Painful Redemption | T. R.

Chapter Eighteen

A/N

Hi, guys.
I'm sorry for leaving you so long without an update, but I received some very sad news and preferred to take some time off. On top of that, I'm very busy with some rather challenging and stressful university exams. I hope you can understand and forgive me.

All the love,
G.

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The Astronomy Tower, due to its height and location, was extremely windy and it certainly didn't help that classes were held late in the evening. All of the seniors, Slytherin and Ravenclaw, were gathered next to each other in search of warmth. They were all huddled in their uniforms, hoping not to catch a major fever or cold of any kind due to the weather conditions as the Professor explained everything there was to know to the kids. The air was cold and biting, they all seemed to have icy skins and were afraid to even move from those small burning candles that barely stayed alive, giving off the minimal warmth they needed to not complain as they jotted down on their papers the notions of the lecture they all could have done without.

Especially Marcus and Xavier, who since the lesson had begun had done nothing but complain loudly, stretch, yawn loudly and slump to the floor with the excuse of wanting to rest for just a moment to persuade the Professor to let them go back to their rooms. On the other side, there were the Ravenclaws who looked at the two boys with annoyance and sufficiency. Sure, they too were not happy to be there catching the cold, but on the other hand, they had now given up on the idea of having to suffer and participate in the lesson. Which, clearly, Marcus and Xavier couldn't quite process as well as they should have.

Orion had hit them both on the back of the head more than once, muttering through clenched teeth that they should keep quiet before they risked getting into trouble because of them and the fact that they had to act like children every single time. They were all actually glad that they did though, because at least that way, the lesson seemed to be lighter to deal with. In one way or another, even the professor often had to pause for a moment to laugh at their childish behavior, before reminding them both that at this rate they absolutely would not make it to the end of the year. And then they would both look each other in the eye, considering whether to shut up for a while and put up with it or continue with the mooning. Needless to say, each time they resumed annoying the class and there was no way out.

"Forget about them," Walbruga had whispered in her boyfriend's ear, barely holding back a smug giggle as the two continued to move frantically in search of some warmth. "They're harnessing so much energy that, at least, they'll leave us alone tonight and go to sleep. At least, hopefully."

On the opposite side of the Tower, while Anastasia was trying not to let herself be distracted in any way to make up for all the lessons she had missed due to her health condition and what had happened in the previous weeks, there were two people watching her for two very different reasons from each other. While Eric was watching her write, jotting down every single notion, Olive was leaning back against the stone wall, her arms across her chest and her eyes on fire because Tom kept moving his gaze between the two of them. Not even remotely could Olive give in to the idea that Tom had actually chosen to invite Anastasia and not her to Slughorn's dinner, she couldn't possibly accept that it had actually happened. She was bitter and disappointed, hurt. But this Anastasia could also understand. After all, Tom kept giving her unnecessary hope. He didn't even seem purely interested in the girl, and yet this story had been going on for years. For what reason, no one could understand that. He treated her with pure detachment and superiority, but continued to keep her close. It was bizarre and contradictory, which didn't suit Tom Riddle at all.

Tom, meanwhile, already understood whatever was going to happen. Anastasia had previously told him that the Ravenclaw Prefect had asked her to accompany him to the dinner, and probably dissatisfied with the answer, he seemed to be determined to ask the girl the same question again. There were two alternatives, and he had to weigh his move well before it all fell apart, although he was now certain that Anastasia would not accept his invitation. Either he could beat Eric to the punch, and drag Anastasia away from that Tower once the lesson was over, or simply watch the little scene from afar and enjoy the disappointment on his face at the moment of rejection. Either way, Eric was losing to Tom, so it was to be considered a certain victory. Which one seemed to be more fun, though?