Young! Severus Snape x Reader x Tom Riddle

Chapter 8~ Trading Secrets

Chapter 8~ Trading Secrets

We made our way out into the courtyard in which I promptly guided Solomon to the whomping willow. She was quite a nice tree but skittish ever since Vincent damaged some of her branches last year. King ran to quickly touch the knot at the base of her trunk so she would stop swinging for a moment. In the moment of stillness, I flew to the base of the willow and jumped off, holding on so Tom could get off as well. I used a spell to remove the grass to show a rabbit hole at the base of the willow.

"Where are we going?" Tom asked, perplexed that I knew of such a place.

"Shhh~ You'll see," I hushed, leading the way through the hole, following a dusty path until we came to a wooden door just above our heads. I opened the door and jumped up into the building above bending over to help Tommy up and grab Solomon who floated lazily behind him.

"Where is this?" Tom asked with a cough, the dust that settled here was thick.

"This is the most haunted building in Britain! The shrieking shack!" I laughed but coughed soon after. "Ahem* It needs some dusting but it's a nice place when I need some alone time, not my favorite hiding place however."

"The shrieking shack is located in Hogsmeade? How is this possible?" Tom asked.

"The tunnel connects the school to Hogsmeade, it's a shortcut I take often," I answered, using Solomon to sweep some dirt and dust to the side so we could sit. I set myself gingerly onto the clean floor, making sure to curl my dress tightly around my legs. I patted the spot next to me to indicate it was clean for Tom to sit. He sat close to me, leaning his body weight into my side and resting his head on my shoulder. I reached up to pet his soft wavy brown hair.

"I see," He answered, his eyes closing to my touch.

Tommy's POV~

We sat in silence for sometime, it was as if she didn't want to rush this moment and I loved the feeling of her warm hands gliding through my hair and massaging my scalp. She must have heard me hum in delight at the sensation as she giggled softly, her hands never stopping their massage. I wish we could stay like this for longer but the night was getting shorter and we both needed rest for tomorrow's lectures, thankfully it was Friday and the weekend would follow shortly after. With a sigh I opened my mouth ready to speak.

Normal POV~

"I'm an orphan," Tom said softly. I hummed in response since I didn't want to disturb his story, it looked as if he never told anyone about his life and things like this needed to be released quickly, as if ripping off a band-aid. "My father was a muggle... a rich man. My mother was a witch who foolishly fell in love with that bastard... Their love was strange and made no sense. Why would anyone spend their life chasing someone who could care less if they died?!"

Tom was breathless, his face was flushed with anger and a scowl formed on his young face. He bitterly laughed but shook his head, leaning it back onto my shoulder begging with his eyes for comfort. I resumed my gentle caress but quietly nodded, letting him know it's okay to continue.

"When my mom found out she was pregnant with me, she thought she had a chance with him. It was hope that was quickly and ruthlessly crushed. She was thrown out of his mansion as if she was a stray dog... And then she had me in some rural hospital," Tom took a deep breath. "It wasn't as if I cared. Honestly I couldn't care less about what happened... About the death of my mother. About being thrown into an orphanage and being bullied and feared by the other kids and caregivers. It was as if I was born with no emotions..."

"That isn't true Tommy," I whispered softly into his hair. I peppered kisses in his scalp, my arm tightening around his shoulder and pushing his head tenderly to my chest. Tears lightly fell from my eyes. "You're so gentle and forgiving. You're smart and witty. You easily show jealousy and curiosity and you have a knack for angering those around you as well as charming them," I laughed softly, my face buried in the soft ruffles of his curls.