Hierarchy of Need [t.r]

Chapter Three

  When Tom was told they had a new student, his eyebrow quirked upward. They've had a few this past year, due to the war raging all around Europe, but none of them had been sorted into Slytherin. He nodded at Slughorn and plastered on a smile. "Of course, I'll go and retrieve her now." The Potions teacher clapped him on the back as he left and Tom sighed once he was in the hallway.

  That man was insufferable.

  He made his way to the last door in the girls dormitories, and read the engraved 'Seventh Years' before knocking. He got no answer and huffed through his nose. Perhaps she was in the bathroom? Or she wandered off? No, that'd be stupid of her if she didn't know the way around the castle. He knocked again and still got no reply. He tested the door handle and it clicked open. Idiots, they should always lock the door.

  He peaked in slightly and saw a form on one of the beds, their body rising and falling as they breathed. He made his way around the bed and tilted his head to the side as he observed her. She was asleep of course, and had her mouth hanging open. Her hair was golden and sprawled out across the pillow, it was a nice contrast to her pale skin and her cheeks seemed permanently flushed. He stepped back towards the door and cleared his throat as he knocked harder on the wood.

  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. "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.

  He was tall and slender, and his hands were clasped behind his back and his head was tilted to the side. His dark curls fell nicely in place and his eyes were a warm brown but still oddly cold. They looked guarded. His skin was pale and pulled tightly across his high cheekbones. All and all, he was handsome and Delilah blushed slightly. "Right, of course." She hopped off the bed and attempted to pat down her hair as she walked towards him. "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 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 picked up pace slightly as they made their way to the Great Hall. She was nervous she'd fumble over her words but she was an incredible liar. She hoped that would get her through this. "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, something was slightly off. It didn't seem to quite reach his eyes.