Painful Redemption | T. R.

Chapter Seventeen

"I need my wand."

Tom had chosen the Great Lake as the best place to study without interruption. Some people were too scared to go to the meadows of the lake, others simply didn't want to stretch themselves so much to be able to study. There was the soft singing of the birds, the waters moving slowly with the wind, the stalks of grass brushing against his face. He had laid down on the ground without too much fuss, he had brought the necessary things with him. There was absolute silence. Nothing but nature, his breathing and the sound of pages being turned slowly, studied with care and interest.

No one would have made the same choice as him, all of them full of fear for who knows what horrible creatures might be hiding at the bottom of that ridiculous lake. He, however, was not afraid. What he did have, undoubtedly, was that great nuisance in his way.

He slowly lowered the book that covered his face from the sun and looked up from the ground. Of course, he didn't need to look any further to find out whose voice that was, but still he brought a hand to his forehead and narrowed his eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about," the boy replied, closing the book carefully on his chest before rising up on his elbows.

Anastasia looked like she'd run a marathon. A small drop of sweat was slipping down her forehead, and even though it was the middle of autumn, with that hot sun high in the sky and a uniform so warm, she certainly couldn't think she'd get away with it after running all the way there. Still, she stood with her arms across her chest and a bored expression on her face. As always. "Are you kidding?"

"No?"

"I know you have it. You showed it to me the other day," she replied immediately, shaking her head impatiently. "Could you give it back to me, please?"

Tom raised an eyebrow. "No," he said simply. Even before the girl could open her mouth, he raised an index finger in midair. Anastasia closed her lips immediately, squeezing them tightly to keep herself from insulting him. "You'll have to wait until after Professor Slughorn's dinner."

Anastasia's mouth immediately opened again with shock. The fact that Tom was a far more agile and powerful wizard than she was certainly not helping her. Especially since, Anastasia didn't have her wand now. "Excuse me?" she told him, already ready to hit the ground running. "Until Saturday night? What is this, blackmail?"

The smile that immediately sprang to life on the brunette-haired boy's lips took her by surprise, but it was obvious that it was ironic and born only to strike a blow to her pride. "Oh, your hearing still works. And apparently, you can be perceptive sometimes too. You're full of surprises, little girl." The boy began flapping his hands, to clear his palms of grass, before picking up his book. "It occurs to me to ask how you found me here."

Anastasia was seriously considering not answering him and simply turning her back and walking away. His snotty, annoying tone had gotten on her nerves, but then again, it was nothing new that Tom could get on her nerves in a matter of seconds. However, she hadn't gone there for that. She'd just taken advantage of the moment, seized the opportunity. "There was a big fight. Your partner got involved. With mine."

Tom's brow immediately furrowed with confusion as he got back to his feet, and together they started walking towards the Castle. "First, that doesn't answer my question. Second, I can't figure out who you're referring to and what do we have to do with this?"

She shrugged, but Tom kept looking at her in an attempt to understand even the slightest thing. She was making it really difficult, though. Her lips were tight and there was an indifferent expression on her face. They were both playing the same game. "Are you going to answer, or do I have to throw you in the lake and leave you to rot in the jaws of some terrible creature?"