Hierarchy of Need [REWRITTEN]

Chapter Three

Idiots, they should always lock the door. Who knows what could happen?

He peered in slightly and saw a form on one of the beds, her body rising and falling as she breathed. Making his way around the bed he titled his head to the side as he observed her.

She was asleep of course, and had her mouth hanging open. Her hair was a dark golden and sprawled out across the pillow in a mess. She looked like hell. Cheeks sunken in as if from fatigue and her skin looked sallow as dark purple moons hung beneath her eyes.

Tom stepped back a bit and knocked sharply on the wood of her nightstand.

She shot up, blinking the sleep from her eyes.

Tom eyed her wand in amusement as she had it in her hand, ready to fire a spell and pointed right at his chest. "I'm sorry to intrude but, Slughorn sent me to fetch you for dinner."

Delilah shook her head slightly to calm her dizzy mind as her eyes turned towards the polite voice. Her breath hitched once they landed on Tom, blinking up at him like a child caught on Christmas.

He was tall and slender, and his hands were clasped behind his back and his head was tilted to the side as he stared at her down his nose. His dark curls fell nicely in place and his eyes were a warm brown but still oddly cold. They looked empty. His skin was pale and pulled tightly across his cheekbones, giving him a sharp and almost dangerous appearance.

All and all, he was handsome and Delilah blushed. "Right, of course." She hopped off the bed and attempted to pat down her hair as she turned towards him. He was even taller than she first thought, standing at what looked to be six foot three.

"I assume you're Tom, then?" She held out a hand and he eyed it for a second. Strange. He smiled politely and shook her hand, it was oddly cold.

"Tom Riddle, the Head Boy. You are? I'm afraid Slughorn was so excited he forgot to mention it."

She smiled at him but something began to nudge at the back of her head. His name sounded familiar but she couldn't place it. "Delilah Pontmercy." He nodded and gestured for her to walk in front of him.

As they made their way out of the common room, Tom eyed her over. Her attire was different to say the least. They were good quality robes, so he assumed she wasn't issued a uniform yet. Although, he caught sight of her shoes and his eyebrows furrowed. They were a bright red and the word 'Converse' could be read on a white circle on the inside of her ankle. Peculiar.

"If you don't mind me asking, where are you from?" Tom could never ignore his curiosity. Usually he wouldn't care, but she didn't exactly sound foreign, so he wondered why she wasn't at Hogwarts already.

"Well, I'm from here. Technically. But my parents sent me to school in France. Beauxbatons."

Tom raised a brow in polite interest. Delilah's heartbeat skipped a few times as they made their way to the Great Hall. She was nervous she'd fumble over her words, hoping to god she was an incredible liar.

"Really? Why not Hogwarts?"

She wanted to ask him why he was so interested but bit her tongue. He was just being polite and was making conversation.

"They don't exactly agree with the teaching system here, problems with the Ministry I presume. I don't know why, every time I bring it up they get prissy."

Tom hummed and looked at her, plastering on his charming smile so many people fell for. Delilah wasn't prepared in the slightest to see it. His teeth were perfect and it really wasn't fair. His pink lips pulled up but, almost too sweet to the point where it felt wrong.