A Puppet on a String-(Tom Riddle x OC)

Chapter 7

As she exited the classroom, she swiftly recalled the steps to get to her transfiguration classroom. She managed to get there right before she was late, and saw a familiar face at the front of the class. She had heard Dumbledore was a transfiguration teacher so she felt a bit more comfortable in this class.

"Ah yes miss Cliodna I had heard you were in this class, lets have you sit..." He stalled looking around the room for an open seat, "Ah next to Mr Allen." Reese made eye contact with the boy she had met on the train, he smiled at her when they made eye contact and she made her way over to the table.

"Well, nice to see you again, I'm happy we have a class together," He said sweetly, unlike many of the other boys she had met so far at Hogwarts, Blake gave off a warm energy.

"I'm happy I didn't have to sit next to someone I knew, introducing myself over and over is getting kind of old," she chuckled.

"Oh trust me, you don't have to introduce yourself, when a new pretty girl transfers in the middle of the year word gets around pretty fast," Blake stated calmly.

"Great well that's very relieving thank you for that Blake," Reese nervously said, she hated the idea of people knowing who she was, she wasn't the latest drama of the school or the next girl to pick off, she just wanted to blend in.

"Well hello class! I hope your breaks were nice." Dumbledore started breaking off her thoughts.

"Since our last semester just ended I am going to give you a nice transition into this semester by doing a fun project. For the next two weeks you are going to work to transfigure an object I assign you into a living being of your choice. I want to see some creativity here so don't disappoint me! You will be working with your table partner and this will mainly be an out of class assignment since we must continue learning our curriculum in class." Blake looked over at her and smiled. It was kind of him to be so welcoming to her even though he had other friends. Maybe making a few acquaintances wouldn't be so bad.

"For the rest of class I will give you your item, and then you can discuss what you would like to transfigure it into." Dumbledore said finally, then walked around the class to give out objects from a bag. By the time he reached our table, Blake did the honors to reach into the bag and pull out our object. When his hand came out, he was holding a bottle full of mixed Italian seasoning. A very interesting choice.

"Well this is going to be interesting to transfigure," Blake said, "we can have fun with it though!

"Yes, one of our more odd objects in the bag Mr. Allen, since you just came here Reese i'm sure Blake will guide you into our course since he is a great student to be partners with. I am excited to see what you do with this project." Dumbledore stated before leaving.

The class was about to end so Blake decided he would take the seasoning.

"Do you want to meet tonight to brainstorm what we are going to do with our project?" Blake said, standing up. Reese remembered her plans for tonight, deciding against meeting him until she explored her surroundings,

"Well I am still getting settled into the castle, maybe tomorrow?" she offered, hoping to not seem too dismissive.

"Sure, whatever works for you? What class do you have next?" Blake said. Wow he is quite the socialite Reese thought,

"Oh I have charms next, what about you?" She was slowly packing her bags, waiting for the class to be over.

"I have that too! Want to walk with me and my friends?" He offered.

"Sure!" Reese stated. She was really blowing this whole incognito persona.

They approached a group waiting by the doors, most of which in red robes, one of which in green, being one of the only two Slytherin in that class.

"Hey guys, this is Reese. I met her on the train yesterday." Blake explained to his friends, even though she was sure based on what Blake said earlier that they already knew him.

His friends went around saying their names, two boys, Logan and Finley, one girl Annie, who seemed attached by the hip to Logan, and finally the Slytherin named jack.

"Well it is nice to meet you all, I hope we can get closer over the next few months," Reese smiled, even though she was lying pretty intensely, some friends to pass time couldn't be too bad.

They all walked down the halls to their charms class, walking in together and sitting in an open section in the middle of the class. Though Reese didn't know even the surface of the people sitting around her, she had felt more safe and included at this moment than at any other time in her life.