riddle ▷ Tom Riddle Era

O W L E R Y

Tom muttered the password and hurried into the green-tinged common room. Clutching the diary close to his chest, he walked swiftly up a flight of stairs and into his dorm. His bed, was the furthest from everyone else. It was pushed and skilfully charmed so it would fit neatly into the small alcove in the corner of the room. It was dark and quiet and away from all the other students he unfortunately had to share a room with. Checking if there were no other boys lounging in the room, Tom stuffed the leather-bound book under the sheets and blankets of his bed.

Then, his thoughts turned to Arabella Caerwyn. The strange girl he found so infatuating. Tom knew it should be impossible for him to feel the way he did with the circumstances of his birth but still, he found his eyes constantly wandering to the dark-haired girl. Whenever he was with her, he felt something strange in his chest- like a phoenix, ruffling it's new feathers after being reborn from it's ashes.

Maybe she'd charmed him?

Tom sighed deeply and closed his eyes. He sank down onto the soft mattress and let his thoughts run free. As the idea of Arabella was like uncharted waters, Tom knew one thing for sure. His journey to immortality had begun.

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

Jaelyn poked Arabella softly and grinned when Arabella turned around, frowning.

"I said, stop!"

Giggling, Jaelyn held her hands up in the air, surrendering, but Arabella narrowed her eyes at the glint in her friend's eyes. "I just want to know what we do now." Jaelyn exclaimed then motioned to the frog and the beetles on their table. "Do we brew the frog liver or chop the wings?"

Arabella groaned and pointed at the board where Slughorn was beginning to rub instructions off. "Wait!" Jaelyn screeched, eyes wide. She leaped out of her seat and bounded over to the board.

"Yes, m'dear?" Slughorn asked slowly, seeing Jaelyn appear in the corner of his eyes.

"What what the instruction about the frog or the beetles? I didn't see it before you rubbed it off."

Professor Slughorn looked flabbergasted. "That was the second and third instruction, Miss Marigold. What in the name of Merlin have you been doing all this time?" Slugorn glanced around the room where nearly everyone was standing at their tables, a steaming cauldron in front of their face. "Everyone else is finished!"

Jaelyn blushed deeply and Arabella smiled slyly. Jaelyn clasped her hands in front of her body nervously, a habit she'd kept since her youth. "Whoops?"

Slughorn narrowed his eyes and shook his head in sadness. "You will serve two detentions to finish this potion for me. One tomorrow night and one on Thursday night. Both at eight thirty sharp."

Jaelyn's eyes widened in realisation and she jumped up suddenly. "But I have Quidditch practice on Thursday! Our big game against Ravenclaw is on Saturday!"

Slughorn shrugged but everyone knew he loved Quidditch. For him to have Slytherin's best Chaser out on detention instead of at practice was huge. Slughorn gulped and saw every pair of student's eyes were on him. But the professor had to be strong and to Arabella and the rest of the class' dismay, he merely glanced at Jaelyn and said, "whoops."

To say Jaelyn was furious would be an understatement. She raged on and on about the Potions Professor to Arabella all that afternoon and hours into the evening. "He can't do that! I'll be benched!"

Arabella glanced at her almost tearful friend from across the table. Putting her fork down on her plate with a small clang, Arabella smiled sympathetically. "Jake wouldn't bench you for missing one practice would he?"

Jaelyn growled lowly as she pushed the mean around in circles on her golden plate. "I may be the best chaser he has but Jake Carson does not play favourites." Jaelyn frowned deeply and shoved a forkful of food into her mouth angrily. "He's a bloody good Captain and Gallopin' Gargoyles, sometimes I hate that!"

Arabella smiled and petted Jaelyn's shoulder softly. "I'm sure they'll manage one game without you." Then Arabella grinned. "But look on the brightside! You can come watch the game with me instead!"

Jaelyn groaned and let her head fall onto the table with a thud. "You suck at anything related to Quidditch, Bella." Jaelyn moaned and closed her eyes. "Maybe I'll go to the library while the game's on. I'll get some silent study time."

Feeling her heart drop, Arabella sighed. "Whatever."

"Sorry."

Arabella waved away her best friend's fruitless apologies and put her head in her hands. The chatter of the Great Hall at dinner was always one of her favourite sounds. Full of joy and satisfaction, no one was ever in a dull move. With the quality of the food at Hogwarts, how could one ever be in a bad mood?

But as she listened closer than she ever had before, Arabella heard sounds she'd never picked up on. Over on the Hufflepuff table, someone was moaning about the homework they were assigned that day while down from Arabella on the Slytherin table, a boy was talking tastelessly about a girl to his friends.

"Oh be quiet, Avery," Tom Riddle said suddenly as he ate his dinner. "We're all eating here. Save it for later."

Avery turned a bright shade of red and muttered a small, meet apology. "Sorry, Tom."

Tom's eyes flared suddenly but then it was like nothing had happen. Arabella glanced around her in surprise, wondering if anyone else had caught Tom in his rare moment of passion.

But no one had.

Tom grinned at something Lestrange said suddenly and laughed loudly. He turned his head slightly and caught sight of Arabella as she watched the group of boys from where she sat. Tom frowned and excused himself from his seat.

As he made his way down the isle between Slytherin and Ravenclaw, students turned to watch the famous Tom Riddle. Arabella swallowed nervously and felt a strange rush of déjà vu.

"Caerwyn," Tom said, reaching Arabella in long strides. "Follow me please."

As Tom and Arabella left the Hall, the eyes that followed them quickly lost interest in the pair as they left everyone's sights. "So," Tom said, leaning against a wall. He studied Arabella carefully, trying to figure out why she made him feel strange whenever they met. "I have a question for you."

"Ask away, Riddle," Arabella said slowly, curious as to the older boy's intentions.

Tom tilted his head slightly, giving the impression of a lost dog. "How are you?"

Arabella was stunned. "I- What?"

Tom rolled his eyes and repeated his question. "How. Are. You?"

"Fine, I suppose," Arabella answered but both she and Tom knew she was lying.

"Meet me at seven in the owlery tomorrow night," Tom said. "I can help you deal with the shock and pain of losing someone you knew."

Arabella nodded slowly, still processing Tom's words. "Sure."

Then Tom leant forward until his lips were grazing Arabella's ear. "Come alone."

Tom pulled away and smirked at Arabella before turning around and walking off, hands in the pockets of his green and black robes.

Stunned and suddenly not hungry for dessert, Arabella didn't go back into the Great Hall that night, instead, she walked back to the Slytherin common room and into her dorm.

She sat on her bed for a while, thinking and thinking of ulterior motives for Tom to take her to the Owlery but came up with none. Not satisfied with the amount of unanswered questions in her head, Arabella had a sleepless night.