Sacrificial Serpent {Tom Riddle}

ten

The morning sun filtered weakly through the narrow, high windows of the Slytherin Common Room, casting a soft, golden light over the scene of utter chaos. Students were sprawled across sofas, draped over armchairs, and even lying on the cold stone floor. The once pristine room was now littered with empty bottles, discarded cups, and the remnants of a night that had clearly gotten out of hand.

Lyla stirred on the sofa, her head nestled against Tom's chest. She slowly opened her eyes, blinking groggily as the events of the previous night came rushing back. The party, the laughter, the dancing—it had all been a blur of excitement and joy. Now, however, her head throbbed painfully, and her mouth felt dry as parchment.

Tom shifted beside her, his arm still wrapped protectively around her waist. He groaned softly, his eyes fluttering open. "Morning," he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

"Morning," Lyla whispered back, her voice barely above a croak. She glanced around the room, taking in the sight of their friends all slumped in various stages of unconsciousness. "Looks like we weren't the only ones who partied a little too hard."

Tom chuckled softly, though the sound quickly turned into a groan as he clutched his head. "Ugh... remind me never to drink that much again."

Before Lyla could respond, the door to the Common Room creaked open, and the unmistakable figure of Professor Snape stepped inside. He stood in the doorway for a moment, his sharp eyes surveying the scene before him. His expression was as stern as ever, his dark eyes narrowing as he took in the mess of his House's Common Room and the slumbering students scattered everywhere.

Lyla's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly nudged Tom. "Tom, wake up!" she hissed, her voice laced with panic. "My dad's here!"

Tom's eyes snapped open fully, and he sat up with a start, wincing as his head protested the sudden movement. He quickly pulled Lyla into a more respectable sitting position, though it was clear that their efforts to appear composed were too little, too late.

Snape's gaze finally settled on the two of them, and Lyla braced herself for the inevitable lecture. However, as he walked further into the room, his expression softened just the tiniest bit—though only someone who knew him as well as Lyla did would have noticed.

"Quite the spectacle," Snape said, his voice low and measured as he gestured to the chaos around them. "I see why so many of you felt it appropriate to skip my lesson this morning."

Lyla swallowed hard, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Sorry, Dad..."

Snape's eyes flicked to her, and for a brief moment, there was a flicker of something almost like amusement in his gaze. "I suppose I can't be too surprised. I was much the same at your age."

Lyla's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

Snape arched an eyebrow. "You'll find that even I was not immune to the occasional youthful indiscretion."

Tom couldn't suppress a small smile at that. "I would've liked to see that."

Snape's expression immediately hardened, though there was a faint hint of a smirk on his lips. "I assure you, Mr. Riddle, it's not something that would be wise to bring up again."

Tom nodded quickly, though the amused glint in his eyes remained. "Understood, Professor."

Snape gave him a pointed look before turning his attention back to Lyla and the rest of the group. "Given the... circumstances, I'll allow you all to take the day off to recover. But I expect you to drink plenty of water and rest properly. And if I see any of you missing from tomorrow's lessons, there will be consequences."