Slytherin Roar: Through the Maze || Tom Riddle's Era

Chapter 5 || Testing Chivalry

Lunch was always a breath of fresh air and piles of food to devour. The Hufflepuff table was much friendlier than the Gryffindor table and definitely better than when I am seated between glaring Slytherins; not because they were "Hufflepuffs" but simply because they were less hostile. I didn't have to try to blend in with my roommates to seem left out—starting a conversation with a Hufflepuff was easier.

Jasmine had her chin propped on her cheek and ignored every question that was fired at her that tipped Emily on her edge. Jasmine's eyes were on the Gryffindor table and her thumb skimmed over her arm in a daze—blank and senseless.

"Look, Jasmine," Emily finally snapped, "I get that you're... whatever that's happening with you but can you please stop ignoring me?"

"Who are you talking about?" I asked, genuinely confused.

Jasmine quickly looked down at her plate in a snap and I searched to see Ivy Owens glancing in our direction. Emily smirked, blatantly amused at Jasmine's reaction.

"Oh." I peered between Jasmine and Ivy repeatedly until the realisation sunk in like quicksand. "What happened?"

Emily shrugged. "Well, something definitely happened between her and Owens."

"Wait," I said, "did you kiss Ivy or something?"

Emily grinned like a Cheshire cat, all of her teeth showing and glinting while Jasmine looked at me terrified. Her mouth hung open and strong colour of red spread across her cheeks like a spark of wildfire through dry forests.

"Of course not!"

I raised a brow. "Then what is it?"

"It's... stupid," Jasmine mumbled.

Emily stared at her for a moment, contemplating whether to force it out of her, but shrugged nonchalantly. "Whatever you say."

"I have to go to Potions." I didn't like the idea of facing Tom and Abraxas and passing the letter from Alice. It was definitely not the charm.

"What's the matter?" Jasmine looked at me curiously.

Emily cocked her head to the side. "You seem nervous, and here I thought you were a Gryffindor."

"I'm not nervous," I said. "I'm just... reluctant."

"Of what?"

"Tom, Abraxas, and I had a fight this morning." I think.

Emily watched me, scrutinising every move, and I held her gaze. She nodded. "Okay."

"See you, Vivienne," Jasmine smiled, retreating back to watching Ivy.

Smiling back, I tossed my legs over the bench and stood up. "Have fun."

"I'm sure Jasmine will."

»»»»»

"Oh, Ms Pearce," Professor Slughorn said with a pleasant smile. "As usual, you're one of the earliest students."

Inspecting, I noticed that only two students occupied the classroom—Tom and Abraxas.

Hiding a sigh, I smiled at Professor Slughorn and trudged towards my seat. Tom and Abraxas were observing me like a leech, refusing to release their grip as I tried hard to pry them off from me. It was the first day of Potion class in the first year from the start.

Placing the bag down I perched myself awkwardly on the stool. I looked up when Tom started to talk.

"I'm presuming that you had a nice lunch."