as Skyler pushed herself up out of the bath and padded across the room, practically no shame whatsoever. Tom did have a look at her, once she'd put on her towel, he did have a bit of decency. He felt his cheeks heat up a little as he did so. Her long legs, pale and smooth, her wavy jet black hair, hanging down to slim hips. Tom sighed quietly and looked back at the water.

"I'm decent!" Skyler called as she padded over to the other side of the bath, wearing pearl grey underwear and a t-shirt. She bent down and picked up a bracelet and slid it onto her wrist. Tom noticed a tattoo on her wrist and another on her back.

She looked at him, arms folded, "See enough?"

Tom looked embarrassed, not meeting her gaze.

"Sorry about last night, by the way." Skyler said, looking at the stained glass window, drying her hair as Tom got dressed.

Tom froze, pulling his shirt on. "What?"

"I said some stupid things, and humiliated you."

"What do you remember?" Tom said, walking over to her.

The towel was enchanted so Skyler's long thick hair was dry in a minute.

"Well, uh." She shifted awkwardly, turning around.

Tom was sure her cheeks weren't pink because of the heat alone.

"Oh."

Tom swore inside his head. She knew! Damn it, he'd thought she was so drunk she wouldn't remember a thing. But of course she had remembered it all. He felt like such a fool.

Tom made a troubled sound and turned his head away from Skyler. She looked at him then looked at her watch.

"It's late." She muttered. "We should get back to the common room."

"Oh, right. Yeah." He said, and followed her outside.

Skyler hushed him and looked around before walking outside carefully. Tom followed her. Almost at the portrait hole, they heard a noise and simultaneously broke into a run. Skyler whispered the password and Tom gave her a leg up. They both tumbled into the common room and came face to face with Malfoy.

"What are you doing out so late?" He said curiously. Then he noticed Skyler and grinned. He punched Tom on the shoulder, "Tom, you sly fox!"
Tom chuckled and followed Malfoy over to the dormitory steps.

"Excuse me?" Skyler said furiously, tapping him hard on the shoulder.

Tom turned reluctantly to face her.

"He thinks that we..." Skyler said, outraged. "But we didn't. And you're going to tell him we didn't?"

"I will, I will." Tom said.

Skyler gave him one last suspicious look and went up the steps to her own dormitory.