𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑶𝑵𝑳𝒀 𝑬𝑿𝑪𝑬𝑷𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 ― t. riddle

𝑻𝑾𝑶

THE SORTING FLIES by, and before I know it, it's finally time to eat. I dig in immediately, Not caring at all about the disgusted stares that come from my fellow Gryffindors. I scarf down slabs of roast beef, piles of mashed potatoes, a basket of fries, and a bowl of cranberry sauce. When dessert comes around, I eat three slices of cheesecake. Part of me does it just to spite the rest of the judgmental people in my house. Part of me does it just because Hogwarts food is my weakness. I practically starve myself over the summer holidays for this meal.

When dinner ends, we get sent off to our dormtories, which I am glad for. I am tired, and sick of having to pretend I don't feel everyone's eyes on me every move I make. Immediately, I go to my room. My roommates - Jane Wilson and Eden Hughes - enter right after, doing the same as me and crawling into bed. You'd think that we would be friends, but like me, they both have issues that prevent them from branching out. Jane's father is a bad wizard who's been in Azkaban for life, and Eden's father is the Minister of Magic, therefore people are afraid to get on her bad side. I don't blame them; she has a bit of a temper. I fall asleep quickly, Tom being the last thing on my mind. 

🪄

THE NEXT MORNING, I wake up to the sound of my owl - Axl - pecking on my window. Groaning, I roll out of bed, and fling open my window. Axl, a beautiful eagle owl, flies in, landing softly on my arm. I stroke her head.

"What do you have for me, Axl?"

Axl drops a letter from her mouth into my other hand, a sign that the letter most likely came from somewhere inside the castle. I pet Axl one more time, before she flies off, back to the Owlery, leaving me to open my letter. When I open it, my eyes immediately trail down to the signature:

T.M. Riddle

I read the letter probably ten times, before I can fully comprehend what it's about.

The seventh year Slytherins are having a party... and I'm invited. He also says to invite whoever I want, as long as they're not muggle-born. I smile, biting my lip. Once I get over my excitement, I take a shower and change, before gathering my stuff and going to breakfast. For the first time in years, I am actually happy to be at this school. I don't eat much; my jitters are too great. Instead, I try not to look at Tom from across the room - it's not like he's looking at me. After breakfast, I go to my first class, D. A. D. A. as I attempt to put the party to the back of my mind. That way, the excitement is more significant. 

🪄

I CAN BARELY contain my delirium by the time dinner comes around. I was told that the party starts at 11, giving me 5 hours to get ready. I eat hardly any food, and rush to my room the second that dinner ends. Jane and Eden enter soon after, and proceeded to do the usual - sitting on their beds with the curtains closed and doing their homework.

For some wild reason, I feel the need to invite them to the party. Whether it's out of excitement, or pity, I don't know.

"Guys, why don't you stop being boring and come to a party with me?"

Jane - who was in the midst of closing her curtain - stops, beaming. "Really?" she asks, her voice laced with disbelief.

"Yeah!"

Eden isn't so willing. "Are you sure? We could get in trouble."

I cross my arms, smirking. "Oh, come on. Live a little!"

A moment later, Eden smiles. "Alright, I guess."

"That's what I'm talking about! Now, what to wear..."