20 years before :
August 28, 1976
It was the end of the first week of school.
Wednesday to be exact.
The summer break had been useful, and filled with information.
Upon the rumors that broke out at the end of term last year, Sirius and I decided to keep the charade that was started of us dating.
Of course, we didn't count on him catching feelings towards me and ending up behaving like a complete dunce.
I had just gotten out of double Potions. I was walking down the corridor when I saw an image that made my blood run cold. My face beginning to heat up in anger as an automatic reaction.
I began to feel the stinging pain of betrayal and rejection as I saw Sirius Black snogging with Siomara Maclaven and embrace her lovingly.
It was a desperate call for attention, and more humiliating than hurtful.
As I walked passed I noticed Lily Evans, Alice Blake, and Molly Prewett stood a few feet away from them, laughing at something.
As the humiliation began to grow I turned and began walking rapidly down the corridor quickly making my way through the castle, trying to avoid everyone that bumped into me, while keeping my head down as I passed them.
I thought about hiding out in the girls lavatory or the small cabin near the edge of the Forbidden Forest but hiding out just seemed like a cowardly thing to do. Especially when I hadn't done a thing to deserve the humiliation I was being subjected to.
'You are a coward'. A voice in the back of my mind snarked in.
'Shut it, you!' I thought back, quickly pulled the hood of my cloak over my head and picked up my pace as I walked into the darkened woods.
'Bloody drag this day has turned out to be.' I thought angrily to myself, as I walked through the Forbidden Forest towards the lake, fighting tears the entire way there.
I slowly walked towards Black Lake. I found a hollowed-out log to sit on, just in time for me to fall apart, salty bitter tears running down my face like a babbling brook.
I sat on the hollowed out log, watching as the sun reflected from it, looking towards the horizon and all the colors the sun cast as it shined from the sky like a bright, glowing orange orb.
Humiliation, embarrassment and anger slowly beginning to bubble within me.
I sighed, shaking my head trying to get rid of the feelings I held.
Stupid moronic, no good excuse for a boy.
Well, at least it wasn't what one considered love. No, I couldn't really classify it as love, it was more like attraction or interest, platonic, if you can even call it that. Now all I feel towards Sirius Black is immense disgust, and a little bit of self-loathing towards myself for thinking of him in any other way besides friendship.
I was so distracted by my self-wallow that I didn't realize that someone had walked in my direction.
It was too late by the time I did, I heard the leaves crunch beneath the person's footsteps and a tree branch snap in half as it was stepped on.
A second later, I screamed in terror as I felt a hand clamp down and squeeze lightly on my shoulder, a hand clamp down over my mouth. Surprising me as they did so. I bit down on the hand, gasping in surprise as I was quickly released and fell to the ground unexpectedly.
"Ouch!" the voice said.
I quickly scrambled to get on my feet. Quickly turning and gasping in surprise, terrified of who it may be. I scrambled to while out my wand out to defend myself if need be.
"Hello Anna." He said, a small smile on his lips, amusement clear on his handsome face.
"T-tom?" I asked, unsure and rather surprised, his forest green eyes shining as the sunset reflected off of them.
He gave me his signature sly smirk, looking down as I sat back down again with a heavy sigh, probably waiting for me to invite him to sit down.
I wasn't planning to, preferring to be alone at the moment. Judging by the pinprick I was beginning to feel on the sides of my head, I probably need to stay alone for a while to calm myself actually, before I could speak to anyone at all.
"Did you need something, Riddle?" I asked rudely, no feeling well enough for company, trying to ignore the prick I felt.
"Actually, I just wanted to see if you were alright. I saw what happened earlier with Sirius Black and the Gryffindor girl earlier, I just wanted to—" He began, before I interrupted raising my hand up in the air at him, stopping him midsentence.
"Don't." I said harshly cutting him off, before he continued to rub salt in the wound, tears beginning to form in my eyes again, the pin prick on the side of my head began turning into a slight throb now.
"I knew what people said about him, and... I-I didn't listen." I admitted, swallowing around the golf ball that formed in my throat, forcing myself to take a deep calming breath and shaking my head before continuing.
"I- I thought that they were just silly rumors. But I- I guess they weren't. An-anyways, I'll be alright, Tom, you don't need to worry. You can leave now, if that's all you needed to know. Then, I am sure your buddies will be wondering where you are." I sneered, turning to face another direction.
Hoping that jab would get him to leave.
He, however, didn't make any attempts to leave or give any indication that he wanted to leave, choosing to stand there and stare at me.
So, I turned my back to him, once more, attempting to ignore him.
After a few minutes in silence I realized I was going to have to get him to leave.
"You should probably head back to the castle now, Tom. You know that Slytherins and Gryffindors don't exactly see eye to eye, they'll have a fit if they find out that you are here, talking to me, again." I sighed, closing my eyes and willing the throbbing on the side of my head to cease or decrease in the slightest.
"Do you really wish for me to leave you alone that badly?" He asked, quietly.
"Yes, thank you, for checking on me. You should probably get back to your common room or wherever you usually hang out as should I, before we both get into trouble. With the way our heads of houses are, they'll probably be giving us detentions or be deducting points to our houses. Well, not Slughorn but rather Beattie. You should already know how she is." I muttered, over my shoulder.
I turned to watch the sky begin to grow darker; it's beautiful pink, orange and purple hues changing into a deep ebony color with a few flashes of white, as I sat there, watching in silence. I could sense that he was still behind me. I truly wondered what it was going to take to get him to leave me alone.
Seeing him all the time during school breaks isn't enough, now he won't leave me alone. I was too lost in thought I hardly paid attention to my surroundings, that could be lethal.
Suddenly, he stepped into my peripheral vision, looking down at me.
He, then, proceeded to snatch my arm into his hand, and pull me up to my feet and practically began dragging me back in the direction of the school, behind him.
I briefly wondered if he was worried I would stay after dark, endangering myself, or do something idiotic while I am all alone out here. I quickly shot that thought down when I remembered our huge fight at the end of third year.
'He can't care about me, things always happen to those I care about, and I always wind up losing those I care about.' I thought, sadly following behind him mindlessly.
We were almost at the edge of the woods when I began to drag my feet in the uneven dirt and roots of trees. That caused me to almost end up falling back and to bring him down with me.
He turned to look at me. His green eyes held a coolness that made me flinch back, yet he wore patient expression on his face.
I smiled at him, innocently in response, which caused him to roll his eyes in response and stare at me with a hidden emotion, sighing and shaking his head before he spoke again.
"Do you really wish for me to pick you up and throw you over my shoulder to carry you all the way to the Gryffindor tower? Because if you don't stop acting childish, I will do it. Anna, you know, I always keep all of my promises." He threatened stepping closer to me threateningly.
"Will you really?" I challenged, unable to myself hold back.
"Anna..." he half growled, half warned.
A brief image of us, when we were younger in an unfamiliar room flashed before my eyes, when he spoke. I suddenly felt the sensation of my eyes beginning to water as I watched him.
I shook my head, trying to shake off the feeling. Quickly turning to look at him before deciding my options.
I chose to cross my arms over my chest, and stick my tongue out at him, in a petulant childish manner.
He rolled his eyes at me once more before he took a threatening step towards me, causing me to squeal in response and take a step back. He stared at me for a second before he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder like I weighed two stone rather than eight and a half stone .
I whacked his back hard, multiple times with my fists, as he quickly and skillfully walked in a fast pace, up the steep hill, not even breaking a sweat or breathing rapidly. I only managed to kick him once in his stomach before he secured both of my legs with both his arms. Feeling one of his hands grasped my upper thigh.
"You better stop it, Anna, or I swear on Merlin that I'll hex you into next Sunday." He threatened lowly, after he groaned , almost losing his balance and falling over, when I punched him in the kidney with my left fist. Hard.
He may have won, but I smiled to myself in satisfaction as I heard him groan every once in a while as we crossed the bell towers near the greenhouses.
I'm not sure if I imagined it or that it actually happened, but after the punch I delivered to his lower back, I felt the slight sting on my behind, causing my to freeze unsure of what to do.
'Nope, definitely didn't imagine it.' I thought wincing as my rear began stinging again.
It was then I knew I had to stop my antics, knowing he would, in fact, hex me. Skillful as he was I knew he wouldn't hesitate. Five minutes after I stopped the violence on his back, he set me down right at the bottom of the stairs that lead to the Gryffindor Tower.
He let out a low groan as he set me on my feet. Wincing slightly as he grabbed his lower back.
"Thank you." was all I said, looking down at my feet, not willing to meet his penetrating gaze.
"Anna. I-I...I-I... damn it." He stopped, sighing exasperated.
"You're welcome, Anna. Tell me if you need anything or if there is anything I can do for you. I won't hesitate to help you." He said, his jewel-like, forest green eyes warm as he half smiled down at me.
I nodded in response, smiling at him too, before turning to go up the staircase and into the Gryffindor tower.
"Anna!" He called, running up the stairs towards me.
I turned to find him walking up the stairs behind me, practically slamming into me as he stopped a few inches away from me. He looked into my eyes, his eyes holding an unexplained, hidden emotion, before he pressed me against the wall, then leaned down to match my height before pressed his full, soft lips onto mine.
"Do you mind? People are trying to sleep here." One of the portraits complained, looking annoyed at us.
"Oh...Err... sorry." We muttered before turning to look at each other smiling.
"I'll- I'll see you around." He said, smiling and winking at me.
"You definitely will, Tom." I said, smiling up at him before he turned away to head back to dungeon that lead to the Slytherin common room.
I didn't notice that I was being watched until, I heard the porthole to the common room shut, the fat lady's eyes wide.
"Magno animo." I said, clearly, waiting for the door to open.
The portrait scowled at me before creaking opened. I whispered a 'thank you' before slowly walking into the common room, feeling drained of energy.
Little did I know that what I'd find would be utter complete chaos in the common room as I made my way inside.