Tom Riddle - Downfall

Chapter 32: Ups and downs

2 weeks later. I ran into the common room slightly excited because I heard rumors of Hagrids being arrested for opening the chamber of secrets. That means he was the one attacking me. I have to tell the news Kim immediately. I see Kim enter the common room shortly after me, and she seems completely shocked and unaware of the news about Hagrid. She doesn't know what to think or how to process this information at first, and she looks at me with a sense of disbelief as she speaks to me now.
Kim: "Hagrid?... I don't believe it... How can they arrest Hagrid? What would he have to gain for opening the chamber of secrets? And what about Tom? Isn't it really suspicious how he disappeared right before Hagrid got caught?..."
"Kim, stop it. I wasn't Tom. Hagrid got offically arrested for it. So, it was him.. he attacked me and Myrtel.." I want her to believe because I like Tom, and I can't stand Kim constantly nagging me with him being the one who attacked me.
Kim suddenly looks at me in total surprise, as it seems like she hadn't considered the idea that Hagrid was actually the one who attacked me and Myrtle. She pauses for a few moments, and then she speaks to me again in a much more understanding and compassionate tone of voice.
Kim: "... Okay, okay... I'm sorry, Lucia. I just... I got a bit skeptical in the beginning... But what you say makes sense now."
She starts to walk towards me now, and she seems to be in a much better mood now as she tries to shake off her earlier cynicism and disbelief.
"So, now no one should be attacked anymore. I'm glad it's over, and I can go through the corridors without getting scared.." I smile at her and hug her
I see Kim smile warmly back at me, and then she hugs me tightly as well. As I stand there holding each other, I feel grateful that the nightmare is finally over and I can walk through the corridors of Hogwarts without fear once again. Kim breaks away from my hug, and she speaks to me again with positive and uplifting enthusiasm.
Kim: "Yes, exactly! Now we can explore Hogwarts and the grounds freely once again, without having to worry about being attacked by a monster in the dark corridors... We can just enjoy being at Hogwarts finally..."

I nod and then think for a moment. "Kim, we see each other later." I take my things and rush to Tom's dorm. The door is open, but he's not there. When I step in, I see a lot of books on his desk again. And papers about strange things. Then I take a paper from his desk, with a basilisk on it. What is this all about? I ask myself, when suddenly Tom comes in and seems angry at me for looking through his things. Then Tom quickly walks in the door behind me, and the moment he notices me standing in his dorm room with the strange papers in my hand and an inquisitive look on my face, he suddenly looks at me with a hard and severe expression on his face. It seems like he's trying to suppress his annoyance, but his words still come out quite sternly.
Tom: "What are you doing here, Lucia?"
He speaks to me in a tone that implies that he doesn't want to have this conversation with me right now, but he is still waiting for me to answer his question.
"I was just searching for you.. what is this all, Tom?" He rippes the paper out of my hand and pushes the books aside, looking angry at me again.
Tom: "Lucia, why are you going through my private things without asking me first?"
Tom speaks to me with a harsh tone of voice, as if he's trying to lecture me and keep me from doing this again. He seems really annoyed about being interrupted now, and he continues to push the papers and books away in a slightly aggressive way as if he's trying to make it clear to me that they don't belong in my hands.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to violate your privacy." He takes my shoulders and pulls me slightly out of his dorm. He clearly does not want to talk to me right now, and he seems to be mad at me for looking through his things. I didn't know he would be that mad about it. I'm so confused and don't know what he's up to.

I suddenly feel a sense of frustration and confusion from Tom as he guides me back out of his dorm, and then he closes the door behind me again as we both exit. I can see that he seems irritated by this whole situation, as if he didn't expect me to go through his things like this.
Tom: "Why can't you ever leave my things alone?"
He says to me now, and there's a bit of anger in his voice.  "I'm sorry.. I.." He storms away, and I stand alone in the common room again. I stand there in the empty common room, feeling frustrated and confused myself now that the conversation with Tom has ended so suddenly and so awkwardly.
I think back to the paper with the basilisk on it that I saw on top of his desk, and suddenly, I remember what the monster that was attacking students around Hogwarts looked like. My mind starts to wonder about whether or not Tom has something to do with all of this...

Later that day, after classes, I walk back to my dorm with Kim. And then I see a boquet of flowers lying in front of my dorm door. It has a note on it. I see the bouquet of flowers sitting in front of my dorm room door now. I instantly recognize the writing on the note that's attached to it as Tom's, and my heart begins to race in anticipation as I read the words written on the card.
The card reads: "Lucia, I'm sorry for my behavior earlier and for not wanting to explain my strange books and papers to you. Just know it wasn't because I was trying to hide anything from you. Can you please forgive me? -Tom."
I sigh and look over to Kim. "Tom, why is he always behaving like that, and then he's sorry again?" I take the flowers inside and lie them down beside my bed
Kim looks at me with sympathy and understanding, as if she's trying to comfort me and convince me not to worry too much about this.
Kim: "Oh, Lucia, don't worry about it... Tom can be a bit confusing at times. That's true... But he's got a very good heart. He always takes care of people who are important to him, and he has a way of helping you and inspiring you whenever you need it most."
Kim smiles warmly at me.
Kim: "And now he's apologizing and trying to mend things with you..."
"Yeah, probably. I mean, my behavior was not okay, too. I snooped around in his things. " I look at the flowers. They are really beautiful, and I kind of like his way to apologize, even though I will talk to him tomorrow. I see Kim nod in response to my words as I explain to her that I might be able to forgive Tom and accept his apology.
Kim: "Well... I'm glad that you can make up with Tom and put this whole thing aside. And I also found his apology nice."
She walks over to my bed and looks at the bouquet of flowers on top of it.
Kim: "I have to admit, his apology is really thoughtful and sweet. Those are beautiful flowers."
She smiles at me, and we both start to get ready for bed.
I nod, and we both go to sleep.