Love [Tomione]

Prologue

One particular morning in 1946, young Tom Marvolo Riddle was organising a collection of cursed rings Mr Burkes had set upon him.

He murmurs in his mind, plastering a sticker wandlessly onto the panel: Warning: do not touch. Rings of Diana to-date have killed 17 of its muggle owners.

That day had been boring, a copy of every other hour spent in the shop of cursed objects. Eight people had come that day. Two old hags. A few scraggly wizards, the model depiction of a Knockturn Alley dweller. Tom could not wait to be back in his own apartment and getting to his urgent research work with a puff and whiskey.

Suddenly, the door hits against the familiar chimes. His attention diverts. It's someone. A woman. She walks in. He could sense her magic. It's... alluring.

He breaths in.

Well, hello there.

Who are you?

Tom thought to himself, as he watches the girl peer through a glass cabinet. His eyes gazed at her.

That skirt. He thinks, keeping a blank expression on his face. His palms brush roughly against the wooden surface of the shelf. You like a bit of attention, don't you?

She saunters through the shop, unknowing of the pair of eyes and feet following her.

Based on your lack of stockings, you are a young woman, attempting your phase into womanhood by going against societal dress codes.

He bites his lip.

Your head moves. Your bushy curls sway.

You look at the leering masks on the wall. From Greece . Just acquired them from Mr Willisby, two days ago.Your eyes seem to narrow at them as if to confront their attention. Their leers seem to deepen at your presence.

Then your neck snaps to the far right. Your attention is absorbed in titles. Their moleskins to fur-bind covers entice you.

Tom cocked his head, a small smile forming. Now. Hmm...you're not the standard bibliophile. Hunting for tirelessly vanilla books by Bathilda Bagshot. You like THE TIDE: GUIDE TO UNRAVELLING THE DARK ARTS. Those dainty fingers scuffing against a rune book:POTIUS FRUCTUM DEDUCERE EX SEXUS.

He fought back a laugh. Based on your book choices, you consider yourself intelligent amongst your peers. You like to explore the vastness of the magical world. You don't judge. You read everything that you come upon. Be it text or human.

Who will you buy?

" Hello." You murmur your first word to me.

Tom finds the girl staring at him.

Your eyes are large, brown with specks of gold in them.

A gentle grin she wears.

Pink. Plump. Perfect.

" Do you work here?"

" Guilty. Can I help you find something, Miss?" Tom gives her one of his charming smiles. Smiles he had crafted. One of his tricks.

She was oblivious, unaffected by the meaning behind the shape of those flawless lips.

" Henry Diggins's 1st edition magical oddities."

" It's a good choice." Tom grins.

The girl smiles, letting out a small laugh.

" Come with me." He motions her through a couple of towering shelves.