~.+*+.~
(Y/N) tried her best to avoid ever since she had given him that quill. She was flustered as Hell, and she turned the other way whenever she saw Tom coming her way.
Tom had also noticed her odd behaviour, and did everything in his power to try and approach her, but had always failed, making him irritated.
(Y/N) didn't show up at the library to study with him which they usually always did together, and she sat as far away as she could from Tom at class.
She didn't like her own behaviour as she had always wanted to get close to Tom, but she was too embarrassed to say anything to him. As night fell, (Y/N) sneaked into the library for some late night studies. She hoped that Tom wouldn't be here, and settled at a table near the very corner.
She glanced outside and saw hail storming down from the sky. Winter was coming, and so was Christmas.
(Y/N) took her thoughts off of Winter and concentrated on studying. But her eyes were tired and started to close. All (Y/N) could remembed was the sound of crackling fire and the hail banging on the windows of the library.
"!!"
(Y/N) instantly woke up. What time was it? She noticed that the candles that were usually litten up in the library were turned off. She frantically grabbed her books and headed towards the door, only to find out that it was locked.
"Urm...Alohomora!" But nothing came out of her hand. Wait. Hand? Crap. She had left her wand in her dormitory. She was now locked inside the library with no light protecting her from the darkness that threatened to eat her.
As (Y/N) started to panic, she heard footsteps coming from the other side of the door. She immediately ran over to the door to call for help, but realised that it good be a Professor. If she got caught being in the library at this time, she was going to be in big trouble. But the footsteps abruptly disappeared, and (Y/N) hid behind a shelf.
"...Alohomora."
The door of the library swung open, and (Y/N) flinched in both surprise and horror. Was it a Professor? What if she got caught? What if-
"Found you."
A hand clasped (Y/N)'s hand from behind her, making (Y/N) scream in terror. But her scream was muffled, and she tried to bite the person's hand as she squirmed around in their grip.
"Relax. You don't want to get caught by the Professors, do you?"
That voice. It was Tom. As Tom removed his hand from (Y/N)'s mouth, she instantly turned around and stared at him in confusion and shock.
"How did you know I was here? And more importantly, why are you out of the dorms at this time?"
Tom tilted his head. "I could ask you the same." he retorted, scoffing. "And I was expecting more of a 'thank you' than a question."
(Y/N) avoided his rather playful gaze, and looked at the library floor.
"Thanks..I guess.." she murmured, clenching her fists in embarrassment. Tom smirked and beckoned her outside the library with his hand.
"Come on. I will guide you back to the Slytherin common room without getting caught." he said. "Just...don't make any loud sounds, understood?"
(Y/N) nodded, holding her books in her arms. As two walked out of the library, Tom pointed his wand at the broken lock.
"Colloportus."
The broken lock locked itself back up at his words, and Tom looked at the result in satisfaction, before leading the way once again. (Y/N) followed him cautiously as they avoided ghosts and nightguards by stopping at corners, or going into empty classrooms.
It was risky, but it was quite thrilling. They managed to get down to the Slytherin Dungeon, but (Y/N) heard footsteps coming from the other side of the corridor. Without a second thought, she grabbed Tom's wrist and pulled him towards her, making them face each other by a close gap.
A Professor who was patrolling walked past the two students, with one student's face as red as a tomato. Tom blinked in confusion and took one step back, seemingly flustered by her sudden behaviour.
"Urm..L-let's go inside.." (Y/N) stammered after she muttered 'pure blood' to the snake that was guarding the common room. Tom didn't reply and instead followed her into the common room. The two awkwardly stood by each other's side before going up to their dorms without saying a single word.
'AHHHH WHAT DID I DOOO?!??!!'
(Y/N) kicked her blanket as she screamed inside her head in embarrassment. Lumi squawked and flapped her wings as (Y/N) angrily threw a pillow straight at the wall.
'How am I going to face him tomorrow..?!'
~.+The Next Day+.~
(Y/N) kept her distance from Tom as they sat at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall. (Y/N) sat next to Severus who was looking at the Gryffindor table.
She turned to look at what he was looking at, and noticed her Gryffindor friends talking happily, and realised that James was sitting rather close to Lily. She smiled. She was happy for them, but felt quite bad for Severus as she glanced at him.
Severus noticed her gaze and looked away. "Don't be sorry for me." he muttered bitterly. "I don't need your pity."
(Y/N) sighed. "Sorry. But I was just trying to show you that you aren't alone." As Severus glanced at her direction in query.
"You know that we're both in Slytherin. I have friends in Gryffindor, and you do too. But I guess we just naturally grow apart." she explained in a sad and quiet voice. Severus stared at the girl before turning away.
"At least you have a friend here in Slytherin. I don't." With that, Severus left the Great Hall, managing to earn Lily's glance which agitated James.
(Y/N) also managed to earn Tom's glance as she stood up and left the Great Hall in silence.
Usually, she would talk to Tom about her day and what dream she had dreamt about, but today she didn't. And Tom felt unsual about it.
As (Y/N) walked through the corridor after completing her feast, Lily and Molly ran to catch up with her.
"Why did you leave so soon?" Lily asksd as she started to walk beside her with Molly.
"Yeah." Molly piped in, tapping (Y/N)'s shoulder. "Is something wrong?"
(Y/N) shook her head. "Don't worry. It's just...I have a lot to think about."
'And scream about in total embarrassment!' she added in her head.
Lily then exchanged glances with Molly, before they both smirked in amusement.
"Well...someone definitely had something to think about." Molly hummed, giggling. (Y/N) frowned, cleary not understanding what she had just said.
"Come again?" (Y/N) asked.
Lily nodded as she heard Molly speak. "Someone kept staring at you the entire time. He looked like he was in deep thought while doing it~" (Y/N) was confused, but quickly caught up on what was happening.
"Wha-? Tom?!" she exclaimed, dropping the book she was holding in her hands.
Lily and Molly laughed, and clapped each other's hands.
"Looks like someone has a new love interest, no? I've never seen anyone get Riddle's attention like that before!" Lily added. The two Gryffindors then turned around and ran away, both leaving
(Y/N) dumbfounded and staring after them in total shock.
Tom Riddle? Staring at her? Was it because of her totally normal behaviour last night? Or was it because of the quill she had given to him a few days ago?
Whichever it was, she just hoped Tom wouldn't think weird about her. After all, he was just friends with her because of their studies, right? He probably didn't want to lose her because she was a valuable person to get information from.
Yeah. That seemed like the right theory.
~.+Meanwhile with Tom+.~
She left the Great Hall rather quickly today. Perhaps he did something that hit her nerves? Or did she just want to be alone today? Or was it because of her behaviour last night?
A million questions ran about inside Tom's head, as he stared at the food on his plate.
Tom abruptly pulled out his diary and opened it, revealing a quill that was in between the pages. He then started to write in the diary with a rather puzzled expression on his face.
Is it normal for people get abnormal feelings for one who sticks next to them all day?
...
...
Perhaps it was.
~.+*+.~
2023/4/14
1452 Words