THE SERPENT'S EAGLE | TOM RIDDLE

Chapter 17 - An unfortunate alliance

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 17
𝕬𝖓 𝖚𝖓𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖚𝖓𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖎𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊

One day was all it took to let the whole school know that Melody was a muggle-born. Now, she could hear Slytherin folks whispering about it when she walked by, referring to Melody as 'the mud blood' and her as a 'blood traitor.'

She didn't care for the latter; what she did find infuriating was the absurdity of misconduct betrayed by the serpents, as they called her friend that malicious slur. So without hesitation, she takes points as soon as she hears the word, further shoving down the Slytherins in the race for the house cup.

Melody, on the other hand, does not fully comprehend what it means, only the essence that it was bad, but she is grateful that the princess stands up for her. Her interest finds knowledge about the Wizarding world much more appealing than any disapproving whispers about her blood status.

So Astraea explained to her diligently as they trotted the halls during their travel towards study hall period. It was a lovely morning until a band of snakes decided they wouldn't let it.

"Just as I thought my morning was going to be seemly, here I see you betraying your blood," Orion Black subtly hints at his disgust.

"Funnily enough, you've also singlehandedly disrupted my afternoon by the sight of your face," Astraea hums stepping in front of Melody like a lioness protecting her cub.

"What will dear old king father say?" Black taunts.

But she knows her father's inability to see things for what they were. So she earnestly replied.

"He'll say his daughter is solely winning him the political game,"

Blacks shake his head before looking at the girl behind her. "Such a shame that gleeful attributes are wasted on you,"

"You think I'm pretty? Why thank you mister rude!" Melody brightens up blatantly disregarding the insult in his sentence.

Astraea smiles at the reaction she had driven Black. He scoffs, looking at Astraea with a dirty look, and so do Abraxas and Avery, before walking past the two in complete disarray.

"I think they were lovely!" Melody says causing the both of them to just laugh and continue their travel.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

"Hestine," Astraea mentally scoffs hearing the sound she so desperately wishes the world would mute out.

She pretended, however, that it did not exist and continued her walk on the way to her next class. Her fantasy was only momentary when she was forcefully swung to meet his gaze. Both dark and beautiful eyes raking her skin like moonlight shines.

"Yes, Riddle?" She forcefully lets out a soft smile, to which the boy just scoffs.

"This perfect girl facade is getting old, you know,"

She rolls her eyes at that. "Dearest Slytherin prefect, you are not one to talk about facades now, are you?"

They stare at each other for a moment after that. As if Tom was challenging her to say more, blow his cover, and end her life in turn. But she thought better of it.

"What can I do for you, Riddle?" She asks again, keeping the jolly tone she has.

"There are many things a lady can do for a man," he says lowly and this only made her furrow her eyebrows.

"I beg your pardon?" Her question was genuine and Tom had to hesitate.

He analyzed her like he was looking for something. A skeptical look on his face searching for anything that would give him signs of amusement. There was none, so he shrugged it off.