His Dark Lady | Tom Riddle Novella

Chapter 9: Tipsy Tales

September 27th, 1950

The pair entered the busy bar and got settled at a table for two in the far corner, away from most of the noise. Emelina ignored the glances thrown her way when she had removed her cloak, tilting her chin up proudly. Tom was quick to remind her of the time when she had sassed him about dressing nice and she responded with a rather discreet, rude gesture causing him to chuckle slightly.

"I'll go get our drinks," Tom said, rising from his seat. "What would you like?"

"Surprise me," Emelina responded with a dazzling grin.

She avoided the glances of the patrons around her while waiting for him to come back, instead pretending to be interested in the horrid interior of the pub.

Once Tom had come back with their drinks, fire whisky for himself and a glass of elf-made wine for her. They each took a small sip from their drinks and Tom glanced towards her chest and nodded at the medallion resting against the pink chiffon fabric of her dress.

"I've noticed you wear that necklace and bangle often," Tom commented. "Any significance behind them?"

Emelina toyed with the coin on her medallion, thoughtfully,"This was a birthday gift from my Aunt a few years back. It's a family heirloom so I guess the heritage behind it was enough to make it important to me. It apparently belonged to Helga Hufflepuff's grandson but no one can really confirm that. Pureblood families have this odd obsession with showing off their inheritance" She then leaned forward to show him the badger engraved on it before looking at the cuff on her wrist, her voice softening as she spoke again.

"And this," she continued. "Was my mother's. It's one of the few things I have of her- makes it feel as though she's always with me in a way. Not in spirit or anything like that, but a reminder of her." Tom nodded in comprehension.

"Family heirlooms are important," Tom agreed. "They're carriers of legacy. Especially for a witch as great as Helga Hufflepuff, you are worthy of entitlement to any possessions in her name as her descendant and should wear them with pride."

Emelina hummed in agreement, her eyes sliding over to the ring on his finger and again wondered if he'd already put a piece of his soul in it.

"What about your own adornment, Tom?" Emelina asked him, gesturing to his ring. "That ring certainly doesn't look like a fashion accessory and you seem to always be wearing it."

Tom cocked an eyebrow at her, "You're more observant than you let on, I didn't think you really noticed anything other than yourself." Emelina scowled at him. "It's a family heirloom as well." A dark smile had made its way to his face as he gazed at the ring, fondly.

"Mind if I take a look at its coat of arms?" Emelina asked innocently, his eyes meeting hers once again. "I don't recognize the surname Riddle from any of the older families. Maybe I'll recognize the emblem?" She hoped that her request was being played off as casual interest in his family history since he had an heirloom, she really wanted to see if she could feel anything from it.

Tom didn't take it off which confirmed her suspicion of it being a horcrux, since he was clearly too attached to the ring to risk parting with it, but leaned forward and held his hand up for her to take. She grabbed his large hand hesitantly and frowned at the familiar etchings on it. Eyes widening a fraction once she realized where she'd seen it before, Emelina tugged out her grandfather's pocket watch, comparing the symbols on the two. They both had the same mark: A triangle with a line going down the middle and a circle in the middle, giving the appearance of an eye in the triangle almost.