Taking Over Me

Chapter 5 - Year 1 - 1938

The dungeons were damp and cold. I shivered and wrapped my cloak around me tighter, not that it did much good. The Potions classroom had fifteen tables in rows and there were two stools to a table. I found my cauldron from the student storage area and lugged the black pot to an empty table. I opened my potions book and began to read about the uses of wormwood in different potions.

Voices from the front of the classroom broke my concentration. I glanced up to see a young boy and a man that must be the professor. They were chatting and the man was laughing at something the boy said. The professor gently shooed the boy into the sea of tables. I returned to my book while the professor was organizing his things.

"May I sit here? The only other spot is the desk in the back and I'd like to be able to see."

I looked into the face of the boy who'd been talking to Professor Slughorn. I nodded and moved my books off of the table so the boy had room to sit down. As I looked closer at him, I realized it was Tom Riddle from last night.

He must have recognized me because he blinked in shock and stared at me.

"Hi Tom. How is your first day of classes going?" I asked.

He frowned. "Why do you care?"

"I'm trying to be conversational. You're not helping." He didn't respond so I continued. "You and Professor Slughorn seem to be getting along well.

Riddle nodded. "Yeah, he's been kind to me, taking me under his wing and showing me how to survive here."

I nodded. I didn't know why Riddle thought he needed to survive here, but I really was glad he had found someone. Maybe with Slughorn's influence, Riddle wouldn't turn bad. After all, Slughorn was a Slytherin and he didn't seem too bad.

Professor Slughorn was a decent teacher, but I was right when I said there would be favoritism. The professor made each student introduce themselves to the rest of the class. It was embarrassing actually. When it was my turn, I could feel each and every students' eye on me. I don't enjoy being the center of attention. If I'm honest with myself, having people stare at me scares me. I've got no idea why I get scared, but when I feel people's eyes on me, I want to sink into the ground.

Once I felt everyone's eyes, I couldn't think straight. My tongue felt heavy in my mouth and I can't make my mouth form words. My jaw flapped open and closed, but no sound was heard.

Professor Slughorn cleared his throat. "Miss, is everything okay?"

I tried to respond, but all I could manage was a squeak. At the back of my mind, I knew I needed to say something, but my brain and my mouth weren't working together. Somehow, in my panicked mind, I registered laughter. I mindlessly turned to my left.

Riddle was laughing and it rang throughout the silent classroom. Soon other students joined in and laughed quietly at me. Riddle turned to Professor Slughorn. "Her name is Marianne Shay, and apparently she's afraid of public speaking."

Professor Slughorn pursed his lips in pity. "Ah, I completely understand. Thank you Mr. Riddle. Miss Shay, you may sit down now."

I nodded and sat back down onto the stool.

Riddle leaned across the table to me. "What's the matter with you?"
I glared at him. "It's nothing. Leave me alone."

Riddle laughed. "You should be thanking me for saving your neck. You looked like you were staring down the barrel of a gun. I stopped you from embarrassing yourself further. You're welcome."

"I would have been fine eventually. I just needed a minute to collect my thoughts."

Riddle snorted. "As if. Do you know how long you stood there? Three minutes Shay. You stood like a rabbit staring at a wolf for three minutes. There was no way you'd have been able to compose yourself enough to function."

Professor Slughorn coughed politely and Riddle turned away from me, focusing his attention solely on the professor.

Professor Slughorn began an introduction into Potions. He talked about the different types of cauldrons, describing the benefits and disadvantages of each cauldron type. After we learned about cauldrons and other basic potion equipment, the professor began explaining what our homework assignment would be. He wanted us to write a one page parchment on the uses of each type of cauldron and vials that could be used in Potions.

I stood up and stretched my legs. Those stools were not the most comfortable seats in the world. I started to walk out of the dungeon, when someone grabbed my arm and yanked me backwards. I yelped as I tumbled backwards towards the stone floor. Something landed between myself and the edge of a table. The impact still hurt, but not as much as if I had hit the table without a cushion. I turned around and almost shrieked. Riddle was bracing himself against the edge of the table, protecting me.

He groaned in pain. "You bloody idiot. Look what you did to me. You made me bruise my ribs on that table."

I glanced down at my wrist to see his hand clenched around it. I shook off his hand and he flushed after he realized he hadn't let go of me.

"It's not my fault you got hurt. You were the one who tried to pull my arm out of it's socket just now. What do you want? To humiliate me more in front of my classmates? I think you're a bit late for that considering that we're the only two people here." I gestured to the empty room.

Riddle glanced around. He crossed his arms over his chest. "I didn't mean to humiliate you. I was trying to help."

"I don't need help from a Slytherin, especially not one like you."

Riddle sneered making the corner of his mouth rise in an ugly shape. "I was only going to ask if you wanted to work together on the Potions essay, but I guess not. Forget I even asked."

I hesitated as he started to walk away. I could let him leave. That would probably be the better option, but I felt guilty for lumping him in with all of the other Slytherins I've heard stories about. For all I know Riddle could be the nicest person who is just having a bad first day. I had to at least give him the benefit of the doubt. "Hold up for a second."

He stopped and stared at me. "Well?"

"I'd love to work on the Potions essay with you. How about we meet in the Library after dinner?"

Riddle nodded.

"Great then I'll see you then." I brushed past him as I walked towards my next class. I had the strangest suspicion that Riddle was watching me as I left, but I turned the corner and the feeling vanished. It must have been my imagination. There was no way Riddle was watching me, he had no reason to. So why was my neck prickling?