Insomniacs - Tom Riddle x reader (with pictures)

1 / the lake's calling

You try the other side. Again.

You have been tossing and turning in your bed for hours now.

The Ravenclaw dormitory is dead silent, since everyone is sound asleep. Except you, of course. Only sometimes you can hear a quiet snore from one of the girls.

You quietly groan and bury your head in the pillow. This must be the fourth night in a row at least where you find yourself in this exact situation: wide awake because your stupid mind won't stop racing. It's getting ridiculous.

You don't even know what it is, specifically, that keeps you from a good night's sleep lately. You've always been a bit of an over-thinker but lately you really lost the ability to get you head to shut up.

Schoolwork is stressing you out a lot. But that would make a couple of hours of deep sleep all the more important. Of course – the more you think about how badly you need to fall asleep, the harder it gets.

You turn from your side to your back once again, now staring at the high ceiling. The room is dimly illuminated by the pale moonlight finding its' way through the windows.

This not going to work. You're coming to terms with the fact that sleeping is most likely just not in the cards for you today.

But just lying here for another few hours, just being alone with your thoughts...? This prospect sounds like hell to you.

An idea forms in your head. You bite your lip, contemplating for a few seconds.

You know it's risky but you almost feel like you have no other choice. You need to get out of this damn dormitory.

Leaving the bedrooms after 10 p.m. is strictly forbidden at Hogwarts and getting caught has consequences that are... uncomfortable, to put it lightly. You're very aware that Apollyon Pringle, the school's caretaker, is most likely still making his rounds, eager to punish anyone who disobeys the rules. But Hogwarts is big... and you already made up your mind. A long walk on the school grounds is exactly what you need to free your mind right now.

So you swing your legs out of the bed and get up. Summer is coming to an end so there's a good chance that it might be a little chilly at this hour. So you decide to slip into your morning robe. It's warm and cozy. You put on your shoes as well, trying to be as quiet as possible, as to not wake the other girls. Then you quickly put up your brown hair in a loose pony tail. The last thing you grab from your nightstand is your wand and just like that, the dormitory door is closing behind you quietly and you stand in the Ravenclaw common room.

You let out a sigh of relief. Even just standing here, finally alone, brings you a bit of ease. You just started your sixth year in Hogwarts and still – you believe you will never get used to staying with four other people in the same bedroom.

Careful not to make loud steps, you make your way through the common room. You actually really like spending time in here, it's cozy and has a nice atmosphere to read a book or sit around the fireplace with a few housemates in the evenings.

In general, you're pretty grateful to be able to study at Hogwarts. You have a few good friends in your house, especially Jane Haywood, a freckled redhead, with whom you spend most of your time. You're a decently good student as well, only struggling in Potions a bit.

So what's wrong? The confusion about your recent insomnia is still present in your mind, as the painting that serves as a doorway to your common room, magically swings open as you approach it. You slip out and find yourself in the long hallway, still wracking your brain.

There's really not much to complain about in your life at the moment and still... since a couple of weeks you have had a weird feeling hanging over you like a rain cloud. Like something is... missing maybe?

You start walking again, your wand softly lighting up your path. The hallways in Hogwarts always give you a bit of an eerie feeling, especially since some of the portraits on the wall are "alive" and watch you as you walk by. Not right now though, as even all of them are asleep at this hour.

The goal of your nightly adventure is clear. You want to wander to the Great Lake. Something about it is almost calling your name right now and you hope the cool air will calm your nerves. You enjoy going there during the day a lot, whenever you have some free time between classes. Of course this will be the first time you'll get to experience the place at nighttime.

It's going to be a bit of trip but you figure you have more than enough time on your hands. As long as you manage to slip back into your bed before six, when the other girls' alarm clocks will be going off.

Miraculously, you actually reach one of the many doors that lead outside, without bumping into a single soul. You notice that your heart rate is going down as soon as the chilly outside air is hitting your burning cheeks. Quite nerve racking, all this rule breaking...

Usually you're more of a goody-two-shoes. There was only one other instance during your whole attendance at this school where you snuck out at night before – you were in your third year back then. But that was more of a peer pressure situation, since all of your housemates decided to be rebellious that night. You raised your concerns beforehand but quickly got shut down by the others. Of course, five giggly 13 year old girls make a whole lot of noise so you got caught after just a few minutes by Professor Poults, Ravenclaw's head teacher. Because you probably looked incredibly pitiful after her tongue-lashing, you got away relatively unscathed: Ravenclaw was 20 housepoints poorer and you guys one week of detention richer.

Back then you were miserable breaking the rules but did so, to fit in. Today something's different... this feels weirdly... exhilarating?

As you quickly stride over the school yard, you take a moment to look up at the night sky. You can see about a million stars and actually get goosebumps. Partly because of the cold, but mostly because the sight is incredibly beautiful.

You let out a sigh and focus your attention back to the path ahead of you. You're slowly but steadily leaving the school behind you now.

You're glad now that you dared to go outside. The walking feels good and your head really seems to clear up a bit. The peacefulness of the nature around you calms your nerves.

As you expected, the hike isn't a piece of cake but finally you reach your goal. The Great Lake lies before you now and even though you're a little out of breath you feel quite accomplished.

You plop your behind on the grass near the water with little elegance and can't help but smile at the view. The lake truly looks breathtaking. Glistening in a deep blue shade reflecting the night sky... stunning. You take a really deep breath.

As you sit there you reflect once again. You're a little surprised by yourself tonight. This bravery isn't like you. But again, there's been a change in you lately; you've felt it for quite some time now. You can't really put your finger on it, but you feel restless. Longing for... something.

Quite a bit of time passes as you're lost in your thoughts, you can't really tell how much.

But suddenly your hear a rustling noise behind you which causes the blood to freeze in your veins. It almost sounds like someone is directly approaching you...