Veritaserum, Imperius Curse?
Cassandra went blank with shock. If she actually did what Tom suggested, there would be no exchange to speak of. She would be shipped back to an American wizarding prison for further study. On the other points, however, she had no real argument.
"Who has been whispering against me around you?" Tom asked, lightning fast.
"It is not slander, it was my father..." Cassandra answered halfway, then snapped her mouth shut.
The boy's brow creased. "He would even trip his own daughter?"
"It is not what you think," Cassandra blurted, knowing exactly what he meant. "My father... every time he saw one of your articles, he would fly into a rage. I heard him during the holiday at home, so I decided you were only courting attention."
Her face dimmed. "My father is a staunch pure blood supremacist. Mother has fought with him for years because of it."
"So he rubbed off on you?" Tom asked.
Cassandra said nothing. She did believe pure blood families were more likely to produce exceptional talent.
"Enough." Tom waved it away. "That has little to do with me. Even in Slytherin there are plenty who would love to see me dead.
"My task is to get you out to class like normal. If you refuse to attend, Dumbledore will not let me attend."
"How am I supposed to show my face?" Cassandra's composure cracked. "Half the school saw you shove me into a wall."
The image of walking the corridors under the stares of Hogwarts, Ilvermorny, and Castelobruxo made her want to quit. Not return to Ilvermorny, quit school and hide at home.
"It is really not a big deal."
Tom's smile went soft as he stepped close and spoke gently. "You are taking yourself far too seriously. You were not the first to enjoy my 'wall treatment.' For example, your kinsman Malfoy. He got there more than a year before you."
Tom sketched, in very modest terms, his own track record. In Cassandra's ears it sounded like myth. First year he thrashed a whole house. Second year he half beat a professor to death and sent him to prison. He planted a few Whomping Willows and turned Gryffindor into farmhands.
"How did you avoid expulsion?" Cassandra asked before she could stop herself.
"That is the treatment of a genius, I suppose." Tom shrugged. "And it was never me picking the fight first, so I held the ground of reason. Dumbledore is a very reasonable headmaster.
"Take yesterday. He docked me one hundred points to set an example, so you will think twice before poking me again."
"Can you stop bringing that up?" Cassandra snapped, mortified.
Still, after hearing his glorious disasters, she did feel better. By comparison, Tom had been almost merciful. There were plenty more miserable than she was. That did not erase what happened. Shame was shame. Yesterday would be a black page in her life.
"I am hungry," Cassandra suddenly barked, all decorum gone.
"Eat, then class after?" Tom asked.
"I am hungry."
"Eat it is. Parra."
A pop, and the house elf Parra appeared.
"Bring lunch. Two servings, one for Miss Voray."
"Yes, Master Riddle." Parra vanished. Cassandra stared. "You have a house elf?"
"I do have one, but not Parra," Tom said. "Parra belongs to Daphne. She looks after our day to day at school."
Soon Parra returned with a tableful of dishes.
"Eat." Tom dug in first. "If you eat my food and still refuse to go to class, I promise I will make you a hundred times more embarrassed than yesterday."
Cassandra ignored the threat. "Riddle, what magic did you use yesterday?"
"Talent. That is what bloodline advantage really is. Try to understand."
"Do you always talk like this?" she growled.
"I match my tone to the person. Miss Voray, what do you think we are to each other?" Tom asked around a chicken leg.
"Enemies."
"Then as enemies, should I sweet talk you?"
"You have no gentleman's manners."
"Do I?" In a flash the tip of Tom's wand rested beneath Cassandra's throat.
"Yes, yes, fine," she squeaked, eyes wet. What kind of man was this, so quick to use his hands?
"Remember this. If you cannot beat me, you do not have the right to argue."
He drew the wand back, calm again. "By your own theory, since I am superior and stronger, you should listen to me."
Cassandra wished she had a Time Turner so she could go back and cut down yesterday's self.
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