"I still can't believe you have to work with Tom Riddle," Miri said incredulously.

Norah and Miri were sitting in the common room in front of the fire. It was ten minutes to eight and Norah was about to leave for her patrol with Tom.

"I know, I know," Norah said as she paced in front of the fire. "But it won't be too long I'm sure. Only a couple of hours two times a week."

"Yes, but it's Tom Riddle. You remember, the boy who has been neck-in-neck for top grades with you since first year? Norah, stop acting like you don't care, because I know you do."

Norah sighed. Miri and her had been best friends since they were both small children. They were practically sisters, and their minds worked the same way. Sometimes it wasn't such a good thing.

"Yes, you're right. It's just that I have to put up an act because Professor Dippet might make me head girl next year."

Miri rolled her eyes. "Since when have you been persuaded by bribery, Norah?"

Norah turned toward her and laughed. "Since this is something I've wanted forever. And if this is what I need to do to get it than so be it."

Miri smirked. Norah ignored her and pulled out her pocket watch. It was five to eight.

"Miri, I have to leave. I'll see you after the patrol."

Miri smiled even wider and went off to bed. Norah left the common room, lit her wand, and arrived in the entrance hall at eight on the dot. Tom was already there, leaning casually against the banister.

Norah cleared her throat. "Evening, Riddle."

He swiftly walked around the banister, holding his own lit wand aloft, and stood in front of Norah. "Evening, Norah."

Norah blinked. Norah? she thought. She shook her head slightly and moved on.

"Well, Professor Dumbledore told me that for patrol we should start at floor seven and work our way down. Twice."

"Yes, that is what Professor Slughorn told me also," he said. His face was furrowed, scrutinizing something. His eyes moved from Norah's face, to her crossed arms, and back.

Norah noticed this odd behavior. "Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing. It's just…" he abruptly smiled and chuckled. "Nothing."

Norah's eyes narrowed and she quickly turned and started back up the stairs, leaving Tom to follow.

They walked in silence, the only sound was their footsteps on the stone floor. They reached the top floor and began around the floor, still saying nothing.

Tom gave Norah a sideways glace and took a deep breath. "So, did you happen to hear how long these patrols will last?"

Norah looked at him as they rounded the corner. "No, actually, I didn't."

Tom mumbled something about "…better to do."

Norah gnashed her teeth and looked out the passing windows. I cannot believe this, she thought. He's more arrogant than I thought!

She sighed. Maybe I could make this a bit easier. Small talk might make the time pass quicker.

"So…Tom, um, how do you think you did on that essay in Potions?"

His scrutinizing face returned, but he didn't look at her. "Well, I don't see why Slughorn wouldn't give an appropriate grade for my description of calming draughts and their properties."

They turned the corner. "How confident are you in receiving a good grade?"

Norah shrugged. "I'm sure I was thorough in my paper."

Tom snorted quietly. "Slughorn showed me your last paper on the uses of moonstones in potions. Not exactly the best essay I've read."

Norah could feel her face flush with anger. How dare he criticize me that way!

She took a deep breath. Let it go, Norah. Arguing won't solve anything.

"Is there something wrong?" Tom was staring at Norah with an eyebrow raised.

"No, I'm perfectly fine," she said through gritted teeth.

Tom cleared his throat and continued the conversation. "You see, in your essay you forgot to mention the difference between a memory serum with moonstones and without. Anybody could've remembered that in there report."

"If I recall right, I did include that in my paper," Norah said, giving him a fierce look.

"No, you didn't. You talked about ecstasy elixirs, but no memory serums."

Norah dropped it and looked back out the window. I swear I wrote about memory serums, she thought.

As they continued around the next corner, Norah noticed an open door. She stopped and raised her wand higher.

"What is it?" Tom asked, stopping as well.

Norah pointed toward the open door and continued toward it slowly. She approached the doorway cautiously and pointed her wand into the room.

She saw something move out of the corner of her eye and turned her head to see the dark outline of a human standing in the nearest corner of the broom closet. It began to slowly move toward her in the dark.

Norah's breath caught in her throat and she stood frozen for a split second. She regained her ability to move and acted quickly.

"Expelliarmus!"

The shape eluded her spell and continued toward her. Norah shrieked and jumped back away from the figure. Pointing her wand at the dark figure, she shot a second disarming spell and the figure flew back against the wall. Lowering her wand to illuminate the dark mass on the floor, Norah saw it was only a practice dummy. She felt her face redden, not from anger but embarrassment, as she heard a chuckle from behind her. She turned and saw Tom lowering his wand with an amused grin on his face.

"I thought Gryffindors were supposed to be strong of heart! What was that?"

Norah's mouth dropped slightly. He had animated the dummy to move toward her.

"I cannot believe you! Animate a dummy to scare your patrol partner, very mature, Riddle."

Norah shoved past him as he began to laugh again. As she walked away she faintly heard him mumble, "…just like a half-blood."

She stopped and whipped around to face him.

"Excuse me?! Alright, Riddle, I can tolerate your ego, and I can even tolerate your practical jokes, but when you begin to criticize my blood status that is where I draw the line! Just because I'm competition does not mean that I don't deserve respect. And my skills and bravery have nothing to do with whether or not my blood is pure."

Tom watched her with a smirk on his face. Norah quickly crossed the space between them and jabbed her finger into his chest.

"You listen to me, Tom Riddle. Others may fall for this perfect student act you've put on, but don't think you can fool me. I know what your Slytherin followers call you….Lord Voldemort," she said with disgust.

Tom's smirk faded and he backed away from her. "Who told you that?"

"That's of no consequence. I'm just telling you now: I may have to work with you on these patrols, but I don't have to be near you to do so."

Norah stalked off to the nearest staircase, leaving Tom standing in awe behind her.

"Where are you going?" he called from behind her.

"To patrol the lower floors."

As she descended the flight of moving stairs, Norah felt relieved by what she had said to Tom. I'm not going to be conned by that arrogant, self-centered, Slytherin, she thought to herself.

Norah made her way back to the entrance hall and continued down into the dungeons. She continued her patrol and made her way up slowly.

When she had reached the second floor, she pulled out her watch. It was a quarter past twelve. HE should be done with he upper floor. We'll just pass and continue in the directions we are going.

As she rounded the next corner, Norah heard quick footsteps coming toward her in the dark. A second later, Tom became visible by the light of her wand. They gave each other a quick look and continued on their own ways.

Just a few more weeks, Norah tried to convince herself. You can survive a couple more weeks.