Olive was right, the following night at dinner there was an announcement made regarding the events of the day before. According to Headmaster Dippet the students should "be aware but not concerned".Olive rolled her eyes when he was done speaking, "Yeah right! Don't be concerned? Headmaster Dippet gave us like no information regarding Endura."
I nodded in agreement, she was right. It was obvious the staff was trying to brush this under the rug. They made it seem like it was a harmless spell casting mishap, but I think most of the students weren't happy with that explanation.
I glanced down the table and made eye contact with Tom. He looked calm and unbothered. Sometimes it seemed like he didn't have feelings at all. I gave him a wave and a weak smile, but he looked away.
We hadn't had an actual conversation since the night in the astronomy tower, and I couldn't help but think I went too far and pushed him away. With that I decided I would wait until he reached out to me before talking to him, giving him space.
Not far down the table from him sat Selene and Malcolm, along with some of Malcolm's quidditch friends. I couldn't tell if Selene was actively separating herself from me, or actively keeping herself near Malcolm. I decided it was the second option, refusing to believe me and Selene were at that point.
After dinner I headed to the Owlery so I could send a simple 'hello' letter to my parents. They would complain if I waited too long before reaching out to them. Walking through the dark corridors back to my dorm, I bumped into someone familiar.
"Hello Christine.", Malcolm said, stopping in his path to converse with me.
"Um hi, how are you?", I responded politely, checking up and down the hall worried Selene would pop out somewhere.
"I've been doing alright, better now that I've ran into you.", he responded with a smirk.
"Haha very funny.", I said playing it off like a joke.
"Oh come on, you don't need to pretend anymore." he replied.
My smile faded, "Pretend what?"
"I see how you look at me and Selene.", he said.
"I'm sorry," I began correcting him, "I don't mean to be rude, but I think you're reading me very wrong."
He started walking closer to me, forcing me to step back against the wall, leaving me nowhere to escape. "Don't worry, Selene doesn't need to know, it can be our little secret." He placed his hand on the side my face and slid the other around my waist. As he came in closer to me I felt his hair brush across my forehead.
"Please get off of me.", I said sternly, reaching for my wand. He still had the upper hand. While trying to push him away he pressed his lips against mine, my struggle useless.
"Malcolm? Christine?!", I knew that voice better than anyone, it was Selene.
I didn't even need to see the disappointment on her face to feel my heart sink. Malcom quickly pulled away from me and I stumbled slightly.
"How could you?, she exclaimed. "You selfish bitch, to think I considered you my best friend!"
"Please Selene, it's not what it looks like! He came onto me, I swear I would never!", I cried.
"You expect me to believe you? It seemed like you were enjoying yourself plenty fine to me."
She turned to Malcolm, "and you, how could I let you fool me... after all this time.", now she sounded hurt, not angry.
Was she seriously so devastated to lose Malcolm over her best friend? Why did she treat me with anger but not him? Why did he get the disappointment, instead of stinging accusations? Why didn't she believe me? Tears welled up in my eyes, I knew Selene wouldn't forgive me for this.
I zoned out everything she was saying and stumbled down the hall as thoughts rushed through my head. Would I lose Margie and Olive too? What would I do without them? What would I do without Selene? Forget that, Malcom completely violated me!
I don't know how far I got, but eventually I collapsed on a bench in front of a big arched window. After crying for a while I heard footsteps from behind me. Sinking into my seat I hoped that they would pass and leave me alone, but they didn't. I looked up and saw Tom Riddle bathed in moonlight, watching me as tears streamed down my face.
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Weakness (Tom Riddle: Enemies to Lovers)
FanfictionChristine Hale is a Slytherin that comes from a pure blood family, giving her quite the reputation at Hogwarts. In her 5th year she takes interest in a boy, Tom Riddle, after being placed in many classes with him. Overtime their dislike for each oth...