A Steamy Encounter
The long summer days blistered on and September rolled around faster than Edith could have anticipated, the lush grass had faded into yellow as the the sun overhead burned down, and it was too soon time to return to the Hogwarts Castle.
Sinclair Manor remained a cool shadowy refuge from the September heat, and through a rotting window on the second floor, enclosed alone within a room, Edith Sinclair could be found. Lying alone on the floor, gazing up into the ceiling, her mind fixated on the events of the previous weekend.
The silhouette of that boy cursed her nightmares, blessed her dreams. Edith could not spent a day without dwelling on him. She thought that if she wasted a moment not thinking of him, she would forget what he looked like, his tall slim figure, his dark handsome curls, his deep green eyes, and that face carved like a God.
He haunted her mind. Edith had never fallen for a boy before, never did she think one could have this effect on herself. For she scarcely knew anything about him, his name, his age, she didn't even know if his mind dwelled on her the same way. She hated it, yet, she found herself yearning for him.
She longed to return to that shop, where they had met only once. She needed to know his name, his story. Everything about him.
~
The shiny red Hogwarts Express pulled into platform nine and three quarters. Steam enveloped the station, shielding the identity of passengers and station dwellers, from which only dark silhouettes could be forged.
A whistle blew as the large clock-face struck eleven. Edith hurriedly boarded the train, a gaggle of children being shoved in alongside her by the conductor.
A sea of faces approached her as she made her through the aisle, the students had made themselves comfortable in the large, green, leather seats. There were fourth years were playing card games, seventh years slouched back into their seats, and some excited second years already changing into their robes.
Edith continued to make her way further down, scanning the carriage for her friends.
Until she was blocked.
"Excuse me." She stuck her nose up.
The same dangerous crowd of Slytherin boys had all squeezed themselves into a single row, blocking the aisle with half their bodies, which hung slightly of the edge of the inner aisle seats. Not enough to be uncomfortable, but enough to leave an impossible gap.
"I said excuse me, you're in my way." Edith spoke up.
The boys halted their conversation. Edith knew by the sly look on their faces she would regret this.
"Oh Edith dear, when will you learn that you cannot just push your way through us. Where are your manners?"
Edith recoiled in response to that voice she loathed so much. Darius Lestrange had dared to test her.
"I'm the one with no manners? Well pardon me but your boyfriends here don't seem to be hearing me. I SAID MOVE!" Edith roared.
An older Slytherin boy blocking her path winced and groaned in anguish as Edith trod harshly on his foot, retreating his body away.
"Now now, it is not a lady's place to demand and thrash about, is it my dear?" Darius smirked, turning to his friends for approval.
"Why don't you be a good little girl by shutting your mouth and taking a seat with us, there's a spot right here on my lap." he sneered, the rest of the boys jeering along with him.
Edith felt her ears grow hot. As she opened her mouth to speak, another voice cut in.
"It is you who has no manners Lestrange. Our kind lady here only wanted to pass through, why don't you be a true gentleman and show her some more respect." The voice was sharp, commanding and familiar.
The tall boy whom the voice belonged to got up and guided her with his hands to the seat he took just seconds before. "Here, sit."
Edith's gaze traveled upwards to meet that of the boy. Her body got even warmer as the pair locked eyes momentarily.
It was him. How could she not have realised. Of course seeing him in his uniform perked her memory, she had seen this boy before around school, in the corridor, the common room, perhaps even with Darius and his cronies.
The boy wrapped his hand loosely around her waist, assisting her to his seat, in a respectful manner. All it took was a gesture to that other Slytherin which Edith trodded on, and he was dismissed. This boy seemed to have a presence. It was clear he led.
He seated himself beside Darius, taking the place of the departed boy, directly opposite Edith.
"Forgive my friend for his crude demeanour, it is not so often ladies approach him" He said straight-faced, to Edith.
Some of the boys chuckled.
"Well we can't all be like you Riddle, you can't seem to keep the ladies away. I'm surprised Sinclair's not thrown herself at you yet." Darius retorted, the same smirk still printed upon his lips.
So Riddle is his name. Edith thought to herself. Does he recognise me?
Riddle did not look at her, Edith wondered whether he even knew her name. He did not respond nor give any sign that he recalled their encounter from summer.
"Oh, this must be your first time meeting my future wife-to-be, how rude of me not to introduce my best man. Tom, this is Sinclair, Edith Sinclair." Darius turned to her and licked his lips.
Edith could not believe her ears, her eyes widened and jaw hung open, repulsed that Darius would ever think she would marry him.
Tom Riddle turned to Edith, his face was blank and his voice polite, "A pleasure, Miss Sinclair."
"She'll be Mrs Lestrange quite soon so don't get too used to calling her Sinclair. She won't belong to her father for much longer, she'll be mine instead. I just need to teach her a few manners first." Darius eyed her up and down once more as Edith held in a gag. "You'll be a good obedient girl once I'm finished with you."
Her cheeks flushed red. "Ew, you disgust me Darius! I don't care what you or my mother think, I'm never marrying a creepy toebag like you." Edith hissed.
A slight smirk crept upon Tom's face, concealed to Edith as his head was bowed down to the table.
"Like you have a choice in the matter, darling. Father is already organising dinner with your parents, he was so pleased when he met you, you'll be mine before you know it." He cackled, his arms inching across the table towards her.
Darius extended his arm further towards Edith, twirling his long fingers around her hair. His fingers then made their way to her chin as he tugged on it teasingly.
Edith looked at Tom, a plea for help from the clutches of Darius, as he had saved her from that old creep in summer, but he did not take any interest, his back was turned from Edith engaged in conversation with a bundle of sixth-year girls behind him.
The presence of a girl storming towards Darius made Edith squirm in her seat.
Oh dear.
"Edith! Flaunting yourself to all these boys are we? And it's only the first day back." Walburga hissed, causing Darius to swiftly retract himself from Edith.
This quickly tempted the attention of nearby Slytherins. Tom and those girls included.
"Meow, cat fight!" Darius sniggered, rubbing his palms together.
"As if I'd start fighting over you." Edith spat at Darius.
"Sinclair is right, Lestrange, do not flatter yourself, as if these ladies would betray their friendship for a boy, especially a creep such as yourself." Riddle spoke, his voice was smooth and cool, his eyes remained looking down at the table, not making contact with anybodies.
Edith felt her cheeks burn up, was Riddle defending her, or did he simply seek to humiliate his friend?
Walburga simply let out a satisfied hmmph and sat herself among more reputable characters.
Edith thought it to be wise to follow, but a conflicting thought split her mind, if she stayed, maybe Tom would talk to her once more.
She did not need to think much longer however. A cocky aristocratic voice called to her from across the train.
"Sinclair, why are you still sitting with those creeps, come here!"
A tall, handsome blond-haired boy waved at her a few rows behind. Abraxas Malfoy was seated between Walburga Black and Druella Rosier, a few other Slytherins she recognised sat with them.
This would all be so much easier if she had just found Bonnie and Toby, Edith thought.
The group motioned for Edith to come over and she was left with no choice, Tom would have to wait another time. If he was even interested in her, which Edith seriously doubted.
"Uh- farewell... I suppose" she whispered, Darius simply grunted and rolled his eyes. While Tom averted his gaze to Edith, saying nothing, his eyes followed her as she left their compartment.
-
The row of Slytherins scooted up to make room for Edith, she sat opposite her two friends and Malfoy, and next to two dark haired boys, Orion and Cygnus.
"We were just talking about you Edie, you looked so out of place with those weirdos." Druella raised her eyebrows.
"It was like watching a dear among a pack of wolves, hah, don't worry Edith, we'll make sure those boys leave you alone, particularly Lestrange." Malfoy smiled at Edith, as the two Black boys nodded.
All of a sudden the carriage started to shake.
"Oh my goodness" Walburga whispered "Look behind you Edith."
And so she did. Edith turned around and before she could protest, her admirer Rubeus Hagrid had approached.
Please don't embarrass me infront of everyone, please not infront of the Slytherin boys. She thought.
"HULLO EDITH!" He bellowed
Giggles could be heard through the compartment.
Edith had a choice, save her reputation, or, be a good person.
"I- what do you want you giant oaf?" She choked, this sort of language was unfamiliar to Edith, she never felt more unlike herself.
"Oh, heh, you always know how to crack a joke Edie!" Hagrid trembled, his voice quiet and shaky.
"Get lost r*tard* Can't you see she doesn't want to speak to you." Malfoy snarled arrogantly.
Hagrid opened his mouth to speak, but no sound escaped his quivering lips, he turned away from the group, smiling weakly at Edith once more.
Edith felt her heart ache and the large boy walk away shamefully, his hung low.
"Malfoy, you were too cruel!" Edith cried
"What? Like you were any nicer princess!" He scoffed.
He was right, Edith thought. What was she turning into?
~~~~~