#older Theo Nott x younger Reader

[priniya]

🌌 TOO MANY NIGHTS

synopsis. theodore nott spent too many nights, smoking and hanging out with matt’s little sister to not make her his girlfriend.

notes. theodore nott x riddle!reader. reader is a hufflepuff! pls, let’s pretend you’re 12 when u get to hogwarts xoxo, just for the plot

theodore nott had always been fascinated by how many differences there were between his best friend mattheo and mattheo’s younger sister. while mattheo wanted to fight anyone, who just scrunched their nose at him, you would rather have your nose broken, so the other person wouldn’t have to go through that pain. while mattheo could be consider as the grumpy (their oldest sibling obviously being the grumpier), you held the tilte of the sunshine.

theo believed it suited you. ever since the three of you were kids, mattheo had his best friend grow protective of you in the same way he had, looking out for you even if you didn’t want it. however, whenever it was nott making your blood boil with some nonsense — you couldn’t get as mad at him as you’d get at your brother. it’s because he’s not my brother, he’s theo, you’d always tell yourself. the truth was that as much as you wanted, you could never be angry with him.

the same thing continued when you started hogwarts. although, you could feel the shifting of your friendship with theo. maybe it all started to happen, because you were growing up, or maybe it was meant to be like that. anyways — you found yourself dreaming of your childhood friend in situations… that made you blush profusely whenever you walked passed him. it was complicating things so much you tried to push it aside, nevertheless to no avail.

“you like him.” a friend of yours joked, when you confessed your thoughts about theo, and… even if gabriela said it in a joking way, you couldn’t help but wonder if she was right.

turns out, she was.

it was all revealed, when another older friend of yours asked you out to the yule ball, and you had to watch theo having fun with daphne greengrass as well as their own group of friends that you weren’t a part of. did it sting? like hell. should’ve you expected it? absolutely. some would say — you should wait for the moment, when he asks you to the ball, but you knew you were just matt’s little sister in his eyes. a mere childhood friend he used to play with when he was younger, though all that ended the second he (and your brother) got his letter, from this moment on theodore nott was a serious, adult man.

few years later, when the slytherins were throwing a party in celebration of mattheo’s eighteen birthday, as his sister, you got an invitation. as much as you loved your brother, you definitely weren’t a big party person — you’d rather spend your time in the smaller group of people, chilling to the muggle music and maybe get high. nonetheless, it was your sibling’s birthday and you wouldn’t hear the end of it if you didn’t show up.

to be fair, matt’s celebration was one of the first slytherin parties you ever attended, and from all the rumors coating its mysterious aura, your expectations were pretty high.

gabriela, the friend of yours, whom you confided in having a small crush on theo, apparently never forgotten that conversation and decided to ‘spice your night a tad’, her exact words. she lent you a fitted, emerald, silky dress that ended slightly above your knee, she did your make up and gave a nose kiss for good luck.

for the first two and a half hour of the party, you couldn’t really catch a glimpse of the boy you were looking for, so your attention were turned towards plan b, which was getting wasted — and maybe meeting someone to get your brother’s best friend off your mind. so as i said, two and a half hour later, you were much more eccentric, bubbly, and definitely more ray of sunshine, caused by the loads of alcohol you put in yourself.

“teddy!” you exclaimed with a grin as you swiftly made your way towards where he was sitting in the corner of the room. a cigarette in his hand, few of his first buttons undone, a smirk lingering on his lips, although it was gone the second he saw you, being replaced with a genuine, but almost unnoticeable smile.

“riddle.” he replied. the corners of his lips went slightly upwards as your hands were wrapped around him, right after you plopped down on the couch next to him. “drunk?” theo asked, his head tilted to the side to get a better view of your flushed face.

“never.” a giggle slipped past your lips. you leaned more on him, serving him another one of your charming beams. “can i have a hypothetical question?”

“hypothetical?” he echoed your words, suppressing a laugh in attempt to not hurt your drunken feelings. “sure, riddle. go on.” nott added upon seing you nod your head.

“could you give me one of your cigarettes?” you grinned once again, putting all effort into a pleading puppy expression you thought you’ve mastered. his answers made you uncertain about your manipulation/daddy’s girl skills.

once again, theodore fought back a chuckle, putting on a teasing smirk. “no.”

“teddy!”

“what? wasn’t it hypothetical?” he snickered, watching you groan theatrically, lowering yourself on the green sofa. it took him a moment to ease your needs and pull out a package of muggle cigarettes that made you raise your eyebrow in curiosity at him. “they’re the best, believe me.” he mumbled with a cigarette in between his lips.

soon after, he tugged you closer after having looked around to see if mattheo was out of sight. as soon as his nerves were settled and your brother was nowhere to be found, theo’s fingers were wrapped around the lighter he bought in second year. the asshole he was, it felt like he was lighting it up for so long you were about to turn eighty. his gaze was instantly focused on your eyes. butterflies were slowly erupting in your stomach with each second he slacked off to light it.

somehow, you two parted your ways few minutes later, ending the sparkling moment between you two with a quick and rash kiss on nott’s cheek, a little too close to his lips for your brother’s liking, too far for yours.

although, the separation didn’t last too long. at least for him, because, when you met him again, you were drunk out of your mind, giggling at every single word someone said to you. good thing theo’s gut feeling told him to look after you.

you were stumbling over your own feet, stuttering at easiest words until you finally landed in paradise— or just his arms. accidentally, but you could cross it out from your checklist, not that you had one.

“hiya.” a soft smile made its way onto your face as he tightened the grip on your waist, not because you smiled so charmingly at him, but also because some older dudes that occupied his previous spot was busy undressing you with their eyes.

if you weren’t mattheo’s little sister, he’d probably try to get you to agree to have a quick round in his round, hell — maybe not even that quick, he could spend an entire night with a girl like you. unfortunately, the reality was different. he could never take an advantage of you, you were too… you and theodore nott liked that too much to just… ruin it.

“what’re you doing?” you asked, frowning as he picked you up and turned towards the staircase. “teddy– put me down, please.” the words left your lips in a slurred manner, but theodore didn’t budge, not even once.

the teenager obeyed your request the moment he walked through the door to his dormitory that was shared with mattheo. theodore sat you on his bed, his green eyes scanning your face intently, while you stiffled a laughter. as a result, you got a confused expression from him. “what?” he asked.

“you’re so pretty.” a soft mumble left your mouth. it had always been hard to catch theodore nott off guard, mostly because he was an intelligent and cunning person, who always noticed the bigger picture, predict the intentions before someone even opened their mouth, yet you did it. if your mind wasn’t so clouded with alcohol, you’d count it as a small win.

anyway, theo didn’t let your words get too much of a hold on him as he silently continued to undress you. as wrong as it sounds, he was doing you a simple favour — nott wanted to bring you comfort and safety, so he dragged you to his dorm and began unzipping your dress, leaving you in your underwear.

it took the boy all the possible strength he had in himself to control all the urges he just felt. it would be so wrong if he got hard just from the mere sight of the goddess sitting in front of him, with pouty lips and a baffled expression caused by his lack of response to her compliment.

“teddy?” you tried getting his attention once again, involuntarily scrapping off the polish of your nails as your eyes rested on his back, watching him shuffle through his closet to find you a comfortable pyjama.

to be fair, theo absolutely loathed the nickname. teddy reminded him of a child he used to be, a child with a loving mother, who would always call him that exact nickname. it wasn’t too much of a hassle, because no one called him that — until you did and it seemed like you couldn’t get rid of it from your vocabulary. somehow, it never bugged him when you did it. the way ‘teddy’ rolled off your tongue always gave him some sort of warm feeling in his stomach.

“mm?” your brother’s best friend muttered, his back still facing you. seconds later, he’s again in front of you, nudging you yet so slightly, so you put your hands above your head. “what is it, y/n/n?” he used the nickname you haven’t heard in a while, causing a literal war in your abdomen.

“could you kiss me?” for barely a second, his brain stopped functioning. he stopped in his tracks, oversized t–shirt still in his hands, all that until he decided to spare your embarrassment the next day and acted like he didn’t just hear what he heard. he was foolish for thinking that a sight of you almost naked and not getting a hard–on was the worst part of his night. now, theodore’s brain was filled with images of you two making out, and… it’s tough.

wordlessly, he finally put the shirt on you, nudging you afterwards, worry was still vividly lingering on his face as he watched you getting comfortable. “i’ll be right here.” nott murmured, grabbing a pillow, laying down on the floor. theo on one side of his bed, the bucket he brought you in case throwing up on the other.

both of you knew that he could go back downstairs, maybe even hook–up with some girl and spend the night at her dorm, just like mattheo did. nevertheless, he stayed there right with you.

it was further in the night, when you woke up and noticed that he still occupied his spot on the floor next to the bed. a pang of guilt hit you (as well as the pounding in your head) as you stared at his peaceful state.

merlin, theodore faustus nott was today times’ adonis and you felt like you could just spend the rest of the night gawking at how insanely beautiful he was. you could barely resist the urge to run your hand through his dark curls.

“you know i can feel you’re staring, riddle?” theo chuckled with his eyes still closed. shit. at least it was dark enough, so he couldn’t see the blush on your cheeks. “somethin’ bothering you?” he asked, giving you a concerned look.

“sleep on the bed, please?” you pleaded. he was about to refuse, when you continued. “i know you don’t want to kiss me, but it breaks my heart seeing you suffer there, when there’s enough room for two people here.” the words coming out of your mouth are quiet. the embarrassment and absurdity of this whole situation got to you — if you just didn’t ask him to kiss you, he’d probably sleep in the bed with you, but you obviously had to ruin it.

“y/n/n, i want to kiss you.” he said, his tone matching yours. “but i can’t, you know it. mattheo would kill me the second he knew.” theo knew he shouldn’t but the urge was too great to resist, so he placed his hands on your knees, reducing the distance between the two of you.

“matt doesn’t have to know.” a whispers left your lips as you leaned an inch closer, brushing the tip of your nose against theo’s. “teddy, please.” you pleaded, staring at him with urgency in your eyes.

it took theodore half a second to consider his options. he could’ve refused and regret it afterwards, but stay alive or he could’ve just kissed you and maybe get into a heated argument with mattheo. so… a voice in his head said fuck it and kissed you with all those feelings he’s had in him.

you could feel your entire world stop the second his lips fell on yours with urgency and passion. it was all you ever dreamed of, he was the guy who was your last thought before sleep and the first after waking up. a silly, childhood crush that developed over the years into… something you couldn’t describe. theodore nott had you wrapped around his finger without even knowing it — if he asked you to jump into a fire pit for a longing glance, you wouldn’t think about it twice and jump.

your fingers were tangled in his curls as he, without breaking the kiss, leaned more towards you, until your back hit the fabric of his sheets. to be completely honest, you felt like your stomach was about to be ripped apart just from the proximity between the two of you.

the kiss lasted way longer than you expected. it could’ve been hours, but you could never been sure. his lips were just inches apart, when he pulled away yet so slighty, letting out a groan as you nudged the tip of your nose again his.

“you don’t even know how much i wanted to do that.” his words were quiet. “matt will kill me, won’t he?” a low chuckle espaced his throat qs you let out a groan in response.

“could you stop mentioning my brother and just kiss me, nott?”

[ldrfanatic]

two worlds collided

theodore nott x fem!malfoy!ravenclaw!reader

a.n. this is quickly becoming a theo obsession blog BUT I am open to requests for others

love theo in this piece.

to be added to my theo nott taglist just comment on one of my theo nott posts :)

synopsis - you're draco's sister but you're a ravenclaw. your father shunned you because he thought that voldemort wouldn't want you but when Nott sr is trying to find theodore a bride your father takes this as the perfect opportunity. over time you grow to genuinely care for one another.

warning - cursing, lucius malfoy is a prick, hitting, borderline verbal abuse, arranged marriage

accompanying song - never tear us apart (bishop briggs)

nav slytherin boys

"Father is asking for you."

Shock washed over you and you wondered if you submerged yourself into your cloud-like bed if Lucius would just forget about it. After carefully weighing your options, it seemed rather unlikely. You threw your navy covers to the side and shuffled awkwardly to the main dining hall where your mother, father, and older brother Draco were waiting.

Your eyes fell onto a rather scary looking man and another handsome figure who you recognized as Theodore Nott, one of Draco's friends.

"Daughter." The warm velvet tones of Narcissa Malfoy filled the air. After you'd been sorted into Ravenclaw, Draco and Lucius had shunned you. Narcissa had been the only person in the entire family still kind to you. Well, she and your estranged aunt Andromeda who you'd been secretly exchanging letters since third year.

"Now that the Dark Lord has gained strength, it is imperative that we maintain close connections within the Sacred 28." Lucius approached you, looking rather unhinged, and placed a large hand on your shoulder. There was a malicious look in his eyes that made the entire interaction all the more unnerving. "Once the Dark Lord begins his plans, he'll need people he can trust to continue the most important of magical bloodlines."

Your father took you by the shoulders and moved you to stand in front of Theodore and the mystery man at his side.

"This is Theodore Nott Sr. and his son, who I presume you know from school."

Nott Sr. glanced to the side at Theodore who snapped out of a sort of trance. He brought your hand up to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on it.

"Y/n."

You smiled but didn't say anything, waiting in silence for your father to elaborate. He and Nott Sr. had clearly formed some sort of plan. "You and his son are to be married."

"What?!" Your body whipped around of its own accord and you felt rage explode over your body. "You haven't spoken to me in years and suddenly you expect me to marry this man without even asking me if I wish to be married to him or anyone for that matter?!"

Lucius' hand came down suddenly. A loud 'whack' resounded in the room as the back of his palm made contact with your cheek. "You ungrateful little brat." He straightened his cloak and took what you supposed was meant to be a calming breath. "Draco noticed the way that you stared at the Nott boy in school. You ought to be more appreciative that I didn't choose that awful Pucey boy although he was more than willing."

Though you couldn't see, Theodore's nose turned up in disgust at the mention of Adrian Pucey. He'd taken a liking to you, completely undeterred by the elder Malfoy's numerous threats to stay away from his younger sister. Draco might've been appalled that you'd been sorted into Ravenclaw, but that didn't mean that he was gonna let that slimey tosser terrorize you.

Your gaze stayed on the floor for a few moments before you turned back around, muttering a small apology to Theodore and his father. Overall, Theo was quite handsome and you had stared at him more than a few times. He really was quite handsome.

Nott Sr. studied you for a few moments then turned to Theodore expectantly. "Why don't the two of you take a stroll and become acquainted while Lucius and I finish up the particulars." It was phrased like a question, but in truth he wasn't asking. The air was silent as you walked out of the room the brunette boy following diligently.

The cool air nipped at your exposed skin as the heavy oak door slammed shut behind you. It was always cold and dark in the area surrounding Malfoy Manor.

"I'm sorry Theodore."

"Theo."

You stared at Theodore like a fish out of water waiting for words of any intelligence to come to you. Finally, you stuttered out an ignorant 'Huh?'.

"Call me Theo."

Your heart beat loudly in you ears for a few moments. "Oh-kay," Theo began to mosey into the Manor gardens with you hot on his heels. He was quite tall and due to the length of his legs, every one step he took was nearly three of yours. "So Theo. I am sorry you got dragged into this."

"That's alright fiancée." Theo teased you with a smile that could make any girl weak in the knees. For a moment you felt as though you could almost forget that the both of you were being forced into this.

"Still. I know your reputation. I only ask that you keep your conquests separate from our entanglement."

An indescribable akin to hurt flashed in the eyes of the boy before you. As well as something you didn't quite recognize.

"My reputation?" You spluttered at him for a few moments once again making a fool of yourself in front of Theodore Nott.

"Theo I didn't mean to--"

"Whatever." He turned away from you and stalked angrily back towards the Manor, calling over his shoulder. "And it's Theodore."

The rest of the break passed by pretty miserably, as expected. You and Theodore had gone on a few dates, as demanded by both your father and Nott Sr. since the pair of you were courting now, but they were long and excruciating with little to no conversation.

Despite a summer that seemed as though it would never end, September finally arrived.

You were boarding the train with Theodore and Draco as your parents watched on. They'd been keeping an extra close eye on the pair of you. In all honesty, you and Theodore hadn't grown any closer in your courtship than you'd been as distant acquaintances the year prior. If anything, the walk in the garden at the start of your relationship had forced you further apart.

And though you'd pretended you didn't care, seeing Theodore with other girls was never something you'd enjoyed. Now, knowing that he'd be your husband sooner rather than later, the thought of Theo running around with some daft blonde Slytherin made your heart sink to your stomach.

Yet, as the year progressed, you and the rest of Hogwarts were unexpectedly surprised by Theo. Before you knew it, the first snowfall graced Hogwarts in November, and Theodore hadn't had any flings with any girls. He was even turning down girls that had been brave enough to approach him and make the first move.

Without your parents to keep the two of you tightly bound, you and Theodore hadn't spoken since the train in.

Through all of this, you hadn't expected to become close friends with Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin girl in Theo and Draco's year. But she'd walked up to you during breakfast one morning and the two of you really hit it off.

Hence why currently, you were sat on Pansy's bed while she worked on her charms homework. And she was putting her absolute all into trying to convince you to ask Theo to Hogsmeade.

"C'mon Y/n! It might be fun."

"If by fun you mean he'll humiliate me in front of the entire student body." You mumbled under your breath. You tried to tune her out so as to focus on the book you were currently attempting to read, but she was determined.

"According to Blaise Theo's been talking about you when Draco isn't around to glare at him for it."

"Look Pans, I know you're in love with the bloke but have you considered that Blaise may be confused? Or simply taking the mickey?" Pansy shot you an unimpressed look. "Theo and I haven't spoken since September. In any case, if he's turning down long legged red heads who are all but stripping in front of him, what makes you think he'd want to go out with me?"

"Because he's already agreed to speak with you in the Slytherin Common Room tonight."

"What?!"

Pansy ignored your protests and damn near dragged you down to the common room with an iron grip on your wrist. When you got there, Theo was spread out on one of the expensive leather couches with a cigarette in between his lips. Yet as he noticed you approaching, he immediately dropped it and put it out with a stomp on the stone floors.

"Y/n."

The sonorous tones of Theo's voice bounced off each wall of the common room and seemed to warm you from the inside out. His voice was so inviting that you almost believed you could actually do this.

There is, however, one thing to know about Theodore Nott. No matter how inviting or pleasant Theo's aura is, you'd made a promise to yourself not to look him in the eyes. You knew that if you made the unfortunate mistake to look Theodore Nott in his malachite eyes, you'd lose all ability to think, speak, even breathe properly.

It wasn't until you saw his shoes enter your line of sight that you knew that he'd approached you at all. Worse, when his large hand found purchase under your chin and lifted your gaze to meet his, you knew that you were well and truly fucked.

In that most regrettable moment, you realized how much you'd fallen in love with Theodore. During shared hushed dates and the rare moments of laughter. Theodore Nott had completely enraptured you. And you realized much too late to do anything about it.

So now here you stood. Lost in the beautiful blues and greens of your fiancée's eyes. You were completely, 100% at Theodore Nott's mercy. And likely not for the last time in your life, you felt the urge to give into him. He was a sin that you'd willingly drown in.

"Bellisima," Theo's voice thickened as he spoke. You couldn't understand what he was saying nor could you place the language. But in all honesty, you hadn't known that he even spoke any other languages. His tongue wrapped effortlessly around each syllable and his voice deepened even more than usual, if possible. "I asked you a question."

"Huh?"

"You've been avoiding me." He stepped closer and your heartbeat spiked. "Why?"

Why had you been ignoring Theo again? How could you, or anyone for that matter, ever dream of not giving this devastatingly handsome man everything he desired and more? Oh yeah. Your wretched father.

"You've already been roped into entrapment with me and then forced to hang out with me all summer. I didn't want to cause anymore turmoil to your peace than I already have."

Theo's lips pursed and his eyes narrowed. Once again you'd gone and offended the poor boy.

Immediately, you opened your mouth to apologize, but he cut you off.

"D'you know for a Ravenclaw, you really can be rather thick sometimes?"

You felt your jaw drop in shock. The small grin he currently sported on his face let you know that he'd obviously been teasing. And for the umpteenth time since knowing him, Theo stole your breath with his stupid mesmerizing smile.

Yet, through all of that, he was right. You genuinely had no idea what he was talking about. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, Theo finally seemed to get the hint that he was going to have to spell this out for you.

"I know you probably don't know this about me, but I never do anything that I don't want to. No matter who's asking."

You continued to stare at him blankly. Had he hit his head during the last quidditch match?

Theo ran a hand stressfully through his hair. He grabbed your wrist and led you back to the couches where you settled comfortably in the seat next to him, careful to maintain a respectful distance. "Merlin, Y/n. Turns out you Malfoy's are all slow."

"No offense." He added on quickly when he saw the look on your face. "That's not the point. Y/n I never would have agreed to this engagement with you if I didn't actually want to. I know that you did not get a say in the matter so if you truly wish to live our lives separately, I will respect your choice." Theo gently pulled your hand until it was safely tucked in between both of his larger ones.

"But whatever your decision, know that I am yours. I have wanted nothing more in the past few months than to be by your side. And every moment I spend without you is inexplicable torture for my soul."

"Theo."

He shook his head and cradled you face between his palms.

"No. My mother had a saying. Lascia che la vita accada. It means 'let life happen'. She believed that the only way to truly know if something is meant for you is to let life make it happen on its own. So take a few days. I'll meet you Saturday morning in the Great Hall. But know that if you agree to be mine, Tesoro, you'll be mine for eternity."

To say that staying away from Theo in the days following was easy would be a complete and total lie. When you told Pansy about the conversation the pair of you had (or lack thereof really) she'd all but exploded.

Finally, Saturday morning rolled around. You'd genuinely thought about all your options and you'd come to a decision. The only issue with Theo's plan is that Saturday was the infamous Gryffindor v Slytherin Quidditch match. The Great Hall was bustling in seas of only red or green. You were sporting a dark green jumper, a show of obvious support for the Slytherin team.

Those of your house that favored Gryffindor looked on at you with disdain as you stood from your bench and began making your way to the Slytherin table in search of Theo. He was one of Slytherin's chasers so trying to find him during such a hectic morning proved difficult.

As you walked up and down the table, a familiar figure appeared in front of you.

"Ahh Malfoy. I've been looking for you. I was wonderin' if you'd wear my jersey."

Before you had time to respond or even acknowledge the situation at all, Adrian Pucey had shoved his green and silver practice jersey into your arms. It was an incredibly common practice for girlfriends and boyfriends of Quidditch players to wear their partner's jerseys to their games for good luck.

The hall fell silent as the sound of glass breaking reverberated through the air. You looked to the source of the noise. Theo had stood so abruptly from his seat next to Blaise and Lorenzo that his entire breakfast went flying and ended up on the floor.

He was staring at you with clear ache in his eyes. Suddenly, he swung himself over the bench and stormed out of the room.

You threw Adrian's awful smelling jersey back at his face and ran frantically after Theo.

"Theo!" He ignored you and continued walking briskly even as you approached quickly on his heels. "Theodore please. Just let me explain."

"You don't owe me an explanation, dolcezza ragazza. You've made your choice."

"You've got it all wrong. That's not my decision. I don't want that." You cried out as tears brimmed your eyes. The thought of losing Theo because of Adrian Pucey was mournful.

"Hey, hey. Calma tesoro. Breathe." Theo's hands one again found their way to your face. He gently thumbed the tears from your face. "Don't get yourself all worked up. I'll always listen to you."

"Adrian he just sort of threw his disgusting jumper at me. I don't want him. I only want you. I'm yours, Theodore Nott, completely and without hesitation."

The grin on Theo's face was nothing short of heart-stopping.

"Does that mean you'll wear my jersey at the game today?"

wc 2.6k oops

4.17.24

-- taglist --

@thatdammchickennugget @moonlightreader649

[lexamiele]

My Best Friend's Brother

Tom Riddle x Reader

Word count: approx. 7k

Summary: Mattheo Riddle has been your best friend since you were both sorted into Slytherin, and you secretly have a thing for his older brother. Then, your friends pull Tom into a late-night game of Truth or Dare. What could go wrong?

Warnings/be aware: she/her reader, ooc!Tom Riddle, Tom Riddle isn't Voldemort just the mysterious Head Boy, one short description of violence/wounds, alcohol consumption, Mattheo smokes cigarettes, one Dramione mention, "you're the only one allowed to touch him" trope, possessiveness, no blood purity ideologies in this fic

A/N: Yay, first fic on this blog is up! I had so much fun writing this. I didn't picture myself ever making a Victorious reference in a Slytherin boys fic but whatcha gonna do. Writing best friend!Mattheo was such a good time, I think he'd be such a fun bestie.

______________________________________________________________

Since your first day at Hogwarts, Mattheo Riddle had been your best friend.

            You remembered that fateful day on the Hogwarts Express well. You were a Muggle-born who didn’t know the first thing about magic or Hogwarts, who shyly sat in a train car by yourself reading your school textbooks and trying to figure out what you were about to walk into. Then the compartment door opened and a boy with sparkling hazel eyes and floppy brown curls stumbled in, laughing, shoved by one of his friends. Figuring that they’d dared him to go talk to the weird kid reading by herself, you’d rolled your eyes, but he’d ignored your attitude and introduced himself nonetheless. He asked you why you were sitting by yourself and you were honest, telling him that you didn’t know anything about magic and you were trying to figure it out. In stunned silence, you watched as he chuckled before explaining that you didn’t have to have it all figured out – half of his friends didn’t, and most of them had grown up in the wizarding world with two magical parents and all magical friends. Then, he let you practically interrogate him about all things magical until it was time to change into your robes and arrive at the castle. He patted the seat next to him in invitation when he hopped into a boat and the rest was history.

            “Slytherin!” When the Sorting Hat cried out your placement to the Great Hall, Mattheo was the only cheer amongst a sea of polite claps, and your nerves disappeared when you looked over to your new house table and saw him hollering joyfully. After you joined him at the table, he introduced you to the rest of his friends – Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass, Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Lorenzo Berkshire, Theodore Nott…

            “And this is my brother, Tom. He’s older and wiser, so if you’ve got any questions, ask Tommy Boy over here.”

The elder Riddle’s eyes finally strayed from the pages of the book he’d been reading at the sound of the unwanted nickname, glaring at his younger brother before glancing toward you. You immediately felt the air leave your chest. He was absolutely striking, with darker curls than Mattheo and piercing green eyes that contrasted starkly with his brother’s hazel. His expression was focused and intense and you were paralyzed in his gaze.

            “There’s no need to be afraid of my brother, by the way,” Mattheo said later as the two of you stood in line, following your Prefect to the Slytherin dormitories with the other students. “He likes to think he’s intimidating, but he’s really just a big nerd.”

            “Oh, I’m not scared,” you responded, and he looked at you in confusion. “Just…a little caught off guard, that’s all.” He shrugged, and you were relieved that he believed you. You didn’t know much about boys, but you suspected that your brother’s attractive wouldn’t go over well.

            As you grew older, you only grew closer to your little group of Slytherin friends. You’d gone on your fair share of dates, had your first kiss with Theo on a dare, and loved and lost a few times, but you’d never quite been able to shake that feeling that Tom gave you, like he could see right through you. It didn’t help that he’d transformed from striking to downright gorgeous with age – his face had hardened into sharp cheekbones and a strong jawline, accompanied by that same piercing green stare he’d always had. He’d become a truly upstanding Hogwarts student, always put together and responsible without a hair out of place, keeping the rest of the student body in line as Head Boy. His intense and commanding nature made him even more attractive to you, but even when he paused his studies and Head Boy duties to sit about with his brother’s friends, it seemed like he was a million miles away, eager to remove himself from the group’s antics. When your friends had dared you and Theo to kiss, he’d rolled his eyes in disgust, scoffing incredulously when you’d actually gone through with it.

            Yet, he’d also developed an oddly gentle demeanor towards you…at least compared to the way he treated the rest of the students at Hogwarts. When you visited the Riddles’ house for the first time during the summer after second year and their parents were hostile towards you, Tom laid a hand on your shoulder and told you to pay them no mind. During your third year, you finally gotten the hang of Potions – your worst class up until that point – and he nodded appreciatively every time you announced to Mattheo that you’d earned another O on an assignment, assuring you that the class was quite difficult and you were doing well. While in your fourth year, the Yule Ball came around, and a nasty older girl in Slytherin teased you a few weeks before the event for not having a date yet. When Tom overheard, he told the girl off harshly and took points from his own house just to punish her.

            “Sadie Burke is a nasty creature,” he muttered darkly, pulling you aside after reprimanding her. “Don’t listen to a word she says, okay?” He cleared his throat. “Do I need to tell my brother to get his act together and take his best friend to the Ball?” Your face reddened and you looked at the floor, embarrassed that he was under the impression that you couldn’t find a date.

            “No, I…honestly, I’ve already turned down a few offers,” you said quietly. It was true – Zacharias Smith had creeped you out and you knew that Michael Corner had only asked you to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. Besides, even if you knew that he wouldn’t, you’d been carrying a slight flame of hope that Tom would ask you. “Maybe I should’ve accepted. But Enz agreed to be my backup anyway, with his girlfriend off at Durmstrang and all. So no need to badger your brother,” you added with a hesitant grin. Tom let out a sigh.

            “I was hoping Mattheo would take you,” he groaned. “I’m sick of him turning up to these things with girls he won’t even bother to learn the name of.” You laughed in spite of yourself. I hoped my brother would ask you out wasn’t exactly what you’d been hoping to hear, but Tom was right about one thing – your best friend was quickly becoming a menace in the relationship department.

            “It’s so annoying!” you agreed. “I feel bad for them – he never treats them poorly or anything, but he’s got the attention span of a fish. There aren’t that many girls here - at the rate he’s going, by next year he’s going to have to double back and go for a second round with some of them.” Tom chuckled slightly, a smirk tugging on the corners of his mouth.

            “I want to start warning them off, just to see what happens.” He paused for a moment, then frowned. “He’s never tried any of that with you, right?” You wrinkled your nose in disgust.

            “Ew, no!” you objected with a giggle. “Neither of us think about each other like that.” An indiscernible look passed across Tom’s face for a moment before he met your gaze again.

            “Good.” He walked away, brushing past you and leaving you with chills where his hand touched your shoulder as he moved.

            You’d ultimately gone to the ball with Enzo and had a blast, though you felt a pang of envy as you watched Tom escort some other Prefect in Ravenclaw. You saw her around the Slytherin common room a few times after that, but apparently Tom’s solitary nature ultimately won over and she disappeared like the many other girls who’d begun to realize that he was attractive. That, you realized, was the difference between the Riddle brothers. Both (objectively) stunningly handsome, but Mattheo was at least willing to humor the girls who were interested in him for a while. Tom had no interest, giving even the few girls who’d managed to drag him out to Hogsmeade the cold shoulder after one date.

            As you witnessed this from the sidelines throughout your fifth year and saw no evidence that he’d change, you decided that your crush on him had to go. So you went out on dates yourself, snogged Theo, and found a boyfriend, and when that didn’t work out, another. But when that boyfriend cheated on you, Tom walked in on you sobbing on Mattheo’s shoulder in the Slytherin common room. The next day your newly ex-boyfriend wound up in the Hospital Wing with gnarly open sores all over his body, unable to remember what had happened. Not even the professors had seen a spell like it before. Mattheo confessed to you that evening that he recognized the spell as one his brother had invented.

            “Why would he do something like that?” you asked, confused.

            “I may have mentioned to him at breakfast that I was going to fight the bloke,” Mattheo admitted. “He hates when I get detentions, thinks it smears the family name.” Your best friend rolled his eyes. “I guess he was worried that I would get caught.”

            It was sick and twisted, but your brain flashed between believing Mattheo’s explanation and wondering whether Tom’s actions meant that he felt something for you. Even though you knew it was wrong, the thought of Tom being vicious and protective over you made you even more attracted to him then you already were. In spite of your best efforts, you entered your sixth year with another major crush on him. It was one of the few points of continuity in the whirlwind that was your first NEWT year, really. Between studying for your increasingly difficult classes, homework assignments, Quidditch matches and Hogsmeade weekends, and the eternally raucous parties that your best friend threw in the Slytherin common room, you barely had time to get a word in edgewise with your life. But two things remained: your Slytherin friend group and your feelings for Tom Riddle.

            “Y/N!” Pansy hissed one fall night of your sixth year as you lay in bed, ready to fall asleep. You rolled over, squinting at her in the darkness. “Mattheo just sent me an owl.” The bird flapped out of the open window and into the pitch black air as she spoke.

            “At this time of night?” you groaned, rubbing your eyes. “What does he want?”

            “He still has some Firewhiskey from the party last night,” she whispered. “He wants us to come down to the common room with Nott and Zabini and them so we can finish it.”

            “Ughhh,” you groaned. “Pans, we’ve been drinking all weekend. Didn’t you want to get up early and go to Hogsmeade tomorrow?”

            “It’s fine, we can go in the afternoon,” she reasoned. “We should kill the Firewhiskey before Snape or some Prefect finds it.”

            “Fine,” you sighed. “Daph!” you hissed, launching your pillow across the room at Daphne, who was laying in her bed half asleep.

            “Whaddya want?” she mumbled, snapping up and rubbing her eyes.

            “Drinks in the common room, you in?”

            “Yeah, yeah,” she whispered with a yawn. “Let’s do it.”

            When the three of you stumbled down to the common room, you found the boys sitting about, passing a couple of half-empty bottles around, the room illuminated only by the green light of the lake and a small lamp that the boys had lit. Draco and Blaise sat back in armchairs while Mattheo, Lorenzo, and Theo sat on the floor, taking swigs of Firewhiskey.

            “I wish we had some coffee with this,” you groaned as Theo passed you the bottle and you plopped down on an upholstered couch. Pansy joined you while Daphne perched herself on the arm of Blaise’s chair and he slipped an arm around her hips. You glanced at Pansy and the two of you rolled your eyes. Those two just needed to start dating already. Carefully, you took a swig of whiskey from the bottle in your hands, coughing slightly at the burn in your throat before passing it to Pansy. “Haven’t you guys ever heard of a mixer?”

            “Couldn’t nick anything from the kitchens,” Mattheo explained as he accepted the other bottle from Draco. Pansy rolled her eyes.

            “Please,” she scoffed. “With you, there’s always a way. You just like to feel edgy, drinking it straight and having a cig.”

            “Now that you mention it,” he responded with a smirk, pulling a paper out of his pocket and starting to roll a cigarette.

            As you continued to pass the bottles around with your friends, you felt your head getting lighter and warmth spread across your chest. Pansy cast a Silencing Charm on the common room so you all could talk without attracting any attention from outside or those in the dormitories and you relaxed, your slight apprehensions about getting caught fading away. You all laughed and played Never Have I Ever, the very targeted prompts revealing exactly how well you all knew each other.

            “Never Have I Ever snogged some Ravenclaw at a party and then been paired up with the same guy in Potions the next day,” you said, staring pointedly at Daphne. She grinned and drank as the rest of your friends laughed loudly. It was a legendary story in your friend group, and the partnership had gone on for months. Finally, Blaise banned the guy from Slytherin parties until he requested a change, and he promptly did so. Whether it was out of fear of missing the legendary parties or of Blaise himself, you weren’t sure, but he’d been reluctantly allowed back in.

            “Never Have I Ever ditched my mates to hit on some girl,” Enzo chimed in, frowning at Mattheo. Everyone laughed again as Mattheo shook his head and reluctantly accepted the charge, pulling his cigarette from his lips and taking a swig from the bottle.

            “You guys are so dramatic,” he groaned.

            “You do it all the time, Matty!” you protested lovingly as he passed the bottle. The others nodded in agreement. “We’re having a great time in the Great Hall or at Quidditch or whatever and then some girl waltzes up to you and poof, I suddenly don’t exist to you or her.”

            “Don’t come at me for my W rizz,” he objected, crinkling his nose at you.

            Theo frowned. “What…what does that mean?”

            “Never Have I Ever used the phrase ‘W rizz’ in conversation,” you joked, shaking your head as Mattheo took another drink from the bottle in his hand.

            “Never Have I Ever caught feelings for someone in the group,” Draco cut in smugly. You rolled your eyes. He was way too proud of himself for someone who’d only avoided crushing on one of his friends because he’d been pining after Hermione Granger for three years straight. You giggled and watched Daphne and Blaise drink, as well as Enzo and Pansy, who’d had a short-lived fling after the Durmstrang girl had chucked him. Then Pansy passed the bottle to you and you paused, your face turning red.

            “Well, who counts as someone in the group?” you blurted out before you could stop yourself. With the Firewhiskey in your system, your internal filter wasn’t quite up to scratch. Your friends collectively turned to look at you and Pansy and Daphne raised their eyebrows. They were the two out of the group who knew that you were…intrigued by Mattheo’s older brother. Meanwhile, Draco scoffed.

            “Y/N, Nott absolutely counts as someone in the group,” he retorted, rolling his eyes. You smirked.

            “Sure, he counts, but he doesn’t qualify for the feelings portion,” you reasoned. “We only kissed on a dare. No offense, Theo,” you added, glancing at your friend.

            “Oh, none taken,” he responded airily. He typically went for girls in other houses anyhow.

            “Anyway, back to who counts,” Draco said dryly, “Who do you think? Everyone here. Me, Zabini, Berkshire, Nott, Matt, Pans, Daph. Can’t think of anyone else who would.”

            “Right,” you replied, passing the bottle without taking a drink.

            “Wait, who were you thinking counted?” Mattheo asked, raising his eyebrows. You felt your face heat up even further.

            “Oh, you know…other Slytherins.”

            “Such as…” he prompted and you laughed, shaking your head as the others watched your exchange curiously.

            “None of your beeswax!” you protested, hurling a throw pillow from the couch in his direction as he let out a yelp of protest and tried to bat it away from his face. “No one included in the prompt.”

            “Come on,” he whined, pouting at you as he threw the pillow back. “I’m your best mate, you’ve got to at least give me a hint.”

            “Not to mention the rest of us,” Enzo complained. “I’m not used to being left in the dark.” Your stomach flipped nervously as you felt Mattheo’s curious eyes on you. You’d managed to prevent him from catching on to how you felt about Tom for this long – you couldn’t mess up now.

            Suddenly, the conversation was interrupted by a creaking that emerged from the common room entrance. You and your friends sat bolt upright, glancing around hurriedly.

            “Someone’s coming!” Pansy hissed.

            “No, I never would’ve guessed,” Mattheo retorted, quickly stoppering the liquor bottles with a flick of his wand. “You all,” he continued, gesturing at you, Pansy, Daphne, Draco, and Blaise. “Get down on the floor. I’ll put out the light. It’s probably some other degenerate out past curfew, but I don’t want to have to share the liquor if they see us.” You all obliged as he waved his wand again and you found yourself hiding in the shadows.

            Footsteps echoed through the room as you sat frozen with your back pressed to the couch, not even daring to stick your head up to see who they belonged to. You breathed a sigh of relief as they drew closer to the stairs, but tensed once again as they bypassed the steps to the dormitories entirely and instead continued into the depths of the common room.

            “Mattheo et. al., you can come out now,” a familiar voice drawled, and your heart rate sped up. Tom. Not just some degenerate…the actual Head Boy. He must be coming back from patrols. You and your friends rose hesitantly as Mattheo re-lit the lamp. Your eyes caught Tom’s through the shadows before his gaze quickly switched back toward his brother. “I can smell that horrendous cologne you wear from the doorway.” He turned back to the group. “It’s very foolish for you all to be breaking curfew, especially at this hour.”

            “Tommy, come on,” Mattheo began with a cheeky grin. “You wouldn’t report your brother, would you?”

            “That depends,” Tom replied evenly, raising his eyebrows. “Do you all have alcohol?” Panic rose in your chest and you flushed under his scrutiny. Sure, he was hot, but he could also totally report you and get you detention. Frantically, you shook your head as you tried to kick the bottle of Firewhiskey nearest to you under the couch. “Don’t try to hide it,” Tom ordered, holding you in his piercing gaze and sending shivers down your spine. He held out his hand, his rings flashing silver in the light of the lamp. “Give it to me.” You retrieved the bottle and handed it to him, shaking ever so slightly. To your confusion, he unstoppered it. “Thank Salazar,” he groaned, stepping forward and sitting down on the couch. “I need a drink, it’s been a long day.”

            Your friends let out audible sighs of relief as they realized that Tom wouldn’t report you all to Professor Snape. “Don’t ever mess with me like that again!” Mattheo complained, sitting back down on the floor. Tom raised his eyebrows.

            “I could actually report you, if you’d prefer,” he responded dryly and Mattheo frantically shook his head. Tom scoffed. As your friends slowly began to relax and return to their seats, he smirked, catching your eye. “I really got you, huh?” You blushed, pouting slightly.

            “That was mean,” you murmured softly and he let out a chuckle as you sat back down on the couch where you’d been before – which just happened to put you right next to him. As Pansy returned to her old spot, you were squished closer to him and you felt your cheeks heat up more. His self-satisfied expression was annoyingly hot.

            “Doesn’t anyone have a glass around here?” he asked, his lip curling slightly as he regarded the bottle in his hand.

            “Who do you think we are, bro? Adults?” Mattheo retorted and Tom rolled his eyes, shaking his head. He took a deep swig from the bottle before passing it to Draco, then leaned back against the sofa, throwing the arm nearest to you over the backrest. It was the most relaxed you’d ever seen him.

            “So what happened today that drove you to drink?” you asked, intrigued, as bottles began to move between your friends again. Tom rarely even came to Slytherin parties – the one time Mattheo had managed to drag him, he’d gotten irritated and left not even an hour in – and you’d never seen him drink outside of meeting with professors at Three Broomsticks. You were surprised that he was able to down the whiskey with so much ease.

            “Idiots on patrols,” he spat in annoyance, his lip curling again. “All sorts of people out of bed, and everyone acting outraged when I took points. These slow patrols full of people who want to argue are cutting into my studying time—“ He paused as you received a bottle from Pansy, took a heavy swig, and passed it to him. He drank deeply once more before passing it on. “—and NEWTS are just months away.”

            “Have another drink, big bro, you need some balance,” Mattheo cut in with a mischievous grin. “We can’t have you going grey from stress, now.”

            “Yes, advice from Mister Time Management himself,” Tom sneered. “Tell me, how ever do you balance all the girl-chasing with the partying and the nicotine addiction?” Mattheo just laughed, flicking the ash from his cigarette onto the floor.

            “All I’m saying is that you just got here,” he replied, grinning as he handed his brother a bottle. “You should probably catch up to the rest of us.” The rest of your friends watched with curiosity.

            “With pleasure,” Tom drawled, and to your surprise he took another heavy drink. After he finished, he passed the bottle to you. Not to be outdone, you chugged some yourself before handing it back to him. He took a final swig before passing it on in the other direction. He raised his eyebrows at you after doing so. “It’s not a competition.”

            “Why?” you teased, emboldened in your tipsy state. “Scared I’ll drink you under the table?” He scoffed.

            “In your dreams.”

            “Okay losers, more Never Have I Ever?” Mattheo announced, glancing around at the others. You nodded your assent, but Pansy disagreed.

            “I’m bored of that,” she complained. “Let’s play Truth or Dare.”

            “Ooh, let’s do that,” Daphne agreed eagerly.

            “Okay, everyone for Truth or Dare?” Mattheo asked and you gave a hesitant thumbs-up. Truth or Dare with your friends tended to get a bit…chaotic. But you could use some chaos tonight. The others nodded.

            “You all are twelve,” Tom drawled, taking another drink. Pansy pouted in his direction, and he rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’ll play.”

            “Okay, since you suggested it Pans, truth or dare?” Mattheo began with a mischievous grin.

            “Dare,” she responded immediately, sitting up in anticipation.

            “Alright…I dare you to leave the common room, do a lap around the dungeons without getting caught by Filch, and then come back.”

            As the game continued, you relaxed into the couch, listening to your friends play. Your head was starting to feel heavy from the alcohol and, with a nervous glance at the boy next to you, you rested it on his shoulder. You half expected him to ask what was wrong with you or push you off, but he didn’t. Instead, he lowered his arm from the backrest of the couch and wrapped it around your shoulders, leaning back so that you could more easily rest on him. You watched, giggling, as Enzo stood on his head and attempted to chug Firewhiskey, spewing it out of his nose and toppling over onto his back instead.

            “Great try, Enz,” Theo managed to get out in between gales of laughter. “Who’s next?”

            “Y/N.” You sat up, suddenly alert. “Truth or dare?” Enzo asked, a mischievous grin on his face as he straightened himself out.

            “Um…truth,” you replied. You didn’t have the energy to stand up, and you definitely didn’t want to be asked to do something ridiculous in front of Tom. Besides, doing anything would require his arm to not be around you, and that sounded awful.

            “Great, well, I think I speak for all of us when I say that we’d love to know which Slytherin you were talking about during Never Have I Ever.”

            Your eyes widened and you felt your whole face turn red as the boys turned to watch you with amusement. Pansy and Daphne, on the other hand, acquired similarly shocked expressions, and you saw them both trying to subtly glare daggers at Enzo.

            “Who’s this Slytherin?” Tom chimed in before you could say anything.

            “Oh, just some fortunate lad that Y/N fancies,” Theo replied smugly, clearly enjoying your embarrassment.

            “Oh, I’m intrigued,” Tom drawled in response, raising his eyebrows at you. Your face turned even more red, if it was possible, and you violently shook your head.

            “Nope,” you declined. “I’ll drink. I’m not doing that one.” You reached towards Mattheo for the bottle, but he didn’t oblige.

            “Come on, Y/N,” he said gently, a slightly hurt look emerging in his eyes. “I’m your best friend – we’re all your best friends. Do you really not trust us enough to tell us?”

            You wished with all your heart that you and Mattheo could actually telecommunicate, because the glances you were shooting him clearly weren’t explaining anything. “I just…don’t want to talk about this right now,” you insisted.

            “Ughhh, you already picked the easy one anyway!” Draco protested. “Just say it and get one with it, it’s not like we’re going to tell him.”

            Saying it right now would be telling him, you idiot, you wished you could shout. Instead, you stubbornly shook your head again. “Nope. We always play this game as Truth, Dare, or drink. I’ll drink.” Finally, Mattheo passed you the bottle and you took what you hoped was a deep enough drink to satisfy your nosy friends. “Okay, Enz, you can ask someone else, since I didn’t do it.” This pacified Enzo well enough and you pulled your knees up to your chest, curling yourself into Tom’s side as you listened to Blaise reveal his first Hogwarts crush – Marietta Edgecombe, apparently. Tom wrapped his arm around you again and unconsciously began playing with the edge of your pajama shorts that hung around your outer thigh. Goosebumps ran across your skin at his touch and you struggled to conceal just how euphoric you felt from being close to him.

            Finally, after several rounds of the game, Mattheo fixed Tom in his gaze. “Brother.”

            “Yes?” Tom responded dispassionately.

            “Truth or – wait a second, why are you two cuddling?”

            The entire group seemed to turn their focus to you two at once and you wanted to curl up in a ball and hide, your eyes widening. Tom, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care, and he kept his arm around you as he held his brother’s gaze.

            “She’s had quite a lot to drink, I suspect if I wasn’t keeping her on the couch she would have fallen off of it by now,” he responded in a bored tone. Your heart sank. Had you been reading too much into all of this? Was he just looking out for you, like you were some other duty for him to check off his list? You sat up, hoping to prove that you were fine. “Anyway, you were saying?”

            “Truth or dare, brother?”

            “Dare.” Mattheo grinned.

            “I-“

            “Wait a second,” Blaise interrupted. “I have a great one. Call it a…punishment for noncompliance, if you will.” Your stomach flipped nervously as Mattheo’s eyebrows raised. “Let me intercept this one?”

            “Let’s hear it,” Mattheo agreed. Blaise smirked. You glanced at Tom, who appeared unimpressed.

            “Well,” Blaise began, giving the two of you the closest thing to an evil grin that you’d ever seen, “It seems that a whole slew of problems could be solved here. Riddle, you’re looking for a great way to relieve some stress. Y/N, if that bloke you’re into is too embarrassing to tell us about, then you definitely need to get over him. Ergo, I propose…Seven Minutes in Heaven. Between the two of you.”

            You froze, your eyes wide as everyone turned to look at you and Tom for what felt like the fiftieth time that night.

            “We are not getting in the closet like we’re dolls that you children want to make kiss,” Tom sneered, frowning at Blaise. “Give me the whiskey, I’ll drink.”

            “No, no more drinking!” Draco protested with a laugh, leaning forward in his chair and blocking Enzo as he moved to pass the bottle. “This is getting boring. I agree with Zabini, you two have been way too friendly tonight.” He pointed at a broom closet in the corner. “Get in that broom closet, I don’t care what you do, just don’t come out until we say so.” Tom raised a single eyebrow.

            “If you want us to go stand in a broom closet for seven minutes, fine,” he said evenly, standing up. You followed his lead, accepting your fate. “Enjoy the show,” he drawled as he followed you into the closet, shutting the door behind you.

            You’d been in a broom closet before alone, and as tight as it had been by yourself, it was unimaginably more cramped with someone else in there too. You and Tom stood chest-to-chest with barely anywhere to go as tension rose in the air. Frankly, you were at your wits’ end. Finally, Tom had acknowledged you, held you, been so gentle and kind to you for more than a few moments only to brush it all aside, only for some stupid dare to ruin it. And now? Now you had to stand around in a broom closet for seven minutes of awkward silence with the boy you’d had it bad for since first year. You’d had too much to drink, you were tired, and before you knew it, you were crying.

            “Hey. Hey,” Tom’s voice cut through the silence. He waved his wand and light streamed from it, finally illuminating the room. You covered your face in embarrassment – you couldn’t believe you were crying in front of one of the most notoriously intimidating people at Hogwarts, let alone someone you fancied, and whose opinion you cared deeply about. But you felt his hands wrap around your wrists and slowly, gently, he removed your hands from your face. “Why are you crying?”

            “I’m…really tired,” you managed to get out with a sniffle, figuring that was the easiest way to explain it.

            “Hey,” he murmured wiping your tears with his thumb as he looked down at you, his hand cupping your cheek. “Don’t let them get to you. They can’t actually tell us what to do, you know. We can leave if we want. Do you want to leave?” You shook your head.

            “I’m just frustrated,” you responded softly. “They can be really nosy sometimes.”

            “They should trust you,” he said, letting his hands fall to your shoulders. “I’m sure you have your reasons for the things you don’t want to tell them.”

            “I do.” You let your head fall against his chest, then paused, recalling an old conversation with Mattheo. “Does that…bother you? Matty told me that you aren’t always the most…touchy person.” A soft chuckle resonated through the broom closet as he wrapped his arms around you, stroking your hair gently.

            “That doesn’t apply to you.” His raspy voice was hushed, almost a whisper, but you heard it clearly. You felt your heart beat faster. “If I didn’t want to, I wouldn’t.”

            After a pause, you opened your mouth again, your voice almost a whisper.

            “I wasn’t drunk enough to go falling off the couch, you know.”

            “I know.”

            You looked up at him, his eyes as enthralling as ever, so dark in the dim light that they looked like the glow of the Black Lake. Daring to explore, you reached your hand up and gently brushed the side of his face, your palm tingling as you laid it to rest at the base of his neck, your fingers twining in his curls.

            “But you didn’t even want to do this…” you trailed off softly, your insecurity showing its face. His expression hardened.

            “I didn’t want to go into a closet with you for some dare,” he said firmly. “I want you. Salazar, I always have.” Your heart raced, and you hardly dared to believe what you were hearing. “But if we’re going to do this, I won’t go back. It can’t be for a stupid dare.”

            “I’ve wanted you since the moment I first saw you,” you confessed. “No matter how hard I try not to, Tom.”

            “Who’s this idiot you fancy then?” Tom murmured, his intense stare utterly intoxicating as his hands moved to your waist and his thumb traced your hip, the edge of his ring pressing into the bone. “I want to make you forget he ever existed.” You giggled softly at the irony, glancing down at the floor and in response, he took your jaw in his hand and brought your eyes back to his. Your stomach flipped eagerly as you felt his strong grip and you wondered how in the world someone could feel so much like danger and safety at the same time. “Will you let me make you forget him?”

            “That would be difficult, considering that I’m currently in a broom closet with him,” you replied, a mischievous smile pulling at your lips. Desire danced behind his eyes as they stared back into yours. He released your jaw and moved his hand to the back of your neck, his other one coming to rest on the small of your back.

            “Well then,” he whispered teasingly, a smirk growing on his face. “I suppose we still have six minutes or so.”

            The second his lips connected with yours, you were addicted.

            You’d fantasized about Tom Riddle kissing you a million times and yet, nothing could compare to the real thing. He tasted like Firewhiskey and sharp mint and the fierceness of the kiss, of the way he held you in his arms, made your heart race. His hands roamed across your body, exploring your skin, as his tongue parted your lips, making you whimper softly. He let out a moan, his fingers tracing the bare skin of your thighs as his other hand wrapped around the side of your neck possessively.

“Tom…” His name escaped your lips as his touches grew more intense with need.

 Your noises of pleasure seemed to fuel him, and he moved forward until your back collided with the shelves behind you. He picked you up and you wrapped your legs around him as his lips continued to work against yours. You whined in disappointment when he broke the kiss, but it quickly became a moan of pleasure as his lips moved to your neck, making your whole body tingle with desire.

“You’re perfect,” he groaned breathily, staring into your eyes. “You’re mine.”

“I’m yours,” you whimpered as he sucked on your neck, giving you the perfect mix of pain and pleasure. “All yours.”

            Six minutes later, you were breathing heavily and your neck was covered in hickeys when a knock at the door snapped you back to reality.

            “Uh, guys? You can come out now,” echoed the hesitant voice of Enzo Berkshire.

            “Yeah, we’re sorry about the dare,” Pansy called. “It was a really stupid joke.”

            “Maybe if we ignore them, they’ll go away,” you whispered, and Tom, appearing as though he hadn’t even heard the disturbance, continued to kiss and suck at your neck and collarbones, determined to further mark you as his.

            “OH, EW!”

            The two of you looked up to see the door open, Mattheo staring at the scene in front of him in horror.

            “You guys literally dared us to!” you immediately protested as Tom turned around to glare at his brother. You snatched the nearest item – broom polish – off the shelves and hurled it in the general direction of your best friend.

            “I didn’t object, that’s different than being the one who issued the dare,” Mattheo complained as the broom polish container smashed on the floor behind him. You struggled to straighten yourself out before the rest of your friends saw you. Smoothing your hair, you stepped out of the broom closet and back into the common room. “I didn’t know you were going to – that’s my best mate, bro!”

            “You introduced me to her,” Tom replied evenly, a smirk dancing on his lips. “From my angle, you only have yourself to blame.”

            He wrapped his arm around your waist possessively as the two of you moved back towards your friends, retaking your seats. If they’d been shocked when they saw you laying your head on his shoulder before, it was nothing compared to now. Pansy was openly gaping at the hickies on your neck, the room completely silent.

            “Yes!” Daphne exclaimed, finally breaking the tension. “I knew it! Pans, you owe me five galleons and a trip to Gladrags tomorrow.”

            “What?” Enzo exclaimed in confusion, just as you cried, “you two were betting on us?”

            “Just about whether you two would get together before or after Christmas,” Pansy clarified. “We both knew you would figure it out eventually.”

            “I had a little more faith,” Daphne added smugly.

            “Wait,” Enzo stuttered. “I’m confused. So is he…?” he trailed off, pointing at Tom.

            “The mystery Slytherin? Yes,” you admitted, blushing slightly. Tom pulled you in closer and you draped both of your legs over his thigh.

            “Ohhhh! That makes so much sense,” Draco blurted suddenly, making you laugh.

            “And they knew?” Mattheo exclaimed, looking back and forth between Pansy and Daphne like he’d been kicked.

            “I’m so sorry, Matty,” you said sincerely. “They figured it out themselves at the beginning of the year. I wanted to tell you, I really did, it was just harder…”

            “…because he’s my brother,” Mattheo finished. “I get it.”

            “I wanted to tell all of you, I really did,” you assured your friends. “I just wasn’t ready to tell Matty yet, and then he showed up,” you continued with a laugh, gesturing at Tom, “and there was no way I was about to drop that on him in a middle of late-night Truth or Dare.”

            “Uh, yeah,” Enzo nodded, eyes wide. “I’m so sorry, Y/N. I messed up big time.”

            “It’s okay, Enz, I forgive you,” you replied gently. “It was just the weirdest circumstances ever.”

            “Guess who didn’t mess up big time, though?” Blaise cut in, grinning as he pointed to himself. “Blaise Zabini, matchmaker extraordinaire!” Daphne promptly swatted him in the back of the head with a pamphlet for the Gobstones team that sat on a nearby end table.

            “This did not happen because of you, but in spite of you locking us in a closet for nearly ten minutes,” Tom remarked, glaring at Blaise through narrowed eyes.

            “Hey, clearly you made it work,” Blaise retorted, gesturing at your hickies as you stuck out your tongue at him. “Put that tongue back in your mouth, I’m not Riddle.”

            “If you’re such a matchmaker, why can’t you matchmake yourself?” Pansy joked, gesturing between Blaise and Daphne. He had the decency to look slightly embarrassed as Daphne flushed.

            You relaxed against Tom’s chest as your friends continued to talk and joke. The conversation became progressively more unfollowable as you all finished the last of the liquor, maintaining your tipsy state. Once the bottles were empty, Mattheo Vanished them with ease.

            “How is it that you got a T on your Transfiguration OWL, but you can always manage it to get yourself out of trouble?” Tom groaned at his brother, leaning his forehead into his hand in frustration.

            “Because I’ve got my priorities straight,” Mattheo replied with a smirk. “We could talk about your indiscretions too, you know.”

            “You mean hexing that cheating Ravenclaw bloke?” Tom asked. You glanced up at him in surprise, watching his eyes grow dark for a moment before his face softened as his gaze met yours. “I’d do it again,” he said, turning back to his brother.

            “Yuck,” Mattheo retorted, scrunching up his face in disgust. “Thanks for finally showing an emotion, you can go back to the way you were now.”

            “Matty!” you protested jokingly, pouting at him. “Don’t you want your brother to be sweet to me?” He grinned.

            “Of course I do,” he responded with a chuckle. “Although, quite frankly, I don’t know what you see in him.” Tom frowned. “I just hope he knows that if he ever hurts you, he’s going to get the same beating I was about to give that Ravenclaw.”

            “I’m quaking,” Tom retorted dryly. “And unlike some of us, I have no interest in maintaining a list of romantic casualties.” He paused for a moment, his attention occupied as he gently played with the ends of your hair before turning back to Mattheo. “Speaking of which, I hear yours are in such numbers that they’re considering forming a school club for themselves.” Mattheo laughed good-naturedly before making a face.

            Your friends talked for a few more minutes, the sentences growing progressively more incoherent as everyone struggled to resist the call of sleep. They began to splinter off, wandering back to the dormitories, as your own eyes fluttered shut. You felt totally at peace until Tom gently shook you awake.

            “I’ll just sleep here,” you mumbled and you heard him chuckle as he kissed your forehead.

            “No, you’ve got to go sleep in your bed,” he corrected bemusedly. “I’ll tell you what. If you go sleep in your bed for me, I’ll take you out wherever you want in Hogsmeade tomorrow, how does that sound?” Your heart skipped a beat as you sat up quickly. An actual date with the guy of your dreams. He watched you, a grin emerging on his face, as you nodded eagerly.

            You barely managed to stay awake for long enough to climb into bed, but as you did, you felt your chest fill with warmth, your mind flashing back to the feeling of Tom’s lips on yours as you closed your eyes. It had been a long, confusing road to get here, but it was so worth it in the end.

He was the one for you.

[suugarbabe]

OMG congrats for 1k!!!!💚

Since you said would like Enzo requests, and your celebration seems very cute, a Enzo x Nott!Reader with the prompt of Soulmate aus?

Maybe Reader is Theo's younger sister and goes to another school, and knows/has heard of Enzo through Theo, and somehow they become pen-pals? Just writing letters to eachother, very sweet and friendly.

Then Theo invites his slytherin friends home, Enzo and Reader meet and they realize they are soulmates? With a sprinkle of overprotective older brother Theo.🤭💚

I really do love Lorenzo, please guys send me more Enzo recs i need them biblically

Enzo would have met you during summer holiday going into his fifth year, you in your fourth. You were instantly smitten (how could you not be). Being a Nott, you had your boldness to you as well, so you wrote him first.

When the owl dropped the first letter down in front of Enzo, Theo originally thought it was for him, given it was your owl. However, when he saw Lorenzo Berkshire in your loopy handwriting he instantly became angry; over protective.

"Why in the bloody hell did you just get a letter from my sister?" Theo threw the letter at Enzo, who's cheeks instantly flushed, "I-I don't know..." Which was the truth, he had no idea. He made the choice to not open it there, despite Theo's demands that he do.

Enzo instead opened it after everyone else had went to sleep. You were straightforward, flirty, telling Enzo how smart you thought he was, how kind his eyes were, how attractive you found him and how sad you were that you wouldn't be able to see him again until next summer.

He wrote you back, telling you of your beauty, admiring your wit and admitting that he was slightly afraid of Theo given the look he had received when your letter arrived.

But it went on like this, back and forth for weeks on end, Enzo even learning a little Italian to put it in his letters to impress you (and it did). And you found yourself growing fonder and fonder with each letter exchanged.

When Christmas holiday came around, Theo barged in your room, "My friends are coming next week and staying through New Years. Stay away from Enzo."

You scoffed, "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, I know you're his little bloody pen pal or whatever you two call it. He's not allowed in your room and you two are not allowed alone together."

You couldn't help but roll your eyes, "Who do you think you are? My father?"

It was Theo's turn to scoff, "Please, you're lucky it's me and not Papà."

You knew he was right, but you were just as stubborn as him, "I'm not making any promises." Theo stalked out of your room after that.

When the boys arrived, you appeased Theo and kept your distance. For as long as you could, anyway. Enzo had thought maybe he had done something wrong, written something that had upset you in his last letter before he arrived.

So when New Years Eve arrived and he felt himself being pulled from the hall into a room he was sure it was Theo about to beat the shite out of him.

When his back was pushed against the wall and he saw your face instead, he instantly let out a deep sigh, "Merlin's sake, love, I thought you were your brother."

You faked offense, "You expected Theo to bring you in to his room and snog you?"

"No! Wait, what did you say?" Enzo's face went through a few emotions. First shock, then his cheeks flushed and he couldn't help but stutter.

"I said," you took a step closer to him, "I pulled you in here with maybe not the most innocent of intentions."

You wrapped your arms around Enzo's neck, his hands finding solace on your hips nearly on instinct. You stood on your tip toes, lacing your fingers at the base of Enzo's neck and pulling him down slightly.

He responded without hesitation, his lips finding yours like a magnet. You knew in that moment that this one kiss wasn't going to be enough. His lips were too soft, fit yours too perfectly. He hands felt too good on your body and they barely strayed far from your hips.

When you finally pulled back Enzo was chasing your lips, successfully landing one, two, three more pecks on your lips before finally allowing you to speak.

"You should get back," he was saddened by your words, but nodded in understanding. "I know, but right now I feel like I would be okay with Theo being mad at me."

You giggled, thumb lightly tracing his cheek, "Well you know which room is mine, now you can come back after he falls asleep." Enzo held your face in both of his hands, placing one last long, hard kiss to your lips which you took as an acceptance to your plan before leaving you in your room alone, thoughts of later that night dancing in your head.

[reginaaxxwrites]

Soft Spot (Cedric Diggory)

You are Theodore Nott's older sister here. So, that means you are a pure-blood Slytherin.

Also, this is a long story one-shot because I got into it lol. This was like 4.5k words. I tried to make it not too boring.

*****

Cedric Diggory x Fem!Reader

*****

They couldn't believe that the Golden Boy, Cedric Diggory, has a huge crush on a cold-hearted Slytherin girl, who was in his same year.

His friends have wondered if he had gone mental for liking her. Merlin, does she scares everyone without doing anything yet. But Cedric believed that somewhat she has a spot soft. I mean, everyone has it.

This made him more determined to pursue her. To find it all out and to get to know her.

"Mate, you are mental. Did you know that?" Smith looped his arm around his friend. Walking through the corridors near the courtyard, girls would giggle every time Cedric would look at them.

"Leave me alone, Zack." He rolled his eyes. Ignoring his friend's side comments and then he saw the girl he was looking for.

She was sitting near the fountain with her two Slytherin friends. She clearly wasn't listening to them as she was busy practicing a spell with her wand.

"Ah, you know I've been wondering." Smith continued to talk. "How were you supposed to know her if you don't even have the pluck of courage to ask her out? Unless... you are also scared of her, Ced." His friend teased and gave him a nasty look.

It wasn't that because he is scared of her--which he isn't. He didn't know how would he start a conversation with her. Normally, he would've engaged with girls well because he is Cedric Diggory.

But why was it hard to talk to her?

Why wasn't his charms weren't working on her?

He was smitten with her even his friends knew how much he was in love with her. He didn't know when, or how it happened. For all he knows, he just did.

Reader's POV

"Be quiet, Genevieve! Or I'll hex you." I hissed at her. She was being loud that I couldn't focus on practicing non-verbal spells.

"Aren't you getting excited about the upcoming Triwizard Tournament?" Daphne asked me. She was 2 years younger than me, but I get along with her well. That's because she wouldn't stop bothering me. But she was like a little sister to me, so I didn't mind her hanging around with me.

"No. Not really." I answered, feeling uninterested in the subject. Boys in my year--even girls are getting worked up and putting their names in the goblet. But, I was different.

This tournament got me a feeling that something bad is going to happen.

"I heard your little brother was mad after hearing Dumbledore's announcement about the age of sixteen below must not enter the tournament." I was relieved when the headmaster made that announcement. Or else, I could've hex my brother, not to enter.

"Theo's stupid. He wouldn't get chosen, anyway." I replied to Genevieve.

I heard them snort at my response. My brother is in his hormonal stage. He's a pain in the ass, really. Even more when he started to hang around with that little brat, Malfoy.

"You know... I've noticed for a while now. Diggory's been looking at you every time he sees you." Daphne and I turned around to see him looking in our directions. I raised an eyebrow at him, which caught him by surprise then return to what I was doing.

"You're delusional. He was probably looking at the girls in front of us." I eyed the girls, who were giggling too loudly that made me annoyed. Giving the girls an irritated look, they started to get up and leave.

I should've gone to go at the Black Lake instead of sitting here with a bunch of giggling girls. I let out an irritated sigh and tried a non-verbal spell. It worked because Daphne's book immediately flew straight into my lap.

"Hey! I was reading that." I gave her a laugh and hand it back to her. We spent the rest of the afternoon listening to Genevieve's stories until it was time for dinner at the Great Hall.

*****

The bad feeling about this whole tournament was still bugging me. I ignored the feeling and busy myself with studying. As the firstborn child in our family, I was obliged to be the best at everything. Being pure blood and honoring my blood, our blood, so that Theodore would set me as his role model.

I was forced to mature at such a young age. Protective over my brother so that he wouldn't experience our father's pressure of having Nott as our last name. Mother died long after she gave birth to Theo. So, I acted like a mother and sister to him. I decided to carry all of the burdens for my brother's sake.

Even though, he's a git.

"Don't make me hex you, Theo." I glared at my brother who returned my gaze.

"You're not my mother." I saw Malfoy wanted to butt in but I gave him a nasty look that scared him before he could say something.

"Don't think I don't know what you're planning!" I went closer to him and flicked his forehead. He was a few inches taller than me even though he's only 14 years old. He held his forehead in pain, ready to shout at me but stopped because he knows what will happen if he did.

"I'm not answering back because I do not wish to end up in the hospital wing." He turned his back on me and sat quietly beside Malfoy who was just sitting a few inches away from us.

Genevieve let out a snort after watching our argument. I rolled my eyes at her and sat down, waiting for the headmaster to enter the Great Hall.

"Diggory is still looking at you, Y/N." She whispered.

"I didn't need to know, Gen. Leave him be." I knew he was looking at me for a while now. All I can do was glare at him but he always returned it with his idiotic bright smile.

"Do you think he fancies you?" She asked while still looking at Diggory.

"You can have him if you want. Just don't let me hear your high-pitched giggles."

A couple of minutes later, Dumbledore finally entered the Great Hall together with the Headmaster of Durmstrang and Headmistress of Beauxbatons. If I remember, tonight is the night when they will be announcing the ones who will represent each school in the tournament.

Dumbledore started to announce the first two chosen champions as the Goblet of Fire gives its names. When it was time to announce the Hogwarts Champion. I could feel all the students stiff with excitement, waiting for it.

Finally, a piece of parchment paper flew out of the fire and Dumbledore took it. Opening it, he shouted his name.

"Cedric Diggory!" Every Hufflepuff roared with happiness. Genevieve, who sat beside me, cheered for our school's champion. I, on the other hand, clapped formally.

When Diggory shook his hands with Dumbledore, our eyes locked for a couple of seconds before he smiled widely at me and then went inside the chamber where they were told to come after announcing their name.

"I saw that." My friend grinned at me but ignored her, bringing back my attention to the Headmaster.

He was interrupted when another piece of parchment paper flew out once again from the Goblet. A lot of us were surprised. Didn't they say that only three champions were to be chosen for this tournament?

Dumbledore opened the paper once again. I saw the bewildered look on his face. That's when I knew that something was bound to happen.

"Harry Potter!"

*****

After the first task, some people started to cheer for Potter. While most of the Hufflepuffs still hated the fact that Potter even survived the first task.

While the Hufflepuff vs Gryffindor is huge heat around the school, students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons started to ask someone out for the Yule Ball. Genevieve and Daphne were already been asked out by a couple of guys.

But in the end, Genevieve went with Zacharias Smith from Hufflepuff. While Daphne decided to go with my brother. I couldn't believe a second when Theo asked her in front of me.

"You're the only one left who hasn't got no one to go to the ball." Genevieve sat beside me.

"You're saying that it's like a big deal," I responded without looking at her.

"Of course, it is! Some boys from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons--even girls are trying to ask you but before they could, all you do is scare them off!" She complained.

"Thank you, because that's exactly what I was doing. I'm not going." Genevieve seems like she wanted to protest my decision but it's already been decided.

"Theo! Convince your sister!" Genevieve shouted across the room. Theo looked in our direction, shrugged his shoulders, and continued flirting with Daphne.

I stood up from the sofa, deciding to go for a walk around the Black Lake. Genevieve wanted to come but she knew I didn't need company.

Sitting on a large rock near the Lake as the cold wind touched my skin. I started to read a book that I borrowed from the Library.

A moment later, I heard a noise that made me take my wand that was placed in my pocket and pointed it in the direction where the noise came from.

"Who's there?" A familiar boy came out from the back of the tree.

"Diggory?" I lowered my wand and glared at him.

"Sorry. I didn't know you were here." I raised an eyebrow in his response.

I was ready to leave before anyone can see us and then tell the whole school about my encounter with their beloved Diggory. But he held my wrist. I looked at his eyes and heard him gulp.

"What are you doing? Let go of my wrist." I sounded irritated to get his hand off me. I'm sure I was trying to scare him.

"Sorry." Then he took his hand off. "Do you have time? I wanted to talk."

Without saying a word, I faced him and crossed my arms, waiting for him to say something. It took a while before he realized that I was waiting for him to speak.

"Sorry--"

"Stop apologizing, Diggory. What do you want?" He looks quite nervous.

"Have you got a date on the ball yet?"

"No. I don't plan on going. Is that all?" I answered, quickly.

"You aren't?" I shook my head as an answer. I could see the disappointment on his face.

Even if I go and agreed to come with him, a lot of people will be surprised to see us go together. And I hate having people's attention on me.

And I'm a Nott. I came from a pureblood family. I cannot go with a half-blood. Never. It'll be a sin. Father will be disappointed. And I can't let that happen.

"Why?"

"I don't see there's a reason for me to tell you. Goodbye, Diggory." Without waiting for his reply, I left him.

*****

As expected, Genevieve heard that I rejected Diggory. If you want to know how did she know. It was because of Smith.

"I'm writing to your father!" She shouted. She went to get a quill and a paper.

"Stop. Father wouldn't even bother. And I'm not supposed to be with half-bloods anyway." I levitated the quill and paper from her and placed them somewhere else.

"Who cares who you want to be with?! We're young." She said. "You rejected Diggory, Y/N! You must be mental. Everybody would be down to be asked by him!" She scolded me as if she were my mother and failed to set me up with some guy.

"It's just a ball, Gen. And besides, it's my choice." She took my wrist and dragged me out of the Common Room.

"What the bloody hell are you doing? Let me go or you'll regret it." I hissed at her but she ignored me. I was searching for my wand in my pocket as she spoke again.

"Your brother has your wand. I gave it to him a while ago before I could drag you." I saw her grin. I gave up and followed her willingly.

"I know you don't like me being nosy. But you need to loosen up, Y/N. After all, you're still underage. Have some fun! So, going with Diggory or not, you'll still be attending the ball with me!"

*****

I still reasoned with my friend not to bring me with her to the ball. Thought that I might ruin her date with Smith. But Smith told me that it was fine. I was annoyed at him when he came to fetch Genevieve with me. He was smiling like an idiot and I was assuming that's because she got my friend as his date.

I was wearing a dark emerald green dress robe that my mother used to own. I guess it was the right idea to agree to bring this dress robe with me.

"How do I look?" I held Genevieve's wrist before entering the Great Hall. Smith also stopped his tracks and looked at me.

"If you ask me, you look amazingly hot--but Genevieve's way hotter than you." He held his sides when Genevieve nudge it a while ago. I cast a glare at him and he turned away but still stood in his position beside his date.

"You'll be fine, Y/N. It's not like you haven't attended a ball before." She smiled at me with comfort. She was right, I shouldn't get nervous. This is just like the ball that my father, Theo, and I always attend.

Taking a deep breath, we saw Diggory entering the Hall with Chang. He caught my eyes for a second. He was surprised to see me since I told him during our last encounter that I'm not going. But then he looked away immediately. Smith, his best friend who's with us, surely notice our eye contact a few seconds ago.

He cleared his throat, offering his arm to Genevieve, which she took as her cheeks flushed red. Rolling my eyes at the two of them for making me regret that I even agreed to come with them in the first place.

I let them two go in first as I walk behind them. Some students were looking at me, and as I usually do, I glared at them. They quickly turned their attention to Genevieve and Smith.

The evening went nicely, for Genevieve and my brother. As they were indulging themselves on the dance floor with their dates. As for me, I only sat for almost 2 hours, watching them enjoying the ball. I was getting bored so I decided that after the last song played, I'll go find Genevieve and tell her that I'll be going first.

"You need to loosen up, Y/N. After all, you're still underage. Have some fun!"

It's impossible for me to have fun. It was never my nature. Maybe because I never let myself have fun.

The song was almost finished when I decided to look for Genevieve. The dance floor was crowded so I tried my best to push them away so they could give me some way. I tried to push a tall figure in front of me but held my hands and dragged me somewhere quiet.

"Can we dance?" And then there I saw his charming face. His cheeks were red, probably because of the excitement he was having and it was also cold in here.

"You're ditching your date, Diggory." Pulling away from my wrist from him.

"Nott, can we please dance?" He ignored my response and asked the same question.

One dance wouldn't hurt so I agreed to dance with him. I was expecting him to lead me to the dance floor again to dance. But we just stood in our position. He went closer to me and held my hand, pulling me close as my other hand on his shoulder and his other hand wrapped around my waist. His face was so close that even without knowing it, I looked into his eyes.

His face went closer to my ear. He breathed closer to my neck which gave me shivers. What was he doing? What I was feeling wasn't normal...

"I hope you don't mind dancing here." Even though we were a bit far from the dance floor, the music can still be heard from here. It was less crowded so I nodded as a response and as a thank you.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" We started to dance slowly.

"Not really. I'm not fond of these...things." My face changed when I saw two Gryffindors snogging at my sight. That's just disgusting. Don't they have manners? Kissing in public as if they own the place.

"I see... Well, you look absolutely beautiful, Nott. You're breathtaking." And there he gave me his bright idiotic smile. Something inside of me just wanted to burst. It was cold in here and yet why do I feel it's starting to get warm?

"Stop flirting with me, Diggory. I don't want to see your girlfriend getting angry at me." I rolled my eyes as he let out a soft chuckle.

"I don't have a girlfriend." He said whilst he placed my hand on his other shoulder and his other hand on the other side of my waist. Pulling me closer than ever. I'm starting to get nervous about what would happen next which was unusual because I never get nervous.

"Tell me to stop, Nott. And I'll pull myself away from you. I'll stop these feelings I have for you. Just say something and I'll do it." He whispered into my ear.

He was the first person to tell me that he likes me. Something in me just wants to tell him to stop so I could end this early and go into our separate ways. But there is just something inside of me that tells me not to. To continue because I wanted to know what real love feels like.

To enjoy life like other people my age does. Will he give me a better view of everything?

"I don't know what love feels like..."

My parents were engaged in a loveless marriage as it was forced to tie their families to maintain their bloodline pure. I was expecting--no I am sure that father will also do the same thing for me and my brother.

Deep in my thoughts whilst waiting for him to answer, I suddenly felt his soft lips pressed into my forehead.

"Maybe I could teach you."

*****

Not a week after that night, it was a huge gossip when they discovered that Diggory was seeing me out. Girls felt betrayed by how their beloved Diggory was in love with me. Some say I bewitched him by having him drink something that contains a love potion.

"I swear to merlin's beard. Make your girlfriends shut up or I'll do it myself, Diggory." I hissed at him. He just laughed at me and intertwined his fingers into mine.

"I wouldn't mind you handling them by yourself." He winked at me as we walk through the corridors. His girls didn't dare to glare or say something at me because they know what will happen if they did.

"Sister!" Theo approached us. "Snape was looking for you."

"Why would he look for me?"

"I don't know. He didn't tell me anything else." He shrugged his shoulders and went away.

Diggory looked at me and lift our intertwined hands together as he placed a soft kiss on the back of my hand.

"I'll see you later." He smiled at me. Rolling my eyes, I let go of his hand.

"Hopefully, not," I responded.

"That's a lie." He grinned before looking for his friends.

I went into Snape's office. I greeted him and the next thing I knew everything went black.

I opened my eyes and felt the cold water all over my body. I looked at Diggory who was holding me tightly as we both swam back into the stands where the professors were waiting for us. They immediately wrapped us with a thick cloth. Genevieve went closer to me to check if I was okay.

"Thank Merlin you're alright!" She sighed with relief and went in to hug me.

Another thick cloth wrapped around me and helped me to get up. Their arms wrapped around me, caressing the side of my arm.

"I'm sorry, Nott. I'm really sorry." Diggory's face was filled with guilt but I made sure that it was fine.

"You need to learn how to stop apologizing for something you didn't do, Cedric."

*****

It was finally the third and final task. I was starting to get nervous and worried for Cedric. But he assured me a couple of times that it was fine, that he can handle it. The feeling of something bad will happen in this tournament was still here.

"If you don't come back, I'll find you and kill you myself." I glared at him as he laughs at me.

"I do not know if that's the way you show your emotions or a threat."

"I'm serious, Diggory." I hate to admit that I'm really falling for him. I thought it would be impossible but he did break through my walls. I don't know what he did but he sure taught me how to love.

"A kiss for me for good luck?" He grinned and I ignored his request.

"Keep dreaming, Diggory." I went outside the tent and went to find Genevieve, together with the other Hufflepuffs.

"Looks like you enjoy making out with Diggory." Smith winked at me and raised my middle finger at him.

The four champions went inside the maze. The first one to come out was Fleur, Beauxbatons' champion. Then there's Krum, Durmstrang's champion. This means Potter and Cedric were the only ones left inside.

I was starting to get worried. The bad feeling I couldn't shake off, but Genevieve and Smith kept telling me that everything will be okay. That I should have faith in Cedric. I don't care if he loses or if he wins, what matters to me is that he will come back home safely to his family, and his friends. He will come back home safe to me...

Merlin, he's driving me crazy.

Then the bands started to play loudly. Students and professors started to gather around as the three of us join through the crowd. I heard Fleur scream which made me nervous to death.

Please...

"Voldemort's back... He's back..." Potter cried while he was hugging his body. Cedric's body. Theo and I met our gaze when Potter mentioned You-know-who returned.

You-know-who's back... that means...

"Cedric, he got knocked out. I don't know if he's... I just brought him back with me. I couldn't leave him there." He cried once more. I could feel my throat tighten. I wanted to get closer and check if he was alive but his parents and Madam Pomfrey went first.

I saw her check his pulse and saw the relief on her face.

"He's just unconscious. He needs to get to the Hospital Wing, quickly."

*****

Three days passed and I haven't got the chance to see him. I did not want to see him. With Potter announcing that You-know-who is back, this made me worried so bad. I could see my brother's face, it was emotionless. But I knew he was also worried.

We weren't proud to have our father as a death eater. This also means when we come in age, we will have to bear the mark. I couldn't tell Cedric everything. But I think it's the best way if I end up everything. We weren't supposed to be together in the first place.

I won't forgive myself if something happens to him.

"Madam Pomfrey says he can have visitors." Genevieve sat beside me. We were the only ones left in the Common Room. I didn't answer her and just continued to look at the fireplace. "Whatever's in your mind Y/N, you should stop it."

"It's for the better, Gen," I said without looking at her.

"Then what about you?" I looked at her with tears in my eyes. This was the first she saw me crying because I never cried at anything. I was heartless and cold, and everybody was scared of me. Because that's how I want them to view me. Genevieve wrapped her arms around me and caressed me.

"You spent your whole life obeying his rules. Living your life for him. But what about yourself? Does everything you do, is truly what you want? I saw the look on your face when you started to go out with Diggory. He changed you--no. He made you be yourself. You're you when you're with him. You're free. So, for once, Y/N... Do not let go of the things that gave you hope, freedom, and happiness." I continued to cry as she comforted me with words that gave me realization.

"It's not in our traits as a Slytherin but...be brave." We both let out a soft laugh. Pulling away from her, she wiped my tears.

"Thank you, Gen."

"It's nothing. Now, go visit him. He's been dying to see you. Quite a stubborn if you ask me. He refused to take medicines unless he sees you first."

The next day, I entered the Wing and saw Madam Pomfrey treating another student. She leads me the way to Cedric. And there I saw him, talking to Smith but immediately ignored his friend when he saw me.

"That's my cue to leave." Smith stood up and went close to my direction. "Take it easy on him, Nott." Then he left.

I went to the chair where Smith was sitting earlier. I gave Cedric a soft smile as he took my hand into his.

"Were you crying, love? I'm sorry I made you worry."

"I did not cry. It's just dust... I'm allergic to them." He smiled and rolled his eyes at me.

"You're a bad liar." I still couldn't look at him. I kept my eyes on the ground refusing to meet his gaze. "Y/N. Will you look at me, please?" I didn't listen to him.

I was forced to look at him when he pulled me closer, cupping my face. He was surprised to see me crying. He was panicking so he just pulled me closer to his chest, making me lean on his.

"Tell them that I'm crying and you're dead." I threatened him between my cries. He laughed at me and continued to caress my back, kissing my head as he inhaled, smelling my perfume. I could feel my whole body start to relax in his embrace.

"I finally found your soft side." He muttered.

"And what is it?"

"Me." Then he continued to cuddle me in his hospital bed, his arms wrapped around my waist as I lay comfortably in his chest. Ignoring that Madam Pomfrey might catch us comfortably cuddling each other.

*****

Okay, this was long. Took me 3 days to finish it. I realized how hard it was to come up with a good story. I even looked into the internet and Harry Potter books just to check if I'm writing the scenario correctly.

Also, did you recognize the reference I just wrote, if you still remembered reading it?

But anyway, I still hoped you enjoyed it, guys!

[gryffvndors]

blurred edges [draco malfoy]

request: “could you maybe do prompt 295 with jealous angsty draco x reader. I adore your writing style btw x” -anon

“Please could do one where Malfoy and the reader get really close but then she sees him lock lips with Parkinson at a party... etcetc.” -anon

word count: ~1700 (i’ve given up on my limit)

a/n: mashed two more together bc they fit pretty well together! i hope this is what yall r looking for? i had fun writing this! i’ve been super sick all day and have been reading scorbus fanfics which is always fun. thanks for requesting and reading as always!

295: “wait a minute. are you jealous?”

It’s not a defined thing, you and Draco Malfoy. It’s more of a loose thing, an unshapely thing, with the edges blurred, corners rounded, creases smoothed out. There isn’t anything solid about it; the only thing that keeps this… whatever it is, thriving, is your combined fear of being alone.

It’s the harsh truth, but regardless, it’s the truth. If you weren’t so stubborn and needy, this wouldn’t even be a thing at all. On the other hand, Draco, a boy who’s never had to work for anything in his life, finds your relationship easy and manageable. You know because he’s told you before, the two of you laying in bed, him tracing lazy circles on your bare thigh. You’d twisted your body to make eye contact. He looked into your eyes with his steel gaze and, in answer to an unuttered question that hung in the air, said it so bluntly, you sat there for a second, feeling like he slapped you in the face.

(You left, then, angry tears crawling down your cheeks. You left, but obviously came back; why wouldn’t you? All you wanted, really, was attention. He gave you attention.)

You’ve learned to build your walls high and strong, impenetrable. He apologized for being so blunt. You forgave him, and then proceeded to have sex with him again. Yes, you’re definitely a good example on how to stray away from toxic relationships. Time and time again, you’ve told yourself to leave. You can handle being alone - but right after one of you ends it, the same person comes running back, lungs empty and chest twisting inside of your body. You don’t do “feelings”. Draco doesn’t, either. After the initial mishap, the two of you agreed that this simply be a “no strings attached” relationship. It was quite easy, until, of course, the other snuck up on one of you and tied a knot so small, so insignificant, it only became tighter and tighter until it was nearly impossible to undo. Then they got out the scissors and snipped it away, leaving the other broken with frayed edges and a permanent knot in their bones.

You deserve each other, really.

The press of Draco’s mouth against yours is as familiar and unsettling as ever; his hair, always soft, shines magnificently in between your fingers. His own digits play at the hem of your shirt. Your body shakes as he lets out a low, guttural sound. All that runs through your mind while his (cold) hands slide up the soft skin of your stomach is a warning bell, an alarm, that if you don’t stop now, you’ll be late for the post-Quidditch match party going on in the Slytherin common room. You’re near the entrance, anyway, tucked away in a dusty alcove in one of the main hallway branches. Draco’s lips suck where the underside of your jaw meets your neck. You swallow, pushing him away.

“We have to get to the common room,” you say, chewing on your lower lip. “They’ll want you to be there.”

Draco’s mouth twists into a frown. “I don’t feel like partying right now.”

“That doesn’t matter. They’ll still expect you to be there, you won us the Quidditch Cup.” When he doesn’t answer, you add, “There will be alcohol.”

“I… like alcohol,” he says softly. He goes down to kiss your neck again. You dodge it, sidestepping away. “Stop being like this.”

“We have to go, Draco.”

Draco huffs: “Fine. We’ll go to the stupid party.”

“Don’t throw a tantrum.”

“I’m not,” he sighs, running his hands through his hair. “I just… want to snog you.”

“I’m flattered,” you deadpan, “but I really feel like getting wasted right now. How about we snog after, say, five shots of firewhiskey? Ten? Twelve, maybe?”

As Draco leads you to the common room entrance, he rolls his eyes. “You’re looking for a hangover.”

“What can I say? I’m a masochist.”

The party is going full-swing. There’s a drinking game going on with a bunch of the older students; the younger ones have butterbeers, and it amuses you to see a couple third years stare longingly at the bottles of firewhiskey. As soon as you and Draco enter the room, there’s a few wolf whistles and a whole round of cheering. You leave Draco’s side and go straight for the alcohol. You bypass glasses entirely, picking up a bottle and taking a swig from it.

“Rough day?” Your friend sidles up beside you, smirking. Her cheeks are pink from the whiskey, you’d bet, personality loose and open.

You scoff, “You have no clue.” You take another swig.

It isn’t long before you open up yourself; you’ve always liked the burning in your stomach from intoxication, the stumbly and free feeling it gives you. You can’t find it in yourself to care when you lose a drinking game and have to chug straight from the bottle. You catch Draco watching you out of the corner of your eye, a smirk on his lips, face flushed, shaking his head. You nearly choke and have to double over, swallowing what’s in your mouth. The burning down your throat increases.

You’ve gotten to that point where you don’t really care about anything anymore. Around the common room, you chat with everyone, all smiles and charm and slurred words. When you turn the corner to grab something from your room, you see, down the hallway to the girls’ dormitory, Draco with Pansy Parkinson, his tongue in her mouth and hands up her skirt.

You falter, chest wrenching. The sight seems to down your spirits immediately. You turn on your heels and go back where you came from, knuckles nearly white from clenching the sleeves of your robes so hard.

You don’t know why you’re so broken up over this. You aren’t even together. This is no strings attached. You don’t do feelings - feelings are a nuisance. He isn’t yours, anyway. He never was yours to begin with. Just because you like to have a good shag every once in awhile, or snog at least three times a day, doesn’t mean you have all rights to him. He can kiss whoever he wants. And if he chooses Pansy, then so be it. What can you do about it? You, the girl that does not have feelings for him. You, the girl who cannot have feelings for him. You can’t do anything but watch and keep your mouth shut.

But, hey, if he can snog other people, so can you.

You grab your friend by the back of her robes and drag her over to the alcohol. “I saw Draco snogging Pansy Parkinson in the corner.”

Her face falls. “I’m so sorry-”

You hold up a hand. “Save it. I don’t care. But we’re going to take a shot together, and then I’m going to go snog Theodore Nott. Because I can.”

As you pour the shots, your friend muses, “Are you sure it’s not just because he’s Draco’s good friend?”

You hand her a glass and clink yours against it. “Nope,” you say, then down it. She laughs after you as you approach Nott, tugging on his sleeve. “Wanna make out with me?”

Nott glances around, then shrugs. You pull him over to a corner in the common room.

He isn’t that great of a kisser. It… doesn’t feel right, if you’re being quite honest. He’s too sloppy - though that may be due to his blatant intoxication - and a hell of a lot worse than Draco. You don’t really care, though; maybe Draco’s the bad one and you’re just used to it.

(Almost immediately after that thought, you know you’re wrong. Draco’s an amazing kisser.)

A few minutes into it, you’re torn apart. Nott is surprised; you are, too. You whip around. Behind you stands Draco, face set in a scowl. He mutters your name, then Nott’s. “Theo, step the fuck away.”

Needless to say, Nott scurries off, murmuring apologies under his breath. Draco hisses, “Can I talk to you?”

You shrug, toying with the hem of your robes. “Go ahead.” Draco grabs your wrist and pulls you into the dimly lit hallway to the dormitories, where he was sticking his tongue down Pansy Parkinson’s throat not five minutes ago.

“Why were you snogging Nott?”

You smirk. “Wait a minute. Are you jealous?”

Draco’s cheeks turn even darker. “Jealous? No. Just wondering why you chose Nott, of all people.”

You blink, feigning innocence. “Why did you choose Pansy Parkinson, of all people?”

Draco pauses. “You… saw that?”

“Yeah. I did,” you scowl, shoving your hands in your pockets. “Why are you getting onto me for snogging Nott when you were snogging Parkinson at the same time? That doesn’t seem very fair. And why are you even jealous in the first place? I thought this was no strings attached, no feelings-”

“Well, maybe I fucking developed feelings!”

Neither one of you speak. The sentence hangs in the air like a threat. You rock back and forth on your heels, unsure of what to say. When you finally find your voice, all you can say is, “O-oh.”

Draco looks at the ground. “Fuck. If you don’t feel the same way, I understand. But if you don’t, I… want things to stop between us. I can’t go around shoving my feelings aside, pretending like they don’t exist.” There’s a hesitation. You realize he’s waiting for you to speak.

“Oh,” you repeat. “I-”

Draco sighs, running a hand through his hair. “You know what? Nevermind. I-”

“Draco, stop-” You grab his arm and pull him back as he turns away to leave. You look into his (quite frankly, brilliant) grey eyes and clear your throat. “I… only snogged Nott because I saw you snogging Parkinson. I was… jealous,” you admit. “I do. Fancy you. I have major feelings for you, I just… never voiced them because I didn’t want the same thing to happen as it did before.”

He knows what you’re referencing to. You can tell; his frown deepens, and before you know it, he’s kissing you gently. You kiss back, still unaware of where you two lie. When he breaks away, you ask the question you’re both thinking.

“So… where do we stand?”

Draco swallows. “Where do you want to stand?”

“I’d… like to be your girlfriend, if that’s okay with you.”

He leans down to kiss you again. Against your lips, he mumbles, “That’s definitely alright with me.”