There was a place for everything and everyone wasn’t in their place. Tom being that mushroom rolling around the potionear floor. Obstructing the perfect balance of everything. Bellatrix wanted to crush him under her toe. In fact she’d do it to all of them huddling around Tom under the old gnaw willow tree. Tom being the more quiet one in the center. Like a sun with his planets orbiting him.
Avery remarks something witty and the group laughs a little too loudly. All but Tom. Avery looks over to him and Tom nods. A hint of a smile. Ah his approval. Bellatrix can tell Avery craves it. The git.
Perhaps Avery was easy to manipulate into making friends but the Lestrange brothers? How could they ignore the ambiguous blooded boy? A sad orphan story couldn’t have swayed them all. It’s one thing to be a teacher's pet but another to be among one's peers.
“Are you looking at Riddle?” Rita Skeeter shifted on Bellatrix’s lap.
Her poor dye job fan out perfectly. Making a halo around her face.
“Course not.”
“Ignore him.” Rita said looking up at Bella, “Or else I’ll get jealous.”
“Stop it!” Bella slap the roaming hand away from her chin.
“Sorry. It was just a joke.” said Rita, a little hurt.
“Then you need to get better material.”
But Bellatrix did keep staring at Tom. He paused looking up bored as he met her gaze. As if sensing it. He slowly took a piece of chocolate on offer from a box held up. Staring back blankly. Him half listening to the world around him. Pinching a piece of sweet between his lips. Kissing off the chocolate stain from the pad of his index finger. Bella crushed her fingers into a fist.
“Upstarter.”
“So he got better grades in Defense against the Dark arts.” Rita said, “Since when is it a contest?”
“In life there is always a contest.” Bella said, “Everyone competes against each other.”
Rita sat up, “Really, then what's the one we’re having?”
“Don’t be daff, you were the prize.”
“Aw.”
“-I beat Mulciber for your attention which wasn’t hard.”
“Seriously?”
Bellatrix ignored her getting to her feet. Brushing the grass from her seat of her robe. She walked with purpose up and past Tom Riddle. He turned half amused. Until she slapped the box of chocolates from Lucius' hand. The pieces shower down on the group and Tom’s head. Ruining their mood.
“Black!” Avery cried, a piece running down his neckline.
Bella didn’t stop but smiled to herself.
*
“Oh pick me. Pick me as your dueling partner.” Andromeda held up her hand hopping on one foot. Stopping at the disgusted look on Bellatrix's face.
“I happen to be a prime sparring partner.” Bella said, “Of course they would fight over me.”
“Fight over and kiss your hand. I doubt your little fan club cares if you were the worst in the dueling club.” Andromeda said, slipping out of her uniform for knickerboxers.
An old sore rose up inside Bella.
“Who said I wasn’t good?”
“Who doesn’t fill the seats to watch you take it out on the other team?” Andromeda said,
“If I was Tom Riddle you wouldn’t doubt my skill.” Bella said slamming shut her locker so hard it echoed through the girls changing room.
“I didn’t say you weren’t.” Andromeda said, a little nervous of her older sister.
Bella scoffed.
“What’s got you in a mood Bella?”
Not getting an answer Andromeda made sure to walk a good arms length behind as they both entered the long room.
The dueling club had wooden panels running along the walls. A good deal of daylight filtering the diamond cross windows. At one end a group of sparring dummies stood. Along with the other members of the club stretching. Among them, the only one who wore his school robes was Tom. That pleased Bella a fraction of a bit.
It was a two against two. Bella and Andromeda went up first against Haywood and Snyde. Before they could make their bows Tom broke ranks.
“Miss Black, I wonder if I might have the pleasure.” Tom said,
Bella frowned. Looking him over for a smirk or glance over at the other boys. Seeing if any of them were holding back a snicker. But there was none. Tom’s dark eyes pin her in place. Making her squirm for remaining silent.
“Care to see what failure looks like teacher’s pet?” Bella said,
Tom shrugged, “Is that a yes?”
Bella felt a pressure from around her. Eye’s and whispers boring down on her. Never had she felt so exposed.
“Fine!”
Turning from Riddle her heart fluttered as she took her place.
One foot in front of the other. Wand arm pose and ready while Riddle took his position. Not a single hair out of place. Meanwhile Bella's heart was racing, her palm sweaty.
Andromeda stood between them, “First to drop the other’s wand wins. Go.”
Bella inhaled. Gathering her wit she threw her first spell. “Expelliarmus,”
Tom blocks it without having to move. With feet apart and hunched against the hit he readies himself. A moment passes and his clear shield wall lifts.
“Stupefy.” Bella said,
Blocked again. But her spell did push him. His feet slide against the wooden surface leaving behind skid marks. The crowd watched in awe.
Bella hits him with another attack with he too blocks. He blocks her counter curse and catches the next. Like a circus performer he twirls it at the end of his wand. Sending it back to hit a dummy which explores. The stuffing rains down on the two.
Her blood boils. Through the snow storm Bella watches Tom. Not a single bead of sweat on his forehead nor a glint of pain. No, it was Bella who sent spell after spell. Her hand grew sweaty on her wand handle. Sweat on her brow.
But not Riddle.
His handle was elegant. The way he took down her attempts or counter them. It was beautiful. He was beautiful as he did it.
“Are you going to fire back!” Bella said,
Tom twisted and wrapped Bella’s spell into a harmless orb. Letting it float beside him. It glows the same blushing tone of exhaustion as she.
“You will not make a mockery out of me.” Bella said to his silence.
Instead of shooting a spell towards him she hit the orb. Its energy exploded and smacked Tom across the mouth. Letting a bead of blood bubble to the surface.
The room grew quiet.
Tom stumbles back looking over at Bella. The bubble turns to a spring running down his chin. Tom licks it, still staring at her.
“Bella, where are you going?” Andromeda calls after her.
*
Bella ran a finger down the spins of M A’s. Master advanced potions, Mason Allen’s book of potions down to a space where a pair of dark eyes stared back.
“Riddle!”
Tom cocks his head, “You’ve been avoiding me. Why?”
Bellatrix replaced the space with the book she was carrying. Hearing movement from behind the bookshelf. Hoping to ignore it till he turns down her alley. The sunlight from the window gives him a striking silhouette. Leaning against the wall of books. His silence was heavy as his stare.
“Fine!” Bella got a hiss from the librarian. Forcing her to drop her tone down to a harsh hush. “Everyone is so bewitched by you but I know the truth!”
“No,” Tom said, “That’s not why you’ve been avoiding me.”
“What do you mean, you half breed.”
Tom slowly shook his head, “You left me.”
“The duel, all this about a stupid duel? One you never attempted to do properly.”
The Librarian was leaning over her desk now hissing like a snake, “Miss Black this is your final warning.”
Tom’s clear brow wrinkles, “Explain.”
“Explain what? How you never shot back. Just toy with me in front of everyone.”
“So that is why you avoided me?”
“Well no,” Bella became flustered, “I just don’t have time for your kind.”
Much to Bella's surprise Tom did not seem fazed. Not like she would if called such filth. His lip became a fine line and hummed to himself.
“You’re not even going to deny it.” Bella said, “About your background.”
But Tom ignored it, “I just wanted to see you fight.”
“Aren’t you listening to me?”
“You fight the worst sorts. They're too weak or don’t take it seriously enough. I wanted to see your real range.”
“Oh,” Was the best Bellatrix could think of saying. Not while Tom looked her over.
“Shame Professor Merrythought doesn’t teach advanced dueling.”
Old hurts rose again, “Right because I’m not as good as you?”
Tom turned ready to leave.
“Wait, wait.”
Tom paused back still to her. Her hand was hovering over his shoulder, afraid to make contact.
“I want a proper rematch.” Bella said,
The corner of his lip pulls back into a smile.
“Midnight, second floor above the Great Hall.” Tom said before walking off.
“You’ll regret it, Riddle.” Bellatrix said with as much bravado she could muster. Earning her an escort out by the librarian.
*
To be smart Bella didn’t light her way. She didn’t care to get caught out of bed. Her toe and elbow took damage along the way. Although a part of her delighted at both of them getting caught. How Teachers Pet wouldn’t look so innocent any more. Being caught alone in the dark with her.
Bella came to the end of the hall. Just about to consider leaving the double doors to the suspension bridge to a whole other wing. When she gave the only door left on said spot a glance; the girls toilet. The door cracked open and a hand with a crock finger beckoned her inside.
“What are you doing in the girls toilet?” Bella said with a rather scandalized look around the darkened room. The many stalls' doors were closed and the floor was lit with half melted candles.
Tom shrugged, “You said you wanted a duel.”
“Here?” Bella smiled, “You really aren’t so innocent are you?”
Tom bowed. Getting into a dueling position, his wand pointed towards her.
“Who told you that?”
Bella genuinely smiled before her wand slid out of her sleeve.
“Expelliarmus!”
Tom twisted, letting her spell ricochet off the taps causing one of the pipes to burst. Spraying the two with water.
Tom’s nonverbal went out but Bella was able to block it with her shield charm. It’s hit reverated echoing in the tile room. Back and forth they went like a dance. His spells grew to the kind she sneak peeks at from books her family held. Dark sorts of magic. Only to be met with the same.
Both were dripping wet and their battle was reaching an apex. Bella was running out of attacks or counter spells. Tom was throwing out more obscure attacks. Many of which were spilling through her shield. Their tentacles reached out and brushed her knuckles raw.
Bella ducks from his next hit which slam into a closed stall door. Hitting meaty flesh and dropping a small figure.
“Ignore it.” Tom said,
She caught a singular sight. Bundled on the floor with glazed over eyes. Bella raised her wand light over the body of Rita Skeeter.
Tom clasps his hand over Bella cry.
“Don’t wake her.” Tom said,
Bella steps backwards keeping Riddle in her sights, “What did you do to her.”
In the glow of candlelight Tom Riddle looked different. His eyes are wilder. The clean cut about him is lost as he matches the distance Bella tried to put between them.
“You're not scared Black?”
“Scared?” But Bellatrix was. All this didn’t feel right.
Rita was splayed out. Her mouth slowly gasped. Some dark spell place over her.
“Don't worry, Skeeter and I are friends too. Friends such as we could be.” Tom said,
Bella pointed her wand tip at Riddle’s heart.
“Is this why you brought me here? To do the same?” Bella said,
“I brought you here to see the best of you. And you didn’t disappoint. I knew you would be special.”
“You’re mad, Riddle.” Yet part of her liked the praise. Rita was bewitched on the floor meanwhile her belly was doing flip flops. And Tom seemed to sense it.
He boldly crossed the distances and took her wand hand.Turning it over to look at her fingers. Seemingly entranced by the scraps and gnaw finger nail from her last duel.
“You could be great.” His breath ghosted over her knuckles. “It’s all here.”
He leaned forward. His fingers smoothing the skin between her digits. Laying a kiss upon her hand seemingly uncaring how sweaty her palm was. Bella shut her eyes taking a moment to savor the feeling. How soft and warm those lips felt.
“You really are crazy.” Bella said breathy.
“Maybe. Or maybe you’ll pick me as your next dueling partner.”