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IT was Hogsmeade weekend, and Athena stood at the edge of the castle courtyard, watching her friends leave with a mix of envy and resignation. They had all been looking forward to the trip, but Athena's plans were dashed because she didn't have a signed permission slip. Her friends gave her a sympathetic look before joining the crowd heading out of the castle.

Athena's gaze followed them until she spotted Abraxas among the departing students. He had his signed slip in hand. As always, it seemed like their parents never forgot about Abraxas. With a sigh, she turned away from the scene.

Athena had her own plans for the day. The castle was quieter than usual, and she saw it as a perfect opportunity to visit the restricted section of the library. Her goal was to get her hands on some of the dark arts books that were usually off-limits.

The library was Athena's comfort place at Hogwarts. If she was honest with herself, almost every corner of Hogwarts felt like a comfort zone, as long as it was away from her mother's sharp rebukes and her father's disdainful looks.

However, the quiet and the old, familiar smell of books always made her feel at ease, even if she was exploring the more forbidden parts of it.

When she finally reached the room with the towering bookshelves and hundreds of different stories, Athena felt her lips twitch upwards as she made her way to her usual spot before the librarian noticed her.

Athena glanced at the door with the big sign that read 'Restricted Section—OFF LIMITS!' and it was just a few steps away from where she stood. She moved carefully towards it, her eyes flitting around the empty library to make sure no one was watching. The librarian, busy with a stack of books, hadn't noticed her yet.

When Athena was certain she was alone, she took out her wand, her hand shaking slightly with excitement and nerves. She aimed it at the lock and whispered, "Alohomora."

There was a soft click as the lock released. Athena quickly turned the handle and slipped through the door, closing it silently behind her. She paused for a moment, letting her eyes adjust to the dim light.

The room beyond was shrouded in darkness, with only a few slivers of light filtering through the dusty windows. It felt like it had been ages since anyone had set foot here. The towering bookshelves, filled with ancient and forbidden tomes, loomed over her, their surfaces thick with dust. The air was musty, and the silence was so deep it felt almost tangible.

Athena took a deep breath, feeling a thrill of both fear and excitement as she stepped further into the restricted section.

She pulled out her wand and whispered, "Lumos." In an effort to see more of what surrounded her.

When the tip of her wand lit up, she continued through the many bookshelves, almost coughing at the dust that hit her with each step she took.

Her eyes took in every detail of the books in awe, a sense of curiosity and longing filling her.

She finally stopped at a particular bookshelf, feeling like she was drawn to it.

It felt like she was being pulled into it.

Athena took a few steps towards it and stretched out her left arm– her right having her lit up wand in it. She felt her lips parting and quirking upwards as soon as her hand hovered over a specific book. She pulled it out almost immediately, then dusted it off with her other hand. For the first time in a while, Athena felt excitement bubbling up in her as she stared at the cover with nothing but pure awe and determination. Nothing could bring her down–

Someone bumped into her from behind. She turned around sharply, immediately pointing her wand at the person. Athena almost groaned, noticing who it was.

Tom Riddle turned around at the same second, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes. He seemed genuinely surprised to see her there. So, that meant he was not there to catch her in the act. No, he was there to–

"The prefect looking for books in the restricted section?" Athena almost laughed, but pursed her lips to do so. She was not the only one caught in the act. He was also caught.

Riddle clenched his jaw after snapping out of his shock, his eyes stopping on the book in her hand. A cruel, small smile appeared on his face as he read the title before she hid it behind her back. "Magick Moste Evile?" He tilted his head to the side, crossing his arms as he leaned on the bookshelf behind him, looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

However, he did not let go of the fact that she was there, holding the book he was there for–

Athena put her wand away in her holster, looking at him, unimpressed. "I did not expect to see you, out of everyone, here, Riddle." She said truthfully, then shook her head. She should've expected to see him there, honestly. Why would Riddle go to Hogsmeade when he had nobody to sign his slip for him?

"Tell me, Malfoy, what do you hope to find here that's worth risking detention?" Riddle's cold voice drawled out, his eyes on the hand behind her– in an attempt to hide her book from him, but he already saw. He already pointed it out that he saw.

Athena tilted her head, her smile growing colder. "Perhaps the same thing you're after: a bit of knowledge that is frowned upon. But I doubt you'll be sharing your findings."

It was, in fact, the same thing he was after. That very book in her hands.

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," Riddle replied smoothly. "But don't worry, Malfoy. I'm sure you'll manage just fine on your own. After all, it's not like you're lacking in ambition."

They stared at each other, a silent understanding passing between them—a mutual recognition of each other's hunger for knowledge, wrapped in layers of sarcasm and disdain.

"Is that a compliment, Riddle?" shot back the girl, looking him up and down.

He was dressed in a black sweater and black pants, his black shoes matching his outfit.

She looked back into his eyes, watching as he raised an eyebrow at her comeback.

"You flatter yourself too much," replied Riddle, his arms crossed as he also looked her up and down, calculation in his gaze. Almost as if he didn't understand the girl– something he was not used to.

Athena remembered the last time they had talked. His horrible, emotionless sentence that stuck in her head even after all this time. She clenched her jaw at the thought, then finally pulled out the book she was hiding behind her back and gave him a small, cold smile in return as she saw his gaze immediately land on it.

She knew that look in his eyes.

"I assume you're here for this book, aren't you?" Athena asked knowingly, flipped the pages in the book, then put it in the bag that was on her shoulder. She felt nothing but satisfaction when he clenched his jaw and pursed his lips– the only response she got. But it was enough. "Better luck next time, Riddle."

Tom Riddle finally took a step closer, looking down at the shorter girl right into her eyes. "I can get that book by sending you straight to detention for seeing you here, Malfoy."

"And why would you be here, Riddle?" Athena smirked.

Tom Riddle's jaw tightened yet again, his anger simmering beneath the surface as he watched Athena walk out of the restricted section.

She had the book he'd been after tucked away in her bag.

He clenched his fists, trying to control the surge of frustration.

It wasn't just the fact that she'd taken what he wanted—it was the satisfaction she seemed to take from it, that smirk on her face as she walked away.

Tom's mind raced with schemes and plans, his thoughts dark and sharp. How dare she think she could outsmart him so easily? His eyes followed her until she disappeared around a corner, and he took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He'd get that book, one way or another.

As he turned on his heel and made his way back into the shadowy depths of the restricted section, a determined scowl set on his face, Tom knew this was far from over. Athena might have won this round, but he wasn't about to let her have the last word—or the last spell.

Athena Malfoy reached her dormitory without encountering any trouble or landing herself in detention. She slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind her, her heart still racing from the encounter in the restricted section. She glanced around to make sure she was alone and then pulled out the book she had taken.

Sitting down on her bed, she felt a thrill of excitement. The book was heavy with the promise of forbidden knowledge. She opened it with care, the musty smell of ancient parchment filling her senses as she flipped through the pages.

The room was dimly lit by a few flickering candles, casting long shadows that danced across the walls. Athena's eyes were glued to the text, her fingers tracing the intricate, old-fashioned script. She was engrossed in the dark arts, her mind racing with possibilities and the thrill of discovering secrets long kept hidden.

As she read, she occasionally glanced up, her gaze settling on the room around her—a space she had made her own, filled with personal touches that made it feel like a sanctuary. The quiet and solitude of her dorm provided a perfect backdrop for her exploration.

For now, all that mattered was the book in her hands and the knowledge it held.

The encounter with Tom Riddle and the tension it brought seemed a world away, as Athena delved deeper into the dark, compelling text, eager to uncover its secrets.