The Golden Age of Hollywood . Tom Riddle

Chapter 19

Lucretia Black was enjoying her moment of solitude in her dorm room: her two roommates had ran off to watch quidditch practice and won't be back anytime soon. Lucretia didn't go- she had to watch Orion play quidditch in the manor's gardens her entire life, and had already had her fill of the sport, thank you very much. Thus one can imagine her surprise when dormitory doors suddenly flew open and Norma came in. She looked shaken, and it was clear from her red eyes that she had been crying. Lucretia immediately moved from her spot near the headboard to sit on the edge of the bed, and watched her friend closely.

"Salazar, what happened?" she asked.

Norma wrung her hands together and sat down on her own bed, facing Lucretia.

"I almost kissed Tom. I... we might made up," she said, her voice trembling.

Lucretia's eyes went wide in surprise.

"Alright, I didn't expect that. Did he... change?"

Norma bit her lip and averted her eyes from Lucretia.

"Norma?" Lucretia pressed and Norma sighed.

"I can't be sure," she said. "I explained, and he sort-off got my point. But we had a run-in with Malfoy, and Tom... but he really loves me, you know? All those moments we shared, and the care he shows for me, he had already changed a lot. It's the small things: he always takes photos with me, although he doesn't like to... He doesn't have any malicious intent towards me, it's just that he... thinks different, I guess? He places me in the spotlight next to him- I mean, he used to: remember Malfoys' Yule Ball? And the responsibilities he'd give me..." Norma rambled, picking her nails nervously.

Lucretia rose from her bed and sat down next to her friend.

"You left him because he mistreated you, and you said he has to change before you get back together."

"Luc, I-" Norma looked at Lucretia desperate and shook her yellow curls. "I love him."

"These are the standards you've set, Norma, and I think they are quite reasonable."

"I know, but..."

"But it's up to you, I get it. Only you know because, this is your life. I just wanted to remind you of your words."

Norma sighed heavily and slumped forwards, leaning her elbows on her thighs, burying her face in her hands. Lucretia was watching how her friend was sitting still with her head hung low and tried to think of what to do: there wasn't much, but she could try her best.

Evenings were busy in Slytherin common room, so it made sense that Tom Riddle wasn't there. Even if his girlfriend was. If Norma was his girlfriend again, Lucretia thought. Norma wasn't in the common room either: she was in her dorm, laying on her bed and looking comatose, with her sad, clouded eyes fixed on the curtains of her bed, tightly pressed lips being the only indication that she was conscious. Lucretia checked in on her several hours later, but Norma hadn't moved, so she decided to let her be for a bit longer, and set off to find Tom Riddle.

At first she checked the hospital wing, thinking he might be visiting Malfoy, who was hospitalized earlier that day, because a spell had misfired. He wasn't there, and Malfoy was either asleep or unconscious. There wasn't a meeting of Riddle's special "Knights of Walpurgis" club that day, because Avery and Nott were in the common room. Sure enough, Lucretia found Riddle in the library, spotting him sitting with Rosier: neither even pretended to be studying, and simply sat talking in hushed voices. Lucretia raised her hand and knocked on the wooden shelf, drawing attention of both boys.

"Knock knock!" Lucretia said, leaning on the bookshelf.

Tom Riddle's dark eyes snapped to Lucretia, and Rosier stopped talking immediately, looking between her and the Dark Lord.