Both obsessed/Tom Riddle (completed)

032 Summertime

The trip to France was everything Tom and Ernesh could have hoped for—elegant, indulgent, and filled with encounters that left lasting impressions. The Rosier château was a masterpiece of old magic, with enchanted marble halls, sprawling gardens that seemed to stretch endlessly, and an air of ancient sophistication that even Tom admired. For Ernesh, however, the experience took an unexpected turn.

From the moment they arrived, Ernesh seemed to draw the attention of the Rosier great-grandparents, a pair of wizened yet strangely powerful figures who moved through the estate as if they were part of its very foundation. They were immediately captivated by him, their sharp eyes glinting with recognition as they murmured in low, ancient tones to one another. Tom, always observant, noticed the way they studied Ernesh with a mixture of fascination and reverence.

"They seem fond of you," Tom remarked one evening as they sat on the edge of a fountain in the moonlit gardens. Ernesh, his usually sharp demeanor softened by the summer air, shrugged casually.

"I've noticed," he replied, though his tone hinted at more. There was something deeper stirring within him during this trip. The attention of the Rosier elders didn't bother him; rather, it felt... familiar.

Still, Ernesh was preoccupied, though not with blood or power, as Tom might have suspected. No, his cravings during those warm, languid nights in France were directed entirely at Tom. Not for his blood—though there was always a faint temptation there—but for something far more intimate. His desires grew sharper each night, an ache that seemed to intensify as the magical air of the château seemed to feed his instincts.

But Ernesh wasn't in his full form. The charm he used to blend in with others left him with only his human body—his tongue and his true eyes remained concealed, hidden beneath the glamour that allowed him to pass among wizards without notice. Even so, there was something undeniably otherworldly about him, something the Rosier great-grandparents clearly recognized.

One evening, as they all gathered for an elaborate dinner in the grand dining hall, the Rosier elders finally approached Ernesh directly. Walburga, Abraxas, and Cornelius watched in curiosity as the two ancient figures stood before him, their gazes piercing.

"You carry an old power," said the great-grandmother, her voice crackling with age yet brimming with authority. "Do you know what you are, boy?"

Ernesh tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "I know enough."

The great-grandfather chuckled, a low, guttural sound. "Enough to walk among us without causing alarm, perhaps. But not enough to realize how rare you are." He gestured toward Ernesh, as though to emphasize the point. "You hide parts of yourself. I can feel it."

Tom, seated nearby, watched the exchange intently, his curiosity growing. He had always suspected there was more to Ernesh than he let on, and this interaction only confirmed it. But Tom didn't interrupt; he wanted to see where this was going.

The great-grandmother leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing as she studied Ernesh's face. "You should not hide," she said softly, almost kindly. "Your kind is nearly extinct, yet here you are. Complete the form, child. Show us what you are."

Ernesh remained silent, though his jaw tightened slightly. The room had fallen silent, the weight of the moment pressing on everyone present. Then, slowly, he spoke. "Not yet," he said, his voice calm but firm. "It's not time."

The Rosier elders exchanged a glance, their expressions inscrutable, before nodding in unison. "As you wish," said the great-grandfather. "But remember, the longer you suppress yourself, the stronger the pull will become. You cannot deny what you are forever."