Red Lies |Tom Riddle|

The One with Secrets

FABIENNE

She was exhausted and really didn't feel like going to class. The other girls had already left for breakfast, while she was still getting ready. Standing in front of the mirror, she wove her hair into a delicate, low updo. Her eyelids burned from fatigue, so she rubbed them with her hands. She studied her reflection, particularly her puffy eyes.

Although she bore a striking resemblance to her mother, she had undoubtedly inherited her eye colour from her father. They were the shade of spring grass.

Suddenly, she heard her father's voice in her head.

'Look how green they are! The Slytherin tie brings them out beautifully!'

Harold Rowell had been saying that ever since she was born. When she was a little girl and her father introduced her to people, he would always say, 'My daughter, Fabienne. Just look at her eyes! Aren't those the eyes of a true Slytherin? The house colours suit them perfectly!'

The girl sighed and cast a reproachful look at the sleeping Chat Noir. She envied him. She, too, would have gladly gone back to bed. Unfortunately, she couldn't. Reluctantly, she left the dormitory and headed to breakfast, even though she wasn't remotely hungry.

The moment she sat at the table, her friends started talking to her.

"We're in our final year, which means we finally get to go to the Seventh Years' New Year's Eve!"

Her first instinct was to ask when, but she figured it out just in time. She really was sleep-deprived.

The school hosted an elegant gathering with exquisite food, drinks, and dancing, but entry was reserved exclusively for seventh-years preparing to take their N.E.W.T.s in June. The event followed a strict set of traditions. To younger students, it was something utterly fascinating and shrouded in mystery, but they waited patiently, knowing their time would eventually come. The celebration had a formal atmosphere—not only did it welcome the new year, but it also marked the countdown to the most important exams of their school lives.

"There'll be an additional train service for those leaving for the holidays," Jane announced.

"We should do some New Year's fortune-telling to make sure we get good husbands."

"And high scores on our exams."

"Brilliant idea."

"Last year, the girls had the most stunning gowns. We should go shopping as soon as possible."

"It's only the first of November—we have plenty of time to prepare."

"What if they buy up all the best dresses?"

While the girls were already getting excited, Fabienne stared blankly at her porridge. She had half a mind to bury her face in it and fall asleep.

TOM

November had begun, autumn had fully settled into Hogwarts, and yet he had made little progress with Rowell. By now, he had expected her to have built a shrine in his honour, living and breathing his views and ideology. And yet... she ignored him. She even joked about him.

How dare she?

How dare she treat him like this?

He didn't know how to get through to her. Fear? He was slowly considering that option. Until now, he had thought it would be enough not to raise his voice at her, say a few kind words, sit beside her in class, occasionally walk her to meals, and she would start to worship him.