In Horace Slughorn's defence, he couldn't have known that all this would happen. All he had wanted to do was play match-maker between his two favourite students, Tom Riddle and Artemis Potter.
...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
-------------------> BEFORE ARTEMIS POTTER COULD APPROACH TOM RIDDLE, she was carried out by the crowd of proud, cheering Ravenclaws into their Common Room where a huge party was held.
The next day saw the already sleep-lacking Ravenclaws even more tired and clutching their heads in pain as they dragged their feet to the first class of the day which happened to be potions.
Tom Riddle was seated primly already when Artemis plopped beside him.
He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes before beginning to speak. "Since I upheld my end of the deal, it's only fair that you do so as well. I was thinking-"
"Ssshhh," Artemis whispered, placing her finger on his lips. "Don't think and don't move." She scooted closer to him before placing her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes blissfully. "The party went on until five in the morning nonstop. I'm too sleepy for anything right now. I'll teach you whatever you want later, but only if you are my pillow for now." She explained, adjusting her body in a more comfortable position.
"That wasn't part of the deal," he said pointedly, not exactly objecting her proclamation.
"Well, now it is," Artemis muttered as sleep slowly descended on her. "Wake me up if Professor Slughorn is looking." She said some more words after that, but most of them were incoherent.
Tom Riddle just rolled his eyes at her actions before continuing to read his book normally. But he couldn't restrict the small smile that graced his face upon seeing hers.
A few minutes later, Professor Horace Slughorn jovially entered the room.
"Good morning, everybody!" He said cheerfully in his usual loud voice. "Today's topic is quite interesting if I do say so myself, for we will be-"
"-Please talk softer sir," Roman cut in with a pleading tone and his eyes shut tight, still nursing a major hangover just like every other eagle above the age of fourteen.
Professor Slughorn frowned at his statement, eyebrows furrowed. "And why must I do that, Mr Rhys?"
"Uh-" Roman began, eyes frantically shifting before it landed on one of his best friends. "Artemis!" he blurted out, pointing a finger at her. "Artemis would like to answer that question, Professor!"
Professor Slughorn's eyes moved to the first row where Artemis Potter had her head placed on a slightly uncomfortable Tom Riddle's shoulder and was cuddled into him, eyes shut and seemingly asleep. His heart almost cooed at that sight and he tried very hard to suppress the smile that was threatening to break out.
"Miss Potter?"
Tom lightly shook her. "Artemis? Professor Slughorn is asking you a question." He whispered.
"Shut up talking pillow," Artemis mumbled into his shoulders before adjusting herself into leaning on him more.
A pink hue worked its way onto his cheeks as the eyes of all his classmates and a Professor was fixed on to their sight. He shook her again, a little harder this time.
