Infatuation - Tom Riddle

Seven

  "Lads, ladies," Corvus greeted the group seated at the Slytherin table. "Halloween is coming up, what do you all say we go on a nice trip to Hogsmead for the weekend?" All Corvus and Abraxas have been talking about since October started was Halloween. Back at Ilvermorny, the students used to dress up, but that was it, no one really did anything fun. Merida was excited, she could already tell her friends had something fun planned.

  "I'd like that, but one question, what's Hogsmead?" Tom scoffed next to the brunette.

  "Sometimes I forget you're American, Christ Merida, you haven't lived if you've never been to Hogsmead!" Abraxas' eyes widened, shocked that she didn't know about the small town, especially Honeyduke's and the Three Broomsticks. Merida just shrugged but she turned to look at Tom.

  "Will you be going?" He raised his eyebrow as Merida looked at him expectantly. Tom gave her a small smirk. "Do you want me to go?" Merida rolled her eyes. He could be quite cheeky at times, she noticed. "I'm just asking to know if I need to mentally prepare myself in case you do. Talking to you is exhausting you know." Tom just smirked again, I just wish I could wipe that grin off his face sometimes... "Well?" Merida asked.

Now it was Oliver's turn to join the conversation. "Tom never comes with us to Hogsmead trips." This raised a question mark in Merida's mind. She knew the boy was reserved but she didn't realize he never went out with his friends. Just from Abraxas' description of the shops and treats alone made her eager to visit the town, was Tom just boring? No that can't be the case, he was quiet but no one could deny the boy had charisma. "Perhaps I'll go this one time. If Waters is so keen on having me there." He decided if the American was going, he should too, after all, his goal was to figure her out. He placed his final decision on that thought, however the unfamiliar feeling from before was still latched onto his chest. He felt unusual, but he didn't show it. Tom never was one to get jealous, after all he had everything he needed at Hogwarts, he was a superior among his peers and even the professors loved him, however with Merida there now, he started to feel strange, as if something wasn't quite right. So, to hell with staying at the school, he'd go to Hogsmead to keep an eye on the girl.

Unbeknownst to him, Merida also had her reasons for wanting Tom there. She figured she'd get to know him more, he may be pretentious but she was drawn to him in a strange way, she could tell there was depth to him. Not only that, last night her, Tilda, and Annalise were talking about the Slytherin boys when she found out from Parkinson that Tom had never had a proper girlfriend. He was known among the female students for his blunt and rather rude rejections whenever girls would approach him romantically. Merida smirked and nodded at the boy before returning to her previous conversation at the table, she always liked a challenge.

  "Merida, please tell me you brought some nicer clothes." Tilda was rummaging through Merida's closet, looking for something pleasant the girl could wear for their little trip. Merida just shrugged. "I was rather happy with the clothes I brought with me." The blonde looked at Merida with wide eyes, lifting up a black dress coat, "This looks like something you'd wear at a funeral love, not a pub." Merida giggled. She missed being able to relax and have fun. Her last few months at Ilvermorny were filled with tears, people constantly avoiding her, teachers acting as if she wasn't even there in her classes. She liked the new attention she was getting at Hogwarts, it was a nice change.

"Okay well," Merida got up and quickly pulled out a white dress coat with tulle underneath, "how about this?" Tilda sighed, "I guess that'll do."

"Finally!" Corvus shot up from his seat as the girls entered the main common area. "We've been waiting for ages." Abraxas smiled when he saw Merida enter the room, "My my, you look wonderful!" The girl just blushed and looked down at her shoes. Abraxas really was her closest friend there and she was glad to have his company. Of course, with his perfect timing, Tom Riddle had to ruin the sweet moment.

"Are we all done here, I'd like to get a drink before nightfall." Merida rolled her eyes, mentally giving him the finger as they walked out of the dungeons. Tom stood behind her and occasionally joined in conversation with her and Abraxas, but she couldn't help but notice the side glances the two boys would give each other when they thought she wasn't looking. Rather odd, but she wasn't going to dwell on it, after all, Corvus had gotten her excited when he mentioned he was going to make her try something called butterbear, and that was all that was on her mind for now.