Ivy stormed into the dormitory, slamming the door shut behind her before leaning against it. Her chest rose and fell with frustration as she tried to calm the whirlwind of emotions Cedric had stirred up.

Hermione looked up from her book, her brow furrowed with concern. "So? What happened?"

Ivy sighed heavily, crossing the room and plopping down on the edge of Hermione's bed. "Cedric started arguing and got aggressive. Then Tom Riddle showed up and scared him off," she explained quickly, her words tumbling over each other. "And I don't know... I think Tom was trying to make fun of me, but I'm not sure."

Hermione let out a small laugh, closing her book. "Ivy, Tom probably wasn't trying to make fun of you. Maybe he was actually trying to help."

Ivy shot her a look of disbelief. "Help? Tom Riddle doesn't help people. He just... looms ominously and makes everyone's life harder." She flopped onto her own bed, groaning. "Ugh, people are so annoying. I'm gonna find Pansy-I haven't seen her in ages."

Hermione nodded. "Alright, but just... be careful. Slytherin parties can get a bit wild."

---

Ivy left the dormitory and made her way down the moving staircases. The castle buzzed with energy; the first week of term had brought the usual chaos and chatter. She eventually spotted Pansy in the Great Hall, sitting at the Slytherin table with a group of familiar faces.

Mattheo Riddle lounged casually, his dark curls falling messily over his forehead as he leaned back, a smirk tugging at his lips. Theodore Nott and Enzo Berkshire were deep in conversation, their sharp features illuminated by the flickering candlelight overhead. Draco Malfoy, as always, looked polished and smug, while Tom Riddle sat at the end of the table, his cold, calculating presence dominating the group without him saying a word.

Pansy's face lit up when she saw Ivy. She jumped up from the bench and ran over to her, pulling her into a hug. "Hiii!"

Ivy couldn't help but smile. "Hii, Pansy. It's been forever."

"Are you coming to the party later?" Pansy asked excitedly, pulling back to look at her friend. "As a Slytherin, I officially invite you."

Ivy hesitated, her smile faltering. The thought of being in the same room as Tom made her stomach twist. "Nah, I think I'm good tonight."

Pansy pouted dramatically, clasping her hands together as if begging. "No, please! You have to come! It won't be the same without you."

---

Later that evening, Ivy stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her outfit. She had eventually caved to Pansy's persistence, deciding it wasn't worth the fight. She wore a sleek emerald-green dress that clung to her figure, the color perfectly complementing her complexion. The neckline dipped modestly, but the open back added a hint of daring elegance. She paired it with black heels and minimal jewelry, her long hair cascading over one shoulder.

Taking a deep breath, she left the Gryffindor Tower and made her way to the dungeons, where the Slytherin common room was already alive with the sound of laughter and music.

The atmosphere was electric. Green and silver banners hung from the ceiling, enchanted to shimmer in the low light. Students filled the room, some lounging on velvet sofas while others danced to the magical music playing from enchanted instruments.

Ivy spotted Pansy immediately, who waved her over excitedly. "You made it!" Pansy cheered, pulling Ivy into another hug.

"Yeah, yeah, don't make a big deal out of it," Ivy said with a smirk.

"Come on, let me introduce you properly to everyone," Pansy said, dragging Ivy toward the group she'd seen earlier in the Great Hall.

Theodore Nott gave her a polite nod, while Enzo Berkshire flashed her a charming grin. Mattheo leaned against the wall, a drink in his hand. "So, you're the Gryffindor Pansy won't shut up about," he said, his tone teasing but not unkind.

Draco raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Brave of you to show up here."

Before Ivy could respond, her eyes drifted to Tom. He sat in the corner, a glass of firewhisky in his hand, his sharp gaze fixed on her as if he could see through her entirely. She quickly looked away, pretending not to notice.

As the night went on, Ivy tried to enjoy herself, but the energy in the room felt off. She kept catching glimpses of Tom, his unreadable expression making her uneasy. And it didn't help that Mattheo and Enzo kept cracking jokes that made Pansy laugh so hard she had to hold onto Ivy for balance.

---

Eventually, Ivy slipped away to get some air, stepping into the quiet corridor outside the common room. She leaned against the cool stone wall, exhaling deeply.

"You look like you're plotting your escape," came a familiar voice.

She turned to see Tom standing a few feet away, his arms crossed. His presence was both unnerving and oddly reassuring.

"Not plotting, just... taking a break," she said coolly, crossing her arms.

"From my friends or from me?" he asked, his tone unreadable.

"Both, probably," Ivy shot back, though there was no real bite to her words.

Tom smirked, stepping closer. "You seem to have a habit of finding yourself where you don't belong."

"And yet, you always seem to notice," she countered, raising an eyebrow.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the tension between them palpable. Then, with a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Tom turned and disappeared back into the party, leaving Ivy alone with her thoughts.

**𝐀𝐍: AHHHH**