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

18th October 1944
Friday

Today is my first Slughorn meeting.

I'm really curious to see who's going to be there and how it's going to turn out.

I wonder if the food is as good as in my time.

The ice-cream was clearly always the best part of the meeting.

No one could resist it, not even Hermione, she left a bit on her plate every now and a out of decency.

The house elves surpassed themselves time and time again with the dessert.

Ice cream is clearly a sin.

A cold sin.

Just like Tom.

Yesterday I've not met with him to learn, but I've spent a lot of time with my friends instead.

We played chess, cards and crafted towers that explode as soon as it takes too long or it they shake.

We had a lot of fun.

Above all, I was pleased when Sasha made Jacklyn compliment about her new hair bow.

The bright blue really fit well with her curly blonde locks.

She blushed a dark shade of red and thanked him shyly.

She was clearly embarrassed, but Sasha didn't consider the matter any further.

He smiled and simply went back to the chess game that he was playing with Bailee.

It was a truly beautiful, carefree afternoon.

Later on that evening I'm wearing a yellow sun dress with white flip-flops, as I stride down the stairs to the common room.

Sasha is already waiting for me.

We decided to go together.

After all, we are the only Gryffindors that are attending the dinner today.

"Are you trying to bring the summer back?"

Tracey beams at me looking over my dress once more.

"Maybe," I giggle and walk to the portrait.

"Have fun you two!"

I hear Casey shout from the other side of the common room.

"We will!," I shout back smiling.

"What do you usually do in these Slugclub dinners?"

"They're not terribly exciting, Hazel. Apart from us two a handful of Ravenclaw will be present and more than enough Slytherins. The Head Boy and his entourage will also be there. The Head Girl Amalia Jefferson a Ravenclaw should also be present. She is very cold. I've never seen her smile.... No...wait, I've seen her smile, but it was absolutely wrong. Not like Jacklyn, not like- " He breaks off blushing profoundly.

"I guess that you're in love with her," I say matter of factly.

"She's sweet in her own way," he mutters painfully affected.

"Why don't you tell her?"

"Because I don't know how," he exclaims in frustration.

"Where is Sasha?"

"Excuse me?"

"The Sasha, whom I met, is confident, charming and courageous. The person walking next to me right now is clearly his doppelgänger."

"You don't understand," he sighs sadly.

"I really don't understand it," I say while Sasha opens the door for me and we both walk into Slughorn's office.

"Ah Miss Hayes and Mr. Sparrow, I'm glad that the two of you have made time for my dinner."

"It would be a shame to miss your dinner, Professor," I beam at him.

Slughorn chuckles happily. "I have kept you a place between the Head Boy and your friend. I want to talk to you about your bright future in detail Miss Hayes."

"It will be my pleasure,"

I smile brightly at him once more, rolling my eyes as he turns his back to us, which in turn makes Sasha grin.

Sashaleads me further into the room and pulls the chair back for me.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," he says and sits down beside me.

"Do you like it here at Hogwarts?" Professor Slughorn asks me as soon as I sit down.

"Yes, yes I like it very much here. The lessons are informative and my classmates are also very polite for the most part "

I say shamelessly sucking up to him.

Slughorn chuckles again amused.

Riddle seems rather unsettled that we're not paying attention to him.

Either that or he feels disgusted by my words.

I can't take it personally, if I'm honest it does not.

The conversation with Professor Slughorn goes on like that for a little longer until the appetizer magically appears on our plates.

Then the professor devotes all his attention to the food.

A slight silence has spread over the dinner party, only interrupted by the clatter of cutlery on the plates and the clinking of glasses, if they are placed back on the table.

Everyone has excellent table manners.

By the time the main course arrives, the mood has somewhat eased.

You can hear some students talk to each other, and even I get the chance to talk to Sasha about Quidditch.

The first tournament of the year is imminent and I am curious to see if rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor is already there in this time.

However, I am familiar neither with Quidditch teams from, nor have I ever read Quidditch through the Ages.

It so happens that I can't really contribute much to the conversation and Sasha ends up talking most of the time.

At least until the Ravenclaw siting on the other side next to gets in to the conversation.

"As I notice, you don't know a lot about Quidditch", a deep, melodic voice sounds to my left.

"I'm afraid not. It is a very popular subject in the Gryffindor common room and by my ignorance, I am often not integrated in the entertainment of my housemates."

"Other things should occupy you, than the ignorance of your housemates."

"You're probably right. I use the time to study. "

"That doesn't seem to be helping you with Arithmancy ," he sneers condescendingly.

"Everyone has their weaknesses," I protest half-heartedly.

"I do not!" He denies.

"Yes, you too. If you don't know them yet, then you'll find it what they are soon enough. But you can work on your weaknesses. And you know what? Many might consider your arrogance as a weakness!"

"I'm not arrogant. I only know what I'm worth, "he explains.

„Well this coversation was all for nothing", I sigh and take a spoon of vegetable soup to myself.

I know his weaknesses. Unterestimation of others and disdain of the power of the love.

But if I tell him that I can just forget to ever have a chance of gaining his trust.

With the dessert I take up the conversation again.

„When are we meeting again?"

„Wednesday. Same time, Same place. Try to start going over your homework, I'll go over everything with you after.''

"Why not earlier?" Slight disappointment is spreading.

"I have Head Boy duties, also I would like to take a little time to learn and spend time with my ... friends."

Aha.

He also hesitates when it comes to describe his followers.

He probably doesn't want the term Death Eaters to be used around me, I won't have the chance to ask any questions that way.

Only the blood of his family sticks to his hands.

He still has no power.

Nobody knows about them.

He doesn't even have his financial power yet.

No one fears his name, he's still using his birth name.

No one is afraid of the Death Eaters.

Actually...I don't even exist yet.

All of this is so twisted.

I only know him as a disfigured monster, powerful, vicious, torturing and feared.

But the boy that's siting next to me right now, the boy who helps me with Arithmancy, The boy who's digging himself deeper and deeper into my heart.

This boy doesn't have much resemblance to lord Voldemort.

Although the foundations have already been laid.

He is so quiet and thoughtful.

Always helpful and polite to others.

Of course, he is manipulative, calculating and self-confident.

Yes.

Even unloving, cold and racist...

But people can easily overlook those things, he just has to put up a fake smile and fake interest and everyone is fooled.

His skill is more impressive than scary.

No one here can imagine that wizards and witches will wince at the sound of his name spoken one day.

He is a popular model student and respected by the teachers.

Many girls adored him and would let him in to their bed without batting an eyelash.

It's hard for me to consider him as evil.

No, its not difficult.

I simply can't do it.

At the latest, when I see him or he talks to me with his soft velvety voice listen, I almost forget that he will one day be the future Dark Lord.

He is then just another classmate to me, highly intelligent and perceptive someone that I have to be vary of, so that I don't burn myself.

No, not burn.

He is ice-cold.

So that I do not freeze to death and jump in thousand pieces.

It's enough to drive you mad.

Sometimes I even lose my mission out of sight.

If I continue dis way, I will fail and the world will become the most awful place one can imagine because of me.

By Merlin's pants, I have to really pull it together.

Tom Riddle isn't all that great.

"Some cake, Hazel?" He offers me politely and puts the piece on my plate before I can even reply.

"Yes, please," I mutter still taken by surprise.

Smiling, I look up into his dark eyes.

A mistake as it turns out.

I sink into them like a stone into a deep lake, where you can't see the ground.

What is he doing to me?

He breaks eye contact and just keeps eating.

As if I left no tracks in him.

However, I would like nothing more than to leave traces behind.

To change him and save the world in a different way.

With love.

And ultimately it wil be saved by love.

However, it will not be his and my love.

But the love of many people for each other.

Because he can't love.

He doesn't want love.

He doesn't believe in the existence of love.

But hope is the last to die..