Chapter
two- A healthy does of ridicule.
Waking
up the next morning after her first restless sleep in Hogwarts, Alice
stares up at the ceiling letting a loud yawn escape. Is hoping that
today, the novelty of having a new girl in seventh year will have
worn off to much to ask for? The answer is an obvious yes, it is too
much to ask for. Hearing muffled voices from outside the drapes Alice
sits up and pulls them aside hastily.
"Good morning
sunshine!"Ruby sings and from the corner of her eye Alice can see
Sam rolling her eyes, and mumbles a groggy, incoherent reply.
"There's a piece of parchment on top of your trunk," she
points, "I'm guessing it's your new timetable,"
Striding
over to it she finds that Ruby is right, a small folded piece of
parchment has settled itself on top of her trunk. Picking it up and
sitting down, she unfolds it gently almost worried at what she'll
see written on the inside.
"Defence Against the Dark Arts,
Charms, Divination, Ancient Ruines, Potions, History of Magic and
Transfiguration," she mumbles allowing a full blown groan to
escape. Never in her life has she had to study that many subject, and
at such an advanced level. Not that she won't be good at it, she's
an Abel, and talent comes naturally.
"Oh my," Sam squeals,
"we're in the same classes practically!"
"That means
you'll be in the same classes as Tom Riddle," Ruby adds with a
hint of malice.
"Tom Riddle?"
"He's a Slytherin, and
when you see him your legs will literally turn to jelly," Alice
turns to give Sam a questioning look and her only reply is a roll of
her eyes before she march's out.
"First class Defence
Against the Dark Arts," Alice mutters heading down to the first
floor. Of course most of the seventh years are put in a class
together due to their small majority. Stopping outside the classroom
she releases a long sigh, and then pushes open the door. The
classroom is plain in comparison to what she had thought it would be
like. A few shelves lining the walls with ancient looking books, and
a desk situated at the front of the class. Scanning the classroom she
notice's that most people have already sat down, but luckily Sam
had saved her a seat near the middle.
"Finally I thought you'd
got lost,"
"Sorry, I was preparing myself," she smiles
sitting down and chucking her bag under the desk. Scanning the
classroom she notices the different coloured robes all situated in
small segregated groups. The small group of Slytherins at the front,
which some of them don't seem to be too happy about by the looks on
their faces. The Ravenclaws sitting behind them in a larger group,
having what looks to be a heated debate. The Hufflepuffs are a little
more spread out, some in the front row and some in the back. Allowing
her eyes to survey the class one more time her eyes suddenly settle
on a Slytherin in the front row. His neat hair appears almost black
in the dim light, and for some reason it's as if he has a different
energy around him. As if he's more supreme than his fellow
housemates. She continues to stare unaware of the smirk slowly
forming on his face.
"See you've spotted Riddle," is all
Sam manages to say before the door barges open, and in walks the
professor. A tall, bulky looking man with a balding patch on the
crown of his head.
"Welcome seventh years, to what will soon
become the hardest and most daring class on your curriculum," his
words obviously attempting to strike fear in the hearts of his
students, and some of the Hufflepuffs cringe in their seats.
"Today
class we will be duelling," he grins, "see if any of you have a
fighting spirit,"
In no time the class has been split into
teams of two, and one by one each group rises to the front to perform
their duel. Two Hufflepuffs manage to knock each other out
simultaneously with a leg-locking curse. A few Ravenclaws appear to
be a little more advanced and after a few missed curses the taller
male manages to disarm the other and hits him with a binding body
curse.
Soon enough Tom Riddle saunters up to the front to face
his partner, none other than Lestrange. Deep down he feels pleased
that he'll be able cause un-necessary pain to the silly slob who
doesn't know when to keep his trap shut.
"Expelliarmus,"
Lestrange mumbles but Riddle detracts the spell with a twitch of his
wand and within seconds has cast the same spell non-verbally grabbing
hold of his partner's wand smugly. They settle back in their seats,
Riddle convinced that nobody will be able to beat him.
Next Alice
heads up to the front after being paired with a Ravenclaw male, and
quite a smart one as well by the looks of the books piled up on the
top of his desk. The minute they begin the geeky looking boy starts
to throw spell after spell at her only for them to be redirected by a
mere flicker of her wand. Minutes pass and soon she can begin to see
the cracks in his composure. Sure enough he falters giving her just
enough time to shout "Expelliarmus,"
deciding not to do anything too nasty.
In no time it's only two
people left standing, Tom and Alice, much to Tom's dismay. He had
known the moment he saw her defeat the Ravenclaw that she would be
the last to stand against him. She had played it smart deflecting the
spells until they began to show weaknesses, but her little plan would
not work on him.
Standing up from her seat Alice cautiously walks
up to the front aware that this will be the first time she and Tom
come face to face. In a duel, brilliant. If she had been wary a few
seconds ago that feeling quickly disperses as she see's the sly
smirk planted on Tom Riddles smug face as he stands across from
her.
"Smart moves Abel," he growls, "I hope you know those
tricks won't work on me,"
"Oh don't worry, I have a whole
bunch of spells I'd be happy to use on you, most of the involve
pain," she hiss's in reply, gaining a scowl from the
professor.
"Expelliarmus,"
she yells but he quickly deflects it with his shield. A few minutes
pass and after a few half hearted spells on his part which she
quickly deflects, she begins to realise that he's up to something.
Then it clicks. He can do non-verbal spells.
Tom can't help but
allow the smug expression on his face to grow as he see's her
falter, how he'd love to read her mind right now and extract all
the useful information so he could destroy her. Sending a half
hearted binding spell across the room at her he flinches as a large
grin appears on her face. Is she mocking him? In the tiny amount of
time it takes him to falter in suprise a silent spell comes bounding
towards him, hitting him square in the chest. It's only when he is
dangling upside down in the air by one leg that he realises it's a
levicorpus,
and that she has the ability to cast non-verbal spells as
well.
"Very well done Alice," the professor smiles casting the reverse spell and letting Tom Riddle down to face the girl who just made him look like a fool in front of their entire class. He watches as she puts her wand back in her pocket and shoots a satisfied smirk in his direction, then turns to look at the rest of the class. Half of them are attempting to stifle laughter and the rest are sitting as if they are suffering from post traumatic stress. How dare a girl like Alice Abel, a half-blood, attempt to ruin his reputation with silly little spells? If ever their was a time to pay, Riddle is sure that Alice's will be sooner than she thinks.
"Way
to not draw attention to yourself," Sam grins as Alice collects her
stuff as the professor announces end of class.
"I'm sorry but
from the looks of it he needed a reality check,"
"Yes, but you
do know this is going to spread,"
"and?"
"Well let's
just say, Tom Riddle doesn't take embarrassment lightly," and
with that, Sam will never know just how right she is.
After
lunch -which Alice and Tom both refused to attend, unbeknown to each
other -came Divination on the timetable. Clambering the stairs to the
North Tower Alice makes a mental note to look for a spell to make
climbing stairs a lot easier. Barging into the classroom she groans
loudly realising that she's five minutes late and everyone is
already seated.
"Ah Alice, so nice of you to join us," a
raspy voice speaks from somewhere in the corner. Looking around Alice
spots an empty seat near the front, bounding over to it without
looking around at who happens to be seated next to it.
"Yes, so
nice of you to join us," a mocking voice whispers as she flings
herself down on to the soft squishy armchair. Without turning around
she can already recognise Tom Riddles smooth voice.
"Take a
hike Riddle,"
"Gladly," with that they both turn around
glaring at each other.
"Today pupils we will be studying the
fascinating art of reading tea leaves," from the corner the tall
thin woman walks into the light, her star and moon glass's
reflecting the sun which seems to be pouring in from the round
windows, "please do begin, I feel great energy in this room,"
Rolling her eyes Alice picks up the cup in front squinting in at
the swirling tea. Divination has never really been her thing.
"You're meant to drink the tea," Riddle tuts peering at her
with his dense blue eyes.
"I knew that," she snaps in reply,
lifting the cup to her lips and sipping thoughtfully. After a good
few minutes of thinking about not a lot she turns to stare at Riddle
who seems to be rapidly writing something down in his note book.
"Got an infatuation problem Abel?" he smirks glancing at her
curious expression.
"No," she scoffs, "I'm just wondering
what I should be more surprised at, the fact that you seem to be
lacking when it comes beating a girl in a duel, or the fact you seem
to be at the top of your Divination class," with a satisfied smirk
in his direction she turns back around to glance into her cup. Seeing
a small swirly piece of mush right next to a long trail she racks
through her brain for something that could possibly look anything
like it.
"Snake," she mutters jotting it down on her notepad
and continuing to examine the tea leaves.
After a good half an
hour has passed the wacky looking teacher finally stands up clapping
her hands.
"Now class lets go around and see what we managed to
find, and who was able to extract the most from their tea leaves,"
she almost sings, "Tom?"
Leaning back in her seat Alice
folds her arms waiting for the Prince of Slytherin to speak.
"I
saw what appeared to be a clock, time will be a big part in my
future," he mumbles keeping his stone face emotionless.
"Very
good, ten points to Slytherin!" she laughs, and then her gaze
settles on Alice, unfortunately.
"Erm, well I saw a snake, I
think," she mutters looking into the teachers wide eyes, "maybe
it's because I'm sitting next to a leery eyed slimy Slytherin,"
most of the class attempt to cover their giggles, but if she was to
look at her left side she would see Tom Riddle's eyes flash with
anger. The teacher, obviously not amused gives her a cold glacier
gaze before moving on.
"Alice Abel I need to talk to you,"
Ruby squeaks settling herself down opposite her at the dinner table
as Alice attempts to wolf down the remainder of her pie before
heading to the library.
"What is this I've been hearing about
you and Tom Riddle?" Alice peers up from her plate and rolls her
eyes, not bothering to grace her with an answer.
"Apparently
you've been really nasty too him,"
"Nasty to him?" she
yells slamming her fork down on the table causing a string of peas to
go flying of her plate in various directions, hitting a first year
square in the eye.
"Yes, calling him names, using mean spells to
embarrass him, half the girls in the school are already plotting
against you,"
"Oh come on, it was a duel, it was the first
spell that came to mind!"
"Yes well a simple disarming spell
would have sufficed,"
Alice stares dumbfounded, "Are you
annoyed at me?"
"No, just try to be nicer in future,"
Rolling her eyes once again Alice stands up grabbing her bag and
heading up to the forth floor, and to the library. Tom Riddle
deserved everything he got. From the looks off it he spends far too
long with his finger up his ass. From Alice's point of view, she's
only helping him dislodge it, for his own safety of course.
Walking
into the library she stops in awe, looking up at the rows upon rows
of books. Always being a secret geek nobody has ever known about
Alice's love for books and knowledge, preferring to coop herself up
in bed late at night or sneak of to the dark corners of library's
to settle down and read. Dropping her bag on an empty table she
strolls through the isle's using her finger to scrape gently along
all the hard backs, skimming the titles as she goes. This has been
her first chance to look for information on how to get her memory
back. All she knows is that every since her parents have died
something has been missing, something that she can't quite grasp.
But maybe with the help of some books she'll be able to find
something that will help her gain the information she needs. After
delving deep into the dark corners of the library she finally comes
across a small section all about the brain and memory. Grinning
gleefully she reaches up to grab one of the books only for another
hand to reach up and snatch it away.
"Manipulation
of the Brain volume 1," Tom
Riddle reads in his smooth, even voice as she turns around to glare
at him.
"Give me that back Riddle or so help me I'll..."
she begins only to be swiftly cut of by the noise of him slamming the
book shut.
"Or you'll what, curse me again for one of your
stupid, irritating little pranks," he steps closer to her, his
voice only a whisper but the venom in it seething through the air.
"It was the first thing that came to mind at short notice,"
she cringes attempting to step back but only ending up flush with the
wall.
"That's not really a good enough excuse Abel," by now
he's so close to her she can feel his breath on her neck.
"Maybe
in future you'll be a little more careful," his voice is nothing
but a purr now, as he attempts to lull her into apologizing to him,
or putting fear into her heart, one of the two. However Alice takes a
daring step closer to him so their body's are almost pushed up
against each others, her sweet breathe blowing lightly on his
ear.
"You don't scare me Tom Riddle," and with that she
grabs the book from his hand and swiftly exits to the front of the
library, retrieving her bag and storming out. Leaving Tom Riddle in
what can only be described as a state of awe.
