Taming The Serpent [Tom Riddle/Tomione]

O6. Announcement

Hermione and Penelope Clearwater were walking out of Transfiguration class together when a few very distressed students caught up to them, talking loudly at the same time, which caused other pupils to glare at them curiously. "What's going on? " hissed Penelope. A short girl with blonde curly hair and bright blue eyes grabbed Hermione's hand and led them away with her.

"You have got to see this", she said.

Ever since the death of Myrtle Warren, the fourth year Ravenclaw, every student in the school has been freaking over the simplest things; teachers have also been very distraught with the events and Headmaster Dippet even forbid a few other floors - The Ministry had been warned of the situation and the possibility of closing the school was being evaluated.

They turned right on a dark corridor and faced a group of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs; Hermione even noticed a couple Slytherins in the circle. They were gathered around with their eyes fixed on the ground.

From where they were staying, they could see a pair of legs laying on the floor.

"It's Cepheus Crux. I know him from Charms class." A Hufflepuff girl said. Hermione and Penelope shared a small glare before rushing through the small crowd. Both girls gasped; Cepheus was laying petrified on the floor. His glare was glued to the ceiling and his skin was oddly pale; his once beautiful green eyes were now a dull colour with no emotion.

"Move aside, move aside now. Let us through." Professor Dumbledore and Professor Slughorn made their way through the pile of students.

Slughorn's eyes widened considerably and the parchment he was holding fell to the floor "By Merlin. What happened? "

Professor Dumbledore knelt down beside Cepheus and checked his pulse. "The boy is alive, he has been petrified. "  

"Professor, if I may, " said Hermione. "When matured, Mandrakes, can be cut up to serve as a prime ingredient for the Mandrake Restorative Draught, which is to cure those who have been petrified."

Professor Dumbledore gave Hermione a small smile and nodded his head approvingly. "Yes Miss Lockhart, very good knowledge. I was thinking the exact same thing."

"Glad Miss Lockhart was here to save the day." A cold voice spat from behind. She turned to see a very flustered Tom Riddle, with his arms crossed behind his back. He gave her a hard glare, but quickly changed it to one of his reserved smirks for teachers. "May I suggest taking Mr. Crux to the Hospital Wing while the Draught is being prepared?"

"Ah, Tom m'boy ", beamed Slughorn "Always ready to help the others. Such a good example. " 

Tom nodded his head "It is my duty sir, since I'm a Prefect. " 

♡

Raindrops the size of bullets thundered on the castle windows for the rest of the day; the lake rose and the flower beds turned into muddy streams.

Hermione spent the day in the Library learning Defensive Spells and doing her Arithmancy homework – which consisted on an essay. She was nearly done when a sudden movement caught her attention. She eyed the boy quizzically while he grabbed a book from his bag and placed it on the table. She noticed the way his dark eyes seemed to shine whenever a lightning stroke outside the window. His hair wasn't as neatly combed as it was in the morning and she noticed a few drops of water at the tips, which meant he had been on the rain.

"Haven't you been taught any manners?" He said, to a startled looking Hermione "It's rude to stare, Lockhart." 

She felt her cheeks redden and quickly averted her gaze to her parchment. She wanted to ask him why he sat next to her, but her voice betrayed her and instead she said something she knew she would regret, "Why is it that you're always around whenever there's trouble, Riddle?"