· 6 min read
Tempted by Time - part 1
“Here goes nothing.” You turn the Time-Turner and suddenly you’re in Tom Riddle’s era at Hogwarts.
The air around you crackles as you step out of the whirlwind of time, your heart pounding with excitement and apprehension.
It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust to the soft golden light that floods the grand hallways of this long-ago Hogwarts.
The first thing that strikes you is how different everything looks – it’s as if you’ve stepped into an old painting come to life.
The uniforms are more modest, the furnishings simpler and more elegant.
Portraits adorn the walls in ornate frames, their subjects seeming to watch your every move with a keen eye.
As you wander through the halls, trying to appear as if you belong there, you can’t help but notice the buzz of excitement among students.
They bustle about, chatting animatedly and hurrying off to their respective classes.
A few give you curious glances, no doubt wondering who this new student is.
You enrol under an alias easily enough, blending in with the rest of the students as much as possible.
The teachers, though initially cautious, quickly accept your presence and welcome you into the fold.
Your classes are fascinating – filled with spells both familiar and new, potions that bubble and hiss, and ancient knowledge passed down through generations.
Despite your best efforts to fit in, there is an underlying sense of alienation as you struggle to navigate this unfamiliar time.
Your fellow students seem friendly enough, but it’s difficult to form genuine connections when you know that everything can change in the blink of an eye – and that your entire purpose here is a secret.
As you sit in one of your classes, trying to focus on the lesson at hand, you feel a pair of eyes on you.
Glancing up from your notes, you lock gazes with Tom Riddle.
His intense green eyes are filled with curiosity and something else that you can’t quite place – perhaps a hint of danger lurking just beneath the surface.
Your first interaction with him is brief but unforgettable.
He approaches you after class, introducing himself with an easy charm that seems almost too perfect.
The conversation is casual, revolving around class subjects and shared interests, but there’s a palpable tension underlying every word – as if both of you are silently assessing the other, trying to read between the lines.
As the day comes to an end, you retreat to your room, unable to shake the image of Tom Riddle from your mind.
There is something about him that draws you in, and though a part of you knows better than to get too close, it’s impossible to deny the intrigue he arouses within you.
You can’t help but wonder what lies beneath his charming façade – what secrets he hides behind those piercing green eyes?
As night falls and sleep claims you, your last thoughts are of Tom Riddle, and a whispered promise to yourself: “Tomorrow will be a new day.”
You wake up with a mission - to understand Tom Riddle.
You start your day by dressing modestly in your Hogwarts uniform, knowing that blending into the background will help you observe more closely without drawing attention to yourself.
As you go through your morning routine - brushing your teeth, washing your face, and braiding your hair - your mind races with thoughts of Tom Riddle.
Determination settles in your chest like a warm fire as you recall the events of yesterday.
His intense green eyes, that charming smile, and his unnerving presence - there’s something about him that draws you in, making it hard to look away.
You wonder what secrets he hides behind those piercing gazes.
Your plan for the day is simple: engage Tom Riddle in conversation and gather as much information as possible while trying not to reveal your true intentions.
With a deep breath, you leave your room, ready to confront the enigma that is Tom Riddle.
As you approach him during lunch, he looks up from his meal with a hint of surprise.
“You again,” he says, gesturing for you to join him at the table.
You hesitate briefly before taking a seat across from him.
The conversation starts light and casual - discussing classes, professors, and shared interests.
Tom’s voice is smooth like silk as he talks, his eyes never leaving your face.
Despite the seemingly innocent nature of the conversation, you can sense an undercurrent of tension.
You wonder if he, too, feels it - if he knows that there’s something more going on beneath the surface.
As the meal comes to an end and students begin clearing their plates, Tom leans forward, his voice dropping to a low whisper.
“There’s more to you than meets the eye, isn’t there?” His words send a shiver down your spine.
You try not to show any emotion on your face as you reply, “What makes you say that?”
Tom smiles enigmatically and leans back in his chair, saying nothing further.
You feel your heartbeat quicken as you realize he might be onto something.
It’s a chilling thought - the very person you’re here to understand may already have you figured out.
As the day goes on, you begin to notice Tom Riddle’s growing influence and power within the magical community.
Students whisper his name in hushed tones, professors seemingly hold him in high regard, and it becomes increasingly clear that he is a force to be reckoned with.
The more you see of this side of him, the more unsettled you become.
The thought of Tom Riddle as a powerful dark wizard weighs heavily on your mind, but your resolve remains firm: you must uncover the truth about the man who would one day become Voldemort.
With every conversation you have with him and every interaction you witness, you’re determined to piece together the puzzle that is Tom Riddle.
As night falls and you retire for the evening, Tom’s words echo in your mind: “There’s more to you than meets the eye, isn’t there?” Doubts begin to creep in - what if he truly knows your intentions?
What if he knows who you are and why you’re here?
But you quickly shake off those thoughts, reminding yourself of your mission.
As you close your eyes, you murmur, “I’ll get to the bottom of this.” Determined to stay one step ahead, you know that there are still many layers to Tom Riddle waiting to be uncovered - and it will take all your courage and intelligence to unravel them.