Trapped in the Past (Tom Riddle x Reader)

5 - Mostc Evile

"Miss Y/L/N?".
You wince and turn to see Dumbledore at the bottom of the corridor.
Relief almost makes you faint.
"Are you alright?" he asks walking to you and notices that you're not alone "Riddle. Why are you also wandering at this late hour? Is everything alright?".
Riddle had dropped the dagger to take the box and looks simply speechless.
The teacher looks between the two of you. Definitely you two don't look like you've been smooching.
You open your mouth, tempted to tell the truth, but seeing how Riddle is rigid and not taking control of the situation by playing the teacher's favourite, makes you desist.

"Yes. He just..." you shoot an uncertain look at the boy "Helped me with something".
Dumbledore doesn't ask for details "Well, then, shall we all go to sleep now?".
"Yes, very gladly" you say with a big smile, while Riddle keeps being a weird statue of salt.
You follow the teacher out of the dungeons.
If only he has an idea of the fear you've just felt.

"Sir, I need to speak with you" you say when you finally decide what to do.
"Sure. Would you mind a late tea in my office?".
You smile "I'm always up for some tea".
In his office, you reveal what you stole from the library.
"I found this book in the Restricted Section and it's quite dark. I mean really, really dark. And I was wondering... Maybe there could be some hint on time travel too?".
Dumbledore looks taken aback by what you offered on his desk.
"I wasn't aware this book is in the Restricted Section".
"Well, it's quite popular. I mean, I heard few students mentioning it to scare other students".
"Interesting. Would you mind if I ask you a weird question? What do you think of Riddle?".
You blink, the memory of him holding the dagger making you shiver cold.
"Tom Riddle, sir?" you ask dumbly.
"Is he harassing you somehow?".
You hesitate. What would you gain if you just tell the truth?
An enemy.
And who would want someone like Tom Riddle as an enemy.
No, you can deal with the Prefect yourself.
If you learn to befriend him properly, maybe he can even help you solve the mystery around Myrtle.

"His friends used to, but they are quite calm lately. Riddle enjoys his position, but I think he doesn't dare to overstep and be openly mean".
You really hate lying to Dumbledore.
He just looks at you and nods, bidding you goodnight.
It can't be a good night, when you try to sleep, but get haunted by the image of Riddle pressing the dagger against your throat.

But in the morning you feel quite excited to face a new day.
Riddle's weird behaviour gives you a sort of power over him. You know he isn't the perfect student that most people in the castle see in him.
You found shadows in his glowing reputation and you just wait for an occasion to use it against him.
When you see him at the Defence lesson, he looks unwell. He's distracted and bad tempered.
Unfortunately you have also Potions with the Slytherin house on the same day and he looks even more grumpy.
His friends don't even dare to look to him and keep some distance.
Also Ellie notices that novelty and wonders what's wrong with him.
You reply that maybe he's got period, causing the people around you laughing too hard at that.
You can't laugh openly because you feel pity for him being mocked in class.

Later you spot him in the library.
"What is it that you said about him that was so funny?".
Abruptly Malfoy jumps in front of you, preventing you from seeing if Riddle sneaked into the Restricted Section or not.
You glare up at him "What makes you think so? Maybe it was about you".
He overreacts and pulls out his wand, but a sharp voice stops him.
"Abraxas, enough".
You feel your own blood cooling in your veins.
Malfoy just obeys and quickly leaves the library.
Riddle turns away before you can say something, so you quickly collect your stuff and follow him.
"Why it seems such a bad day for you?" you ask, although you clearly feel that you're overstepping.
He doesn't reply and keeps striding through the shelves.
"What's wrong?".
"Nothing. Mind your own business" he hisses, fastening his pace to evade you.
You have to run and you grab his arm to stop him.
He halts, glaring at your hand that dares to touch him.
"Riddle. Really, maybe I can help" you say almost begging.
"And why would you help me?" he fully turns towards you, towering you, his unforgiving gaze pinning you there "Why didn't you accuse me to Dumbledore last night?".
You drop your hand and your jaw, not believing that it was the really trouble with him.
"Because he wouldn't believe me?" you suggest.
"I'm not his favourite, have you realized that?".
You frown in confusion "I don't think he would be unfair just because he has no favourites".
He scoffs, turning away "You're infuriating".
"No, something else is making you infuriated" you insist, following him again "Is it because Lestrange and the others got detention? A pity they are not students as diligent as you are".
He halts you so abruptly that you're one inch from crushing your face against his chest "Stop pestering me. Or I swear I'm going to hurt you".
You look up at him incredulous, his words itching you like he's indeed pressing a dagger on your troat.
"Hurt me? When I'm offering my help?" you say offended "Fine, drown in your own resentment".
You walk away from him, forcing your mind to throw all your worries and thoughts about Riddle from a window.
You should have known better than feeling that hurt.
Caring means being vulnerable and you're tired of wasting your time and your emotions on someone who raised an icy wall around him to keep you out.

A/N

Sunday 26th February 2023

So let's spoil the fun and reveal behind the scenes stuff 😈

Be grateful to be still alive.
If this can be from Riddle's pov, you'd leard that Dumbledore saved you from Riddle's plan to slit your troat and make you his new horcrux 😱
Don't worry, maybe next time he won't threaten you with a random dagger... but with his own 🔞

So why he's in such a mood?
He already killed and is focused on his horcruxes.
That night he was meant to meet with Slughorn. That's a scene we all know about.
But you made him miss it, and he's pissed but his plan to get rid of you is wasted by Dumbledore himself 🤷🏻‍♀️

And what if you try a ouija board to evoke Myrtle's ghost? Just imagining Riddle's shock and his panicking reactions to stop you 😈