Venenum
By Koryander
Chapter 7. Acanthophis - The Mortal Kiss.
Moving away from her, Tom tightened his grip on her jaw, forcing Hermione to look at him. The Polyjuice potion was losing its effect and Hermione's features began to appear. The hair that was once dark returned the brown tones that belonged to Hermione and began to grow again and rebel, the green of the eyes turned to light brown, the face became feminine again and she was back to her normal height.
Tom watched her from above, watching with interest the effect of the potion ending.
The kiss didn't mean anything. Nothing but the urge to tease her, to play with her psychologist, to torture. If there was any interest, it would be nothing more than the love that Tom Riddle had for his own image. After all, he considered himself perfect and unfortunately, he wasn't wrong. Regarding his appearance, Tom had no flaws.
Not taking eyes from Tom's furious expression, Hermione felt his fingers sink into her cheeks, while he forced her to look at him. A rebellious tear ran down her face.
"Don't tell me you're afraid, Miss Granger?" He murmured close to her, making her feel the warm breath of mint on her skin.
Hermione didn't dare to reply, she didn't think she would be able to control the whirlwind of emotions she was feeling, she would probably scream and cry and yet, Hermione did not stop staring at him.
He looked at her, his eyes taking longer than necessary, recording her expression in his mind. Tom swallowed, still feeling her taste on his tongue.
"Let's make things clear, Miss Granger." A soft threat was present in Tom's voice. There was a slight tilt to the upper corner that indicated the shadow of a smile, a sneer. Feeling the hand that was holding her by the cheek, fading into the tangle of her hair, Hermione found herself being forced to tilt her head back, Tom Riddle's pale, long fingers pulling a few strands of her curly hair. His wand pointed at the small space between her eyes.
"You're not going to do things like that anymore," he ordered. "You will respect, you will obey me. The book, Dumbledore and all the other things I want to know, you're going to tell me." With a muffled laugh, Tom continued. "Otherwise, I'll make sure to make your life a hell." He threatened, very serious this time.
"So, I suggest," Tom's voice suddenly softened, a sudden and almost unbelievable change. "to you cooperate with me, because all I have done for you is not a third of what I am capable of."
He looked around the ladies' room, his gaze discerning as a Machiavellian smile took over his face.
"You know, I hear you're a good friend of Bilius Weasley and Ectur Prewett, even Longbottom and Lupin. You wouldn't want to see your friends harmed, would you? No, I don't think so. I thought for a while..." Tom released her, one of his hands holding his wand and the other hand, with his index finger tapping his chin in a thoughtful gesture."Which one of them would you care more about. Which one of them would you cry and beg for me to stop? Of course, we can make theory a practice, after all, they are all available. What do you think, Granger? "
He turned to her.
"I'm giving you options, consider yourself fortunate. It's so much more than I give most people. You can go the easy way or the hard way. It's your choice, Granger. I'm very willing to do any of the options, believe me." Appearing pleased with himself, Tom took a deep breath. "Take the vacation time to think about which of the options you will choose. I must also remember to be careful about what you're going to say. You've seen things you shouldn't, so... to make sure you don't spread certain comments around... There's a curse on your tongue."
" You're lying," Hermione accused, her breath racing as she considered the possibility.
" I'm?" Tom raised one eyebrow. "I would not test it if I were you." A victorious, prepotent grin appeared on Tom's face. "Oh, don't cry, Granger. I liked you better when you were ferocious, but sometimes, all we need is the right person to show us where we belong. " Tom patted Hermione on the head as if she was some kind of dog. "Thank me later, Granger. For showing you, what's your place. "
Proud of himself, Tom left the bathroom, leaving Hermione alone in the ladies' room.
Hermione was shaking, a few tears falling down her face as she stared at the door of the ladies' room, where Riddle had just left. Her tremors were more by imminent rage than by fear, though deep down there was a trail of fear that Tom Riddle could do with her.
Like a fool, that's how she behaved. She is without the book, she is with Riddle's threats and a curse on her tongue given by a deadly kiss. But the worst part is related to Alphard Black. She fell for his charms and his friendly flirtation, which looked so much like Sirius Black, and especially, for his tolerance of her blood status - and that shouldn't even be considered a quality, because everyone here is a wizard. But everything was a lie.
Still staring at the door, Hermione cried. She finally let the emotions flow, such emotions that were trapped, contained like a dam. Tears came to the hills and she began to sob. Hermione was desperate.
As if by suggestion, Alphard entered the ladies' room. He had a startled look, but what surprised him most was to find Hermione in Slytherin's men's clothes, her hair bristling and rebellious, while she was weeping and shaking.
"Hermione!" He ran to her, holding her by the shoulders, trying to calm her down. "Are you okay?"
Angrily, Hermione moved away from his touch. Alphard tried to hold her one more time, but she did not allow it and when she looked up at him, Alphard moved away as he noticed the anger she had in her gaze. Hermione pushed him, trying to hurt him physically, obviously, the use of the wand was more practical, but Hermione was not a torturer. She hadn't reached that level yet.
"Idiot! Traitor! How dare you touch me after what you did !?" She shoved him. "Attracting Riddle here, denouncing me to him!"
"Did he do something?" Alphard asks, and Hermione shuddered at the suggestion behind Alphard's choice of words.
No, he didn't do that and Hermione thinks it's impossible for Tom to have some sort of obscure sexual desire, but perhaps it wasn't so strange to think he was capable of such a repulsive act. After all, it would be one more thing to add to Tom Riddle's list of cruelty. However, she doubts that part, Riddle considers himself refined and elegant. He rarely gets his hands dirty and seems to have an extremely dubious moral compass.
Hermione shook her head. He did many things, he tortured her, cursed her and threatened her, but she will not accuse him of this kind of crime. It's the Gryffindor side of her talking louder, asking her to be fair.
"But what's the point?" Hermione asked accusingly. "Isn't that what you wanted? You didn't want him to discover the truth? That he would torture me? Isn't that why you brought him here? "
Listening to the accusations, Alphard replied sharply.
"I saved your life," he said and Hermione snorted at that comment. "You can say what you want, but nothing will change the fact that I saved you. You're smart, but you don't seem to understand how things work. "
At this comment, Hermione looked at him, the tears still trickling down her face.
"Riddle needs to think he's always in control, that he knows everything. If he later discovered what you did, I'm afraid of what he would do to you. And to make matters worse, Moaning Myrtle found it and told about you," Alphard explained. "Riddle cannot be deceived and if he is, for a mere second, his vengeance will be worse."
They stared at each other for a second, before Hermione turned around and with a defeated sigh said,
"Just leave me alone." Her voice sounded defeated and weak. She went to a corner of the bathroom, sat on the floor and hugged her legs, hiding her face.
Alphard observed her for a few seconds and sighed, he walked and sat down next to her. One thing Alphard hated was seeing a girl crying. It could be his flirtatious nature or perhaps it was the education that he received on how to act with the ladies, but the truth is that a crying girl always has her reasons. However, he seems to be more inclined toward Hermione. She grew up inside him very quickly, but that doesn't mean he'll be having afternoon tea with her - both have a divergence of opinions - however, he cares for her. There is a fire in her that he has never seen in another girl. The boldness, courage, and ferocity charmed him. He even envied her on a certain level.
With a wave of his wand, Alphard transfigured Hermione's clothes into Gryffindor's women's clothing.
"Don't cry," he mumbled beside her, taking a few strands of her rebellious hair.
She looked up at him and he could see the suffering expression on her face.
"What went wrong, Alphard? What did I do to arouse Tom's interest? "
"You turned out to be an opponent," Alphard answered simply. It made sense or at least was more logical, but no one could say with a hundred percent certainty what was going on in Riddle's mind. No one ever did.
Hermione snorted and rested her head on Alphard's shoulder, stretching her legs and weeping and Alphard allowed himself to be her friend's shoulder. He let her cry and cry, not questioning her motives and the reason she seemed so desperate.
It's a fact, girls don't always make sense.
At some point, Hermione fell asleep and Alphard very slowly lifted her into his arms. He had to take her to the Gryffindor Tower to deliver her to Enid.
When he was leaving the ladies' room, he was startled to find Pearl Lovegood in the hallway. Dressed in the colours of the Ravenclaw, the girl turned her face at him, her straight blond hair so pale it almost looked platinum, contrasting with the blue hair tie that was large enough to look like mouse ears. The girl was crazy.
Some said she was part Veela because despite being crazy, the girl was very beautiful.
"Alphard," she greeted him.
"Pearl," he replied.
Pearl looked with interest at Hermione with her clear blue eyes.
"Is she okay?"
"Sleeping."
"Mhm... She doesn't look very well. "
" She was crying." Alphard suddenly felt himself at a trial.
"People can die from crying," Pearl said suddenly and almost insensibly.
"Can?" He frowned, Alphard didn't know if what she was saying was literal or figurative.
"The Broken Heart." She said as if that explained everything and that's why Alphard was sure he would never get into the Ravenclaw. In the ranking of the best students, Tom was in first place and Pearl was second.
"Do you want to accompany me?" Alphard asked, and Pearl nodded. Maybe it was better that Pearl accompanies him to Gryffindor Tower, it would be very strange if he took Hermione all the way in his arms alone, as if they were a couple.
o0o
Hungry ... Hungry ... Master ... Hungry ... Alone - The Basilisk was whispering in the Hogwarts pipes, chasing rats. The Queen of the Snakes - yes, queen, because the basilisk was female - was talking with Tom, following through the piping network of Hogwarts, complaining that she was hungry and that she felt alone. Obviously, the monster felt alone, it had been dormant for a long time until Tom's arrival. Tom knew he had to go into the Chamber of Secrets one more time before the summer vacation to put the Basilisk to sleep again, however, today he ignored the complaints of his monster.
Arriving at the Slytherin Common Room, he was greeted by Malfoy and Lestrange.
"My lord." Malfoy greeted him, as did Lestrange. "Do you find yourself well?" Abraxas dared to ask, probably noticing Tom's sudden change of behaviour this morning. He confused Tom with Granger and now, Tom knows that the little witch could play a dangerous game.
Tom did not deign to respond, going up the stairs to the side of the male dormitory. Abraxas may belong to the Malfoy family, which is one of the most important families of the wizarding world, but he knows his place. So stingy and prepotent, the Malfoy Family has more dirt on their hands than Tom's shoe sole, claiming to be one of the purest wizard blood that has ever existed - what a lie. Everyone knows and comments on how the Malfoy Family has licked the floor that the Muggle aristocracy stepped on, excluding squibs and denying involvement with muggles. So, Abraxas shouldn't even think about questioning Tom.
That's how it has to be, Tom thought, already lying in his bed after doing his nightly routine. I need to keep control of my Knights. Tom cannot afford to vacillate his control over the Knights, otherwise, they would turn against him and Granger threatened all this control with her behaviour, confronting him in front of the Knights, resisting the Cruciatus, and challenging his magic.
Tom knew that the Knights whispered and if they began to doubt his power, then they would rebel this is something he cannot accept, so ... punishing Granger was necessary, not only for himself but to reaffirm control that he has over the whole Slytherin House.
Well, he can't be fooled, which brings him to Alphard Black. It didn't go unnoticed by Tom, Alphard's behaviour towards Granger or how he seemed frightened when Moaning Myrtle told him that there was a strange girl in the ladies' room. ' That's what I came to say, my lord, ' Alphard said. Curiously, he found Granger transformed into him, scared and nauseated. I can still taste it on my tongue, Tom thought.
Honestly, it wasn't Tom's first kiss. He doesn't see much logic in sharing saliva with people who don't matter to him, which reduces the number of people to zero. However, Tom has used his masculine beauty and flirtation to achieve goals with other girls, other times it was out of curiosity. You see, groups of young boys with hormones at their peak, constantly talk about their experiences and desires - some desires are so dumb that they make Tom roll his eyes - but Tom is happy that much of the time he can suppress such primitive impulses and that make him so human.
It's dawn and Tom has not been able to close his eyes and sleep, his mind is very alert, the Basilisk is whispering, he's thinking about Granger and Tom's dorm roommates are already asleep. He is tired of lying down and with an impulse, he gets up from the bed.
Anyway, I have to put the Basilisk to sleep, he thought with a shrug.
Picking up his wand, Tom also picks up the Diary. Wearing his robe, he left the men's dormitory and the Slytherin Common Room, in the dungeons the Bloody Baron is making noise with the chains. All Hogwarts is asleep and he walks peacefully to the ladies' room of Moaning Myrtle, Tom knows this castle like the palm of his hand and knows how to walk unnoticed. In the bathroom, he looks around before entering.
"Tom?" Moaning Myrtle says, she is levitating near the window.
"Hello, Myrtle." He says her name like a caress. He knows she doesn't like to be called 'The Moaning Myrtle'. If ghosts could blush, Myrtle would look like the colour of a tomato. "Thank you for today, Myrtle. What would I be without you?" Tom flirts with her, knowing the one-sided, platonic, pathetic love Myrtle feels for him. While alive, Myrtle couldn't even see him without blushing and running to hide. The Muggle-born girl was extremely passionate about the image of the perfect boy Tom created.
Myrtle gets so excited that the edges of her ghostly image undulate. Tom makes the sign of silence and Myrtle confirms repeatedly, that she cannot stand in Tom's presence and fly to one of the toilets to hide. Tom stood, watching the scene, before shrugging and turning to the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets. He looked at the tap with the figure of a snake.
Open it. He commanded in the tongue of the snakes, in that strange whistle.
At the same time, the tap shone with white light and began to turn, then the sink began to move. In fact, the sink was out of sight, leaving a large pipe exposed, a pipe big enough for a person to slip inside. Tom slipped into the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets. He didn't quite understand why Salazar Slytherin had chosen the main entrance of the Chamber of Secrets to be a slide, but he supposed Salazar didn't have many options to hide the Chamber.
When he had finished slipping, Tom stood up and took some of the dust off his shoulders. The hall of the Chamber lit up with the dark green colour of the torches connected to the wall and as he walked, a pair of torches lit to illuminate his path. Tom stopped in front of the solid wall with the image of intertwined snakes.
Open it. He ordered again in parseltongue.
The snakes' gaze seemed to light up as if they were alive, and the solid wall retracted, opening Tom's path to the true Chamber of Secrets, which lit up in the presence of the Slytherin Heir.
Tom stood in the centre of the Chamber, looking at the statue of Salazar Slytherin with his mouth open, which meant that the Basilisk was free, hunting to feed. But Tom knows the monster will not be long in coming back since she probably felt the presence of his master. Tom's gaze flickered to the corner of the Chamber, he walked over and looked at the grey brick wall, groping until he found a more dislocated brick and pressed in. The bricks trembled and another passage opened for him.
He entered the room, looking around. Here was the 'lair' of Salazar Slytherin. There was a bookshelf never known by other wizards, books of various potions, spells, and magic were there. Some books were so obscure that black magic sang at the touch of some wizard. A fireplace that heated the room, a large bed in the colours of Slytherin and a good place to practice the alchemy of potions and spells. Obviously, Salazar Slytherin spent some of his precious time here, studying and perfecting his magic.
Tom sat on the bed and took a deep breath, opening the Diary, after getting a quill to write.
Hello. Tom wrote.
Hello, Tom. How are we doing? The Diary replied.
We're fine. No one found out about the Chamber of Secrets and Hogwarts won't be closed.
What's bothering you? The Diary asked.
Tom mused, should he tell about Granger? Yes, he should. The Diary is made to protect him, the Diary must know about everything.
There's a girl.
A girl? Tom could almost hear his own voice of disbelief.
Yes, a girl. Granger. Hermione Granger.
He waited for the answer, even the Diary itself seemed to think. It was unusual for Tom to worry about anything and anyone, especially if it was a girl.
What is wrong? The Diary replied.
I'd better show.
Add the memory. The Diary ordered.
This version of the Diary, was the old version, without the knowledge of Granger's arrival and what happened afterwards. This is why The Diary must be fed with new memories, such memories that contain Tom's emotions, thus allowing the Diary to be equal to Tom himself.
Tom took the wand and took a deep breath before pointing the wand at his temple. A bright white line came out of Tom's head and he directed the memories into The Diary and with a gross gesture, he cut off the memory link with his wand. The Diary brightened as he received Tom's memories and emotions about recent events. Tom waited until the Daily absorbed everything.
So...? Tom asked, asking for the Diary's opinion.
She's different. The Diary didn't know how to describe her better. She resisted our magic, she faced us. Keep an eye on her.
Tom smiled at the conclusion of the Diary itself. Not unlike what he himself had concluded.
See you.
See you later, Tom. The Diary said goodbye and then it closed.
Tom sighed and put the Diary in the office near the bed, sealing it with protective magic. Here, The Diary would be safe. Under the protection of Hogwarts, beneath the castle, protected by his own magic, hidden inside the Chamber of Secrets, protected by the Basilisk, in a place that only him -Tom Riddle-could open. The Horcrux was safe.
Master ... Master ... The Basilisk was whistling outside the room.
Tom left, watching the Basilisk, that great snake, standing in front of the statue of Salazar Slytherin, swallowing a rat that had just been hunted. The wall of the hiding place inside the Chamber closed behind Tom.
He went toward the snake, which slid into her scales, whistling - growling if that were possible - surrounding Tom with her large body. She looked directly at Tom, those hypnotizing, murderous yellow eyes, but Tom wasn't shaken by those eyes and simply tilted his head to the side. The Basilisk was, somehow, in need.
She opened her mouth, showing those big, grotesque, poisonous teeth, the drool dripping.
The Basilisk lowered her head and Tom put his hand on the scales and hard skin of the snake, and he felt the snake's breaths. She was sniffing at him, recognizing Tom. He stroked the snake a few times.
It's time to sleep. He whistled in parseltongue for the snake. The snake retracted, showing her row of teeth, her yellow eyes shining, and the snake's tail sliding from side to side. She was against the idea of sleeping again.
Tom smiled. The Basilisk was a very simple animal, very clean and not very demanding. She'd just been a little excited to finally use her skills after a long time of sleep.
Go to sleep. He ordered. The snake slithered to the statue of Salazar Slytherin, and entered the statue's mouth, heading for her hiding place. The statue of Salazar Slytherin closed his mouth and it was as if the giant snake had never been there.
Tom took a deep breath, lifting his chin as he stared at the statue of his ancestor. Proud of himself.
In the morning, before lunch, that's when he saw her. All the way to the Deputy Headmaster's office, Tom was cursing Dumbledore mentally. That stupid old man. It was as if Tom was walking to death because he knew he would have to hand his wand to Dumbledore and that to him, it meant death.
He knocked on the door a few times, taking a deep breath and doing his best to keep the expression on his face stoic. The door opened by itself and he came in, surprisingly meeting Hermione there. She was sitting in an armchair near the perch, drinking tea and reading a book. She took her eyes off the book momentarily, narrowing her eyes in anger when she saw him, and then she turned her attention back to the book she held. Tom tried to read the name of the book, but her hand prevented him from seeing.
"Where is Professor Dumbledore?" He demanded.
She ignored him and he gritted his teeth at her behaviour. It hadn't been a day since their meeting in the Moaning Myrtle bathroom and she ignored it as if none of that had ever happened. That's it, he definitely hates being ignored. Whether or not moves with his supposed feelings for being an orphan or something about abandonment, Tom doesn't give a shit. However, the truth is that she knows how to trigger conflicting feelings in him.
"I asked you a question," Tom says.
"If you didn't notice, it's just me who's here," she answers, not taking her eyes off the book.
"You shouldn't be here. What is your relationship with Dumbledore? Don't tell me you ... "
He can't finish because Hermione interrupts him.
"Be careful what you suggest, Riddle. I will not allow you to put my integrity and the integrity of Professor Dumbledore in check," she responds angrily.
Tom swallows his words.
"Answering your first question: Professor Dumbledore left. He used Floo's network." Hermione pointed to the fireplace, still keeping her eyes on the book. "He said it wouldn't take long."
Hermione would never tell Riddle that Dumbledore was going to help her go to St. Mungo's to see Harry. She would never tell him about Harry Potter.
It's an embarrassing silence that sets in, and when Hermione notices that he made no move to leave the room, she finally stares at him.
"Well, what do you want?" She asks, very serious.
"You didn't forget our conversation, did you?" Tom tilts his head a little, at the mention of what happened, his eyes seemed to glow in vivid green, the shadow of a smile appearing on his face.
Hermione touches her jaw, her lips turning into a thin line.
"It's a little hard to forget, isn't it?" She replied.
Before the conversation could continue, the crimson bird, The Phoenix, flew out the window, taking a few turns before settling on the perch near Hermione. Both Tom and Hermione swallowed the offence to see that they were being watched by Fawkes.
It didn't go unnoticed by Tom, that Hermione also restricted her comments in the presence of the Phoenix, but anyway, he was the only one who seemed to be at a disadvantage in this room. Since the Phoenix seemed to choose Hermione's side.
Dumbledore had the bird to protect her.
"Until lunch, Ms. Granger. Thanks for the information," Tom said softly, a smile on his face. It was such an abrupt change that Hermione had to blink a few times to understand what had happened and before she could respond, Tom was already gone.
At dinner, Tom saw Dumbledore. The reality was that Dumbledore had arrived sometime before, but Tom didn't bother to look for him in vain. Sitting at the Slytherin table, Tom watched Hermione at the far end of the Hall, she was there, sitting equally as a beautiful challenge, and when she looked at Dumbledore expectantly, Dumbledore nodded and her smile appeared.
He didn't know what kind of relationship she had with Dumbledore, but Tom was sure they both had secrets.
Headmaster Dippet gestured for the students to calm down and pay attention to what he was going to say. Dippet was making the year-end speech, something that Tom has already memorized in his mind - if he wants, he may even repeat it. This is another year has gone and blah, blah, blah, blah ... - now, Dippet was talking about the incidents that happened and about the death of the muggle-born Myrtle Warren, which was a difficult year for all but mostly for the Ravenclaw. Tom bit his lower lip to hide a giggle. Dipper would deliver the Hogwarts Cup.
"Fourth place, it's Gryffindor with three hundred and twenty points, third place Hufflepuff with three hundred and fifty-two points, second place it's Ravenclaw with four hundred and sixty-three points. Five hundred points, Slytherin. So, gentlemen, the Cup will go to the Slytherin House. "
Clapping, the Main Hall was decorated with the colours of the Slytherin House. The students clapped in celebration, especially the Slytherins.
"Go ahead, Tom. Go get the Cup." Otis Parkinson spoke and the whole Slytherin table agreed.
Tom got up from the table and headed for Dippet, who held the Cup in his hands, very happy to deliver the Cup to his favourite was radiant because the Slytherin house had won. Tom felt the Cup in his hands, being the centre of attention, listening to the claps of the other students and the teachers. He looked around, feeling euphoric, drunk with emotion, the taste of power in his tongue.
He looked at Winky Crockett, the Slytherin House Headboy, who nodded. Tom didn't need anyone's approval to do what he wanted or what he thought would benefit him. Although Winky was perfect, Tom was in charge of the Slytherin House.
"Headmaster Dippet," Tom said. With Tom's voice, they all stopped the celebration, silently watching closely what was happening. Tom did his best to look happy, innocent and worried, even a bit hesitant. His facial expressions are more convincing than any actor in a drama play.
"Tom?" Dippet asked.
"We, from Slytherin House, are very happy to receive the Cup. My housemates and I worked hard to get the points. But we agreed that if we won the House Cup, we would deliver the Cup to the Ravenclaw House. It was very horrible what happened this year." Tom looked down, still feeling the weight of the Cup in his hands, imitating an expression of regret. "Especially with Miss Warren. So... " He offered the Cup to Dippet again.
Tom looked at the rest of the Great Hall and gave a weak, hesitant smile. The girls from all the Houses were blowing up with hormones, wishing they had Tom Riddle. Tom looked at Slughorn and lowered his eyes, pretending to be embarrassed.
"Well..." Dippet took the cup. "Look, students, this is an extremely honourable act of Slytherin House, who thought in their classmates instead of gratification. Miss. Dorothy Greengrass, come and get the Cup. "
Dorothy Greengrass, in her uniform perfectly neat and her hair black with no hair out of place, up the stair to Dippet. In front of Tom, she reached out for a greeting and for a moment Tom saw that familiar glow as she looked up at him. Lust and libido. She smiled with those red lipstick lips and turned to Dippet, picking up the House Cup.
"Thank you very much, Headmaster. Thank you very much, Mr. Riddle and thank you to every one of the Slytherin House. Your act will not be forgotten by the Ravenclaw House. "
The girl could have gotten very well into the Slytherin House.
The Great Hall burst into applause again. When Tom sat down again, Greengrass was still staring at him at the Ravenclaw table. Her gaze told him a lot as she bit her bottom lip. Rosier and Avery noticed the look Greengrass was giving to Tom and they looked at each other as they laughed.
"Looks like someone wants to have her skirt lifted today" Lestrange muttered and Mulciber and Nott laughed.
Tom snorted and lifted an eyebrow, propping his elbow on the table, while his hand was supporting the head. Behind the figure of Miss Greengrass, Tom noted the 'beautiful challenge' at the opposite end of the Hall, Granger. Hermione Granger. She looked at him too, her lips thin, serious. And Tom knew, she knows.
She knows it was a theater.
In the Common Room of Slytherin, Dolohov complained.
"I can't believe we won in Quidditch and had to hand over the Cup to the Ravenclaw."
"Whatever." Alphard shrugged, sitting on one of the sofas as he watched a girl.
"Anyway, we'll get the Cup next year," Rosier concluded.
"Don't be stingy," Lestrange said and everyone looked at him in disbelief that he was the person who was saying that.
"No, Lestrange is right," Tom murmured, sitting in his favourite armchair. His comment caught the eyes of everyone. "Give alms to the poor. It's the moral code, isn't it?" He chuckled, making others laugh.
Tom watched silently and attentively all the others, paying special attention to Alphard, who was leaning slightly over Madame Blentchley, leaning one hand above Madame's head, smiling at her and biting his lower lip. She, in turn, was blushing.
Tom got up and left the Common Room, heading toward the Deputy Headmaster's office. He didn't even have to knock on the door because the door had already opened for him and in the centre of the office was Dumbledore. Granger was out of sight.
"Come closer, Tom." Dumbledore said.
Tom's jaw clenched with a bouncing nerve. He took deliberately slow steps, holding the wand with an iron grip.
"Professor," Tom greeted. He looked at the Phoenix, who stared at him with the same intensity in his gaze, resting on the perch.
"Lemon drops?" Dumbledore offered, and Tom denied it. "Well," Dumbledore raised his hand, leaving the palm of his hand sample, asking.
Tom squeezed his wand a little more, refusing to give his wand to Dumbledore, his interior was corroding with the idea of giving up his wand for another year.
"Professor, please," he begged, looking at the wand in his hands.
"We've had this conversation, Tom."
"Please, let me stay. I don't want to go back to the orphanage. Let me stay in Hogwarts this summer. I promise I will not cause any trouble ... you will not even feel my presence here. I do anything! I even help the elves!" Tom spoke quickly, almost without pause. Offering himself to do any job, because all he wanted was to stay in Hogwarts.
"I'm sorry, Tom. But you must go back to the orphanage," Dumbledore said. He felt that Tom had grasped magic and power very quickly, Tom needed to have contact with Muggles and the outside world to alleviate that ambition that Dumbledore so much saw in him.
"Please, Professor! I do anything! I helped find the monster that was hurting the students! I don't deserve this reward? I return the medal! "
Dumbledore looked at Tom's despair for a moment, recognizing the genuine emotion that these green eyes conveyed. However, when Tom quoted the supposed 'monster' of Hogwarts, Aragog, Dumbledore's suspicion returned.
"I'm sorry, my young man," Dumbledore denied with regret in his voice.
Tom lowered his gaze again at Dumbledore's refusal, the grip he held on his wand was so much that it was possible to hear the sound of his hand clutching the wand's wood. Tom took a deep breath, regrouping, and raised his face to face Dumbledore, his chin slightly pointed up, wanting to indicate superiority. Dumbledore has no idea how difficult it was for him to have to beg to stay in Hogwarts. He hates to beg, gives him the same feeling that someone is tearing his skin off. His pride makes him angry.
"Here." He held his wand in Dumbledore's hand. Refusing to face Dumbledore for another moment, Tom turned and walked toward the door.
"Good vacation, Tom." He heard Dumbledore say, before closing the door.
Someday I'm going to drown this old man in his own blood and with my own hands. Or who knows, I can throw him out of the Astronomy Tower.
Tom came back cursing Dumbledore more than when he went to the office. In a corner of the hall, Tom stopped, hiding behind a pillar. He looked forward to see Granger and the two Prewett brothers. They were talking to each other, basically, Granger and younger brother Prewett were comforting the older Prewett, and hugging Ignatius, an act that surprised both brothers, including Tom himself. Her hands went up and down Ignatius's back as if she were comforting a child. Above Ignatius's shoulder, her face had a strange expression. A mixture of anguish and understanding. When she separated from Ignatius, Ectur put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed, as if to say 'thank you.' Ectur waved at her and patted Ignatius on the upper back. The brothers asked Granger about something, bid her farewell, and made their way to Gryffindor Tower. Granger stood still, watching them make their way to Gryffindor's home and then she turned to the image of the night with the new moon shining in the clear sky. A clear summer night. The wind blew her hair lightly, she sighed and made her way toward Tom, not knowing he was hiding.
He leaned against the pillar, folding his arms. The figure of his person mingled with darkness, the only colour that stood out was the green of his eyes and the green of the masculine uniform of Slytherin.
When Granger noticed his presence, he noticed her hesitation to continue on the path, but in the end, using Gryffindor's courage, she continued with firm steps. Riddle raised one eyebrow and looked with interest as she passed him. The only movement he did was with his eyes, those green eyes following her movement. He waited and finally gave the 'snake grip' on her, grabbing her arm.
"Making your way to Dumbledore, Granger?" He asked, holding her arm. "Shall I remind you again of the curse?"
Of course, he didn't overcome her ignoring him after all that had happened. It's not common for his victims to ignore him.
She snorted.
"Now I'm sure you're bluffing about this curse on my tongue. You wanted me to be scared, to cry and beg for you." She replied, face to face with him, even though she was still under his grip.
A side grin appeared on Tom's face. If he couldn't curse Dumbledore, he would do it on his favourite student.
"Really?" He raised an eyebrow. Tom leaned down so that his lips were touching against her ear. His breath shivered Hermione. "It would be a shame if the snake image under your tongue would release the curse and infect you. This curse would rot your tongue and mould your mouth until necrosis and nothing remained. "
Tom returned in the ideal position to look at Granger's face and see the look of horror on her face.
"Of course, this will not happen if you don't say anything about that night in that room or in that bathroom. Because, let's face it, Granger, our little secrets shouldn't fall into the wrong ears. "