I knew the moment I first kissed him, that he would condemn me, that I would drag myself through broken glass for him. I just was not sure if he would stay long enough to pull the jagged pieces out.
I never imagined that instead, he would push the...
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The first time he saw her, he thought she was an angel falling from the sky.
Even through the rich velvet blanket draped over the sky, the stars were still visible. There were lighter patches, clusters of faint and bold light, there also were constellations that altered according to the time of the year. These were the same stars that greeted the ancients, the same ones that would be there in millions of years even after everyone ceased to exist.
Sat under the midnight sky were sleepy Hogwarts students, small telescopes placed in front of them as they gazed at the cluster of stars. Some took Astronomy because of pure interest, and most took it because they detested Muggle Studies and would rather stay up late than sit through a lecture about something they despised.
Tom Riddle was one of those students. He sat near Abraxas Malfoy, one of his fellow Slytherins as he silently looked through the thick lenses of his telescope before carefully noting something down on his parchment. His fellow Slytherin, however, was asleep with his face leaning against his palm and that would surely leave a red mark on his face once he woke up. Tom almost sighed in disappointment.
All was calm for a while until unexpectedly, black clouds sprawled across the sky, hiding the glimmering stars behind them. Livid black clouds reared up like a cobra readying itself for an attack as they started swirling. The wind unleashed and started howling like a hungry wolf. The air grew heavy as the humidity pressed down suffocatingly.
Then suddenly, stillness fell over the Hogwarts grounds, and in the silence came a low crackle of thunder. For a moment, everything stopped. Even the wind held its breath. A streak of hot silver split the sky as it came like a rip in the inky night, crashing to the unsuspecting ground with a thunderous boom that had the students jumping from their spots.
"What in the name of Merlin?" Muttered the Astronomy professor, looking at the sky with a frightened look over her moon-shaped glasses. Tom Riddle himself was confused as he watched the dark sky with furrowed brows. This was not normal by any means. A thunderstorm could not just appear out of nowhere in such a short amount of time. But then, as another bolt of lightning hit the ground, he saw her.
She did not scream as she dropped through the air like a meteor. The harsh wind resisted, trying vainly to fight the unconquerable gravity, pushing against her as she fell like a rocket ready to crash to the earth.
Everyone held their breath as she fell.
Snapping back to his senses, Tom Riddle quickly clutched his wand before standing up. "Aresto Momentum!"
As she was about to hit the ground, the time around her slowed. She was lowered to the wet ground slowly and it wasn't long before whispers broke out amongst the students. The professor snapped out of her trance and she looked ashamed as she glanced back at Tom. She was a professor for Merlin's sake! She was supposed to react quickly in such situations but instead, she stood like a complete idiot while a student took control of the situation.
"Everyone stay here! Tom, with me." She commanded sternly before rushing over to the unconscious girl.
Tom held his breath as he neared her, eyes taking in her features. His curiosity peaked as he wondered how a girl no older than him could conjure a thunderstorm and appear out of thin air on Hogwarts grounds where the protective wards were so strong, Tom was not even sure he could manage to get through them. But this girl had, and Tom was intrigued.
"She is alive." The professor breathed out in relief and wiped at her sweaty brow before glancing back at Tom worriedly. "Would you mind taking her to the Hospital Wing while I alert the Headmaster?" She asked him while putting her palm on her forehead. The woman looked shaken and Tom wondered if she was still thinking about how she had not reacted when the girl was falling. He resisted the urge to sneer at her stupidity.
"Of course." Was his smooth reply before he crouched down and picked the unconscious girl up easily. She was as light as a feather and as Tom carried her further away from the courtyard and into the safety of the castle, he could not help but drop his gaze back to her in order to observe her features once again. She had sharper features than most, yet there was a strange softness to them at the same time. She was dressed in a long dress that seemed to be tailored to fit her perfectly, and Tom could tell by the way his skin brushed against the fabric that the clothing was very expensive. She was undoubtedly beautiful, yet behind the innocent features that Tom couldn't look away from were deep secrets that he wished to uncover.
He pushed the doors open to the Hospital Wing ceremoniously, hearing the click of the shoes of the matron as she rushed towards him as soon as her eyes laid upon the girl in his arms. He placed her gently on an empty bed and stood nearby while the matron rushed to get a few potions.
It was not long before the doors burst open once again, but this time three professors entered the room with panicked faces. They barely acknowledged Tom as they observed the brown-haired girl before whispering amongst each other. Headmaster Dippet said a few more words before silence fell upon the large room and the matron returned as if on cue.
"Madame Poppet, what exactly happened to her?" Dippet asked the woman.
"She is just unconscious and very fatigued, thankfully there are no severe injuries. It might take a few days for her to wake up though." She replied before returning to whatever she was doing.
"Professor, if I may..." Tom started and the three pairs of eyes fell on him as if they only then notticed his presence. "How did she appear out of thin air while conjuring up a storm? Not to mention it would be impossible for her to get through the wards." He asked with his hands clasped at his back, looking at them innocently, as if he was merely curious.
Dippet regarded him for a moment with soft eyes before releasing a heavy sigh. "We do not know yet, m'boy." His gaze switched to the unconscious girl once more. "We are saving those questions to when she wakes up. For now, why don't you go and get some rest?"
Tom nodded his head before politely wishing his Professors goodbye and leaving the Hospital Wing. His head was full of unanswered questions and his intrigue and interest in the mysterious girl grew with the passing second.
When he entered the Slytherin common room, Abraxas Malfoy and Cygnus Black were seated on the velvet couch as if awaiting his return. As soon as they saw him, they sprung out of their seats and approached him.
"Who was she?" Abraxas asked immediately. Black nudged his arm at his urgent tone but Abraxas paid no mind.
"Her identity is unknown for now," Riddle replied. "We shall wait until she wakes up, then I will find out who she is..." He trailed off at the end as if he wanted to add something, but then his eyes flickered to his two 'friends' and shook his head. "You can go ahead, I will stay up reading." He waved his hand in dismissal and they didn't miss a beat before hurrying up the stairs to their dormitories.
Tom sat on the couch, his eyes fixated on the green fire as he brought up his ring-clad fingers to rub at his temple. His eyes landed on his leather notebook and as he opened up a new page to write on, a single word was all that left his lips.
