Tormented

I woke up to Riddle’s face hovering over mine, face blank. “where are you injured?” he asked scanning my body. I truly was as clueless as he was, a side effect of my schooling was that I had nerve damage and was unable sometimes to feel lesser injuries. Looking myself over I noticed that a couple shards of glass had cut into my legs. I had bled so much that I had apparently passed out.

“I have blood replenishers in my room let me heal this and then we can get you some.”

“Its ok,” I said “I also have some”

He frowned at me but continued to heal the cuts in my legs before helping me stand and guiding me out of the classroom.

I walked holding onto his arm, to anyone unaware that I was on the verge of passing out it looked like Riddle was simply escorting me back to the common room like the gentleman he was.

We made it back to the common room quickly, thankfully it was late enough that only a few people were still in the common room and no one noticed us using the doors behind our thrones.

Riddle let go of my arm as soon as we entered the common room causing me to stumble a bit before I made it to my door. I turned to thank him for my help, hand on the doorknob, to find that he had already disappeared. Shrugging I entered my room popped back a blood replenisher and passed out in my bed.

I had hoped that I would sleep for at least five hours, as exhausted as I had been, it appeared however that tonight was not to be my night. I dreamed of the night that my father taught me to use the cruciatus, on live targets. It was a difficult memory, made worse by the fact that my head was already pounding. His method of teaching had been to inflict the curse on me whenever I was unable to scrape up enough hatred to preform the curse.

Needless to say I woke with tear tracks on my face. Seeing that I was still in yesterdays clothes I grabbed my pajamas and went to shower. Emerging from the shower I remered it was Sunday. With this in mind I walked out into Slytherin’s study and grabbed a book before settling on the loveseat with the intention of reading for a bit before hopefully being able to fall back asleep.

I had been reading about Parseltongue’s ability to enhance healing spells for maybe thirty minutes before Riddle exited his room. I looked up at the clock on the mantle to see the time and realized it was barely four fifteen. I looked back over at Riddle and realized that he seemed unaware of my presence.

He was - like me - in his pjs, which were just black silk pajama pants. This unfortunately gave me a very good view of his rather distracting chest. He also looked just as exhausted as I felt. He went over to one of the shelves grabbed a book and turned to take a seat on the couch. We made eye contact as he turned, and finally he realized that I was awake. I had never seen that many emotions cross his face before, normally I was very good at reading emotions, but at that precise moment he was feeling so many things I was unable to decipher any of them.

We both looked at each other awkwardly for a second before he seemed to realize he was shirtless and in the presence of a lady. He looked down and blushed faintly before stating “oh i’m sorry I was unaware you were awake i’ll go change”.

“Riddle, i’ve seen many men shirtless before you're fine. We live together i’m sure it will not be the last time I see you in your pajamas.” He seemed to be concerned on many levels with that comment but came and sat down near me on one of the arm chairs. He looked back over at me before he seemed to choke on air at my outfit, and then try to hide his face behind the book he was pretending to read.

Just as he had before, I seemed to remember at that moment what I was wearing. My father provided all clothing for me, with mostly the intention of its function foremost in his mind. Pajamas were only important in their ability to influence anyone I may be sleeping with, not of course for my comfort, and therefore were almost exclusively more lingerie than actual pajama.

This particular number was one of the more modest pieces, thankfully, it was a babydoll dress that had a deep v neck and was sheer in most places. Thankfully I was wearing a long robe over it, though this was also rather sheer.

In summary however, I looked as though I was actively trying to seduce him. It was really not the impression I was going for but I had no other pajama options.

I decided the best way around the situation was to ignore it. “I forgot after our duel, I wanted to talk with you about the meeting I told Melania we were having with the house.”

“Yes people tend to forget things when they knock themselves out on stone floors.” He was avoiding looking at me even as he responded, head still stuck firmly behind his book.

I rolled my eyes at this, though he didn't see it, “So we will have the meeting later tonight yes? And we will discuss the need for the buddy system and also the implementation of Salazar’s portrait in our system for retrieving help in emergencies?” I looked up at Salazar who seemed very amused by our conversation for some reason.

“Yes that is okay I suppose” He replied sounding rather exasperated.

“What shall we tell the house of Slytherin’s study?” I asked “We never discussed how much we wish to share.”

“I don’t think we should tell them of the studies existence, just Salazars portrait and the doors to our bedrooms and bathroom” he spoke up sounding invested in the conversation suddenly.

“That is agreeable to me. May we please tell them we have separate bathrooms though?” I knew I sounded desperate but I was hoping that would help me in this case.

The emotion in my voice finally got him to look up from his book “Why do we need to have separate bathrooms I thought 'there was no possible change of me seeing anything'” I could hear the humor in his voice and that made my next sentence even more mortifying.

“The girls seem to be laboring under the delusion that sharing a bathroom with you must mean that we are courting, or at least having sex.” This got his full attention and unfortunately reminded him of the ensemble I was wearing.

“Ah yes that is rather unfortunate, I cannot have people believing I would tie myself to you in any fashion.”

“Oh really?” I leaned over to see him watching me closely, I bent forward to give him a good view down my top and asked “You really would never tie yourself to me in anyway” blinking up at him through my eyelashes.

I watched him glance down my shirt before realizing what I was up to and pulling his book back in front of his face with a very controlled look of disgust.

I waited a moment for him to respond but when he didn't I grabbed my book and continued where I had left off.

I read for an hour more before heading back to bed and managing three more hours of sleep. The next morning Riddle was at the breakfast table with faint circles under his eyes and I predicted with great certainty that he had continued to read until well after I had gone back to sleep.

*****

That night the whole house appeared for an announcement from the king and queen. Everyone including Slughorn was there.

“We have a few rules we will be implementing this semester.” I started. “We only have safety and house values in mind, however we’ve identified some gaps.”

“If you are caught not following the directives you will face a two day minimum house ostrcization as is mandated.” Tom continued. “ The first is for emergency situations only, we have discovered that Salazar’s portrait above the thrones is animated, he is able to alert us if anything needs us informed quickly. If you have any issues and cannot find someone to get us you may tell him.” At this everyone looked up at Salazar who waved slightly back down and winked at the first years sitting at a table in the back.

“Additionally we will be implementing a couple things for Hogsmead, the first is that we would like to set up a pick up system of sorts where younger years can pay older years to pick up certain items from the village for them” This received a cheer from many of the younger years.

“The second is more serious. There is a war happening and it may travel here, additionally Slytherin’s are not well liked or respected by the other houses. For this reason we are implementing a buddy system. You will travel to from and around the village with at least one other person. If you are found alone someone will be assigned to babysit you on your way back to the castle and you will not enjoy it. Is that clear?” Tom had a way of commanding the attention of everyone in the room without putting in any obvious effort. He spoke barely louder than his normal tone but was heard clearly all the way across the common room because no one else dared make a sound.

“That is our last announcement, however fourth years if you could come here I need to speak with you.” I stated, then turned and headed to sit at my throne. Riddle followed and sat at his throne before pulling out a book.

Once all of them had gathered around me, some glancing at Riddle confusedly, I began. “What I am about to ask of you will take time and effort but I believe it will benefit our house enormously and that it will provide something for you personally to look forward too throughout the week. I will be assigning you each a first year to look over.” Instantly the faces of every first year dropped. “Now don’t misunderstand me, you will not be responsible for them in any way, you will however be expected to provide sort of an introduction to Hogwarts. Remember how you felt as a first year trying to integrate yourself into the house and castle. Its large and confusing and none of the other first years who you see most are able to help. An older year who has experience and is familiar with the process will be able to help.”

“Don’t they already have people for this sort of things? Like you and the prefects?” One of the fourth years asked.

“Much of what we're here for is for serious matters, would you have felt comfortable as a first year asking the queen where to go for snacks, or how to navigate the library? In any case i’m organizing a meeting between you and the first years where I will announce the partners and provide you all with snacks and butterbeer. I am asking your year specifically because you are the most mature group that is not worrying about OWLS or NEWTS.” I watched most of them cave, and hoped silently that they would be even more receptive once they got to interact with their first years.

After dismissing them I turned to Riddle “Is there any reason you chose to sit in on the meeting?” I asked.

“Well this is my chair.” He said, seeing the look I gave him he continued “my presence helped affirm that I agreed with your decision, which will convince them to go along with your plan.”

I had not considered that but I had to agree with him, so I turned and summoned my book before settling in to read for the night.

A little while later we both stood and bid the common room goodnight. With every eye upon us we made our first public show of using the doors behind the throne to get to our rooms. We had decided this would be more effective than an announcement, and would have the added benefit of pissing off Walburga in front of the entire house.

********

The next morning started with Potions, a wonderful way to start a week, and so found most of the seventh year Slytherins hunched over cauldrons at eight am. I was focused enough on my draught of peace that I didn’t realize Slughorn was headed for me until he was almost to my station.

“My dear I very much enjoyed seeing your collaboration with Tom last night! You do work rather well together, make an excellent pair you do! I had an inkling you might which is why I suggested your partnering to Professor Starke.” He winked at me before peering into my cauldron. “Oh Ho! What a beautiful turquoise color your draught has! My dear you may have heard from your some of your friends in house, but I tend to host some rather exclusive gatherings throughout the year! The first dinner is coming up soon and I dare say you should be on the lookout for an invitation young lady!” He winked at me, as he seemed to do often, before turning to peer into the cauldron of the Hufflepuff in front of me.

I had in fact heard of his little slug club, and as much as I despised the man he was rather useful. His larger parties often had people of great importance in the greater english Wizarding community. It was unfortunately an opportunity I could not pass up.

I looked back down at my potion only to realize I was not at the step with which it turned blue. I repressed a snort at Slughorn’s attempt at subtlety and continued brewing.