His ( A Tom Riddle Love Story)

CHAPTER THREE

Chapter 3

Cindria's POV

"Hello, Tom," I said nervously.

God, I didn't know he would become this handsome in 4 years. He still had his silky dark hair that fell next to his eyes and reached the back of his neck. Those dark beautiful eyes that I trusted so much, his pink lips kissable as ever, he grew so tall in 4 years and much more muscular than he was back then.

"Is that really you, Cindria?" he asked, his deep voice sending me in a turmoil of emotions.

I could only nod my head, yes, and in a flash, I was in his arms. He was hugging me so tightly, with my face pressed deeply into his strong chest. His familiar scent was a bit masculine but still brought back so many nostalgic feelings that I felt tears cloud up my eyes.

"I thought I lost you," he whispered and I could only hug him back and hope that this hug would tell him how much I missed him.

How much I needed him.

He let go of me and grabbed my face with his sturdy hands, his eyes scanning me for every detail, memorizing every little change that happened to me.

Tom was still the same as ever and I was glad.

So glad that I began crying.

How embarrassing.

"What's wrong?" he whispered softly wiping away a tear.

"I'm just so happy to see you again."

"You don't know how happy I am right now."

"I know the feeling," I said wrapping my arms around his muscular torso. He squeezed me back tightly and I let out a gasp in pain.

Those darn bruises were just dying for attention.

Tom immediately let me go when he heard my sharp intake of breath, his eyes trailing over my pained face.

"What's wrong?" he asked immediately. I could only try to smile and hope that he'd think it was just a gasp of surprise.

"Nothing nothing, I-I-I w-was just surprised is all," I said hastily.

"Oh that makes sense," he said thoughtfully and I sighed in relief.

"If I were a fool that is," Tom said irritably before lifting up my shirt.

My breath stopped and for a minute I was hit with dizziness before I snapped out of it and looked at Tom in shock. At least he didn't lift up my shirt all the way up, that's where all the real damage is. Or my back...that gives me shivers just remembering that day.

I watched in anticipation and fear when I saw his eyes grow furious and cold.

"I knew you were with him, but I never expected him to do this much. Does he have no dignity or pride to lift his hand and hit such a person like you? I'm going to kill him; I swear I'll make him pay! I'll torture him until he can't even speak, then I'll heal him and then torture him again until he's on the brink of death. But I won't stop there, no I'll torture him until he begs for death!" Tom whispered furiously while looking at my bruised stomach.

Where there was supposed to be white pale skin, were blue and purple bruises that marred and tormented my stomach.

Somehow I wished he had yelled it out because if he had then all that pent up anger would have gone out as well.

Tom whispering it made it painfully obvious that he would do it.

And nothing would stop him.

That's how he was when he was younger, and it looks like he hadn't changed in that department.

"Tom, it's over. I don't have to go back there anymore! Let's just forget that such a person like him exists!" I tried while pulling down my shirt.

But Tom wouldn't budge, instead of telling me that he wouldn't do anything, he trailed his long fingers over an ugly bruise that I had gotten just a week ago.

When he made contact with it, I flinched and hissed in pain. This seemed to anger him even more and he continued to look at the other bruises.

But when he began to lift my shirt higher, I knew I had to stop him before Tom became a murderer in less than a day.

"Stop. Please," I said while gripping my shirt from letting it get any higher. Tom looked at me with his dark eyes and just for a second, he looked like he was going to refuse before he let go of my shirt.

He wrapped his arms around me and let his forehead fall onto my shoulder.

"I promise, no one will ever hurt you ever again."

"I know."

"I mean it, I won't even let you out of my sight!"

"If that's what you want."

"I won't let you go again."

"Ok."

"I mean it."

"I believe you, don't worry."

Tom removed his head from my shoulder but kept his arms around my waist.

"I'll take you to the infirmary tomorrow. You look tired, I'll take you to the... What house are you in?" he asked immediately.

"Slytherin."

"Wait, what? How're you in Slytherin? Not that I'm mad or anything, if anything this is probably the best thing that could happen, but how?" Tom asked while taking my hand and walked me down the corridors.

"The sorting hat told me that I'd belong in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw. He said that I don't have Slytherin material at all but that he had a gut that I belonged there, so he put me in Slytherin." I answered.

Do hats even have genders?

Tom looked deep in thought so I took the time to examine the castle. Everything was simply beautiful and I couldn't tear my eyes away from anything.

We finally reached a long dark stairway and everything was getting cold. Tom finally stopped in front of a stone wall, and when I was just about to comment about what a nice wall it was, Tom spoke.

"Pura Genus," Tom said aloud and I was just about to question whether he was talking to me or himself before the wall moved and a passage revealed leading to the common room.

Oh yes, how could I forget that walls moved around here?

Silly me.

Tom pulled me deeper in and the wall closed behind us, everything was dark except for the green light torches that shone in the room.

The common room was a dungeon-like room with greenish lamps and chairs. It extended partway under the lake, giving the light in the room a green tinge. The common room had lots of low backed black and dark green button-tufted, leather sofas; skulls and dark wood cupboards. It had quite a grand atmosphere, but also quite a cold one.

"Wow, I imagined it much scarier when you told me about it," I said while looking at the room in awe. There were green fire torches on the side and the crest of Slytherin.

Gah, it's a snake. I've always feared snakes but I never told Tom since he seems to like them.

Though he never mentioned them after that incident that happened a long time ago.

I could see Tom smirk from the corner of my eyes and drag me to one of the leather couches.

He sat me down and sat beside me and pressed himself close to me. I could feel myself become redder and redder and I prayed that Tom wouldn't notice but knowing Tom, I bet he would.

He brushed his hand over my cheeks and I felt like I was about to explode with all the emotions rushing throughout my body and going towards my head.

"I want you to tell me everything that happened to you for the last 4 years. I know you won't give me anything in detail, but I'll figure that in my own time. I'd rather have you sleep now but I can't believe that you're in front of me right now. I'm scared if I climb those stairs and leave you then I won't see you the next morning," Tom said looking me straight in the eye.

Does he not feel flustered at all saying this straight to my face?

Of course, he doesn't, this is Tom after all.

"Tom, I'm not going anywhere. We can go to sleep and you'll see me in the morning," I said quietly while looking at the snake crest that was atop the fireplace.

Tom sighed in frustration but nodded his head and stood up. He pulled me up and walked me towards a staircase.

"This leads to the girl's dormitory, your name will be on the bed along with your belongings. If you need anything, anything at all then you'll find me over there," he said while pointing at another staircase across the room.

I nodded my head and wished him goodnight; he hugged me and squeezed my hand in his before letting me go.

Maybe he actually did miss me?

I walked up the stairs and made sure not to make a sound when I heard the snoring of other girls. The dorm room was equipped with a centrally located stove, and a four-poster bed, flanked by a set of windows and space for storing personal belongings. On the windowsill was a jug of water and cup.

I located my bed all the way at the end and all the belongings that I had bought today. I tore off my ratty jacket and grabbed a sweatshirt and wool pants to change into.

After changing, I climbed onto the bed and for a minute there I thought I had died and went to heaven.

This bed was heavenly and I couldn't believe how soft and comfortable it was.

I knew I was going to have trouble leaving it in the morning.

The beds at the orphanage were stiff and uncomfortable, and when Mr. Henderson took me, he said I wasn't qualified for a bed.

Let's just say sleeping on the cold hard ground was something I would never forget.

But hey, it fixed my posture.

I closed my eyes and for the first time ever, I slept soundly and with a smile on my lips.

Thank you for reading!