Leo's back was still leaning against the bookshelf. She didn't know how much time had gone by but she was halfway through the book that she had ' borrowed ' from Tom's huge collection of novels. The fire still crackled in the fireplace, providing warmth to her. The room of requirements was so peaceful that she couldn't help but get absorbed in the book.
Her cheeks were flushed bright red and the nails on her right hand were between her teeth. Her brown eyes were gliding over each sentence in a hurry and every time she came across another scene about the main characters getting a bit too close, she had to suppress her laugh, wondering why Tom would have such an erotic book lying casually on top of his shelf.
Nonetheless, the story was quite interesting and Leo couldn't stop reading for some reason.
She was so engrossed in the book that she failed to notice a certain heir of Slytherin swaggering into the room with a tired look on his face. Leo didn't even hear when his footsteps were growing louder. She was so into the scene that she didn't even sense his tall shadow looming over her like an angel of doom, ready to destroy her existence.
Leo was about to break into another fit of giggles when the book was snatched from her clutches. She stared into the empty air where her book was supposed to be and blinked twice. Tom's shiny school shoes came into her view and she knew that she had been caught.
Slowly, the little head of messy hair lifted up to face Tom who was trying to slip the novel into his school robes discreetly. Once he was done, he glared down at her. His hands were on his hips and his head was tilted to one side making his curly hair fall upon his eyes.
Leo knew this posture very well. She was about to get the lecture of a lifetime.
She carefully lifted herself off the ground. Tom was standing quite close so she had to make sure not to bump her head against his chin. Violence was never the answer, whether intentional or accidental.
"What did I tell you about touching someone else's belonging without asking them?" Tom shook his pointer finger at her in disappointment.
"I'm sorry," Leo tried to act guilty but couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Tom's face looked priceless, "what is so funny? If you are going to apologize, you must feel sorry. I do not need to hear meaningless words. Must I punish you again? I heard that they released a new lava cupcake that is filled with melted chocolate."
Leo's eyes widened as she knew very well what Tom was implying.
She waved her hands around in panic, "I'm sorry. I really am."
When she glanced up at him again and tried to take a step closer, Tom took a step back involuntarily. That was when Leo noticed the change in his demeanour.
Tom looked angry. But that was the only thing familiar about him. He was on the edge. He refused to meet her eyes and every time she looked at him, he avoided her gaze. His perfect student posture was gone and he was fidgeting a bit too much. His body was slacked over and his clothes were wrinkled.
In short, Tom was a mess.
"Tom, are you alright?" Leo asked with concern dripping from her voice
Tom furrowed his eyebrows but didn't speak. He looked at her up and down and narrowed his eyes. Leo stared back at him in confusion. For a while, none of them spoke. Tom continued to stare at her like he was memorising each and every detail on her face. Leo remained still but couldn't help but feel a bit flustered under Tom's gaze.
When she was about to give up and ask him if he had fallen asleep with his eyes open, Tom spoke up, "You are Leo, right?"
Leo opened and closed her mouth like a fish. If she were in any cartoon, there would be crickets chirping everywhere. Her confused expression shifted to a deadpanned look. She crossed her hands over her chest and stared up at Tom, unamused.
"No, I'm Bond. James Bond," Leo said with a straight face.
"What?" Tom asked in panic, "So, you are not Leo?"
Leo rolled her eyes, "Of course I'm Leo! What is wrong with you?"
Tom shook his head, "No, not just Leo. I need to make sure that you are the Leo that I know."
He grabbed Leo's hand before she could ask whether Tom had finally lost it, and started dragging her towards the couch. He placed his hands on her shoulder firmly and urged her to take a seat. He then sat down beside her and face her with his hands still placed on her shoulder.
"Tom, what is going on? Why am I in the room of requirements?" Leo asked, suddenly feeling a bit anxious.
"I will let you know everything. But first, you need to tell me something," Tom explained while searching her eyes for something.
"Yeah, sure. Ask me anything."
"Tell me something that only you and I would know about."
Leo studied the serious look on his face. Whatever she was going to say was important to Tom. What was he trying to prove? Since when did her words matter so much to him. Half of the time, Tom would be busy ignoring her and even call her stupid. Now, he wanted to hear her.
The thought brought a goofy smile to her face. She giggled like an idiot and smacked Tom across his chest. The boy flinched slightly but didn't let go of her.
"Okay, fine. I know that you read erotic novels-"
"Not that!" Tom snapped before letting go of her, "tell me something before the lake incident."
"Okay! Okay fine," Leo raised her hands up in surrender.
Tom was acting very out of character. She wanted to ask why he wanted to know about the lake incident in particular. It was a very sensitive topic for her to speak on. What was she supposed to say? There were a lot of things that had happened before the lake incident.
She glanced at tom to see him looking at her expectantly. Her eyes softened immediately and she felt herself melting under his gaze.
Feeling very confident, she guided Tom's hand back to her shoulder. Tom was taken aback by her sudden gesture but didn't make an attempt to pull his hand away. Leo turned her face away from his to hide the blush on her face. She pursed her lips to bite back a grin and pretended to think deeply about what she was going to say.
There were a lot of things that she knew about Tom. For instance, Tom always liked to wait exactly seven minutes to steep his tea before drinking it. He was strangely particular about that. He always carried a pencil and an easier in the left pocket of his trousers for reasons unknown to Leo. He also had a big stash of almond cookies hidden away in the drawer of his bed in the Slytherin dormitories.
Leo couldn't count the number of times she tried and failed to steal those from him.
One thing that she was sure that only she and Tom knew was an incident that happened back when they were captured by Grindelwald. It wasn't a memory she was fond of but she would remember it till her last breath.
Leo stared up at Tom with eyes full of sadness. She felt his grip going tighter around her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.
"Well, you saved my life once," Leo trailed off.
Tom frowned, "I saved your life a lot of times."
"No. You saved my life when we were in the dungeons back at Grindelwald's place. You had killed two men, right in front of my eyes. If you hadn't done anything that day, I wouldn't be here," Leo mumbled out the last part.
Tom dropped his hands from her shoulder and leaned away, unable to face her any longer.
It wasn't Leo's intention to upset him. She thought that this would make him believe that it was really her and not someone else.
"No- not that I'm angry about it," she stuttered out making Tom glance at her, "I never got to thank you properly. You know, because we had to fight a bunch of wizards and witches and then Grindelwald told me about my father and then I died after confessing my feelings for you- which you rejected-"
Leo cut herself off by shaking her head, "So, thank you, Tom. Thank you for saving me countless times and not complaining about it."
Leo held his gaze and offered him a grateful smile.
Tom's gaze softened as he stared at her. She caught his stare lingering on her mouth for a few seconds longer and wondered whether there was blue frosting smeared on her lips.
She wiped her mouth and offered him a light pat on his nose, trying to ease off the guilt that he felt for no absolute reason.
"You are very strong, Tom. I'm kind of jealous of that but also proud. I know you got my back," Leo puffed her cheeks with a proud look shining on her face.
Tom sighed and nodded, "Thank you, Leo."
Leo nodded back but a little voice at the back of her urged her to make a bold move. Thanking Tom with only words was not enough. Therefore, she quickly leaned closer and placed a light peck on his cheek and moved back to her position all in a matter of seconds.
Tom's eyes widened and Leo could clearly see the blush on his cheeks. Her eyes shone with amusement at his flustered state. It was a rare sight to see. But she didn't tease him about it. Instead, she decided to ask what was going on in the first place.
"So, are you going to explain anything or..." Leo trailed off.
"Right! Of course," Tom breathed out.
Leo couldn't help but chuckle quietly to herself.
"Today, you woke up as evil Leo."
Leo could not help but gasp, "Oh, dear! I did?"
Tom nodded, "I came to discover quite crucial information about this situation."
"I'm gonna die again, aren't I?" Leo sighed.
Tom flicked her forehead, "Do not joke about such things, Leo."
"Okay~. I'm sorry," Leo tried to laugh but stopped herself when Tom gave her a warning glare.
"Leo, there is only so much time left before I lose you forever," Tom said with an edge to his voice.
Leo frowned, "What do you mean? What is going on?"
"I cannot tell you much as I am not sure either. But I will promise you one thing, you are staying with me even if I have to dig a hole and plant you like a tree, you understand?"
Leo raised an eyebrow, "Quite an odd analogy, but yeah, sure. Plant me like a sapling or whatever. But what did the evil Leo tell you? Why can't I remember anything?"
"She lives in your mind, Leo. But soon, it will only be her and this part of you will be gone forever," Tom explained with a strained voice.
"That's not fair," Leo pointed out dumbly.
Tom ignored her statement, "I have a theory on how to bring you back. I just have to test it a few more times."
Leo patted his back proudly, "I knew I could count on you, Tommy boy."
"Very well. You are going to visit Hogsmeade with me, tomorrow," he declared.
"Wait, what? Why? I have plans for tomorrow. I have things to do, places to be."
"You have nothing to do except pull pranks on first years and steal food, Leo," Tom deadpanned.
Leo's figure slumped on the couch as she sighed dramatically, "Fine. I'll go."
She sprang back up with a sheepish smile, "But, you must give me a treat. My company is quite expensive."
Tom stared at her for a while before admitting defeat, "Very well."
Leo clapped happily and a comfortable silence fell between them. They stared at the fire that was blazing in the fireplace. Leo casually flicked her wrist and changed the bright orange of the fire to different colours. None of them spoke of anything until Leo was reminded of the certain book once again.
"So, about the novel-"
Tom snapped his head towards the girl to find her giving him a teasing look.
"No, Leo, we are not having this conversation."
Leo grew silent once again. Tom went back to staring at the fire but he didn't look as calm as before.
Leo had to head back to the dorms as it was almost past curfew. She glanced at Tom once again with a sheepish grin.
"I don't judge you," she said before breaking into a fit of giggles.
"Leo, shut up."
But Leo didn't. She continued to laugh and roll around the couch until Tom was smiling at her as well.
A/N: A late update. I'm sorry.
I was binge-watching Stranger Things and forgot to write another chapter.
Anyway, I hope you lovely people enjoyed reading this one.