RIDDLES PROPERTY

chapter 19

As Tom reached the platform 9 and 3/4, he hesitated. Leaving campus after the incident only to return a day later would seem suspicious. The only issue was that he couldn't stay with Emelia, for his own good. He then turned away from the train station and made his way over to the muggle restaurant, iHop. It was only day three of their 6 day break.

"Hello, what would you like?" said the girl coming over to take Tom's order. He didn't recognize too much on the menu.

"I'm not buying much, but can I please get a black coffee?" he asked.

"Cold or hot?"

He considered his options for a moment.

"Cold."

The girl smiled and went back towards the kitchen. She couldn't have been more than 16, around Tom's age. He got comfortable in his seat and the waitress came back with his order. He wondered how cold coffee would taste. Of course, like coffee, but it was...cold.

"Let me know if you'd like anything else. Thank you." she said.

He nodded. As he took his first sip someone came in. Tom looked at the door as it rang open. He stopped and choked on his drink. It was that Weasley boy. Tom tried to hide himself by putting his hand up to his face and looking the other way, but the ginger had already seen him.

"Oi! You're Emelia's...friend, right?" he asked.

"I suppose so...and you're the bloke who was flirting with her in the great dining hall?" he retorted.

"No, but I am her uh...well it's complicated. If you see her, let her know I'm looking for her. We have things to discuss."

Tom nodded. He realized he didn't even get his name, but by then the tall boy was headed out. He took a sip of his coffee and swallowed. It tasted more bitter than how hot coffee would taste, but he didn't mind.

'I wonder who he thinks he is. Strutting around, demanding for Emelia as if she's his property.' he thought.

The worker came back around for the check and had "accidentally" spilt his coffee on his jeans. She grabbed for napkins and tried to clean it up by touching him in those areas. He grabbed her neck and pushed her away.

"Get away from me, mud blood." he said.

She apologized and scurried away, back behind the counter, before he even paid. While she was a muggle, she understood the word "mud blood" must've meant something derogatory. Thank god, Tom's pants were clack and not grey. That'd look odd. He walked back out towards the street and decided to go to the hotel. He knew he didn't have to, but the ginger had given him a good reason to.

Tom took a cab to the hotel where he walked to her room. The door was unlocked.

'Silly girl' he thought.

As he opened the door he saw her in the bed. She was fast asleep with her legs sprawled across the bed. He walked near her and took his wand out. She'd changed into a bikini and sweatpants so he assumed she was going to go to the pool. Her back was exposed and if he untied her top it'd fall off. He could easily just kill her right there.

Tom had to stop.

His intrusive thoughts were getting even worse as time went on.

'There's no harm in carving your name into her back.' he thought.

He took his wand and muttered, "incendio minima". A small tattoo didn't hurt anyone. Slowly, he carved out the first three letters, T-O-M. She shifted and opened her eyes, drowsily before she realized what he was doing.

"What the hell."

He put away his wand and looked at her.

"Good morning."

She didn't reply, but just looked at what he'd done.

"Y'know, a tall ginger bloke came up to me today while I was at a restaurant and he told me he was looking for you. Said to see him, as soon as possible, or something of that sort. Any idea who he is?"

She nodded her head, slowly. He wanted to talk to her, that was bad news. She couldn't see him.

He was Olive's ex boyfriend and no matter how much she hated Olive it just seemed rude. Of course, they'd been broken up, but...the recollection of that night came to her head. He was there for her, but they were both drunk. She shook off the thoughts.

"Emelia, who? What's his name?" he demanded.

"Fred, why?"

Tom clenched his jaw and went near Emelia. His hand lifted her jaw up to have her look up at him. Slowly, his thumb went inside her mouth and she allowed it to. He then threw her head away, almost like a slap in the face.

Riddle had realized that when she said Freddie that night, she was referring to the ginger.

"For such a pretty face, you make it so hard to like you." he said.

"I know." she said in a hoarse voice.

He grabbed a hoodie and tossed it over to her.

"Stop acting like a tramp and put on some clothes. We're going out."

Emelia obediently put on the hoodie and followed him. Her back hurt from the fire and she could feel the engraving when she touched it.

"I'm not yours, you can't mark me like that." she whispered to him when they apparated to a random pub.

"Of course I can," he said while laughing, "You are mine. You are my possession, my property, if I may. My name is on your back."

"Why are we here?" she asked.

"You'll see. Take a seat and don't move." he said as they walked inside.