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

22th November 1944
Friday

I received Slughorn's party invitation a week ago from today.

I'm currently wearing a knee-length, snow white neckholderdress with black roses, the skirt sweetly resonates with my every move.

I really love the clothes from this decade.

"What do you girls think of my outfit?" I turn to them with outstretched arms.

"I still think that you should wear your hair loose, and only pin back the front strands," Tracey pouts with her arms crossed.

I roll my eyes.

We've been having this discussion for almost an hour now.

Since she saw that I didn't braid the front sections of my hair and make the hairstyle that she wanted, but to embellish Toms mandatory bun.

"You look good," said Jacklyn after she eyed me briefly and turns back to her book.

"Let your hair loose," Tracey calls demanding.

"It looks a lot more provocative."

"Provocative?"

"Maybe she doesn't want to look provocative," Casey intervenes.

"You look nice just the way you are Hazel."

"Thanks," I grin at her.

"But Riddle is going to be there! You should look provocative. You should want it, " Tracey keeps trying to convince me.

"Maybe not," Jacklyn mutters absent.

"Exactly. She knows him better than us and knows what he likes, "Casey defends my decision and comes up behind me to fasten her pearl necklace around my neck.

"Now your outfit is complete," she smiles.

I look at myself in the mirror.

"Almost!" I quickly run to my jewelry box, get a pair of pearl earrings and put them on.

"Now," I present myself again.

"Leave your hair open," is Tracey comments once again .

"Leave her be," Jacklyn says and lays her book down with a sigh.

She probably realized that she won't have any rest until I'm gone.

"Why don't you leave your hair open?" Tracey asks annoyed.

"Maybe she likes it better that way, don't you want to apply a little Rouge?" Casey tries to distract from the topic.

"No, I would feel too overdressed," I reject.

"Why don't you wear your hair open anymore? You haven't been wearing it down for weeks now! I believe that the most casual thing I've seen on you lately was a fish-braid! "

I sigh in annoyance.

"Why do insist that I wear my hair down? Its almost always down when we're here in our room."

"But besides here you always wear it up! You have such beautiful hair and don't show it to anyone, if I had hair like you I would show it to everyone like the newest invention from Malfoy's empire! "

"Malfoy empire?"

"One of the biggest companies in the wizarding world. Abraxas Malfoy is the heir."

"Oh right," I mutter.

"You have to go," Casey interjects with a look at her watch.

"Damn, you're right! I hope that Sasha is still waiting for me," I quickly grab the black pumps and slip into them.

"If I know my brother, he is still in the common room and wont even reprimand you because of your delay."

"I can tell him that it's your fault," I grin at her, which turns into a laugh when I see her pout.

"Don't worry, I won't do that," I say still winking at her and disappear quickly out the door.

"Sorry for the delay," I say to Sasha once I get to the common room.

"No problem. We won't be too late if we hurry, "he smiles.

"Let's go! We don't want to embarrass Gryffindor."

"And if we do, then it's your fault."

"All right," I laugh and climb out of the portrait hole.

"What is going on with you and Riddle? Are you on good terms again?"

I nod.

"Yes, right after our conversation. We made up. We went to the library together this morning."

Sasha shakes his head.
"I don't understand how you can be friends with him."

"Why?"

"He doesn't seems like the boy from next door to me, if you know what I mean."

And how well I understand him.

Tom isn't someone that you simply encounter on the streets of London, but that's where he actually grew up.

"You're probably right, but sometimes I suspect that it's exactly this uniqueness that attracts me."
I try to explain to him as he opens the door to Slughorn's office.

"We're just in time,"
I declaim and scurry after him in to the fire-lit room.

"Miss Hayes! Mister Sparrow! I am pleased to be able to once again welcome you to my humble quarters. Take a seat, I have reserved the same places as last time. Miss Hayes seemed relatively well with me old man and the Head Boy." Slughorn chuckles happily and I wonder how much alcohol he has consumed before the first guests arrived.

"We were once again very happy with your invitation, Professor," I beam at him.

"Oh, you flatter me," he chuckles further and puts a hand on his round belly.

"She's only voicing her thoughts, Professor. You need to forgive her for her hasty mouth "; Sasha says with a relaxed smile.

"But, Mr. Sparrow, Miss ..." From there on I tune out their conversation.

The feeling of being watched, makes my eyes wander to the table in the background on which the rest of Slughorn's favorites are already assembled.

Most talk in hushed tones, but Tom's seemingly black eyes are looking at me in silence.

When he realizes that I'm looking at him, he gives me a brief twitching of his lips, which is equivalent to a welcome smile from him.

I shyly smile back and then turn back to my two conversation partners who have now arrived at the last game of their Quidditch team.

"What are your thoughts on the game, Hazel?" Professor Slughorn tries to involve me back in to the conversation.

"I don't understand much about Quidditch, sir, but if you ask me, I have to admit that the winners deserved to win."

He laughs again, as if I made a good joke.

"Delightful, Miss. Really lovely, but we should sit down now, before someone dies of hunger," he winks at me kindly.

"Good evening, Tom."

"Evening, Hazel," his voice is as cold as always.

"Are you okay?"
I look at him frowning.

"Yes."

"Did I upset you somehow?"

He looks at me for a moment longer and then turns away from me because Slughorn welcomes us all again and signals the beginning of the feast.

As a main we are being served chicken with dumplings and some deliciously fragrant sauce as the main course.

"I hate the beginning of these evenings," I whisper to Tom, inoring the icy mood that's coming from him.

But he doesn't even look away from his food.

"Tom?"

He doesn't respond.

"Tom? Are you sure that I haven't upset you? What's going on?" I try asking him again.

Nobody pays attention to us, even Slughorn is involved in a lively discussion with the Head Girl.

"Tom, please," I almost beg him.

"What have I done? Did I say something to upset you?"

He still doesn't respond.

What have I done?
He acknowledged me just a while ago.

My stomach knots up into a thick clump.

Uninterested I push my food with a fork on the plate back and forth.

Why does it bother me this much that I don't know whats wrong with him?

I wish I could put the cutlery aside, apologize and go.

But I can't do that.

Then Tom would know that he has me in his hand, and he is the last person anyone would reveal their weakness.

So I force another piece of chicken into my mouth and chew slowly.

Tom and I are the only ones at the table who still aren't talking.

But no one really notices it.
They are all concerned with themselves.
Laughing, talking, discussion about various things.

"I don't like it," Tom says emotionless.

Nevertheless, a feeling of happiness spreads trough me.
Happiness in its purest form seems to pulsate through my veins as I turn to him.

"What don't you like?" I ask.

He doesn't respond.

"Tom, what did I do wrong?"

He seems to suppress a sigh.
At least he exhales annoyed.

"Not here. Not now. "

"When then?"
Impatiently I move back and forth on my chair and didn't notice that the main course was replaced with chocolate cake with custard and strawberries.

"Eat!" Tom hisses.

I pout annoyed, which brings a flash of amusement in his eyes.

I amuse him.
He thinks I'm funny.
Entertaining.

This is a step in the right direction.

Of that I'm absolutely sure.

I still don't know what annoyed him, but it can't be too bad.

I push the first piece of chocolate cake with vanilla sauce into my mouth.

"Mmm," I sigh contentedly and take in the sweet chocolate taste.

"Merlin is this delicious," I sigh and lick my lower lip.

"That's what I meant. I don't like that. "

"What do you mean?"

"Your behavior."

"My behavior?'' I didn't do anything wrong.

"Yes," he almost hisses.

An absolutely untypical behavior for the otherwise controlled Tom Riddle.

"What have I done?"

"Eat," his voice resumes its usual emotionless tone, and he turns back to his food.

My gaze wanders to his delicate hands.

Long fingers, perfectly shaped hands.

How can a man be so flawless?

If he really looks like his father, I can understand how his mother must have felt.

After all of us have finished eating and Professor Slughorn tells us a few anecdotes from his youth,some were really funny,he gives us a friendly smile.

"Are you coming with me?" Tom asks me after we said our goodbyes to Professor Slughorn.

I've been waiting for him, because I was hoping for exactly this question.

After all, he has yet to tell me what I did wrong in his opinion.

I quickly say goodbye to Sasha and have to listen to another Take care speech.

Then me and Tom silently make our way to the Head Boy quarters.

What will he say?
What have I done?
Why did he get annoyed at me?

Tom softly whispers the password and lets me go in first after the door opens.

I cautiously make my way in.

The last time I was here, didn't end very well.

"Sit down, I'll make tea."

"Do you still have those cookies from last time?" I smile at him.

"Yes, do you want me to remove your cloak for you?"

I put my cloack on for the way here, so I that I wouldn't catch cold in the short dress.

Maybe I should buy myself a few long sleeved and floor-length dresses...

I still don't know what I'm going to wear to Slughorns Christmas party.

"Yes please."

He comes up behind me, grabs my coat and slides it gently from my choulders.

I slowly turn around, as I slip out of the second sleeve and smile up at him.

"Thank you."

His proximity and the light touch of his fingertips against my shoulder make me feel like my hormones are on a roller coaster ride.

He nods and I notice that he swallows deeply.

This moment hasn't passed by without a trace on him either.

Perfect.

He keeps looking intensely at me and I feel slowly but surely uncomfortable, so I turn around and sit down as ordered on the same chair as last time.

With a flick of my wand I light a fire in the fireplace.

I let myself fall back into the cushions and keep my wand casually between my fingers and twirl it back and forth.

In the background I hear Tom boil water and take out the teacups from a small cabinet.

"With sugar?"

"Yes, please."

I slip off my shoes and move my toes in.
I didn't know that tights were already invented back in the 50s.
When I had seen them in a store, I thought that they only had the thick woolen stockings in this decade, but I clearly haven't payed attention to History of Magic.

"Here," Tom's voice sounds at my ear and I turn to him.

He acknowledges my grateful smile with a twitch of his lips.

Nowadays, it seems that its not so difficult for Tom to show me a minimum of feelings.
The twitching of his mouth, or an amused head shake have become something that comes natural to him when he's near me.

Also his unrivaled patience when he tries to explain something to me in Arithmancy.

Sighing, he takes his shoes off and acts like an ordinary seventeen year old.

Its such a simple and common thing to do, that it almost scares me.

Where is the monster that will destroy our lives?

I look over at him, and notice that he's still wearing his tie and the buttons of his shirt are closed up to his neck.

That has to be really uncomfortable.

I carefully get up, and walk over to him.

He watches me with half-closed lids.

I carefully sit down on the armrest of his chair and push my wand between the gap of my breasts with only the tip perking out, so it's out of the way and he doesn't feel threatened.
That would be my feeling if someone came this close with their wand at my throat me.

I can feel his gaze as he follows my movements when I put my wand away, and have to suppress a cheeky grin.

Looks like our Head Boy is just like any other boy after all.

"May I?" I ask not really waiting for his reply.

I bend down to him and loosen his tie, so I can take it of for him.

I carefully put it on the little table next to the tray with the tea.

Then I bend over him again.

His breath gently stroking on my cheek and my neck.

I feel goosebumps spreading all over my body.

My fingers tremble slightly as I touch his shirt collar.

He's siting incredibly still.

Only his chest rises and falls in the rhythm of his breathing.

"Better."

He simply stares at me.

With a small smile I get up and sit back on my chair.

"So, what did I do wrong?"

"I don't want you to talk to other men. And take your wand out of there."

I quickly act on his command, and turn towards him once more.

"How am I talking with other men in your opinion?"

"You're flirting with them."

I look at him with wide eyes.

"I flirt with them?"

"Yes," he replies angrily.

"The way you laugh and look at them. It drives me mad!"

If I continue to stare at him like this, my eyes will dry out.

This is the biggest outbreak of feelings that I've ever seen on him.

It bothers him how I act toward other men?

"I don't flirt with them," I mutter half sunken in thoughts.

He's jealous.

He wants to be my only male friend, or he may want more than just friendship.

My heart begins to race at that thought.

Tom is jealous.

He's jealous over all men with whom I speak.
He says, that I flirt with them.

He demanded that I tie my hair up.

And I did.

Damn it.

I can't make it so easy for him.

He's beginning to control me.

I have to stop this.

Tom needs someone who challenges him and his friends certainly don't do that.

"Tom, you can't ask me to have no contact with Sasha and other men. I am an independent person, I enjoy having friends with whom I can be myself. You can't ask me to give that up."

He looks at me whilst sipping on his teacup.

"That's not what I meant."

"It sounded like that."

"It wasn't intentional."

"Then?"

"What do you mean?"

"What do you consider flirting? I won't stop to communicate with men, but I can try to annoy you less. "

"Don't smile as much."

"You want me to stop smiling?" I look at him horrified.

Doesn't he understand that not everyone can be a block of ice like he is?

"I didn't say that. You just shouldn't smile at others as much."

He doesn't want me to show my emotions to others.

"Tom, normal people smile when they are happy," I try to bring him closer to the problem.

We sit there for several minutes and watch the fire.

My eyes are slowly becoming heavy, but I don't feel like leaving just yet.

Being near Tom awakens a feeling of happiness in me, that I miss when he's not around.

I would like to delay this feeling of loss for as long as possible.

"I'm not forbidding you to spend time with your friends," he says after a while.

"And I don't want you to be someone you're not."

"But don't spend so much time with Bailee. I hate the looks he throws you. "

"Looks?"

"Haven't you noticed?"

I shake my head and take a biscuit from the plate.

He snorts dismissively.
"Just be careful."

"I will," I acknowledge with a smile that is as bright as the sun.

He is jealous of other guys around me.

He wants my smile all for himself!

I cann't believe my luck.

Tom Riddle is jealous. Because of me!

And he likes me!

I would love to dance around the room and sing 'he likes me he likes me, he liiiiikkkeeeesss me.'

I know that its a bit exaggerated, but I have never been so happy in my whole life.

Not even when me and Neville became friends, or wen we found a safe place away from the Carrows.

My life seems to be perfect at this moment.

With a happy smile I stare into the fire.

I can still feel Tom looking at me now and then, but he also doesn't break the peaceful silence.

He knows as well as me that one wrong word can ruin this calm mood and can do everything that we have achieved today to naught.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

A/N:
You guys should know the drill by now;

Vote - If you liked the chapter
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Ps: I attached a picture of the dress that Hazel is wearing.

Much love
Jamz