Both obsessed/Tom Riddle (completed)

037 Back at hogwarts

Chapter: Whispers of Plans and Restless Nights

The familiar buzz of the Great Hall filled the air as students poured in for the welcome feast, their voices bouncing off the ancient stone walls. Tom Riddle and Ernesh sat side by side at the Slytherin table, their green-and-silver ties pristine, their posture composed. For all appearances, they were simply two young men eager for another year at Hogwarts—but for them, this was merely a stage, one they couldn't wait to step off once their plans had come to fruition.

Tom, as always, was the picture of control. With a faint smile, he leaned forward and began piling Ernesh's plate with roasted meats, Yorkshire pudding, and perfectly seasoned vegetables. He handed him a goblet filled with pumpkin juice, making sure Ernesh ate and drank exactly what he needed.

"You'll need your strength," Tom said in a low, almost affectionate tone.

Ernesh nodded, not bothering to protest. He never did when it came to Tom. Instead, he picked up his fork and began eating as Tom continued to serve him small portions of everything—his movements meticulous, calculated. He glanced around the hall, his sharp eyes narrowing as he spotted a few Gryffindors clustered together, whispering animatedly.

"Druella wrote to me," Tom said quietly, leaning closer to Ernesh. His tone was soft enough to be drowned out by the ambient noise of the hall, but it carried a weight of intrigue. "She's heard rumors. Apparently, Dumbledore and some Gryffindors are forming a group."

Ernesh didn't look up from his plate, but his brow furrowed slightly. He swallowed his bite of chicken before replying, "What kind of group?"

"Something secret," Tom murmured, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "It doesn't matter what they're planning; they'll be crushed before they can act. But first, we need information. Tonight, we'll discuss it with the Knights."

Ernesh nodded, though his expression was weary. He'd been restless all day, his head swimming with a strange kind of exhaustion that refused to be shaken. His body felt heavy, yet his mind wouldn't stop racing. It had been a long summer, and now, back at Hogwarts, he could feel the castle pressing in around him like a living thing.

As Tom turned back to his own plate, Ernesh let his eyes linger on him. It was subtle, careful, but the admiration in his gaze was unmistakable. There was something almost surreal about Tom—his confidence, his grace, his power. For a moment, Ernesh felt a flicker of envy at how effortlessly Tom carried himself. But it was brief, replaced by an overwhelming sense of devotion.

Tom slept like a baby, Ernesh thought bitterly. The night before, he hadn't been able to close his eyes for more than a few seconds. He had tossed and turned in his bed, his thoughts circling endlessly. Yet even in the sleepless hours, he couldn't stop thinking about Tom—his plans, his dreams, the way he seemed to command the world around him without lifting a finger.

At one point, Ernesh had simply given up trying to sleep. He had lain there in the dark, staring at Tom's peaceful face in the bed beside his. The moonlight cast faint shadows across the room, highlighting Tom's sharp features, the slight curve of his lips. Ernesh's gaze was unblinking, almost hypnotized. He wanted to be in Tom's dreams, to ensure that every thought of his—even those in sleep—were filled with him. He wanted to be indispensable, unavoidable.

When morning came, Ernesh felt like a shadow of himself. But now, sitting in the Great Hall with Tom beside him, he pushed through the haze of exhaustion. He ate everything Tom gave him, drained his goblet each time it was refilled.

After dessert, Professor Dippet stood at the staff table and cleared his throat. The hall quieted instantly as he began his usual welcome-back speech. His voice droned on about house unity and academic excellence, but Tom barely listened. His thoughts were elsewhere, spinning with possibilities.

Ernesh leaned slightly toward him, his shoulder brushing against Tom's, as if seeking his warmth. Tom didn't pull away. Instead, he let the faintest smile touch his lips. He knew Ernesh was tired—he could sense it in the way his friend's movements were sluggish, his usually sharp eyes slightly dull.

"We'll make this year count," Tom whispered as Dippet's speech came to an end and the students began filing out of the hall.

Ernesh nodded, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Whatever Tom planned, he would follow. Whatever Tom needed, he would provide.

That night, as they gathered with the Knights, Tom's mind was already spinning with strategies to infiltrate this so-called Gryffindor group. But Ernesh could barely focus. The sleepless night was catching up to him, and his eyes threatened to close. Yet even as his body faltered, his heart was steady.

Tom would lead them to glory. And Ernesh would make sure he never looked away from him.