Trapped in the Past (Tom Riddle x Reader)

7 - Date with Death in Hogsmeade

"Omg, Riddle asked you out!".
Your hands try to protect your ears, but Ellie can't stop screaming and jumping around you.
The whole Ravenclaw tower risks to collapse under her wind joy. As if she was the lucky one.
"This must be a joke, Ellie" you say, crouching on your bed. You are still unaware of how you moved from the Great Hall to your room.
Maybe Ellie apparated both of you without realizing it.
"What if he likes you? You've been his personal competition this year. So what if he decided that it's cool and sees you as a good match?".
"What if he will push me in a bathroom and make sure I'm no more competition to him?" you retort.
Ellie opens her mouth to reply, then ponders it "Well, that's quite hot. In a bathroom with Riddle...".
"It's not. It's like a murder" you scoff "And he's a Prefect. Doesn't he have duties like patrolling the gates or something?".
She walks to you to pull you up "I guess he does, but he also chose to give his duties up for you. You need some make up".
"No way. He can't accept me as I am, then his feelings are not true" you say sternly.
"Then I can borrow you one of my shirts, with a cute cleavage" Ellie summons the most inappropriate dress she could ever offer you.

Please, this must be a weird nightmare. You say mentally.
You wanted to take advantage of the Hogsmeade trip's day to attempt a visit to Myrtle's bathroom.
You can't believe that Riddle wasted it.

In the end you allowed Ellie to put some make up on you while you chose a nice dress from your tiny wardrobe.
When you reach the entrance doors, hoping until the end to find out that it's just a prank, you spot the familiar tall silhouette of the Slytherin Prefect.
And him wearing his ordinary uniform for the trip makes you feel uncomfortable because you'd rather be wearing your uniform too.
Riddle doesn't pay you more than a quick glance at your look.
He nods to follow him as he seems impatient to march to the village.
You look at your back, where Ellie is following you from a certain distance with her group of friends.
She beams at you showing her thumbs up.
You turn to look at Riddle, who just entertains you with small talk. He doesn't look so into that date, so you're not expecting anything romantic. Definitely not a kiss, as Ellie is hoping.
The other girls walking around you shoot you nasty look and you wonder why are you wasting your time like that.
You should have trusted your gut and rejected Riddle's offer.
You should have stayed in the castle and take advantage of the trip day to investigate on Myrtle.

For a moment you forget about the ghost as you take in the old version of Hogsmeade.
Your heart aches realizing that most of the shops you're used to know are not there.
Hogsmeade feels unfamiliar and familiar at the same time and it's something so bittersweet.
Riddle invites you in a pub, holding the door for you, then he picks the quietest table in a dark corner.
Far from being romantic, but at least you feel safe from the envious glares of the other girls.
And you also lose sight of Ellie.
So you're alone with Riddle. On your own.
You rob your sweaty hands on your lap as Riddle sits elegantly in front of you, frowning in disapproval as a waitress quickly approaches you two for the orders.
You just pick a butterbeer, surprised that Riddle orders the same.
At least no whiskey and no risk of getting drunk and making choices to regret later.

"So, why asking me out?" you ask when finally you get your drinks to play with while Riddle looks quite indifferent.
He shrugs "Seemed a nice thing to do. You are avoiding me since the apparition training".
The accusing look he shoots at you makes you blush even if you fight that reaction.
"Maybe I was just busy studying hard for the last exams" you justify quickly.
"Maybe you exposed yourself, not focusing enough and ending against me" he fires back.
Your breath dies in your throat.
"What is it supposed to mean?".
"I'm just curious. And maybe I want to make things easier" he enjoys seeing you speechless and takes a sip from his drink, an innocent gesture that feels like a mocking one since you're petrified "Seriously, most of the girls in this school would do anything to be in your shoes right now. You look quite... Frustrated?".
You clench your jaw so hard that you're surprised that your teeth are not breaking.
Your cheeks flush even more.
"Then why don't you ask one of your many admirers?" you spit.
He scoffs "Where would the fun be in that? Or you had other plans?".
You drop your gaze, feeling exposed.
You start to believe that indeed he is distracting you just because he guessed your plans on breaking the rules to speak to Myrtle...
You don't find anything safe to say, so you focus on drinking slowly from your cup.
He doesn't tease you anymore and imitates you, drinking more elegantly and in the end he just licks the corners of his lips while you need to use a tissue to fix your messy jaw.
You regret catching that view of his tongue and his lips, so you look down, focusing on his hands on the table.
Your eyes stop on the dark ring he's always wearing.
"That's a cute ring. A family heirloom?" you ask.
He caresses it with his long fingers "Yes".
Your sick mind wonders how those fingers would feel if they caress your skin the way they touch that jewel.
"It looks very ancient" you comment.
"Is it" he looks at you "What about you? I never saw you wear jewels".
That's because you left them all in your time.
"I left a life behind when I moved here. Jewels tell a story usually".
"So you'd need one for this story".
You chuckle "Yeah, what? Ravenclaw's diadem?".
He seems appreciating your idea "We will think of something".
You wonder if he actually means gifting you with a jewel. Then you think of the Time Turner you left in Dumbledore's office.
You have no time for jewels. You have no time for a new story in a time you don't belong too.
Riddle waves at the waitress and stands up, pulling out coins to pay the bill.
You follow him out of the building "You really didn't have to pay for me".
He smirks "Call yourself lucky. Usually I don't pay for anyone but myself".
You sigh, unsure if he meant to flatter you or just being arrogant.
You look around, counting the differences with the Hogsmeade you're used to know and that maybe is being destroyed by Voldemort and you're not there to fight with your friends.
You look up the hills.
There's no Shrieking Shack.