5th Year, April 13th, Hogsmeade.
It was a bright sunny day outside, the sunlight poured through the windows, allowing the place they were in a light atmosphere. The three broomsticks was always filled to the brim on days like these, especially during the weekends. It was also the prime spot for dates, which was exactly why two girls were practically sitting on the edges of their seats, listening in on conversations shamelessly for later gossip.
A brunette Slytherin and dirty-blonde Ravenclaw sat next to each other, eyes peeled on their current victims- a 4th year Gryffindor and Slytherin, in the corner and snogging each other.
'You'd think they'd have some respect for PDA.' the brunette said distastefully, nose wrinkling. 'I mean, some of us are trying to drink, here! I don't need to lose my appetite further.. I mean, how do they even make that relationship work? You'd catch me dead and six-feet under before you find me making out with a Gryffindor.'
'Yeah right.. remember Jason? You were practically sobbing everywhere after that ended.'
She rolls her eyes, 'Please, you can't be talking. You were slobbering all over your current boyfriend.. You couldn't go two seconds without mentioning him!' she took a sip of her butterbeer, relishing in the sweet and smoothness of the drink.
'Yeah, well.. I couldn't give a crap about him anymore. He was literally seeing two other girls while we were dating! Anyway, his ego was through the roof. I don't know what I saw in him..'
Suddenly, the Slytherin spit her drink out and took a double-take towards the door. The Ravenclaw made a noise of disgust and cleaned the spill with a flick of her wand quickly.
'Oh.. my.. god!' the girl with two sets of braids gasped quietly, the friend in front of her tilt their head with confusion.
'What is it, Emily?'
Emily grabs her friend by the shoulders, pulling them in so she can discreetly whisper in their ear. She points to the door, 'Did you see who just walked in?'
The Ravenclaw narrows her eyes, trying to follow the pointing finger before her jaw drops open. She turns to her friend who had the same shocked expression, 'Oh my god.' she repeats. 'That's Potter.'
'Yeah!' Emily whisper-shouts, 'Harry bloody Potter. What's he doing here? I don't see his friends anywhere.. you don't think..? Victoria.. I think..'
'Okay let's slow down.. we don't know for sure if he's here for a date.'
'Are you kidding me?' Emily says disbelievingly, inspecting the boy that had just sat down not 4 tables down from them. 'Look!' she forces her friend's head to turn to the black-haired boy, 'He just checked himself with a mirror!'
Indeed, Harry had took out a small hand mirror from his pocket, nervously smoothing his hair down with a hand. After a few failed attempts, he sighs and vanishes the item with a tap of his wand.
'Well, I'll be damned.' Victoria gulped down some of her drink, setting the empty glass on the table with a sigh. 'I suppose Riddle's finally asked him out?'
'About time, I'd say! Honestly, the poor bloke's in love with the most stupid person alive. How Potter hasn't gotten the hint yet, I don't even know..'
'He could snog him in the middle of the Great Hall and Potter would still think they were best friends.'
'Honestly!' Victoria huffs, 'He needs to open his eyes and-'
That was when another girl had walked in, she had a yellow tie, an obvious Hufflepuff. Dark black hair and hazel brown eyes, her hair was in a high ponytail that trailed all the way down to the middle of her back. Her eyes swept across the room before landing on someone and making her way over to them.
Time seemed to slow down as she walked towards a certain someone with green eyes and black hair- a Gryffindor with glasses and an anxious smile.
The two girls looked at each other.
'Oh. My. God.'
'Riddle's going to start a riot.' Emily snorts, drinking her butterbeer hastily. 'I bet you two galleons he's going to show up.'
'I doubt that.' Victoria sniffs, 'He seems like a very composed fellow.'
'Oh, you sweet, innocent child.' Emily shakes her head, 'You're not the one in the same house as him.. that man is a dictator. Hot, but ruthless.' she sighs dreamily, resting a chin on her palm.
Victoria chuckled at her friend's dramatic description, taking another sip of her butterbeer. The two continued to watch the unfolding scene with great interest.
As the Hufflepuff girl reached Harry's table, the atmosphere in The Three Broomsticks seemed to shift. The Gryffindor looked up from his hands, a surprised expression on his face. The brunette and dirty-blonde exchanged glances, anticipating the impending drama.
The Hufflepuff greeted Harry with a warm smile, and the two engaged in a conversation. Emily nudged Victoria with her elbow, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
'He's definitely going to show up,' Emily whispered confidently. 'Riddle can't resist a chance to stake his claim, especially with Potter.'
Victoria raised an eyebrow, skeptical but intrigued. The Hufflepuff girl seemed friendly, and Harry appeared genuinely pleased by her company. However, both girls knew that the Slytherin prefect had a reputation for being possessive.
'Come on, Vicky. I mean, remember that poor guy in fourth-year?'
'You're gonna have to jog my memory.. which one?'
Emily scoffs, 'Did you not hear any of the gossip last year? Okay, come here.' she gestured her to come closer, Victoria shuffled over, leaning in for Emily to whisper into her ear. 'So, last year. There was this guy in Gryffindor. Charles Jamieson. Don't you remember?'
With a shake of her head, Emily rolls her eyes and continues, 'Well let's just say Potter and Riddle got into somewhat of an argument. I heard, Jamieson swooped in and comforted Potter, you could practically see Riddle seething at the Slytherin table. I think, at one point someone's plate flipped onto their head.'
Victoria's eyes widen with recognition, 'That guy? Tall, blue eyes, brown hair?'
Emily nods ferociously, 'That guy.' she waves a hand around, 'Anyway, apparently one day Riddle saw them holding hands and Jamieson went missing the next day.'
Victoria gasps, 'They found him with one of his hands cut off, didn't they?'
Emily nods solemnly, 'Yeah, and the word is that it was cursed so that it couldn't be reattached. Gruesome, right? And they say it was Riddle who did it. Of course, in the end they concluded it to be a splinching gone wrong.'
Victoria shivers, 'Merlin's beard. I had no idea it was that serious.'
'Oh, it gets worse. Jamieson left Hogwarts after that, transferred to Beauxbatons or something. Rumor has it that he still has nightmares about Riddle.'
Victoria leans back in her chair, blowing a huff of air out slowly. 'And you reckon he'll do something similar this year?'
Emily smirks, 'Oh, definitely. Plus, he's been eyeing Potter since first year. I bet he won't let anyone take what he believes is rightfully his.'
'Bloody hell, I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for Potter. Riddle sounds mad.'
'Oh, come on Vicky! He's not all bad, he's actually really helpful. He helped me with my homework once! I got to see his face up close..' Emily sighs again, 'So hot.'
Victoria gives Emily a skeptical look, 'You're into that brooding, mysterious type, aren't you?'
Emily grins mischievously, 'Guilty as charged. But don't let the looks fool you, he's got a temper like a Hungarian Horntail. Just ask Jamieson.'
Victoria chuckled nervously, glancing back at the unfolding scene. The Hufflepuff girl and Harry seemed to be having a pleasant conversation, unaware of the potential storm brewing around them. Meanwhile, Emily sipped her butterbeer, a wicked gleam in her eyes.
'Alright, Em, let's see if your prediction comes true.'
'Oh, it will. You'll see,' Emily replied confidently.
As if right on cue, the door at the entrance swung open. A few heads swiveled to the direction, Emily almost squealed before Victoria sighed heavily and slapped a hand over her mouth. Standing there was Tom Riddle, his robes billowing behind him like he had ran here, although not a hair was out of place.
The door closed again and a myriad of eyes hastily tore them away from the Slytherin, but still undoubtedly keeping a track on his movements. The prefect seemed to demand every ounce of attention that was effortlessly earned. Every, except one Harry Potter, who was conversing with his date even though the other girl was staring openly at Tom Riddle with a mouth hanging open.
His dark eyes scanned the entire place, and they lock onto Harry and the Hufflepuff girl, who were engrossed in conversation. He arched an eyebrow, a subtle but noticeable expression of displeasure crossing his features. The Slytherin made his way toward them, a calculated grace in each step.
The two girls observed with bated breath as Riddle approached Harry's table. Harry faltered in the middle of his talking, when he looks up to see Riddle, a smile graces his face.
'Hey Tom!'
The Slytherin smirked slightly, 'Hello, Harry.'
'I didn't expect to see you here- are you meeting with someone?'
'Oh, no. I was just feeling a bit thirsty, so I thought I might drop by.' he says, just as Emily turns to her friend to mouth the words "bullshit", Victoria hides her snort quickly before returning to eavesdropping, 'Who might this be?' he asks with a tilt of his head, an innocent expression on his face.
'Ah- right!' Harry turns back to his date, who couldn't keep her eyes off of Riddle, a fluster on her cheeks. She speaks up nervously, standing up with a clatter as her chair screeches against the floor
'Hi, I'm-'
Riddle cut her off with a polite, but dismissive wave of his hand. 'I know who you are. Tom Riddle.' he smiles handsomely, extending a hand out.
The Hufflepuff girl hesitated for a moment, glancing between Riddle and Harry before reluctantly shaking his hand. Tom Riddle's smile never wavered, but there was an intensity in his gaze that made her visibly uncomfortable, if not visibly flustered.
'Charmed, I'm sure,' he said smoothly. 'I hope I'm not interrupting anything important.'
'Oh, well we were just in the middle of a-'
'No, not at all!' the Hufflepuff blurts out with red cheeks, she gestures to an empty chair beside her. Harry frowned, eyebrows furrowed with confusion.
'Ah, but wait isn't this a da-'
'Thank you.' Riddle interrupts, although instead of sitting beside the Hufflepuff, he sits next to Harry, discreetly moving the chair just a few inches closer.
The Ravenclaw and Slytherin girls exchanged alarmed glances as Tom Riddle smoothly inserted himself into the conversation, taking a seat next to Harry. The Hufflepuff girl shifted uncomfortably, and Harry looked puzzled but didn't voice any objections.
The exchange of pleasantries was cordial, but an underlying tension simmered beneath the surface. Emily leaned closer to Victoria, a triumphant glint in her eyes.
'Look at him, he's practically marking his territory.'
Victoria shook her head, 'This is ridiculous. They're just having a conversation.'
Emily scoffed, 'Trust me, this is just the calm before the storm. Watch and learn.'
As Riddle settled into the conversation, the atmosphere became even more charged with tension. Emily couldn't help but chuckle under her breath, earning a disapproving look from Victoria.
'Seriously, Emily, this is not a laughing matter,' Victoria whispered.
'Oh, come on, Vicky. This is going to be good,' Emily replied with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Riddle continued to engage in the conversation effortlessly, seamlessly intertwining his words with Harry's and the Hufflepuff girl's. The other patrons of The Three Broomsticks continued to steal glances at the intriguing trio, sensing the brewing drama.
Victoria leaned closer to Emily, her eyes fixed on the unfolding scene. 'He's definitely making a statement. Poor Hufflepuff girl doesn't stand a chance.'
'I don't think there ever was one..'
As the conversation progressed, Riddle's gaze remained fixed on Harry. There was an intensity in his eyes, a possessiveness that couldn't be ignored. The Hufflepuff girl, sensing the unspoken tension, tried to steer the conversation towards more neutral topics, but Riddle skillfully redirected it back.
The two girls watched as Riddle chatted idly with the Hufflepuff, though his hands always seemed to be on some part of Harry's body. One was propping up his chin gracefully, and the other was fiddling with one of Harry's black locks of hair, playing with it and smoothing it out.
Emily leaned in closer to Victoria, her eyes widening with excitement. 'See? I told you he can't resist. It's like he's marking his territory right in front of everyone.'
'But what about Harry? Doesn't he mind?' Victoria whispered back, her gaze flickering between Riddle and Harry.
Emily chuckled softly, 'Oh, trust me. Potter's clueless when it comes to this kind of stuff. Riddle could practically have "Property of Tom Riddle" written on his forehead, and Potter would still think they're just friends.'
At one point, Riddle's hand reached out to gently cup Harry's cheek. The Gryffindor blinked in surprise, and the atmosphere grew even more charged. Riddle leaned in, his lips almost brushing against Harry's ear as he whispered something that was inaudible to the eavesdropping girls. Harry's eyes widened, his cheeks flushing with color. He stammered out a response, and Riddle pulled back, a self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips. Emily doesn't know how he does it, but the Gryffindor clears his blush with a cough, rejoining the conversation a short while after.
'Poor Potter,' Emily mused, 'He's completely oblivious.'
'Or he's trying to be diplomatic about it. I mean, they're friends, right?'
Emily chuckled, 'Friends? Darling, that's the most complicated friendship I've ever seen. There's more to it, mark my words.'
A few minutes later, Harry excused himself to visit the restroom, leaving Riddle alone with the Hufflepuff. The Slytherin prefect took advantage of the opportunity, voice much louder than before.
'I do hope you're enjoying your time with Harry,' Riddle said smoothly, his tone polite but without a hint of warmth.
The Hufflepuff, clearly flustered stuttered, 'Oh, um. Yes. He's really nice..' she takes a long sip from her drink, taking a longer time to swallow.
Riddle leans forward, a smile on his face as he whispered something to her face. She shivered violently, paling considerably. Victoria and Emily exchanged wide-eyed glances as they witnessed Riddle's calculated moves. The Hufflepuff girl, caught in Riddle's web, seemed both fascinated and disturbed by his attention. As Harry returned to the table, the tension reached its peak.
As Harry returned to the table, the Hufflepuff girl seemed visibly shaken. She tried to resume the conversation, but Riddle's presence had cast a shadow over the cheerful atmosphere. Harry, unaware of the undercurrents, tried to bring back the jovial mood.
Riddle, however, had different plans. He smoothly redirected the conversation, seamlessly steering it towards more intimate topics. The Hufflepuff girl, caught off guard, attempted to respond but found herself struggling under the Slytherin prefect's piercing gaze.
As the conversation continued, Riddle's attention remained fixated on Harry. The Gryffindor, for his part, seemed increasingly flustered by the unexpected turn of events. Emily nudged Victoria, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
'Look at Potter. He's completely lost.'
Victoria sighed. 'I still can't believe we're witnessing this. It's like a live drama.'
Riddle's arm had trailed its way around Harry's waist intimately, his hand curled around the sides. Harry pays no mind, instead finishing his drink quickly to talk animatedly about an entirely different subject.
Emily watched the scene unfold with fascination, a wicked grin playing on her lips. 'Riddle's making his move, and Potter doesn't even realize it.'
'Poor Hufflepuff,' Victoria muttered, her gaze shifting between the trio and the rest of the pub, where the patrons were now divided between those minding their own business and those discreetly observing the unfolding spectacle.
As Riddle continued to weave his web of charm, Harry's discomfort became more apparent. The Hufflepuff girl, despite her initial enthusiasm, now looked trapped in an awkward situation. It was clear she had become an unwitting pawn in the Slytherin prefect's game.
'I bet he planned this whole thing,' Emily whispered, her eyes gleaming with excitement. 'He knew Potter would be here, and he decided to make his move.'
'But why? What's Riddle's endgame?' Victoria wondered, her curiosity piqued despite her reservations about the unfolding drama.
'Who knows with Riddle? Maybe he just enjoys the thrill of the game. Or maybe he's trying to send a message to Potter,' Emily speculated, her gaze never leaving the trio.
As the conversation continued, Riddle's words became more hushed, his proximity to Harry more intimate. The Gryffindor seemed torn between enjoying the attention and feeling uneasy about the situation. Victoria couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him.
'Potter's in way over his head,' Victoria muttered, shaking her head in disbelief.
'You have no idea,' Emily replied, her eyes still fixed on the unfolding drama.
Suddenly, Riddle's hand found its way to Harry's chin, tilting his head slightly as if inspecting him. The atmosphere grew even more charged, and the pub seemed to fall into a hushed silence as patrons discreetly watched the unexpected encounter.
'What is he doing?' Victoria whispered, her eyes wide.
'I told you, Vicky. Riddle's claiming his territory,' Emily said with a mischievous grin.
Harry, looking flustered and slightly bewildered, attempted to steer the conversation back to safer topics. Riddle, however, seemed determined to keep the focus on their interaction. As the tension reached its peak, Emily and Victoria couldn't help but hold their breaths, waiting for the next move in this unexpected game of chess.
Just then, the door to The Three Broomsticks swung open, drawing the attention of the pub's patrons. A new player entered the scene, and both girls watched with anticipation as another figure stepped into the spotlight.
A tall, red-haired figure walked in, his Gryffindor robes billowing behind him. His eyes scanned the room before landing on the trio at the center of attention. A smirk played on his lips as he made his way toward the table.
'Oh, you've got to be kidding me,' Victoria muttered, recognizing the newcomer.
'Looks like the cavalry has arrived,' Emily said, her eyes narrowing as she observed the unfolding dynamics.
The red-haired Gryffindor approached the table with confidence, his presence commanding attention. He shot a casual smile at the Hufflepuff girl, who looked both relieved and perplexed by his arrival. Riddle, on the other hand, regarded the newcomer with a cool and calculating expression.
'Harry! You never told me you were on a date,' the red-haired Gryffindor said, his tone light but with a hint of mischief.
Harry, looking both surprised and grateful for the interruption, stammered, 'Ron! Hey, I didn't expect to see you here.'
'Well, you know, Hogsmeade weekends are perfect for surprises,' Ron replied, his eyes flickering between Harry, Riddle, and the Hufflepuff.
'Ron Weasley,' Riddle acknowledged with a polite nod. 'A pleasure to see you.'
'The pleasure's all mine,' Ron quipped, shooting a sly grin in Riddle's direction. 'I hope I'm not interrupting anything important.'
'Not at all,' Riddle replied smoothly, his gaze never leaving Ron's. 'Just enjoying some pleasant conversation.'
'Looks intense,' Ron remarked, his eyes lingering on Riddle's hand that still rested on Harry's waist.
'It's been eventful,' Harry admitted, shooting a grateful look at the red-haired Gryffindor.
'Well, we should let you get back to it,' he said, gesturing toward the Hufflepuff girl. 'Wouldn't want to keep you from your date.'
Victoria and Emily exchanged amused glances as Ron smoothly inserted himself into the situation. Riddle, maintaining his composed exterior, gave a slight nod. Harry, visibly relieved, introduced Ron to the Hufflepuff girl, who seemed to welcome the distraction.
As Ron joined the conversation and took a seat at the table, the tension that had gripped The Three Broomsticks began to ease. The pub's patrons returned to their own affairs, and the atmosphere gradually shifted back to its usual lively state.
'That was unexpected,' Victoria remarked, taking a sip of her butterbeer.
'Weasley always has worst timing,' Emily replied, her eyes still following the trio's conversation. 'Saved Potter from Riddle's clutches, at least for now.'
'Potter really needs to get a clue,' Victoria sighed, shaking her head.
'Agreed.'
Victoria casts one last look back at the table, she turns to her friend. 'Well, let's get going now, shall we? I don't think anything's really gonna happen after Potter's backup has just arrived.'
Emily sighed, 'Oh, alright then. I still have that Potion's essay I haven't finished.'
'Seriously? That was due a week ago!'
'It's not my fault! And you still owe me those two galleons, by the way!'