After our descent into the Chamber of Secrets, Tom and I made our way back through the maze of hidden corridors and stone stairwells, ascending from ancient darkness into the castle's dim, flickering torchlight. The cool silence of the lower levels clung to us, a ghost of the secrets we'd just shared.
Once we reached the base of the grand staircase, I gave Tom a quick kiss, letting my lips brush against his cheek. "You've got prefect duties to attend to," I reminded him with a mischievous smile.
He nodded, gaze lingering. As I turned to leave, his voice followed me. "Carina."
I stopped, arching a brow as I looked over my shoulder. "What? Miss me already? You're getting clingy, Tom. It's not even been five seconds."
He didn't smile. He never did when something was on his mind.
"Do you want to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"
Oh, right. Tomorrow was a Hogsmeade weekend. I'd almost forgotten.
"Sure," I said with a small yawn, pretending to be more indifferent than I was. "Sounds fun."
His eyes searched mine for a beat longer than necessary before he finally nodded and turned away. I watched him go until his silhouette faded into the shadows at the end of the corridor, the flick of his robes disappearing around the corner.
"Well," I murmured to myself, smirking. Would you look at that? Just days ago, I didn't even want to step foot in this castle because of that boy… and now here I am.
When I returned to the girls' dormitory, Alexie was sitting on her bed, arms folded, looking at me with a raised brow. Her dark eyes tracked every step I took, suspicion practically radiating off her.
I smiled sweetly. "Good evening, Alexie. Have a nice night?"
She stared at me. "I should be the one asking you that."
"Oh, mine was great. Really great."
She stood, arms still folded, and stepped closer. "You told me you didn't even know him."
"I didn't," I replied, removing my cloak and draping it over the end of my bed. "And now we're… friends, I suppose."
"Friends?" Alexie's voice pitched higher. "Friends don't give each other hickeys, Carina."
I smirked. "Maybe they do. You're just hanging out with the wrong friends."
She groaned, tossing a pillow at me. "You're impossible."
I laughed, catching it easily. "And yet, you adore me."
After a quick change into my nightdress and a bit of idle conversation, sleep claimed me.
When I woke the next morning, sunlight was already streaming through the curtains. Alexie and Walburga were nearly dressed for the day. Alexie greeted me with a bright, knowing grin. Walburga, predictably, ignored me completely.
"You're not dressing yet ? I can tour you to hogsmade" Alexie asked, brushing her hair .
I yawned, stretching. "Oh, no need. I've already got a date."
Alexie blinked. "You what? With who?"
I smiled as I brushed out my hair. "Tom."
Alexie's eyebrows shot up. "You're going to Hogsmeade with Tom Riddle?"
"Mm-hmm," I replied nonchalantly.
Walburga stilled mid-movement, her back toward us. Then she grabbed her cloak and swept out of the room in silence.
Alexie and I exchanged glances, then burst into laughter.
"You think she's in love with him?" I asked.
"Oh, absolutely," Alexie said.
"Too bad for her," I replied, voice dripping with false sympathy. "Isn't she supposed to be betrothed to her cousin, anyway?"
"Orion Black," Alexie confirmed with a wrinkled nose. "But he's only in third year."
"Pity," I said with no pity at all.
By the time I arrived in the common room, Tom was already waiting. He wore his usual uniform, crisp and polished even on the weekend, his black cloak hanging perfectly from his shoulders. His posture was straight, his expression impassive until he saw me.
I smiled. "So, where are we going?"
Before he could answer, we were interrupted by his friends if one could call them that. They approached like a coordinated unit, their eyes flickering between me and Tom.
Abraxas stood at the front, his expression unreadable as he addressed me. "Where's Alexie? I thought you two were going together."
I looped my arm through Tom's and gave my brother a bright smile. "Change of plans. I'm going with Tom."
Abraxas blinked. Reinhardt, Theodore, Thomas, and Elliot exchanged smirks. Tom, ever composed, looked my brother directly in the eye.
"I asked your sister to accompany me. Is there a problem?"
The tension sharpened for a moment, but Abraxas shook his head quickly. "No. No problem."
"Good," I said sweetly, tugging Tom's sleeve. "Shall we?"
As we walked through the grounds toward Hogsmeade, I noticed the curious glances from students of every house. My hand was looped through Tom Riddle's arm like it belonged there, and I saw the way their eyes followed us. Let them look. I had no interest in fading into the background not anymore.
At the entrance to the Three Broomsticks, a nervous Hufflepuff girl bumped into me.
"I—sorry! I didn't mean—" she stammered, paling as she realized who she'd touched.
I offered her a small smile. "It's alright. Are you hurt?"
She blinked at me, stunned. "No, I'm -I'm fine. Sorry."
I waved it off. "Really, it's fine."
When she scurried away, Tom looked at me, one brow raised. "I didn't know you were that nice."
I smirked. "You should try it sometime. Being nice can get you a lot further than threats."
He gave me a look of amused skepticism. "You really think sweet words can accomplish more than fear?"
"Absolutely," I said, settling into a booth. "It's easier to gain followers when they want to follow you. Devotion born of admiration is more reliable than fear. Fear fades. Loyalty... loyalty you can build on."
Our butterbeers arrived, and I let the silence stretch for a moment before leaning forward. "So. Tell me, Tom. What do you plan to do after Hogwarts?"
He studied me, eyes sharp. "I plan to teach here."
I tilted my head. "That's... unexpectedly dull. You don't want to go into politics?"
Tom's jaw tensed, and he shook his head. "To become a politician, you need a well-established name. Influence. Power."
I grinned. "But you do have a well-established name. Or, at least, you could."
He looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"You're the Heir of Slytherin," I said smoothly. "Everyone in our house knows. Even my brother follows you like a hound."
Tom's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You've got more sway now than half the Ministry. Imagine what you could do if you made it official."
He was quiet for a beat. I could see the gears turning.
"Have you ever contacted Gringotts?" I asked. "They handle magical inheritance. Old bloodlines. Lost legacies. If you pushed the right buttons… the right rituals… you could legally claim your birthright."
His eyes widened slightly. "That's… possible?"
"Oh yes," I said, sipping my butterbeer. "They can trace blood magic. Establish lineage. If you're truly descended from Salazar Slytherin and I have no doubt that you are they can make it real. Legal. You could change your name if you wanted. Imagine Tom Slytherin."
His lips parted slightly in awe. "With that name…"
"You wouldn't just be a professor," I finished for him. "You'd be a legacy. A movement. A revolution."
The look in his eyes said everything. My words had ignited something in him. I could see the hunger, the ambition flaring behind that calm facade.
"And all it would take," I murmured, brushing a hand against his, "is a visit to the bank and a few drops of blood."
He turned his palm up, closing his fingers around mine
He laughed, soft and dark. "I think I made the right choice bringing you with me."
"Oh, darling," I said, eyes glittering. "You haven't even seen what I'm truly capable of."
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