VALEDICTORIAN, EGO TE PROVOCO // Tom Marvolo Riddle
Impossibly close to donning the title of the most promising and unfathomably gifted protégé Hogwarts has ever laid eyes upon, the wizarding world would be foolish to ignore such an accomplished scholar. Procuring a seat at the grand table alongside every and all great wizards and witches preceding him, his name would maintain a revered longevity surpassing history itself-Tom Riddle is second to none, none but you. He stands as a salutatorian before you; his clever nature and wisdom beyond his years, extensive honors, accolades that sing nothing but his praises, and noble laurels vanish into a vapid nothingness compared to you.
It was less noticeable when the both of you were much younger. Any semblance of academic rivalry was diminished by the fact you were far too sick and weak to even entertain him with faux competition (even if the winner was obvious). Years have passed since then, and the two of you have pursued your own respective aspirations that could not be further apart, all the while just barely preserving your cherished bond. And as Tom worked hard to curate his perfect, idealistic image, and brilliance of unreachable heights, you remained as sick and weak as you once were. And yet, you still best him. Tom cannot escape your shadow, and nothing has changed since your shared youth with the troubled boy. He can continue to excuse it with the fact that you are older than him, one year difference and one year ahead (if only for the sake of his bruised ego), but the truth of the matter is: you've always been better, haven't you?
Valedictorian, I challenge you.
© 2025 emblematicae
