Tom Riddle X Reader - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

After uneasily sleeping the night away in the hospital chamber, you were excused from your classes for the next day. You were in no rush for lessons.
After spending a restless night at the Hospital wing, the next morning you found out you were excused from your lessons for the whole day and were advised to proceed with the recovery in your Gryffindor dorm instead, where you'd get more privacy since your friends had to attend their classes.
The word about the hassle inside the downstairs female bathroom, where you had the argument and crumbled some of the walls, seemed to have traveled around Hogwarts quickly. Once you stepped out of the bed and passed through hallways, you saw more than a few students glimpse at you as if they were observing.
It turns out, before Dippet found a suitable punishment for her, Lizzie had proudly declared to the whole Slytherin house that she put you in the hospital wing. But once her wand was checked for the most recent spells, she was suspended from Hogwarts due to injuring a fellow peer.
At the Gryffindor's towers, by the time you entered your dorm, it was already the beginning of lunch. And once you opened that door, you were immediately greeted by three familiar faces.
"<___>!" - Lily jumped from her bed, the lunch on her lap slipping down to the floor as she rushed over and hugged you
"Ah!" - you slightly yelped as you sunk into her tight embrace, feeling a sharp, quick sting within your rib area "I haven't fully recovered yet"
As Lily let go, Molly had a huge smile on her face as Mary patted your back instead "Did you kick their ass--- ouch!" - Mary rubbed her head, glimpsing back at Lily who just flicked her
Still smiling, Molly said "We wanted to visit as soon as we heard but--"
"But nurse Pomfrey told us we couldn't" - Lily intervened "Telling us you needed some sort of emergency rest and full peace in recovery"
"Oh?" - first thing that crossed your mind was Tom visiting. Was he even allowed.
And that's when you noticed that all three of them were still standing around you around the doorway. You haven't even set a couple feet into the bedroom.
"I just need that rest. Losing your organs isn't so fun" - you told them as you slipped into your bed
Molly, Mary and Lily all stood by the foot of your bed.
Molly appeared gravely concerned "Is that what the spell did to you?"
"How much have you heard?" - your eyes jumped between their now silent faces as the three of them exchanged glances.
Mary wrapped her hand onto one of the wooden foot posts "Something about a Gryffindor student getting hexed or whatever. And since you were in a hospital, we figured it had to be you."
"Hexed?" - your eyes widened
"Well there are many rumors, really." - Mary mumbled "Different versions of what happened."
"Oh." - you felt your stomach suddenly grow heavy "Great..."
"Anyway..." - Lily said, grabbing back her lunch bag from the floor "We're heading into the garden for lunch. Would you like to join us?"
"I'd love to but I was advised to rest"
"Alright, we'll catch you after lessons then" - the three of them waved at you before leaving the bedroom. Then you finally got the peace and quiet.
After taking a nap, sometime along the last period for your three friends, you decided to stretch your legs and go out for a walk, which was also advised for you so you'd feel back in your shape.
There weren't a lot of students out and about, seeing as though most of them were studying somewhere an this was a good thing. You could feel the fresh breeze without having to worry about someone blocking it or sit down without having to listen to chaotic chatter.
When you left for the garden you noticed at the distant corner a small group of already familiar faces, instantly locking eyes with one of the boys who was already looking at you - Tom. It was difficult to tell what he was thinking as his expression was blank.
But then you heard a feminine voice come from behind you
"Hey, it's you"
You looked back, spotting her white glasses first before her Ravenclaw uniform, recognizing her immediately as she proceeded "I am glad to see you're okay! and you're walking! I heard from someone that you lost your leg"
"My leg?" - you asked, your voice quivering "Who--"
"Anyway" - she interrupted "I really need to finish this assignment, our due dates are tomorrow morning. So..."
"Oh. Right." - you sighed "Yeah, alright... Riddle's over there" - you pointed at the distant Tom who hasn't been paying attention at you anymore.
The girl then tugged on your arm and pulled you towards Tom, interrupting their conversation.
"Yes, Avery, we will speak over this tomo-----" - his eyes flickered away from his group as he felt a presence linger on his right side "Yes?" then he noticed you and his expression loosened as if he figured out what was about to happen.
The girl didn't say anything, just pulled the handcuffs out of her pocket. Tom hesitated, unwillingly stretching out his left arm. He remembered he gave her his word and he was going to hold onto it. Cheerfully, the girl cuffed his left arm to your right arm, forcing you to sit down on the grass next to him.
As soon as the girl left, one of the guys in Tom's group called out to you "Heard you got trampled in the female bathroom."
You leaned in your chin, your eyes squinting "Huh?"
"Sounds quite embarrassing" - he added almost chuckling
"I did not get trampled. How do you get trampled?"
"Like I said, Avery." - Tom intervened "We will speak about what we discussed tomorrow." - as Riddle stood up you were forced to stand up with him.
Without saying much else, he walked inside of Hogwarts. After a few turns it was clear his destination was the library.
It was silent the whole way, he would not speak a word and neither would you.
Inside the room, he chose a book and sat down on a far end table with no people. You sat down next to him as you had no choice.
It was only when he sat down and opened the first page that he finally broke the silence.
"I'll take it you are feeling better now" - he glanced into your eyes for a few seconds before looking back at his book
"Yes, I've almost fully recovered"
"Delightful." - For a moment his lips parted as if he was about to say something, his eyes glimpsing into yours. But he paused without saying a word, maintaining strong eye contact that made you feel slightly flustered.
"Something wrong?" - you asked him, looking into his eyes which seemed to gaze straight into your soul.
"No. Nothing." - he went silent, resting his nose into the book again.
"Liste---" - as you tried to capture his attention, you were interrupted by a certain boy from Gryffindor with shoulder length curls.
"Hey, <___> " - He - Sirius Black - was almost just as good looking as the Slytherin boy sat next to you. You noticed Sirius's friends; Lupin and James stand behind him, watching the whole thing "I've heard about what happened. I'm terribly sorry. How are you feeling?" - he sat in front of you on the same table without asking for permission. You noticed Tom shoot a very annoyed glance at his presence.
"I'm moving on" - you warmly smiled at him
"That's good to hear." - he smiled back, ignoring Tom's sneer "Hey, uh--" - he slurred his words as he leaned in on the table "I-I was wondering if you could help me with Transfiguration. You sit next to me and I know how intelligent you are. I'd be honored if someone as clever as you would make some of her time to tutor me perhaps?"
"Oh...uhh--" - Curious, You glanced over at Tom to see his reaction.
Noticing this, Sirius continued "He doesn't own you by any chance, does he?" - he was grinning, not really taking himself seriously.
Tom frowned, appearing very displeased with what he was hearing.
You locked eyes with Sirius, your eyebrows flinching as your voice raised "There surely are more clever students out there--"
"Well you are only the most intelligent girl I know of." - he genuinely smiled "So what do you say, maybe we discuss it over a butterbeer in Hogsmeade?"
You had a good feeling about this, Sirius seemed like a sweetheart "Sure." - you finally said
Tom looked shocked at hearing your response. He expected you to turn Sirius down.
"Great!" - Sirius squealed with delight, genuine happiness overriding his face "I will catch up with you later then. See you later, gorgeous." - he stood up and went back to his friends who patted his back as if it was a 'congratulations'.
As soon as they left, Tom wasn't afraid to give you a piece of his mind. To be fair, their presence did not frighten him either.
"You could do better" - he said, gazing at his book which he didn't seem to be reading.
"It's just a mentoring session"
"And you believe that is what's in his best interest."
"Nothing else is going to happen. I mean unless I'd want it to I suppose... Besides, you aren't annoyed, are you?"
"Trust me. I couldn't care less" - Tom looked up, sneering "Do what you like"
"And I will."