Tom Riddle - Downfall

Chapter 30: The lake

2 days later. I walk through the corridor, still a bit scared after what happened in the chamber. I often think about it and also about what Kim said to me, but I trust Tom. He saved my life and I .. was feeling a connection. Even though I haven't seen him since our kiss, what makes me nervous. Maybe it was a mistake..

While walking through the corridor, I suddenly bump into Tom.
"Oh..Tom." I look up to him.
I see Tom standing there in the hallway now, looking a bit surprised when he sees me suddenly appear right in front of him. He looks at me for a moment before he speaks to me now.
Tom: "Hello, Lucia." He says warmly, with a gentle and inviting tone of voice. "Were you heading somewhere in particular?" he says to me.
"I wanted to go to the black lake. Um..why are you asking?" I look into his eyes, and his face looks like frozen. He doesn't show any emotions. Tom's expression still remains neutral and unemotional as he looks right back at me now.
Tom: "Oh, I'm just trying to make sure you're safe."
He moves the hair out of my eyes in one gentle and smooth movement, revealing more of my face to him now.
Tom: "The forest and lake area here at Hogwarts has been known to be dangerous at night in the past, so I'm just concerned about you is all."
"But it's not night yet." I chuckle."You don't want to have to worry about me. But I would feel safer, of course. If you went with me?"
Tom has to hold back a smile now as I chuckle, and then he speaks to me with a light, teasing tone of voice now.
Tom: "I'm just concerned about you, so yes, I'll come with you. I don't want you wandering about the grounds alone."
His words have a sense of playfulness and a certain flirtatiousness to them now, and he walks over to me, and he offers me his arm.
"Yes, I see." I laugh, and we walk together outside of hogwarts.

"So, I wanted to ask you something about the night in the chambers..If you don't mind" I see Tom look at me with a curious expression now, as it seems like he is completely fine with answering my question. We walk slowly along the grounds now.
Tom: "About the night in the chamber, you say? Sure, go ahead and ask your question."
"How did you manage that the basilisk listened to you? I had my eyes closed, and I just heard strange noises. It seemed like you were speaking in a different language. "
Tom considers my question for a few moments, but then he decides to tell me the truth about what happened in there.
Tom: "Well, I think I managed to communicate with it in Parseltongue when I spoke in that room..."
He trails off, and his expression stays neutral and unemotional as he speaks to me, as if he seems to try to hold himself back from saying more than he should.
"You can speak Parseltongue?" I look at him with wide eyes."That makes sense, I guess. "
He nods his head, confirming to me that he can speak Parseltongue.
Tom: "I have learned some of the language, and for some reason, it just clicked with the basilisk when I tried to communicate with it." His expression looks serious now, as if he's not fully explaining everything that happened to me in the chamber that day.
"This is a rare ability.. but I have one more question." I stop and turn towards Tom and stand quite close to him. I get nervous asking this, "Why did you risk your life so save mine?"
I see Tom look down at me after I ask my question to him.
Tom: "...I suppose... I don't really know how to describe it... But when I saw you, lying there on the floor... Something inside of me just wanted to protect you."
The way he speaks feels authentic and genuine, as if he actually means what he is saying here.
"Thank you," I say while walking again beside him.
Tom smiles slightly and looks at me in appreciation as I thank him. As I walk together, he stays silent for a few moments, and then he speaks again.
Tom: "So... Why were you going to the lake now?"

He sounds curious about what is going on in my thought process right now.
"To think about a few things honestly." We arrive at the lake, and I sit down on the ground by the lake in the middle of the grass. And look up at Tom and wait for him to sit down with me. Tom remains standing for a few moments, and then he sits down next to me. He takes a deep breath, as if he appreciates the peace and serenity of the lake area right now.
Tom: "Well, the lake is a good place to go for some thinking, I suppose..."
There is a long pause for a moment before Tom speaks again.

Tom: "Do you... mind if I ask what you are thinking about? Is it something that's troubling you?" Tom looks at me, and then he looks around at the quiet and relaxing settings of the lake surroundings. He hesitates for a moment but then ultimately sits down beside me as well, and he starts to ponder over what I said.
Tom: "What are you trying to think about?" he asks me in a gentle tone of voice.