Trapped in the Past (Tom Riddle x Reader)

3 - A Snake's Game

Slughorn doesn't look pleasant when he learns that you two are meeting him because you got detention.
He looks tempted to close an eye on in, but Riddle insists that an unauthorized duel is strictly forbidden, although he never mentions your use of that dark spell and its consequences.
You can't complain so you just wait for your destiny. You know that you deserve some punishment.
Slughorn seems more uncomfortable than you.
"You can clean up some old rooms. Without magic" he says dismissively "Sadly I'm busy later but I hope Tom can represent me".
You drop your jaw, your shock reflected in Riddle's eyes for a moment.
Then he decides that he finds it amusing and flatters the teacher with his words.
You leave the office stiffly like you've just got showered with cold water.
"I had other plans for today, but I'll wait on the seventh floor, at the bottom of your tower, at six. Try not to put yourself in trouble again".
"It's not my fault" you can't help but snap "He attacked me for no reason. He pushed me into that bathroom saying that I deserved a lesson and started the duel. He also tried to use the Cruciatus on me".
"Keep quiet. You look delirious" he warns you.
"It's the truth, I swear" you insist feverishly "And why is it that you're always around when it happens? First with Malfoy, now Avery. They are your friends. Did you tell them to bully me because you can't do it yourself?".
Riddle halts to face you with a dangerous glare "Watch your mouth. If your insinuations are true, you'd be expelled by now".
"Then what's going on?".
"Get some rest or find a legal way to distract yourself. This is already enough drama for Christmas" he walks away, as if he can't stand your presence anymore.

You watch how the few students in the castle enjoy the day, then you ponder how to be dressed for detention.
You've never been a troublemaker. You never got detention, just points taken from your house. Until you joined Dumbledore's Army, until the Death Eaters took charge at Hogwarts and you had to live as a fugitive.
You decide to wear just your new sweater and walk to face your punishment.
Spending time with Riddle already is a punishment enough.
Ellie would die to be in your shoes. Sadly she's not around to replace you.

At six o' clock Riddle is already waiting at the bottom of the staircase, wearing his uniform with that damned Prefect badge mocking you.
Again you're impressed by how gorgeous he is, how his pale skin fits his dark hair and his dark uniform.
Why nature is so unfair?
You love blue or green eyes, but his dark eyes are so beautiful and captivating. You wonder how they'd be if they are not so cold and diffident. How would they shine if he feels some positive emotion?
Annoyed by your staring, he nods to follow him and leads the way.
"Are you used to assist detentions?" you ask, wondering where he's taking you.
"No. I'm not a teacher".
"Then why am I trapped with you?".
"Do I make you uncomfortable?" he smirks glancing at you "You're the guest that needs to be impressed. I'm the best this school can offer"
You scoff "You think so high of yourself".
"If you know a little about me, you'd know I'm just stating facts" he says confidently.
"All I've learned in these weeks is that you're a swot, loved by all the professors. A swot going around with a gang of brats. So are you a swot brat?" you tease him.
"Do they teach you to be so polite in France?" he retorts.
"I struggled to find the right word for your friends. While you being a swot, call it a compliment".
You halt by the trophy room and decide to pay a visit to it.
"It's this way" Riddle says annoyed that you're not following him anymore.
You find his name on a new polished award.
"Special Award for Services to the School" you read, turning to him "What did you do? Seduced the headmaster into carving your name on it?".
He tilts his head with a fierce look "Are you so envious of my achievements?".
"Why would I be envious?" you look around, finding it not so different from your time.
"You are trying to attack me, but your words betray you. Let's go" he guides you to another room, a dismissed classroom turned into a messy storage room.
"Your wand" he demands extending his hand.
You watch his palm with disgust "I don't trust giving you my wand".
He rolls his eyes "I don't want to spend the night here looking after you. Didn't you already steal enough of my time?".
"This would have been a better day for both of us if Avery didn't attack me with a Cruciatus" you reply angrily "Or do you want me wandless so I can't hurt you as I did with him?".
He raises a brow "You think you can hurt me? Or are you worried that I might want to hurt you after taking your wand from you?".
You gasp when you feel your wand fly from your pocket to land in his hand.
You clench your jaw, hating feeling so vulnerable "You are smarter than that. You don't need to play unfair".
He smirks "I play to win. Now go to work before I compel you".
You start to move boxes and try to put some order in that chaos, under the Prefect's annoying gaze.
You really hate not using magic for that kind of job.
Then Riddle guides a cleaning cart to you and isn't satisfied until you removed all dust and dirt.
He leads you to another room that needs cleaning and you keep yourself occupied until finally the hour ended.
"This has been the most boring hour in a while" he complains as he leads you back to your tower "I was tempted to help you clean up".
"Then why didn't you do that? Too afraid of damaging your precious hands?" you tease, equally irritated "And all for something so silly".
"Silly" he echoes.
"Because of how you boys behave" you snap "How childish to make a show of power to impress and scare someone else".
"What you would do?".
"I'd prefer keeping my powers secret" you open your palm "And I want my wand back".
He hesitates, leaving you powerless so tempting that he wants to enjoy it a little more. Then he hands you back your wand.
You bite your tongue to avoid thanking him aloud.
But before you can walk away, he leans closer, to whisper to your ear "Maybe you shouldn't worry about hanging by your thumbs, but hanging exposed in the dungeons".
You feel confused, but his tone alludes the meaning of his provocation.
You gasp, but grinning he strides away before you can raise your wand and hex him.
Exposed.
What if he's the one punished and exposed?
That's such a dangerous imagine that you get haunted by it for the whole night.
Damned Riddle and his being gorgeous.

The year comes to an end and you hesitate to take a walk out of the castle on your own.
The paths are slippery, but you followed Dumbledore from some distance and saw him entering Hagrid's hut by the forest.
You're so nostalgic that you'd love to meet the kind half giant.
Looking around and comparing the view to your time's Hogwarts, you realize that some important tree is missing.
There's no Whomping Willow.
What a shame. You would have loved to drag the Slytherin boys close to it and see them get slapped by that nasty tree.
"Where are you going?".
A voice asks at your back.
There he is. A Slytherin boy.
How funny it would be if Riddle gets his well combed hair and his flawless uniform messed up by the tree... that doesn't exist yet.
You bite your tongue and play the innocent and polite girl.
Also because seeing how the cold air colored his cheeks left you speechless for a moment.
"Can I visit that hut? I've seen smoke from the chimney and I'm wondering who lives there".
He follows your gaze, his face darkening.
"Just the gamekeeper. No student is allowed to go that close to the forest".
"But I saw Dumbledore going in there" you say, attracting a glare from him.
"Do I have to remind you that Dumbledore is a professor and not a student?".
You cross your arms and turn to go back into the warm castle "Fine, then I'll ask him to accompany me there. Happy New Year".
"Good luck with that" he mocks you, unaware of how close you are with the professor.

Later you pay a visit to your favourite professor.
"Professor Slughorn told me that you got detention. What happened?" Dumbledore asks, touching the topic you wish to forget.
"Another Slytherin boy has been mean to me. He deserved it. And I deserved to be reminded that I can't make justice on my own" you brief as you sip the hot chocolate he offered you.
"I'm glad you don't hold rancour. On the other hand, Horace is sorry and wishes to invite you to his next party".
Your jaw drops "You mean, like a member of the Slugclub, sir?".
"Seems so" his eyes shines with amusement behind his glasses.
You don't know if it's good or bad news, so you change subject.
"Is it true that I can't visit Hagrid?".
"I'm glad to hear you know Hagrid" he says with a smile "He has been expelled last summer. People don't trust him anymore, so lives alone and isolated".
"It's so sad".
"It's much better than being in Azkaban".
"I don't believe he's responsible for Myrtle's death" you admit.
"That's still a mystery for me too. But since you seem to know about it, it's better if you don't meet him".
You stare at him confused, his words unexpected.
"Then I won't speak to him. I just say hi. Since I'm new here, I'm not affected by the gossip" you insist and don't give up until Dumbledore agrees and accompanies you to meet young Hagrid.
Seeing him so young and yet with the same attitude is something so shocking that it leaves you speechless, making the meet be very awkward.
But at least Dumbledore is happy that you didn't cause troubles by spilling your secret.
As you return to the castle with him, by the entrance doors you spot something moving in the shadows.
You catch a glimpse of Riddle's narrowed eyes before he turns and disappears downstairs, to his dungeons.
You smirk, knowing how he dislikes to lose.

A/N

Thursday 19th January 2023

Better to tease Riddle or try to befriend him? 😇

Sorry for the wait, I had planned to post this sooner, but in these weeks I was truly lost reading 🙈
I've just finished binge reading a gothic book series, so here I am, back on Earth after all this time 😅 and the lead male of that series is a very charming and smart boy called Thomas Cresswell 😍 I hope you will encounter him eventually, if you've never heard this name yet 😉