S I X
The Enigma of Tom Riddle

I aimlessly wandered through the corridors, regretting rushing out of Potion's before Lavender. For the past hour and a half I had been simply ghosting around the castle trying to find my back to the common room.

At this point I was close to just risking it all and teleporting back in my dorm room. However, I didn't want to chance one of the girl's being there. I mean how am I suppose to explain just randomly popping up?

Much to my relief I came upon the doors leading into the library. Pursing my lips I quietly made my way in there, curiously looking around. Dozens of tables, chairs, and couches made there way around the library. The sheer size of the library was bigger than any other other library I had ever seen. Tens to thousands of books, on thousands of shelves, in hundreds of narrow rows lined the walls.

In the very back of the library, practically invisible from where I stood was a darker section; roped off. Just in front of that rope were a few tables, each of which contained practically no students. Not many students were in the library to begin with; however, only one student sat back there.

Tom Riddle sat in the back surrounded by bridges of books, and parchment. He looked glorified as ever, with his hair perfectly neat, and his eyes shining their shimmering blue color. Tom truly was a sight to behold, everything about him seemed so elegant and sophisticated.

Seconds after my eyes landed on him, as if he could sense my presence—he looked up. Our eyes met dramatic-fierce clash. His blue orbs glared into mine harshly, a sign that surely said he was pissed at me. For such a facade artist, he sure was having a hard time keeping it up around me.

With a shrug of my shoulders I began approaching his table. Tom rose an eyebrow as if surprised I was actually walking over, he leaned back in his chair crossing his arms. A book containing who-knows-what lay open in front of him, giving him the ever aura of a teenage prodigy.

"Tommy, I'm lost." I sighed, falling into the seat across from him.

His nostrils flared, as he leaned closer to me—eyes flashing wrathfully.

"I have already asked you to not call me, Tommy. I am now loosing my patience, Lightly." He hissed, giving me a deadly look.

"Alright fine." I gave in, holding my hands up. "But I really am lost." I added meekly in a more awkward tone.

Tom gave a huff, looking to me in annoyance. What happened to the ever so charming boy?

"And what would you like me to do about it? Do I look like a Gryffindor to you?" He spat harshly.

"Unfortunately, no." I drawled out a sigh resting my head on my arm.

Tom watched me emotionless, before looking around. "Shouldn't you be off fooling around like the delinquent you are?" He waved me off, picking up a quill and writing on some parchment.

Unable to stop myself, I looked over to what he was writing on. I frowned not being able to identify the subject. "What is that?"

"Merlin, do you ever shut up?" He questioned, giving me a look of disdain.

"Only when I sleep." I told him in a deadly serious tone. "But other than that my mouth's running." I added with a taunting smile. "Back on topic, what is that?" I clapped my hands, looking to the parchment.

"Can't even recognize a Transfiguration essay, you're more daft than I previously presumed." He shook his head, sneering at me.

"Woah, what in the world happened to the friendly prefect Tom?" I threw my hands up in mock exasperation.

"He walked out the door the minute you proceeded to call me, 'Tommy'." He crooned, before going back to his work.

Ignoring his rude tone, I looked to his paper. Was it even possible to have such perfect handwriting.

"Why is your handwriting so perfect?" I questioned, not realizing what I said until after it left my mouth.

Tom looked up with a perfectly innocent look. "Isn't everything about me perfect?" He questioned in an arrogant tone.

"Aren't you modest." I sarcastically replied.

"Modesty is for the weak." He informed me. "And unlike you, I am not weak."

If only you knew buddy.

"I'm still lost." I said, changing the topic before I let something I regret slip.

"Bloody hell, Lightly. Get up." Tom scowled, standing from his chair.

For the first time I took into account that he stood almost a head taller than me. Tom noticed this as well and smirked causing me to narrow my eyes. Not bothering to take his stuff from the table, Tom exited the library me hot on his heels.

"You just left your stuff there." I pointed out the obvious causing Tom to roll his eyes.

"I'm going back." He breathed out, in a final word.

Not bothering to say anything else the two of us walked through the castle in silence, Tom leading the way. Once we came upon the portrait of the fat lady who spoke to the painting next to her, I looked to Tom with raised brows.

"You know where the Gryffindor common room is?" I asked with a bit of disbelief.

"I know everything about this school, Lightly." He stated pompously, lifting his head up in a proud way.

I narrowed my eyes, his conceited nature getting on my nerves. Smirking I prepared to burst his bubble. "Oh great, you will definitely be the one I go to if I need anything." I stressed the word anything.

Tom gave a horrified expression as if the instance disgusted him—making me give an offended look in return. "You will do no such thing, good day Lightly." He ended the conversation abruptly spinning on his heel smoothly walking back the way we came, his dark robes flitting behind him.

I watched him go, for once being rendered speechless. As soon as Tom turned the corner leaving my sight completely, the sound of little kids screaming filled my ears. Distracted I turned my head to the right, seeing what I could only guess to be first year Gryffindor's running toward me with alarmed gazes.

Soon I understood why, seeing the poltergeist who I remembered as Peeves chasing them with a sword.

"Open the common room!" A little girl with pigtails, yelled out as their approaching figures got closer.

"Morgenstern." I yelped at the lady, who quickly swung open.

"Do my eyes deceive me, or am I staring at my future bride?" I vaguely heard the poltergeist taunt me as I ran into the common room, the children on my heels.

Knowing the painting could do nothing to keep him out, I began running up the stairway leading into my dormitory. Hopefully, the girl's only rule applied to him as well—though I highly doubted it. Just as I made it to the top the children scrambled in, doing the same as I had running up the steps.

Luckily by the time I heard the taunting voice in the common room, I was long gone—safely hidden in the warmth of my dormitory room. With a loud bang, the door was slammed shut. Much to my shock and relief I was the only one in here.

Carefully, I slid down the door until my bottom hit the ground.  Running my fingers through my hair I thought back on the enigma that was Tom Riddle. Everything about Top was both repulsive, yet in some twisted way appealing. I would continue getting closure to him in my own way, through annoyance. Eventually he would need to come to the conclusion that I wouldn't leave him alone and hopefully come to accept me as more than just a vexation to him. If luck was on my side he would maybe even accept me as a friend. Though a large part of me doubted it.

However, I still had a long way to go before Tom would even begin thinking like that—if at all. Besides even if I couldn't change him from his dark course completely, perhaps I could make it so he kills less people. Anything would be better than the course he's currently on.

Shaking off my thoughts, I stood from my position on the floor—walking over to the bed claimed as mine. A small smile tugged at my lips when I saw what was placed on the bed. Brand new Gryffindor uniforms—that looked to be just my size sitting on my bed. Along with the uniforms was a rucksack, quills, parchment, and books. Everything I would need in order to attend here. On top of all this supplies was a single note.

'Stay focused on the mission
                                             - A.D.'

I knew 'A.D.' was Dumbledore without a doubt, but the fact that he kept to his word and got me all the supplies I would need made me happier than I thought. Not only was it uniforms, but it was also pajama's and a few dresses. I shook my head with a smile beginning to put all the stuff away.

It didn't take longer than ten minutes as soon I was sitting on my bed staring at the clock. From what Walter told me in Divination earlier, dinner wouldn't be for another hour or so. Honestly, I was more tired than hungry, and decided that I would turn in incredibly early to catch up on some sleep.

I made it a point to shower first feeling dirty, before I slipped on a pair of the new pajamas Dumbledore had got me. The long-sleeve silk shirt, and trousers felt nice against my clean skin. My mouth was left feeling unnaturally pristine after I had scrubbed it thoroughly with an extra tooth brush I had found. Per usual my hair was insane with it's wild curls springing every which way, more so after I had taken it out of the braid.

I found no concern with this though, simply jumping under the warm blankets of my bed. Thoughts of Tom Riddle circled my head, as well as the thought of Balthazar. I wonder how long it would take for him to notice my disappearance. He'll probably realize something is off tomorrow and come searching for me.

In that moment I couldn't find it in myself to care all that much falling deeper and deeper into my trance until finally, I was gone into a swirling mass of vivid colorful dreams.