The Golden Age of Hollywood . Tom Riddle

Chapter 17

The Great Hall was alive with chatter from students having breakfast. Tom was seated in the middle of the Slytherin table, surrounded by his knights (except for an empty spot next to him for Malfoy), and nursed a cup of tea. He had poured too much milk in it, so the flavor was off, and he abandoned the drink altogether, letting it grow cold between his hands.

His eyes were fixed on Norma instead. The girl was sitting further down the table, talking and laughing with Lucretia without a care in the world. He had been monitoring her even closer after his conversation with Slughorn but didn't notice anything out of ordinary.

The students around him were noisy, but Tom thought he could still make out Norma's laughter clearly, although he couldn't make out any words. Tom saw how Abraxas walked into the Great Hall a little late and went straight to Norma instead of him. He bent down and spoke directly into Norma's ear, staying far away from Lucretia. Good. Whatever Abraxas told Norma, it was better to keep Lucretia out of it, Tom was suspicious that the girl wouldn't be able to keep secrets very well.

Norma's face dropped the moment Malfoy appeared close to her: she stopped chewing and swallowed the bite heavily, then stared resolutely at her plate while he talked, while Lucretia alternated a concerned look between the two. Tom had an idea to ask Abraxas whether he had noticed any man closing in on Norma: he seemed to still keep some contact with her, thus he might know something. It was a relief to know she had a trusted man from his knights to be on the lookout for her, when she didn't want to have any contact with Tom himself.

Tom didn't move when Malfoy had left the girls and casually walked to his spot, sitting down to eat. Norma's expression didn't return to the previously joyful one, and currently, Lucretia was rapidly whispering something to her. Tom glanced at Abraxas, but decided not to ask him anything at the moment- there were too many people surrounding them.

Tom felt lost, and confusion made his anger grow: he knew he had no claim to Norma's happiness, but it bothered him greatly that Norma was happy without him. Was Norma actually happy, or was she just putting up an act to annoy him? Is Lucretia a bad influence on her? She's a Black, after all: purebloods don't have best interests of half-bloods in heart. Tom focused his gaze on the black-haired girl, and brushed his fingers over his lips absentmindedly. She could have encouraged Norma to leave him. Seed an idea in her head that their relationship was wrong. Did she do this because she wanted to pitch another man to Norma, or perhaps to break them up, and have a chance with Tom herself? He did not miss her shy glances and blushing cheeks a few years ago. Yes, that could have been it.

Malfoy was without a doubt capable and a comfortable person to be around: he spoke only when he had things to say, was precise and to the point, otherwise keeping a distance, but always remained close enough to reach and any moment to receive tasks. Most of the times anyway- sometimes he would disappear. Norma never disappeared. Until now. At times, she would disappear as well, making it difficult for him to supervise her, but at least she usually showed up with Malfoy trailing behind her. Even thinking about her caused a dull pain in his chest these days.

This time, Malfoy was walking next to Tom: his footsteps fell softly even on stone tiles, and he hadn't said a word for a while. Tom opened the door to the Slytherin common room and was greeted by a loud laughter. Both boys made their way to the sofas situated in front of the fireplace and saw Norma sitting with Lucretia, Avery, Rosier, and Nott. Their voices were loud and were quickly followed by another burst of laughter. Tom hadn't had time to figure out what they were talking about, but he didn't care. He looked at the two boys and the Black girl, and suddenly, he felt his blood boil, his eyesight clouded by jealousy he previously thought to be beneath him. Tom marched to the only spot unoccupied by the group and threw himself in an armchair, making the noise dry out immediately: if he wasn't so angry, Tom would have smirked, elated by the control he exerted upon the group. Now however, he couldn't help, but feel like an outsider.