Rosie ⎮ Tom Riddle

Ten

Calculated minds

Trigger warning: SA

  "Corio?" Rosalie's breath was warm against the cold evening air, she walked up the last few remaining steps of the astronomy tower, peering up to see if she could set her sights on him.

  After a few minutes of building up her confidence in her dorm room with Lily, she had decided that the right thing to do was to go and see him. She could hardly leave him waiting. Their engagement was a facade that she had made even him fall for, but his apparent love for her, was not.

  It was a fact she felt guilty for.

  "Corio?" Rose repeated, stepping up the last step, and turning around to check in the other direction. Her eyes fell upon Coriolanus, his white dress shirt was untucked, his platinum blonde hair was messy, he leant back over the railing, his eyes drawing a picture in his head of his perfect Rosalie.

  "There you are." He finally spoke with a warm tone, he pushed himself to walk closer to meet her in the middle. 

  Rose paused her movement, Coriolanus's large build towering over her. His hands immediately went to her face, his fingertips traced her high cheekbones and pink lips. Rosalie didn't dare move, she couldn't comprehend a single thought.

  Then, as suddenly as he had come in, he took a step back to to railing, looking out over the grounds of Hogwarts with a simplicity on his face that Rose rarely saw. She swallowed, trying to figure why he had called her her, and if it was just a hook up call.

  "I've been writing to my parents." He began. 

  Rosalie nodded, walking to the space beside him. 

  "About?" She asked, without a clue on what he could be talking to them about.

  Coriolanus chuckled lightly at her innocent stupidity.

  "Us, my dear." Corio tilted his head to face her, and in this light he looked rather handsome. Rose found herself struggling for words. She was a sucker for a pretty face. She found herself almost dreaming to fall in love with the poor boy, to put them both out of their misery.

  "They're quite excited for our marriage. Mum wants to meet after the school year is over and help you plan." Coriolanus spoke kindly, he reached out and grabbed Rosalie's hand, caressing it softly as he thought over the life they could have together.

  Rosalie felt sicker by the minute for what she had done to Coriolanus. 

  "Yes, it's all very exciting." She managed to spit out, finally turning away from him, she could feel tears swelling in her eyes, which was a rare sight. 

  Guilt hit her in every direction, Coriolanus had no clue about anything, he didn't know who her father was, why she was really at Hogwarts. She couldn't share anything with him, but she had to keep it this way. He was a liability when it came to Tom.

  Corio grabbed her head, forcing her to look at him. He noticed the tears poking at her eyes, and his face turned solemn and concerned. He slowly pushed her head into his chest, rubbing at her back softly.

  "What's wrong?" He asked, perplexed.

  Rosalie felt herself sob. 

  "I'm just so happy," she lied effortlessly, molding a smile onto her face, even though he couldn't witness it. It seemed like she was attempting to convince not only him but herself as well.

  His grip on her tightened, and yet, he pushed her away gently to gaze down at her face. A delighted expression crossed his features upon seeing her smile, igniting a source of happiness within him that hadn't been there before.