Both obsessed/Tom Riddle (completed)

022 Slug club meeting.

The Yule Ball had passed, leaving behind an air of tension and intrigue that still lingered in the halls of Hogwarts. The students were still buzzing from the night of extravagant gowns, flowing robes, and carefully orchestrated dances. But for Tom and Ernesh, the night had been little more than a distraction—a mask to keep their true intentions hidden beneath the surface.

A few days later, the Slug Club meeting had arrived, bringing with it the usual mix of influential students, teachers, and enough food to satisfy the entire school. Professor Slughorn, beaming with his usual enthusiasm, had arranged for a variety of dishes, desserts, and drinks to fill the long table, creating a display of excess for his beloved club members. The room was warm, the lights soft, and there was a hum of conversation as the students mingled, discussing the latest happenings in their academic lives.

Tom and Ernesh sat side by side, as always, their thighs brushing against each other beneath the table. Ernesh, as usual, kept his outward appearance calm, his expression cool and collected, but inside, the sensation of Tom's body so close to his was intoxicating. He could feel the warmth of Tom's skin through the fabric of their robes, the faintest pressure of their legs against each other. It sent a pulse of excitement through him, but he couldn't let it show. Not here, not in front of the others. He needed to remain composed, to keep up the appearance of aloofness and control.

But the way Tom's hand occasionally brushed against his, the almost imperceptible shifts of their bodies, it was enough to keep Ernesh on edge. Every time their skin met, his pulse quickened, and he found it hard to focus on anything other than Tom. The air around them seemed to buzz with unspoken electricity, a connection so palpable that Ernesh felt almost drunk on it.

Slughorn was going on about the latest advancements in potion-making, his booming voice cutting through the murmurs of the room as he introduced a new recipe he had been perfecting. "A rather delightful concoction," he said, gesturing to the platter of desserts that had just been set on the table. "This one is made with ingredients from the rarest plants in the Forbidden Forest, and it promises to improve your stamina like nothing else."

Ernesh's mind wandered briefly, and he glanced at the spread of treats before him. He didn't particularly care for sweets—his cravings ran darker than that. But it was the subtle, flickering movements around him that caught his attention. The Slytherins, most of them, were in their usual state of self-assured superiority, talking amongst themselves about new spells and the Dark Arts. A few Ravenclaws were nearby, overhearing the conversation, their faces filled with feigned interest. None of them had any real understanding of what was truly important, what truly mattered.

Tom, however, was different. His mind was sharp, calculating, always a few steps ahead. Ernesh could feel the intensity radiating from him, and it only made him lean in a little closer. Tom had become more than just his friend. He was his partner in every sense of the word—a mentor, a manipulator, a lover—and Ernesh couldn't imagine life without him. Every moment spent with Tom felt like an eternity of power, a power that could never be taken away.

"So, Tom," Slughorn said, turning his attention toward him with a smile, his face glowing with pride at the new prefect in his midst. "I hear you've been practicing some rather impressive spells lately. Care to share any of your findings with the group?"

Ernesh glanced at Tom, his breath catching slightly as he noticed the glint in Tom's eyes. The boy was always so composed, so poised, even when he was hiding something. He never let on that he had already mastered magic beyond what anyone here could comprehend. His eyes flickered to Ernesh for just a moment, and without a word, Tom took a slow sip of his drink before responding.

"Well, Professor," Tom said with his usual cool detachment, his voice smooth as velvet. "I've been working on something... a little darker. A spell, you see, that requires not just knowledge of the Dark Arts, but an understanding of the mind itself."