Enigma [A Tom Riddle x Reader fan fiction]

The new school year had officially begun, I couldn’t say I was entirely pleased with my schedule. I hardly share any classes with my friends!

Potions was my first class of the day.

On my way there, a familiar figure passed by–Riddle.

It had nearly slipped my mind that we shared most of our classes.

I cannot say it was rather, pleasing, to be in the same classes as him. We’d always been compared–top students, same house, same ambition. But maybe this year, it won’t be so bad.

I wasn’t particularly close with anyone whom I share the same classes with, but maybe this year could change that. I believe it’s time to leave what I am familiar with and branch out a little. Perhaps it isn’t a very bad idea to find new friends.

Even if one of them was Tom Riddle.

The Potions dungeon was cool and dimly lit, flickering torches casting long shadows on the stone walls. The earthy scent of many ingredients as well as previously past brews lingered in the air.

Professor Slughorn beamed as he entered the room. “Ah, another year, another opportunity to showcase your talents!” he announced, his voice warm and welcoming. “What better way to start the year than a friendly little test?”

Loud sighs followed by low groans echoed through the classroom.

“Now, now, no need to feel pressured! I simply wish to see what you remember from last year. You’ll be brewing the Draught of Peace–a tricky little potion, but I expect much brilliance from you all.”

He clapped his hands together. “And you’ll be working in pairs, of course!”

My heart sank.

Chairs around me screeched across the stone floor, as students shuffled around, finding their partners with ease. I glanced around the room, my brows furrowed, hoping, no…praying, someone would call my name or wave me over.

Everyone, except one.

Tom Riddle sat alone at the far end of the table, arms folded neatly, like he knew this would happen all along. His dark eyes were already on me, not expectant, just…waiting.

Of course.

Of course, he would be the only one left.

I let out a breath of disappointment, suppressing every urge to groan out loud. The chair placed beside him felt colder than the rest.

“Don’t look so thrilled,” he said without turning, voice smooth like always. “I’m not exactly overjoyed, either.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, grabbing my textbook like it owed me something.

Once everyone was sat, professor Slughorn look at our direction.

“Ah, two of my brightest!” He said with a chuckle. “I expect nothing short of perfection.”
No pressure, then.

THIRD-PERSON POV

Y/N exhaled through her nose, trying to steady her hands as she reached for the powdered valerian root. But her fingers trembled. Just a little, but enough for it to be noticeable.

And of course, Riddle noticed.

Before she could make a pour, a hand wrapper around hers. It was cold, steady, his touch precise. His fingers were long, elegant in a way that betrayed control more than comfort, and annoyingly confident.

“Don’t be nervous,” Tom murmured lowly, so only she could hear. His eyes on the cauldron, tone flat, no hint of concern. “It’s just a potion. And I’d prefer it not to be botched, or you’ll fail us both.”

Y/N froze. His grip was light, just enough to correct her angle. He let go quickly, already returning to his own task without sparing her a glance, completely unbothered.

Her jaw tightened. She finished the pour without another word, refusing to glance at Riddle. But the quiet smugness growing in his stillness was enough to make her blood prickle. Every step she did, he’ll correct, only adding fuel to the fire burning inside her ribs. Stir clockwise. Wait ten seconds. Add the tincture slowly.

Finally, she’d had enough.

“You’re timing that wrong,” she said, firmly. “It’s supposed to rest for fifteen seconds before the final ingredient, not ten.”

Tom looked at her sharply, raising a brow as if he was surprised she defied him.

But he didn’t argue. Just watched as she took the lead for once. He didn’t interrupt her working, just observed every movement she did.

They worked in silence after that. By the time their Draught of Peace turned the perfect silvery blue, a hushed awe spread across the room. Slughorn smiled.

“Brilliant! Absolutely textbook. Maybe even better.”

Y/N blinked, staring at the potion. She hadn’t realized she was holding her breath.

Out of the corner of her eye, Tom began gathering his things without a word. But just before he turned to leave, he paused, his voice quiet and calm.
“You’re better than most.”

He didn’t look at her, just walked away.

And for some reason, that simple remark left the faintest suggestion that maybe, just maybe, he didn’t mind working with her after all.

Y/N lingered by the corridor near the Potions classroom, leaning against the cool stone wall as students shuffled past. Her friends were still stuck suffering in their class, but she did need this moment to breath. The pressure of that first test clung to her shoulders, like a weighted cloak.

She fiddled with her hands, patiently waiting for her friends to finally finish. He hands had stopped shaking at least.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted movement at the far end of the hallway.

Tom Riddle stood speaking with professor Slughorn.

He didn’t even look tired.

It was almost insulting, really. How perfection seemed to drape itself over him without effort.

“I hate that,” she muttered under her breath. “I hate that… I keep noticing.”

Before she could tear her gaze away, her friends finally spilled out of the adjacent classroom, chattering like a motor run their mouths.

“Merlin’s beard, that class nearly killed me!” Mari started, spotting Y/N and waving.

But before Y/N could move, a familiar presence approached.

Tom Riddle

He stopped just in front of her, posture straight. She tilted her chin up to meet his gaze, due to the difference in height. Riddle looked down, met her gaze.

“Professor asked me to inform you that we were awarded ten points each for our potion. Twenty for Slytherin.”

Y/N blinked.

“Oh,” she said. “Right. Okay”

He didn’t leave.
“There’s more,” he added, tone clipped. “Slughorn has also decided to keep today’s partners as permanent for the rest of the school year.”

He looked down at her, the height difference now much more noticeable. There was something about the way he looked at her. As if he was still trying to determine if partnering with her was a mistake.

“Great,” she said, her voice calm despite the flutter in her chest. “Thanks for letting me know”

He didn’t reply. Just gave a small nod, the slightest dip of his head, and turned away.

Although, she did notice that his eyes stayed on her as he left, a heartbeat longer than necessary. Y/N stood there frozen in place, staring after him, trying to shake away the echoes of his voice.

Permanent partners.

Permanent.

Once his Riddle had fully disappeared, Mari and Cassius appeared on her side, squealing like little girls who were given the most pink princess dress out there.

“Oi!” came Mari’s voice, dragging her out of her thoughts. “Was that Tom Riddle talking to you?”

“I–well, technically he was just relaying a message from Slughorn,” Y/N said quickly, trying to appear completely unbothered.

Cassius raised a brow.

“More like gave you an official announcement,” Cassius added, eyes wide. “So, what’s next? That he secretly fancies you and wants to name a potion after your eyes?”

Y/N laughed. “Cassius, enough. He just wanted to talk about something class related.”

Mari narrowed her eyes at her. “You’re blushing, Y/N!” she teased.

“I am not,” Y/N insisted.

“You absolutely are,” Cassius said, grinning.

She groaned. “This is exactly why I felt relieved, knowing we weren’t going to be in the same classes.” She retorted, chuckling.

Mari looped her arm around Y/N’s. “Oh, come on, admit it. It’s kind of exciting. The top two students in Slytherin, forced to work side by side every lesson? It’s like fate—or academic sabotage.”

“I’m betting on sabotage,” Cassius said. “He probably thinks you’re going to try to outdo him.”

“Well, he’s not wrong,” Y/N muttered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Mari and Cassius finally realized how much their stomachs have been gurgling, and so dragged each other to the great hall.

“Come on Y/N,” Mari said with a grin, “let’s go eat something before your head combusts from all your overthinking.”

FIRST-PERSON POV

They practically dragged me back, chattering the whole way to the great hall. I wasn’t really paying attention, the thought of him as my permanent partner for every class really took a toll on me.

When we arrived, the Slytherin table was already half full. You could hear the bustling sounds of conversation and the clatter of silverware. As we approached the Slytherin table, Mari pointed to a spot. “There’s an open seat right there—”

But someone was already sliding their selves to a seat beside it.

Abraxas Malfoy.

He leaned back with a charming sort of ease, flashing me a grin. “Didn’t think I’d get the pleasure of sitting next to Hogwarts’ second-brightest mind today.”

Second?

Mari felt out of place, about to say something, but Cassius grabbed her arm gently, mouthing, Don’t.

I sat down slowly, ignoring the way a few of Abraxas’s friends at the far end of the table snickering behind their hands, watching us with far too much interest.

He leaned a little closer to my ear, his voice lower. “You know, I’ve always wondered what you’re like outside of academics. I bet you’re not nearly as serious as everyone thinks.”

I offered a thin smile, reaching for the pumpkin juice. “You’re very curious all of a sudden.”

He chuckled. “Can you blame me?”

From across the table, Mari shot me a look, half concerned, half suspicious. Cassius raised a brow too, clearly clocking the weird energy.

The laughter from the far end of the table hadn’t stopped, but it had gone quieter.

The laughter stopped when a shadow fell over our group.

Tom Riddle stood at the other side of the table, expression unreadable, eyes scanning the row that sat before him. Without a word, he tapped the shoulder of a young boy already seated across Abraxas.

“You’re in my spot.”

The boy froze, slowly looking towards the intimidating direction of that voice.

“I—I didn’t realize we had assigned seats—”

“You do now,” Tom said smoothly, not waiting for a response. The students scrambled to gather his things and moved as though his life depended on it.

Tom sat down across from us, setting his books down. He didn’t look at me. Didn’t even glance, Instead, he looked directly at Abraxas.

“I need your notes from DADA,” he said, tone crisp. “The professor was unclear about certain hexes from this morning.”

Abraxas nodded, a little too casually. “They’re in my bag. I’ll get them in a moment.”

But instead of moving, he turned back to me, as if Tom was never there. “Anyway,” he said smoothly, “what was I saying? Oh, right—you probably intimidate half the school, you know that? But you’ve got this really disarming laugh.”

Well, that caught me off guard. “Excuse me?”

“I’m just saying,” he added with a grin, “you should do it more often. It really suits you.”

To my utter horror, and surprise, I laughed. Just a little. It slipped out before I could stop it. And the worst part?

He wasn’t wrong.

He was kind of charming.
From across the table, Tom’s gaze lifted, cool and impassive. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the spine of his textbook, but he said nothing.

Abraxas stared at me, smiling with admiring eyes, as if my laugh had caused his features to soften. Finally, he reached into his bag and handed over the parchment, still smirking a little as if he’d won something. Tom didn’t thank him. He simply took the notes, scanned them, and spoke as though none of that exchange had happened.

“There are incomplete. Rewrite the second half.”

Abraxas shrugged. “Enough for me! You’re welcome.”

Tom didn’t respond.

I sipped my juice to hide my face, confused and unsure of what exactly I am feeling. But whatever it was, it felt new.

FINAL WORD COUNT: 2086