A/N:

This Chapter is dedicated to sillygirlly9211 who was one of the first readers of The Serpents Teeth.

If it wasn't for her I would have stopped writing this story a long time ago.

Thank you for telling me to keep writing!

Enjoy ;)

Much love
Jamz

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"The Serpent's Teeth"
(A Tom Riddle love story)

11th October 1944

Still slightly sleepy I detangle myself from my bed covers, get out of bed and sneak into the adjoining bathroom.

Last night I could hardly close my eyes from excitement.

That's never happened before in my entire life.

Once I get my bath water magically warmed up it's already half past five.

I'd rather not get out from the tub, but I want to be punctual and look at least fairly presentable.

I squeeze my still wet copper red hair into a strict bun on top of my head and apply mascara on my eyelashes.

I've managed to bring out the best of myself without looking too dressed up.

After packing all the materials that I'll be needing for today's tutoring, I happily make my way towards the library.

It would be ridiculous if I'm not able to understand Arithmancy.

"You're already here, that's good."

"Good morning," I say smiling without letting his rude tone affect me.

"We'll start with the basics. You are awful in Arithmancy, you can't deny that. So, until how far do you understand the teaching material?"

He growls and sits silently beside me.

"I've looked at the documents that you guys have been learning from in the recent years. I have no problems understanding the material until the end of fifth year. I understand everything until the beginning of year six, but after that its all just gibberish to me.''

"You barley know the minimal basics. That's fantastic! "

How does he do it, that the words sound like razor-sharp insults from his mouth?

"I think so too," I snort defiantly.

"And if you're as talented as everybody assumes it shouldn't be to hard to help me."

"If you pay attention and aren't as stupid as I think you are, you'll be able to understand the Arithmancy tables by breakfast."

"Me stupid?" I laugh in disbelief.

"I'm one of the top students in all other subjects!"

"I'm aware of that," he says curtly, and frowns, as if he can't believe that I'm really that good.

"Then lets start!"

He kept his promise.

Even before breakfast I actually understood the tables.

If you have a good teacher, you can accomplish anything.

"You look so happy today. What's going on? Does it have something to do with your tutor? " Tracey inquires grinning.

"Tuition? YOU take tuition? And that before breakfast? " Bailee looks at me as if he's seeing a Thestral for the first time.

"Who's your tutor?" Casey asks between bites.

James puts his arm around her shoulders pressing her gently against him.

Those two make a really cute couple.

Despite their differences.

Or maybe just because of that.

Her black shoulder-length curls form a perfect contrast to her green eyes.

She is a few inches shorter than me, curvy and has wide hips.

The absolute opposite of her boyfriend who is a little taller than me, but doesn't quite reach the 5ft 9inches yet.

The years of playing Quidditch have given him a slim and toned stature.

In addition, he has light brown eyes and hair.

Tracey told me how the two met.

Casey was teased by the Slytherin girls because of her looks and because she is very shy, she couldn't handle all the pressure.

James had been watching the whole farce and defended her.

The popular Gryffindor Qidditch captain defended the humiliated girl.

No one else had the courage to help the seemingly invisible girl.

According to him, it was her incredible green eyes that had him under her spell.

Little by little they have learned to know each other better and their feelings started to grow.

Since they became a couple Casey is no longer quite so shy.

James Leatherby loves her just the way she is.

Even with the milk mustache, that she's wiping from her upper lip right now.

"I have to go to Arithmancy now," I try to sneak away.

It's nobody's business that I need tutoring in Arithmancy.

"Not so fast, young lady," Sasha stops me.

"I think we all would like to know where and with whom you take tuition."

"Arithmancy" I admit defeat.

"I'm missing almost a whole year of material and that is noticeable in my performance."

"And with whom are you taking tuition?" Casey repeats her question.

"Tom Riddle."

"The Slytherin? Our Head Boy? Hazel, the boy is colder than ice! "

" I take tuition with him. I really don't care about his personality as long as he can help me with Arithmancy. "

I really don't care about his personality, or how he acts in his free time.

But, I have to befriend him, whether I want to or not.

It is my mission to help save the world as we know it.

"I really have to go," I break the awkward silence and leave the Great Hall.

The sound of my footsteps echo through the corridors, making me think of all the thousands of pairs of shoes that have already walked along here.

Children, men, women. Wizards and Witches, who no one remembers.

Wizards and Witches, who have made history and invented things that have changed lives.

They all had something in common.

Their youth at Hogwarts.

The life at Hogwarts.

The process of growing up, here at Hogwarts.

That's what the witches and wizards who where here before us and the ones who will study and live here after we are long gone have in common.

Even Voldemort was a student at Hogwarts, and I am among those who knew him in his school days.

They would have never expected the monster that would become of the attractive Boy.

He looks so ... normal.

In a paradox way, he acts like any other student.

Before him there were many talented witches and wizards, and after him there will be more.

But he has dared to break the taboos of Black Magic.

He has gone further.

Further than anyone before him.

Not even Salazar Slytherin had dared to mutilated himself in order to live forever.

Riddles' shiny black hair stands out from the crowd as I approach the Arithmancy classroom.

"Hello," I greet my waiting classmates and make my way to stand next to Bell.

"Good Morning! Have you slept well? "

Annabelle asks me smiling.

"I've slept really well, thanks for asking. What about you?"

"I can't complain," she smiles as the door swings open and Professor Allen tells us to take our seats.

I pull the chair back and let myself plop on to it.

The first class after my first private lesson.

And I will most likely not understand much more than I did before.

Just because, old knowledge is still present in my head again and I understood another table it doesn't mean that I'll suddenly be able to keep up with the level we're studying right now.

I prepare my documents on the desk in front of me, and put my homework on the teacher's desk.

Actually, I could have discussed them with Riddle before handing them in.

Then I probably wouldn't be dealing with the next P.

"In chapter eight you will find some examples of Arithmancy on the behavior of desert mice. What you don't finish in today's lesson will be your homework. In addition to what I will write on the board during the lesson. Good luck! "

Professor Allen lets us know and starts correcting our homework.

Swallowing hard, I open the book and feel overwhelmed by the many numbers, dates and events.

I don't think it would make any difference if I stayed or just left right now.

At the end of this lesson there isn't going to be much written on my parchment anyway.

Although, I could at least write the date in the corner and my name.

That would be a start.

Half an hour later, I still look almost panicked at the documents and turn my quill hectic between my fingers.

With this nervous gesture, a few inkblots have been joined to the date and my name.

It seems almost artistic.

Too bad that art is not a subject taught at Hogwarts.

That would be much more suitable for me than Home Economics.

Thank Merlin that I only have that class once a week.

Next to me Annabelle just took a new piece of parchment to write down her notes.

The first is already filled to the brim with knowledge.

How can you recognize so much from a few numbers?

A hair strand has come loose from my bun and I grasp it so I can chew on it.

At least I'm not pestering others with my fidgeting.

"Let me help you," Riddles voice snaps me from my thoughts.

"Excuse me?" I question him perplexed whilst spiting my hair out.

He raises his wand and removes the ink stains from my sheet without a comment.

He's offering his help to me by his own initiative?

Is he sick?

Am I suffering from delusions?

But, it's not the first time that he helps me.

Didn't he defended me from his disgusting friends before?

"I said that you should let me help you. You're irritating me with your nervous fidgeting. "

Ah, so that's why...

The honorable Lord feels disturbed by me.

"I can try to sit quietly," I suggest it as an alternative.

"I said that you should let me help you! Is this easy order too difficult for you to obey?"

"Certainly not too difficult, but I was never someone who follows orders. Something in me just seems to rebel against it," I grin at him, amused.

"That's your Gryffindorpride" he whispers very seriously.

"You might be right," I agree with him, shrugging.

He sighs.

"Please, let me help you."

"Sure," I accept his offer.

Apparently he accepts limits when their shown clear enough to him.

Or he just has enough of arguing with me during class and wasting precious moments of learning.

He leans a little further over to me and tells me in a whisper the first steps, and why the table has to be read from back to front and not the other way around as I tried first.

The whole process sounds so logical and simple coming from his mouth.

As if it isn't the most difficult science, that's being taught at Hogwarts.

His patience and concentration are admirable.

As the bell rings at the end of the hour, I really understood some of the work that I was doing.

Arithmancy can be really exciting, once you understand it.

However, I noticed my fatal gaps only too well.

„Riddle?"

„Tomorrow eleven o'clock library. Be punctual."

Slightly taken aback I pause in my tracks, and when I look up to thank him he and his companions have already disappeared.

Only Bell and the Professor are still there.

"See you later in Ancient Runes?"

Bell inquires as if she hadn't noticed my conversation with Riddle.

"Of course," I smile at her.

"What's going on between you and Riddle?" She asks next.

Why does she always have to express her opinion?

I would prefer it if she was more quiet and timid at times.

"He's helping me with Arithmancy," I tell her truthfully.

"Riddle doesn't offer his help to anyone."

"He's helping me because I asked him to give me tuition," I correct her assumption.

Looks like I won't be able to keep it a secret.

Great!

Soon the whole school will know that I'm failing in Arithmancy.

"Just now. He offered you his help. Without you having to ask him for it."

"Apparently I irritated him with my fidgeting."

"Then he would of just asked you to behave as it befits a N.E.W.Ts student, who's of age on top of that." Annabelle shakes her head.

"Normally, I understand people quickly, but you two are a mystery to me. You're full of secrets and you hide things, he has certainly noticed it as well.

I beg you Hazel, take care of yourself. "

„I don't have any secrets."

I deny her supposition.

If I had known that she sees through people so quickly, I would have kept my distance from her.

Meanwhile, we have arrived at the stairs were our pats separate.

"I'll take care of myself," I promise her very touched by so much honesty and open affection.

"Good", she gives me a shy smile.

"See you later."

" See you."

In the other classes that we have together Riddle ignores me completely.

He doesn't even look at me...its as if I don't even exist to him.

He's back to being the silent, introverted Head Boy that everyone knows.

If he want's to play it like that, that's fine by me.

Later when I'm sitting in Ancient Runes beside Bell, my thoughts are circling around the enigmatic Arithmancy class.

My concentration is so weak that I have to postpone my homework to tomorrow.

That really worries me.

I have to stop focusing so much on Riddle...