Author: whorecruxriddles
tw: death/a dead body

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It was a body. Black pig tails covered the face but a pale hand lay limp at your feet, red flowing out from under her.

You hadn’t realized you were screaming until your feet were carrying you out. As you fled out of the bathroom, you bumped straight into something solid, sending you to the ground. Oh Merlin, it was the killer, you were about to die-

“(y/n)?”

Tom. It was Tom, god awful, pompous, pretentious, arrogant Tom Riddle. You’d never been so happy to see him. With a cry of relief, you stood back up and flung your arms around him, burying your face in his chest. He wrapped his own arms around you a little stiffly, and you let your legs rely on him to hold you up, certain they couldn’t keep you standing on their own.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

You shook your head, refusing to look up at him. He pried you off of him and placed two large hands on either side of your face, forcing you to make eye contact with him.

“What’s happened?”

Shakily, you pointed towards the bathroom, “T-There’s a b-body in there.”

“What?” He breathed, his eyes widening, “Who?”

“I don’t know,” You sobbed, shaking your head again. Tom shushed you, drawing a thumb along your cheek to wipe away your tears. Then he let go of your face and started into the bathroom, much to your panic.

“Tom!” You cried, grasping onto his arm. He turned back to you with a raised eyebrow and you couldn’t help but falter slightly, “Please don’t leave me out here.”

“It’s alright, (y/n). I’m going to take care of everything.” He promised, sliding his hand into your’s with a reassuring smile. That iconic, charming smile, that normally made your blood boil, gave you no choice but to believe every word that spilled from his mouth. You nodded and let him pull you behind him, back into the horror filled, moon lit bathroom. “Can you show me where she is?”

Your knees threatening to give out from under you, you led him to the stall where the girl lay dead. Tom used to a spell to turn her over, rather unceremoniously.

“It’s Myrtle Warren.” You murmured, a fresh way of tears submerging your eyes as you turned to your fellow prefect, “Tom, she was just a fourth year. Who could do something like this?”

He let you curl into his chest, resting your head on his shoulder so that you couldn’t see him smirk.

“Let’s go tell the Headmaster.” He prompted, placing a hand to the small of your back and leading you out of the bathroom. Instinctively, you pressed yourself close to him, your body telling you that he was safe.

Most the walk to the Headmaster’s office was spent in silence, with Tom asking if you were alright every so often. It was exceptionally out of character for the Slytherin and for you. Normally, the two of you were at each other’s throats, constantly competing and disagreeing over everything. You weren’t sure how the rivalry had started but it’d been going on for the past six years. Hell, if you and Tom hadn’t been the ones to find her, you probably would’ve started a rumor that he was the one to kill her. But this was a whole new side of Tom that was beginning to make you think that you had had the wrong opinion about him all this time.

When you finally reached Dippet’s office, Tom did most of the talking. You were still in shock over the sight of poor Myrtle, laying facedown and lifeless on the floor. Once he’d gotten the full story, Dippet excused you both from finishing your prefect rounds and to go back to your rooms. You were rather surprised that he didn’t insist on having someone escort you - considering that there was clearly some kind of killer loose in the castle and all - but as you left the office, Tom gave you a reassuring smile.

“I know that I’m probably not who you wanted to run into tonight, but can I walk you back to your common room?”

You swallowed back the sudden guilt that welled up in you, turning to him, “Tom, I’m actually really glad that I had you to help me through...all that.”

“Oh?” He said, continuing to walk forward, “And here I thought that we hated each other.”

“I don’t hate you. Not all the time. At least not right now.” You argued, nudging him playfully. He hummed thoughtfully,

“I suppose I don’t completely despise you either. Actually, if it wasn’t for the circumstances, I think I would’ve enjoyed your company tonight.”

You shivered, thinking back to the lifeless gaze of the poor Ravenclaw, then cringed thinking about how Tom had managed to remain calm and put together while you had dissolved into a blubbering mess.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t much help, I just...seeing her body. There was a moment when I ran into you where I thought I’d just ran straight into the killer and I was going to next.” You told him, your voice shaking and steadily shrinking. There was a cool feeling in the pit of your stomach and you crossed your arms over your chest. Tom stopped, gently grabbing your elbow.

“Tell me honestly, are you feeling alright?”

His sincerity took you by surprise, as did the unusual emotion in his eyes as they met your’s. His gaze made you feel transparent. Knowing better than to try and lie to him, you shook your head with a sigh.

Tom’s hand lingered on your arm, then dipped down to your waist. Then he pulled you into a hug. It wasn’t as awkward as when you first ran into him. This one was a little more calculated, it hadn’t taken him by surprise.

It was funny. If Tom had tried to pull this any other time, you would’ve been repulsed and probably tried to beat him black and blue. But you were exhausted and upset and Tom was a lot warmer than you thought he’d be so you let yourself relax against his chest. You looked up at him. And then something happened that you never thought could ever happen.

Maybe it was the moonlight, shining through the stain-glassed window. Maybe it was what little adrenaline you had left. Maybe it was years worth of hidden feelings you didn’t know you had. But somehow, you ended up lip locked with the very boy you couldn’t stand.

And it just felt right.