Tom Riddle - Light in Darkness

Chapter 36 - Aftermath

If there was a word to describe the morning, it would be: ow. Charms class was usually one of my favorites—Professor Flitwick was brilliant and always managed to make things engaging. But today, I couldn't focus on anything except the hard, unrelenting wooden bench beneath me. I squirmed. Shifted. Sat a little to the side. No use. My entire ass still ached with a slow, burning throb. Not from a fall. Not from Quidditch. But from Tom Riddle's particular brand of... discipline. Merlin, why did I challenge him like that?

I bit my lip, adjusting again as discreetly as possible, trying not to make it obvious that every minor movement sent a reminder of last night shooting up my spine. But I wasn't exactly subtle—and unfortunately for me, I sat between Avery and Abraxas Malfoy. Both of whom, as it turned out, were far too observant for their own good. „Everything alright, Darling?" Abraxas' voice was all smooth, arrogant silk. „You've been wiggling around like you're hiding a Niffler under your robes." I froze mid-squirm. Avery snorted beside me, „Maybe she's just had a long night." I turned my head slowly to glare at them both, cheeks burning with heat, „I'm fine." But that smug, knowing look on Abraxas' face told me he wasn't done yet. „Funny. You're usually so poised," he mused, casually flipping a page in his textbook, „You wouldn't happen to be... sore, would you?" My eyes widened, „You—! How do you even know?!" Avery chuckles and glance at me, „Oh we heard last night. We heard you screaming down to the common room." Malfoy smirked, „No judgment. Riddle always struck me as the possessive type." My cheeks flush in a deep shade of red. At that exact moment, I dared to glance forward—and found Tom. Sitting ahead of us, elegantly relaxed, but with that damned smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He didn't even turn around—he didn't have to. He was listening. Every word. He knew.

I crossed my arms and sank lower into my seat, willing myself to vanish into the floor. „I hate you all," I muttered under my breath. „Oh come on," Rosier chimed from the row in front, twisting slightly in his seat to catch my eye. „I think it's adorable. The perfect Slytherin couple. Love, manipulation, and physical consequences." „Shut up, Evan!" He grinned and winked. Dolohov was silent, of course, but even he was fighting a ghost of a smirk. Lestrange looked half-asleep, but when Nott elbowed him and whispered something, he burst into laughter. Lovely. I wanted to die. Right there. On the spot. But then I felt it—magic so subtle only I would notice. A brush against my mind. A warmth that ran down my spine. Tom. A whisper in my thoughts. „You started it, little Dove." I clenched my jaw, biting down a smile. Damn him. Damn his voice. Damn his smirk. Damn his stupidly perfect hands. „Just you wait, Riddle," I murmured under my breath, sitting back up straight with as much dignity as I could muster. Abraxas gave me a side-eye smirk, „Plotting revenge already?" „Wouldn't you like to know?" He just chuckled. Charms class went on. And I survived it—barely. But one thing was certain.

The moment Professor Flitwick dismissed us, I practically launched out of my seat with a sharp, audible sigh of relief. „Merlin's beard..." I muttered under my breath, stretching my back and discreetly rubbing my sore backside through my robes. Big mistake. Avery caught it immediately, „Oh, she's rubbing it now," he announced with a grin. „Must've been a hell of a night, Mason." I groaned, half in pain, half in embarrassment, „Do you ever shut up?" „No fun in that," Abraxas drawled, sauntering beside me as we filed out of the classroom. „You practically limped out of your seat. Very dramatic. Ten points for style." „More like ten points off your dignity," Rosier added, chuckling. „You're all children," I mumbled, moving toward Tom, who—of course—was waiting just outside, leaning against the corridor wall like some dark prince straight out of a cursed fairytale. Tall, poised, unreadable. And smirking.

I narrowed my eyes at him, but my feet carried me to him without a second thought. He didn't even say anything—just offered his arm like the smug bastard he was. I slid my hand into the crook of his elbow anyway, clinging to him as we walked. „You look tired," he said, voice calm and velvety. „You made me tired." A low chuckle, „And sore, apparently." I glared at him, but he didn't even have the decency to look guilty, „You have no shame, do you?" „I warned you, didn't I?" His eyes glinted with amusement. „Test my patience, and I'll respond accordingly. You only got what you wanted." „You're impossible." „And you're reckless," he whispered near my ear. „Which is exactly why we work." My cheeks flushed as we walked down the corridor. I was painfully aware of the boys behind us, whispering, snickering, watching. „Merlin," Lestrange groaned dramatically behind us. „She's walking like a baby deer. All wobbly legs and everything." The others laughed. Even Dolohov cracked a grin, which was truly saying something. I stopped in my tracks and turned halfway, glaring at them. „Say one more word, Lestrange, and I'll hex you into next year." He held up his hands, „I'm just appreciating the afterglow! No need to hex me." „You're lucky I'm too sore to chase you down." „Exactly," he winked. Tom's hand slid from my elbow to my lower back down to my ass—right on the sore spot, the sadist—and he leaned in. „You do realize they're going to talk about this for weeks, don't you?" „I hate you." „No, you don't." I looked up at him, still flushed and scowling—and yet, still holding his arm like my life depended on it. Damn him and his smug face. Damn me for loving it. „They're going to regret teasing me," I mumbled darkly. He tilted his head slightly, „Revenge, is it?" „Oh yes," I said sweetly. „No one humiliates me and gets away with it." Abraxas, walking just a little behind us, chimed in, „Can't wait to see what you come up with, Mason. Do let me know if I should prepare my will." I smirked, „You definitely should." The teasing continued all the way to Transfiguration, but I didn't mind as much. I was sore, yes, embarrassed, definitely—but also... content.