Much to Horace Slughorn's dismay, Artemis Potter and Tom Riddle seem to have drifted apart a little despite having spent the summer holidays with each other. So, of course, it is upto him to bring them closer once more. If only his superb match-maki...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
----------------------> THE NEXT TIME TOM RIDDLE SAW ARTEMIS POTTER was nearly a week later. Blue coated the sky above them like it had been painted and butterflies fluttered in the air, flying from one flower to the other. Artemis was leaning against the back of the cool, stone walls of Hogwarts, dressed casually in a royal blue knitted sweater that brought out her eyes, a simple black skirt, and thick stockings. Her hair was down, spilling over her shoulders in soft golden waves and her eyes were fixed unseeingly ahead.
"Artemis?" Tom called, splitting up from Walburga and Abraxas to walk towards her.
His voice broke her reverie. She blinked a few times, attention refocusing, and smiled as she greeted him, "My muse! Good morning."
"Is everything okay?" he asked, coming to a stop beside her.
"Oh yes," she assured him, waving a hand through the air before shifting the topic, "How come you're here?"
"Professor Slughorn called us," Tom said, gesturing to the crowd of students that pooled into the grounds located at the south of Hogwarts.
Artemis' brows rose. "He called us as well. Is the entire population of the school coming?"
"I think it's just the sixth years. Those who took potions, at least," he replied, scanning the sea of faces. When he swivelled back to her, Artemis still looked distant. Tom frowned when he noticed what appeared to be glamours applied around her eyes.
What's going on with you, Artemis?
"Shall we see what's happening?" he asked, offering his arm.
Artemis jolted out of her daze. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"
"I said you're looking lovely," Tom replied, adopting a thoughtful look. "Now I'm wondering if you made me repeat it because you adore hearing such things."
Artemis released a heavy breath, tipping her head in agreement as a ghost of a smile lingered on her lips. "You know I do. I love it when you feed my ego." She noticed his outstretched arm, and her smile widened as she slipped her arm into the crook of his elbow. Together, they threaded forward and braved the cold morning air.
As Professor Slughorn had instructed, the students had gathered beside the Black Lake, with some of them crouched down and drawing patterns on the water. Reginald and his friends, Charlie and Melanie, were conversing with Abraxas and Walburga at a distance away from the others, under the shade of a tree. When Reginald spotted the couple, he waved them over.
"Why did Slughorn tell us to come here?" Reginald asked, burying his hands in the pocket of his jumper. "On a Saturday. Before noon."
Tom lifted a brow. "Why do you suspect we would know?"
"You two are his favourites," Reginald stated like it was a fact, which it might as well have been.
Tom dipped in his head in acknowledgement and proceeded to respond. "Professor Slughorn hasn't told us anything. He might have mentioned it in the club he organised at the Hogwarts Express, which, unfortunately, Artemis and I were unable to attend due to prior commitments."
