Tom Riddle X Reader | ✓

Part 32 Pathetic Fallacy | Edited

The next day, around Hogsmeade, uniform cloaks hovered between the jammed students, their eyes feeding off the tension radiating from two of the sharpest Hogwarts wizards - Sirius and Riddle.

Riddle looked calm and collected and Sirius was reading his foe, trying to predict the unpredictable. The pair were disregarding the encircling, crammed crowd who stood as hushed as the dead, awaiting for the entertainment to cater for their five minutes of boredom.

This was a place where the teachers could not intervene, becoming a secret of egoistical rivalry.

"Well?" - Sirius took his wand out of his inner pocket "Before I nod off"

Tom stepped forward and Sirius's head flinched back, he didn't expect a sudden approach. Anticipating an attack, Black stood firmly with his wand ready. As he was about to mutter out a spell, he was stopped by the sight of Riddle freshly stretching out his hand and awaiting for a handshake.

"Let's at least show some respect to sorcerer duels" - Tom gently stated

Sirius, a little dismayed, accepted the handshake. No need to bow, they both thought, this wasn't a usual duel.

Riddle then returned back to where he was standing before, without even a hint of fear on his face and yet some sort of a confident gleam would slip in his eyes, his posture was strong and his chin was up. 

You and your friends only now have made it into Hogsmeade, just in time before a fight would escalate. It seemed like nobody was really willing to reveal the exact location to you until last minute.

You pushed yourselves between the drama lusting crowd and gazed at the duo. That's where you felt baffled, getting in-between could ruin your friendships even more. Besides, you never really successfully stopped a conflict. 

"Let them at it" - Mary whispered, noticing the worried look "Let them just get it done with"

You didn't respond to her, fearing for some sort of a fatal risk.

"You don't seem scared, Riddle" - Sirius said "How about we raise the risk a bit, shall we?" - he noticed you were now standing among the swarm of students before suddenly smiling at you and then at Tom "If you win, I won't be questioning your capability anymore. But If I win, you'll admit my potential is no less than yours and... you won't be speaking to my friend anymore. You know which one."

"Is that it? Your thirst for victory ends in such a silly demand?" - Riddle looked unamused

Sirius thought for a bit, before smiling once again "AND you'll be giving me your wand."

That's when the students oo'ed among them, these stakes were high among wizard standards.

"So I'd only receive an acknowledgement for something already obvious and you'd be getting my wand? Seems hardly fair, don't you agree?" - Tom answered

"So you admit there's a chance you'll lose then?" - Sirius asked, belief blooming on his face, but he was slowly growing sweaty from the secret anxiety he tried to kill.

"Fine." - Riddle declared, hiding back an arrogant smirk.

On your right side standing Mary shook her head "That poor Gryffindor boy is going to get wrecked." - she turned at you "Can't believe you have two boys fighting over you and I can't even make my own cat love me."

You couldn't even respond to this light-hearted comment, feeling anxious.

A nearby Hufflepuff boy who had been in charge of the school's paper, yanked off his yellow scarf and waved it upwards.

"This isn't a race--" - Lily gently pulled his hand down

Completely ignoring the situation happening on their side, Sirius and Tom had their wands ready, securely standing still as they awaited each others attacks.

The crowd stood still and quiet, holding in their breaths, mouths running dry and their faces turning pale, blocking out the sound of oozing wind.

Both of them finally waved their hands upwards, both spells about to collide, launching at one another when suddenly they dissolve and neither of the hits land on the other.

The clear sky suddenly turned dark, the ground vibrating beneath their feet. A bolt of lightning launched down at the nearby tree and most of the students suddenly scattered, screaming among the now pouring down, cold rain.

What looked like to be a mist came from all sides, about to devour the chilled faces.

Shortly, one by one, dark silhouettes floated in the sky, some dropping down to the ground and glaring at the running students. You couldn't see who the silhouettes were, as they appeared pitch black among the fuzz of the mist. The screaming rang in your ears louder and louder the more of them showed up.

At first, you thought those were dementors, but the weather did not freeze as it would if they'd be nearby. You noticed some students summon patronuses and failing, considering the mysterious figures were still unknown.

The more you looked up, the clearer it was. They were floating people, wielding wands, just gazing down at the students while bringing down a storm. Soon one of the silhouettes turned into a clear figure and the face belonged to no other but the freshly escaped prisoner Mortier Hollow. 

What was he doing here?

There were barely any people left in that area. Your friends had even started to pull you away from that terrifying sight too. What was left of that crowd had now been sprinting back towards Hogwarts like headless chickens. 

Whilst most dispersed, Tom was walking. Calmly. No fright bugging him whatsoever. It made him appear vulnerable, but Mortier did not attack. They didn't attack anyone, just seemed to scan the runners below, as if they were looking for someone.

But then as you, Lily, Mary and Molly ran back towards Hogwarts, a sudden vibration split you up and it felt as if you hovered before dropping somewhere. You got up and quickly found yourself alone among the mist. You couldn't see anyone or anything. You lifted your wand, ready to cast a couple spells to fight this situation. 

But a green jet of light flew right over your head. You looked towards the source, thirsty to know where it came from then noticed a floating, dark figure. But not their face. 

Another jet of light flashed but it missed again, whooshing over your right shoulder. 

"Get down!" 

You heard a voice, noticing Lily rush towards you along with Mary and Molly who had their wands clenched. 

"Eyes steady" - Mary said 

Molly nodded, keeping her eyes locked into the misty sky.

"Are you hurt?" - Lily asked, appearing concerned

"I'm okay" - you replied, suddenly relieved they were here

Lily helped you stand steady on your feet. She brushed her hand on your back, making sure you're not injured. 

Your group shielded you to safety as all of you kept your eyes wide open for any alerts until you made it back to Hogwarts.