Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter world which is owned by J. K. Rowling. This story is written purely for entertainment purposes and the events which happen in this story are not canon. I am not profiting financially from this story. I only own my own plot ideas, which make up only a part of the plot, and original characters. Thank you J. K. Rowling for thinking up such a world as wonderful as Harry Potter.
Chapter #3
"Oh Tommy, darling, I'm free this weekend. Would you be up for some fun with me?" I watched Phyllis Berymere flirt with Tom.
It was a couple months into my fourth year school year at Hogwarts. I was currently in Defence Against the Dark Arts, along with Robert, Ruth, and Tom. We were supposed to be practicing all the spells we knew, as we would be having a duelling assessment next class. Basically, it's a free period as long as you're well-versed in your spells.
I looked the other way for a moment, but quickly whipped my head back around when I heard a shriek. What I saw surprised me. It was Phyllis; she lay on the ground seemingly unconscious, unmoving. It was her friend, Bernice Freiden, who had shrieked out of horror.
Everyone in the class turned towards the scene. Tom held his wand out, in the direction of Phyllis. Phyllis lay on the ground motionless several feet away from Tom. Under Phyllis was Paul Haze, a Ravenclaw. Phyllis probably flew into Paul as she was thrown back.
"Mr. Haze, are you alright my dear boy? Artorin, help Mr. Haze up please. Mr. Riddle, what exactly happened here?" our Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Merrythought, found her way through the crowd of students. She then proceeded to ask Jonathan Artorin to help Paul up from his spot under Phyllis, and to ask Tom to explain himself.
"I was preparing to cast a spell, when Berymere came up to me and spoke to me. I got distracted you see, and turned to Berymere, forgetting about my wand and the spell. And I accidentally stunned Berymere and knocked her back into Haze as well," Tom smoothly explained, always the smooth talker.
"Ah, I see. Alright then, Mr. Riddle, as you were the one who caused this mess, I see it only fit that you escort Miss Berymere to the Hospital Wing," Professor Merrythought told Tom.
"Yes, I agree completely, Professor," Tom said, respectfully.
Tom then proceeded to escort Phyllis to the Hospital Wing using wingardium leviosa. Right before he left though, I didn't miss the subtle smug look on his face. Soon after, class was back to normal.
"Paul, are you alright?" I asked Paul kindly.
"Yes, thank you for asking," Paul replied, politely. "Although, Berymere was heavier than I thought she'd be," Paul joked.
I giggled. "Paul, that's not very kind," I chided with a small smile.
"Well there's a reason I wasn't sorted into Hufflepuff," Paul retorted good-naturedly, a smile on his face.
"I suppose that's true to some extent," I acknowledged.
For the remainder of the class, I practiced spells with Ruth, although we mainly just talked about girl stuff.
As I was walking towards the Great Hall for dinner later that day, I came upon Tom. He was alone. I ran ahead to catch up with him.
"That wasn't a very kind thing to do to Phyllis," I stated, falling into stride with Tom, and staring straight ahead.
"What thing was it again? Please do remind me," Tom played dumb. As if he didn't know what I was talking about.
"Tom, you shouldn't stun people out of the blue," I chided lightly.
"She was annoying, I couldn't help myself," Tom defended. Although, if you ask me, it wasn't a very good defence.
"Tom, I know you have more self-control than that," I pointed out.
"Evelyn, not everyone can be nice little Hufflepuffs like you," Tom used the same tone of voice as I had, partly mocking me.
"Tom," I sighed exasperatedly, shoving Tom lightly with my shoulder.
"…You can go in first. I'll go in after you," Tom's tone of voice suddenly changed, becoming more serious and firm.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, sure. See you later then," I replied, after thinking a bit of what Tom was talking about, seeing as he jumped topics so suddenly. I pushed the doors of the Great Hall open, heading in, and leaving Tom standing off to the side to wait before entering the Great Hall.
It was a couple of days before the next time I saw Tom and spoke with him. On the following Saturday, I met Tom after dinner in an abandoned corridor. Since first year, we'd normally meet in the Room of Requirement instead of our original abandoned classroom. But occasionally, such as this Saturday, we'd meet in an abandoned corridor or somewhere irregular depending on what our planned activities were for the evening.
Today, Tom would be taking me outside. Occasionally, Tom would take me outside, and we'd spend time with animals. Tom has a gift allowing him to be able to communicate with animals and even control them. He has a special connection with snakes, he's a parselmouth after all. Tom truly is a gifted wizard, with superior intelligence and several unique gifts. His cunning intellect and shrewdness, his ability to speak Parseltongue, and his charisma and charm bunched together make Tom a triple threat, and give him an edge in life.
As I turned the corner into the abandoned corridor, I quickly spotted Tom already waiting for me. He met me halfway and cast the disillusionment charm on us. Then we both headed out of the castle and to the Forbidden Forest.
Students aren't allowed to go to the Forbidden Forest because it's full of dangerous creatures and such. But Tom and I always stay near the edge of the forest, and Tom knows many different kinds of offensive and defensive spells, as do I, so I feel very safe and confident.
As Tom and I walked into the forest, I wondered what creatures we'd see today. In the past, we've seen various birds, deer, snakes - attracted to the forest by Tom I suppose, and even a few centaurs.
Tom paused in his walking, silent. I paused too, curious as to why Tom stopped. I didn't ask Tom anything, I merely observed him and waited for him to speak. I knew not to interrupt him when he was thinking, he'd tell me what he wished for me to know and otherwise, I shouldn't ask.
I quieted my breathing and stayed still, listening to the sounds of the forest. Tom undid the disillusionment charm on himself, then he walked towards the left. I quietly followed behind him.
We came upon a small space, a deer before us. Tom spoke gently to the deer, being patient with it. The deer was a stag, and was the size of a small horse, although probably weaker than a horse. Tom soon subsequently removed the charm on me, making me visible to the deer. I wasn't too close to the deer though, so it wasn't too startled by my sudden appearance.
Tom continued to gently calm the stag. Soon after, I was petting the stag. He was very gentle, and very curious as well. He was probably a fairly young deer. He was initially shy, but after he got to know me a bit, he was very bold.
I gently stroked the stag's neck, Tom quietly observing.
I giggled as the stag nuzzled my face with his nose, "Tom, are you sure you don't want to come over here and play with the stag with me?" I asked Tom.
"I'm very content standing here, thank you," Tom replied, in his usual polite but detached manner.
"I truly wonder occasionally…how you can be so gentle yet so cruel at times," I thought quietly aloud.
"…There are many sides to a person, I suppose," Tom answered, somewhat vaguely.
"Yes, I suppose so," I agreed. "…Phyllis seems to really like you though. That wasn't nice of-"
"-She doesn't like me. She lusts after me, as do ninety-nine percent of all the girls in Slytherin house," Tom corrected, annoyed and scornful.
"…That's true, but I do wish you wouldn't 'accidentally' hit people with spells," I sighed.
"It's what they deserve. You're simply too soft," Tom blatantly answered.
I chuckled lightly. "Yes, that does sound like something you'd think."
I was too preoccupied with the beautiful handsome stag before me to really notice Tom coming up to me from behind.
Only after I felt an arm wrapping around my shoulders did I realize Tom had snuck up on me. His other arm rested on my other shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
"So, you've decided to join us, have you? Too lonely by yourself back there?" I joked, knowing full well that Tom never truly feels lonely.
"I dare say, Miss Evelyn, if I didn't know better, I'd say you didn't want me here," Tom joked in reply.
"Good thing you know better then," I leaned into Tom, smiling.
"…I think it best we be getting back," Tom suggested.
"Yes, I agree. Good bye, Monsieur Stag," I mock curtsied before the beautiful stag.
I then looped my arm around Tom's, letting my hand rest on his inner elbow. Tom lead the way back to Hogwarts Castle.