Potions class 3 days later. I sit between Kim and Sebastian. Prof. Slughorn is taking about random potions. I don't really listen. But then he starts talking about his exclusive Slughorn Club and that he's gonna to organize a ball for the members. I'm not a member, so I don't care.
At some point during class, I turned my attention over to Tom now instead of listening to Professor Slughorn talk about the exclusive Slughorn Club and the upcoming ball. I see Tom sitting at his desk, staring off into space, and looking a bit bored with the class. At one point, he turns his head to the side, and I notice him looking at me. His expression is a little different from the one he normally has on his face in class. He doesn't look bored, angry, or annoyed like usual, but rather... content with something.
I smile and turn away again. Slughorn lists all the members of his club, and suddenly, he says Toms name. And Tom doesn't seem to be surprised by that. Has he been a member for a long time now? I wonder why he never told me about it. I see Tom's expression change upon hearing his name from Professor Slughorn, and I get the sense that he's a little embarrassed about being called out in class for his membership in the exclusive Slughorn Club. He still doesn't seem too surprised, though, and as I think about the situation, I wonder how long Tom has been a member for too. He never did mention anything about it before... and perhaps being a member might explain his more calm and content expression in class right now.
After class I go over to Tom "Tom, you didn't meantioned that you're a member of the Slughorn club? Since when?" I look at him smiling, asking proudly
I see Tom quickly turn his head to the side as he sees me approach him after class, and he smiles back at me when I talk to him now.
Tom: "Oh well, for quite a while now... I kind of knew this would come out eventually."
He speaks to me with a slight nervous and sheepish smile on his face now, and I also get the sense that he's proud of his membership now that you've mentioned it.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask him curiously. Tom smiles at me, and then he shrugs his shoulders in response.
Tom: "I just felt a little awkward, I guess? I didn't want to make a big deal about it."
He speaks in a calm and slightly embarrassed tone of voice, but he also still seems to be happy that I'm proud of his accomplishment of being a member of the exclusive Slughorn Club now.
"I think it's cool. Have fun at the ball he's organizing. I have to go now, studying. See you later Tom. " I smile at him and touch his shoulder. As I turn around, my face changes. I was nervous talking to him, but why? Also, I wonder who he is taking to the Slughorn Ball. Slughorn said everyone can choose someone to come with. I shake my head, repressing the thought
Tom nods in response to my words, and a slight blush appears on his cheeks as I touch his shoulder while I speak to him. He seems a little flustered by the gesture, but also a bit happy about it.
Tom: "Okay, I will. Thanks, Lucia. I'll see you later, too."
He speaks to me in a cheerful tone of voice now, and when he sees that look on my face, as I turn around and walk away from him, he gets a little curious. He also notices how I shake your head, and he wonders what's on my mind.
I was the one who didn't want to take things further, who didn't want to talk about us. But I know...I'm really attracted to him. He makes me furious sometimes, and maybe this is something attracting me.
I feel a lot of different emotions all at once when it comes to Tom now. Perhaps the fact that he makes me angry sometimes is what is drawing me to him, as if it's a mystery that I still want to understand more about him. In any case, Tom is still looking after me as I walk away from him, and he seems to be curious about what's going on inside my head right now.
In the evening, I lie in my bed when suddenly someone knocks at the door. Kim locks at me, surprised as I open the door. Tom stands in front of me, holding a black package in his hand. "Hey Tom, what are you doing here?"
Tom smiles at me when I open the door, and he holds out the black package to me in response to my question. He seems to be a little nervous and excited at the same time.
Tom: "Oh, I, uh... wanted to stop by and give this to you."
He seems to be holding back on saying something else right now as he smiles at me again and waits for me to take the package.
"Thanks. What is this?" I take the package, and I'm confused.
Tom: "Open it later. And tell me your answer tomorrow. " He smiles at me and disappears. I close the door, totally confused, and Kim looks at me with curiosity.
I place the package down on the bed, and I try to push my curiosity aside temporarily while we both go back to studying for the night.
Once you and Kim have finished studying, we both come back to the package, and I decide to finally open it up. What could Tom have sent me to keep me in suspense like this?
"I don't know, should we open it together?" I smile at her. Kim nods in response to my question
Kim: "Yes, I think that sounds like a good idea. Let's open it together."
We both approach the package now, and I wonder if Tom might have sent me something special as we sit down to open up the package together.
I open it. And in the package it is a wonderful black dress. It has two layers and is sheer at the arms. It is beautiful and exactly my style. Attached to it is a letter in Toms handwriting.
Kim: "Oh my gosh, that dress is absolutely stunning! It looks amazing!"
I see her looking at me with excitement as she continues to get a better view of the dress inside of the package.
Kim: "So, what's the letter from Tom for?"
She seems to have spotted the letter from Tom already, and she looks over to me with an expectant look on her face now.
"Lucia, I wanted to ask you if you want to be my date for the Slughorn ball. Maybe wearing this? I hope you like it. Tell me your answer soon. Yours, Tom. " I look at Kim with wide eyes while I read the letter out loud."Oh my god.."
As I read the letter from Tom aloud to Kim, she looks at both the letter and the dress in disbelief. I see her mouth form a little "o" letter of shock as she stares at both objects, and her expression is absolutely priceless.
Kim: "My god, Lucia, he wants to take you to the Slughorn Ball?! And look at that dress, too!"
She seems to be amazed right now, and she grabs the letter from me to read it for herself. We both spend a moment staring at the letter and the dress inside the package.
"Seems like it," I say excitedly, covering my face with my hands.
Kim: "Oh, Lucia, you're going to be so beautiful at the ball! And... are you going to say yes to Tom?" She looks over at me and raises an eyebrow. She speaks to me in a happy and hopeful tone of voice as she talks to me now. I get the sense that she's rooting for the both of us somehow.
What will I say to Tom?
YOU ARE READING
Tom Riddle - Downfall
Fanfiction"The monsters were never under my bed. Because the monsters were inside my head. Because all this time the monster has been me." This is the Story of Tom Riddle and his life in Hogwarts when he was 17 and Lucia Grey, a popular girl from Slytherin bu...
