Insomniacs - Tom Riddle x reader (with pictures)

10 / gillyweed

Surprisingly, the food actually makes you feel somewhat better. You're also relieved to see that Tom is nowhere to be seen in the Great Hall. On the weekends, many students do not attend the meals and go to Hogsmeade instead. You wonder if he's there with his friends right now.

"Anyway, personally I think Hufflepuff deserved to win; they were just unlucky." You smile at Nolan, who is excitedly talking about the last Quidditch game, that apparently ended in the Slytherin team's favour.

"Rubbish, Horn. You know I despise Slytherin as much as the next person but they were simply better," Daisy disagrees with him, equally as passionate about the topic. You let out a soft sigh. You are kind of envious of your friends at the moment. Their only worries are sports and schoolwork.

Nolan acts deeply offended by the short girl's words. "Daisy, how could you? Never in a million years I would have expected you to come to the snakes' defence."

You giggle. Slytherin is definitely the least popular house amongst the other students in Hogwarts. Some of it is probably based on exaggerated stereotypes, but there is some truth to it, that many of the Slytherin students act very entitled. Some of them also hold strong believes on blood purity, which means that they only deem wizards from pure blooded families worthy and despise Muggle-borns.

You assume that those who do, probably just repeat what they hear at home. You always thought this was ridiculous, and your parents always made sure to install in you, that you weren't inherently better than someone else just because you come from a long line of wizards and witches. You know so many nice and brilliant students at this school who are Muggle-born or have one Muggle parent.

One of them is Jane, who is one of the brightest witches you have ever met. Her dad is a Muggle, works as a pilot and is incredibly kind; you have met him before when you visited Jane's family on the holidays. So you never understood where this ideology came from and how it could still hold up after all these centuries.

Nolan and Daisy are still deep into their discussion, as Jane pulls your sleeve and leans close to you. "What is your plan now?" she whispers, careful that the others don't hear your conversation.

You sharply exhale from your nose. "I don't know. I wish I knew where he was, so I could ask him for a chat... but what is Tom Riddle doing on a Saturday?"
Jane grins. "You're asking me?"

"Fiona?" Nolan's voice startles you a bit and you turn your attention to the boy, who is sitting directly opposite to you. "Yes, Nolan?"

"Would you...," he seems nervous to ask you something. "...would you like to study with me in the library in the afternoon? I need help with the Herbology homework."

You think for a second but then agree. "Of course!" Spending your day with racking your brain about the Tom issue isn't going to solve anything and you could use the distraction. Furthermore, getting the Herbology homework out of the way can't hurt either. Nolan beams at you and you can't help but notice that Julie and Leontine are exchanging meaningful looks with each other.

﹌﹌﹌

"So, Gillyweed allows you to breathe underwater?", Nolan asks while looking at his book with a doubtful expression. "That's right. It works better in fresh water, though. The effects can last up to an hour then." You sit with Nolan in a quite secluded nook in the Hogwarts library. The desk looks rather chaotic, since you have a couple of publications in front of you, alongside scattered notes and parchment.

He seems impressed with your knowledge, which you find to be quite adorable. "This comes so easy to you, Fiona. I don't think I will ever get this in my brain. Sometimes I wonder, why I'm even in Ravenclaw."
You giggle. It's true, Nolan is quite good at more practical subjects like Transfiguration and Charms but he isn't one to bury his head in books. "You're going to be fine, Nolan. It's not that hard once you get the hang of it." He doesn't seem convinced, but gives you a crooked smile and turns his attention back to the page.