𝐀 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 ║Tom Riddle ✔ [EDITING]

Chapter Eighty-Nine: Stressing over Coffee

I sit in the Great Hall... sipping on a cup of black coffee.

I couldn't sleep a wink last night.

That vision had scarred me for life.

I didn't want this power anymore. The Hufflepuff cup could take it back.

"Why are you up so early?" Pan's voice breaks my line of thought, as she takes the seat in front of me.

She takes one look at me and gives me a tentative look. "Nightmares?" She asks, eyeing the black under eye bags I was currently rocking.

"You have no idea Lovegood." I sigh, resting my chin on my palms.

"Want to talk about it?" She asks and I give her a look.

"Do you really want to hear my sob story this early in the morning?" I force myself to chuckle, making her shrug.

"You don't have to if you don't want to Val." She smiles kindly and I shake my head.

"It hurts too much." I admit and her eyes soften.

"I can only imagine sweetie." She sighs and gazes at the clock.

"Dippet?" I ask and she nods, sighing again.

"He needs help with paperwork. The Ministry is coming down to recheck our barriers. Two attacks barely within a week... they're getting concerned."

"They should've been concerned after the first attack." I grumble, being petty.

"You're right. This is some class A bullshite." She agrees and I give her an industrious look, making her grin.

"What? I can swear too." She chuckles and then points at me. "Val. Get some sleep. Go ask Slughorn for something to help. It's four am for crying out loud." She muses and I nod slowly.

"That'll be a good idea. Is he awake though?" I ask and she shrugs. "Doesn't hurt to try." She says and then waves at me, walking away.

I stare at the mug in front of me. The coffee kept refilling again and again.... and yet I kept drinking. Maybe if I drank enough caffeine, I'd overdose and die.

"Valentine I think that's enough coffee for you young one," Albus was sitting in front of me and he takes away my cup.

"W-why....?" I mutter, stuttering. I was so hyper. "It takes the pain away." I whimper and he shakes his head.

"No. Enough." And the mug disappears in seconds, with a wave of his hand.

"I've heard of alcohol numbing problems.....never coffee." He gives me a sad smile.

"Unfortunately Hogwarts' supply of alcohol is running low at the moment." I grumble.

"For good reason I hope."