𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐒, ᵗᵒᵐ ʳⁱᵈᵈˡᵉ. ✓

020.

___

It was a rainy evening at Hogwarts, the kind of night when the castle felt particularly cozy, with flickering candlelight and the soft sound of raindrops against the windowpanes. Daphne had settled into a nook in the Slytherin common room, her usual spot by the fire providing a comforting warmth. As she absentmindedly flipped through a textbook, her gaze wandered around the room. That's when she noticed Tom's belongings scattered on a nearby table—his books, some parchment, and an unassuming, dark leather diary lying open, pages slightly ajar.

___

Curiosity piqued, Daphne glanced around to ensure Tom wasn't nearby. He was often lost in his thoughts or off in the library, but tonight, she felt a magnetic pull toward the diary. It was a risk, but she couldn't help herself. The idea of uncovering more about him—the layers beneath his cold exterior—was too tempting to resist. With a deep breath, she leaned over and picked it up, careful to keep her movements subtle. The diary felt heavy in her hands, the leather cool against her palms. She opened it, revealing neatly penned entries filled with Tom's distinctive handwriting. The first entry detailed his thoughts on various magical theories, but as she turned the pages, she began to find more personal reflections.

___

"People are so predictable," one entry read. "Emotions cloud their judgment, and I find it amusing to watch them spiral. Yet, there are a few who intrigue me—who seem to see past the facade." Daphne's heart raced as she read on, her mind racing with implications. Was he talking about her? The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Another entry caught her eye, this one darker in tone: "Trust is a foolish game. I've seen too many betrayals. It's easier to remain detached, to observe rather than engage." Daphne felt a pang of sadness at his words. It was as if he was laying bare a part of himself that he kept hidden from everyone else, including her. She continued reading, her heart heavy with each line.

___

"Recently, I find myself drawn to someone who defies expectations," he wrote in another entry. "There's a spark, something different. It's both exhilarating and terrifying." Daphne's breath caught in her throat. Could he truly be speaking about her? She felt a mix of disbelief and excitement, her cheeks flushing as she continued to delve into his thoughts. As she turned the pages, she stumbled upon entries filled with ambitions, dreams of power, and the pursuit of greatness. But woven throughout was an undercurrent of loneliness, a desire for connection that he seemed unwilling to embrace. "Perhaps one day I'll let someone in," he wrote in a particularly reflective moment. "But that would require a vulnerability I'm not ready to face."

___

Daphne closed the diary, her heart racing. She had expected to find something revealing, but this was deeper than she had anticipated. It felt wrong to invade his privacy like this, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that she had uncovered a side of Tom that he rarely showed anyone. Suddenly, she heard the door to the common room creak open. Her heart leaped into her throat as she quickly set the diary back down on the table and feigned innocence, opening her textbook as if she had been studying the whole time. Tom walked in, shaking raindrops from his hair, his expression unreadable as his gaze swept over the room. He caught her eye for a brief moment before moving toward the table where his diary lay.

___

"Daphne," he said, his tone casual but with an underlying intensity. "What are you doing here?" "Just studying," she replied, forcing a smile and trying to keep her voice steady. "How was the library?" He shrugged, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—a hint of wariness, perhaps. "Same as always. Just more books and less company." Daphne's heart raced as she watched him pick up the diary. She had no idea if he suspected anything, but the tension in the air was palpable. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was aware she had been reading. "Good to see you," she added, keeping her tone light, but her mind was racing with the weight of his unguarded thoughts still fresh in her memory.

___

Tom met her gaze, his expression inscrutable, and for a moment, the world around them faded away. There was an intimacy in their shared silence, a connection that felt more significant than the secrets of the diary. "Don't let the rumors bother you," he said finally, breaking the tension. "People will talk, but they know nothing about us." Daphne felt a warmth spread through her at his words. "I know," she replied, a soft smile appearing. "But sometimes it's hard to ignore." Tom nodded, a hint of understanding in his gaze. "Then let them talk. You and I have more important things to focus on." As he turned to walk away, Daphne felt a surge of emotions. She wanted to tell him she had read his thoughts, to bridge the distance between them. But instead, she stayed silent, her heart heavy with the weight of unspoken words. In that moment, Daphne realized that beneath Tom Riddle's cold exterior lay a complexity she couldn't fully grasp. And as much as she yearned to get closer to him, she also recognized the barriers he had built around himself—barriers she wasn't sure how to breach.

Word count: 900