Tom Riddle X Reader - Chapter 20: Chapter 20

~A FEW DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT~
"Come on up!" - the head of Hufflepuff called out to a very shy looking boy who had his head down as soon as he realized he was being addressed in front of everyone. He was slightly shaken as he stepped onto the dueling table.
His curly, short, black fringe concealed his eyebrows as his brown, scattered with freckles face reflected the anxiety he felt - his heart racing as if he ran a marathon.
Since Horace Slughorn was the head of Slytherin, a man with already set favorites in whom he'd see promising ambition, Horace picked someone who he already thought as very propitious - a boy with coal-black hair and brown eyes radiating with tranquility. It was no other but Severus Snape being summoned onto the dueling table.
The round begins and before the Hufflepuff boy could do anything, Severus had already released a spell which swirled the poor boy into the air and off the table, winning Severus a victory from this match.
After that, Horace was already confident about picking and insisting on another Slytherin who would be in his list of favorites, beating Severus.
"How about Mr. Riddle" - the professor pointed at Tom Riddle, gesturing for him to approach
"We all know Tom is ahead of the class" - the head of Gryffindor, Albus Dumbledore, told, stopping Riddle in place just as he was about to approach the table. Tom immediately frowned once he heard these words, he was looking forward to showing off. The vile look in his eyes didn't hide his lack of fondness for Albus either "How about someone with a similar chance?"
"Very well" - the head of Slytherin turned to a blonde boy who was a part of the Slug Club led by Tom "Come on up, Avery"
With unfeigned confidence and a strong posture, he immediately walked onto the table, wearing a smirk on his face. A nearby observing Lily Evans all of sudden looked very concerned. She knew these two boys didn't get along in school either.
The pair of wizards bowed before each other with their wands in front of their noses. Snape remained calm, even at the sight of Avery's snobbish grin.
Once they trekked over to the opposing sides of the table, Snape could hear a voice call out his way
"Try not to get hurt, Snivellus!"
It was James Potter standing among the crowd, grinning nearby his group of friends, all of whom snickered at this sentence. James crossed his arms, he was sincerely hoping Snape would lose.
Snape kept his pale face straight towards the wall, ignoring this childish racket until he had to turn and face his opponent, his posture steady and very delicate.
"Stupefy!" - Snape flicked his wand faster than Avery could mutter out a spell
"Protego!" - Avery waved his arm to the side and an invisible force blocked out Snape's enchantment.
Watching this but remaining calm, Severus sent out another few flashes, both of which were deflected by the boy. Avery, after realizing he was breaking out more sweat than he'd like to, started stepping forwards and sending out faster jets of light.
Severus felt like he was losing control of this duel, having to block all of those spells. But he soon discovered an opening and instead of receiving hits, he was leaping those spells out of his wand first yet again.
As soon as it looked like Snape would win, another one of Tom's Slug Club members, without anyone spotting, discreetly casted a spell at Snape's feet and Severus suddenly tumbled off the table backwards, making it look like Avery won with his last spell. And no one noticed the boys cheat except for Tom who looked very proud.
Everyone could hear laughter emerge from James Potter's and some of the other Gryffindors throats.
"Well done" - Horace patted Avery's shoulder, oblivious as to what just really happened.
"Yes, indeed, nicely done" - Dumbledore interrupted the praise "How about, for the last match, we give a chance to someone from house Gryffindor?" - his eyes jumped between a group of people behind him. Shifting from terrified looking Peter, to calm Sirius, petrified Remus and confident James. He even considered Lily. But his gaze stopped at you as he stretched out his hand "Miss <___>"
You felt everyone suddenly look at you which wasn't really pleasant, especially since the attack in the bathroom. All thanks to the rumors spreading faster than a plague, everyone knew who you were. So there was no point in low-profile.
Feeling tense, you stepped onto the dueling table.
As you had to bow and pay respects, you noticed that Avery was still smirking.
"Ready to lose, newbie?" - he mocked
"Are you?"
The two of you split ways, walking over the opposing ends. At a distance, you turned and stretched out your wands at one another. You had a strong grip on your wand and your feet felt as solid to the ground as rocks. You had this.
When Albus started the countdown, it was time for the show.
Avery ejected a bright jet of light, some sort of a jinx at you, but with ease, you summoned the protego charm and the spell blasted against the invisible force, dissolving within the air.
He sent out another spell and you swung your arm, diverting it back at him, which he had to call a defensive shield upon for protection. But the force of it made him pedal backwards, as if he was being pushed. That's when he realized you were stronger than he assumed and his grin faded.
"Ebublio!" - he said with his arm stretched, sending out a purple dash of light that would entrap the victim once it'd collide.
But luckily, the size of the dash was just small enough for you to dodge to the side. As you fell onto your knees, you felt the wind from it rush over your head. You then noticed Avery run over closer to you and out of reflex, you yelped:
"Impedimenta!"
Everyone observed in silence, watching Avery get hit by this turquoise coloured light and suddenly, Avery could hardly move a muscle, as if he possessed the speed of a turtle.
As you quickly stretched upwards, not releasing the target from your sight you shouted "Locomotor Wibbly!" - and the orange jet of light shot for his legs.
Avery suddenly collapsed to the ground as if his legs suddenly jellified.
Fallen down on the table and furious, Avery started summoning more aggressive, powerful spells. However, those enchantments either met only half way colliding with yours or they were diverted away from you. Each time those spells dissolved, Avery broke out more and more sweat and he was soon panting.
However, on the contrary, you were balanced perfectly, breaking out little sweat - you were already more experienced with knowledge and duels.
From the corner of your eye you noticed one of Avery's friends take out their wand out of their robe by your end of the table and stealthily point it towards you. Knowing what was going to happen, you quickly caught the oncoming sneak attack with your wand and everyone around you gasped. Noone else saw where this came from.
You quickly diverted it, sending it out towards Avery who was met by this and got hurled backwards, barely remaining at the end of the table. Which didn't do. In order to win you had to throw him completely off.
Before the Slug Club friend could get exposed, you felt a hot rush inside you as you grew angry and tired - yet you weren't ready to give up.
You flicked your wrist, ejecting bright, red flames out of your wand, moving your hand up and down, left and right, then swirled it around as you watched a sizzling figure form before your eyes - a heated silhouette that took shape of a roaring lion.
Everyone around you, including the professors, were standing quietly like graves, with their lips parted in pure shock and amazement as they watched this orange, large shadow scorch before them. The whole crowd wondered how could someone from such a year cast such a powerful spell.
As you let the flaming lion attack the boy, the heads of Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, both suddenly stepped in, shielding Avery and summoning a huge water shield that quickly collided with the fire and burst into pure smoke. The students closest to the table coughed at it, almost chocking.
"That will be enough" - Hufflepuff's leader stepped onto the table again with a concerned and shocked face.
Everyone were gazing at you in curiosity or astonishment and Avery seemed to tremble - as if he feared what you just recently summoned. Albus Dumbledore, along with the rest of professors who were in charge of their houses, all looked at you with astonishment or surprise.
You could see Tom gaze at you as well, all though his expression showed more curiosity than bewilderment. His eyebrows were lifted as if he was impressed.
Nearby, everyone, including Lily, James and the rest, were still looking at you with shock.
But then students of house Gryffindor quickly started clapping and praising you for this. They were glad they had someone with such skill among them.