Professor Riddle's favorite

2

I let my head fall back against the arm of the Gryffindor couch. "What did he say to you? I was too far away to hear it properly." Hermoine seems to be the only one who is concerned "That my laugh hurts his ears and that I will have a problem next time... Oh and if I'm retarded..." Hermoine looks at me with her mouth open while Ron grins "Your laugh is very loud." His comment is met with an angry look from Hermoine and he quickly looks back at his book on his lap. "It's not normal the way he acts towards you, I heard he was also a Slytherin and was extremely interested in dark magic. I don't understand why Dumbledore hired him" Ginny puts another handful of candy in her mouth "He is handsome" Hermoine shakes her head disapprovingly. "What time is it? I have to walk through the corridors with Draco tonight as perfect duty patrol." Hermoine holds up her pocket watch while still looking disapprovingly at Ginny who is only focused on her candy and unimpressed by Hermoine. "I have to go"I actually wanted to avoid Draco for a long time after my run-in with Professor Riddle earlier today, but since he's also perfect, I can't avoid him. After I say goodbye to Hermoine, Ginny and Ron, I crawl outside through the painting of the fat lady where the now dark corridor awaits me. Via the moving stairs I continue my way towards the cellars where the Slytherin common room is located and Draco is already waiting in front of the entrance with his arms crossed and his girlfriend or better guard dog Pansy next to him. "You're late" I'm not late he's just early. "I'm walking with Pansy tonight.....you do the south side of the castle." Without waiting for an answer he turns and walks away followed by Pansy, I have to admit that I wouldn't have gone against him either and walking through the castle alone is better than with Draco by my side who seems to have made complaining his hobby . I grab the lantern that he has prepared for me despite his hatred and start walking around the hallways looking for students who should be in bed or first years who have lost their way and that happens more often than you would think.The dark corridors give me a certain peace and the castle is beautiful. Since Draco is not doing what he is supposed to do either, I decide to walk to the courtyard and take a seat on a stone bench.it looks beautiful now that the courtyard is lit by the moon and I put my lamp down on the grass. Normally this place is full of students who gather or study under the tree when the weather permits. I'm going to miss this place when this school year ends and I see my friends less. "Why are you alone Mrs. Selwyn" Startled by the voice behind me I jump up from the bench and knock over the lantern whose glass spreads through the grass and the flame goes out.Illuminated by the moonlight, Professor Riddle stands behind the bench where I thought I would find my peace and again I did not hear him coming. His sharp face is illuminated by the moon and I try to smile uncertainly in his direction - without making a sound - and start clearing the glass from the grass so that no one gets hurt tomorrow and I am guilty of it. He probably wasn't interested in my answer because he continues "You have to report Draco if he leaves you alone, I thought you weren't retarded?" Slightly annoyed at his comment, I look up at the man who seems infinite from my position due to his height. "I don't think Draco will appreciate that very much, Professor." He looks at the lamp that now slowly comes back together piece by piece and finally the flame sparks again. "Thank you sir" I stand up with the lamp in my hand and look at the man who is now standing in front of the bench and looks at me by looking down. His eyes slide over my body and slowly back up while no emotion appears on his face, maybe he is disgusted with me. The way he looks at me from head to toe with his judging eyes and puts his hands in his pockets while he clenches them into fists gives me a feeling I can't describe. I stand frozen and follow his eyes that assess me, my heart starts to beat faster and the same cold slowly flows through my body. He takes another step closer and the cold that comes from him takes over my body, I look straight down at his black patent shoes that are three times as big as mine. “You are small Mrs. Selwyn.” I slowly look up into the eyes of the man standing in front of me and let the corners of my mouth slowly curl upwards. "Maybe you're just tall Professor." I can kick myself for my stupid comment and try not to show my shame.He slowly leans down and his lips lightly touch my ear, making my heart beat even faster and I squeeze my legs together in response. "Just be careful Mrs. Selwyn, it would be a shame if something happened to you. I'll sort it out with Mr. Malfoy." He slowly rises and luckily my red head is less visible in the dark, I nod in agreement after which he lets his eyes slide down and the corners of his mouth curl slightly when he sees my crossed legs, but he quickly corrects himself and walks away. Once again I don't hear him walking and I wait extra long to make sure he's really gone before I turn around and walk into the hallways.It feels like he took over my entire body with a simple look, he seemed to enjoy the effect he had on me but I'm just glad I wasn't in trouble. I would have preferred to go to Hermoine and Ginny and tell them about the incident, but knowing Hermoine she advises me to tell Dumbledore and I have to admit that I would hate it if he got into trouble despite the fact that he already called me retarded several times.

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"How was it with Draco yesterday?" I shrug my shoulders "I walked alone, he was with Pansy." Part of me feels guilty for leaving out my meeting with Professor Riddle, but I know Hermoine would immediately be angry by his behavior. "I heard, Draco was in a lot of trouble." I look at Hermoine in shock as she laughs with satisfaction that Draco was in trouble. He will be furious with me thinking i told the professor. Afraid of what is to come, I follow Hermoine into Professor Slughorn's classroom and sit next to her at a table. Blaise and Goyle enter first followed by Pansy and Draco, Pansy caresses Draco's arm which is in a sling and he appears to be limping before sitting down at a table next to ours. I secretly look in his direction but he doesn't look at me, he seems to be ignoring me completely and that makes me even more nervous. I start to think again and can already see him waiting for me at an unexpected moment and attacking me. "Pansy? Pansy?" She turns her head angrily "What do you want Selwyn?" Draco is still staring into space "What happened?" She looks at the professor before leaning in my direction. "Professor Riddle caught us in a broom cupboard and Draco tripped on the way out, he's convinced the Professor tripped him." Hermoine chuckles next to me and I also have to do my best to control my laughter, good practice for Professor Riddle's lessons. "You're lucky he didn't catch you alone." I nod in agreement as my head slowly turns red and I quickly put my focus back on the professor at the front of the class. "Are you hiding something?"I try to avoid Hermoine's gaze and keep looking ahead of me. "No? Why are you asking?" Her eyes burn into the side of my head "Because your head is redder than the Gryffindor couch and you're usually ashamed or lying." "I was afraid Draco would blame me." I look at Hermoine trying to see if she believed my lie, she nods understandingly and it seems as if I can get away with it.The door at the back of the room creaks open and Professor Dumbledore appears in the doorway. "Can I borrow Mrs. Selwyn and Mr. Malfoy for a moment?" Hermoine looks at me suspiciously and I follow Draco as he walks out of the room with a limp. In the hallway, Professor Riddle is waiting for us behind Dumbledore and I avoid his gaze as best I can. "You both know that no one is allowed to walk through the castle alone at night, I'm disappointed in both of you." Draco and I both nod "I've been punished for it" Draco says as he pitifully holds up his arm with the sling and I roll my eyes and see out of the corner of my eye that Professor Riddle is doing the same. Dumbledore ignores his attempt at a reduced sentence and continues his story. "You still have a hand at your disposal, Mr. Malfoy, you can help Professor Slughorn after class with cleaning cups since they haven't been cleaned all summer." He stomps the foot with which he was limping just now on the ground. "This is a ridiculous school." I look at his foot and then at him, causing him to give me an angry look. "I could use some help cleaning up the classroom, sir." I look at Professor Riddle who avoids my gaze and glares at Draco. "Okay then, that's settled, after class you will walk to Professor Riddle's classroom, Mrs. Selwyn." Draco grins at me knowing that I am now in trouble because of him after my trouble free reputation. "Of course Sir."He nods in our direction and walks away, followed by Professor Riddle, who doesn't spare me a glance. "Thanks Selwyn" Draco turns and limps into the room as if I'm the one who caused this. Furious, I follow him inside while he resumes his theater role and seeks comfort from Pansy, who looks at me angrily after Draco's sad story. "And?" Hermoine looks at me worriedly "After class I have to go to Professor Riddle to clean up his classroom as punishment and Draco has to clean cups here at Slughorn, he just acted like it was my fault that cockroach." Apparently I speak louder than intended due to my anger and Pansy and Draco look in my direction, I can count on backup from Hermoine who raises her middle finger towards the two. "It seems more like the Professor wants to get you in trouble." Hermoine is right, since he started at Hogwarts I have had more problems in my first week than in all previous years.