Tʜᴇ Dᴀʀᴋ Lᴏʀᴅ's Aɴɢᴇʟ | Tom Riddle √

85: A Ballroom Dilemma

The night of the ball had arrived, and Cassiopeia was dressed in an exquisite dark green gown, elegant and vibrant compared to the more subdued colors worn by the other attendees. She felt a mix of excitement and trepidation, her thoughts occupied by Tom Riddle, who had been acting strangely in recent days.

In a hushed tone, she leaned in close to Tom, her voice gentle, "I told Draco to tell Blaise and Pansy everything about us because we're going to be together when you arrive at Hogwarts for year seven. Is that alright?"

Tom's reaction surprised her. He furrowed his brows and responded curtly, "Why do you ask? You've already decided and done what you want. There's no point in asking now."

Cassiopeia gasped at his tone, a departure from his usual demeanor. He had been distant since they met near Draco's room at Riddle Manor.

"Tom, are you angry with me?" She tightened her grip on his arm, searching his eyes for an explanation. "What's bothering you?"

Tom's response was curt, "Nothing," as he looked away, leaving her feeling bewildered.

A feeling of unease gnawed at Cassiopeia. Her efforts to reconnect with Tom after their separation seemed to be faltering, and she couldn't understand why.

"Am I dressed too much?" she wondered, glancing around at the guests dressed in various colors for the ball, "I'm the only one wearing dark green."

Tom finally responded, his tone indifferent, "You look ravishing. You look better than everyone."

Cassiopeia managed a faint smile, but Tom continued to act distant and distracted. Her heart ached, and she couldn't fathom what had changed between them.

As the evening wore on, Pansy approached Cassiopeia, embracing her warmly, "Oh, Cass, you look glamorous."

Cassiopeia beamed at her and introduced Tom, "This is Thomas Raven."

Pansy, recognizing Tom, addressed him politely, "Tom Riddle, right? Glad to meet you, Mr. Raven."

To Cassiopeia's surprise, Pansy embraced Tom, seemingly unfazed by his true identity, making him flinch in response. Cassiopeia couldn't help but wonder how Pansy remained so composed around the man who was Voldemort.

Tom, ever the gentleman, returned her greeting, "Nice to meet you, Miss. Parkinson. I've heard a lot about you and Zabini. Congratulations!"

Pansy complimented Tom and even suggested calling him Tom, to which he graciously agreed. As Pansy excused herself to find Blaise, she leaned in and shared an unexpected observation with Cassiopeia, "He's fucking hot, who thought Tom Riddle is handsome this much."

Cassiopeia's eyes widened in surprise as Pansy winked and left her alone with Tom. The two of them sauntered to a quiet corner, drinks in hand. Cassiopeia took hers without hesitation, but Tom politely declined, his enigmatic behavior continuing to puzzle her.

"How's she? Good?" Cassiopeia took her first sip of the drink, looking at Tom.

This time, Tom had his arm wrapped around her waist, but he seemed more preoccupied with observing the surroundings. "She's confused, but she thinks I'm hot," he answered with a hint of amusement. "She's a good friend, but she can be the opposite to her enemies."

Cassiopeia furrowed her brows, her gaze fixed on Tom. "You read her mind?" She expressed her concern. "Don't do that all the time; invading others' privacy isn't a good thing."

Tom's response dripped with sarcasm, "If they don't hide anything, it's not a problem."

Cassiopeia couldn't hide her frustration anymore. "What's wrong with you? Why do you act so strange?"