His Dark Lady | Tom Riddle Novella

Chapter 11: Riddle Me This

October 3rd, 1950

Emelina somehow woke early the next morning, the anti-hangover potion clearly having worked its literal magic, and went down to the basement to check on her potions first thing once she had freshened up and gotten dressed for the day.

Once back in her room, seeing as her potions weren't making any progress whatsoever as she had intended, she decided to swallow her pride and write a letter requesting for help to someone who was an expert in the matter: Her former Potions teacher, Horace Slughorn. Although it hurt her ego gravely, Emelina was at her wits end with her merlin-forsaken potions that did not seem to be going her way at all.

Watching her lovely grey owl, Drake, fly off, she rolled her eyes when she heard her Aunt Hepzibah shouting for her to come down in an obnoxiously loud voice. Emelina frowned, wondering what she could possibly want before making her way down. Her aunt usually left Emelina alone unless she needed to speak with her about something but the young witch wasn't sure what this could be about.

The answer to her thoughts came when she caught sight of it halfway down the stairs, halting her descent and wanting to turn right back around once she caught sight of a handsome dark haired wizard. Emelina's mind went reeling to their last interaction, face warming at the memory of his lips flush against hers.

Tom Riddle made his way over to her, a smug smirk on his face as though he knew exactly what she was thinking, and held out a hand to help her down the last few stairs. She eyed him skeptically as she took his large, warm hand and descended.

The sly look in his eyes couldn't mean anything well for Emelina.

"Tom, what a pleasant surprise." Her clipped and falsely high-pitched tone suggested that it was anything but.

"I figured I'd stop by on my way to the shop." He said, not releasing her hand as his dark eyes roamed over every inch of her face. They seemed to be drinking her in as though his eyes were parched.

Emelina raised her eyebrows at Tom's response.

"Is there something wrong with your apparition that you're having to stop along the way?" Emelina asked sweetly, smiling at him.

Tom's jaw ticked slightly, but his smile remained. Oddly enough, the coldness she had grown accustomed to seeing at her backhanded comments was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh, how I enjoy your witty remarks." he said quietly enough just for Emelina's ears and her eyes narrowed a fraction.

What?

"Emmy, isn't it obvious?" Hepzibah squealed. "He wanted to stop by and see you of course!"

Tom flashed a charming grin at her aunt and inclined his head slightly, "But of course, my eyes were desperate to catch a glimpse of your lovely niece."

Something was definitely off. Tom and Hepzibah were both acting suspiciously bizarre. More so than usual.

"Oh, Emelina, darling," Hepzibah exclaimed, taking her niece's hands, the young girl's eyes widening with an appalled expression crossing her face. "I simply cannot believe you've kept this delightful young wizard to yourself all this time! I'm so happy for you!"

Emelina raised her eyebrows at her aunt in confusion before casting a glance at Tom who simply smirked at her as she tried to make sense of what her aunt was saying to her.

"Er- why exactly, Auntie?" She asked tentatively. Her magic sparked slightly in anger. What lies had Tom Riddle been feeding her aunt?

"Well, you found yourself such a dashing and charming fellow, of course!" Hepzibah beamed at Emelina and Tom, the former gaping at her aunt. "I'm a little hurt that you told me you were just friends; clearly you two are well beyond that."