How to Solve a Riddle || Tom Riddle x Reader ||

Chapter 15

Neither you or Tom had spoken.

So perhaps option 3 would be the case.

You had kissed and perhaps for a while. And perhaps it would've been romantic if you both didn't leave very quickly after.

On other news:
James had asked out Lily Evans the other day; she had said yes.

And you had seen how Regulus Black's face fell when she agreed.

You had also seen how Severus Snape looked so very angry.

And now you sit with James by the Black Lake. Sirius, Remus, and Peter are there as well; naturally.

Peter's head lays on your lap. Sirius and Remus are holding hands.

And James sits there with a stupidly large grin on his face; talking about Lily.

"And- Merlin have you seen her eyes?"

"James they're green." Sirius says, "it's not like it's an eye color you haven't seen before."

"Yes, but they're the most beautiful shade of green."

"So not the color of my poop?" Peter asks.

Sirius snorts.

"Peter, darling, your poo isn't supposed to be green." You say.

James doesn't take notice of any of this, "and they just sparkle in the sunlight. And-"

"Hey Potter!"

Snape.

Ew.

"Snivellus." Sirius mutters.

"What do you want?" James asks as Snape stops in front of your group.

You take notice as to how Tom Riddle watches, sitting also with his friends, curiously.

And how Lily Evans stands behind Snape, looking very frustrated.

Snape whips out his wand and points it at James, "I challenge you to a duel!"

"A duel?" James asks, "seriously."

"Sirius-ly." Sirius whispers, Remus sighs at his stupid joke, but Peter seems to find it hilarious and he laughs.

Snape gives a small glare in Peter's direction.

"Yes. For Lily's hand."

"For Lily's- what? She already said she wants to go on a date with me, she clearly does not want to go out with you. So I don't see what this is going to do. Even if you do win, which is highly unlikely, she's still not going to want to go out with you."

"If I win," Snape insists on the duel, "you don't go out with Lily and you never ask her again. And if you win-"

"You leave her alone forever? Still no deal. It's stupid."

"You're just afraid." Snape says.

"I am not, but I'm also not going to be dueling you for such a stupid reason."

"And I," Lily interrupts, "told you to leave it alone, Severus. I do not care if you two duel, go ahead, but the winner does not get my hand. I will be going on a date with James and I do not care whether you want me to or not! It's my decision!"

"Yeah, mate," Sirius says, "just because you fancy the poor girl doesn't mean you get to control her."

"I do not fancy a mudblood."

And there it is; perhaps his true colors showing.

Lily gasps as he says it.

He realizes his mistake, "I didn't-"

"Alright mate, you want to duel?" James stands up, suddenly seeming very angry. His own wand is out in less than a second. "What was your thought process just now, 'oh maybe if I call her a slur, she'll love me'? Bloody git, that's what you are."

"It was an accident." Snape hisses, "and a git? Is that really your only insult? Expelliarmus!"

"Protego!" James says back.

"They better not hit me." You mutter, seeing at how close they were to you, Peter, Sirius, and Remus.

"Agreed." You brother says, "My face is too pretty to be hit by a spell."

You laugh, "you? Pretty? You're ugly."

"Rude."

And the duel continues back and forth.

It's almost boring and you're only partially listening.

And then you hear it.

A word you hadn't expected or wanted to.

You realized what it was with the second syllable.

And by then it was too late; you had not enough time to get out your own wand, much less stop him.

The only thing you could do was watch in horror.

"Sectumsempra!" Snape shouts, James isn't able to get a protection spell out, isn't able to dodge it in time.

And the spell hits him.

The blood begins to pour out quickly, almost as quickly as James falls to the ground.

And at first you freeze, unable to move, and then you hurry to your friend.

Sirius is already at his side, Peter is panicked; yelling for help.

There likely isn't any teachers around.

Lily is suddenly at James's side as well and you can see Tom Riddle walking over and one of his friend; Malfoy, perhaps, running towards the castle.

You look at Snape, who looks almost apologetic.

"Petrificus Totalus." You whisper in his direction; the spell hits him and he falls to the ground, completely frozen.

"Malfoy is on his way to the castle; to get a teacher. Perhaps we should bring James closer... to meet them halfway." Tom suggests, his voice as calm as usual.

"We shouldn't be carrying him, it could make it worse." You reply, quiet.

"Levitation charm." He suggests.

A smart solution; one you hadn't thought of in your panic.

And you motion for Sirius and Lily to back up, you do the same.

Tom mutters a spell and his body floats into the air, the blood in his body is still pouring out and he looks paler than usual.

And by some miracle; James Potter gets to the medical wing.

And by an even bigger miracle; he lives, but stays in a critical condition.

You're not sure what might be happening to Snape at the moment. And you hope he goes to Azkaban.

And everything finally hits you entirely and your heart begins to hurt.

You turn to the nearest person; who simply happen to be Riddle, and quickly wrap your arms around his stomach, tears falling down your face.

And he returns the hug, doing perhaps his best to comfort you.