kneel | Tom Riddle

𝟏𝟎

10| A scared lion

"I swear the first time I saw you I hated you immediately," Layla stole one of Seraphina's fries as they sat together in front of the Black Lake, "I felt your judging eyes when I sat on the chair and the Sorting Hat screamed I would be in Gryffindor."

Seraphina laughed, "I did hate you. Until George introduced you to me last week I despised Gryffindors."

Layla gasped, "And why is that?"

"Because you're all like 'Look at me, I'm so brave' and, you know, Gryffindor's are always so full of themselves," Seraphina mocked her new friend's house and she just shook her head with a wide mouth.

"Is that so? Look who's speaking. What about you cunning snakes? You're just exceedingly proud and somehow you think you're particularly gifted," Seraphina gasped dramatically, "Well, let me tell you, Seraphina Vevrain, that you all are nothing more than a bunch of bizarre and arrogant reptiles."

Logically, they were just joking about the situation, since the two girls were already close friends, despite their differences, and they enjoyed making fun of their houses.

"I feel like drowning you in that lake," Seraphina objected, "Maybe you'll be rescued by a handsome mermaid."

"As much as I would enjoy it, I'm looking forward to Hogsmeade on Sunday. I'm going with a friend, but you could always join us and I'm sure she would be okay if you joined us."

Seraphina looked at her friend and gave her a smile, "Thank you for the invitation, but I ought to tell you that I have Slughorn's dinner tomorrow, which means I'm already wasting too much time and I really need to study."

"I bet you had fantastic grades in your O.W.L's last year and the N.E.W.T's are only next year," she pointed out.

Seraphina frowned, "So? I still can't waste my precious time. I need to be the best in every class."

Layla laughed, "Then I suggest you kill Riddle and you don't have to try so hard anymore. He's the best student, isn't he?"

Seraphina narrowed her eyes at her friend's provocation, she hated it when someone said Tom was a better student than her because their grades were always the same. However, Tom was more participative in classes and the professors loved him for being so charming and educated.

"I'm better than him."

Layla snickered, "Sure you are. He's pretty hot, though. I always thought you two were a couple or something because you were always together but then you started dating Leo and I got really confused."

Seraphina ignored the last time and smirked, "Do you have a crush on Tom Riddle? I could fix you two together."

"Are you crazy? I'm scared to be in the same room as him, it's like he has some unseen power to frighten me."

"Oh, aren't you ashamed to be a scared Gryffindor? You're not honoring your house very much, Layla, are you now?" Seraphina tilted her head to the side slyly.

"Oh, shut up."

Seraphina got on her knees excitedly while Layla was still sitting on the ground with raised eyebrows, "I have an idea."

"Well, shit."

The Slytherin girl grinned and clapped excitedly, "I will go to Hogsmeade with you if you'll let me introduce one of my friends."

"Sure, as long as it's not one of your Slytherin friends," she shrugged, "A girl is desperate, but not that desperate."