Mind Games | Tom Riddle | DISCONTINUED

Three: Dueling Serpents

The next two days were similar to the first. Azalea had every class with Tom Riddle, which paved the way for many arguments.

Azalea stood in the girls' dormitory, staring at an array of dresses. She was flanked by Caroline, Isabella, Poppy, and Natalie. After finishing her prefect duties for the night, Azalea had rushed to the common room to get ready for Professor Slughorn's dinner party.

"I just can't decide," she muttered.

Isabella and Natalie shared a look.

"Azalea, you never get flustered over stuff like this," Natalie said.

Rolling her eyes, Azalea replied, "I want to make a good first impression. Stop acting like it's a big deal. Appearances are everything."

"I think you should go with black if you want to make a good impression. It's a classy, elegant, and flattering color," Caroline explained.

Azalea looked to the black dress. It was a tight, sleeveless dress that just reached her knees with a modest neckline. She grabbed it and quickly put it on. Brushing her hair to the side, she ordered, "Zip me up, please."

Caroline gently tugged on the zipper of the dress. "You made a good choice," she remarked.

"I don't know why she worried about first impressions. She's gorgeous," Natalie added.

Azalea glanced down at her legs, only to be interrupted by Isabella. "Stop," she said, "Your legs look just as amazing as the rest of you."

"You're lucky I'm not Tom Riddle. If I were him, I would have hexed you all years ago," Azalea smirked.

"Azalea, you're going to be late," Caroline said gently.

Nodding, Azalea grabbed a pair of low, black heels and stepped into them.

"She's going to knock them dead. Someone get the hospital wing ready," Poppy remarked with a chuckle.

"I'll see you all in a few hours," Azalea said. She walked out of the dormitory, her heels clicking on the stone floor. As she entered the common room, she met the eyes of an immaculately dressed Tom Riddle. She was surprised that he didn't say anything as she walked past him; he only watched with a sharp, observant gaze.

Azalea felt relieved when she was out of the common room. She was alone again, and it was soothing for her. Something about Riddle unsettled her. He had never paid any attention to her before a few days ago. She knew that he wanted something with her, and she was going to find out.

Azalea was so caught up in her thoughts that she almost missed the door to Professor Slughorn's office. Sighing, she opened the door.

"Good evening, Miss Verdine!" a jolly Professor Slughorn greeted. He was sitting at the head of a long table in a winged chair.

"Good evening, Professor," Azalea responded. She observed the long table. Sitting at the table were some of the most notable students at Hogwarts, including Ravenclaw twins Esmé and Icarus LeClaire.

Esmé and Icarus were the second and third highest scoring students in the sixth year, and they were the Ravenclaw prefects. The two were geniuses. Esmé had it out for Azalea and was infatuated with Riddle. It was the opposite for Icarus. It was quite comical in Azalea's opinion.

Azalea took a seat next to Slughorn with a charming smile.

As if on cue, five immaculately dressed Slytherins entered the room. Riddle and his gang were dressed in black suits, and they were eye-catching for everyone in the room, save for Azalea who was rolling her eyes at them.