Aberration; Tom Riddle

VI

T O M

It was the first time he had gotten a detention and he hated to admit that he enjoyed it. 

it was all because of her

It was the first time he had laughed without any protruding thoughts. Tom walked through the dark corridors towards the Ravenclaw tower, he was waiting for her. Like always he leant against the wall with a bored expression, his eyes fixated on the Ravenclaw portrait which he waited to swing open. He heard a slight chuckle that made him look at her. Her dark hair paired with her brown eyes made something churn deep inside his core- something beautiful yet wretched. He walked up to her with a confident smirk, his hand grazing the side of her face, it was like his natural instinct.

"Angel, you know I waited for 10 minutes", he said with a dark chuckle.

"You should learn to wait for a lady", Estelle countered back, her lips curved up into a connive smirk. "Plus you always wait for me".

"What's with that mischievous look, don't even dare, i've had enough of your surprises", he threatened her. Tom knew that she wouldn't take it to heart, she had a tendency to ignore his warnings- that's why he found her interesting.

A light chuckle escaped her lips as Tom narrowed his eyes, he didn't know what she was up to. He always wanted to know everything beforehand so he could get ready, however with her, it was different and he didn't seem to mind it.

He knew nothing.

His instincts guided him.

Tom could say he was the most genuine when he was with her.

He somehow liked the surprises she gave him. "You'll see", she said as she grabbed onto his hand and pulled him through the dark corridors. Tom watched her, his own lips tugging into a small smirk, no- maybe even a smile. He knew that they were supposed to be patrolling, however he wanted to see what else she would do. Soon he felt the cold air biting into his skin, they were near the black lake. Tom sat down next to her, the faint smell of vanilla invaded his sense- calming yet disturbing.

"What are we doing here, we're supposed to be patrolling", Tom asked her.

"Live a little won't you", those words escaped her lips. 

"What, you want me to transfigure myself into fire whisky" he joked. This made Estelle laugh. She was so beautiful when she laughed. How had he not noticed her before?

Tom realized that this was the first time he was  interested in something. Sure, he was interested in implementing his name all over the wizarding world and enforcing fear but that had been the only thing since he was born that had captured his attention. However, she had been able to do it so easily, so naturally that he didn't know how to stop her from entering his life. 

It bothered him.

Tom looked at her as she grabbed his arm and placed her head on it, he had no choice but to lay down next to her. Tom stared at the stars. The stars reminded him of her.

"Estelle- you were named after stars, is there a specific reason", Tom broke the comfortable silence. He turned onto his side so he could face her, she did the same.

"My mother loved them, she said that they were so exquisite, they were enough to light up the dark sky. She said that one day I would light up someone's darkness like the stars", She said with a small smile, her cheeks were red from the cold winds.

'yes she's opening up to me- i need to pry more' tom thought

"your mother loved them?" he asked 

"she passed away" Estelle said with a small smile "I think she would have liked you".

"why"

"well- she didn't judge people for who they had become now unless she knew the reason why they had become that person".

Tom thought about what Estelle said. What was she hinting at?

However, he pushed the thought to the back of his mind. He couldn't help but pull her in closer. Tom felt her relax into him, her hair slightly brushing against his neck. Hesitantly, he used his free hand to stroke her hair, the familiar but calming scent of her lulled him into a state of peacefulness.

***

Tom woke up to the sun rising. The orange and yellow hews of light rested on her face, lighting up every prominent feature. He had to be honest with himself, this was the first time in ages that he had been able to fall asleep like that. He normally would only get a hour or two, sometimes none but this time he had gotten more than a few. He watched her as her chest rose and fell from her slow breaths, her hands were still clasped around his own.

"Angel wake up, we have breakfast in a few hours- we need to go back", he said.

"No- a little bit more", Estelle replied with slurred words.

Tom pulled her up and this was a mistake because she consequently wrapped her arms around him. He could tell she was sleeping again and it made him sigh in response. He wrapped his arms around her and carried her towards the castle.

"You shouldn't trust me angel"