Tom Riddle Era: Faline Potter

Dip in the Lake

Teresa's POV

It's the weekend and the weather is still nice. I decide to test Mr Ollivanders theory about being good with languages. But I also decided to do it alone at night. Probably not the smartest idea in the world. Anyway I put on my green/white polka dot swim suit followed by my burgundy dressing gown. I took my wand and disillusion myself before leaving the tower.

It's about 10:30 at night and most of the other students are asleep. Though I wish I had the Marauders, then it'd be easier to avoid prefects and this era's care taker. But I managed to get outside the castle unnoticed. I waited until I reached the lake to make myself visible again.

It is a little chilly so I cast a warming charm on myself. I looked around having a feeling I was being watched. But I see no one around our anyone looking outside the castle window. I took my dressing gown off, cast the bubble head charm, and dive into the cold water. A bubble of oxygen forms around my mouth and nose.

I take a deep breath and dive heading straight for the deep water. Where the merpeople live. Keeping a grip on my wand and an eye out for grindylows. When I spot one heading for my legs I hit it with the knock back jinx. Which scares it away.

I am starting to feel lost when a mermaid appears. So not as beautiful as I'd imagine. But beggars can't be choosers. "Who are you?" she asks me in English and I remember their language only changes above water.

"I am Teresa, I'd like try something" I tell her.

"What?" she asks me.

"I was told I'd be good at understanding the language of other creatures. Do you think you could come to the surface with me and speak. So that I can see if I understand you?" I ask her.

"I see no problem with that, I'll nod is you translate what I say right" she states. We start to swim to the surface together. "I can't stay long" she tells me.

"Of course, thank you for doing this though" I tell her smiling. We surface and my back is to the dock. I nod to the mermaid after the bubble head charm disappeared. She screeches a sentence and I try not to cover my ears. She stops and gestures for me to translate. I don't know how, but I knew what she said. "You're name is Aqua-maria" I state and she claps her hands happily.

I go to ask her something when she freezes looking at something behind me. She suddenly dives into the water disappearing. I frown and turn around to see Tom on the dock. Before either of us could say anything I'm suddenly pulled into the water and scream.

I try to grab my wand but the grindylows were digging their claws into my arms. Suddenly someone dives into the water and fires at them. Driving them away and the person wraps an arm around my waist. They pull me to the surface and swim me to the shore as I cough.

"What were you doing down there?" Tom asks as he lays me on the shore away from the water.

"Testing a theory" I tell him as I sit up rubbing my arms. "Why are you here?" I ask him confused.

"I saw you from a castle window dive into the lake and it's my duty as a prefect to look after my fellow students. So I came to make sure you were ok" he states.

"I was fine, I didn't need your help" I tell him.

"Really? It sure looked like it as the grindylows tried to drown you and you couldn't reach your wand" he states.

"You know how powerful I am, I would of thought of something" I tell him annoyed.

"You're so ungrateful, I saved your life and you haven't even thanked me" he snaps lightly.

"You're right, I am sorry Riddle" I say sheepishly. "Thank you for saving me" I tell him.

"You're welcome" he says giving me a small smile that made I heart flutter. I shook the feeling away and looked up at the starry sky. "So what theory were you testing?" he asks me.

"My wand is made of apple wood it is said those who wield are good at understanding the languages of other creatures. I thought a mermaid would be the best way to test the theory. It worked, I understood what she said. But it'll still take me years to be able to speak these languages fluently" I explain.

"Interessting" he says.

"I guess it is interesting" I say shrugging.

I notice him smile knowingly and I frown. I then realize he must of just spoken in parcel-tongue. "Who told you about the language thing?" he asks me.

"Mr Ollivander, he has a book on different wand woods and about their owners. I actually ordered a copy he wrote a few years ago on different wand woods. It should arrive Monday" I tell him.

"Perhaps you can tell me about my wand wood before we study on Monday" he tells me.

"Sure, what wood is it?" I ask him seeing no harm in telling him this information.

"Yew" he states. I grab my dressing gown and we go back to the castle. "I'll see you around" he says when we reach the entrance hall. I nod my head and disillusion myself. Then walk back to Gryffindor tower. I got there unnoticed,dried off with a drying charm and changed into my pjs. Did my teeth and went to bed.

A/N

Picture above of Teresa's bathing suit, dressing gown and the bubble head charm. Picture on the external link of a Black Lake mermaid.