𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄 [ 𝐭.𝐫 ]

11: BLACK LACE

◤─────•~❉᯽❉~•─────◥

THE HALLWAYS were dark as usual; Angelina needed to cast a quick 'lumos' to see. Her robe was draped over her forearm, other than the loss of a robe she was fully dressed in her Slytherin uniform.

"That's Merlin's descendant." A portrait whispered, Angelina jumped and rolled her eyes once she saw portraits looking at her and whispering to each other.

She made her way through the shadows to the trophy room, her feet hurt from walking from the dungeons to one of the highest floors.

Tom and Angelina were assigned to observe three troublesome fifth year Gryffindor students, who were supposed to polish all the Slytherin trophies as detention.

It was a perfect punishment for them. Gryffindors as dramatic they can be, considered Slytherins as their enemies. So it was suitable for them to polish the solid proof of their rival's success.

Angelina opened the huge metal door and saw a well-lit room, there stood two boys with shaggy hair and a girl with neat attire on. But there was no sign of Tom Riddle.

"Hello, was Tom here?" Angelina asked and the students shook their heads.

She nodded," Well, I'm sure Professor Dumbledore told you where to start from. Get on with it and you can leave once you are done."

Angelina waved her wand and the fire started, she seated herself at a table and pulled out a book and pen out of her extendable bag.

She was sixteen now, a year older, she was nearing the year she came of age. Life was changing, the world was changing, and her circumstances were changing. Her parents were making more public appearances; it wanted her to bang her head into the closest wall. They yet had to be in the winds of Hogwarts but they had gained the favor of the ministry.

Would Tom protect her from them? Would he hide her from them? He surely would. He couldn't share her with anyone. Christmas was just around the corner, which meant she had to leave the clutches of school. She and Tom were going to pay a visit to Little Hangleton, where Tom's family is from. It looked like her schedule was full; she couldn't go gown shopping like she anticipated. She would probably owl Mrs. Malfoy to send the latest catalogue from the gown shop and order hers via mail.

And after Christmas, it was Tom's birthday on New Year's Eve. She wouldn't have time to do Christmas shopping either. Guess I'll have to start knitting everyone socks. But even socks were too plain as compared to the luxuries she could afford.

Blast you Tom, she mentally screamed. Her friends would complain if she got them nothing. For the second time this evening, she wanted to bang her head somewhere.

Angelina took out a piece of parchment from her pocket and scribbled down a short list.

"You look frustrated." Angelina jumped slightly; Tom sat in a chair opposite to her. How long was he here?

"I am, how long have you been sitting here?" She asked, her teeth clenched.

"Roughly five minutes." Angelina resisted the forfeiting urge to roll her eyes at him.

She spared a glance to the Gryffindors cleaning; they had almost completed their detention work.

"I want to start writing in a diary like you." Angelina said as she leaned closer to Tom.

"What gave you the motive?"

"I need to get things off of my chest."

"You could talk to me about them." Tom's words were soft yet very demanding. He was like that, his words could be suggestive but his intentions were demanding.