Dark Dynasty || Tom Riddle

vii. early to rise

Her roommates Gemma and Gisele MacDougal were twins, but Victoria thought the sisters couldn't be more different. Where Gemma was tall and regal with vigilant charcoal eyes, Gisele was of average height and possessed softer features than her sister who was all angles. At least they both shared their deep umber colored skin and ebony hair.

After Gemma had shown Victoria, whose hair could be a real bother at times, a spell that could even straighten the twins tight curls, she decided she liked her much better than the other girls and officially declared Gemma her new best friend. Victoria figured she needed someone who could show her around Hogwarts and acquaint her with their fellow students. It's not that she couldn't accomplish that on her own, but Gemma was also very popular and thus knew almost everything about almost everyone. To her dismay, even Gemma had very little information on Tom.

"He's very secretive," she said, "but that's part of his charm. The teachers love him and so do the other students."

"I don't. Love him, I mean," said Gisele firmly from her place on the bed by the bathroom door.

"I am sure he doesn't love you silly little thing either," Gemma jibed at her twin. "It's weird though, that Tom has never had a girlfriend before."

"I thought he got friendly with Yara Kingston," Ismelda chimed in.

Gemma snorted. "That's what she said. You know how desperate for attention she is. Besides, Tom would never get it on with a filthy Gryffindor like her." She leaned forward. "I heard her mother had an affair with a muggle and Yara only claims to be pureblood so her father, or rather step-father, isn't publicly humiliated."

Victoria was utterly bored by gossip, but still listened in attentively as she didn't want to miss valuable information. Not that she thought those girls would contribute anything useful, unless one considered Mrs. Kingston's infidelity to be interesting.

"So, Victoria," asked Ismelda, "what do you think about Tom Riddle?"

"He's certainly something. I look forward to getting to know him better," she said stiffly.

Ismelda pouted. "That's it? I thought you talked to him earlier."

"I did."

"And? Have you fallen in love with him yet?"

Why should I fall for someone I just met? Also, he might turn out to be my most dangerous rival yet. All the others think he can do no wrong, but I am not easily fooled. Tom Riddle is just as ambitious as I am.

"I am going to bed now. You tire me, Ismelda," said Victoria instead and cursed herself moments later. She wanted to get along with her roommates to avoid a conflict she didn't need, but the small girl was just too much and she had never been one to show much restraint.

To her surprise, Ismelda wasn't offended, she just gave an insecure laugh and said, "You're funny. Have a good night."

Victoria wanted to groan at her obliviousness, but successfully suppressed it and just slipped under the blanket smelling faintly of wood and moss. She found the scent to be strange, though somewhat comforting; she felt as if she was falling asleep in the nightly forest.

❦

The sun rose above the castle in a composition of brilliant colors, all shades of yellow and red. The first light painted the sky in hues of pink and purple, the dew on the evergreen hills glistened and the lake came alive in blue; it was a painting made most skillfully and beautifully.

On this early September morning, Victoria was the first to wake. It was a habit she had obtained over the years as she enjoyed the silence of the first hours. Unusual was having to tiptoe all the way to the bathroom since she had to be careful not to wake the other students still being sound asleep. Her father usually got up even before her and Victoria had the mansion all to herself. She had always taken advantage of that, rising slowly, occupying the bathroom ridiculously long and having breakfast for an hour while reading a book or occasionally the Daily Prophet.