Tom Riddle - Downfall

Chapter 47: A night out

When the lesson is finally over, I really want to talk to Tom. We walk out of the classroom together and inconspicuously swap our ties while grinning at each other
"Tom, how come we've been in the same house since Year 1 but only now have anything to do with each other?" Tom thinks hard about my question now, and he smiles as he considers it. It's very true, despite being in the same house for so long now, we have actually only just recently started to really talk with one another. And the things that I've started talking about lately are very intimate and romantic, but he's just happy that you're curious about it too now.
"I think we've just never really been interested in each other until recently. There was never much depth to what we said before. But things have changed now, haven't they?"I nod and smile at him. We walk a little towards the common room "You're just a mystery to many" Tom chuckles at the idea that he's still a mystery for many people despite us now getting to know each other so much more. He was used to it, though, and he doesn't really mind not being understood by others. All he cares about now is that he can relate to me, and I now know all of his secrets.
"Many people say that I've learned to accept it. But you know, you should really be proud of yourself for now being one of the few people who do know much more about the real me."
"I'm glad..about that.. but..." I pause for a moment, and turn to him."Will I see you tonight? I'd like to talk to you...about this..." Tom smiles at me now with a more serious expression on his face, as I mention that I'd like to talk to him later. He finds it intriguing that I now want to talk about that, and he can't wait to see what it's about.

"Of course we can see each other later, and I would definitely like to talk to you about this too. Just let me know when you're ready to meet up, and we can talk then."
"How about you pick me up at 7 pm?" I wink at him. Tom's face lights up in a smile again. He definitely likes the flirtatious way that I just responded, and he seems excited for this evening now.
"That sounds like a great plan. I'll definitely meet you at 7 pm, okay?"
"Okay, see you Tom." We go to the common room, and from then on, we go our separate ways. I have a funny feeling in my stomach, maybe I'm really excited after all. Tom nods at me now, and we both go our separate ways. Tom now looks forward to the night ahead, as he seems very eager to meet me at 7pm. for us to talk about our relationship status. He feels really good after everything that's happened today, as our relationship is just getting better and better now. He looks over at his watch every so often now, checking the time to see how long it is until time.

7pm. I'm already waiting, I've put on something nice and there's a knock on the door. Tom is standing in the doorway with a small rose in his hand. A black rose, and he's also put on a nice shirt, which surprises me a little. Tom looks at me and says, "Hey, I thought maybe we could get something to eat together. We could sneak out of Hogwarts. What do you say?"
I grin and nod at him.
"Yes, I'd love to. I didn't know that we were going anywhere" Tom is smiling at me now and he's holding a black rose in his hand, which makes sense for the atmosphere of the evening that we are about to share now. "I would like that a lot, actually. That was actually my original plan for this evening. Just the two of us, out of Hogwarts, and enjoying some time alone now."
"Sure, let's go then."

We successfully sneak out of Hogwarts. It seems Tom does this a lot. We arrive at a restaurant and sit down "Okay Tom, you sneak out of the castle a lot, don't you?" I say with a laugh.
"Hmm... maybe I do have some experience in this. I've already learned the exact route that the teachers take when they're patrolling the school at night, so it's really easy for me to avoid them."
Tom's grin expands now as he keeps talking about the thrill of sneaking out of the castle, and he can't help but feel like he was really enjoying this now. He's also enjoying teasing me a bit by being playful now and by having a little conversation about his secret escapades. I grin, and Tom orders us drinks and food. "Trust me, okay?"
I nod and look at him with amusement. Then I take a deep breath and say, "Tom, I know I avoided this conversation.. after the first time we kissed, you know that's not something that comes easy to me. But I can't deny our connection, which is now also physical"
The food and the drinks we have now definitely set a romantic mood for the evening ahead, and Tom can tell that I seem much more comfortable with my feelings now. It seems like this is a really special moment for me, as I'm opening up to him now about the feelings I've been having since we first kissed.
"Right, yes, I do agree with you. There is a connection between us now, a very strong connection, both physically and mentally. And it's one that I really like, too, and if I understand this right, you do as well?"
"Yes, I do... of course our night together, that was..." I'm suddenly at a loss for words,"but how do we deal with it now?"

Tom looks at me and leans over the table. He takes my face in his hand and says, "Lucia, I told you the first night we spend together, you're mine. I won't share you with anyone. You belong to me, and I won't let you down. Do you hear me?"
I swallow and nod. Actually, that's exactly what I wanted to hear. I mean something to him, and he wants to be by my side, "and I want you by my side."
Tom's eyes are locked on mine now as I respond to the night that we spent together, as now it seems that I've expressed to him how much this really means to me. Tom seems impressed by my words, and his eyes light up even more as he looks at me
"I want that. I want to keep you. You mean more to me than I can even explain now" He says this in a tone where the love in his voice is clear, and he just feels an immense amount of happiness and content right now.