𝘋𝘈𝘕𝘊𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘞𝘐𝘛𝘏 𝘖𝘜𝘙 𝘏𝘈𝘕𝘋𝘚 𝘛𝘐𝘌𝘋/𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 (English version)

chapter 10

The next morning, after settling back into their rooms, Sarah and her friends walked to their Defense Against the Dark Arts class. The classroom was empty; Professor Lupin was still absent. Sarah saw the Slytherins already seated, discussing what had happened the previous night. Sarah didn't have time to sit down before her name was called out loudly.

Tom was inviting her to sit next to him, leaving much of the room in shock.
Everyone at school knew who Tom Riddle was, but no one really knew him well enough to even call him an acquaintance. Little was known about him, mostly just the small bits of information gleaned from Mattheo, his brother. He was extremely private, disliked talking to anyone outside his "circle," and preferred a book and solitude. The only girl he had ever approached was Pansy, but never with ulterior motives. He hadn't grown up in a healthy environment that could show him what love truly was, and he didn't want to learn about it; he preferred a life of total apathy, as Mattheo said.

His request intrigued the entire class. Tom had been sitting with the same people for three years now. Sarah was standing in front of him, but she had no choice but to accept; she wanted to discuss the note, if nothing else. Hermione looked up from her desk, already covered in books and papers, quickly shifting her gaze from her friend to Tom.
"What does this mean?"
Sarah took her bag "I promise I'll explain everything,'Mione," and walked to the left side of the classroom.

Once seated next to the Slytherin, Sarah pulled her things out of her bag. She felt stiff, the eyes of the class on her. Draco was sitting in front of her with Enzo, while Mattheo and Theo were at the back of the room, and Pansy and Blaise to the left of Malfoy and Berkshire.
Draco turned around to look at her, smiling victoriously. "Now that Tom tolerates you, you're officially one of us," he said loudly, almost wanting Potter to hear.
For Draco, it was a small personal victory over the Gryffindor, a win following their first encounter on Sorting Night in their first year.
Tom didn't look at Sarah until Snape entered the classroom, announcing that he would be taking the lesson that day. Despite the strong dissatisfaction, the students gathered their supplies for the class. They were immediately introduced to a particular topic: werewolves.
Tom stopped Sarah while she was flipping through the book, coming closer so he could speak to her privately.
"What if it was Black?" he said, observing Sarah's reaction, which came quickly. She stiffened even more in her seat and jerked her head toward him.
Their faces were too close.
"Don't be foolish, Tom, it wouldn't make sense. Telling me, of all people; I don't know Black."
"Think about it, maybe there's something you haven't been told..." the boy said, looking at Draco, who was now boredly flipping through the book.
Sarah shifted her gaze to Malfoy. What did he mean?
"He hates everyone who isn't pure-blood. He was raised in a family that taught him that, but he's always been different with you. I'll have a word with Malfoy," Tom pulled back abruptly, taking a piece of parchment to jot down the small details that Snape was providing.
Sarah looked at him uncertainly. "Why are you doing this for me?"
But Tom stopped her immediately. "Not for you, but to satisfy my curiosity. And I hate secrets; it's clear that Malfoy is hiding something."
Sarah sighed, shifting her gaze to her professor at the front of the classroom. She had no choice but to wait.

---

**Tom's POV**

After the lesson, I headed straight to the common room. Malfoy would have a practice session for the Quidditch match and I knew he would be going to his room to get his gear. I waited outside the door, and when it opened, I saw him looking at me in fear.
"Tom, you could have knocked," he moved to walk away.
"I need to know some things, Malfoy."
I saw him stop abruptly and look at me with annoyance. "What? I'm late for the Qui—"
I laughed, opening the door to his room and inviting him to enter. "You're early, now come in and listen."
I watched him grow more nervous, walking toward the bed and waiting for me to start speaking. I began to walk around the room; he, Blaise, and Enzo had shared it since first year. It was spacious, like every Slytherin common room, with green and black everywhere. I stopped soon after, now facing him.
"You don't hate her; I suppose it's strange coming from you, knowing how you feel about Granger, and she's literally the same," I began.
I saw him grip the mattress tightly with both hands. We both knew who I was talking about.
"You're hiding something, Malfoy, and you're not leaving until you've satisfied all my curiosity."
I approached, lowering myself to his level. "What do you see as special about Sarah Settimini?"

"She's nice, Riddle, you can't deny that. She's not like Granger."
I jumped up, seeing him look at me in fear.
"Do you think I'm stupid enough to accept that answer? I'm not Mattheo."
Draco sighed, getting up as well. He walked toward the large window they had in their room, grabbing his Quidditch broom.
"My father told me something at the beginning of the year. There was a rumor circulating among the higher-ups after Black's escape. There was concern for the safety of two people: Potter and Sarah."
He sat down in the desk chair, listening carefully to his words.
"My father was talking about it one evening with my mother. The Ministry wanted Sarah kept away from the magical world, especially because of Black's escape, but Dumbledore didn't agree. And he won, he won, and so he brought Sarah back to that world she left on October 31, 1981, the night of the death of the Po—"
I stopped him by raising a hand. What was he saying? "Are you really telling me that Sarah has something to do with Black?"
Draco met my gaze, grabbed his training bag, and headed toward the door. He stopped after opening it, looked back at me, and said, "Sarah is Sirius Black's daughter, Marlene McKinnon's daughter. She doesn't know the truth, but I'm sure that last night Sirius was here not just to commit another murder, but also to see his daughter after 12 years."