Both obsessed/Tom Riddle (completed)

045.. A fight

Days had passed since Tom had bathed Ernesh in the love potion, yet something strange lingered. Though the potion should have worn off, Ernesh was still overwhelmed by its effects. His mind was consumed by Tom—his scent, his touch, his very existence. Every nerve in his body felt alive and raw, like he was constantly on the edge of something uncontrollable. It wasn't just obsession anymore; it was need.

Tom, for his part, noticed and relished this development. Though he knew it was unusual, he didn't question it—how could he when Ernesh's devotion made him even more perfect? During a particularly quiet Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, Tom slid his hand onto Ernesh's thigh under the desk. The simple contact made Ernesh flinch, his cheeks flooding with heat. Tom's hand inched upward, fingers grazing along Ernesh's leg with deliberate slowness. Ernesh's breathing hitched, and he clenched his fists to keep from making a sound.

Tom's lips barely moved as he whispered in a low tone, "Careful, love. Don't make a scene."

Ernesh's nails dug into the edge of the desk, and his dark green eyes darted around the classroom. No one seemed to notice, and yet the pressure was unbearable. Tom smirked, watching his reaction, thoroughly entertained. He removed his hand just as the professor turned toward them, leaving Ernesh flushed and trembling.

Later that day, they decided to take a walk by the Black Lake. The late afternoon light made the surface of the water glisten, but they strayed further along the bank, away from the other students who lingered in clusters closer to the castle. The secluded part of the lake near the Forbidden Forest had always been their refuge.

As they walked, Tom noticed Ernesh's nervous glances, his fingers twitching like he could sense something in the air. "What is it?" Tom asked, his tone casual.

"I don't know," Ernesh murmured, his tongue flicking out like he was tasting the air. "Something feels off."

They didn't get much farther before the disturbance made itself known. A group of Gryffindors appeared from the edge of the forest, heading straight for them. Ernesh stiffened, and Tom immediately recognized a few familiar faces. Members of Dumbledore's little Order.

Tom grabbed Ernesh's wrist subtly and steered him to turn away. "Ignore them," he said quietly.

But the Gryffindors didn't seem to want to be ignored. Before they could take more than a few steps, one of them—a tall, broad-shouldered boy—closed the distance between them and grabbed Ernesh from behind.

Ernesh thrashed, hissing in anger. "Let go of me!" he snarled, his fangs flashing. He tried to bite the boy, but his captor held him at an awkward angle, dodging the sharp teeth. Kicking and squirming did nothing; the Gryffindor was too strong.

"Put him down," Tom said, his voice deadly calm as he raised his wand. His sharp blue eyes locked onto the Gryffindor holding Ernesh. "Now."

The other Gryffindors flanked their friend, wands drawn and ready. "We don't want to fight," one of them said, though the tension in his voice betrayed him. "We just want to send a message."

Tom took a step forward, his wand unwavering. "If you don't put him down in the next three seconds, you'll be sending that message from the hospital wing."

The boy holding Ernesh smirked, clearly not taking Tom seriously. "Fine," he said. "We'll put him down."

Before Tom could react, they tied a rope around Ernesh's torso, fastening it tightly. Attached to the other end of the rope was a large, jagged rock. The Gryffindor dragged Ernesh toward the edge of the lake, ignoring his thrashing and struggling.

"Stop!" Tom shouted, his voice laced with fury. "Put him down!"

But the Gryffindor swung Ernesh back and hurled him into the water. The rock's weight yanked Ernesh down immediately, and his screams were muffled by the dark, icy water.