Title: Before the Fall

Author: Le Rouge du Sang

Characters: Tom Riddle/OC

A/N: I keep dragging this out, don't I? I apologize for the delay. I wasn't able to write over break, because my cousin was over and stuff. I'm so very sorry that it has taken me so long to get this chapter out. This past semester was a killer and then I had to study for the LSAT. I was also stuck as to how I wanted the scene with Tom to go.

I also meant to have this out yesterday, but my grandmother passed away. So I'm updating this and informing the two readers that read this story that I will probably be delayed in writing the next chapter.

Thank you again for sticking around.

Romance and Lost Friends

Nemesis's hand had left his and was now cradling her right cheek, where the red imprint of a hand was starting to appear.

"Victoria…" Nemesis quizzically looked at her friend.

"Don't. Just don't, Nemesis." Victoria's jaw clenched, she grabbed her bag from Tom, and stormed off in the direction of the dungeons.

Victoria was fuming. How dare Nemesis say those things, what gave her the right to talk about her in such a manner. After all, Victoria was the one that helped her whenever she asked, sometimes, she didn't even ask, but Victoria was always there. She never asked for anything in return, just Nemesis's friendship, but apparently, that was not possible.

Perhaps she was behaving childishly, the both of them were.

Victoria stopped in her tracks, realizing something. Her and Nemesis were fighting over Tom Riddle.

Tom Riddle was the catalyst for their entire fight. If he hadn't taken up interest in Victoria, she would never have even acted against Nemesis. She would have gone her entire Hogwarts life as a subordinate, as a sheep, just blindly letting Nemesis control her.

Thanks to Tom, she –

"Victoria!"

Tom came running up behind her.

"Do you know how hard it is to keep up with you? You walk too fast." He was panting slightly. He bent over slightly in order to catch his breath.

Victoria just stared at him. The corners of her lips turned upwards; he had actually run out after her, something her so-called friend did not do.

A few seconds went by, Victoria stood still, staring at him. He straightened his back, towering over her.

"I believe we were talking before being interrupted, correct?" His eyes were glinting.

Victoria was still staring at his face, mesmerized by every small detail that she now noticed.

"Victoria?"

"Huh – oh, yes."

"Victoria," his voice was lowered, it was now a breathy whisper. His eyes were boring into hers, "would you, by any chance, do me the honor of going on a date with me."

She felt his hands on hers, cupping her own; she felt his breath with every word the uttered. At that moment, Victoria swore, all of time stood still for her.

Victoria was struggling to speak; all words had left her, as well as the air in her lungs.

"I – um, well – uh…"

Tom visibly drew back, "it's alright if you don't want to, I understand."

"No! Wait!" She took a step forward and pulled his hands back towards her, "What I meant was, I would love to."

His face broke out into a grin.

"Wonderful. This weekend then? I know a spot in Hogsmeade."

"Yes, that would be fantastic"

She grinned as well.

Walking back to the common room, Victoria kept running the earlier events over in her mind. Everything about that moment was surreal; she had never, not even in her wildest dreams, imagined that Tom Riddle would be interested in her. She also never would have thought that she would be the type to become all giddy over a boy.

She stepped into the Slytherin common room, and her smile dropped. Nemesis was standing in the middle, looking directly at her.

"Oh Victoria!" Nemesis ran towards her and wrapped her arms around her neck, causing Victoria to stumble backwards a few steps.

"I was so worried. I don't know what's gotten into me. I'm terribly sorry for what I said and did." She put her hands on Victoria's shoulders and wore a frown on her face as she guided Victoria towards the couch.

Victoria was dumbfounded. Did Nemesis actually believe that she was going to be forgiven that easily?

"Vicky."

Victoria cringed, her patience was being tested.

"I just want you to know that whatever I did, I did because I care for you. I consider you a very close and dear friend. I just don't want that Tom fellow to harm you. I know what these boys are like. They see someone like you and they think you'll be easy. They don't see anything else. Just sex."

Victoria was resisting the urge to strangle Nemesis. How dare she say something like that?

"How is this any different than when boys are interested in you, Nemesis?"

"Oh, you're getting angry. I'm just trying to help you understand. I know how to handle these situations."

"What, you have experience, is that it?"

"No, that's not what I meant, Vic, and you know that." Nemesis put a hand on Victoria's arm and looked straight into her eyes. She seemed to be sincere in her pleas.

"I'm just – I'm your friend. I've been your friend since the very beginning. We grew up together, Vicky. You know I would never, in a million years, do anything to hurt you. Please, just be careful."

Nemesis offered a small smile, "I know that you like him, but just remember what I've told you. It's better to stay away from guys like him."

Victoria returned her smile; there was no point in starting a fight with someone like Nemesis. Victoria knew the consequences very well. Truth be told, she didn't feel that she had the energy to argue with Nemesis.

"I'll be careful, I promise."

Although every fiber of her being was screaming to kill Nemesis on the spot, she kept her cool. Nemesis was her friend, even if their friendship held no value for Nemesis.