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

13th September 1944
Friday

The school week is approaching its end.

I'm sitting in the last hour for the day doing my best efforts to listen to professor Westbrook.

Which really isn't that easy because I already went trough all the material that he's teaching in my time.

Nevertheless, I have to keep up the role of good student.

At half past four, I have a meeting with Professor Allen regarding my constant poor performance in Arithmancy.

Just thinking about it gives me a stomach ache.

What have I done to deserve this?

When I get back, I'm going to kill Snape.

I hate it when teachers pay attention to me, especially in a negative sense and a meeting based on my non-existent accomplishment can't be considered positive, right?

No, clearly not.

It is all Snape's fault!

Why did he make me take this stupid subject?

It wouldn't have made any difference if I had one subject different from Riddle.

He doesn't speak to me anyway.

Since my observation in Charms I am desperately looking for a reason to get closer to him.

But it was all in vain.

Not even his great friends gave me a reason to talk to him, and I don't dare to approach him... I'm way too shy for that.

It feels strange to have so many friends here.

I feel like I finally belong somewhere.

No one here knows that I was an absolute loner.

The loneliness was my best friend and the castle walls were my listeners.

Thank Merlin that the walls don't have ears at Hogwarts.

Softly sighing I rub my temples.

Sometimes I wish my invisibility back.

In moments like this, where Tracey is piercing me with her questioning looks.

Shaking my head, I make her understand that nothing's wrong..

Oh heavens!

I have been thinking too much lately.

Having to remain inactive, makes me jittery.

Internally at least.

I nervously stand in front of Kelly Allens' office door, waiting for her to call me.

"Come in," I hear Professor Allen's voice from the other side of the door.

Taking another deep breath, I press the latch of the door down, and enter the room with slightly downcast eyes.

"Sit down miss Hayes," she says as soon as I enter.

"Miss Hayes," the professor begins in a really nice tone.

"Do you know why you're here?"

"Yes, Miss," I mumble and find the grain of wood on her table suddenly incredibly exciting.

"That's a good start. Can you perhaps explain why your performance in Arithmancy compared to other subjects is so bad?

Or rather, why your performance in general is very poor? In the other subjects your accomplishments are almost perfect. I have heard in some subjects you make competition to the Head Boy. "

"Maybe, Professor," I mutter and bow my head is still a bit more.

"Miss Hayes that's no answer to my question."

"What?"

"Do you know why you are so... bad in my subject?"

I nod hesitantly.

I've already thought of an excuse on my way here.

"So?" Professor Allen sighs.

"We hadn't gotten this far in to the subject at my old school. I'm currently trying to catch up with the rest of the class in every free minute that I can get, but it exceeds the quota of energy, which I have at my disposal."

"Miss Hayes, you have to do better. And that as soon as possible. After all, you are taking degree in it and poor performance will not take you far in life.

Where do you want to work in the future?

In the Ministry? Or do you simply want to get married and stay at home like most girls? "

"I don't know yet, Professor," I answer truthfully.

I don't even know if I'll survive the war against Voldemort.

"Well, then you should start thinking about it. You are going to you graduate in a few months. Did you receive career guidance in your fifth year?"

Sarcastically, I remember the conversation with Professor Umbridge and McGonogall in the background.

A disaster.

Never in my life have I stuttered, but in this discussion I couldn't form even one reasonable sentence.

At the end Umbridge told me that the best thing for me would be to get married and hide in the house like a good wife.

Stupid old hag!

"I had something of a professional advice, Professor. However, my teacher and I didn't come to a conclusion. That's the reason why have chosen such different O.W.L. subjects, so that I'll have a wide range of career choices in the end."

"Well, that has certainly been an intelligent step. Unfortunately, this doesn't help you in Arithmancy.

I can't give you a better grade than your performance will bear.

But do not worry. I am sure that we can get the problem under control.

Maybe I'll come up with a solution.

Until then, you have to keep practicing diligently. "

"I will Professor."

"You can go. Goodbye, " Professor Allen smiles.

"Goodbye", I reply back and leave her office.

It could have gone worse.

Also, I'm curious what she wants to come up with to solve my problem.

I'm an absolutely hopeless case.

"And how was the meeting?" Tracey calls me from the sofa.

Her and my other friends, seem to have been awaiting my arrival lounging around the fireplace.

"Actually quite good. I expected it to be worse. She says that I need to do better, which was already clear to me. In addition, she is going to find a solution which I'm very excited about, "I snort and sit down beside Bailee on the arm of his chair.

"That sounds promising," Casey smiles encouragingly.

"Yes, it does. But I hate to fail," I sigh.

"That's not a failing. You're just not very good at the subject... At the moment at least, if you keep getting up so early, you will catch up to the rest of us in no time," Jacklyn grins shyly.

"I sure hope so! But lets change the subject please. I want to go to sleep without depression," I say to them before running my hand trough Bailee's hair and ruining his hairstyle.

He acknowledges this gesture by pulling me onto his lap and tickling me.

And that in this time!

Where even looking at one another for longer than necessary is considered indecent!

In front of so many people!

Either I have a bad influence on him or Bailee just doesn't care about other peoples opinions.