The Golden Age of Hollywood . Tom Riddle

Chapter 2

            Tom was in bad mood on Hogsmeade Saturday, while his knights seemed careless and enjoying themselves. Norma hadn't even looked in his direction ever since yesterday, but he couldn't be sure about his knights. The dumb girl always worked behind his back. At this thought, he felt slightly insecure for the first time after many years. Tom straightened up and gripped his wand tighter in his coat's pocket. This is ridiculous. No person should occupy his mind for so long.

The day was windy and cold, sky was gray, covering everything in mist, and even during the day village wasn't very well lit. Everything looked grey and obnoxious, except for a new bar called "Three broomsticks" and "Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop", which was always decorated in sickly sweet colors. Even Honeydukes seemed glum and hostile, but Tom never liked candy anyway.

As he and his knights were standing in the square, not really knowing where to go, a tall figure wearing burgundy coat with fur and a matching hat approached them.

"Hi. Thanks for waiting for me," said Norma happily, profusely ignoring Tom's presence. Her clothes were muggle but very expensive, noted Tom, with same distaste he felt in Hogwarts express. Her appearance, once again, was pristine. From Oxford shoes to black leather gloves, she looked as if ready to shoot a movie.

"That's nothing, we just came," said Avery, awkwardly gesticulating with his hands. Tom wanted to snort and send a stinging hex towards him.

"Where should we go?" asked Norma. She smiled brightly at everybody, and he noticed she was also wearing bright lipstick.

"Well, we planned to start with Honeydukes," said Rosier and took a position by her right side. Avery was on her left, and Norma was pulled in the middle of their group as they began walking.

"You have to try Chocolate Frogs. Safe bet," said Avery with a note of importance in his voice, once they were all inside. "But don't bother with "Every flavor bean", they're mostly nasty."

"Maybe Sugar Quills? More delicate than chocolate," Rosier slid into conversation. Tom observed everything with curled lip, and only remembered that he was supposed to choose candy when Abraxas offered to pay. He picked up a random package of Jelly slugs and crystalized pineapple for Slughorn.

"Look, Liquorice Wands!" Came Norma's excited voice.

"Tastes like goblin's toenails," one of the boys replied.

"But I like liquorice."

"It's nasty."

"It's great."

"Shut up, Rosier," interfered Avery.

"I'll take Sugar Quills too."

With an eyeroll, Tom exited the shop with his candy to wait outside. Soon after came out Avery, Rosier and Norma, who was laughing with her wide mouth open and carelessly swinging a bag with candies.

All his knights seemed to be delighted by her company, except for Malfoy, who was visibly curious, but held his nose turned away anyway. Even Lestrange and Black were chatting up to her and, to Tom's great displeasure, asking her to join them for the rest of the day. Well, he'd have to teach them, of course, but later.

"I can't, I've promised to meet Lucretia," came Norma's reply.

"Yeah, she seems entranced by you. Well, don't steal my sister," said Orion Black.

That's it. At that moment, Tom swore to himself he would find a way to charm Norma Skapo. She was happy with everybody, except him. She didn't like him since the first day. She considered him to be pompous. Not that she was wrong, but even when he was nice to her, she got pissed for no reason. Well, considering he was a Slytherin after all, he still had ways to gain her favor. And faux patronizing should break her. That's why he approached her in the library few days later.