Tom Riddle - Downfall

Chapter 33: Fireplace

In the middle of the night, I wake up and can't get back to sleep. So, I decided to stand up and walk through the common room. I sit down beside the fireplace, staring into the flames when Tom appears by my side. "Tom, how is it possible that you always show up when I can't sleep?"
I already saw Tom appear in the common room, and I suddenly heard him speaking to me in a calm and gentle tone of voice.
Tom: "Because I worry about you when I know that you can't sleep, and I want to make sure that you are okay."
He looks over at me, and he seems concerned for me. He sits down beside me, and he stares into the fire with me, but he also seems to be thinking about something as he stays silent for a moment.
"So, you just can't sleep too?" I say calmly.
Tom nods his head in confirmation to my question, as if he's glad to have someone to talk with now at a late hour of the night.
Tom: "Exactly... I was also awake, and I couldn't seem to fall back asleep."
He speaks to me with a hint of sadness on his face now, and I can see that he's thinking deeply about something. He still seems to be holding back a bit, as if he doesn't want to talk about something in particular.
Tom: "What is keeping you up, Lucia? Is something on your mind?"
"I got your flowers, Tom. You don't have to buy me something when you want to apologize, you know." I look over to him with a small smile on my face. He starts smiling, too. Tom smiles back at me, and he nods in response as he listens to my words.
Tom: "I know, Lucia. But these flowers were not just an apology. They were also a gift. I wanted to do something nice for you, especially after... everything that happened earlier."
He seems to be trying to make the conversation lighter now, as if he's trying to move away from the tense atmosphere from earlier. He smiles a little more at me, and then he speaks again in a softer tone of voice.
Tom: "What is keeping you up so late tonight?"
"And I appreciate that" I pause for a moment and sigh "As you probably know, Hagrid was arrested for opening the chamber of secrets and even if he didnt do it intentionally..he is the reason I got attacked.."
Tom listens intently as I mention this, and he seems to think about what I'm saying for a moment.
Tom: "... Yes, so I heard... But... what is it that's keeping you up now because of it?"
"Rumors are saying that the basilisk would only attack non-purebloods." Tom doesn't seem to be surprised by this information. But he also wondered why the basilisk attacked me.
I see Tom's expression become more thoughtful and intense as I mention that, and I can tell that he's been wondering about the same thing, too.
Tom: "Why did the basilisk attack you, Lucia?..."
He speaks the words to me as if he's thinking out loud, and then his eyes widen for a moment as if he's just had an idea. He looks at me with a curious look on his face right now.
"I told not a lot of people, but my mother is a muggleborn, so I'm not a real pureblood.." I look at him with a sad smile,"I know, that this matters to you.."
As soon as I tell him about my mother, his eyes widen in response to my words, and he seems to be caught off guard now.
Tom: "Your mother was a muggleborn?..."
He speaks to me with a look of surprise and shock on his face right now, and he seems genuinely surprised by this information that I've told him.
"Yes, for a lot of slytherins, it's important. I think that's why he attacked me." Tom thinks for a moment, and I'm scared he doesn't want to talk to me anymore. But Tom realises that when it comes to her, it doesn't matter.
I see Tom pause for a moment once again and think about what I've just said, but he comes to a realization very quickly.
Tom: "When it comes to you, Lucia... being a pureblood really doesn't matter."
Tom's expression changes from confusion and surprise to a look of understanding and relief. He seems relieved that he knows more about me now, and he smiles warmly at me again as he speaks to me in a calm tone.
"I'm glad to hear this, and it surprises me, really. It seemed important to you. " I stare at the fireplace again.

As I stare at the fireplace, I see Tom nod his head in response to my words.
Tom: "In all honesty, it is important to me. But for some reason, I don't seem to care about this so much when it comes to you."
He smiles warmly at me again, and I can see that he's still staring into the flames with me. He speaks to me with a genuine look of honesty. I turn towards him and hug him from the side while we still sit beside each other. "Thanks, and keep it a secret, okay?"
Tom smiles back at me again as I suddenly wrap my arms around him.
Tom: "Of course, I won't tell anyone about the situation with your mom. It will stay between us."
He wraps his arms around me in response as he continues to look into the flames with a calm and gentle expression.