ethereal | tom riddle.

trust

Later that night, when Eliza and Tom went back to his dorm, Tom sat down in front of her, listening to her as she ranted on about something.

"Eliza." Tom said, cutting her off as she refocused her attention on him. He let his hand slip down from her face and onto the surface of the bed. "You don't need to worry." He waited for her to react but she seemed confused. "You don't need to worry about how many I've been with. That doesn't matter."

"To you it doesn't. It matters to me."

"It shouldn't, my darling. Just trust me."

It was weird how they weren't together as such, but they were engaged, but they were also friends at the same time. She was worried about having sex with him when they were not yet married nor were they together. It probably wouldn't be until they wanted children that it would get to that point. "Fine." She murmured, fidgeting with her skirt's hem.

"Look at me when you talk." He said gently, as she looked up at him.

"Okay." She said again, this time looking at him.

"Good girl." He smiled. "I wouldn't do anything to hurt you or make you uncomfortable. Always remember that. You can talk to me about anything, alright?"

"Thank you."

"Even the things you spoke to Abraxas about earlier today."

"How do you know everything?"

"I just do, darling. I just do."

*

They walked to their last class of the day with Professor Dumbledore, slightly late already. "Eliza, could you please walk faster?" Tom rushed her, getting irritated by how slow she walked.

"I am trying my best, Tom."

"It's not good enough." He said, stopping abruptly and turning around, making her walk into him chest.

She groaned, rubbing her temples. He took her books from her hands, making both of their books float behind him as he lifted her off her feet without any warning, carrying her in both his arms with ease.

Within no time, they neared the class but then saw Dumbledore, Slughorn and a new teacher by the name of McGonagall, walking towards them.

Just as he went to put her down, the professors looked up all at once. "Mr, Riddle, Ms. Montgomery! What is this behaviour?! Absolutely unacceptable." Dumbledore said sternly.

At the same time, Slughorn exclaimed as well, a bright smile on his face. "Tom, m'boy! Eliza, dear! Congratulations! I heard the news! I always felt it deep down you two had a connection." Slughorn's words trailed off and eyes widened as he realised that Dumbledore was angry at the two students.

Slughorn made an 'oops' face towards the two students as Dumbledore gave Slughorn an irritated look. "You are in a school, behave like it. I expect better from the two of you." Dumbledore shook his head at the students, walking into his class as Eliza and Tom followed.

When class ended, Tom and Eliza left as soon as possible wanting to avoid a possible lecture from Dumbledore. They walked back to their common room and sat in their usual corner of the common room, once again having a conversation the same as usual. Tom hated that he was stuck there listening to those morons talk about the latest gossip they'd heard as though they were 13-year old girls.

Eliza loved spending time with those morons though, so Tom had to stay as well. He found it utterly repetitive but he stopped minding that. He played with Eliza's hand as she spoke excitedly to the boys in front of her, them finding her stories entertaining.

Tom knew how much they cared for her. It wasn't even in a lustful manner, but rather a genuine care for her well-being. They had learned not to try pulling moves on her, knowing that it would not end well for them.

Even though it hadn't been said outrightly, she was very much off-bounds. They could do whatever they wanted, whoever they wanted, but Eliza was off-bounds.

That's just the way it was and they all had made peace with it, finding her to be more entertaining as a friend than they would've thought initially. She was perhaps the only girl most of them spoke to without the any other intentions.

She had always been for Tom, not even in a particularly romantic way. She was just always under his protection, his control somehow. He would keep her at arm's distance for the most of it, only ever trusting Abraxas with her.

There had almost never been a time that Tom had left Eliza with the boys when Abraxas wasn't there. He knew that they wouldn't have done anything, but he still wouldn't want her to be alone with them.

He would never say it, but he noticed how they treated her most of the time. He thought it was really nice of them to care about her the way they do, listening to her rants even if she went on for too long. If she woke them up in the middle of the night because she couldn't sleep, then they would all play cards with her or listen to her stories till she fell asleep.

She never did go to them though. She only ever went to Tom.

*

a/n: random filler chapter kind of

I hope you liked at least some of this book so far 💗💗