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Chapter 10 𓍯𓂃𓏧♡
As the last echoes of Tom's footsteps faded, I remained rooted to the spot, my heart pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird. The humiliation still burned hot on my cheeks, the jeers and whispers of my classmates like a relentless swarm in my ears. They had seen me at my weakest, dangling like a puppet under Tom's control, and I could still feel their stares, hear their snide remarks.
I drew in a shaky breath, forcing myself to move, to walk away before I could sink any further into despair. My wand clutched tightly in my hand, I wove through the thinning crowd of students, ignoring the curious glances and hushed voices. I needed to get away, to find somewhere quiet where I could lick my wounds in peace.
Minerva and Hagrid were waiting, their concerned faces a painful reminder that I wasn't as invisible as I wished I could be. I could see the question in Minerva's eyes, the unspoken "Are you alright?" that hung between us. But I didn't have the strength to answer it, not right now. The embarrassment of losing to Tom Riddle in such a public way was too fresh, too raw.
Without a word, I nodded to them, offering a weak, almost apologetic smile before turning away. I heard Hagrid start to say something, his deep voice rumbling with concern, but I quickened my pace, not trusting myself to respond. If I stayed any longer, I might break down right there in front of them, and I couldn't bear the thought.
My feet carried me through the castle's winding corridors, the familiar stone walls a blur as I tried to escape the shame that clung to me like a second skin. I didn't know where I was going, only that I needed to be alone. Somewhere Tom's words wouldn't haunt me, somewhere I could rebuild the walls he had so effortlessly torn down.
I found myself outside, the cool evening air a sharp contrast to the stifling atmosphere of the dueling chamber. The grounds were empty, the shadows long as the sun dipped below the horizon. I wandered aimlessly for a while, my thoughts a chaotic swirl of anger, frustration, and something deeper—something I didn't want to acknowledge.
Eventually, my steps led me to the Black Lake. The water was dark and still, reflecting the deepening sky like a mirror. I sank down onto the grass, my legs folding beneath me as I stared out at the expanse of water. The cool breeze tugged at my hair, but it did little to soothe the storm inside me.
Tom's words replayed in my mind, that smug, insufferable tone that dripped with condescension. "There are battles you simply can't win." His voice was a taunt, a challenge, and the worst part was that he was right. Today, he had won—he had bested me with a casual ease that made my blood boil. But it wasn't just the loss that stung; it was the fact that he seemed to understand something about me that I couldn't even admit to myself.
I closed my eyes, willing the memories away, but they persisted. The duel, the way he had looked at me—like I was an open book he could read at will, a puzzle he had already solved. It wasn't just that I had lost the duel; it was that Tom had seen something in me, some weakness, and he had exploited it without hesitation.
"you can't escape me. Not here,Not anywhere." His voice echoed in my mind, a dark promise that sent a chill down my spine. He had always been a shadow in my life, lurking just out of reach, always watching, always waiting. Even before Hogwarts, back in the orphanage, Tom had been a constant presence—distant, cold, but always there, always affecting me in ways I couldn't explain.
A part of me hated him for it, hated the way he seemed to take pleasure in tormenting me, in reminding me of my own inadequacies. But another part of me—one I didn't want to acknowledge—was drawn to him. There was something about Tom, something magnetic and dangerous, that made it impossible to ignore him. Even now, after everything, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was right—that I couldn't escape him, no matter how hard I tried.
The thought terrified me. I had always prided myself on my independence, my ability to stand on my own two feet, even in the face of adversity. But Tom had a way of making me doubt myself, of making me question everything I thought I knew. He was a force of nature, a storm that couldn't be contained, and I was caught in his path.
But I couldn't let him win. Not again. Not ever.
I opened my eyes, staring out at the still water, my reflection a pale, ghostly figure in the darkness. I had lost the duel, but I hadn't lost the war. If Tom Riddle thought he could break me, he was sorely mistaken. I would find a way to beat him, to show him that I wasn't someone to be toyed with. The next time we faced each other, I would be ready. I would make sure of it.
The resolve settled in my chest, a cold, hard knot of determination. Tom might have won today, but he wouldn't win forever. I wouldn't let him. I would fight, and I would keep fighting until I finally turned the tables. Until I finally made him feel the sting of defeat.
I pushed myself to my feet, brushing the dirt from my robes. The sun had set completely now, the sky a deep, inky black dotted with stars. The castle loomed behind me, a silent sentinel, but it didn't feel like home right now. It felt like a battlefield, and I was just one soldier in a war that had only just begun.
As I walked back toward the castle, my mind was already turning over possibilities, strategies, anything that could give me the edge I needed. Tom was cunning, powerful, and disturbingly intelligent, but he wasn't invincible. There had to be a way to outmaneuver him, to beat him at his own game.
And I would find it.
The shadows lengthened as I entered the castle, the familiar corridors now empty and silent. But I didn't feel the same sense of despair as before. Instead, I felt a quiet, burning determination. Tom Riddle had humiliated me today, but it wouldn't happen again.
I wouldn't let it.