his redemption » tom riddle

09 | impedimenta

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09 | impedimenta

impedimenta

spell; slows down and obstructs attackers

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WHEN THE TWO REACHED THE OFFICE, A GARGOYLE stared grimly down at them. Tom reached forward and picked out a piece of rolled up paper from between it's claws just as Evelina noticed it, unfurling it quickly.

"What does it say?" She questioned softly, leaning over to read the text.

He swiftly pulled it away from her and said a word to the sculpture, so quiet she couldn't hear it. But when it swung out of the way and revealed a spiralling staircase, she realised it must have disclosed the current password.

They walked up the stairs, slowly and carefully, admiring the handiwork on their way up. Evelina ran her fingers over the cool stone, little nooks and crannies catching them slightly. In the back of her mind, she knew she was stalling for fear of what Tom would do to her if she told the truth.

She supposed she could lie, but when would she get such a chance to exact her revenge? Evelina couldn't decide whether it was worth it or not, but one thing was for sure. Armando Dippet had a soft spot for Tom, and the slytherin boy would manipulate his way around it either way.

Even before Tom knocked on the thick wooden doors, the Headmaster spoke from inside his office. "Come in!" Stroking his curly white beard with one hand while he squinted, as if trying to see straight through them, Mr. Dippet greeted the two with a nod as they entered. "You see, this is a very serious matter," He paused. "I didn't want this to spread around the school and ruin both of your images, but alas, it already has. Now, tell me what happened, Ms. Moreau, and from the beginning. Tom-" He said as he opened his mouth to speak. "Not a word from you as she talks."

"Tom, he just," Evelina pressed her chin into her palm as she avoided Tom's searing gaze. "He didn't really do anything. All that happened was that he accidentally tripped me, and didn't say sorry about it."

Tom's features softened in silent surprise as he took in what she just said.

"Is this true, Mr. Riddle?" Dipped asked Tom.

"Yes, Sir." Tom replied after a moment. He ran his hand haphazardly through his hair as he pondered on all the possibilities of why Evelina had defended him.

"I don't believe this. Why would Ms. Moreau have felt so hurt just for an instance as small as this?" Dipped asked.

"Sir, I'm telling the truth. I must be more sensitive than you had realised." Evelina backed her statement. There was no going back now, or else she'd have to admit that she'd lied. "Tom didn't do much.

"Fine, then. Tom, say sorry to the young lady."

"Sorry..." He muttered half heartedly, still lost in thought.

"Alright, then. If that's all..." The headmaster dismissed them. "Then you both may go now. It's late; head back to the dorms immediately, no stops on the way."

"Of course." Evelina muttered.

"Okay." Tom said.

The halls were empty except for the occasional house prefects taking their rounds, who nodded at them in recognition.

An owl hooted outside, reminding Evelina that she hadn't seen her own, Archimedes, in a while. She missed running her fingers through his soft brown feathers, and having him hoot at her comfortingly when she was down.

"Why?" Tom's voice way low and his expression was blank as his Adam's apple bobbed while he swallowed the dryness in his mouth.

Her gaze trained on the floors in front of them, Evelina replied in the same tone. "I-" Her voice cracked, as she tried to think of a valid reason. "I don't know."

Finally, he turned towards her. "Why did you defend me?"

"I told you, I don't know! I was about to go in there and sell you out but then I figured that I might as well-"

Evelina gasped as she was cut off by Tom's lips against her own, grabbing onto the closest thing to her. The kiss was rough, but it had no meaning. There weren't any sparks, or fireworks, or any depth.

Nothing.

There was nothing.

So Evelina pushed him back before she could notice the tiny hint of warmth that had started to blossom inside her at his touch. His eyes were wide, mouth swollen as he worked his jaw trying to read her mind without legilimency.

She touched her own lips, before pressing hers to his quickly in a peck of goodbye. Evelina wasn't quite sure why she did it, whether it was to reassure him that it wasn't for nothing -which was not the truth- or just because she liked the way she felt, but she had done it, and that was that.

And so she ran.

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WELL DAMN THEY KISSED AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW AWKWARD IT WAS FOR ME TO WRITE THIS CHAPTER. BUT ANYWAYS WHO SHIPS TOMELINA?