The Siren Song: Tom Riddle x Male Reader

24. Amortentia

🧜‍♂️.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.🔱.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.🧜‍♀️

The following morning, we headed to Slughorn's class with a sense of anticipation. Abraxas's strange behavior and the dream we still bothered our minds but we had to focus on the task at hand. Slughorn had hinted that today's lesson would be particularly intriguing.

"Good morning, class" Slughorn greeted us. "Today, we will be exploring the wonders of two potions: Sana Potion, the elixir that heals magical scars and wounds and the other, Amortentia, the most powerful love potion in existence."

Whispers rippled through the class as Slughorn revealed a cauldron filled with a shimmering, pearly liquid. "Although the Amortentia can not create real romantic feelings or force someone to be in love it only creates a powerful obsession and desire. The potion has a distinctive smell" he explained "which varies according to what each individual finds most attractive. It is often associated with the deepest desires of one's heart."

He gestured for Rose to come forward first. She approached the cauldron and inhaled deeply, a soft smile spreading across her face. "I smell books, medical serum and red velvet cake" she said, blushing slightly. The class smiled in response.

"Lovely, Miss Rose" Slughorn beamed. "Now let's see someone from slytherin house, Mr. Marinos, would you care to try?"

I stepped forward my heart pounding as I bent over the cauldron and inhaled. The first scent that hit me was the salty breeze of the ocean, evoking memories of home and the kingdom beneath the sea. Then, fresh lavender perfume. And finally, the sharp distinct aroma of... snake venom.

Slughorn raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what do you smell, Mr. Marinos?"

I hesitated, knowing the implications of my next words. "The ocean breeze... lavenders... and... snake venom?"

The room fell silent, every eye turning to me with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. I could feel my cheeks burning as I glanced nervously at Tom, who stared back with a shocked expression.

Lestrange broke the silence with a mocking smirk. "Isn't it weird for someone as delicate as yourself to be attracted to snake venom?" His voice dripped with sarcasm as he looked at Tom. "Doesn't that tell you anything, Tom?"

Tom's gaze darkened as he turned to face Lestrange, his eyes cold and controlled. He whispered something to him that made Lestrange turn pale and lose his smirk.

But the damage was done. The class buzzed with whispers and I could feel the weight of their gossip. The implications were clear: snake venom, tied to Tom's well-known fascination with snakes as he keeps a jar of serpent's poison in his desk.

Slughorn cleared his throat, trying to regain control of the class. "Thank you, Mr. Marinos. Fascinating. Now, if everyone could return to their seats, we shall continue with today's lesson."

As I made my way back to my seat, I could feel Tom's eyes on me, intense and probing. I sat down, trying to ignore him but I couldn't shake the feeling that I had revealed far too much. After class, Iris and Rose approached me, their faces a mixture of concern. "Are you okay?" Iris asked softly.

I nodded. "I didn't mean to say that out loud" I admitted. "It just slipped."

Rose placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "We'll figure this out. Just be careful around Tom."

Iris raised an eyebrow. "What do you suggest?"

Rose took a deep breath. "I'll try to get the attention of my ex, Lestrange. He never moved on from me and I might be able to get some information out of him. Iris, you stick with Abraxas. He's your boyfriend, even if he's been distant. Maybe you can find out what's going on."

Iris nodded slowly. "And Adrian? What about you?"

Rose hesitated, glancing at me. "I think you should get closer to Nott. It's less awkward than trying to talk to Tom after what happened today."

I sighed, knowing she was right. "Alright. I'll try to see what I can learn from Nott. One thing I've noticed in Tom in the past months is that he spends a long time in the restricted section in the library exploring books about dark magic. The other day I found maleficent titles in his desk. Some books you may call -banned- from the school. He's up to something."

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The next day dawned cold and gray, we headed to our classes, the plan we had discussed weighed heavily on our minds.

After class, Iris, Rose and I regrouped in the courtyard. "How did it go with Abraxas?" I asked Iris.

She sighed, shaking her head. "He's still distant. But he did mention something about a meeting tonight. I'm going to try and find out more."

Rose nodded. "Lestrange was surprisingly easy to engage. He dropped a few hints about some sort of gathering and cleansing Hogwarts from who are unworthy. Whatever that means."

Rose looked at me expectantly. "Did you manage to get anything from Nott?"

I shrugged. "Not much but he did mention that they had important homework to do. But he didn't seem like he wanted to share anything more. Coral my cat sneaked in their room and found this paper on his bed. It has the same letters we saw in yesterday's vision... K.W with this date April 30th. We gotta search what this means. It's the key to reveal what Tom and his gang are planning to do."