The soft, diffused light from the enchanted windows of the Slytherin dormitory gently coaxed me awake. I blinked slowly, savoring the quiet before the day began. Slipping out of bed, I moved with purpose. Today would be one to remember.
After donning my neatly pressed uniform and robes, I sat at my vanity, brushing my long, wavy hair. I debated briefly, tying it back or leaving it down, before deciding to let it flow freely over my shoulders. It framed my face perfectly—effortlessly elegant yet unbothered.
Walburga stirred, her movements sharp and irritable. She barely acknowledged me, and I offered the same courtesy. Let her sulk. My focus was elsewhere.
"Good morning, Alexie," I greeted brightly as my dormmate stretched and yawned.
"Morning, Carina," she replied with a sleepy smile.
Once Alexie was ready, we left the dormitory and made our way to the Potions classroom. The air was cool, the faint hum of anticipation among students making the journey feel more lively.
Professor Slughorn stood at the front of the room, his round face glowing with his usual joviality. The moment he spotted me, his expression brightened further.
"Miss Carina Malfoy!" he exclaimed warmly. "Welcome to Hogwarts. I trust you're finding everything to your liking?"
"Absolutely, Professor," I replied with a charming smile. "It's been wonderful so far."
"Excellent, excellent!" he said, He chuckled, clearly pleased, and gestured toward the seats. Alexie and I were about to sit together when he stopped me.
"Ah, Miss Malfoy, I'd like you to sit up front today," he said. "You'll be next to Mr. Riddle. He's one of our finest students and can help you with any questions regarding the material."
I felt several pairs of eyes on me as I walked to the front. Passing Abraxas and his friends, I gave them a fleeting smile before sitting beside Tom.
Alexie and I exchanged glances before I shrugged and made my way to the front of the room. Passing Abraxas and his little entourage, I offered them a fleeting smile.
Tom was already seated, his posture straight and his expression composed as usual. As I approached, his eyes flicked toward me briefly before returning to his open book.
"Good morning, Tom," I said softly as I took my place, offering him a polite smile. "I trust you're well-rested?"
He turned toward me, his dark eyes glinting with a flicker of curiosity. "Good morning, Carina," he replied smoothly. "Indeed, I am. And you?"
"Perfectly, thank you," I replied, shifting my gaze toward the front as the lesson began.
Midway through the lecture, Professor Slughorn unveiled a small, glimmering vial of golden liquid.
"Ah, Felix Felicis," he announced, holding it up for everyone to see. "Liquid luck. One dose, and the user will find everything going their way for several hours. Today's prize for exceptional brewing!"
The room buzzed with excitement. Even the Gryffindors, who shared the class with us, seemed intrigued.
Slughorn's voice broke through the chatter. "Before we begin, who can tell me what the Draught of Living Death is?"
Silence. I glanced around the room, noting that even Tom hadn't raised his hand.
Professor Slughorn's gaze landed on me, and I could see his curiosity piqued. "Miss Malfoy, perhaps you know?"
I smiled lazily, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "The Draught of Living Death is a powerful sleeping potion that induces a deathlike slumber. It's brewed using ingredients like valerian root and asphodel."
"Excellent!" Slughorn beamed. "Five points to Slytherin."
The Slytherins cheered softly, while the Gryffindors grumbled.
"And now," Slughorn continued, "I'd like you all to brew it. The first student to produce a flawless potion will win this vial of Felix Felicis!"
As I gathered my ingredients, I felt Tom's gaze on me.
"Not using a textbook?" he asked, his voice laced with intrigue.
I glanced at him, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Why would I? It's all up here," I said, tapping my temple lightly.
He arched a brow. "Confident, are we?"
"Care for a little wager?" I suggested, turning toward him fully.
He seemed intrigued, his lips curving into a faint smile. "What stakes do you propose?"
"The loser owes the winner… a favor," I said, holding his gaze.
"Agreed," he said, his tone as smooth as ever.
With that, we began. I crushed the sopophorous bean with the flat of my silver knife, extracting the maximum amount of juice. My photographic memory served me well—I recalled every detail of an alternative brewing method I'd read about, one that ensured precision and perfection.
Stirring counterclockwise seven times, I kept the heat low, watching as the potion transitioned from murky to the desired shade of pale lilac. A quick glance at Tom's cauldron showed he wasn't far behind.
"Impressive," he murmured, his eyes flicking toward my potion.
I smirked, raising my hand. "Professor, I'm finished."
Slughorn hurried over, his eyes widening as he inspected my work. "Remarkable, Miss Malfoy! Perfect in every way. Another five points to Slytherin!"
Applause erupted from the Slytherin side of the room as Slughorn handed me the vial of Felix Felicis. I turned toward Walburga, who was fuming, and gave her a pointed smirk.
"Looks like I win," I said quietly, glancing at Tom.
He chuckled softly, his dark eyes locking onto mine. "So it seems," he replied. "I'll be waiting for you to claim your favor."
Victory, I thought, clutching the golden vial. Always sweet, especially when earned.
After class, I returned to my dormitory while Alexia headed to the Great Hall for dinner. I didn't have much of an appetite and felt too drained to socialize, so I decided to skip dinner. Instead, I settled onto my bed, completing some of my assignments before eventually giving in to sleep.
Later, as I made my way to the common room, I noticed Tom standing by the entrance, preparing for his prefect patrol. His tall frame and composed demeanor made him stand out even more in the dim light. He caught sight of me and smiled faintly, a gesture that seemed almost rare for him.
"Good evening," he said smoothly, his voice tinged with curiosity. " did you think of your favor already?"
I smirked at his question, stepping closer with deliberate boldness. His gray eyes narrowed slightly, watching my every move as I closed the distance between us. With a mischievous smile, I draped my arms around his neck.
Tom stiffened slightly, clearly caught off guard by my forwardness, but his composure returned quickly. A low chuckle escaped his lips as he rested his hands lightly on my waist.
"We're alone, you know," I said softly, glancing around the empty common room. Most of the students were either in their dorms, the Great Hall, or the library by now.
"And?" he asked, his lips curving into a faint smirk.
I tilted my head playfully. "How about a proper tour of Hogwarts? It's only my second day here, and I've barely seen anything."
Tom raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "When would you like this... tour?"
I looked up at him through my lashes, my voice low and teasing. "Whenever you're free."
Before he could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps caught my attention. I turned my head slightly and spotted Walburga entering the common room, her sharp features softening with surprise at the sight of us.
An idea sparked in my mind, one too tempting to resist. I smirked, leaning in closer to Tom, whose expression shifted to one of wide-eyed confusion as our proximity narrowed. Without giving him time to react, I pressed my lips against his.
His body stiffened in shock for a brief moment before he recovered, his hands tightening on my waist as he kissed me back. His lips were surprisingly warm and firm, moving against mine with growing confidence.
I glanced out of the corner of my eye at Walburga, whose face twisted in a mixture of shock and devastation. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but instead, she turned and fled the room, her hurried footsteps echoing down the corridor leaving the common room. Tom seems not to notice because he was focusing on me .
Tom pulled away slightly, his breathing shallow, but instead of speaking, he tilted his head and began trailing kisses down my neck. A shiver ran down my spine as his lips found a sensitive spot, and before I could stop myself, a soft moan escaped my lips.
That seemed to spur him on. His grip on me tightened as he deepened his exploration, one hand sliding up to my waist while the other grope my breast.
"Tom," I murmured breathlessly, trying to regain some control of the situation. I placed my hands on his chest, pushing gently. "That's enough for today."
He paused, his lips still lingering against my skin for a moment before he finally pulled back. His gray eyes were darker now, filled with a mix of frustration and longing.
I reached up, smoothing his hair, which had become slightly tousled during our impromptu encounter. His prefect badge glinted faintly in the firelight, and I smirked as I straightened his robes.
"You should attend to your prefect duty " I teased lightly.
He exhaled slowly, his lips curling into a small, lopsided grin. "Tomorrow," he said firmly, his voice lower than usual. "I'll show you around tomorrow."
"Looking forward to it," I replied, pressing a soft kiss to his lips as a final gesture.
Tom watched me for a moment longer, his gaze lingering as if he wanted to say something else, but then he straightened his posture and nodded. Without another word, he turned and left the common room, his usual composed demeanor slowly returning as he disappeared into the corridor.
I stood there for a moment, letting the heat of the moment subside before heading to my dormitory, a satisfied smile playing on my lips. Tomorrow was going to be interesting.