Tom Riddle X Reader | ✓

Part 5 Surroundings | Edited

You glanced over your shoulder, noticing most of the students with their hands stretched in the air.

"But please" - Slughorn added "Answer anyway, just keep that in mind for next questions."

You nodded "Dizziness draught is pretty straight forward with its name. A few drops and the drinker will feel lightheaded and lose balance."

"Yes, very good" - Slughorn answered, clapping his hands together "And today you will all be making one. Fastest brewer will receive 50 points for their house. You have the books beside you, get ready and good luck."

Chatter quickly trailed professor's words, the whole room rumbled with constant movement.

As you reached out to grab gurdyroot, the last one was taken by Malfoy. Everyone else had started on their potions while you lacked ingredients now.
Tom, taking notice of the situation, smiled to himself. He was obviously pleased you were struggling.

Your hand dashed for knotgrass, but Riddle had reached out for it as well and your fingers briefly touched.

As if being struck, you quickly pulled back.

And his eyes looked senseless as he bluntly uttered "Don't flatter yourself."
He split the knotgrass and moved aside for a bigger gap between you two.

At the end of the lesson, Horace demanded for people to pair up. Thankfully, not necessarily with the ones seated next to each other. As soon as the demand for partners was announced, Tom asked Malfoy to be his partner, who agreed.

You, however, not knowing anyone else, asked Lily if you could be her partner. She said that her and Severus have always been working together but you could join in as a trio.

Then the next lesson - transfiguration with Albus Dumbledore followed.

There were four rows in the class, three tables in each. The first row, closest to the teacher's desk, belonged to house Ravenclaw. Second row - Gryffindor. Behind Gryffindor was house Slytherin, leaving Hufflepuff in the last row. Only two students sat by each desk.

You were seated next to a boy named Sirius Black, taking the table on the far right side of the room, next to a wall. You sat on his left.

Tom Riddle was seated in the middle table diagonally behind you. When you glimpsed over your shoulder, you could see his handsome, blank face glaring at his female partner seated next to him.
It seemed like she was trying her best to talk to him, maybe even flirt. She was playing with her hair and widely grinning. Whlist he was smiling at her back, throughout the time she spoke, he did not say a single word back. And when she looked away, his face always dropped to annoyance. What a two faced boy.

Dumbledore was teaching his students how to transfigure a rose into a dagger. Both as sharp as one another. As compelling as the spell was - you were not allowed to behold the transfigured object. You were all forced to revert it back as a test in your skills.
This was new even for you. You felt glad that you could actually learn something from Dumbledore.

"Now, now" - Albus addressed the room once previous spells had been reverted "This is a whole different incantation so observe closely" - Dumbledore's wrist moved sideways and the whole room suddenly turned pitch black as shutters closed tightly and there were no lights anymore, not even a faintest sun ray trying to squeeze in.
Then his hand ascended from the table upwards with his wand clenched tightly; and the smallest light was born on his desk.

It started with a block of wax appearing out of thin air, but as it grew, at the very top, a faint flame illuminated Dumbledore's blue eyes.

Every student attempted to repeat what the professor had showed them and after shortwhile, a few, scattered, fully lit candles faintly sizzled on students desks.

Next to you, Sirius glanced at your freshly conjured candle as he nudged you with his arm "Good job" - he genuinely smiled.

"Thanks" - you smiled back, accidentally locking eyes with him among the flickering light.

Soon enough, finally, lunch begun at 1pm, which meant more free time for you to observe Tom Riddle.