Poison A Tom Marvolo Riddle Fanfiction completed

Chapter Twelve - Presents

Christmas break came and went and all too soon the daily routine was  back. Ravenclaw and Slytherin were sharing a long Potions lesson. At the  beginning of the school year Slughorn had paired them up according to  their grades and thus, Cassiopeia and Tom had ended up sharing a table.  Tom's performance at the Yule Ball had made quite an impression on the  teachers, especially Slughorn. Whenever Slughorn passed their cauldron,  he eyed them gleefully.

"I think he's got all the wrong impression of us," Cassiopeia whispered.

Tom smirked. "There's no right or wrong, there's only useful or futile."

Cassiopeia frowned. "So you don't mind?"

"Why would I? Slughorn tends to share his impression with others. If  he shares this one with Dumbledore it might actually be useful. If  Dumbledore believes one of his favourite students trusts me, he may  become a little less suspicious and maybe a little less attentive."

Cassiopeia huffed. "Surely even you can't truly think I could  influence Dumbledore's opinion in any way. If he actually believed I  trusted you he'd probably only question my sanity." She paused. "And  somehow you couldn't even blame him, now, could you?"

Tom's smirk grew wider. "I wouldn't have thought that you still have  such a high opinion of the disgusting old fool. However, apparently  you're still the same girl who spent a whole night crying because the  great Dumbledore wrote a rude comment on her first Transfiguration  essay."

Cassiopeia glared at Tom. "No one knows that."

"I do. And I know much more." Tom's voice was smug.

Cassiopeia continued to glare at him and suddenly a genuine grin crossed his face.

"I'd say you decided on your loyalties when you chose to make a deal with the devil rather than let go of your memories."

There was a moment of silence. Cassiopeia turned towards their potion  and stirred it clockwise as required. She knew he was right.

"Don't worry; I know my loyalties. However, Dumbledore is a great  wizard and he definitely is no fool. He sees who you truly are."

She saw Tom's fist tighten around the handle of the knife with which  he was currently cutting the Salamander tails. His knuckles turned white  and he chopped the tails with more force than necessary.

"I know," Tom growled. After a moment he added, "And I know it's my  own damn fault." A flash of anger crossed Tom's face. He grabbed the  sliced Salamander tails furiously but before he could throw them into  the cauldron Cassiopeia blocked his hand with hers.

"The instructions say that we need to stir the potion counterclockwise first."

Tom glared at her hand holding his. He wanted to pull his hand away  and curse her for even touching him but, strangely, his hand wouldn't  move, slowly relaxing under her touch. He couldn't quite believe it but  he actually felt his anger subside. Tom frowned. Then he said, "I know  what I am doing. Now you can prove your trust."

For a moment they stared at each other. Then Cassiopeia let go of  Tom's hand. Tom held her gaze for another moment before he turned to the  cauldron and threw the Salamander tails into the potion. Cassiopeia  eyed the potion curiously. It instantly turned a deep shade of yellow,  making Slughorn who was just passing their cauldron beam. A smile  crossed Cassiopeia's face.

"I'm better than a bloody textbook." Tom's voice was smug again.

"I know you are," Cassiopeia answered, a small smile still visible on her face.

********************

When the summer holidays came Cassiopeia invited Tom to stay at  Houlton Manor once again and he accepted her offer right away. The  summer flew by. They spent most of their time reading and experimenting  with magic. Since they were both seventeen and the Trace was finally  gone Tom felt a freedom he had never known before. Although he had  managed to outsmart the Trace before, it was different to know that now  there were no more limitations.