Dose of Darkness | Tom Riddle |

Chapter Eight: The First Meeting

Eleanor went into the second week of October with a fierceness as crisp as the air outside that lingered through the halls. After the weekend, Eleanor found herself holding her robes a little closer and she had brought out the navy scarf with her Ravenclaw signet around her neck.

Today, her mother, the favorite teacher who goes by Ms.Barnes, had prepared a classroom in the farthest corners of the Third Floor that has been untouched even since she had attended Hogwarts. But despite having everything laid out for her already, her nerves were in a bunch, making it hard to stomach anything all day.

As if she wasn't rattled enough, the most dreaded class of the day was upon her: Potions.

Walking into the room, she saw Marcella who was sitting at her assigned table and ironically Adis and Walburga sat there as well. Truth be told, they weren't even the least of her problems because their ensemble of cauldrons and ingredients were enough of a barrier between each of them. It was also a relief to have Marcella there.

The table diagonal to Marcella was empty except for Tom, Dolohov, and another Slytherin girl she only recognized from Quidditch. There was one seat open which must meant Rosier was skipping today.

She mindlessly skimmed through her potions book, occasionally glancing up over Marcella's head to look at Tom who was doing the same thing. She missed him quite a bit.

First, she thought she was the wrong one and blamed herself for not being better for him.

Then, she woke up Sunday morning and planned out her entire strategy with her mother and for the first time, she didn't think about him. No one ever realized how refreshing it is to be relieved of someone until their memory hits them right in the face again.

But there was no denying that Eleanor still wanted to turn around and tell him she wanted to give him her all even when she couldn't.

Eleanor wondered why people lied for the sake of something good.

The end justifies the means after all maybe.

She sat in her chair in a trance for nearly an entire minute just wondering if her means would ever result in a good end with him.

But Tom was Tom as easily as bad was bad and nothing more.

Nothing less.

It would never change.

Professor Slughorn boisterously entered the class, having been running late but was still smiling and pretending it was one in the afternoon per usual and not a minute later.

There was another student late today; it was Rose.

The tall and frail blonde with her blonde ponytail that shined and moved like a wave with every step had drawn the eyes of mostly everyone.

No one was brighter than Rose and Eleanor stared in awe at first, but her subtle animosity made her eyes less welcoming.

"Should I be glaring?" Marcella whispered.

In front of Eleanor, Adis and Walburga waved a hello to their friend with their fake smiles plastered on their cherry red lips --a trend she recalled being the one starting on her birthday-- and received only a brief smile in return from the golden beacon of their energy.

"That spoiled little brat." Adis hissed. "She wouldn't even have any friends without us and now she's sitting with them like she wants to take our place.'

Eleanor would have laughed out loud until she watched Rose stop a few feet behind Tom's station, knowing very well she didn't sit with that group. Ever. According to Adis and Walburga's faces, they seemed to be in awe as much as Eleanor. Her eyes widened slightly as she tried to stifle the rage bubbling in her, and when Rose took the chair next to Tom Riddle at their station, she thought she would snap.