Mind Games | Tom Riddle | DISCONTINUED

Twenty-Two: Newfound Emotion

After professing their attraction to each other, nothing changed. Tom Riddle and Azalea Verdine continued life as they had before. They remained cold and calculating, but just occasionally, the two would share smiles and blushes about the things that giddy schoolchildren dreamt of.

One sunny, spring afternoon, the students entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom to find a round man with dark skin, gold glasses, and a toothy smile standing at the front of the classroom. He quickly introduced himself as Professor Brumby, the interim professor for that position.

"Alright class," Professor Brumby then announced, "today, we're going to duel again!"

Azalea smirked. Dueling days were always her favorite. Showing off her power, even while holding it back, was a thrill. Tom and Azalea were standing together with their signature arrogant expressions. Azalea had her head cocked to the side and her arms crossed over her chest, her ponytail draped over her shoulder. Tom stood close beside her with his hands in his pockets, taking care to be just behind her to demonstrate his protection over her.

"I've shuffled the pairings from the last list I found, so you'll all get to duel someone new!" Professor Brumby announced. He began reading off the pairings.

Azalea scoffed, and Tom leaned to her ear. "I guess we'll be done quickly," he muttered.

"Riddle and Huggs, Verdine and Addox."

Gregory Huggs was a willowy boy who sat in the upper half of the class. He was intelligent, but not to the degree of Tom, Azalea, or the LeClaires. He was far more bookish than brawny, and despite his knowledge, he was an average duelist at best.

Azalea fared no better with her partner. Marjorie Addox was short, plump, and incredibly dim. She wasn't stupid. In fact, she was a fair student. However, she lacked common sense. She was incredibly naïve to match.

The two girls paired up and faced each other. Azalea had a cool, controlling look in her eye, whereas Marjorie looked incredibly intimidated. Her hand was practically shaking around her wand.

"Don't worry," Azalea chuckled, "I'll go easy on you."

Meanwhile, Tom was staring down Gregory with a cocky smirk on his lips. He said nothing to the willowy boy, who kept a straight face despite his fear that was only obvious to Tom.

"On my whistle," Professor Brumby called.

Azalea's grip tightened around her wand. Her arms were still crossed over her chest, and she looked almost lazy as she waited for permission to begin the duel.

The whistle pierced the air, and the students sprung into action.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

"Stupefy!"

Jets of light shot out of the two Slytherins' wands and met their targets before any of the other students began to speak. Two loud thuds filled the room, and eyes shot to the source of the sounds.

Everyone looked from Marjorie to Gregory, to Tom, to Azalea. The room was silent enough to hear a pin drop.

"What?" Azalea said, "I went easy on her."

Nobody said a word.

Then, Esmé LeClaire chuckled. Upon seeing the looks her classmates gave her, she spoke. "Sorry, but it was just so quiet," she remarked.