Chapter 10

"the young tom riddle liked to collect trophies"HP6

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Many girls were swooning over him, even if he didn't do anything to encourage them.Some girls dared to approach him to talk to him with great expectations. But soon they had to leave with the most sorrowful faces.Riddle was already drowned into his readings to care about them."He's handsome and he bloody knows it well" Adele commented bitterly.Evelyn shot him a last perplexed look, then ducked her head on her book.She wondered if privately he acted with the other girls as he liked to do with her. She couldn't know. And the possibility that he might enjoy teasing only her sinisterly fascinated her."He almost doesn't seem human since he doesn't show any interest for any girls. Do you think he has some secret affair or particular tastes?" Kat asked in a whisper."I didn't hear anything interesting" Adele replied. They enjoyed gossiping even in the Study Area "It's a mystery even for the Slytherin girls. He didn't date anyone as far as people know, nor he ever flirted with anyone. He just acts like a gentleman whenever it can give him a good reputation"."Perhaps he feels he's too handsome for falling for any of us" Kat simpered."That's possible. But he's too introvert and too much a model student for me. I'd feel too worthless around him"."Evy? Why you're not saying anything?" Kat complained."You two are still in a deep competition, aren't you? I wish I can help you to defeat that brilliant brain of him" Adele sighed."He's just a brat" Evelyn snapped under her breath.Her two friends burst out laughing, catching the attentions of the other students.Also Riddle raised his eyes and his stare was enough to quiet them down.Evelyn lowered her eyes before he could cross her eyes. She discovered how he knew too much and probably realized whather friends were gossiping about. She avoided him since their nighttime adventure some days before.She couldn't explain to herself why she cried after locking herself into the Room of Requirement. Minutes before she had been overwhelmed by opposite feelings that pushed her towards him like a moth around a light, then she discovered he tried to use the legilimency on her and everything broke.She spent the whole night into that room, afraid that he might have waited for her out of the door. But in the morning the corridor was empty and she hurried back to her dormitory.During their mutual classes, she got used to arrive with her closest friends and insisted to sit next to them. In the Great Hall they were on the opposite sides and even if she tried to ignore him, sometimes she felt his stare on her.She even started to appreciate Vincent's company just to be always busy with someone. Days passed and the anger evaporated. Distance was becoming a routine.Evelyn crossed his dark eyes one evening while they were having supper.She kept their eye contact with no grief. His eyes gave what seemed a knowing look. No, she didn't feel him as a menace anymore.He couldn't read her mind anymore. She wouldn't ever hang out with him again at night. They were in different houses. He couldn't harm her.And Vincent seemed closer, so she felt safe.

Evelyn got rid of the cursed key in that same night Riddle left it to her. She hoped nobody else would find it ever again.Other mysteries were calling her and she couldn't afford to linger on the past.Evelyn reached the library using a secret passage near her tower.It didn't surprise her to find Riddle studying there too. They were the ones who spent most of their time in libraries.She headed towards the Restricted Section, but she had to walk past him.His head was lowered to the book he was reading.She stopped, couldn't help but watching him with wonder, recalling her friends' discussion. He was extraordinarily handsome indeed. And then he looked so harmless.Evelyn forced herself to look away and walk forward to the shieves she needed, not knowing that he noticed her staring and pretended to be indifferent.

She had to care of her homeworks before her private researches, but she usually forgot what had to come first.She looked for the books she needed for her homeworks and piled them on a table together with her own.She was so concentrated that she didn't realize someone approached her, until she saw some arms trapping her against the table.She startled, turning and coming face to face with Riddle.If it was Vincent she would have laughed, but she couldn't afford such a reaction with that Slytherin boy. He who chuckled at her reaction."Riddle! That's rude!" She pushed him away."My apologies, then" he came closer again.She found herself trapped between the table and his body. She eyed Riddle's calm face, like he was used to do such things.He checked the notes she left of the table "Reports for next week. I've already finished them all. I can help, if you want"."Let me go" she asked in a husky voice.He raised an eyebrow raising his hands just to rest them back on the table on each of her sides."Am I making you so uncomfortable?" He asked in a soft whisper.She forced herself not to swallow. She couldn't know how much he penetrated her mind, but she hoped to have blocked him before he could learn too much"No, it's you who is acting so childishly" she snapped, turning to focus on her works again.His hand checked the books she had piled "Where did you get this?".She snatched it from him and piled the books again "Not from here. You can't have it"."Selfish" he hissed "I can't accept that your common room can enjoy a exclusive library that nobody else can"."Well, learn to live with it" she hugged the books tightly, turning towards him to check how long he wanted to keep her trapped in that uncomfortable way.He just stared at her accepting the challenge.A near noise made her startle and look around in horror. Nobody could see her like that. If that was right Riddle's plan, she would have at least cursed him.Something touched her lips and she panicked. She crossed Tom's dark eyes while he removed his two fingers from her lips and made sign to be quiet, then he swiftly slipped away like he was wind, leaving her dizzy and sore.Evelyn waited for her heart beats to stop hurting her chest, then rushed to her common room.

Her main quest was to find more about her own House.She tried to befriend the cold Grey Lady, the one who could reveal some of the secrets of Ravenclaw.Her uncle told her some of the legends around that Founder, but she didn't know what was the truth behind them, so her best ally was the ghost of her own House."Rowena seemed to be the fairest of all the founders, not just smart".The Grey Lady was just floating in front of her, willing to stay alone as always."She was human, first of all".Evelyn nodded and whispered "It is said that a broken heart contributed to her early demise".The ghost stopped moving and watched her with with sorrow."Do you know anything about it?" Evelyn tried to push, knowing thag the ghost was irritable and was able to make her run away.The ghost started to float again, with increasing nervousness until she revealed "It was me who broke her heart".Evelyn gaped and the ghost flew away passing through her. The girl shivered and gasped like she got a shower of icy water, then ran to her dorm to assimilate the revelation she got, although a thousand of questions were bubbling in her mind.

Her House gave her another surprise when professor Merrythought announced her that she was one of the candidates for portraying Rowena Ravenclaw in the play for the end of the school year.Her friends were more enthusiast than her."But I don't want to join that competition!" She complained."Why not? Probably you won't win, but at least you can tell you joined it for the sake of this school. And you'll get extra bonuses" Adele stressed, supported by Kat "Not to mention how proud Vincent look for you".Evelyn wasn't able to explain to Vincent that she wasn't definitely going to be Rowena, she was only one of the contestants, but he took for granted that she was going to win.She was exasperated: he was supportive in the useless problems while he never helped her in her private quests.

She refused to join him to watch another Quiddith game with the excuse of studying, instead she took advantage to have a long, warm bath to wash away her troubles.She didn't know what their relationship truly was. Most of the girls in the castle envied her for that and waited for him to break with her, but she was getting more annoyed than anything else. She didn't feel happy. They had very little in common. She liked to watch his handsome features, she loved how he smiled at her and his efforts to catch her attention, but she didn't want it to last forever.He mentioned that he wanted to introduce her to her family, it sounded like a nightmare to her.She grumbled to herself, then she dreadfully realized she wasn't alone.Someone was watching her. A boy.She startled covering her breast with her hands, but she felt exposed anyway.She cried in shock "What the hell!".Riddle laughed from the pillar he was leaning against "Don't stop enjoying your bath because of me"."You cannot stay here! It's the girls' side!" Her voice echoed in the whole bathroom."But nobody else is here. Then I can sneak wherever I want"."You perv! Riddle, get out of here now!" She commanded.He pretended an innocent look "Or what? You'll report me? I can say that you dragged me here for some carnal desire of yours. Or you will hex me? I can't see your wand. Where are you hiding it now?".His evil smirl made her even more infuriated. She couldn't jump out from the water in that way. Otherwise she would have caught him and kicked him badly. And he knew it well, that's why he stayed calmly few metres away from her, enjoying the teasing."Shut up! And stop staring at me"."If I have to be honest, I hoped to see more" he kept talking to tease her "But alright, I didn't come here to upset you. I know your dear boyfriend is watching Quidditch with everyone else right now. So I thought you would appreciate some company"."Stop trying to manipulate me with your lovely words. Go away now".He pretended to be offended "You disdain so much my company?"."No. But I want to get out from here. So go out and let me dress up"."I can also wait here" he closed his eyes with an amused smirk."No way, bloody cheater. You step out from here now" she insisted, but he would never obey her."I can also just turn" he gave his back on her."I hate you, Riddle" she scoffed reaching for her bathrobe."I loathe you too" he uttered with an amused laugh.Even with a bathrobe she felt too exposed.Vincent always saw her with more clothes, but Riddle pretended not to be bothered."You should be careful, I warned you about the beasts that are into this castle"."Are you one of those beasts?" She wrapped her arms around her chest.He smirked then went straight to the point. He wanted to ask her if she could lend him some books from the Ravenclaw library. He didn't have any specific request, he let her choose which one. It was a weird deal but she agreed, surprised that he didn't mention at all the book that she stole from the Restricted Section.

So they regularly met at forbidden hours, exchanging books. Riddle was a fast reader. She feared he was able to read all the books in her common room by the end of the year."I can walk you to your tower" he offered hiding his new book under his robes."I remember the way. Goodnight" she hurried up the nearest staicase, leaving him analyzing the books.She liked wandering at night in the castle, although sometimes some noises scared her, but it was some poltergeist or ghost to create the chaos.Suddenly she felt her necklace pinching her and her hand grabbed her wand, but instantly someone disarmed her."What the hell?" She exclaimed.She just exited one of her secret passages, coming out into a dark, deserted corridor.She turned to see a tall boy coming out from the shadows. She recognized from his tie that he was a Gryffindor, surnamed Harper, popular for being a troublemaker, but in that darkness he looked like a criminal."Hello, beauty" he said with a mischievous hiss leaning against a pillar "Were you looking for fun?".She shivered "No, I needed the toilet. Now give my wand back".He shrugged and held it out to her.She didn't trust him at all. Probably he was also drunk, but she felt he was dangerous. Her necklace kept warning her.But she needed her wand back, so she gave it a try, approaching him slowly.Her fingers touched the familiar wood, but he assaulted her making her wand roll far away.She screamed and struggled but he hugged her tightly."Calm down, dear. It will be alright"."Let me go" she hissed furiously."Not before having some fun. Come on, you want it too" he whispered into her ear."You're mad".He evilly laughed "I am. Mad of you. Of your female scent".She crushed his feet and kicked him with the back of her foot, escaping his hug, but he trapped her in a corner."Stay away from me" she warned him, pointing her hand against him."Or what? Poor lovely lamb. Felt into the wolf's den" he approached her like a predator."I said stay back!" She shouted.He raised his hand "I'm just going to have some fun with you. Nobody is here around to save you. Nobody else will hear our screams of ecstasy. But if you rebel, it will be painful for you".She gasped at his filthy words and inhaled to scream at the top of her voice and he jumped on her trying to cover her mouth. She struggled and bite his hand making him cry in pain.He slapped her hard with his other hand, making her sight blur for a moments. Then he grabbed her hair and pulled, blocking her against the wall again.At every struggle he answered by pulling harder. Evelyn felt he could break her neck.She tried to push him away and free her hair from his merciless grip, but she got the opposite result.He licked her exposed skin of her neck with lust while his other hand lifted her skirt moving his ankles to force her legs apart.She was panicking when suddenly the hard body that was trapping her against the wall moved away.Evelyn inhaled deeply when his hand lost grip on her hair and she watched in shock her stunned aggressor being lifted in the air by an invisible force and then flying fast to hit the opposite wall.Harper moaned in pain looking around to detect the source of that magic and then his eyes widened more at the sight of a dark silhouette coming from around a corner.Harper was lifted again and bumped against another wall.Evelyn recognized her savior when he stepped out of the dark corner and the light of a fire dimly lit his stony face.Riddle didn't stop staring Harper who was groveling on the ground and standing up with aching pain to run away."Don't you dare attack her again, you filth" Riddle hissed, his tone so cold that could freeze the whole castle.Harper nodded moving far away from him and run away on the opposite corridor.Riddle waited for a while, then waved his wand producing a blue light and Harper lost his memory.Evelyn slid against the wall and sat on the cold floor. She tried to resist but her sobs were suffocating her.Riddle turned to her and slowly approached her. His cold expression turned into a worried one while she tried to hide herself from him."You're safe. I'm not gonna replace him" he said softly.She looked at him hating the tears that were making her visions blur."How...?" She mumbled."It doesn't matter. It's over now. Try to forget about this" he put his hand into his pocket, then handed her a handkerchief.She hesitated then took it to clean her messy face. But the humiliation and the shame were still teasing at her, making her feel so helpless and weak. She kept her head down, letting her hair being like a curtain on her face.Riddle kneeled a couple of metres from her and waited patiently.After some minutes she managed to stop sobbing, but she just wanted to drown into the floor and disappear.Riddle stood up and she raised her head to follow his movements."Better now?".She crossed his eyes and she was glad there was no sign of derision or amusement. He was just respectful and pitying her.His handsome face reassured her, gradually deleting the wicked lustful grin of her aggressor.Riddle noticed her stare and smirked ruining her moment of peace "Nice that you find me so handsome. And pity that your dear boyfriend is not here to be the hero, but probably he's having fun somewhere else".She held her breath, feeling the sobs raising again and tickling her throat."Stop it" she exhaled tiredly lowering her head "Please, just stop it"."Okay" he whispered in a surrendered, or maybe even sorry, tone "Let me help you to stand up".He stepped closer extending a hand to her, but she retreated feeling her heart beating fast again. He was just another male after all and the thought of was she was about to experience was still chasing her as a living nightmare.Riddle stopped raising his hands to show he was harmless "Relax. I'm not going to hurt you, I promise. I just want to help you. A boy tried to hurt you, but actually another boy saved you".Evelyn stared at his hand that was again waiting for her and after forcing herself to fight the fear that had overwhelmed her, she took it with her shaking hand.His fingers tightened around hers and he lifted her up on her weak legs.She tried to step away since she just wanted to run away and stay alone, but he pulled her at him making her lose her balance and fall against his chest.She gasped trying to struggle, but his arms wrapped around her and she froze.She didn't want to be touched by boys after her recent trauma and she surprised herself when she hugged him back. She would have wished that Vincent was the one to comfort her and hold her into his protective arms, but he wasn't there. In his place there was Tom Riddle, the one who seemed disdaining any human contact. He looked surprised too for what he did, but didn't let her go, silently taking her uncontrollable sobs and shivers and allowing her to cry on his shoulder. And he didn't feel any repulsive emotion as he was used to."He's going to pay for that, be sure of that" he whispered to her "You don't have to do anything. You're safe".

***

Evelyn knew she was behaving unfairly with Vincent, keeping him away from her without an explaination. But she wasn't able to bear his presence yet. The idea of what she risked few nights before was still haunting her, ruining her usual confidence.She couldn't tell how long she had been embracing Riddle. She hated that someone saw her crying like a kid. Worse, that someone was Tom Riddle. But the fact that he saved and comforted her proved that he was human after all.They didn't need to say aloud that that accident was a secret. And Evelyn was glad that no rumours mentioned about it.Time would have deleted everything about it, she hoped. But she wouldn't have totally forgotten about it. She would have learned to be more careful since she was a girl.The culprit forgot what that she was involved but he didn't abandon his purpose.Just on the next time nobody saved the victim.Evelyn's trauma relived when she unexpectedly got the news that a Hufflepuff girl got raped by Harper. The teachers were angry and agreed for an exemplary punishment. Definitive expulsion from the school.The girl was deeply hurt and the school staff decided to use a memory charm to allow her to recover soon. The prefects and the few students who knew about it were forced never to mention on it.Evelyn watched from distance Harper when he left the school once and forever.She crossed Riddle's eyes on the other side of the corridor, knowing that he was the only one who knew that the other boy tried to the same with her and wondering if Riddle was somehow involved in that tragedy.Her attention was caught by an old hand that touched her shoulder, making her startle."Sorry, dear" professor Merrythought whispered "He deserved it. Just forget about him. Now I have to talk to you about something more important. Come with me please".Evelyn blinked in confusion but promptly obeyed, following the old witch into her office."Would you like something to drink?"."No, thanks, professor" the girl sat uneasily on the chair facing the woman."I have good news for you" professor Merrythought smiled "You'll portrait Rowena Ravenclaw in the final play".Evelyn wasn't enthusiast about it. Vincent and her friends were madly in love with her victory, but for her it was a defeat. The idea persecuted her for the last weeks, more than the exams could ever do.Professor Merrythought gave her a big uncomfortable dress, then she had to join the other three students for rehearsing what they had to do at the ceremony.She had been disinterested in the play in the previous years, focusing hard on her studies and getting too exhausted to think about such an event.And now she was one of the protagonists.Lestrange was the one to portray Salazar Slytherin. It was a good news because he supported her in everything, helped her learning to dance in a large dress and had always a warm smile for her whenever she felt about to give up.Professor Merrythought gave her also a thin bit heavy diadem, that didn't look like the one wore by the statue of Rowena in the common room.Evelyn dedicated her free time to look better like the real founder. The thing that she disliked the most was the diadem, that didn't look like the lost diadem that was said to enhance the wisdom of the wearer, that was usually represented with a big zapphire on the center of it.The night of the play came sooner than she imagined. Adele and Kat helped her with her hair and her dress, then Evelyn remained alone in the tower while the students had to gather in the Great Hall for the supper.Evelyn stayed in front of the statue, willing to learn more from it and finally decided to transfigurate her diadem to give justice to the founder.She had to try a lot before gettinf a satisfying result.A cold breeze made her shiver and she saw the Grey Lady floating next to her."Let me help you. I remember how the diadem was" the ghost gave her instructions on how to transfigurate and the result stunned the girl.The diadem was really beautiful and precious. And the blue stone was like a beating blue heart, making her feel humble when wearing it."My mother would be proud of you" the ghost whispered with sad eyes. Evelyn wondered if ghosts could cry, then her words shocked her. But before she could react, the ghost was gone. And Evelyn was late.She gave a prayer to the statue, then hurried to the Great Hall.Her three mates were already by the door.It was really touching. Evelyn felt like they truly timetraveled back at the origins of the castle.The trio stared at her with admiration. Even professor Merrythought wasn't able to complain about Evelyn's works.The voice from the Hall kept narrating the history of the castle, then the teacher gave the signal for them to walk in.The Gryffindor boy and the Hufflepuff girl stepped in together.Lestrange approached Evelyn offering his arm."I'm so honored. You're so breathtaking I can't find the words to describe you" he whispered to her ear, making her smile flattered.The voice started to talk about them, so they inhaled deeply, raised their heads and stepped in slowly.Having the whole school focusing on them gave her goosebumps, but she felt on the top of the word. She wasn't Evelyn Burke in that moment, she was Rowena Ravenclaw, so she couldn afford to hesitate nor to be clumsy.The people were quieter than usual, but as they approached the teachers' table, she could hear what the few comments were about."She has the lost diadem" someone whispered.It made her smile with confidence. The four founders stopped in front of the table and had to dance in a particular way while some professors used some illusions to recreate how the castle and the school was created.Then they divided into two couple."Shall I have the honor, Ravenclaw?" Lestrange asked with a polite bow.She offered Lestrange her hand "Sure, Slytherin".They moved at the music of a walzer, while the storyteller was ending the speech.When the music stopped, the four students bowed in front of the four tables.A lot of applause filled the Hall, then the teachers gave start to the celebrations. Everyone was free to dance at the music or keep eating the sweet dishes that kept appearing on the tables.Lestrange invited Evelyn to dance again and she agreed, trusting his dance skills. It was better than joining the others and take their comments.When the song ended, she thanked him back and turned to recognize a familiar face next to her."You're breathtaking" Riddle elegantly bowed and took her hand placing his warm lips on it.Evelyn felt blushing helplessly.He was just wearing his shirt and the Slytherin tie, but she wondered how good we would have been in the emerald and silver costume of Slytherin. Maybe he would have fit better than Lestrange.He couldn't ask her to dance because Vincent appeared and caught her attention, filling her with exaggerated comments together with his friends.Neal got to dance with her for a while, then accompanied her to have some dinner.The professors announced the final results of the four Houses and the winner was Slytherin, again.Then they joined the celebrations while the students were having fun dancing and transfigurating their own clothes.Evelyn wanted to change her dress but her friends forbid it.That event was fascinating but in the end staircases were crowded by some sad and crying people.Vincent was indifferent to that all and pulled Evelyn by her hand while they were admiring the decorations of the school and joined some games started by Neal.They also played at hide and seek, although Evelyn complained that her dress was too visible.She welcomed the occasion to have some time for herself to catch her breath, but her peace didn't last long.Suddenly a hand tightened around her wrist pulling her into a dark narrow corridor.Evelyn instinctively tried to fight, but a hiss made her stop and she raised her head to cross Riddle's dark eyes.He made sign to hush her again and led her far from the main corridor where Vincent was looking for her."What are you doing?" She asked when they finally stopped."I thought you needed some help, to run away from your annoying boyfriend"."I'm not..." She noticed his eyes shifted down below her collarbone. She slightly slapped him to make his eyes raise again, the embarrassment teasing her.He shrugged "Whatever. You should leave him if he's not able to please you".She gaped at him and snapped "That's not your business! I was just playing with him. And you ruined everything"."Are you blaming me now? When I'm your saviour".She raised her head offended "I don't need your help. I can manage everything. Now I should go back to him and invent something to justify this mess you made"."Stay" he said urgently squeezing her hand "You don't have to playing with his boring games. He has much more silly stuff into his mind".She frowned at him, then hissed coldly "Stop reading his mind"."I'm just warning you" Riddle rolled his eyes "I'm trying to save you from troubles, but you can't show a little gratitude. I can't always be around the corner to save you from maniacs. So learn to be a bit more careful and less naive and provocative. Can you imagine how many fires you lit out there with this play of yours?".His eyes lowered to her breast and she raised her arm to cover herself and slightly hit his chin to make him raise his eyes again."What about you? What are you feeling now? You blame the other boys but you're a boy too, a selfish one, because you are trying to persuade me to stay here with you just in spite of all the others"."I don't deny that I could do to you much worse stuff than what the other males have in mind" he stepped closer "But I can control my instincts perfectly, even if you try your best to seduce me. Then you're safe with me".She snorted lowering her head to watch her dress "I hate all of this. I didn't ask to join this stupid play. I never wanted to wear this uncomfortable dress and I'm worried that I'll get a cold because of its neckline. But nobody cared of asking my opinion"."I care" he said softly"Stop flattering me, Riddle" she warned him "I'm tired of games. I just want the holidays, even if it'll mean being trapped in a cage with my evil cousin"."I have to go back to that muggle orphanage" he touched her hair and she noticed that he was interested in her diadem, but the sadness into his voice made her impossible to tease him about his real intentions."We all have our burdens" she said softly "And this is not real. See? Just a good illusion".He took it from her fingers and admired "I was wondering if you got the real one. But nice work. I'm impressed"."The real one is lost. My uncle desperately looked for it" she explained, then bit her lip thinking she said too much."Then where did you take the inspiration for this?" He placed it again on her head."Ravenclaw's daughter. She just told me how the real one was".His face flashed with surprise "You know her daughter?".She mentally listed all the desserts from the school's menu to prevent him from stealing more informations from her mind."See? There's always something that I know and you don't" she smirked stepping away from him "I have to go now. Thanks for this..break. Goodnight and try to enjoy your holidays. Just don't forget they will end and you'll come back here".It was meant more for herself, she hated the holidays, but she knew he hated them too and needed a little help to survived the months away from that beloved castle.