𝜗。　Vespera　꜆ @vampzv - Tumblr Blog

Jan 18, 2025

The Girl who Shattered Time.

Tom Riddle x Reader-long slow burn fic-requested

Warnings; Tom Riddle, single mention of suicidal thoughts/implication, shit ton of Fluff, angst. Happy ending. Rivals to lovers, no smut.

77 pages. 26,278 words. i am...very happy with how this turned out. enjoy!!!

Wind whipped in her hair, tossing her about as the broken time turner flew from her grasp-sending her off somewhere in time, she screamed as she twisted and turned, feeling herself being pushed and pulled through the very fabric of time.

It had been May 2, 1998, the battle of Hogwarts had been in full swing-fire and destruction everywhere, death eaters and dark creatures invading the once pristine grounds of the school.

She’d been fighting some snatchers, and had been blasted back into the DADA classroom-hitting the old desk and it fell with her weight, sending everything clattering to the floor.

“Nowhere to run mudblood.” The main snatcher of the group sneered, the others laughing cruelly, the one in front raising his wand. “Avada-“

Her hand moved and something turned and cracked under her weight, and then it was a whirlwind of magic and-everything in the room. She was lifted off her feet, screaming as everything went to madness, the snatchers disappearing from her sight like ink smearing as she was tossed and turned. She looked at her hand-seeing a cracked time turner, but it soon flew from her grip from how out of balance she was.

She screamed again and then she hit the floor, groaning as her body flared with pain from where she landed on her side and back. Her vision swam as she opened her eyes, her brows furrowed as she took in the thankfully familiar sight of the DADA classroom but it…looked different. It wasn’t…decorated how it was supposed to be. Things of course were strewn everywhere due to the chaos that just happened.

It took her only a moment to realize she’d been flung through time, the broken time turner sending her…somewhere in the past or future, she didn’t know yet. She still lay on the floor, her ears still ringing as her head pulsed with pain, her vision still swimming as she tried to regain her bearings.

Her eyes flicked to the office door as it clicked open and she saw an unfamiliar face-obscured by light and her motion sickness, rushing towards her. Unconsciousness took her before she could even see who the professor was.

She woke up in the familiar bright natural light of the hospital wing, whenever she was-the hospital wing sure didn’t change. She blinked and slowly sat up, the itchy fabric of the blanket falling from her shoulders she looked around, her blurry vision clearing as she rubbed her eyes.

“Finally awake I see,” she heard a friendly voice of an older witch and she turned, seeing, definitely not Madame Pomfrey, walking around the medical bed. The older witch, maybe in her late 50s, was in the same uniform (y/n) had gotten used to, but her hair was in that v-line bun style the working women of the late 40s wore during World War 2.

“Yeah-sorry for crashing in,” (y/n) said, her voice croaky as she was handed a glass of water and she greedily gulped it down. The older witch hummed, waving her wand in front of (y/n)’s eyes to check for any brain injuries and found nothing. Another wave confirmed no other bodily harm-though there was a cut on (y/n)’s hand that was already healed up and scarred over.

Magic was awesome.

“Well, miss…” the medical witch gave (y/n) a glance and (y/n) said her first and last name. “(y/n), now how exactly did you end up in the defense room? Out of thin air?”

“I crashed into the desk, time turner broke under my hand,” (y/n) explained simply and the medical witch nodded, that was a very simple explanation, and the witch was thankful for it, this would be hopefully easy to remedy.

“I see, if I can ask what year you were in before you were sent to this time?” the medical witch asked and (y/n) told her 1998, the medical witches eyes widening slightly, though she took a second look at (y/n)’s clothes, hairstyle, and realized that made sense.

“I see, well, welcome to 1943 miss (y/n).”

…1943?!?!

(y/n) flattened the skirt of the 1940s-era Hogwarts uniform she’d been given, curling her lip to the side a bit as she looked at the grey-toned blazer and skirt, far different from the black/deep charcoal color of the modern uniform she’d been used to. This uniform was heavy and almost a bit-itchy-being made of heavy cotton and linen, probably due to the war so more comfortable fabrics were less available.

(y/n) looked at herself in the mirror, fixing her hair to cover her left eye a bit more, as she preferred it to be covered due to a gnarly scar there, and usually she got way too many questions about it when it was uncovered so she kept it covered just to avoid all the drama.

She looked down at her skirt again, sighing-she’d begged the headmaster of his era, headmaster Dippet, to wear the pants since that’s what she was more comfortable with, but this era of the school was a bit more… conservative, though the current deputy headmaster, Dumbledore-which it felt so odd to see him so young and alive again-winked at her in that familiar way and she had a feeling she might get an exception from the dress code.

She grabbed the familiar black robe of the Hogwarts uniform and slipped it on, looking at the Hogwarts crest on the left side of the chest area, from what she was gathering, in this era, there was less obvious colors on the uniform, something about ‘encouraging cross house unity’ so instead of the house crest on the robe-it was just the Hogwarts crest, the house colors were instead just on the tie and vest.

Which right now, she was about to be resorted so she could blend in with the other students, as currently-Dumbledore nor Dippet knew exactly how to send her back to her time yet, as the time-turner that sent her here had been broken and lost during her accidental trip.

In the meantime, she’d join the students of this era and try not to cause trouble or change anything that could harm her future.

(y/n) turned as the door of the room she’d changed in was knocked on and after she confirmed she was decent, Dumbledore stuck his head through, his auburn hair a slightly weird sight since she’d gotten so used to his old wizard features.

“All ready?” Dumbledore asked and (y/n) nodded, stepping out of the room and towards the familiar headmaster's desk that had the sorting hat on top of it. She watched as Dumbledore took the sorting hat and put it on her head, the old leather hat coming to life once again.

“Curious, very curious-misplaced through time I see. Hmmm, well, what house were you before?” The hat muttered in its gravelly voice and (y/n) didn’t answer, knowing the hat could read her thoughts anyway. She’d been a Ravenclaw before, which had been fun-she’d made friends with Luna Lovegood her first year as they were both seen as ‘weird’, (y/n) being the roughhousing tomboy and Luna being…Luna.

She hoped Luna was okay back in the 90s, during that war-she hoped Potter would win.

“Mmm, let’s see let’s see, cunning, thinks outside the box, plenty of courage I see, not bad not bad, passionate, kind but not weak-willed, mmmm not one to let others change you, how interesting…I know where to put you-Slytherin!”

(y/n) swallowed a bit harshly, feeling the hat being pulled from her head.

Slytherin.

Well fuck.

As Professor Dumbledore walked her to the great hall, he told her some more information about when exactly she was.

It was early in the school year thankfully, just barely into November, which meant she hadn’t missed too much of their curriculum-she supposed she should be thankful for that-she didn’t have months to catch up on and most likely their basic lesson plans followed the same as her worlds-though much less dark arts and more defense against it since there were no death eaters teaching any classes and no Voldemort pulling the strings.

She shuddered, remembering the class that had been earlier that day-the DA professor, one of those Carrow twins, had made them use the torture curse on first years-thankfully she had never been picked to cast it as some other 6th year had outright said no, resulting in punishment for him and the rest of the class had to watch.

She shook her head to rid herself of that memory, it was no use thinking of it now, even though it made her feel more…resolved, to get back to her time so she could help fight the death eaters probably still invading Hogwarts and destroying it.

She hoped she’d get back home one day.

Dumbledore led her into the great hall, and it was just barely beginning to be filled up with students for dinner, the familiar sight of all the tables and the lights and the enchanted ceiling made her body ease up-it felt like coming home again after being in such a terrifying version of Hogwarts.

“Now, Slytherin table is just over there, and I’ll have one of the prefects guide you around, to make sure you know your way. Perhaps tutor you, if need be,” Dumbledore said and (y/n) nodded, fixing the bang over her left eye as she looked towards the Slytherin dining table, seeing groups of them all sitting down together-no doubt most of them purebloods and half-bloods.

Dumbledore gently gave her a little tap on her shoulder, and she sighed, walking towards the Slytherin table, making her way towards the end where no one was sitting yet and all eyes drew to her.

She knew why-she was a new face, unfamiliar, with hair different than theirs(she’d refused to let anyone touch it to make it more ‘40s’. She liked her hair very much and liked how it was styled to hide her eye.), and probably held herself very differently than how they were used to.

New sudden students always drew attention.

She sat down, crossing her arms on the table-elbows and all, staring up and around the ceiling of the great hall, admiring the night sky above. More students filed in as dinner time grew closer, and she could feel eyes on her as Slytherin students came and sat down. A few sat around her, but she still kept her gaze to herself.

She felt a sudden shiver run up her spine and she turned her head-peeking out from her bangs to see a tall pale boy with dark wavy hair that was styled to perfection, with dark deep eyes and lips in a slight pout. He had a prefect badge on his uniform robe and walked with a purpose, heading straight for a group of boys that sat in the middle of the table, boys she swore she had seen before-or well, maybe their grandchildren that went to school with her for the last 6ish years.

She could pick out a few, like maybe the one with brown hair and beauty marks was Theodore Nott’s grandfather, and she thinks she can see Goyle and Crabb’s grandfathers sitting a few seats down-not really a part of the group of boys but also clearly interested in being a part of it.

The group of boys seem to watch the tall perfect one with high interest, almost looking to him like a leader-none of them take their eyes off him, watching his every move and when he speaks-cockney she hears-they hang onto every word.

She frowns a bit, it almost reminded her of how Draco Malfoy acted with his own group of goons/friends, like Blaise, Theodore Nott, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle-they all followed him around like some sort of leader, even though he was pretty pathetic. She smirked a bit to herself remembering the ferret incident a few years back-that was a super funny day, even though it had been a death eater turning the blonde prat into one.

…yeah no, still funny, honestly even funnier when one considers the connection between the Malfoys and other death eaters.

She felt eyes on her again and she looked up, seeing that tall pale boy looking at her now-his gaze seemingly looking right through her and she felt a slight pressure in the back of her mind and she instantly pulled her occlumency walls up-having learned that just before the school year started to protect herself-and the pressure stopped-the pale boys brows furrowing ever so slightly, so slightly it was nearly impossible to see if one wasn’t watching for the micro-expression.

(y/n)’s gaze turned away from him as the dinner feast appeared on the table and she let the few students around her grab their food first before she began to eat.

She looks around at the many plates that decorate the table and has a short realization that the house elves really just-didn’t change the menu at all, she wonders if they ever had.

Whatever, at least she knows what she’s eating.

She feels someone sit right next to her and she looks, seeing a girl-obviously from Slytherin-staring at her with a smile. She looks nice enough. “Hi, are you new?” the girl asks and (y/n) nods, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

“Uh, yeah,” (y/n) mutters, setting down her fork. The girl smiles, holding out her hand.

“I’m Lucy, Lucy Flint, and you are?” (y/n) smiles back, shaking Lucy’s hand.

“I’m (y/n), (y/n) (l/n),” (y/n) says, hoping Lucy wouldn’t clock her muggle last name, since her father had been muggleborn, her mother half-blood-and she recognized Lucy’s last name, Marcus Flint from her era-a mean, and bit ugly, Slytherin boy who had been quidditch captain until he graduated a few years back.

But Lucy seemed nice, with short bobbed hair that curled at the ends, pretty brown eyes, and a very sweet smile. Marcus couldn’t have been descended from her, must’ve been his great aunt maybe.

“I don’t recognize that last name? im pretty familiar with all wizard families.” Lucy asked and (y/n) lightly hissed through her teeth, giving a shrug.

“Uh, my great grandad was muggleborn, my grandma married into a pureblood family-I forget which one though since my granddad took my mom's name, thought it was-cooler, or something.” (y/n) said/lied, fumbling a bit, hoping that her explanation didn’t sound stupid.

Lucy laughed a bit, shaking her head. “How curious, you say you don’t remember which pureblood family your grandmother married into?” Lucy asked and (y/n) shook her head. Oh she knew exactly which pureblood family her ‘grandma’ had married into, except that was all bullshit and her actual pureblood granddad was probably in the school right now and it would be really stupid of her to try and pass herself off as some distant relative of his when he probably knew every crook and cranny of his family line.

Lucy only hummed and nodded. “All right then-oh, may I ask which school you transferred from? Especially with it nearly being the end of the first term.” Lucy asked and (y/n) came up with another lie.

“Oh uh, I was being homeschooled,” she said plainly, picking at her thumb under the table. She was talking herself into a corner here-she really wished she could just start talking truth soon instead of trying to lie about her family and her background. “My granddad, on the pureblood side, wasn’t a big fan of Hogwarts, something about the-muggleborns, n stuff.” (y/n) said, only half lying now since one of her family members had tried to convince her parents not to let her go to Hogwarts and be homeschooled by him so he could teach her the dark arts.

(y/n) swallowed at the memory of that family member, brushing her bangs over her eye again.

“Ah, my grandfather was the same way, but my father insisted my brother and I attend Hogwarts, social development and connections as he said.” Lucy said with a dismissive wave of her hand, and the casual way she said it made the tightness in (y/n)’s chest ease up and she took a breath, straightening her shoulders out as Lucy continued to talk.

“I’m sure you’ll love it here anyways, while the classes can be quite boring-especially history of magic-Hogwarts has much to offer and the Hogsmeade weekends can be very entertaining.” Lucy rambled on, the tension (y/n) felt since sitting down at the table eased up and she nodded, feeling hopeful for her first friend of the past.

It was sort’ve funny to act like as if she’d never stepped foot in Hogwarts before as Lucy prattled on about the school and everything about it, including the enchanted ceiling, but (y/n) just smiled and nodded, nibbling at a buttered roll as Lucy pointed out the professors and which class they taught.

Dumbledore was the transfiguration professor and head of Gryffindor house, Slughorn was the potions professor and head of Slytherin house, Diggory was the herbology professor and Head of Hufflepuff house, and Vassy was the charms professor(as well as the flying teacher) and head of Ravenclaw hours, and so on and so forth.

(y/n) only knew two of them, Professor Dumbledore and Professor Slughorn, though Dumbledore had passed the year before and Slughorn was once again head of Slytherin house with Snape now being headmaster-well, in her time. Now everything was…normal, the halls weren’t dark, the magic of the castle wasn’t suffocating anymore, and the professors all looked bright and proper.

Hogwarts felt like home again, and (y/n) had a feeling she wasn’t going to mind being in the past all that much.

(y/n) let Lucy begin to drag her up from the table and towards the doors of the great hall, glad to already have a friend who seemed nice, when the voice of Professor Dumbledore caught her attention. “Miss (l/n),” she turned, Lucy turning as well as Dumbledore summoned her forth and (y/n) let out a low sigh, letting go of Lucy’s hand-or well tried, Lucy was now holding her arm-walking up to Dumbledore.

“Yes sir?” (y/n) asked, looking up at the old wizard(though he didn’t look as old as she was used to.) Dumbledore glanced between her and Lucy.

“I see you’ve made a friend already, wonderful. I assume now you won’t need someone to show you around?” Dumbledore asked and (y/n) nodded, Lucy clinging tighter to her arm, as if to claim the ‘honor’ of showing her around.

“No sir, I think Lucy has taken on the job for herself,” (y/n) said, seeing Lucy smiling out of the corner of her eye. Dumbledore nodded.

“Very well, I’ll leave you in her hands. Goodnight you two, sleep well.” Dumbledore said with a nod of his head and (y/n) and Lucy nodded, bidding the professor goodnight as well, Lucy tugging (y/n) out of the great hall, giving a short tour on the way to the Slytherin common room. It was in the lower levels of the castle, near the dungeons and the potions classroom. (y/n) held Lucy’s hand as they walked amongst the crowd to the common room.

Everyone walked up to a solid brick wall, and the prefect at the front-leading the first years-said the password and a snake that had been carved into the floor slid up and formed into an arch that revealed the door to the common room. (y/n) whistled under her breath, blinking a bit, well-that was impressive.

Lucy laughed at her reaction and pulled her into the common room. It was very green, and silver and opulent, with large windows that viewed into the black lake…and had multiple rooms-wow.

“Wow,” (y/n) said under her breath as Lucy pulled her around, showing her every nook and cranny of the common room, eventually pulling her towards the grand set of stairs that led to the door rooms-tugging her up the right staircase and into the halls with all the dorms.

“let's see if we can find yours,” Lucy said, trailing her fingers under the silver plaque on each door-each one having the name of its occupants on it. They passed Lucy’s dorm that she shared with four other girls, until they reached a door that had only one name on it. “(y/n) (l/n), oh how lucky! you get a private room!” Lucy gasped, (y/n) opening the door to step inside.

Wow, she really did get her own room, considering there was only one bed and everything else was pretty standard room décor. Lucy admired the room, looking around-frowning when she didn’t see (y/n)’s trunk for the rest of her clothes.

“Where's your trunk?” Lucy asked, peeking under (y/n)’s bed to look for it. (y/n) shrugged a bit, she didn’t have one-considering she’d come to this time with nothing but her wand and the clothes she had on during the battle.

“Don’t have one…don’t have extra clothes now that I think about it,” (y/n) mumbled, jumping as Lucy gasped and jumped up-grabbing her arms.

“You know what that calls for right?” Lucy asked, her eyes wide as (y/n) blinked, before shaking her head. Lucy grinned, almost crazily. “Shopping spree~”

“Oh-I don’t have any money-“ (y/n) said weakly, her mouth being covered by Lucy as she shushed her.

“Don’t worry about it~ I’ll handle it, besides-I’ve been dying to go shopping at the new store at Hogsmeade.” Lucy said enthusiastically, squeezing (y/n)’s shoulders after releasing her mouth. (y/n) sighed, but nodded with a grateful smile.

“Thanks, Lucy,” (y/n) said softly and Lucy grinned brightly.

“You’re very welcome (y/n)~ oh! Let me introduce you to my friends-and roommates-c’mon!” Lucy said, taking (y/n)’s hand and dragging her back out of her dorm and to Lucy’s dorm, there she met the four girls that made up Lucy’s roommates: Bella Lars, Iridessa Hawthorn, Alice Macnair, and Julia Nettleskip

By curfew, (y/n) had a whole new group of friends, all of them much nicer than she had ever expected.

That night, after learning she didn’t have any roommates and she’d been ‘homeschooled’ before transferring to Hogwarts-all her new friends brought their pillows and blankets into her room and they had a sleepover-Alice, one of her new friends and Lucy’s roommates, letting her borrow some sleepwear since they were the same size and (y/n) didn’t have any sleepwear to begin with.

“Have you ever had voice-changing chocolates before (y/n)?” Bella asked (y/n) as she held out the box to (y/n) who was sitting on the footboard bench at the end of her bed. She nodded, taking one and popping it into her mouth-the chocolate melting on her tongue and her voice changed to make bird noises as the other girls all giggled.

Iridessa was the one who brought all the snacks, (y/n) being told she hoarded candy every Hogsmeade trip ‘just in case’, which meant there were several piles of sweets and snacks to choose from.

(y/n) was having a blast, she couldn’t remember the last time she had this much fun at a sleepover, much less with a group of Slytherins.(especially within the last year)

After a few hours, (y/n) fell into an exhausted but happy sleep, arms clutching her pillow as she relished in the cold of her room-the perfect sleeping temperature. Spread out on the floor, on top of pillows transfigured into mattresses, were her new friends, all sleeping soundly-the night well spent.

The next morning was a slight rush-they’d all slept in since they’d all stayed up late and so-when the clock struck for half past 7-half past breakfast more like it-the group of girls scrambled to wake up and get ready for the day, (y/n) being left in her room alone as she washed her face and put on a fresh uniform, adored in the emerald green of Slytherin instead of the sapphire blue of Ravenclaw. It was a bit odd to see herself in that color, but it didn’t look too bad.

She did her hair-making sure her bangs were over her left eye-hiding the scar, and quickly grabbed her bag and books and rushed out of her room-her arm interlocking with Lucy’s as she and her new friends rushed to the great hall to make the last 20 minutes of breakfast.

They got there with 13 to spare and ate what was left of the breakfast feast, (y/n) wiping syrup from her chin as Lucy grabbed her hand again to drag her to the first class of the day-which was Charms. Lucy quickly led (y/n) to sit next to her, knocking into the tall brooding boy who had been staring at (y/n) the night before at dinner.

“Sorry!” (y/n) rushed out as he stumbled, his dark eyes landing on her again as she stumbled into the seat next to Lucy, taking a breath since they’d made it just in time before the professor strolled in. The boy with dark eyes sat down as well-directly across from (y/n), but (y/n) paid no mind to him, taking out her grade 6 ‘standard book of spells’ from her bag, along with her wand and her notebook.

The professor, Tryphena Vassy, taught charms differently than Professor Flitwick did but it was refreshing to learn charms differently, it helped that she had already learned most of the charms of her 6th year curriculum-well, before she got blasted into the past by a snatcher and a broken time turner.

Still, (y/n) listened and wrote down notes, simply enjoying a calm and proper class after so long. After a bit she looked up from her notes, locking eyes with the dark-eyed boy from earlier-and he was staring back at her, his wand between his thin fingers, slowly spinning his wand around his knuckles-his other hand serving as a chin rest.

(y/n) blinked, glancing away at the professor and then back at the boy, he was still staring at her.

She ignored him the best she could and went back to listening to the professor and taking notes. While she and Lucy left class, she grabbed Lucy’s wrist to pull her close and spoke quietly to her. “Hey Lucy, who’s that?” (y/n) asked, pointing to the dark-eyed boy who had been staring at her in class, who was once again surrounded by a group of pureblood boys.

“Hmm?” Lucy hummed, looking to where (y/n) was pointing, gasping with a dreamy smile. “Oh, that’s Tom Riddle~ one of the Slytherin prefects, rumor is that he’s actually a pureblood, despite being an orphan.” (y/n) frowned a bit, mulling over the name Tom Riddle in her head.

She felt like she should know that name-it was on the tip of her brain-she swore she’d heard that name before, but from where? “Okay?” (y/n) mumbled and Lucy giggled, wrapping her arms around (y/n)’s arm and leading her through the hall to their next shared class.

“He’s a dreamboat, isn't he?” Lucy sighed as they passed by the group of boys, Tom, as she learned the dark-eyed boy’s name was, glanced at the two as they walked past-his eyes locked onto (y/n) before returning his attention to his friends.

“He’s, pleasing to the eye I guess?” (y/n) mumbled, shrugging a bit as Lucy gasped as if those words offended her. “What? I said he’s pleasing to the eye! I didn’t call him ugly!” (y/n) said, defending her lack of attraction to Tom as Lucy huffed, and then laughed, the two continuing down the hall as Tom’s eyes drifted back over to (y/n), keeping his gaze locked on her as she and Lucy walked away.

(y/n) decided she hated Tom Riddle. No-better word-she LOATHED Tom Riddle. He was just such-an asshat!! Ever since she’d caught his eye in charms class, he was constantly one upping her in all their shared classes, especially in potions and defense against eh dark arts, if she tried to answer a question or-even do anything! He had to be mr-correctal and either speak over her or correct what she was doing.

It reminded her of Hermione Granger, who was very well known for being high strung about all her classes and could be quite annoying about anything to do with academics-she remembered Hermione even correcting her once about her wand movements back when she was in 2nd year.

Hermione, however, did all that to at least try to be helpful, even if it was annoying. Tom? Oh, she knew he was doing all this on purpose-doing it just to annoy her, because she swore he wasn’t doing it with anyone else!!

It had only been a week since landing back in 1943 and she loathed Tom Riddle, she needed to kick him down several pegs or she swore to Merlin she was going to implode.

She got the first chance to do it in potions class, they’d all been tasked with making the draught of living death-and lucky for (y/n), she’d already done this class with professor Slughorn in her time, so with the knowledge from that, and having some extra knowledge from a potions ingredient book she bought before her original 6th year started-she got to work.

The class was only an hour long-some of that being spent with Slughorn talking at the start, but now (y/n) and the rest of the students had less than an hour to make a decent attempt at the potion, to which Slughorn had said he expected no one to get a perfect potion.

She glanced up, seeing Tom following the instructions in the advanced potion-making book, trying to cut into the Sopophorous, his lip curling as the bean just bounced around instead of obeying his whims.

(y/n) turned her knife to use the flat side of it, crushing the bean as everyone else struggled to even nick it. Tom must’ve heard her do so because his head snapped up, eyes locked onto her as she crushed the bean and put the juice of it into a small glass bowl to use for later in the potion-getting all her ingredients ready before beginning.

(y/n) looked up, smirking as she caught Tom’s eye, and then continued on with making the potion. Tom’s nose twitched, as did his lip, and he looked back down-turning his knife to crush the bean.

Within the hour, (y/n) would glance up every once in a while, seeing how disastrous everyone else’s potion-making was going. She could see Lucy-whose hair was frizzing at the ends as she stressfully stirred the potion, trying to stop it from boiling over the lip of the cauldron, and Tom-oh Tom.

His hair was a curly mess, and if (y/n) didn’t usually seethe at the sight of him, she would dare say it was cute, because clearly he tried to hide those curls more often than not-with all that hair gel he used.

(y/n) looked back down at her potion as Tom’s eyes flashed up, and he huffed a bit, gritting his teeth as he looked at his potion-and while it wasn’t a bad attempt, it was clear (y/n)’s potion wasn’t fighting her as much as his was.

Tom wiped his nose with his wrist and went back to work.

Soon Slughorn called for everyone to step back from their potions so he could review them, starting with Tom’s of course-(y/n) had quickly learned Tom was practically a golden child in Slughorn’s eyes, with all the praise he gave him, even calling Tom ‘my boy’ a lot, in pretty much every sentence.

“let's see, let's see, ah-of course, Tom my boy, practically perfect.” Slughorn praised and Tom smirked, his head tilting up a bit with pride-his hair now back into its slicked style after he got a moment to do so. Slughorn continued around the room, encouraging those who hadn’t exactly done well with the potion-as it was extremely difficult.

Finally, he reached (y/n)’s worktable and examined the potion, nodding. “Color is correct, and thickness is just right. But let's see,” Slughorn hummed, dropping a leaf into the cauldron and it burned into nothingness almost instantly, making Slughorn gasp-not even Tom’s had made the leaf disappear that quickly! “Merlin’s beard, it's perfect! So perfect I say a drop would kill us all!” Slughorn said, looking back at (y/n) with wide eyes as she smiled with pride.

Her eyes locked with Tom’s, his dark eyes full of shock and almost fury at being upstaged, and (y/n) only smirked back, rolling her head away from him.

Take that sucker. She thought, soon reuniting with Lucy as they walked out of the potions classroom to enjoy their double class for defense against the dark arts. “Flint.” They both paused, turning to see Tom walking towards them, hands behind his back as his robe billowed behind them. “May I take a moment of Ms. (l/n)’s time?” Tom asked and Lucy seemed a little hesitant but when Tom gave her a little smirk she folded like laundry and let (y/n)’s arm go.

(y/n) tried to grab Lucy again but Tom was already grabbing her wrist and dragging her off. “Let go of me-you git!” (y/n) hissed, Tom rolling his eyes, pulling her into an alcove.

“Oh stop, I’m not going to hex you,” Tom huffed, blocking her from leaving by standing in front of her-his arms crossed. (y/n) glared back, rubbing her wrist. “How did you do it?” Tom asked, his expression intense but very curious, leaning towards her. She put her hand on his face-pushing him back-which left him stunned because no one had ever done that before.

“Do what? Oh-show you up? Maybe you’re just not the best at everything as you think you are.” (y/n) said with a huff, putting her hands on her hips as Tom scoffed.

“Please. I’m the top student Hogwarts has seen in decades-not even bloody Dumbledore got where I am in all the classes-now tell me-where did you learn potions like that? You must’ve been cheating-no one else was crushing the beans.” Tom said, pushing her shoulder to make her look at him and she glared.

“I didn’t cheat! how dare you! Just because someone Is better at you at something doesn’t mean they’re unfair at it, I just happened to have gotten a potions textbook about ingredients and the best way to utilize them-it’s not my fault no one else knew to crush the beans instead of cutting them!” (y/n) hissed back, pushing Tom’s shoulder in retaliation.

Tom’s nostrils flared and his jaw clicked. “Perhaps you’re getting too ahead of yourself Ms. (l/n).” Tom hissed, getting in her face, his teeth nearly bared. “I would watch your mouth if I were you.”

“And if I were you-perhaps, I’d stop being a know-it-all cunt!” (y/n) snapped back, Tom gasping and then being shoved back, stumbling into the wall as (y/n) stormed away from the alcove, turning around to flip him off before catching up with Lucy-who had waited for her.

“Oh, it is game on little girl.” Tom growled beneath his breath; his hands clenched at his sides.

Game on indeed.

Tom had never felt so-invigorated before. This feeling, he’d felt it before, but not this strongly, not even towards Dumbledore, who had always made Tom feel on edge the moment he’d come to see Tom at the orphanage before Tom’s first year at Hogwarts.

But this? Oh, this was a breath of fresh air, a thrilling race to his heart-a skip in his step when he battled wits with one (y/n) (l/n). This-loathing-was almost…fun.

“How do you deal with her Tom?” Nott asked as they left transfiguration class-where he and (y/n) had fought for a good seat upon arrival, Tom having lost it because (y/n) had some better muscles on her. She’d boxed him right off the seat, smirking down at him as he fell to the floor-looking up at her shocked, and a bit impressed.

“What he said, she’s a terror!” Avery said, glaring back at (y/n) as she and Lucy walked the other way down the corridor. Tom only hummed with a small shrug, a smirk on his lips.

“Well, such things are sent to try us, make us try to break, to show weakness. I won't allow such things, soon she’ll know her place.” Tom said, his ‘friends’ all nodding to his wise words.

Their rivalry continued, especially during dueling class-the two usually trying to get paired up so they could hex and curse each other to high heaven without getting in trouble. Usually-Tom would take the win since he was quite adept in dueling-but (y/n) soon learned his tricks, how he would slightly show what spell he was about to cast with a step, or a look in his eyes.

That’s when she started winning, blasting him off his feet right when he was about to cast a hex at her-mid word and everything. “Oh my,” Professor Merrythought mumbled under her breath as Tom tumbled off the dueling mat, (y/n) grinning with victory as Tom flipped over himself, his robe fluttering over his head.

“And that’s-10 to 7 now,” (y/n) hummed, bowing to Tom as he flung his robe end back over his head, glaring at (y/n), though he was impressed how she’d learned his tells, before her-no one had beat him in dueling since 3rd year.

“Rotten luck,” Tom grumbled under his breath, accepting her handshake-hissing under his breath as she gripped his hand a little too tight, shaking it a bit as she released it and turned around, heading back into the line of students watching the duels going on in the classroom.

“How's that-making her learn her place-thing going?” Nott asked Tom as they met up in the corridor, Tom staring at (y/n)’s back as she walked the opposite way with her head held high, clearly running off the high of beating him at a duel.

“I’m working on it.” Tom huffed, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he crossed through the garden courtyard, his breath coming out as a slight fog since it was getting colder as winter reared its head. “Unfortunately, she’s stubborn as a mule and resilient as an ox, hard-headed and foolish-nothing I could do could take her down a peg.” Tom grumbled, mostly to himself.

Nott hummed from beside Tom, looking back at (y/n), her friends walking with her, his eyes zeroing in on Alice-someone he knew very well. He glanced back at Tom, smirking to himself. Maybe all the girl needed was a little-push.

(y/n) had never noticed that Alice and Nott knew each other-but she supposed all, or most, purebloods knew each other. But they’d been hanging around each other more often, and that gave (y/n) a weird queasy feeling in her stomach, she did her best to brush it off, since the other girls didn’t seem all too weirded out with Alice hanging out with one of Tom’s friends.

But still, it made her feel like something was off, like she should watch her back-a feeling she hated.

The feeling reached its peak when she and her friends were hanging out in the main courtyard at the front of the castle, sitting at the fountain, waiting for the Hogsmeade carriages to be ready so they could head out for the afternoon. Nott was with them, Alice hugging his arm as he smirked down at her. (y/n) glanced at him every so often, not really trusting his closeness to her-but she wasn’t going to ruin Alice’s fun by asking her to make him go away.

(y/n) turned as the other students hanging out in the courtyard began to head out to the carriages, gasping as she was suddenly shoved and went right into the fountain that had just started to freeze over from the recent cold weather.

Her friends all gasped her name-Alice shoving Nott away to step forward, (y/n) shoving her hand away as she sat up out of the fountain, soaking wet and freezing. She glared at Nott, slicking her hair out of her eyes. There was laughter from the other students, quiet and snickering, Nott the loudest of them all-Alice turned to glare at him, before everyone went quiet as Tom emerged from the school-having seen Nott push Audrey into the fountain, his gaze locked onto her as she pulled her legs in from the fountain edge to stand up.

Nott grinned, expecting some sort of acknowledgment from Tom but Tom paid him no mind-heading right for (y/n), holding out his hand. She looked up at him-he kept his hand out, staring right at her.

He didn’t know why, but he didn’t like seeing her like this.

(y/n) clicked her jaw, taking his hand and he helped her out of the fountain, taking his coat off to set it around her shoulders to keep her warm. “Tom-“ Nott protested-not expecting this move from Tom, so clearly denouncing Nott’s humiliating move against (y/n). Tom gave him a silencing glance, and took (y/n) from around the shoulders, leading her back inside the warm castle.

“Why?” (y/n) asked as soon as they entered the castle, her friends following not too far behind.

“I would prefer to humble you, not humiliate you.” Tom said, so quietly as if he didn’t believe it. He walked her to the Slytherin common room, quietly staring ahead of him-calculating everything in his head.

He’d seen Nott get too close to (y/n), it had made him angry-he didn’t understand why-but he saw him touch her, that’s when he began to move-but then Nott had pushed (y/n) into the fountain and that’s what made him shove through students to get to her.

He didn’t know why he hated seeing (y/n) so…pathetic. He was so used to seeing her so-prideful, strong, unrelenting, so…similar to him, but in her own way.

He hated seeing her look so…hurt.

Tom sighed, catching (y/n)’s attention as she went to hand him his coat back. “It wasn’t my idea, what Nott did.” Tom said, quietly, avoiding her gaze. “Despite our…rivalry, I do not wish to see you harmed, or…humiliated. I…” he swallowed the lump in his throat-a new feeling. “Apologize, for his behavior, I’ll keep him, and any others, in line.” Tom said, looking at (y/n).

She looked, surprised, her eyes widened-then her expression softened in a curious thought.

“Huh.” She mumbled, watching him intently. “Maybe you’re not as bad as I thought,” she said to herself, and then handed over his coat, nodding-his eyes drifting to the scar that went from her forehead down to her cheekbone on the left side of her face. He didn’t mention it, because usually (y/n) had her hair covering that side of her face, a scar she probably didn’t want pointed out.

“Thanks…Tom.” (y/n) said, heading up to her dorm room, her friends all close behind as they entered the common room after letting Tom and (y/n) have their conversation.

Tom took a deep long breath, clutching his coat in his hands, staring down at it.

Maybe this feeling, wasn’t loathing after all.

Of course (y/n) had ended up sick, when one gets pushed into a freezing fountain in the open air, they were bound to get sick. In the morning, Lucy had come to check up on her-as did Alice, with an apology gift for letting Nott get so close-when (y/n) hadn’t woken up for breakfast, finding (y/n) in her bed, sounding congested and miserable.

“Oh (y/n),” Lucy said, walking up to her bedside, seeing (y/n)’s flushed face, putting her hand on her forehead-feeling her high temperature. “c’mon, let's get to you madam Tegner,” Lucy said, her and Alice helping (y/n) out of her bed, putting a fluffy robe around her, before helping (y/n) out of the dorms and up the many stairs to the hospital wing-where the head healer, Madam Tegner, took (y/n) in and got her set up in one of the many medical beds.

“Here you go dear,” Madam Tegner said, giving (y/n) a few potions to help fight the nasty cold she’d gotten. (y/n) let out a small grumble, hardly feeling up to even speak, but she swallowed down the potions and went right back to sleep, her friends bringing down a comfy blanket and one of her fluffy pillows from her room.

She woke up every now and then, vision blurry and throat hurting like hell, coughing up her lungs with every raspy breath. This was probably the sickest she’d been in a long time, enough to where she missed a whole week of classes.

When she regained her senses, long enough to actually look around her little area-she saw get-well cards from her friends and a few gifts on the end of the bed table-one of them from...Nott?? she sat up, moving to sit on her knees as she leaned forward to grab the wrapped gift, looking at the tag.

‘sorry-C.Nott.’ the tag said, (y/n) quirked her lip, Tom must’ve made him apologize properly, merlin knows Nott would’ve never done this out of his own free will. Either way, she unwrapped the gift, finding a pair of well-made winter gloves, white in color.

“Soft,” she murmured under her breath, trying them on. A perfect fit. She took them off, putting them back in the box, reading the get-well cards from her friends and opening the other gifts. One was from Lucy who got her a new winter coat after the original one from lucy-from their shopping spree-had been ruined by the fountain, getting all gross from the ice and mud. The others were from her friends, Alice had gotten her warming chocolates, Bella had gotten her a few sugar quills, Iridessa of course had gotten her crystalized flowers, and Julia had gotten her a cute snowflake necklace that changed shape every minute.

(y/n) smiled, putting on the necklace and eating a warming chocolate, which felt like sipping on a mug of coco by the fire, and turned to lay down again, realizing there was one more thing on her bedside table.

Notes? She tilted her head, sitting up again to grab the stack of papers-they were all in Tom’s handwriting, each meticulously written and sorted, and even double proofread, with small notes in the corners of the pages for which books she’d need for all the classes she’d missed over the week.

(y/n) smiled, she’d said it before, but maybe Tom wasn’t so bad after all.

Madam Tegner soon cleared (y/n) to leave the hospital wing since she was feeling better, and (y/n) took all her things back to her dorm room, tossing her blanket and pillow onto her bed as she dumped her presents and cards onto the lounge chair by the space heater.

She checked the clock, glad to see it was lunch time, so she changed into some fresh clothes, put on a cozy jumper, and headed up to the great hall, unable to help her smile as her friends jumped up to greet her. “(y/n)!” “How are you feeling?” “Are you okay?” “Do you need any water?” “Did you get enough sleep?”

(y/n) laughed gently, sitting down between Lucy and Julia, Lucy clinging to her arm-which (y/n) allowed, since her dominant hand was still available to use. “I'm okay, I feel much better, I had plenty of water, and yes, I had plenty of sleep. Thank you for the cards and bringing my blanket and pillow-it helped.” (y/n) said with a smile and her friends smiled back, Alice apologizing again for letting Nott get so close.

“It's okay Alice, I know you didn’t know his plan; besides, Tom actually made him apologize too, got me a nice pair of gloves.” (y/n) said, sipping at some pumpkin juice as Alice sighed with relief, glad she didn’t lose her friend.

“Really? Tom Riddle made Nott apologize?” Iridessa asked, her brow raised-she was probably the only one other than (y/n) not to ‘fall’ for the glamour of the dark-eyed boy, seeing him as just a fellow student who happened to be good-looking.

“Yeah, he left a whole stack of notes for me too,” (y/n) said, digging into a sandwich from the lunch feast set out on all the house tables. “From every class we share-it was like 10 pounds, very detailed too.” Her friends all glanced at each other, and then back at (y/n). “…what?” (y/n) asked, not knowing why they were staring, looking so...shocked.

“Tom Riddle…wrote notes…for someone other than himself??” Julia said slowly, her brow raising, her voice full of near awe and disbelief.

“…yeah?” (y/n) said, sipping at her pumpkin juice again. Iridessa looked at the other girls and they looked back. “With how you’re all looking at me, I'm going to guess he’s never done that before and I'm somehow special because he did it for me?” (y/n) drawls and her friends nod, Lucy shrugging a bit.

“Well, yeah, he hates letting anyone borrow his notes, usually only offers it for a price, like for a few Sickles.” Bella said, having actually asked Tom for a copy of his notes from a shared class they had-one she’d missed one day, and she knew Tom had the best notes in the class, so she’d asked him, but he only let her have a copy for a few coins. “So, him writing a week’s worth of notes, from multiple classes, for nothing? Is a bit…new.” Bella finished, (y/n) shrugging.

“Perhaps it was his way of apologizing,” (y/n) muttered, not thinking too deeply into it. Her friends all shared a glance-thinking it was much more than a simple ‘apology’ for what Nott had done. But they left it at that, just happy (y/n) was feeling better.

Tom’s notes helped (y/n) a lot more than she thought they would, they practically saved her ass as end of term tests came around, (y/n) flipping through page after page of perfectly written notes to study for hours on end to catch up so she didn’t fail any tests.

So as the week before holiday break came around, and (y/n)’s results came in, she slumped in relief, she passed each and every one of them, all of them having either Exceeds expectations(since, she had been sick for a week and missed a bunch of classes) or outstandings. (y/n) bit her lip in thought, glancing down the table at Tom, who smirked at his test results and slipped them back into the envelope, continuing to eat his dinner.

Ever since she’d gotten better, her and Tom hadn’t…been at each other’s throat as much-in fact, he almost seemed to…try to be pleasant with her. He stopped correcting her in class and didn’t interrupt her when she raised her hand. It was sort’ve…nice.

Even then-it came as quite the shock when-

“Accompany me To Slughorn’s Christmas party?” Tom asked (y/n) as they left potions class, just after Slughorn had announced his yearly Slugclub Christmas party. (y/n) blinked, staring at Tom as he stared back at her, looking calm as ever-but if one looked closer, they would see the twitch of his fingers. He was nervous.

“Uh…” (y/n) mumbled, furrowing her brows in thought. The last time she had gone to a Slugclub party was her 5th year, back in her original time, and it hadn’t really been…good. “I dunno, last couple Christmas parties I went to weren’t really…fun.” (y/n) said awkwardly. Tom cleared his throat, shifting his bookbag as he thought quickly.

“Slughorn’s parties can be dull, but I believe the right company can make anything entertaining.” Tom said smoothly, looking right at her and she felt like she was in some sort of fever dream-because if she didn’t know better, she’d say Tom was flirting with her.

But Tom Riddle didn’t flirt-at least not for real.

But, honestly, Tom wouldn’t be the worst to accompany to a party, perhaps he’d be able to sneak some good drinks while there-since he was Slughorn’s golden boy and all.

“Okay, I’ll go with you. Uh-should we match?” (y/n) asked, tilting her head and Tom nodded.

“Yes. Green, black, and silver; the Slytherin colors. I’ll escort you from the Slytherin common room-ten to.” Tom said, and then he walked off, looking like he was on a mission. (y/n) blinked at his back and licked her teeth, turning as Lucy exited the classroom-giggling about how she’d been asked to Slughorn’s Christmas party by Albertson.

“Tom just asked me to accompany him to it.” (y/n) said, apparently too casually from how Lucy’s jaw dropped. “What?”

“Tom Riddle just asked you out?! How are you not freaking out! Oh, my morgan! we have to get you a dress-c’mon let’s get the girls!” Lucy said rapidly, grabbing (y/n)’s hand and quickly dragging her down the hall-finding her friends and they all freaked out like Lucy did.

“I don’t get why this is such a big deal?” (y/n) said after a while after she’d been pulled into the girl’s dorm, sitting in front of Lucy’s vanity as Juila put different sets of earrings into her ears to match the dresses Bella and Lucy were pulling from Alice’s wardrobe since she and (y/n) were the same size.

“Are you joking? It’s Tom. Riddle. He never asks ANYONE out! Never! Especially to a Slug club party, much less the Christmas party!” Lucy exclaimed, pulling one of the several green dresses from Alice’s wardrobe, some of them in the current muggle fashion of the 1940s, the rest being witch dress robes-all of course the ‘modern’ fashion for young witches.

“To be clear, he asked me to accompany him to the party, not to go with him as a date.” (y/n) said with a sigh, closing her eyes as Iridessa began doing her makeup to see what look would suit her best.

“Oh, come on (y/n), that’s so Tom Riddle talk for ‘please please please go out with me-I’m so in love with you it hurts and if you reject me I couldn’t bare it~!” Lucy acted dramatically, hand on her head and chest and everything, flopping dramatically back onto the nearest bed as (y/n) snorted, the other girls all laughing.

“yeah, I don’t think he was thinking that,” (y/n) chuckled, shaking her head, staying still as Iridessa began to style her hair, putting in hairpins and décor to match which every dress was pulled from Alice’s wardrobe, Lucy and Bella holding them up to (y/n) for her to pick, but none of them really caught (y/n)’s eye. “I don’t think we have to do all this now, the party isn’t for another week and a half, holiday break doesn’t start till next week too.” (y/n) said and Lucy huffed, she and Bella hung the dresses back up-none of them really hit the mark for the Christmas party with Tom anyway.

“(y/n), seriously. Tom Riddle has never shown interest in anyone. Ever. Not for real, but here he is-asking you to ‘accompany him’ to Slughorn’s Christmas party. Slughorn has been gunning for Tom to be with a girl-he hounds him every time he’s seen slightly near anyone of the opposite sex-I mean, why do you think you’ve been partnered together for the last few potion assignments?” Lucy said, putting her hands on her hips. (y/n) rose her brow.

“Because I’m competent and Tom and I work well together, regardless of the rivalry we had for the last two months?” (y/n) said and Lucy huffed, shaking her head.

“No! Because Slughorn’s trying to set you and Tom up! Slughorn loves doing that, I mean-I’m not kidding- it's how my cousin got with her husband because Slughorn kept putting them together for partnered potions.” (y/n) sighed, lifting her hands in surrender.

“Okay okay, I can believe that, it’s…Slughorn, but still! That doesn’t mean Tom likes me, I mean it’s…Tom.” (y/n) said, though now she really wasn’t believing her own argument. Her friends all sighed, glancing at each other.

“Whatever you say (y/n).” Alice chuckled, Iridessa wiping her face free of makeup again. “Whatever you say.” (y/n) rolled her eyes fondly at her friends, even if they could be pushy about the Tom thing, she was glad they were her friends.

“Yeah, yeah-shopping time!” Lucy cheered-grabbing the witch weekly magazine from her pile on her bedside desk-it had been delivered by owl only the day before-so it was the most recent issue with all the recently released dress robes for witches.

(y/n) was crowded by her friends after moving to one of the beds, Lucy laying between her legs with her elbows on (y/n)’s knees, flipping through the pages as the others all crowded around-pointing at all the articles and pictures in the issue.

“Oh! That one! That one would look so good on you (y/n)!” Iridessa said with a gasp, pointing at the dress that was featured on the page. It was a very gorgeous emerald dress robe. There were technically two necklines-one was on the neck which was made of sheer shimmering fabric that went down into flowing sleeves that bunched at the wrists, the 2nd neckline was straight across at the upper chest, with a corset style bodice and a flowing soft tulle skirt with a silver décor separating the hem of the bodice and skirt.

“It would,” (y/n) agreed with Iridessa, taking the magazine to look at the dress closer. It looked amazing-but-wow, expensive. “But I can’t afford it, I barely get a pound of galleons from the school fund for school supplies-how in the hell could I afford this dress?” (y/n) sighed, handing the magazine back to Lucy, she and Alice looked at the price and smiled at each other.

That weekend, the girls went out to Hogsmeade like they did every weekend, going Christmas shopping and-eventually-(y/n) was tugged into the dress shop by Alice and Lucy, her eyes widening as she spotted the dress on display, the girls already asking for one in (y/n)’s size. “Guys-no-c’mon-you don’t have to,” (y/n) tried to decline their far too generous offer but Alice nor Lucy would take no for an answer; Iridessa and Bella pushed (y/n) into a changing room with the dress and Julia handed her some cute black heels.

(y/n) sighed, looking at the dress, it was very gorgeous, that was true-but it was so expensive, and such a high fashion dress-she felt like she would look out of place in it.

She sighed again, undressing from her winter coat and clothes to put the dress and heels on, pulling back the curtain to show it to her friends-who all gasped and squealed.

“Oh, my, merlin! (y/n)!!! you look so good!” Lucy gasped, jumping on her toes, Alice clapping excitedly as Bella’s jaw dropped, Iridessa and Julia fake fainting from the sheer beauty of (y/n).

(y/n) blushed, doing a little twirl as Lucy gestured for it, the girls squealing again. (y/n) looked into the mirror, moving the skirt around and making sure the sleeves fit right. It did look really good on her, she had to admit.

She let Lucy and Alice buy the dress for her-but she did try to stop Julia from buying her jewelry and the shoes-but Iridessa and Bella held her back from stopping her, (y/n) sighing as she accepted her fate of being her friend’s sugar baby.

“You guys are the best, I wish I could pay it back.” (y/n) mumbled, her cheeks flushed as her friends giggled, Lucy kissing her cheek.

“Don’t worry about it (y/n), just give us all the details after your date with Tom and we’ll call it even.” Lucy said and (y/n) sighed, refraining from saying it wasn’t a date.

Holiday break started only a few days later and Christmas was the upcoming Friday. (y/n) had always loved Christmas at Hogwarts, at least before it stopped being celebrated once the death eaters took over, but now she could enjoy it again-admiring all the décor and grandeur Hogwarts and its professors could offer.

Soon-it was the night of Slughorn’s Christmas party, December 20th, the Sunday before Christmas day. (y/n) got ready in her friend's dorm, letting them doll her up and everything. Lucy was getting ready herself, also having a date to the party, while after Iridessa got ready-she did (y/n)’s hair and makeup while (y/n) waited to put on her necklace and earrings, not wanting to mess Iridessa’s work up.

“Wow,” (y/n) muttered to herself, looking at the soft yet elegant makeup and hair style Iridessa had chosen for her. She looked like a storybook princess or something. “I look…”

“Beautiful,” Iridessa said, holding (y/n)’s shoulders as she smiled at her in the mirror. “Riddle won’t know what hit him, I bet he’ll be on his knees by the end of the night.” Iridessa teased, Alice gasping at her double meaning.

“Dessa!” Alice laughed as Iridessa chuckled, waving her fake scolding off.

“Oh, shush were all thinking it,” Iridessa laughed, helping (y/n) to her feet, (y/n) walking to the nearest full body mirror. She looked…for a lack of better word, amazing. The skirt ended at her ankles, allowing for her black heels to be shown along with the silver snake anklet she wore to compliment the silver accent that was around the waist of her dress.

She smiled at herself, turning to grab the clutch bag that Lucy had paired with the dress and she was the first to leave the dorm room-heading down the curving hallway to head back to the main common room, her free hand gently trailing on the metal rail. She entered the sitting room of the common room that was connected to the 1st-6th year dorm rooms, seeing Tom on the other side of the room outside the boy’s dorms.

She stepped into the light and Tom’s eyes locked onto her-ever so slightly widening. He seemed frozen for a moment, his lips parting as she stepped closer to him. It took until she was only a few feet away from him for him to snap out of his stupor, looking at her with his usual expression.

“Well, I believe there will be no competition for best dressed.” Tom said with a smirk, holding out his arm to her like a gentleman would. (y/n) felt her cheeks flush and she rolled her eyes, taking his elbow.

“Alice and Lucy insisted I wear it,” (y/n) said, walking with him through the common room, catching many the eye of Slytherins who had stayed for Christmas, and up the curving stairs to exit. Tom hummed, glancing at her appreciatively again. He was wearing a handsome black dress robe with green accents, complimented with silver rings-probably borrowed from his friends since she’d never seen him wear rings before.

“They have a good eye; I assume you’re keeping that dress?” Tom asked, and (y/n) nodded, she hoped she’d get her friend's money’s worth out of this dress, it was too beautiful not to wear multiple times. “Good. It suits you.” Tom said and (y/n) glanced at him out of the corner of her eye-wondering where this… soft-spoken Tom had come from.

They traveled through Hogwarts till they reached the room where Slughorn was hosting his party in-his actual room being far too small to host a full-fledged Christmas party.

Tom and (y/n) entered, Tom now holding her hand as they opened the door, it was a bit tacky-Slughorn’s taste meshed with Christmas décor. There were plenty of guests already, a mesh of Hogwarts students and adults-who were most likely a part of the Slugclub once upon a time.

“Ah-Tom, my boy!” Tom closed his eyes for a moment before turning to Slughorn with a charming smile.

“Professor Slughorn,” Tom greeted, tensing up only slightly as Slughorn pulled Tom forward for a weird hug, making (y/n) snicker-her hand still being held by Tom which he was squeezing tightly-probably to ground himself.

“Glad you see you make it my boy.” Slughorn said with a beaming grin, his round face already flushed red from champagne. He turned to (y/n), his smile widening. “And I see Ms. (l/n) is accompanying you?”

(y/n) nodded, Tom stepping back next to her, still holding her hand. “Yes sir,” Tom said, and (y/n) thought she could hear…pride in his voice? She gave him a side glance but couldn’t think on it longer because Slughorn was ushering them on either side of him so he could take a picture with them both.

“Perfect, now-go on-enjoy-I’ll be around.” Slughorn said, waving his hands in a general direction before he went to greet more guests as they arrived. (y/n) took a breath, smoothing out her skirt-feeling Tom’s hand wrap around hers again as he guided her towards a server with drinks, taking one for each of them.

“Thanks,” (y/n) murmured, taking a sip of the champagne, looking around the party. She recognized some fellow students, but hardly anyone else other than the professors who had most likely only come out of politeness to Slughorn.

(y/n) looked around again, but found nothing particularly interesting, much like the Slughorn party she’d gone to in her 5th year in her original time.

Tom seemed to share the sentiment that the party was lackluster, his dark eyes gleaming boredly as he looked over the crowd. Barely anything was happening, there were some conversations here and there, some high-class guests were being schmoozed by some opportunistic students and Slughorn, and students-who hadn’t made the Slugclub invite-were acting as waiters, holding trays of horderves and drinks.

Tom sighed softly, sipping at his champagne before setting the glass aside on the window sill behind him, looking over at (y/n), once again admiring the way she’d been dolled up for the party-most likely by her friends since before now, he’d never seen her wear makeup before, or seen her with her hair styled.

He knew (y/n) was what some called a ‘Tomboy’, a girl who acted more like a boy than a girl, but that didn’t take away from her natural beauty and charm. Tom had to admit, even back when they were at each other's throats, he thought she was pretty. The fact that she was able to keep up with him academically-and then surpass him-only made her more attractive.

His gaze turned back to the party as someone turned a gramophone on, soft Christmas music playing through the crowd, encouraging many to begin dancing as it-really was the only thing to do. Tom turned to (y/n), holding out his hand to her as she watched the other guests begin to slow dance. She glanced at him, her brow raising as Tom smirked.

“Shall we?” Tom murmurs, and (y/n) huffs, holding back a smile as she takes his hand, setting down her drink as he leads her out to the dance floor-Slughorn smiling as he watches his two top students begin to dance, Tom’s hand on her waist while she rests her hand on his shoulder.

“Boring so far, isn’t it?” Tom murmured halfway through a song and (y/n) huffed, nodding. “I suppose I’ll have to admit to you, that you were right.” Tom said with a soft chuckle that had (y/n) smirking.

“Right about what?” (y/n) inquired and Tom tilted his head down at her, his eyes gleaming under the slowly moving lights that illuminated the dance floor.

“About Christmas parties not being fun,” Tom chuckled, slowly turning them to follow the music, (y/n) snorted to herself, letting him lead her in the dance.

“Then I guess I’ll have to admit that you were right too,” (y/n) mumbled, Tom tilting his head at her curiously. “That the right company can make anything entertaining.” (y/n) said and Tom smirked, though it seemed more like a bashful smile that he attempted to hide as they continued to dance.

Slughorn attempted to have some games be played but by the time that was happening, many guests had left and Tom and (y/n) were quite bored. “Have a good evening professor, we’ll be turning in.” Tom told Slughorn, who was quite drunk by now, and bid Tom and (y/n) goodnight before bumbling off somewhere else as Tom took (y/n)’s waist to lead her from the party.

It was quiet between the two of them as they walked the corridors back to the Slytherin dorm. They hadn’t spent much time at the party, maybe only two hours, no more than two and a half, and the night was still early since the party started around 6 pm. “I apologize for the lack luster night,” Tom said as they passed by the kitchens, which was quiet now that the house elves had retired for the night.

“Oh, it was fine, not exciting, but fine.” (y/n) said with a shrug, not minding that the party wasn’t some adrenaline pumping bash, besides-somethings had to be boring once in a while to find excitement in other things.

“Will you be staying at Hogwarts for the holiday?” Tom asked next, his eyes locked straight ahead, hiding the twitch of his finger as nerves bubbled in his throat.

“I will be, I don’t exactly have anywhere to go for Christmas.” (y/n) murmured and that made Tom pause, looking at her with a curious gleam in his dark eyes.

“Are you an orphan (y/n)?” Tom asked, his voice softer than it had ever been and (y/n) pursed her lips, unsure of how to answer that. She wasn’t, not really, but she wasn’t in her time anymore and her parents had yet to be even born-her grandfather currently her age.

“In a way yes,” (y/n) murmured, playing with the clasp of her clutch. “My parents aren’t exactly available, even if I wanted to contact them, and I have no other family around I can reach, so in a way I’m an orphan.” (y/n) said softly, unsure if she explained her thought process correctly.

Tom hummed again, walking next to her with his hands behind his back, his gaze locked onto her in deep thought. “So, you have no one to spend Christmas with, correct?” Tom asked and (y/n) gave a slow nod, as she didn’t think any of her friends were staying for the holiday. “…we could…spend it together, as most of the Slytherins are going home for Christmas, I wouldn’t mind the company.”

(y/n) blinked, not expecting the invitation to spend Christmas with him…alone. “Do you not have anyone to spend Christmas with?” (y/n) asked and Tom nodded, looking to the side, his eyes catching onto the painting of a wizarding family.

“I am an orphan as well, my mother died giving birth to me. My father…is a muggle who has no clue I exist.” Tom said quietly, (y/n) knowing this was very…momentous information Tom was telling her. Perhaps information he’d never told anyone else before. She stepped closer to him, this time, she took his hand-squeezing gently.

“I suppose I wouldn’t mind the company either,” (y/n) said softly and Tom looked at her, a quirk at the corner of his lips.

The next day holiday break officially started, with Christmas in only 4 days. Her friends all bid her a happy Christmas and that their gifts would be under the common room tree Christmas morning. “But you’ve guys have already bought me so many things! How can you even think of anything else?” (y/n) laughed, being squeezed by Lucy as the girls prepared to board the Hogwarts express to head back to London for Christmas.

“Because we love you and one can never have enough stuff.” Iridessa said, pinching (y/n)’s cheek and she snorted, smacking her hand away, waving to her friends as they got on the train. “Have a good Christmas (y/n)!”

“Have fun with Tom~!” Alice teased, the girls settling back into their seats as the train moved away from Hogwarts, heading back to Kings Cross Station. (y/n) playfully rolled her eyes, heading back to the school on the carriages and getting back into the castle as quickly as she could, since it was freezing cold outside with a fresh sheet of snow drifting from the sky.

There were younger students, first through third years, all in the courtyards-of all houses-playing in the snow, making forts and throwing snowballs at each other, two little Ravenclaws making snow angles by the tree.

(y/n) stepped into the warmth of the corridors of Hogwarts, heading down towards the Slytherin common room. Christmas was in only four days, and she was going to be spending it with Tom Riddle, a thought that was almost daunting as the day approached.

Should she try to get him a gift? She didn’t know if she had time or even money to do so, with no Hogsmeade trips planned until the weekend. Perhaps she could convince one of the remaining professors to take her.

What would Tom even want for Christmas? He did seem to like material things-from what she noticed. He had a nice quill-probably a Christmas present from past years, and his eyes seemed particularly fixated on shiny things when they were in view, like a fancy pocket watch or a shiny signet ring.

She couldn’t afford things like that, but perhaps she could find something-with only four days to Christmas.

Then again. With what money? She was broke. She sighed, heading up to her dorm room-blinking when she saw a small brown leather bag on her bed, she walked over to it and picked it up-it was heavy. She opened it, jaw dropping. Money. A note accompanied the galleons, knuts, and sickles, it was from Alice.

‘Happy Christmas (y/n)! Don’t go spending it all in one place! Or on one person!’ the note said and (y/n) sighed with a chuckle. How lovely were her friends? She set the note on her bedside table and pocketed the leather bag into her winter coat, heading back out to find a professor that would be willing to take her to Hogsmeade to get a last-minute gift.

Perhaps Slughorn would be easy to convince-considering who her gift was for.

Slughorn had happily taken her down to Hogsmeade, which was always so pretty at this time of year-everything, from the streetlamps to the doorways were all decorated for Christmas.

(y/n) wandered from store to store, looking for a gift for Tom. She didn’t want to get something too extravagant, that would be too weird, but she didn’t want to get something basic-that would be too…insensitive??

Oh, she didn’t know, but she needed to get something that would be worthy of a Christmas gift of two…acquaintances??? Rivals that were also friends now?? She didn’t even know what their relationship was now, but for the last few weeks-ever since the fountain incident, Tom had been…nice.

She sighed, rubbing her face. Think think think, there had to be something good to get Tom. She ventured into a magical antiques store, it almost seemed like a muggle thrift store with how everything was set up in sections.

She wandered the store, going through every aisle and section, making sure to look at everything to make sure she didn’t pass up something perfect.

“Are you looking for anything in particular deary?” the old shop keep asked, she was an old witch; probably in her 100s, with a kind grandma-type demeanor.

(y/n) shrugged a bit, messing with the scarf around her neck. “Not really sure, late Christmas shopping. He’s a fan of antiques I think, I don’t know him super well but we’re spending Christmas together.” (y/n) said and the shopkeeper nodded, pointing towards the back.

“There will be some more valuable antiques in the back, perhaps you may find something appropriate there.” The old witch said and (y/n) thanked her, heading towards the back in hopes of finding a gift for Tom.

There were necklaces, rings, vases, books, knives, quills, glass ink pens, all sorts of things. But (y/n)’s eyes landed on a small box that looked like a treasure chest. It was beautiful, with a curled snake as its latch and more snakes lining the rim and hinges, and a snakeskin pattern carved into the wood.

(y/n) smiled, picking up the small chest and bringing it to the front to buy it.

“10 galleons,” the shop keep said and (y/n) nodded, handing over the galleons and the shopkeeper put the chest into a large brown bag wrapped in brown paper and (y/n) took it, going to find Slughorn, who had spent his time at the three broomsticks, and he accompanied her back to Hogwarts.

(y/n) knew her friends had some wrapping paper in their dorm room so she went in there, knowing they wouldn’t mind, and grabbed Iridessa’s wrapping paper and ribbon from under her bed, borrowing Alice’s scissors and Bella’s Sellotape, getting to work on wrapping the chest.

It was a bit of a bitch to wrap a chest, but she didn’t want to try and find a box to put it in nor did she just want to leave it in the bag, but eventually she got the box wrapped, tied with a ribbon, and tagged-ready for Christmas morning.

(y/n) smiled to herself, proud of what she got for Tom and left the gift in her room for the house elves to take on Christmas eve night to put in the common room under the tree.

Christmas Eve was fun, the professors had a party in the great hall for all the remaining students-and it included games and a whole feast(which wasn’t new, considering there was a feast for every meal of the day). The younger students loaded up on sugar, laughing joyfully as they pulled poppers apart and wore the little paper crowns that came with them, eating pudding and looking for the coin in each bite they took-Dumbledore ended up finding the coin at the teacher's table, while a young Weasley Gryffindor found the coin at the house tables.

(y/n) greatly enjoyed herself too, happily watching the younger years have fun on Christmas Eve, playing games and eating sugar to their heart's content. She sipped at some warm cider as she sat at one of the tables, wearing a green paper crown and a plate of mostly eaten Christmas pudding in front of her.

“Better than Slughorn’s party,” Tom commented as he sat next to her, also holding a mug of cider. He was also wearing a paper crown, red in color-which she thought was funny-but his was probably forced onto him by Slughorn, the professor insisting on Tom showing some Christmas spirit.

“It is,” (y/n) chuckled, finishing off her pudding and pushing the plate away-the plate disappearing a moment later, thanks to house-elf magic. “Thankfully we won’t have to deal with their sugar crashes, eh?” (y/n) joked, nodding towards the 1st and 2nd years that were eating sugared plums and apples to their hearts content.

Tom snorted, hiding his smile behind his mug of cider. “Thankful indeed,” he mumbled, raising his brows as the professors, the tipsy ones, began to sing carols while Dumbledore turned up the volume on the gramophone, directing the professors with his wand, (y/n) giggling from beside him as Tom watched, almost bewildered.

He'd never actually attended the Hogwarts Christmas Eve party, not since first year, so seeing his professors act like this was quite a shock. Well, minus Slughorn.

The party went on for a little while longer before all the students were sent up to bed, the younger students who still believed in Father Christmas nearly running over each other to get to bed before Father Christmas arrived at the castle.

“I remember believing in that,” (y/n) said softly, setting down her empty mug and standing up. Tom humming a bit. “Did you ever believe in Father Christmas?” (y/n) asks and Tom shook his head, standing with her.

“Never had a reason to,” Tom said and (y/n) hummed, tilting her head, but unsure how to respond to that-so she didn’t. They walked back together to the Slytherin common room. It was nearly empty-as most of the Slytherin students had gone home for Christmas, maybe only her, Tom, and three others had stayed for the holidays, and those three were already up in their dorms.

“Night Tom, sleep well.” (y/n) said and Tom nodded, returning her words, watching her disappear down the girl's dorm corridor, before turning to head down the corridor towards his dorm.

Christmas morning felt like a childhood Christmas morning. Presents appearing under the three-courtesy of the house elves, warm treats on the coffee table in front of the fire, stockings full of treats and small gifts, and soft music playing from somewhere as (y/n) quietly walked into the main part the Slytherin common, tying her warm robe tightly around her waist, her slippers soft against her feet as she walked towards the fireplace.

It was early, barely 630 am, but early Christmas mornings were the best thing.

(y/n) settled down on one of the loveseats near the fireplace, taking one of the mugs of hot coco that the elves had set out and letting it warm her up, the liquid filling her chest with warmth as she sipped at it, the light of the fire and the Christmas tree gently illuminating the space.

Eventually, the few younger Slytherins who had stayed for Christmas came rushing in, eagerly opening their stockings and presents, and were out by the time Tom came wandering it, wearing his own warm robe, but he wasn’t wearing slippers-just his bare feet padding against the floor as he made his way into the main common room where (y/n) was.

“Happy Christmas,” (y/n) said quietly as not to break the comfortable quiet that had settled in the common room once the younger Slytherins had left to go get dressed and play with their new Christmas gifts.

“Mmm, morning,” Tom mumbled, sitting down on the couch, grabbing a mug of still steaming tea from the coffee table, (y/n) noticing he put quite a bit of sugar and cream in it, (y/n) didn’t mention it, sipping at her hot coco.

Tom settled back into the couch, eyes on the fireplace. He seemed tired still-it reminded her of how her parents would be Christmas morning, when she and her siblings got up way too early for Christmas and her parents would be exhausted from wrapping gifts only a few hours before.

(y/n) decided to take the initiative, getting up from the love seat to grab the still full stockings, the younger Slytherins had already grabbed theirs, but there were still two stockings left-and she handed one to Tom-who seemed surprised.

“I got a stocking?” Tom asked, his brows pinched together as he held the black and green stripped stocking in his hands-it was bulging, he could feel the small treats and gifts within the fabric. (y/n) shrugged, not commenting on the fact that he was surprised he got a stocking.

The two opened their stockings, (y/n) got the usual stocking stuffers she got almost every year-but just a 1940s version of them. Hair ties, a tooth brush, candy canes, chocolates, wand polish, and many other small items suited for a stocking gift.

She looked up, seeing Tom had poured out his stocking onto the couch beside him. She saw chocolates, candy canes, wand polish, a glass pen, a small carving knife, hair gel, a toothbrush, and a small wooden snake that was bendable.

Tom stared at his stocking gifts for a moment, picking up the small wooden snake and moving it between his fingers, fixated on the small toy.

(y/n) got up, grabbing for the first present under the tree. She frowned lightly, noticing the only gift for Tom was from her, so she picked it up and handed it to him. “Happy Christmas Tom,” she said softly, feeling her heart ache just a bit by the way Tom looked at the gift-as if it was the very first time he’d gotten a Christmas gift.

“For me?” Tom asked her, his brows pinched in what seemed like confusion. (y/n) nodded, and Tom took the wrapped gift from her gently, setting it in his lap with a look of confusion, shock, and a bit of awe.

(y/n) grabbed one of her gifts from her friends, the tag saying it was from lucy, sitting back down on the loveseat, undoing the ribbon as Tom quietly opened his gift from her. He gently set the ribbon at his side, and then began to open the wrapping paper-almost trying not to rip it as he turned the gift over in his hands.

He took off the wrapping paper, holding the small chest in his hands, admiring the snake carvings that lined the curves of the chest. His thumb smoothed over the metal snake latch, glancing back at (y/n) as she opened her gift from Alice-a pair of heeled boots; sturdy and fashionable.

“Thank you,” Tom murmured under his breath, and (y/n) turned to smile at him, Tom’s heart feeling as if it was beating out of his chest at the sight of it. He held the chest tightly through the rest of the morning, watching (y/n) open her gifts from her friends-feeling bad he hadn’t gotten her anything.

He wasn’t used to feeling bad for not doing something-unless it was schoolwork.

“I didn’t get you anything, I apologize,” Tom said as (y/n) began to throw out wrapping paper, and she shook her head with a smile.

“I don’t mind, besides-I got plenty of gifts from the girls, one less gift doesn’t disappoint me. I don’t think you expected me to get you a gift anyway, so I wasn’t expecting one in return.” (y/n) said, rambling a bit as she trashed the wrapping paper and sorted her gifts into a pile, smiling back at Tom-which made his ears turn hot.

Reactions like this, for Tom, had been happening for a bit-feeling things he never felt before. Nervous, sometimes anxious, even flustered-all because of her. He’d never really show it, of course not-he was still a very controlled person and hated having his emotions show.

But right now, he was sure he looked like a unicorn in headlights.

After Christmas breakfast in the great hall, with all the professors drinking Christmas punch and wearing funny hats, (y/n) finds a new gift under the tree after getting back to the common room. It’s addressed to her and as she picks it up-she feels the magic interwoven into every part of the wrapping-including the ribbon.

She looks at the tag, it’s from Tom, and she smiles, sitting down by the tree and opening the gift gently. It was a simple black box, and when she opened it, she found a silver snake bracelet inside, with small protection runes carved into the metal on the inside. The metal was interwoven with magic-it was a transfigured gift-not rushed but quickly made with perfection since it was such a last-minute gift.

(y/n) smiled, slipping the snake bracelet onto her left wrist and it magically tightened to fit snugly, and then easily became loose when she went to take it off just to see if she could.

She smiled warmly, getting up from the floor and cleaning up the wrapping paper and ribbon, admiring her new bracelet as she headed back to her dorm.

“Thank you for the bracelet, it’s lovely.” (y/n) said to Tom as she passed by him in the common room, Tom coming in from the library while (y/n) was heading out to go to the Christmas dinner feast. Tom blinked at her and nodded.

“Of course, I’m glad you like it.” Tom said calmly, giving her a small smile in return as (y/n) beamed at him. Something from above caught her attention and Tom looked up as well-the two freezing as mistletoe began to appear. “House elves.” Tom murmured under his breath, preparing to step back to not make anything awkward but he felt a warmth on his cheek-his ears heating up as (y/n) stepped away from him, still smiling, her cheeks warm.

“Happy Christmas Tom,” she said softly, turning on her heel and heading out the common room door to go to Christmas dinner.

“…Happy Christmas (y/n),” Tom murmured after a few solid moments of him standing completely still in shock, his breath still caught in his chest, books held in his arms.

He just got kissed on the cheek…

“That’s so pretty (y/n)!” Julia gasps the night everyone came back to Hogwarts after break ended, just about a week after Christmas day. (y/n) smiled, looking down at the silver snake bracelet on her wrist.

“Thank you, Tom gave it to me,” (y/n) said and her friends’ jaw’s dropped, their eyes wide. “Always the look of surprise when I mention Tom doing something nice.” (y/n) joked, chuckling a bit as Lucy scoots as close as she can-her friends asking for every little detail about anything that happened between her and Tom during Christmas break.

“Not much, we had a nice quiet Christmas morning together, I gave him his gift-he said he was sorry he didn’t have one for me, and then after I came back to the common room after breakfast there was a gift for me under the tree from him. It was a last-minute thing girls, probably a pen or a ring he had transfigured to make it the bracelet. It’s a sweet gift nonetheless I will admit.” (y/n) said, pushing Lucy’s face away from her gently as Lucy squealed in her ear.

(y/n) then remembers the mistletoe. “Oh yeah, I kissed his cheek.” (y/n) says offhandedly and Lucy nearly squeals her ear off. “Ow!”

“Sorry-oh my merlin you kissed his cheek?! How-why? When-how did he react?” Lucy gasped, the other girls leaning in to devour each word (y/n) was about to say, but she only lifted her hands in surrender.

“It was just a kiss on the cheek! There was mistletoe-I think he was even going to step away to not make it awkward but I went for it because-you know, bad luck n stuff.” (y/n) said in her and Tom’s defense so her friends didn’t go ballistic and Lucy groaned, shaking (y/n)’s shoulders.

“(yyyy/nnn) c’moooon! There's so much tension between you two it’s gonna make me pop!” Lucy dramatically said and (y/n) snorted, rolling her eyes.

“What tension?” (y/n) asked and her friends just looked at each other and back at (y/n) with clear expressions of ‘seriously??’ (y/n) shrugged, sighing softly. “There's nothing going on between Tom and I girls, seriously. Just a few weeks ago we were at each other’s throats and now that we’re not you all think there's something there?”

Lucy snorted and Bella smirked. “C’mon (y/n), you know rivalries are just crushes you’re mad about having.” Bella laughed and (y/n) rolled her eyes again.

“He started it to be fair, and no-I don’t have a crush on him. He’s pleasant now but at most-he’s an acquaintance.” (y/n) said firmly and Alice giggled lightly.

“Whatever you say (y/n), but he’s the one who asked you to Slughorn’s party and asked you to have Christmas with him, and he never asks anyone to hang out with him-not even his friends. He prefers being alone.” Alice said and (y/n), again, rolled her eyes.

“Fine fine. Whatever, it doesn’t mean anything’s going to happen.” (y/n) sighed and her friends laughed, but left the topic alone, for now.

January had come and gone and soon it was February, and Valentine’s décor was popping up all over the place. It was much better than the way that one professor-Lockhart she thinks his name was; the DADA professor from her first year-did decorations at the castle. Back then everything was puke pink and hearts everywhere with those dwarfs running around giving sung Valentine’s to everyone.

But the way the professors did it in this era-was nice. The great hall was enchanted to have snow falling from the ceiling with the ceiling looking like a perfect pink sunset sky and there were floating hearts on the window tops. But otherwise Hogwarts was normal, minus all the guys running around as Valentine's day drew closer.

(y/n) wandered through Hogsmeade, only a few days to valentine’s day, watching guys running around buying flowers and chocolates and cards for their girlfriends, or hopefully girlfriends. Her friends were with her, giggling at the way boys were shoving each other to get into honey dukes and trying to get reservations at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.

“Oh, I’d love to go there,” Iridessa sighs, the other girls humming in agreement as (y/n) fake gags, making them laugh. “(y/n)! you don’t like Madam Puddifoot's?” Iridessa asks and (y/n) shakes her head.

“Not my style,” (y/n) chuckles and Alice giggles in agreement, tugging at the winter trousers (y/n) was wearing.

“Can’t argue with you there (y/n), c’mon-let’s see if the boys will let us into Honeydukes,” Alice says, intertwining her arms with (y/n) and Bella as the group of friends walks towards the crowded candy shop.

It’s a week later, only the day before Valentine’s day and (y/n)’s friends are all in the library, studying for upcoming exams when (y/n) storms up to them, looking flushed in the face and nervous. “There you all are-I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” (y/n) gasps, quieting herself as the librarian shushes her.

“What’s wrong?” Bella asks quietly and (y/n) huffs, planting her hands on the table, her cheeks hot.

“Tom just-“ (y/n) takes a huffing breath, glancing back towards the doors of the library where she had just entered. “-just asked me out on a date.” She looks back at her friends and they’re all staring at her wide-eyed, as if they couldn’t believe her.

“No. way.” Lucy gasps, grabbing (y/n)’s hand to tug her down to sit. “How? When?” Lucy prods and (y/n) swallows, her whole face hot and it felt like her heart was in her throat.

“He just-walked up to me a few minutes ago-and-and asked me to go out with him-well he said ‘accompany him tomorrow’. But tomorrow’s Valentine’s day! Theres no way he didn’t mean what I thought he meant.” (y/n) stutters, her friends all scooting close to listen in.

“He definitely asked you out on a date.” Iridessa said, rubbing her hand on (y/n)’s back as she breathed heavily. “If he didn’t, then he’s oblivious as a mountain troll.” (y/n) snorted a bit, rubbing her face.

“What am I even going to wear, I don’t even know where he’s taking me.” (y/n) muttered and her friends gasped, realizing she’d said yes to Tom asking her out.

“I have-just the dress for you.” Alice squealed, taking (y/n)’s hands in her own to pull her up and drag her from the library, her other friends close behind.

What Alice had picked out for (y/n) for her date with Tom was an evening dress, very 1940’s, with long sleeves and the skirt went just below her knees and flared out just a bit-a good dancing dress as well, was what Alice said as (y/n) tried it on.

Now if (y/n) was in her own time again, the 90s, she would’ve worn pants or something, and a nice blouse, but it was the 1940s and there were expectations. And her friends wouldn’t take no for an answer. (y/n) sighed, flattening down the skirt, looking at herself in the mirror. She did look very pretty, with the light makeup Iridessa had put on her and the simple silver jewelry she wore, borrowed from Julia.

She spun the silver snake bracelet around her wrist and left her friends’ dorm room, giving them a smile as they all grinned back-Alice and Lucy giving her two thumbs up each.

(y/n) walked down the girls dorm corridor, entering the common room, seeing Tom waiting on the other side of the room, a jacket over his arm, dressed in dark trousers, a buttoned dark green cardigan, and a button up with a black tie; his hair styled as it usually was, though it looked just a bit messy-like he’d run his hand through it nervously.

He also had flowers, and a small box of chocolates.

He hears her approach and looks up, and she can see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows-his gaze drawing up and down her figure and she fidgets with her bracelet as she steps in front of him.

“You look-“ Tom murmurs, his gaze still examining her, his pupils growing larger against the darkness of his eyes. He clears his throat and hands her the flowers and chocolates, the tips of his ears pink. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you,” (y/n) murmured, taking the flowers, and admiring them. They…they were her favorite; she didn’t remember mentioning her favorite flowers to him? She’d told her friends a week back when they’d been talking about what flowers they’d like to get from a date.

Tom must’ve overheard, since they hadn’t been in private when discussing their favorite flowers.

The fact that he remembered what was possibly a second of overheard conversation made her chest feel warm and her cheeks flush. “I like the flowers, thank you.” (y/n) says, hugging the flowers and Tom’s lip quirks at the corner, it seems real and (y/n) smiles back.

She looks at the chocolates and notices they were all marshmallow caramels, her absolute favorite chocolates. “How did you find a box with only the Scotchmallows?” (y/n) asks Tom, since she herself had never been able to find a box with just that type of chocolate. Tom only smirked and (y/n) shook her head. He had his ways. “Thank you, I will be devouring these.” (y/n) said with a full grin, heading back into her dorm just to leave the flowers and chocolates there and then going back out to Tom, curling her arm around his as he offered it.

Before they left the castle Tom gave her his jacket that he’d been holding and then took her to the Hogsmeade carriages, opening the door for her and holding out his hand to help her inside. “Why thank you,” (y/n) chuckled and Tom smirked, climbing in after her and closing the door.

(y/n) watched the scenery go by as Hogsmeade came closer and she turned to Tom, jolting a bit as she met his eyes-he’d been staring at her. “Hi,” she murmured and Tom chuckled, deep and low and…real that it made her blush a bit.

“Hi,” Tom murmured, smirking, his head resting against his fist-his elbow against the ledge of the carriage window.

(y/n) sighed, pushing down the fluttering in her chest. “So, question,” she began, turning her knees towards Tom, her foot brushing against his-his leg crossed over his knee. His eyes flicked to her foot and then back up to her eyes, his tongue brushing against his bottom lip quickly. “Is this a…date?”

Tom’s eyes widened and he lifted his head from his fist for a moment, staring at her. “You…thought it wasn’t?” he asked, awkwardly-looking almost…scared now. “Are you not interested?” he nearly began to ramble if (y/n) didn’t put her hands over his mouth, silencing him in a way he’d never been before.

“No! I mean-yes, I am-I just…only a few months ago we were at each other’s throats and now you’ve asked me out on a date? I mean-it just feels…sudden to me I suppose.” (y/n) muttered awkwardly, pulling her hands away from Tom’s mouth as he raises his brow at her.

“…I assume this means you did not take us going to Slughorn’s party together as a date either, correct?” Tom drawls and (y/n) feels her cheeks grow hot.

“You meant that to be a date?” (y/n) murmurs and Tom lets out a low chuckle, nodding. “I’m so oblivious.” (y/n) groans, burying her face in her hands.

“I believe I wasn’t obvious enough, I apologize, but, I…did mean that, and this, to be date, if you’re willing.” Tom said, his hand brushing against hers and she pulls her face away from her palms, her cheeks flushed as she looks at him-his eyes were soft, though his expression was calm as ever.

(y/n) swallows, taking his hand.

“I’m willing,”

She heads back down the girl’s dorms corridor, her face flushed and she feels light on her feet as she heads to her room. Her friends are all waiting for her as she enters, Lucy putting the flowers in a vase while Bella and Iridessa were sitting on (y/n)’s bed with popcorn and fizzy drinks, Alice ready with makeup remover and a hairbrush.

“How’d it go?!” Alice was the first to speak, jumping up from her seat on the floor to rush over to (y/n), taking out hair pins and allowing (y/n) to scratch at her slightly sore scalp.

“It went…good, really good.” (y/n) said softly, her cheeks still hot. “He took me to that cozy restaurant just past honeydukes, I forgot the name-“ Lucy’s voice teasingly interrupted just then.

“So, he didn’t take you to madam Puddifoots?” Lucy cooed and (y/n) scrunched her nose in disgust, making her friends burst into laughter.

“No no, thank merlin-I think he has a habit of listening into my conversations because he didn’t even suggest it, just took me right to-uhm-oh! The Pheonix tear, it was really nice-not fancy, but cozy-like a slightly fancier version of the three broomsticks-they had this cheesy artichoke dip that was served in a bread bowl seriously it was so good I’d go back alone just for that,” (y/n) rambled and her friends laughed again, Alice wiping the makeup from (y/n)’s face.

“Back to the date (y/n),” Iridessa teased, handing her one of the chocolates Tom had gifted her earlier. (y/n) nodded, biting into the chocolate-humming at the taste of marshmallow and caramel.

“Okay okay, well-he was a gentleman, he pulled out my chair and everything and opened every door for me,” (y/n) said, beginning to tell her friends about her date with Tom, which was possibly to be the first of many with how well it had gone.

“So, what happened to him being a know-it-all prat?” Julia teased, resting her head on (y/n) shoulder and (y/n) rolled her eyes with a smile.

“Haha, he’s still a know it all, he’s just less of a prat.” (y/n) chuckled, standing up from her bed to take off her dress, changing into some comfy PJ’s and then settling back onto her bed as her friends surrounded her, ready to hear the rest of what happened on the date.

“A handsome prat~?” Lucy cooed and (y/n) shoved her face away, grabbing a handful of popcorn to toss it at her, making Lucy laugh. “Admit it! You think he’s attractive now!”

“Fine fine, I take back ‘he’s aesthetically pleasing’ comment, he is very pretty.” (y/n) dramatically admitted, giggling as Lucy flopped on top of her to shove her back onto her bed, her other friends all laughing as well.

“Go on (y/n)! what happened at the restaurant?” Iridessa asked as Bella opened a fizzy drink, handing it to (y/n).

“Okay okay, so,” (y/n)’s friends huddled close as she began to tell them how the date went, from when Tom had met her just outside the dorms to when he had kissed her hand dropping her back off only a few minutes ago.

He waits for her the next morning, standing at the doorway of the girl’s dorms corridor and (y/n) can’t help her shy smile, brushing her fingers through her hair, making sure her scar is covered. “Good morning,” (y/n) said softly at Tom smiles at her, a warm look she didn’t know he was capable of.

“Good morning, (y/n).” Tom said softly in return, offering his arm and she takes it, looking over her shoulder at her friends who all give her big grins and thumbs up as Tom walks her out of the common room and to the great hall, and she can see him smugly grinning to himself as many stare at the new couple.

Tom makes her sit with him at the table, his friends looking at her with barely hidden…relief? “Finally!” Nott groans, his head hitting the table as the rest bury their faces in their hands or look up to the ceiling as if to thank god.

“Finally?” (y/n) questions Tom, smirking when she saw him look away from her, his ears turning red. “I see I’ve been a discussion in this group.” (y/n) chuckles, resting her elbows on the table as Nott nods, Lestrange groans.

“Non-stop really, I swear-“ Lestrange seemed about to go on a rant about how much Tom talked about her but a swift glare and a toss of a grape right at Lestrange’s forehead quiets him, but not without a snicker from (y/n).

“Cute.” (y/n) murmurs, smirking at Tom as he seems to sink into his seat, his fist hiding his pout. She taps his thigh and his dark eyes flicker to her, she smiles at him.

And he smiles back.

Dating a highly respected prefects comes with its perks, Tom takes her on his patrols through Hogwarts, usually sneaking her into the library and he shows her the restricted section books-books she had only glanced at in all her years at Hogwarts, even after death eaters invaded the school.

Their first kiss is in the restricted section, hiding from the caretaker. Tom pulls her below the table edges of the bookshelves, his long legs stretched out to the other side-feet just barely against the other bookcase.

“Your spider ass legs are gonna get us caught,” (y/n) whispered to him, snickering and he covers her mouth with his cold hand, making her narrow her eyes at him as he shushes her gently.

“We won't if you stop talking.” Tom whispers back, looking over his shoulder to see Mr. Canker-the caretaker of this era-just about to walk by with his lamp, his old grouchy face illuminated by the oil lamp.

(y/n) huffs, smirking. “But where’s the fun in that?” (y/n) whispers back and then Tom looks at her, his eyes narrowed and his jaw clicked. His legs hunch in towards them and her hands land on his knees, guiding his legs around her so they can fit together under the table edge.

(y/n) snickers as Mr. Canker passes by and then Tom’s lips are on hers, silencing her as she breathes in the scent of his cologne, hair gel, and toothpaste-her eyes fluttering shut as his soft lips move against hers.

His knees brush against her sides as his hands hold her face-cupping her jaw gently, fingers just barely in her hair. He pulls away-breathing quickly-she follows him, nearly landing on top of him as her lips chase his.

She likes kissing Tom, he tastes cold and feels warm, his touch lights her skin on fire and makes her feel like she’s taken an ice bath at the same time.

It’s intoxicating.

He feels the same way about her, their lips pressing together like teenagers on firewhiskey-which they are teenagers, but they aren’t drunk, this is something that’s conscious, feverish, real.

His tongue goes against her lip and she lets him in, letting out a soft sound as his tongue invades her mouth-pushing against her tongue and she pushes back, finding herself completely on top of him under the table edge of the bookcase as his thigh slots between hers, bumping her up higher as his hands find her waist.

Her head hits the leg of the table and she bursts into giggles, breaking the kiss and flopping sideways as Tom’s hands grab her tightly, his head snapping up to glare at the table leg that hid them from view. “Shush,” he tells her, his hand covering her mouth as she giggles, tears in her eyes as the top of her head aches momentarily. “(y/n) quiet,” he tells her, though she can hear the amusement in his voice.

He sighs as she continues to giggle and grabs his wand. “Silencio.” Tom commands, his wand pointed at her and she goes silent, still giggling. He tugs her up onto his chest again, legs on either side of his hips and scoots them out from under the bookcase table. He glances around for Mr. Canker and when he finds it clear-tugs her up and out of the restricted section, booking it out of the library without a moment to lose and back to the Slytherin common room.

As soon as they’re inside he lifts the charm and (y/n)’s laughter fills the room and Tom’s senses, and he shakes his head. “Remind me to never make out with you in small spaces,” Tom huffs, leading her over to one of the couches, the fire still roaring, sitting her In his lap.

“So there’s plans to make out with me again eh?” (y/n) teases and Tom rolls his eyes, his head falling back onto the couch, leaving the perfect opportunity for (y/n) to kiss his jaw. Tom lets out a huff, his hands gripping her waist as he pulls her up and closer to him. “Cheeky.” He mutters, their lips connecting again, softer this time-as if to savor the kiss.

The clock chimes from the corner of the room and they pull apart, Tom huffing quietly as he looks at the clock. 2am. “I’m going to bed,” (y/n) says with a yawn and Tom grips her hips for a moment before allowing her to climb off him, taking her hand as she offered it. “Goodnight, Tom.” (y/n) said and he squeezed her hand as she left his side to go to her dorm, his gaze locked onto her until she disappeared into the darkness.

“Goodnight, (y/n).” he murmured, turning on his heel to head down the boy’s dorms corridor till he reached his room, running a hand down his face as he closed his door behind him. “Merlin.” He huffed under his breath, toeing off his uniform shoes and sitting down on his bed, his thumb rubbing hard against his other hands knuckle.

He never expected to feel like this, to feel so-electrified and…alive with someone. To feel giddy when he saw her, or hell-bashful when she teased him. He sighed, flopping back on his bed, his eyes closing as he remembered the feeling of her lips on his less than 30 minutes before.

“Fuck,” he chuckled breathlessly, turning over on his bed to hide his smile in his bedding. He was utterly gone for this girl, plans and ambitions gone with the wind the moment she’d caught his eye so many months ago.

He remembered spotting her at the Slytherin table, all alone-a sudden new student caught many eyes but him? She felt so odd, so different, so…interesting. He’d tried to go into her mind, using his legilimens skill to look into her memories but she so quickly blocked him out that he nearly fell out of his chair, feeling the doors of her occlumency slam in his face.

From then, she’d really captured his interest. He’d watch her during classes-wanting her attention so he’d interrupt her and correct her, quite a childish reaction he would admit. Then began their rivalry and it had been exhilarating, having her full attention, she snap and spit and snarl at him and all he felt like was grinning with victory.

Yes. Pay attention to me, see me, ignore everyone else; he would think, even though he would get angry sometimes, especially that first time she showed him up in potions. He’d been impressed, perhaps smitten, but still he was academic to his core-he wanted her secrets, he wanted to know how she ticked.

So, he’d cornered her and asked her how she’d known how to brew that potion, better than even Slughorn-she just shoved him away, calling him a ‘know it all cunt’. He’d been angry then, but later, he just recalled the way her hands felt against him, how good she smelled, how feisty she really was.

And now, she was his, he’d tasted her lips and felt her against him, had his hands on her waist and her ass against his thighs. He sighed with a smirk. Today had been a good day.

Tom stared at her face with a soft gaze, watching her from his desk as she rested on his bed, her hair pulled out of her face-even her bangs-as she did some Charms homework, using a book to write on. His gaze went to the scar that went from her forehead down to her cheekbone on the left side of her face.

He'd always been curious about it, wondering what happened-if it was an accident or if someone had given her that scar. He stood up from his desk, sitting beside her on the bed, his arm reaching around her to take her quill from her hand.

“Tom?” She mumbled, her eyes blinking away the focus she’d been deep in. “What’re doin’?” She asked, and Tom took her homework, setting it aside with the book she’d been using.

“May I ask a possibly personal question?” Tom asked and (y/n) furrowed her brows at him and then huffed, turning to face him, curling her legs onto the bed.

“Only if I can ask you one back.” She said and Tom huffed with a nod, and then his fingers gently ghosted over her scar, making her freeze up a bit.

“What happened?” he asked, quietly, holding her gaze. (y/n) swallowed harshly, letting out a soft breath, letting him trail the long thin scar with his thumb.

“My…my uncle did it, when I was a little kid, I hardly remember it-i mean, I do but at the same time I don’t…you get what I mean?” (y/n) said, looking up at Tom, with an almost shy gaze and Tom nodded. He understood. “Well, when I was young, my uncle-who is a very…proud blood purist, didn’t like the fact that my grandfather, a pure-blood, had fallen in love with my grandmother, a muggle-born.” (y/n) paused, searching Toms’ gaze for a reaction, he didn’t give her one and she continued.

“He hated my mother for being a half-blood-he hated my grandmother for being muggle-born and he hated my grandfather for being a blood traitor, he and his mother-my grandfathers ex-wife-separated themselves from my family and shunned my grandfather for being a blood traitor and having a ‘half-blood daughter’ when he already had a pureblood son.” (y/n) swallowed, getting to the difficult part of the story.

“My mom fell in love with my dad when she was in school, around my age, he’s a muggle-born, they had me, so I’m half-blood. My uncle returned around this time because my grandfather had died from dragon pox, saw that my mother had married a muggle-born, and had me-he got…angry, enough to kidnap me to try and blackmail my mother, to make her more ‘pureblood’. He was mad-from what I was told-demanding my mother leave my father and marry back into the pureblood family-he was holding me, he had a knife and…he cut me-“

(y/n) mimicked the blade going up her face, she remembered feeling very scared and feeling her face burst into white-hot pain-she remembered screaming. Tom held her face gently yet tightly, his hand tight around hers. “My dad saved me, I don’t remember much after that.” (y/n) said, she remembered waking up in a hospital with her vision half dark because of the bandages. “My uncle got sent off to Azkaban for multiple reasons, but kidnapping me got him arrested finally.”

Tom stared at her for a very long moment, his nostrils flaring with anger at her uncle. She gave him a weak smile, reaching up with her free hand to pat his hand that held her face. “I’m okay now, really, it was a long time ago-he’s dead, died in Azkaban a few years after being sentenced.”

Tom slowly nodded; his eyes dark as he stared at her scar-as if he was trying to erase it from existence so she couldn’t be burdened with that memory anymore.

“your turn,” (y/n) said softly and Tom’s eyes met hers, confused for a moment. “You tell me something personal,” she said and he remembered their deal, having forgotten about it in such a short time with her traumatic story.

Tom sighed, looking up at the ceiling of his bedposts, biting his inner lip. “I…don’t know what love feels like,” he said quietly, looking down at his lap. “I didn’t grow up with it. The caretakers at the orphanage…despise me, I was an odd child, I’ll admit, but apparently, I was too odd for them. Too…creepy, too…intense, I scared the other children-I used my magic, which I didn’t know was magic at the time-to hurt them, to keep them away from me. To keep myself safe. I didn’t have any friends, or anybody to tell me I would be okay during thunderstorms, or someone to put a Band-Aid on my scraped knee.”

Her hand wrapped around his and he squeezed back, taking a short breath. “I never knew what love felt like, so I thought it was a waste of time, something I shouldn’t bother myself with. Because if I knew I was never going to get it, why try wanting it? But…” he looked up at her know, his dark eyes open and vulnerable. “you…you make me want it, to…try feeling it. And its terrifying.”

He whispered and (y/n) squeezed his hand again, scooting closer to him, his other hand brushing against her scar again. “it is…” she agreed, resting her head on his shoulder-his arm wrapping around her, his head on top of hers. “it really is…but…its really exciting, feeling it, with you.” she admitted and she felt him smile against her hair, and he kissed the top of her scar.

“Thank you for not being scared of me,” he whispered and (y/n) snorted, rubbing her head against him.

“I could never be, you’re too nerdy.”

“Okay, low blow.”

(y/n) burst into laughter at his dry reply and he smirked, turning to press her to the bed and attack her jaw and scar with kisses.

“Now that’s just stupid,” (y/n) chortled, Tom huffing from beneath her, his arms around her waist-gripping her sweater vest.

“Is it?” Tom murmured against her shoulder, looking quite content from his spot beneath her on the couch, both being warmed by the common room fireplace.

“It is! No person with any brain cells would use a bloody troll snot in a potion! It’s like corn starch it’d ruin the whole thing.” (y/n) said while Tom snorted, hiding his smile in the back of her neck, hands pressing into her stomach. “Why would you even suggest it? Mr. 2nd in potions grades?” (y/n) asked, poking fun at the fact that she’d topped him in potion ranks for a while now.

Tom only smiled-he’d said it to rile her up, he liked it when she was passionate. (y/n) rolled her eyes, poking his nose, snickering as he scrunched it and shook his head lightly, pulling his head away from her neck. “Cheeky.” He muttered and (y/n) stuck her tongue out at him, laying back as Tom’s friends entered the common room, one giving Tom a meaningful look that (y/n) had barely caught.

Tom sighed, kissing her neck and sitting them up. “I'll be back,” he said and (y/n) raised her brow as he pulled his legs out from either side of her and kissed her hand before leaving with his friends, some already starting to whisper to Tom.

What in the heck was that? (y/n) thought to herself, a weird pit of anxiety dropping into her chest.

She recalled that some of Tom’s friends, or well their sons or daughters really-were death eaters, like Lestrange, Nott, Rosier-all famous death eaters.

She didn’t know why this memory came up now, when it felt unnecessary, but something told her to follow them, to see what the boys were going to talk about.

She did so, quietly following the group of boys-blending in with the other students footsteps that roamed the halls until the boys had gone into an empty classroom-a muffling charm placed so no one could overhear them but (y/n) was within the bubble without noticed, carefully standing just outside the door-cracking it ever so slightly to hear them.

They were whispering still-which was odd because especially with a muffling charm people didn’t whisper unless whatever they were talking about was not…good.

“And the mudbloods?” Tom spoke louder and (y/n)’s chest froze at how he sounded, so cold and…dark.

“Those pesky first years? Boiled and lock-legged, deserved it for spilling that porridge on you.” Rosier snickered, a nasty look on his face and (y/n) felt the anxiety in her chest grow into dread. Tom looked satisfied and (y/n) felt like she was going to throw up.

She’d been sitting with Tom when a first year-a shy boy with big square glasses-had accidentally spilled porridge on Tom when trying to get to his friends. Tom hadn’t reacted but now (y/n) knew it wasn’t something that was brushed off, he’d gotten his friends to pull a mean ‘prank’ on the poor 11-year-old just for accidentally spilling porridge on Tom, something (y/n) had cleaned up in seconds!

“Good. Did anyone see you hex them?” Tom asked and Rosier shook his head, smirking.

“Of course not, I’m a master of stealth.” Rosier snickered, giving a small bow of his head to Tom. “Anything else, Voldemort?”

(y/n)’s entire heart stopped beating, what did-what did he just call Tom? She peeked through the crack, seeing Tom’s eyes gleaming with satisfaction being called that.

‘Once there was a young man, who, like you, sat in this very hall, walked this castle’s corridors, slept under its roof. He seemed to the world a student like any other. His name? Tom Riddle. Today of course, he’s known all over the world by another name.’

Dumbledore’s words echoed in her head on repeat-she remembered the opening feast speech from her 5th year, how Dumbledore had told them about Voldemort and who he used to be.

That’s where she’d thought she’d heart Tom’s name before…Tom Riddle was Voldemort.

She took a shuddering gasp and slipped away from the empty classroom-rushing back to the Slytherin common room-vision blurring with tears as it felt so hard to breathe suddenly, she tripped down the stairs and spoke the common room password in a single breath-shoving open the doors and racing up the steps and-after only a moment of hesitation-booked it down the boy's dorm corridor.

She opened Tom’s door-he’d given her a key to it a bit ago-breathing heavily as she looked around.

Her eyes landed on his diary, something he’d gotten for himself as an early birthday gift from a muggle bookstore. She snatched it up, opening it with a sense of dread she’d been feeling since hearing Tom say the words ‘mudblood’.

Instantly, she felt sick.

She found pages and pages of the truth-of who Tom really was, his name written out and rewritten till he landed on the name Voldemort, scribbles of what would eventually become the dark mark, a whole chunk of pages dedicated to whatever the hell horcruxes were-including a plan to use the chamber of secrets to create his first one out of the very diary she held.

She remembered her first year-when the chamber of secrets had been opened and Ginny Weasley had been taken into it, rumors went around about how Voldemort had possessed her to open the chamber.

Tom Riddle was Voldemort, her boyfriend was the dark lord.

She snapped the book shut-letting it drop back onto his desk and left the room, slamming the door behind her and rushing across the hall to the girls dorms. She stumbled through her door, closing it and locking it.

There, she let it all crash down on her, she sank to the floor under the weight of it all. Her boyfriend, Tom Marvolo Riddle, was the same terrifying snake like dark lord that had terrorized the wizarding and muggle world for nearly two decades, the man who had killed thousands, destroyed hundreds of homes and families-killed Cedric Diggory in her 3rd year.

Her charming, nerdy, handsome Tom Riddle…was the very man who ruined her life, who had caused her uncle to become so-mad with blood purity-to be so bold to take her and give her a scar.

Her boyfriend was the dark lord.

Her head dropped between her shoulders and she sobbed, letting out a hoarse scream as she remembered everything with him over the last six months, their rivalry, their first dates, their first kiss, her telling him how she got her scar and him telling her about how he was afraid of love but was willing to brave it for her.

Was it all a lie? A manipulation? A long con?

Did he even want her? Was this just a ploy to hook his dark roots into more and more people until he had his army of death eaters?

She sobbed so hard she felt she might throw up-she did, racing to the bathroom to puke her lunch, bile burning her throat as she continued to sob. She ripped off her snake bracelet and chucked it at the bathroom mirror-it shattered and (y/n) screams again, slumping back against the wall as glass clatters to the counter and floor, (y/n)’s hands getting cut up as she slides down to the floor, the mirror shards cutting into her skin.

She doesn’t care, she doesn’t move.

The boy she’d fallen in love with was lord fucking Voldemort.

She has to go home.

“Please sir.” (y/n) begs Dumbledore, who was the only one besides Dippet who knew that she wasn’t from this era, who knew she had to get back to her time. “I have to go home, I can’t stay here anymore.” (y/n) said-her voice aching from crying as Dumbledore looks at her from behind his half-moon glasses.

“I understand miss (l/n),” Dumbledore says softly, standing from his desk in the transfiguration classroom, rounding it to stand close to her. “Weeks ago I finally received word back from the ministry about acquiring a time tuner to send a time-misplaced student back to their time, they’ve finally got one ready for you. only took weeks of convincing them I wasn’t joking.”

(y/n) lets out a shuddering breath, wondering why he hadn’t told her that when originally getting the letter. “I didn’t tell you because you seemed…happy here, with your friends and Mr. Riddle.” The mention of Tom nearly sends her into a fit and her hands shake as she breathes heavily. “Oh,” Dumbledore mutters with surprise as she begins to sob, taking her hands that she hadn’t healed and were shaking. “Has something happened (y/n)?”

He says her name like a grandfather, tugging her close for a hug as she ugly cries, her face hot and tears streaming down her cheeks as her eyes ache.

She can't tell Dumbledore what she’s discovered-she knows she’s probably screwed up enough just by existing in this era, but she so badly wants to tell him about Voldemort, about the horrors that await the world.

She can't. It could do something disastrous to the future, to her time.

“We broke up,” she says instead, even though that’s not true-at least not officially, she’d been avoiding Tom since overhearing the conversation between him and his frien…followers. Avoiding him since finding his diary and looking through it.

He always looked so confused when she’d run from him, his hand reaching out towards her as she turned tail and ran from him like he was dangerous.

He was, he was Voldemort.

“There there young one, it’ll be okay, affairs of the heart can always be confusing,” Dumbledore said softly as she sobbed her heart out for the 5th time that day. “One day, it won't hurt so much.” She sniffled and pulled back to look up at him, swallowing harshly.

“When will I’ll be able to go back?” she asked and Dumbledore stroked his beard in thought before remembering.

“On the weekend, so you can have time to say goodbye to the friends you’ve made in this era.” Dumbledore said, a twinkle in his eye as (y/n) sighed, three days. Only three days left before she could go home and forget this time travel mishap ever happened.

Three days before she’d disappear from Tom Riddle’s….Voldemort’s life for good. She just hoped this didn’t cause some sort of obsession with the dark lord when she was back with her time-she didn’t want to deal with all that.

If it did, she’d probably kill herself.

Dumbledore sent her back to her common room as it was late-she’d waited until nearly curfew to see him so no one would interrupt. She walked through the torch-lit corridors slowly, sniffling quietly as she wiped her face of tears. Three days, she just had to avoid Tom for three more days and then she’d be home, away from him.

“(y/n).” She hears his voice from behind her and she runs. “(y/n)-wait! Stop!” He yells after her, his footsteps following her quickly as she runs through the halls-racing back to the common room to try and get to her dorm before he can catch her.

“(y/n) please!” he cries out-she ignores the hurt in his voice, the desperate tone. It was fake, it was all fake-he was just trying to trick her. “(y/n)! love! Please! Talk to me! What did I do wrong?!”

She can only thank the gods as someone entered the common room right before her-leaving the doors wide open. She shoves past the 4th year and races up the stairs, Tom at her heels.

He just barely grabs her robes and she yanks them off before escaping down the girl's dorm corridor-protected by the barrier. She barely looks to see him slam into the barrier-his dark eyes heartbroken, confused, sad. “(y/n)…” he says softly, sinking to his knees as she disappears into her dorm room.

His eyes haunt her in her sleep-flashing between those dark sad eyes and the horrifying snake-like ones of Voldemort. Tom Riddle and Voldemort-one in the same.

Morning comes and Lucy gently knocks at her door, opening it when she receives no response. “(y/n)?” Lucy asked softly, her other friends all just behind her. They see (y/n) curled up in her bed, the curtains drawn and lights off. “(y/n)?” Lucy said again, the girls filing in and Julia closed the door behind her as they all gathered around (y/n)’s bed, Lucy and Alice climbing into it.

“(y/n) what happened? Tom’s been asking for you?” Iridessa asks and they all freeze as (y/n) sobs, the girls going into instant comfort mode as they huddle up to hug (y/n) as she sat up and curled into Lucy’s arms, her face flushed and puffy. “Oh, (y/n),” Iridessa sighs, brushing her hand down (y/n)’s back.

Her friends lay with her and hold her as she cries, but shakes her head each time they ask her what happened between her and Tom. All she offers is that they broke up, and that she doesn’t want to talk about it.

“I have to tell you guys something,” she says, gaining control of her sobbing after a half hour. Her friends all nod, gathering closer to her, Alice and Bella holding her tight from behind as Lucy holds her hand. “This weekend, im leaving.” She says and her friends gasp.

“What-why?” Julia asks, grabbing her free hand and (y/n) struggles to explain, but eventually does.

“I’m not from this era. I’m from the 90s,” she reveals, and her friends hang onto every word she says. “I fell on a time turner and it broke-sending me here with no way to get back, Dumbledore finally heard back from the ministry and this weekend, I’ll be sent back home.”

Her friends take this with surprising grace but not without disappointment. “we’ll miss you, so much.” Lucy said softly, her cheek squished against (y/n)’s as they all hug her. “Let’s do something before you go, one last hurrah,” Julia suggests and (y/n) smiles weakly, nodding. “Yeah, that sounds fun,” she said softly as her friends hug her again, determined to make her last three days better than just hiding from Tom and crying about the reality of it all.

Her friends keep Tom away from her, though the confusion and heartbreak in his eyes haunt her every step. He tries to approach her nearly every hour, in the common room, at breakfast, between classes, in their shared classes, at lunch-he tries and tries and tries but she doesn’t let him get close-always just out of his reach.

He doesn’t understand-one minute they were happy, blissful-Tom hadn’t even known the meaning of the word till he was with her, but now…now she looks afraid of him, like he’s dangerous, venomous.

She wasn’t supposed to be afraid of him-she was supposed to be the only one not afraid of him. He can't even get close to her, her friends keep him away and she runs away when her friends can't guard her.

Was this what heartbreak felt like? So achingly and painfully deep it felt like you might die? He waited for her every morning outside the girl’s dorms, making himself small as he sat in front of the doorway-hoping she’d stop, let him talk to her, to try and figure out what he did wrong to make her like this.

She never stopped, she took one look and ran-her friends stopping him from following even as he begged for her to just talk for a minute. He never begged, but he would, for her.

He’d never seen her scared of him, even when they were rivals, even when he’d raise his wand at her during dueling practice. But to see her so frightened, of him…he felt sick.

‘id never be, you’re too nerdy’

Her words echoed in his head and he feels like crying-he never felt like crying, not since he was very young and still had hope of being cared for. What happened? What did he do to make her scared of him? Did someone tell her something? Did one of his followers fuck up? Had she overheard something?

She was a good person, spunky and snarky and perfect, she had a soft good heart-opposite of his. He was cruel and mean and vile-he planned to be the most powerful dark wizard in the world-he planned to make the world fear his chosen name.

But no one but himself and his followers knew of this-to everyone else he was a golden boy, maybe a bit weird sometimes, but he was smart and charming and powerful-respected.

What happened to make (y/n) so scared of him?

He had to find out-he just had to-he had to he had to he had to.

He cornered her, getting her right after potions ended and he wrapped his arm around her waist, tugging her backwards. She tried to scream but he quickly silenced her with the silencing charm. “Please-I just want to talk to you-(y/n) please-don’t be scared of me-please!” he begged, he never begged-she continued to try and get out of his grip, even hitting him-shaking her head. “You’re not supposed to be scared of me!” he yelled, and she glared at him-tears in her eyes and he grabbed her hand, forcing himself into her memories.

He sees it all-her heartbreak, begging Dumbledore to send her back home, finding his diary, overhearing him with his friends-her heartbreak when he says mudblood, their soft kisses and whispers, hanging out after curfew, cuddling by the fire, their first date, Christmas, the party, her friends, the broken time-turner, the snatchers, Hogwarts bathed in darkness, death eaters, Dumbledore dying.

…Voldemort.

He pulls back from her-choking as she slams her elbow into his gut-she’s crying, he can't breathe-eyes wide as her memories flash through his mind again and again.

She knows everything and more-because she’d lived through the nightmare he planned to bring to the world, she knew it all-she knew his plans, she knew his name, she knew the darkness he hid from everyone but his followers. She knew because she lived through it, suffered under his rule.

He looks up at her, she’s terrified-sobbing.

He reaches out and she runs, his heart shatters.

“(y/n),” he breathes out pathetically, tears burn in his eyes as he sits on the cold floor.

He caused her scar.

She’s leaving tomorrow, going back to her time where Voldemort controlled Hogwarts, Dumbledore was dead, and Harry Potter was nowhere to be found-rumored to be out hunting something to kill the dark lord.

Her friends had taken her out to Hogsmeade with special permission from Dumbledore, treated her with pints of butterbeer and lamb, let her have a run of honeydukes and get whatever sweets she liked, she tried on suits and dresses at the clothing store next to madam Puddifoots, and Julia got her a new bracelet to replace the one from Tom-one she’d buried somewhere in her room, next to the dying flowers; also from Tom.

It had been a good day, a long good day, Tom hadn’t bothered her, she hadn’t even seen him once-and that left her a bit unnerved-wondering if he was plotting something.

Knowing who he was going to be, he probably was.

She got ready for bed soon after returning from Hogsmeade, taking a long shower and cutting her hair back into the style and length it had been May 2nd 1998. She found her old uniform and got it ready for tomorrow, ready to go back home-ready to re-enter the war.

A knock sounded at her door, she opened it to find a nervous first-year girl, looking up at her. “The-the prefect wants to talk to you.” the girl said, handing (y/n) a bouquet of flowers, her favorite flowers. (y/n) slowly took them, the first year rushing off as (y/n) turned the bouquet in her hands, finding a tag with Tom’s handwriting on it.

“Please. Just one talk.”

She stood there for a long time, maybe 8 minutes, staring at the flowers and the note. Should she? Maybe he’d hex her, or love potion her, or curse her, kill her, feed her to the basilisk.

She wouldn’t know unless she found out.

She sighed, summoning all her bravery and stepping out into the corridor, walking down the hall until she reached the doorway out of the dorms, spotting Tom sitting at the fireplace-alone, no one else in the room.

In his hands was his diary. He seemed nervous, visibly nervous; his leg was bouncing, his hair a mess-wild and curled up, no product in it. She stepped out, walking towards him, he saw her and sat up straight, swallowing harshly and he said her name-so breathlessly and hopeful that it made her stop.

He quickly averted her eyes. “Sorry,” he whispered, the diary clutched at his side, his hand gripping it so tight it bent.

She stared at him, his eyes were on the diary. There was no sound other than the fire and their breathing for a very long minute. Finally-Tom looked at her and he looked tired, so exhausted and heartbroken and defeated. “Please stay,” he said, achingly, pleadingly, his jaw clenching horribly as he stepped towards her-she stepped back-he stopped.

“What?” she asked, and she watched as the sound of her voice made his eyes flutter and he took a deep breath, holding the diary with both hands.

“Stay. Please.” He said again, begging. “Don’t go back to your time-don’t go back to…that war. Don’t go where I can’t follow.” He whispered, looking up at her.

“How can you ask that?” she whispered, clenching her jaw, fists tight at her sides. “You saw it all, you know why I can't stay, you know why I’ve been avoiding you-why I want to go back.”

Tom’s eyes were hard yet sad-anger, not at her, filling his face.

“I won't stay with someone who becomes…him.” (y/n) said, not even daring to say the name and Tom nearly flinches, his eyes going back down to his diary, trembling.

He throws it into the fire and her eyes go wide. “What the hell are you doing?” she asks and then Tom is on his knees in front of her, holding the length of her robe-tears are in his eyes-his voice cracks as he speaks.

“Stay with me, please.” He begs, his hair a mess-looking so different from the nightmare in her dreams-seeing him with red eyes and a cruel smirk. “Please, please stay. I don’t want that anymore, I don’t want to be him anymore-I only want you. You have brought me joy and sorrow and pain and love and I don’t know if I can function without you-please. Please. Stay. Don’t leave me.”

Tom begs, burying his face into the fabric of her robe, his shoulders jumping with a sob. Her eyes turn to the fire, watching as the drawings of the dark mark burn up with the rest of the book.

Voldemort burning to death right before her eyes.

“I love you (y/n), please don’t go.” He begs again, tears soaking her robe and she doesn’t know what to do.

She’s supposed to leave for the ministry at sunrise with Dumbledore, she supposed to go home tomorrow morning, she’s supposed to fight against Voldemort's forces.

She looks down at Tom, he’s crying, ugly crying-not caring who saw him on his knees for her. “I’ll disband the knights, I’ll burn all the books I have of dark magic, I won’t hurt anyone ever again, just please. Stay.” He begs again, looking up at her, eyes shining with tears-his eyes completely brown, lit amber by the fire.

She doesn’t know what to do.

Tom sounds terribly dependent on her right now, giving her a strange ultimatum.

Stay with him, and Voldemort never happens. Go back to her time, and Voldemort happens, possibly even worse with the ache of teenage first love heartbreak.

She needs to think about this.

Stay and leave behind her time, her home, her family, her friends; all of it-for the possibility of Tom keeping his promise. Or go home, and risk Tom becoming even worse, possibly making herself a target for Voldemort. But also leave behind her friends here, and a version of Hogwarts that hadn’t been touched by Voldemort yet.

She looks down at Tom

Stay with Tom, Voldemort dies. Go back home, Voldemort gets worse, and she becomes a personal target.

“i…I can’t,” she whispers, and Tom looks utterly lost, like she’d pulled his heart out and ripped it in front of him, or split apart his soul and stomped on it. “i-I,” she can’t finish her sentence, she needs to think about it.

It’s a big decision, she can’t make it right now-she needs to clear her head. She pries his clammy hands off her robes and goes back to her room. Tom curls in on himself, holding himself as tears trail down his face-gasping for breath as his diary burns in the fireplace behind him.

“(y/n),” he says so quietly, heartbroken.

Her fingers rub over the silver metal of the snake bracelet, the one from Julia is snug on her wrist now, the one from Tom held in her hands tightly as she waits for Dumbledore to come back from the ministry with the time turner-she had to be in the exact place she’d left, the DADA classroom. She’d be leaving within the hour, going back to her time.

To her home, her family, her friends, to war…to Voldemort. She knows things are going to be different, teachers will suddenly remember a version of her from decades ago, especially Slughorn. Voldemort might come after her personally, he might try to force her to be with him, might try to carve out her heart to keep it, might love potion her to stay with him.

She swallows again, looking up as Dumbledore emerges from the fireplace along with a ministry officer, who holds the time turner. and offers a smile. “it’s all ready,” he says, leading her and the officer to the DADA classroom. The officer hands her the time turner, it’s set for May 2nd, 1998.

So, she was going 55 years into the future, back to her time, back home. To war. To Voldemort.

“It’s all ready, just put it on and twist the rings back together, and then when you’re back in your time, leave it in a safe space and it’ll come back to us within an hour.” The ministry officer said, his arms crossed as (y/n) reached out and put on the time-turner, her hands shaking as she takes each end between her fingers.

Stay or go home.

….

Stay or go home.

Tom felt like he was dying. He sat in front of the common room fire, where he’d tossed his diary-his diary filled with all his plans and ambitions. The dark mark, his chosen name; and all the diary entries about (y/n).

About when she first arrived, about how he felt about her, about how nervous he was to ask her to accompany him to the Christmas party, how gorgeous he thought she looked, how wonderful it had been to dance with her. He wrote it all down, the pages overtaking every single one of his plans, to the point where he nearly forgot it all, only thinking about it when his followers had brought it up.

And now…now he’d never see her again. Not until he was already old, he’d bee in his 50s when she would be born, 1981. 40 something years from now. He swallowed hard, closing his eyes, willing back the tears in his eyes.

Maybe he should’ve offered to go with her instead, he’d truly leave it all behind-he’d go to her Hogwarts with her, learn her time, leave the knights behind, leave dark magic behind.

But she left him. It was past sunrise now, he heard her leave the common room a bit ago-he hadn’t slept, sitting by the fireplace the whole night, watching her go.

Maybe he should’ve tried to convince her one last time, maybe tried to get a goodbye kiss.

He’d never kiss her again he realized just then, never hold her hand or hug her, or even see her smile.

Tom’s lip wobbled and he shoved down his emotions, or well he tried to. It was no use, he was going to miss her so damn much that he felt like dying, was this what heartbreak felt like? The feeling of his heart aching so hard that he wanted to rip it out? The feeling of being unable to breathe and his eyes aching so badly he wanted to fall asleep forever?

If this is what heartbreak is like-he never wanted to feel it again.

He stands up, jaw clenched with anger now. She didn’t want to stay, she didn’t want to love him anymore-too scared of him, too scared of what he could be.

He still had his books for horcruxes-perhaps he’d make one early, get rid of this painful feeling in his whole body-remove his soul to remove her from his heart.

He turns, heading back to his dorm but before he can even leave the main room of the common room-arms wrap around him-stopping him in his tracks.

A head rests on his back, they take a shaky breath, he looks down at the hands on his stomach-his heart skipping a beat at the familiar silver snake bracelet around their wrist.

He turns, there she is.

“You-“ he breathes out, about to cry again and she takes a shaky breath, looking up at him.

“I’m staying.” She whispered and he can’t help his smile-big and watery and full of relief-his heart beats rapidly in his chest it might explode with happiness and he takes her into his arms, spinning her around as she gasps-which turns into shaken laughter as he holds her impossibly close.

He collapses back onto the couch-having not eaten or slept the last day and she gasps, landing right on top of him-where she should be. “Thank you, thank you thank you,” Tom whispers out shakily into her ear and she swallows, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head against his-he squeezes her like he’s trying to melt into her body.

“Don’t make me regret this?” She whispers, and he nods against her, already planning their life together. They’d graduate together, get a home together, marry one day, have kids-he’d become the DADA professor, perhaps the minister, she’d boss him around and he’d smile; he’d dote on her and she’d roll her eyes.

“You won’t, I promise.” He whispered back.

-14 years later-

The sun rose on a countryside home, dew drops gently reflecting the sunlight as morning came upon the family of four, soon to become five. A 31-year-old Tom Riddle, and his wife (y/n) Riddle, were still asleep in their comfy bed, buried under quilts and a soft blanket, (y/n) snoring softly as Tom slowly awoke with the morning sun, tightening his grip around his wife, his bleary vision still able to appreciate the view.

He smiled softly looking at her, her face half buried in the fluffy pillow, drool dried on her chin since her mouth had opened during sleep, her hands curled up under her chin and neck, her body stretched out with one leg hiked up towards him-her knee against his hip.

Tom quickly closed his eyes, hiding his smirk as the patter of feet came bolting down the hallway and the bedroom door opened-a bright eyed boy who seemed to be an exact copy of his father bounding onto the bed. “Dad-dad! Dad dad dad! It’s today!” 10-year-old Mattheo Julius Riddle tried to shake his dad awake, bouncing on his knees as Tom hid his smile in his pillow-pretending to be asleep. “Daaaaad c’mon! it’s the first!”

September 1st 1958, Mattheo would be going to Hogwarts today-a day he’d waited for the last 9 years since learning about the school-he’d gotten his Hogwarts letter at the start of July, he’d proudly shown it off to anyone that would listen, and (y/n) had pinned it to the bulletin board that was in the kitchen that held many drawings and report cards from the last 10 years.

Tom faked a sleepy hum, flinging his arms up-covered with the blankets-and drawing his son into the blankets, holding him close. “Daaaaaad!” Mattheo laughed, wiggling in his dad’s arms as Tom fake snored, (y/n) waking up from all the ruckus. “Mooom! It’s the first!” Mattheo said-spotting his mother sitting up from the small peek in the blankets.

“It is?” (y/n) hummed, only half awake, holding her rounded belly as she hobbled out of bed, heading right for the bathroom. Mattheo let out a whine; his parents were not taking this day seriously! Tom turned a bit and looked at the clock.

“Matt it’s six am, the train doesn’t leave till eleven.” Tom groaned, his voice rough with sleep, releasing Mattheo as he continued to wiggle. Tom’s body bounced slightly as Mattheo began to jump on the bed.

“And!?! It’s too important to miss! Get up get up get up! Mom make waffles please!?” Mattheo said, spinning while jumping on the bed, and (y/n) made a noise between a yawn and a groan, muffled by the bathroom door.

“Is your sister even up?” Tom asked as Mattheo jumped off the bed and began to tug Tom out of the bed, Tom groaned as he allowed his son to pull him out of the warmth of the bed.

“I’m up daddy,” A squeaky sweet voice came from the open doorway, Tom’s 6-year-old daughter, Aurora-named after (y/n)’s favorite Disney movie from her time(which was about to release next year if (y/n) recalled correctly, she was very excited.)-standing in the doorway with her stuffed pink bunny held in her arms, looking adorably sleepy with her hair that matched her mother’s all a mess from sleep.

“Good morning my sweet, did your brother wake you up with his chaos?” Tom asked Aurora and she nodded, reaching her arms up and Tom scooped her up happily, kissing her chubby rosy cheek. “I’m sorry princess, are you hungry?” Aurora nodded again and Tom walked to the kitchen that was just down the hall from the bedroom-Mattheo already getting out what his mother needed to make waffles.

“Eggs, flour, sour cream,” Mattheo muttered, reading off the recipe card that was on the fridge. Tom set up the table and helping Mattheo get out the waffle maker, Aurora sitting in her chair at the breakfast nook table, drinking some water to start the day while Tom poured her a cup of pumpkin juice.

“Mom! Waffles!” Mattheo yelled down the hall and Tom pinched his ear for yelling at his pregnant mother. “Sorry!” Mattheo yelled again as he dodged another ear pinch and Tom huffed with a smile, shaking his head as he cracked eggs into a bowl and waved his wand-bacon lining up onto a pan and sliding into the preheating oven.

(y/n) soon emerged from the bedroom, her hair brushed and looking a bit more awake, putting on Tom’s jumper, a sight Tom adored since it hardly hid her baby bump. “Good morning my bride,” Tom hummed with a flirtatious smirk and (y/n) rolled her eyes, kissing him as she passed by him.

“Good morning babe,” she murmured, grabbing the metal bowl Mattheo had gotten out and she began to make the waffle mix, plugging in the waffle maker as Tom got the skillet ready to make scrambled eggs.

The two worked like a well-oiled machine to make breakfast for themselves and their children, and soon they were all sat at the breakfast nook table, Mattheo eagerly digging into his favorite breakfast while Aurora carefully cut apart her waffle-only butter no syrup- Tom putting a strip of bacon on her plastic plate. “Thank you mum!” Mattheo said with his mouth full and (y/n) snorted while Tom tapped his chin.

“No talking with your mouth full Mattheo, it’s not see food.” Tom scolded and Mattheo struggled to swallow before apologizing. Tom nodded and Aurora nibbled on her bacon, scooping eggs onto her waffle before stuffing it into her mouth.

When breakfast was finished Tom waved his wand and all the dishes began to wash themselves. “No running while dishes are flying!” Tom yelled after Mattheo as he jumped from his chair and raced back to his room, Aurora sleepily rubbing her eyes as she carefully got down from her chair.

“C’mon sweetie lets go pick an outfit for you for today,” (y/n) told Aurora and she nodded, walking beside her mom as they went to Auroras room at the end of the hall, across from the nursery. Tom smiled at his little family, looking around his home with a sense of peace and comforting purpose.

After dishes were done and the breakfast mess was cleaned up-Tom picked up toys and blankets that were scattered about in the living room, putting everything away and heading into his and (y/n)’s bedroom, making the bed and cleaning up the bathroom before getting dressed and setting out an outfit for (y/n), knocking on Mattheo’s door to check on him.

“Ready!” Mattheo said excitedly, opening the door to reveal him wearing his Hogwarts uniform, though it was without his house color as he had yet to be sorted.

Tom chuckled, shaking his head. “You don’t need to wear your uniform right away, you’ll have time to change on the train as it’s an eight hour ride. Get dressed casually, you’ll get restless wearing your uniform.” Tom said and Mattheo huffed, closing his door again to change.

He checked on his daughter and wife and Aurora was sitting still on her bed as (y/n) styled their daughter’s hair, making sure to put Aurora’s favorite hairpin into her hair. “There you go,” (y/n) said with a smile, Aurora turning to Tom to show off her hair and outfit; Tom smiled, crouching to kiss his daughter's rosy cheek.

“Beautiful my princess,” Tom murmured and Aurora kissed his cheek in return, Tom scooping her up as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Ready my dear?” Tom asked (y/n) and she nodded, heading past him to go into their bedroom to change.

She closed the door behind her, sighing softly as she passed by her dresser, the light catching onto the wedding photo that sat on her vanity.

12 years ago, she married Tom, 13 years ago her memories began to fade and change. She brushed her fingers over the faded scar on her face-so faded she sometimes forgot she even had it. Staying with Tom had changed the future, meaning the reason she even ended up in the ‘past’ changed-it was an accident now, she’d been sneaking around on a dare and knocked the time turner over.

Voldemort was now a forgotten name, a memory that only Tom knew now, her scar had changed-faded so much that it was nearly gone, the memory and knowledge of how it happened disappearing 6 years ago.

So many things had changed over the years in her memory, there was no boy who lived, or wizarding war, or dark lord. Now there was just her and her husband, who’d been working as the Defense against the dark arts professor for the last 9 years after briefly working as an auror.

(y/n) sighed, it was strange, to no longer remember who she once was-from the old timeline, she still remembered bits and pieces, but now it was all fractured, dreamlike-faded.

She didn’t mind, she was happy where she was now, a mother of 2 and pregnant with their third, wife of Tom Riddle who kept his promise.

She didn’t regret a thing.

-end! Thank you for reading!!-

#love love love love love LOVE !#vampz.recs #tom riddle x reader #tom riddle #tom riddle fic

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