Admiring (Tom)

[Alexandra Casey]

I walked into the Trophy Room having not been down here before. I walked by, almost choking on the dust. What? No one has had detention cleaing the Trophies in a while? I walked past one, rubbing the dust off with my finger so I could read the inscription. "House Cup '69-'70 Gryffindor" I read outloud with a smile. It seems to me our house has always been successful I thought reading the rest of the trophies to Gryffindor.

Going to the Quidditch section, I saw Harry Potter's and his fathers. I also noticed Ginny Weasley's and Oliver Wood's. I fingered the handle of Harry Potter's, wishing I could have been there when he was there. I would have enjoyed watching him play, or to be on the team with him. Although, I'd have to be a different position, seeing as I was a seeker. He was my role model in that area, and others.

I wondered what Ren was doing, and how Cali was after leaving the Common Room. I didn't want to stay cooped up in the dormitory, knowing I wouldn't be able to sleep anyways. I felt slightly bad for what I had done to Tom. Not the tongue thing, but cutting his arm. I had gone too far, and it had scared me that I had even thought about doing that. My father's hatred and anger was getting to me, and I couldn't stand getting anymore letters from my mother telling me about him. I loved her with my whole heart, but she didn't get that it was hurting me deeply. So when Tom said those insults to me, it just hit below the belt.

It was as if my father was standing in the same room, with his strong stature and big build. His face looking like he hadn't shaved for days. Clenching his fists and gritting his teeth, while silently swearing to himself. I just pictured him too well when Tom had opened his mouth. What scared me more, was if that happened when I got home, and my dad pulled anything else on me. I could lose it again, and not be able to control it, and get expelled from Hogwarts. If that happened...it'd be the end of it for me.

[reese]

Intelligence ran through Eastbrooke blood, the whole lot of them were as keen as they were pure. Both his parents had excelled as student's at Hogwarts, if only than someone had noticed what they were capable of Tom could have been spared the frustrating circumstance he was facing. Hey, if they had been locked away in Azkaban soon enough he wouldn't have even have had to be born, which seemed like a favorable option to the misery he was feeling at the moment.

The letters he was receiving from his folks weren't enough to keep their influence over him strong, and the messages were often coded so much that Tom had to make guess work of what they actually intended to say. I he was willing to expose himself to the good way to go through life by hanging around Cali he only thought it fair to mull over his parent's way of doing things. He needed to see them to fully visualize their words to him, granted if they were to find out what he had been doing the past few days (associating with lesser company and failing to kill a first year that was way out of line) their features would be distorted by rage and not trapped in a constant smile like they were in the trophy room.

Having been the Heads of their house during their day Tom was able to see his parents by way of a plaque in the the trophy room. Sure he didn't get the full effect, they looked much too nice int he moving photograph, but if would help the decision process. Much to his annoyance the trophy room was not empty, that had to be a first in the history of it's existence.

"So many useless things in one room and you manage to fit right in."

[Alexandra Casey]

I thought about the times I had made excuses to stay at friends houses, just trying to escape the reality which was my house. Even if it was far from reality, with its moving photographs, the Phoenix who occasionally burst into flames, and the dishes doing themselves. The thought of myself climbing out my window and down the side of the house to my best friend Molly's house was the only thing that kept me from breaking or going off the edge. She was the only one outside my family who knew about me. I thought about these things with tears starting to swell in my eyes. A few trickled down my rosy cheeks.

Before I had made friends here, I was always too shy and ashamed by my father, I had no one here. It was amazing what friends could do. I heard footsteps down the steps and turned around, seeing someone that I would rather not have at the moment.
"So many useless things in one room and you manage to fit right in." Tom said.

I turned around wiping the tears away from my red, swollen eyes. "Honestly Tom, don't even f**king start." I said angrily. I never cussed, but I was getting pushed off the edge, and I couldn't take it anymore. "Does that make you feel all high and mighty? Does that make you feel better to insult people?" I said walking towards a trophy towards the back. It was her mother's. Tears poured out again. "The only useless thing I see in this room is you. The one that finds joy in others pain, and the one that doesn't have an ounce of remorse for the words they say, no matter if they hurt someone or not." I said darkly.

[reese]

How was it that so many kids at Hogwarts came from damaged homes? Perhaps that was the key to magic, trauma worked as a catalyst in developing good wizards and witches. Tom was a talented wizard and a lot of that was to be accredited to his parents, despite how much he was starting to disagree with them they were still the reason behind his abilities.

As soon as Alex whipped around, Tom knew that perhaps he had said the wrong thing at the wrong time. Okay, so there was never a right time to throw epithets at a person, but this may have topped the list. He her tear swollen eyes and cringed on the inside, he hadn't known she was having an emotional moment and if he had maybe he would have rethought his greeting. All he could do was shake his head as Alex verbally assaulted him, stunned by her words and how powerful they were.

"Damnit." He said under his breath, before rolling his eyes and stepping towards her, his hand reaching into the inside of his blazer for something. Tom stopped in front of her and pulled out a white silk handkerchief, holding it out for her to take it. "Despite how much you think i'm enjoying this we can't have you looking a wreck while you put me in my place." He wasn't exactly looking to prove her wrong, but he had something of a soul and it couldn't stand to see a girl hysterically cry.

[Alexandra Casey]

He always picked the perfect times to throw insults at me. Always the perfect time. I thought after I was done yelling at him. I never wanted to hurt or insult people, it just wasn't in my nature, but this was different. He was different; walking around like he didn't give a sh*t about anyone.

I could tell that I had said something that hit him, and I'm glad. Maybe he wasn't used to people, especially girls going at him like that. He shook his head and stepped forward, getting a handkerchief out of his pocket. "Despite how much you think i'm enjoying this we can't have you looking a wreck while you put me in my place." he said, handing it to me. I looked at him in disbelief. Seriously? I took the handkerchief and blotted my eyes. "Thanks..." I said, not trying to be mean, but certainly not trying to be nice. I pulled out my wand and made a chair appear. I took a seat.

[reese]

Out of courtesy, Tom looked away as she dabbed at her eyes. Once she was finished and seated he returned his gaze to her, this time having to look down, not because of his vanity, but because she was sitting down. Not feeling like sitting down Tom made way for the closest wall and took a lean, only looking back at Alex when he was settled in. "Right, where were we?"

Tom rubbed his chin in deep contemplation. "Oh right you were on that whole no remorse thing." He narrowed his eyes at her, wanting to see if she had more to say in regards to his "bad attitude". "So, I really get to you don't I. What's with that?"

[Alexandra Casey]

Tom leaned up against the wall, waiting until I was done wiping my eyes. "Right, where were we?" he said. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. He rubbed his chin, as if wondering what to say and how to put it.
"Oh right you were on that whole no remorse thing. So, I really get to you don't I. What's with that?" he said narrowing his eyes, probably waiting for a smart remark on my end.

"Honestly, because you remind me of my abusive father." I said blatantly. "Your insults are similar to his. Similar to the ones he says before he throws something at me or throws myself down. Example, maybe a chair at my head perhaps." I lifted up my bangs showing my scar. I thrusted my hand back down angrily. "That's why," I said, my last two words practically coming out as a hiss.

[reese]

Tom knew he could be a bit of a bully, but to be compared to an abusive parent? Ouch, now that was what he would call an insult. He nodded slowly as she spoke but was finding it difficult not to look away while she was being so candid with him. But he owed her as much as to look her in the eye, this was not the time to show her any amount of disrespect.

Having had some experience with abusive fathers Tom was able to empathize with her far more than he ever imagined considering just hours ago she was casting vicious spells at him. But he held no grudge with her for that, really, he deserved it and as far as he was concerned they were about square, revenge was needed on neither side. Tom laughed, not out of callous toward her situation, but at the parallels in their family lives. "You got the chair and I got the Cruciatus Curse." He smirked, unable to stop himself, "But I do hope that i'm at least marginally more charming that your chair-throwing father."

[Alexandra Casey]

"You got the chair and I got the Cruciatus Curse, but I do hope that i'm at least marginally more charming that your chair-throwing father." he said smirking.

"Yeah, well, if my father wasn't a muggle, I'm sure I would have gotten the same." I said. I was surprised that we had something in common. "Yeah, you do I guess. I wouldn't call it charming Tom, just annoying." I said running my fingers through my hair. At least he was listening and keeping his smart*ss comments to a minimum.

[reese]

"Don't tempt me, you know I have no problems unleashing a spew of muggle hate." He smirked as she mentioned her that her father was one of the non magically inclined folk. Annoying? Well, he had been called worse things and could hardly take offense to something that was intentional. He would have loved to provoke such a watery reaction out of her a few days ago. But there was something changing beneath the surface. "Your friend doesn't seem to mind my annoying tendencies so much." He said casually, clearly referring to Cali.

[Alexandra Casey]

"Don't tempt me, you know I have no problems unleashing a spew of muggle hate" he said with a smirk.
"Yeah yeah, I know. But he hates me because of what I am. My mother told him she was a witch after they got married, and he was okay with it, but I think it just hit him a little hard. I don't think he wanted another one, since dealing with one was hard enough for him I guess. So if you came along and did something...well that would make it worse on me and my mother." I thought of all the times he lashed out.

"Your friend doesn't seem to mind my annoying tendencies so much." he said.
"Yeah, well she likes bad boys. Besides, I didn't either until you made the comment about low standards in the Hospital Wing." I thought. I probably shouldn't have blamed him for me seeing my father there. That wasn't his fault.
"Look, I'm sorry about what I did. I shouldn't have done it. It's just I pictured my father saying that to me, and it struck a nerve. I apologize." I said meaning every word. I really was sorry.

[reese]

"Sorry to hear that. He clearly doesn't know his place in this world." Tom spat after she told him the details of her abusive father. "Really though, the idiot muggle should be thankful someone like your mother gives him the time of day. If you want I can make him disappear, I come from a family who wants to take over the world and annihilate all muggles. It would be a pleasure to off him." He said with a disturbing smile, even if he didn't harbor the same hate towards them that he once did, the fact that this particular muggle was so bold annoyed him. Tom wouldn't mind passing on the man's information to someone outside of the castle. He briefly wondered if he would gain any bonus points with Cali for getting rid of her friends abusive parent.

Tom smiled, amused, "I'm a bad boy?" He didn't know that he belonged in a certain category that helped girls determine whether they were attracted to him or not. In fact he was more than amused, he was tickled to death. So that was what she saw in him? A bit of edge, a touch of danger? Good to know, he'd try not to get too soft on her.

Ah, so that was what she was still seething about. "Look, I'm sure you're a lovely girl. I however, am not so lovely. Sometimes I say things that hurt people, but never before have I had to apologize. Never before has it mattered. Now it does, so.... I'm sorry for what I said. That won't make the pain go away, but hopefully it'll help." Tom nodded, trying to be satisfied with what he just said to her. But he didn't know if it was the right thing to say or not, it was all too new.

"You owe me no such thing." He said interrupting her apology, he couldn't stand to hear her say sory when he was the one at fault.

[Alexandra Casey]

"If you want I can make him disappear, I come from a family who wants to take over the world and annihilate all muggles. It would be a pleasure to off him." he said with a devious smile. "No no Tom, I still love him, he's my dad. I don't know...maybe things will change?" I said in a wishful voice. "And yes, I consider you a bad boy." I said with a smile. The first one of the night. "Your attitude, the way you walk around like you don't give a sh.it. It's just you're whole demenour(sp?) I guess." I said.

I listened to him apologize, and he sounded extremely sincere. I knew he meant it. "It's okay, everyone has to get to someone to learn a lesson," I truthfully admitted. "It's understandable," I smirked. "And you're helping me surprisingly," I said. "You'd think the person that caused it would make you feel worse," I teased, letting out a laugh to let him know I was joking.

[reese]

Tom sighed, how many children had hoped things would change, he didn't have much hope in humanity and was proven right by such cases as Alex's. He had been half hoping that she would jump at the chance to rid herself of the man, that way he would at least know she wasn't attached. But because she was it would just be more painful for her in the long run.

However, Tom also understood her attachment. He wasn't exactly running at the chance to toss his family aside. Granted, they would rather murder him than see him lost to the other side. That point had been made perfectly clear. Betrayal ended in death, it was as simple as that. "Well, if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me." He contemplated adding a "don't tell Cali", but he decided against the whole hiding things from her thing.

He laughed at her explanation of his bad boy mannerisms. It was true, he did evoke all those things, but now there was a god d**n heart injected in there somewhere. Hopefully that didn't detract form his "bad boy" image, he'd get not nearly the same amount of action.

Hm, so he was making her feel better? "Maybe that person is the only one who can make it right." Tom stepped forward and held out his hand to her. "So what do you say... Truce?"

[Alexandra Casey]

"Well, if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me." he said. "I know, I will come to you first." I smiled, rolling my eyes. I was feeling much better, and maybe it was because Tom was caring about everything that I said. To think that he had insulted me like that in the Hospital Wing was surprising. I think it was just a...show that he put on. He wasn't really like that deep down.

I looked at him and could tell that he got a kick out of my description of him being a bad boy. He had a smirk on his face that just wouldn't go away. "Maybe that person is the only one who can make it right," he said stepping foward towards me a little bit. "So what do you say... Truce?" he said extending his hand out towards me. I looked down and smirked, then looked back at his hand. "Yeah, I suppose so," I said with a sigh in a joking sort of tone.

"So I never asked...what were you doing here?" I asked curiously.