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ATHENA offered Professor Galatea Merrythought—a stern, no-nonsense Defense Against the Dark Arts professor—a polite smile as she passed over the assignment she had slaved over the previous night.

The professor's eyes flicked over the paper briefly before she acknowledged Athena with a nod. Athena turned to see Tom Riddle handing in his own assignment, but his expression twisted into a scowl when his gaze met hers.

"Cheating will get you nowhere, Malfoy," Riddle hissed, leaning in close enough for his breath to tickle her ear.

Athena tilted her head slightly, her voice a mere whisper as she retorted, "It's a good thing I didn't cheat then."

Riddle's eyes narrowed, his gaze following her as she walked away. He watched as she settled into a seat next to Lucinda Avery, his thoughts darkening further as he noticed the smirk tugging at her lips. The professor's voice jolted him out of his fixation.

"Riddle?" Professor Merrythought's voice cut through his thoughts like a whip. "Perhaps you should return to your seat instead of glaring at Miss Malfoy. I have a pile of assignments to grade, Mr. Riddle."

Tom's lips twitched into a begrudging line as he acknowledged her with a curt nod. He slunk back to his desk beside Abraxas Malfoy, ignoring the boy entirely as he pulled out a book from his bag. Despite the pretense of reading, his attention was riveted on the stack of graded assignments on the professor's desk.

He recalled the effort he had put into his own assignment after discovering Athena's blatant theft of the book he had been using. Tom had spent hours finding an alternative source, conducting meticulous research, and reworking his assignment. But the prospect of seeing Athena's frustration when her grade fell short of his made the grueling effort worthwhile.

A few desks behind him, Athena and Lucinda huddled in whispered conversation, their voices barely rising above a murmur as they waited for the professor to finish grading.

"After the lengths you went to for that assignment, you should be confident," Lucinda said, her green eyes filled with concern as she watched Athena's troubled expression.

Athena's eyes were fixed on Riddle's back, her voice dripping with playful malice. "How many house points do you think I'd lose if I aimed a spell at that massive head and sent him to the hospital wing?" She asked, instead of answering her.

Lucinda stifled a laugh, shaking her head with a fond smile. "House points would be the least of your worries. Headmaster Dippet would have your head if something happened to his top student." She said, then tilted her head and continued, "Maybe aim for the middle so you don't miss?"

Athena chuckled quietly, though it was tinged with frustration. The idea was tempting, but even a single detention would derail her meticulous study plans, let alone the potential wrath of the headmaster.

"I'm the top student now, too, Lucinda," Athena reminded her, her gaze shifting to the girl beside her with a mixture of triumph and irritation. The fact that she had to share that title with Tom Riddle was a bitter pill to swallow.

Despite her achievement in acing their Potions assignment, Athena's sense of victory was undermined by Riddle's immediate comeback. They were locked in a constant struggle for supremacy, and each tie felt like a personal defeat.

Druella Rosier, seated directly in front of them next to Cygnus Black, turned around to glare at the two girls. "Lower your voice when you talk about murder," she whispered sharply before returning to her conversation with Cygnus.

"I wish it was murder," Athena grumbled, her arms crossed defensively.

Lucinda laughed softly, clearly amused by Athena's irritation.

As the students buzzed with chatter, Professor Merrythought stood up, signaling that it was time to collect the graded assignments. The room fell into an expectant silence as she held up the stack of papers, her gaze sweeping over the classroom with a practiced authority.

Athena straightened up, her eyes fixed on the professor with intense concentration.

Tom did the same, his expression a mask of cold indifference.

Professor Merrythought's warm smile did little to soothe the competitive fire in Athena and Tom. With a flick of her wand, the graded assignments appeared in front of each student.

Athena's eyes darted to her own paper, and a satisfied grin spread across her face as she took in the perfect score.

"A hundred?" Lucinda's voice was a mix of awe and disappointment. "I got a twenty."

Athena's eyes widened as she processed her friend's score. "Twenty out of a hundred?" She repeated, her disbelief evident.

Lucinda nodded glumly, and Athena's gaze drifted back to Riddle. Tom was holding up his own paper, revealing an identical score of one hundred. The sight made Athena's shoulders slump with frustration.

His smirk widened as he caught her eye, only to falter as Athena raised her own paper, revealing the same perfect mark.

Another tie.

Tom's face twisted into a sneer, his eyes hard as he stared at his paper with disgust. Athena rolled her eyes and sighed heavily.

Even though she had achieved the highest possible mark, the fact that Riddle matched her score was a bitter disappointment.

After the class ended, Athena left with Lucinda and Druella in silence, their footsteps echoing faintly in the empty corridors as they made their way to the Great Hall. The Gryffindors ahead were noisily comparing their marks, their laughter and chatter a stark contrast to Athena's brooding mood.

When they finally reached the Great Hall, Athena sat down with a distracted air, barely noticing the pile of food Druella had heaped onto her plate. Druella and Lucinda exchanged concerned glances.

"She tied with Riddle again," Lucinda explained with a sigh.

Druella nodded in understanding, taking a sip from her goblet. "Ah, I see," she said. She watched as Athena stood up abruptly, grabbing her bag with a determined look. "Where are you going?"

"To the library," Athena replied curtly, biting into a green apple instead of touching her lunch. "I need to study."

Without waiting for a response, Athena left the Great Hall and hurried to the library, her mind set on outpacing Riddle. The thought of tying with him again was unacceptable.

As she stepped into the library, she greeted the librarian with a brief nod before rushing to her usual spot. She pulled out her History of Magic book, knowing a test was looming the following week. The library's quiet solitude was a balm to her frazzled nerves, the rhythmic scratching of her quill against parchment her only companion.

Her focus was intense, driven by the need to surpass Riddle. The silence allowed her to lose herself in her studies, momentarily forgetting her other troubles—those involving her parents and Abraxas.

But as she immersed herself in her work, Athena's frustration simmered beneath the surface. It wasn't just about the grades; it was about proving herself superior to Riddle, who seemed to effortlessly match her every step.

Athena hoped that immersing herself in her History of Magic textbook would provide a relief from her frustrations and competitive rivalry. The silence of the library was almost therapeutic as she delved into her notes, the soft rustling of parchment and the rhythmic scratching of her quill the only sounds in the vast, echoing space.

Yet, her patience was tested by the presence of her rival. As Athena's eyes scanned the lines of her book, she felt a chill, a shiver of awareness that something had shifted in the atmosphere around her. Her concentration wavered as she raised her head and noticed Tom Riddle entering the library.

The boy's entrance was almost imperceptible, but Athena's sharp gaze caught him as he walked directly to the table next to hers. Riddle's presence was like a shadow that darkened the room despite the library's well-lit fixtures. The look of disbelief on Athena's face deepened into a scowl as she saw him approach.

"Are you following me, Riddle?" she asked, her tone dripping with incredulity. Her raised eyebrow showed a mix of surprise and irritation.

The surprised flicker in Riddle's eyes was almost imperceptible, but it was there—a momentary lapse in his usually composed demeanor, as if he had not expected her to be here.

It was in that brief moment of vulnerability that Athena saw a mirror of herself in him.

It was a fleeting recognition, a shared sense of stubbornness and intensity, but she quickly dismissed the thought. The idea of finding similarities with Riddle was as unsettling as it was intriguing. She had no intention of diving into any similarities between them.

Tom, however, swiftly pushed the thought away, dismissing the brief flicker of understanding he'd felt.

To him, there was no one who could truly understand or match him. His eyes, now devoid of the momentary surprise, glazed over with the usual cold indifference.

"Of course not," he said dismissively, his voice carrying a hint of scorn. He rolled his eyes, the gesture a familiar display of his disdain.

He seated himself at the table next to Athena's, pulling out his own History of Magic book with an air of practiced nonchalance. His gaze swept over Athena's book, noticing with a mixture of annoyance and recognition that she was engaged in the exact same study for the upcoming test that he had planned to tackle. It was a petty, but telling, coincidence.

Athena's gaze flicked over to him, her expression a mix of frustration and disbelief. Seeing Riddle so closely intruding on her space was enough to make her feel boxed in, her focus shattered by his unwelcome presence. She shook her head, a silent gesture of exasperation, before gathering her belongings.

Determined not to let Riddle's proximity derail her concentration further, she closed her book and stuffed it into her bag with deliberate motions. Without a word or a backward glance, she stood up and left the library. The idea of continuing her study with Riddle so near was too distracting. She headed back to her dormitory, her mind already calculating how to isolate herself for the remainder of her study session.

She knew in her dormitory, to achieve a good study session, she might just have to send Lucinda a silencio spell.

Athena knew Druella would not mind at all.

At the stroke of midnight, Athena Malfoy's dorm room was bathed in the soft, muted light of a single desk lamp.

Her History of Magic book lay open on her bed, surrounded by a chaotic scatter of parchments covered in frantic notes.

The ink on her fingers was smudged and streaked, a testament to her relentless effort, yet Athena barely registered the mess.

She was engrossed in her studies as if her very future depended on it.

Beside her, an empty coffee cup sat on the nightstand, its surface marred by a smudge of her dark red lipstick—a hint of her otherwise composed façade slipping in the face of academic stress.

The curtains around her bed were drawn tightly, creating a cocoon of solitude where only the quiet rustle of pages and the scratch of her quill disturbed the silence. She was driven by an intense, burning need to surpass Tom Riddle, her academic rival. The relentless pursuit of excellence and the fierce desire to outdo him fueled her determination, making her work with almost frenzied dedication.

But as the minutes ticked by, fatigue began to claw at her concentration. The words on the page started to blur together, a sure sign that her exhaustion was catching up to her.

Athena frowned in frustration, her eyes squinting as she tried to force clarity into the text. Despite her growing weariness, she shook her head, resolutely pushing through her tiredness. The notion of taking a break was fleeting, but the thought of a potential reprieve was increasingly tempting.

Unable to focus any longer, Athena pushed her chair back with a decisive movement. She stood up, quickly slipping on her shoes. The need for a brief escape from her self-imposed prison was overpowering. She silently grabbed her bag, the leather strap feeling cool against her fingers, and made her way out of the dorm room, trying not to disturb her sleeping friends.

The corridors of Hogwarts were eerily silent as Athena made her way through them.

The ancient stone walls seemed to close in on her, their cold, unyielding surfaces echoing her footsteps.

She had forgotten her coat, and the chill in the air was biting, but her discomfort was secondary to her primary focus: Riddle. The thought of how her place in the Wizarding world seemed forever entangled with his drove her to distraction. It was almost unbearable that their academic achievements were so closely matched, as if her prestigious Malfoy lineage was somehow being diminished by this half-blood's presence.

Her mind raced as she walked, her brows furrowed deeply in thought. She reflected on her brother, Abraxas, who spent an inordinate amount of time in the company of Riddle. It was confusing to her why her brother, the heir of the Malfoy name, would choose to associate with someone like Riddle. It seemed like an affront to their family's values, an incongruity she could not reconcile.

Lost in these thoughts, Athena's feet carried her through the dimly lit corridors until she found herself in an unfamiliar room. The soft glow of moonlight filtering through the windows illuminated a large, ornate mirror that stood grandly in the center of the room. Athena hesitated for a moment, her curiosity piqued despite her weary state.

As she approached the mirror, she caught her reflection and frowned. Her appearance, while not disheveled, lacked the pristine quality she normally maintained. She looked every bit the exhausted student she was. She crossed her arms in front of her, almost turning away, but the allure of the mirror's reflection was too strong. She took another step closer, her eyes widening as the mirror's surface began to shimmer with images.

What appeared in the mirror was not just her reflection, but a vision of her with her parents. Her mother stood beside her, her hand resting proudly on Athena's shoulder, a warm, affectionate smile gracing her lips. Her father mirrored the same proud expression, his gaze filled with approval and love. The scene was so intimate and emotionally charged that Athena's heart ached. The vision was not just an image; it was a poignant representation of what she yearned for most deeply.

Her breath caught in her throat, and her eyes stung with unshed tears as she reached out a hand toward the mirror, longing to touch the illusory warmth and acceptance it represented. The scene before her was both comforting and tormenting, revealing a desire she had never fully acknowledged.

The intrusion of a voice behind her snapped Athena back to reality. "Twenty points from Slytherin for being out after curfew," the voice intoned, causing Athena to flinch.

She turned slowly, her heart racing, and found Tom Riddle standing in the doorway, his posture rigid and his arms crossed.

His eyes were fixed on her, a frown etched across his face. He took a few steps closer, his gaze scanning the mirror with newfound understanding.

Athena swallowed hard, trying to mask the vulnerability she felt. "Taking house points from your own house, Riddle?" she managed to retort, her voice tinged with forced bravado. She was determined not to reveal the emotional turmoil that had briefly overcome her.

Riddle's eyes narrowed, and he rolled them dismissively. "Get back to your dorm before I give you detention for the rest of the month for being out after curfew, Malfoy," he said coolly, turning on his heel as if to leave.

But Athena's next words halted him.

"What is this mirror?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly despite her efforts to sound authoritative. She glanced back at the mirror, her eyes lingering on the inscription that read, 'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.'

Riddle paused, his gaze shifting back to Athena. He studied her for a moment, his expression shifting from one of scorn to one of reluctant calculation. "The Mirror of Erised," he finally said, his tone carrying a hint of somber knowledge. "It shows the deepest desire of a person's heart. It is known to drive men mad, this mirror."

Athena absorbed his words, the meaning of the mirror's inscription sinking in. She read the phrase aloud, her voice echoing softly in the empty room, "I show not your face but your heart's desire." Her gaze returned to the mirror, her reflection now overshadowed by the vision of her family.

Feeling a surge of awkwardness and confusion, Athena cleared her throat and turned away from the mirror. She hurriedly left the room, her footsteps echoing in the corridor as she made her way back to the common room.

Riddle watched her go, his own thoughts a tangled mess as he closed the door behind him.

Athena, meanwhile, was consumed by emotions. Her tears were close to the surface as she retraced her steps to her dorm room. She pulled the curtains around her bed with a swift, almost violent motion.

Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions as she processed the reflection of the mirror.

Athena had always known she craved her parents' love and approval—what child didn't?—but seeing it reflected so vividly made her realize just how deeply she yearned for it.

It was a desire that surpassed her obsession with academic superiority or rivalry with Riddle.

For the first time, she realized that her longing for her parents' affection ran deeper in her than she thought.