Chapter 37: Chapter Thirty-Six: Compromise
Everything hurt.
Actually, that was a lie.
Everything ached. It had stopped hurting a while back, yet even after the copious healing charms Tom had no doubt cast while she slept, Cordelia could still feel a sense of pain she couldn't quite understand, one that settled deep within her bones and made even the slightest movement feel overly tedious.
The young witch could barely move an inch much less leave her bed in such a state, and if his condescending sighs and eye rolls were anything to go off of, Tom certainly knew as much.
It had been an hour since Cordelia had woken up to the familiar sight of her bedroom paired with an unprecedented view of Tom Riddle casually seated in her armchair with her DADA textbook in his lap.
The brunet didn't even bother sparing her a second glance as Cordelia forced herself to shuffle out of bed and attempt to make her way to the bathroom. An attempt that had ended the second she stood on her feet, for she fell back on the edge of her bed not a second later.
It was only then that Tom finally set down the tome he was reading through, but only to levitate a familiar potion vial her way, one that Cordelia had sipped on countless times over the years.
The pain-numbing potion had certainly helped her go about her daily morning routine with ease, however, its effects seemed to dwindle the second Cordelia sat back down on her bed, this time fully dressed and seemingly ready to leave for the day.
"I took the morning to contemplate what you said and have come to a decision."
His words drew Cordelia's focus away from the pain dwelling through her body, instead choosing to pay attention to whatever schemes Tom had no doubt cooked up over the night. If she was being honest, he had probably spent the entire night awake thinking instead of getting any sleep.
The thought of not only being carried up to her room but also possibly being watched through the night by him made Cordelia curl up beneath her sheets with a sense of unease, a motion that Tom chose to ignore.
"You will be a triple spy."
"Excuse me?"
Tom shrugged at the question, with the action seeming far too nonchalant for someone discussing scheming against one of the most powerful wizards the wizarding world had ever known.
"You will do what Dumbledore says and pretend to be on his side, but will inform me of everything that transpires between the two of you, and if I will it, do certain tasks for me."
"Of what kind?"
Tom seemed to be approaching the brink of his patience with every word that left her, yet replied nonetheless.
"Whatever is needed."
He began to leave his chair as he spoke, but came to a stop the second Cordelia did the same.
"What are you doing?"
"Going out?"
Answering his question with a question only seemed to worsen Tom's annoyance, however, Cordelia wasn't one to back down quite so easily.
"In that state?"
"A state that you put me in."
The exasperated sigh that left his lips almost made Cordelia laugh at how similar he sounded to a tired father, but she chose to hold her amusement back lest risk igniting his wrath again.
"You are to sleep the day away and heal like a normal person. Everything you do after does not concern me."
It was Cordelia's turn to scoff as she shuffled around to completely face him, unwilling to back down.
"I already made plans with the girls, I can't just cancel."
"They can't see you like this, idiot."
The fact that he would stoop so low as to use such mundane insults made their argument seem more like two children bickering over a toy, yet Cordelia somehow felt a need to press on. Perhaps it was because of her need to feel a sense of normalcy after a tedious day of new developments, or because she simply refused to be in Tom's vicinity for longer than necessary. Whatever the reason, Cordelia couldn't help but continue.
"A concealment charm-"
"Will not make the pain vanish."
The fight seemed to leave her form at his words, this time choosing to switch tactics and instead attempt to guit trip him into having her way.
"I have an excuse in mind. Just- please?"
It was only then that Tom finally seemed to pay attention to what she was saying, with his gaze meeting hers in surprise as he allowed himself to process her words.
That day was a series of first times, with both heads of Hogwarts swallowing their pride to reach common ground. However, their roles seemed to be switched for the moment, for while Tom had somehow found a sense of humanity within him, it was Cordelia who was bending him to her will.
"Do whatever you please."
Tom turned to leave her room for the second time that morning, but just like the last time, he was distracted just as he was about to leave. This time because of a sudden call of his name.
As she scrambled to collect a piece of parchment and quill, Cordelia couldn't help but wince at the sudden pain shooting through her form, however, the sound of Tom scoffing and levitating the objects her way distracted her enough to stare at him blankly.
"Well?"
Cordelia was quick to scribble down everything she had to say and hand it to Tom, muttering for him to hand it to Druella and watching as he finally walked out of her room.
Everything still ached, but as she returned to the centre of her bed Cordelia couldn't help but push the pain to the back of her mind and replace it with surprise.
Something had changed within Tom last night.
The realization had her thinking back to his apology, how it had sounded so utterly weak compared to his usual self, how it had made him seem more...human than Cordelia had ever perceived him to be. It was peculiar, yet as she allowed her eyes to slip shut once again, Cordelia couldn't help but feel like somehow a night of torture had changed things for the better between them.
Perhaps, the whole Grindlewald situation wouldn't turn out to be so bad after all.
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