Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter characters!
Chapter Six
Continuation
"What is the room of requirement?" Emma asked, a look of confusion plastered upon her face. Tom chucked.
"I read about it in a book when I was looking for my ancestry. It basically appears when you need it. I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who has ever found it.' He grinned, and then said, "After you, my dear."
Emma entered the room before Tom and gasped. It was so huge and beautiful. The walls were adorned with green and silver-the Slytherin colors, and the couches were fluffy and soft looking, made of black material. The entire far wall was covered with books that Emma could only assume were full of spells, and there was an empty fireplace grate in the far corner.
"I used to come here to think." he said quietly, walking over to the couch and sitting down. "I thought I should finally share it with you though... We can come here to talk or something."
"That would work better than the Common Room." Emma agreed, plopping down next to him and resting her head on the back part. She just realized how exhausted she was.
"I hate to say this, Em, but I do not think we'll be able to do this without Slughorn's help."
She looked over at him, concerned. Tom never wanted to get outside help; she could see sometimes that he struggled to ask her for assistance most of the time if he even needed it. "Are you sure? I know how you feel about him."
"He loves us. I am quite certain that our efforts will turn out in our favour." Tom replied, sitting back and allowing himself to relax. Emma found herself staring at him for some unknown reason. His hair was dark and put together properly, his skin was almost paler than hers—and completely blemish or spot free, and his eyes were so dark that sometimes she thought they were black.
There was no denying the fact that Emma found Tom Riddle incredibly attractive—every girl at Hogwarts did. She admired his personality even more though, and the fact that they were so similar. He was the only person she'd ever shown her true self to, and he accepted her for who she was. Or so... she hoped. Sometimes she was worried that he regarded her the way he did the rest of their group, and was completely lying about who he was.
"Do you want to go see him tomorrow, then?" Emma asked quietly, as if a million thoughts hadn't just been chasing through her head. He didn't answer, but he did stare at her for a few more moments before snapping out of a reverie.
"Yeah. After class, I guess. I know he doesn't have anyone after us." Emma barely heard what he said—she was self consciously tucking a piece of her hair behind her ears, wondering why he was looking at her like that. It was kind of creepy. "Emma?"
Tom was looking at her with something like concern on his face, and she completely snapped out of her daze. "Sorry." She said, "I'm really exhausted."
"Oh, do you want to go back to the Common Room?" He asked quickly, and she shook her head.
"I don't want to miss out on my Thomas time." She said with a sly smile. "And, we need to be out of here by ten because by that time, Olive will be in the hospital wing." Her smile turned even bigger, and Tom smirked.
"What exactly did you do to her?"
"You're going to think I'm mean and not want to hang out with me anymore." She said with big eyes; testing him.
"Emma, don't be ridiculous." Tom said quickly, putting a hand on her shoulder and leaning a bit closer to her, "Nothing would make me not want to hang out with you."
She seemed satisfied at the answer, and didn't press the topic any further. She took out her wand and pointed it at the grate, making flames shoot into the cold, concrete box. They crackled for a moment before settling down.
"So how's Malfoy?"
Emma looked over and rolled her eyes. "He was complaining this morning about us talking in the Common Room."
"Want me to tell him he's forbidden to see you anymore?"
Emma shot Tom a sharp look. "No." She said, "You shouldn't use your powers over them for something that insignificant."
"It's not insignificant." Tom stated flatly, and Emma dropped the subject.
"I don't really even like him much," She said, "My parents do though. As you know... they're sticklers about tradition. They want me to marry Brax."
Tom looked closely at her. "Do you want to marry him?"
"I suppose so." She replied slowly, "I mean, he's rich and nice, and I know that my future would be set, and since he's a pureblood, my parents approve of him."
Tom couldn't help but thinking thathe could get his parents to approve of him if he really tried, but he cast the thought away immediately. After four years, he, of course, had thought about Emma in that way—she was the prettiest girl in their year after all, and happened to consider him her best friend, but it was way too cliché for his taste.
"Well then I certainly won't interfere with fate."
She bit her lip and looked at him for a second, before taking a breath and standing up. "We should get back on the radar now." She said, and he stuck his hand out for her to grab and pull him up.
He led them out of the room, and almost immediately after the door sealed itself shut, they heard ear piercing shrieks. "Let's go." Tom said seriously to Emma, and they ran towards the source of the noise. They saw Slughorn, Dumbledore, and Dippet, as well as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, who was also the head of Hufflepuff, Professor Merrythought.
"What's going on?" Emma asked as soon as they got to the group, and she actually had to hold back a smile when she saw that they were shielding a very bloody, mutilated Olive.
"Professors, you get Miss Horby to the hospital wing. I have to return to my office to deal with Miss Abbott." Dippet said quickly, "I'll explain the situation to Miss Ashwood and Mister Riddle."
"Professor—are you sure that's a good idea?" Dumbledore. Of course. Emma turned to look at his face quickly, which was showing no emotion except mild concern.
"Why wouldn't it be, Albus?" Merrythought asked, shifting her thoughtful expression to the two teenagers, "Tom and Emma are at the top of my class—if anyone was qualified enough to handle these situations, it's the two of them."
Dumbledore didn't say another word; he merely strode away, beckoning Slughorn and Merrythought to follow him. Emma sent a small, subtle smile to Tom who returned that with a nod, and they followed Professor Dippet upstairs. The excursion was a very quiet one. They walked up to the entrance, Armando said the password quietly, and the three of them ascended up the staircase.
Rebecca Abbott was standing in the middle of the room, completely unphased. "Miss. Abbott. Can you explain your actions from tonight?" Dippet asked, and Rebecca shrugged.
"Olive is a bully. It was time she got what she deserved."
Emma was laughing on the inside. "Professor, Olive is quite mean." She backed Rebecca up on this one, knowing that her support wouldn't nearly be enough.
"That is true, but regardless, Olive Hornby will have to spend a month in St. Mungos." Dippet said quietly, "I'll have to call the Ministry and your parents and have you expelled."
Emma looked over at Rebecca, eager to see what her next move would be. "But sir, I didn't use magic to hurt Olive. I used a knife."
"That's still reckless! It's assault! Your impulsive behaviour will have to be addressed." He looked over at Tom and Emma, "As you can tell, Miss. Abbott attacked Olive Hornby with a knife earlier this evening. Mutilated her face, almost hit severe organs. She's lucky she wasn't killed."
"Sir!" Emma gasped, "That's horrible! She ought to be expelled then, for that kind of behaviour."
"What say you, Tom?" Dippet asked, "Any words to weigh in?"
"Nothing in particular, sir." Tom said slowly, "Just that I'm sure you'll make the right decision."
Dippet smiled and dismissed the two of them. Tom and Emma hurried back to the dungeons quickly and without a word to each other—standing almost five feet apart in from each other in case Dumbledore was lurking about.
They got in and collapsed on their couch in the corner of the Common Room.
"Tomorrow, we talk to Slughorn." Tom vowed. Emma nodded in agreement.
"Tomorrow."
A/N: Sorry it's so short! But after this chapter the ball on the Chamber gets moving, and in maybe three or four chapters, we might see some Basilisk action ;) I've actually got so many ideas written down in this little notebook, and so many scenarios, but when I go to type it it's all awkward.
Thanks for all the "favourites" I'm getting! I appreciate all of you who read my stories! If you're interested in reading a different kind of Potter fanfiction, set in this exact time period, starring myself and my good friend Katelyn (but it includes a lot of the original Harry Potter characters and some of the new gen as well) then go to my profile, because I have the link to the site that is on! Thanks again!