Sick Compulsions

Chapter Nine

"So," Camilla said as she sat down on her bed brushing her hair, "I speculate that we have done quite well for ourselves." She smiled happily.

Alice was standing at the window between the two beds, her hands held the thick woolen drapes apart so she may see out into the water. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"In our love life, we have two amazing men in our lives; something that I thought would never happen to me because of my chronic shyness and awkward mouth and attitude when faced with situations that I don't know how to cope in; Abraxas and I are getting along smashingly, and you and Tom are gorgeous together."

"We are not together, Camilla."

"How can you not be together? Robbie and you are done, Tom is always around you, and whenever we speak about him; you cannot muster a word. It's seems as though you are an item."

"Well appearances are deceiving!" Alice snapped as she threw the drapes together and turned to face Camilla, "if you knew the half of it!" she said forcefully.

Camilla stopped brushing her hair, stunned that Alice had shouted. "I'm sorry…" she said wide eyed.

"Appearances are deceiving, Hornboght." Another girl in the dorm room said as she turned over her mattress to face the two. Her name is Kate and has been Camilla and Alice's dome make for nearly five years. A very brash girl, but most of the time she was nice, if you didn't get on her bad side. She was nearly as tall as an average height boy, with fully developed curves and icy blond hair. But the one thing that was unmistakable about her was that she had dark brown eyes that could stop you in your tracks and make you think you have somehow gone to hell. Her bossy and snobby attitude is a turn off, and if you were unlucky enough to get on her bad side, it was a fate worse than hell.

"Yes, you are one to talk, Alice." Two other girls walked from the opposite side of the room and stood next to Camilla's bed.

The brunette with waves name is Bianca, she and her best friend Gertrude are the type of friends that for some reason look like the other. They are nowhere near related, but they have the same skin color, hair color—though Gertrude sports a long braid down the middle of her back with bangs framing her forehead and the sides of her jaw—, eye color, and basically the same personality. They seemed to be extensions of the other.

They too have been flat mates with Alice and Camilla for about five years. All of them have gotten along nicely in those years. But now, aggressive feelings where ruling the dorm room.

All the girls glared at Alice, giving off aggressive vibes, putting her on edge. Alice frowned and felt tension gather at the back of her head. "Kate, Bianca, Gertrude; if you have something to get off your chest, please do so?"

"Robbie your former boyfriend, remember him? He was completely in love with you; yet you did not feel the same, and when the opportunity to have Tom came along, what did you do? You dropped the man that could have been your husband as fast as you could. Now that you have Tom you act as if he doesn't deserve you. Oh and let us not forget your date to Slughorn's Christmas party; Kimberstone; he follows your every movement with drool down the side of his face; and the dress that you wore, that was too much, left nothing to the imagination! And Gawain Nott; the second most handsome man in the class, how can we forget how you act around him. Since first year you two have horsed around and flirted with one another. Honestly Hornboght make up your mind and stop being a HUSSY! None of these men deserve to be treated as you are treating them." Kate felt so much better telling Alice what she thought, she sat up straighter on her bed with a satisfied smirk on her lips.

"Riddle is what every girl in Hogwarts wants; he deserves a girl that loves him and not some hussy that does away with a man when something else comes along. He is charming, intelligent, an amazing wizard; and you are just a pureblood who believes that she is entitled to everything your little black heart desired. Tom is now off-limits to you!"

"Maybe you should talk to Olivia, or any of the other girls that have gone after Tom as boldly as you say I have. Get your information straight, he is not as innocent as you think he is. You can't ban something when the other half of the situation is relentless when it comes to getting what they want."

"And what is it that you want, Hornboght?" Kate asked. "I knew it, you are a man-eater!" she hopped off the bed and stood toe-to-toe with Alice, "you are such a whore." Her eyes burned dark brown as she looked down at Alice.

"Call me whatever it is you want, Kate, but what you want isn't going to happen. I'm not the one going after him."

"And what would he see in you? You're short, lack a butt and breast, you walk on airs, and seem as though you don't belong in Slytherin. Tom deserves a woman with actually predominate curves, looks, and a much better personality than you have. Some may call you reserve or indifferent, but I just think you are a bitch."

"And I think you're the stuck up bitch that idolizes a complete bastard, you are so oblivious and are overreacting so something you have no connection to. Step off!"

"How dare you!"

"Shut it, and go to bed. I may be short, stork-legs, but I can put you in your place if need be!"

"I see you have some fighting spirit in you? So what would you say if I challenge you to a wizards duel then?" Kate said, "Tomorrow near the outskirts of the forest after classes when the teachers gather for meetings."

"Kate we can't! The new rules!" Gertrude said.

"I don't care, someone needs to teach Hornboght a lesson in humility, and if she needs to be knocked down onto her bony ass, I will gladly do it!"

"Girls in room 8," Tom's voice echoed in the staircase, "come down here!" everyone froze for a moment as his voice woke everyone in the girl's dorms. Some shouted in displeasure for being woken.

"TOM!" Kate, Bianca, and Gertrude ran out of the room the second he called for them.

Alice groaned and flopped down onto her bed, the weight of the three girl's glairs and hostile attitudes lifted away. Camilla walked over to her bed and looked down at her. "Do you think Kate was being serious?"

"Isn't everyone serious about Tom?" Alice groaned as she placed her hands against her eyes and put pressure down against them. "I'll fight her if it means I can shut her up."

"But…the new rules won't allow us to leave the castle. You heard how serious Dippit was."

"I know, but knowing Kate she'll find a loophole."

"Okay, well I'm going to see if we got into any trouble. Sleep holding your wand." Camilla said trying to lighten the mood.

As Camilla walked away, Alice fell asleep.

"Alice," Camilla said shaking her awake, "the prefect wants to see you."

"Better end it," Kate sang as she walked around the bed posts and got into bed.

"We all got in trouble for being too loud, so we all get a talking too." Camilla said.

Alice got up and put a robe on before heading out of the room, followed by the three girl's glairs. She excited the room and headed down to the common stairwell. As she reached the landing the stairs lifted up off the floor. This was to ensure that the boys would remain in their dorm and not try to venture into a territory filled with angry women. When she reached the bottom of the stairs she was met by a tired looking Tom.

His arms were raised to brace himself between the posts of the doorframe. His cloak was still on, so he had just come from his rounds. His hair was disheveled from his tugging of it. He probably entered the common room hell-bent on getting in bed and sleeping until the morning, but to only find four girls screaming at each other, and in that lovely discovery, he's duties were still in effect. As she stood before him and noticed how gaunt he looked at the moment.

"You okay?" she asked, wary of asking him anything.

"I had hoped to be in bed, but you girls had other plans." He shook his head and woke himself up. "I only go half the story, something about you being a hussy; I know you are not."

"Sorry, but clearly I am, thanks to you."

"Me?"

"Yes, you know very well there are hundreds of girls that would love to have your attention, and they are all very upset with me, so finally someone got the gall to confront me about it."

He then smirked, "Glad to know you're so defensive about our relationship."

"There is no relationship, Tom."

"Of course there is, it's the start of one, but there will be."

"I don't want you; but clearly I want you, Robbie, Kimberstone, and Nott all at the same time. I'm a man-eater if you haven't heard." She shook with the idea, "can you just name the punishment; detention, point removal, anything; I'm too stressed out to think about it."

"Are you going to do it? Accept her challenge?"

"Of course not; I'm above her silly little challenge."

"I'm surprised that you wouldn't. Prove yourself to her; shut her up once and for all. Once she understands that you are a powerful witch, she and the other girls will accept that you are my girlfriend."

"But I'm not…" his eyes sparkled, "what are you planning?"

"Nothing, absolutely nothing," Tom joked.

Alice moved to go back up the stairs when a hand reached out to grasp hers. She turned to see Tom wincing in pain. His hand was inside the staircase, the magical barrier making a zapping sound as it stung him. The second part of keeping boys out was working on Tom. A red line formed across his wrist as he held her firmly.

"It's going to burn your skin off."

"I didn't give you leave to go."

"Tom, let go."

"We're not finished speaking."

"Let go, the barrier is going to break your wrist."

"Then it will break."

Alice inwardly groaned as she bounded out from behind the barrier, freeing Tom's wrist from the painful spell. She walked around him so she faced the staircase and him. His hand left her wrist and he stood up straight as he looked down at her. Looking up at him she suddenly got the feeling that she was much safer behind the spell than out here and had wished she stayed there.

"I take it you prefer to remain alone." Tom said as he stroked the burning skin of his wrist, "from other's not your friends."

"Yes."

"Then take advantage of this opportunity. If every other girl wants me, but you have me, and they object to the match; they'll bother you because they are jealous. Prove to them that you are someone not to be trifled with, they'll leave you alone. In a way they'll approve of this," he motioned between them, "and you shall have your alone time from the rest of our house; with the acceptation of me, respectively." Alice rolled her eyes. "Or if you don't wish to challenge Kate, I could simply tell Slughorn what bad girls and dorm mates you have been, and how you are planning to have a duel after hours and not on the school grounds."

"So," Alice folded her arms around her midsection, "either I use you, and this "relationship" as a way to secure that I am left alone by your fan girls, by going against the rules, and possibly getting expelled, or you use what you have overheard and get us all in trouble."

"Either way you get to be alone." Tom smirked stepping closer and leaning down to whisper into her ear, "though I would choose the challenge. I would love to see just where your magical range ends. Remember the night I caught you after hours; you threatened to hex me; I think you are hiding your true potential from the rest of us."

"Who knows?" Alice smirked back, "no one truly knows what power lies in a pureblood; especially from one of the Great Seven Houses."

"You believe there are seven?"

"The four main ones are of course the Houses that Hogwarts students houses are named, but there are others; some more powerful and others more influential. But either way, there are seven."

"And each one has a talent? You said before your family is masters at multiple enchantments at a given time."

"Maybe…"

"You're not going to tell me?"

"Maybe not…"

"You should stop the flirting, what would Nott think?" his temples twitched as he said the name. Seeing them at the game and how they played such a brazen cat and mouse game ticked Tom off.

"Nott—is my object of ridicule, we are old enemies; we do not flirt."

"I think Kate and her friends are wrong; you two are very friendly to each other." Tom leaned down once again, smirking, as he looked seriously at Alice, "Prove to me that it is not true?" he said.

Alice raised an eyebrow, "it is not true. I give you my world."

"Your world is not what I am looking for."

"Than I cannot fathom what it is you want. Nott is your "friend"—if you have any. I have known him since childhood that is how we act around one another. I don't understand why…" Alice stopped and smiled realizing what Tom was getting at, "you're jealous."

"Of course I am." Tom admitted, "Nott acts as if he has the liberties to act so familiar to you. It is distasteful and disrespectful to not only to you but for others around you."

"You do know our parents wish us to marry."

"Would either of you agree to the match."

"I wouldn't,"

"But he would," Tom venomously said, "Nott likes you, if you haven't noticed, and I care for it not. Prove to me that you do not enjoy his attention when he, as you say; "bothers" you."

"I'm afraid to ask this, what?"

"You have to kiss me."

"We've kissed before—"

"—I kissed you, this time you're kissing me. And I'm not asking for just a peck on the cheek. A real kiss, one you can't see yourself giving Nott, or even Robbie."

"Why?"

"Because it is what I wish from you. To prove you to me you can do it and pay me back for all that I had to put up with that the match the other day."

"What are you going to do if I don't kiss you?"

"Nothing, you need to be bold, accept the challenge and kiss me. Revel in your brashness, become a strong willed woman and not a formal little girl like you have been brought up to be. You'll love the feeling of having audacity." He lowered his voice to a whisper that was laced with confidence, "its intoxicating, to allow yourself to feel confidant and powerful. You secretly have controlling tendencies; allow them to fully manifest, you'll like yourself even more." he ended his speech with a satisfied smile, "Now how about it, Alice?"

It did sound good.

For years she has been fighting her true self for fear of disappointing her families. Since she was a little girl the lesson of upholding the family's honor and integrity have been drilled into her. What would happen if she allowed herself to act herself? She has noticed that whenever she is around Tom, bits and pieces of her personality become personified. The feeling of holding her own and doing what it is she wants does feel intoxicating, she secretly looks forward to another argument; to feel herself manifest and be daring. It was tempting to accept the challenge—but it was a fool's challenge, she knew she was strong enough to defeat Kate without even trying, so why bother to lower herself to accept it? It would give her a change to shut Kate up. But everything she has been taught goes against it. Be graceful, but not angelic, be calm and never truly assertive, and always know who you come from, but never show your true self.

Everything contradicts the other!

Seem like a bitch—hurt Kate's pride

Be goody-two-shoes Alice, the perfect heir for the Hornboght family for the rest of your life—do something impulsive for once.

Allow yourself to be pushed around by Tom—take back come control and be the one to use him.

Secretly ach to kiss Tom again because you know he is everything you are suppose to despise in this world not only because he is a half-breed, but a smug arrogant bastard—kiss him and feel like you actually have a chance at liking one's self.

"Alright," Alice said, "I'll take the challenge, because when I win, Kate and the others will leave me alone."

"And the kiss..?"

"If it means I can go to bed, fine."

"No, you have to want to kiss me."

"….I want to kiss you."

"French kiss me."

Alice couldn't fight back her little smile, "if that is what you wish?"

"But you have to be the one to kiss me. I won't be meeting you half-way, it's all you."

Alice tried to fight back her smile a she placed her hands upon his shoulders and stood up on tip-toe. His hands instantly went to her waist to help give her stability, and that was the only help he was going to give, Tom couldn't help but feel as if his plan was beginning to fully come together. Alice was slowly, but surly becoming his, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was becoming hers also. She had the potential to be on the same level of controlling and manipulating others, it was going to be a power struggle in the future, but the idea of it, made him smirk, a challenge sounded very nice.

When she balanced herself she removed her hands from his shoulders and placed them at the back of his head and pulled him down to place her lips at his. Their eyes closed as Tom gave her a encouraging flick of the tongue, then it was all Alice, he did not take over like he wanted to when she deepened the kiss, setting her own pace, but he met her tongue again when she started to fully explore him with tentative licks. This kiss was languid and slow, unlike the rushed stolen kisses Tom had taken.

Her arms wrapped around his neck as his hands pulled her closer to him. It was a very pleasurable kiss. It was slow and sweet, yet underneath the feeling, it was unmistakably carnal. She would want him, later, it was undeniable. This kiss was opening oh so many doors that he could walk though. Alice Hornboght was as good as his. Tom pulled away when the need for air rose and placed Alice back onto the ground. She kept her hands around his shoulders, a smile on her lips.

"That was very brave." Tom said.

"Much better than your stolen kisses," She admitted.

"Agreed, maybe you would be the one to initiate our next kiss?"

"Only in your head," She laughed as she pulled her arms away.

"I think you'll need this." Tom removed his hands and reached inside the inside pocket of his robed. The map he had used to get out of the castle was in his hands. "You remember the two spells?"

"Yes," she slowly started to reach for it but he pulled it away.

"Can I trust you with it?"

"Yes," Alice smiled.

"Very well then." He gave it to her. "Good night." He leant down and kissed her brow before heading off to the boy's dormitories.

Alice smile and ran back up the girls stairs and went into her room. Kate was still awake, reading a book. She walked up to the girl and crossed her arms, holding the map under her hand, "Tomorrow it is."

"Got a backbone?"

"Always had it, but when I win you, along with every other girl in Slytherin, have to leave me alone."

"And when I win, I get Tom."

"You won't though."

"We'll see."

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Alice said as she tapped her wand against the parchment that would become the map.

Camilla looked over her shoulder and watched as the ink flooded the yellow parchment and became a map with foot prints and names all over the place. "Where did you get this?" she was astonished.

"Don't ask and don't tell anyone about this." Alice said as she flipped the pages until she came upon the names of the professors, they were all heading towards the headmaster's tower. Since the start of the term, the professors all meet with the creature handlers to talk about the progress with the Dark Forrest. They would all be too occupied to realize what was going on, hopefully.

"There is a passage way outside the school though one of the knights." Alice smiled as she thought about the challenge and how quick the duel would be. "Mischief managed." She tapped the map and everything became blank again just as Kate and the other two girls entered the common room.

"See you still have a backbone?" Kate said, confidence rolling off of her like stink on a pig.

Alice shoved the map into Camilla's hand. "Let's just get this over with."

"All the professors are in—"

"The meeting, I know. Same for all the prefects and the creature tamers; now is as perfect as any. Follow me," Alice tugged her winter cloak on and headed off for the exit.

The band of girls was joined by Abraxas, who quickly fell into step with Camilla; his arm went around hers apprehensively. They walked thought the far side of the dungeon and through the third Knight on the row of armor. The girls were all a little shocked that Alice knew a way out of the castle where Abraxas smirked, disbelieving that Tom would give her the map, and it was an unbelievable find when they were searching the room of requirement, which was why it was always in Tom's possession.

The passage way was damp from all the snow and wind. Alice held onto the walls as they went through it. It took four of them to push the stone blocking the exit; snow compacted on the opposite side and created a large mound. Camilla amused herself with a large icicle that had fallen from the rocks and started to chomp away on it.

The snow was untouched; the hillside of land that leads down into the Dark Forrest was quiet, almost too quiet. They all quickly made their way down to where no person in any tower could see them. Alice and Camilla stood on one side of what was to be the dueling arena; Kate, Bianca, and Gertrude walked twenty paces in the opposite direction and faced Alice.

Kate threw off her cloak, "Malfoy, be a dear and ref the duel?"

"Of course," Abraxas said as he pulled Camilla from his arm and headed off into the middle of the arena.

"You do know that her family's expertise is casting spells, some of the fastest chanters are from the Ravenclaw family." Bianca whispered as Kate pulled her wand out from her pocket, her eyes glaring peevishly at Alice.

"She is only a Ravenclaw though her bastard great grandmother, hear that Hornboght, the only reason why you're considered a pureblood is because your licentious ancestor dared to have a child out of wedlock with a witch not his wife; you may have a pure ancestry but with that dirty blood running through your veins; you're on the same level as a Mudblood."

"Is that true Alice?" Camilla asked as Alice handed her scarf and cloak over. Camilla quickly took Alice's scarf and wrapped it around her neck to get warmer.

"No, great-great grandfather Ravenclaw adopted his sister's son when she and her husband were killed in a revolt against the Ministry and the big Wizarding families one hundred years ago, Hornboght was my aunts married name and so it was my great Grandfather's. Kate is just trying to get me angry."

"Don't hurt her too badly?"

"I won't."

Both girls walked towards Abraxas who held his arms between the other. He looked as if he was enjoying this.

"Just don't hurt the other too badly." He said, "Wands at the ready,"

"I am going to enjoy bring you pain!" Kate said as she raised her wand.

Alice smiled and did the same, "By your leave, Catharine."

Their wands fell down to the side and they both turned and walked away from one another. Abraxas quickly made his way back to Camilla's side as Alice reached ten paces. She turned around as Kate did the same. They raised their wands in attacking poses, both waiting for the other to cast the first spell.

Kate envisioned a quick victory; she was going to revel in making Alice feel ashamed for setting her sights on Tom. She was going to have a face full of boils and sores for the rest of the year and well into the summer months, Kate were sure of that.

Alice stood her ground, taking the high road as she so often did. This was going to be too easy. She could see Kate's fingers itch to cast any spell that came to mind like a mad hatter.

"Locomotor Mortis!" Kate said making the first move, her wand lit up with dark purple energy and then cased out the Leg-Locker curse to bind Alice from the knees down.

"Portego!" Alice blasted the spell back towards Kate with ease.

Kate managed to deflect the curse with her wand but ended up flying back a few feet. "Bombarda!"

"Avis," many black birds flew from the tip of Alice's wand and took the hits from the explosion spells for Alice. "Incarcerous," while the blackbirds were taking the explosions the rope from the Incarcerous spell fell from the tip of her wand and snaked across the grass like a small snake would.

Kate watched as Alice's birds all disappear as they blew up. She quickly though of another spell, warts or boils sounded nice. "Furnunc—" the rope rose out of the grass and headed for Kate to bind her, panicking and changing her spell she screamed "–Incendio!" the tip of the rope quickly ignited into flames.

"Impedimenta," Alice quickly took advantage of Kate's blind spot, which was the rope that was incinerating and blocking her view and put her under the slowing spell, Kate's whole body started to move in slow motion, she was in the middle of starting to blink when Alice advanced on her slowly, "Expelliamus," Kate's wand flew from her hand, "Mobilicorpus!" she hexed Kate's body, which was still being held in the slow-motion spell, and stared to move her across the field stopping short of hitting rocks and her friends. "Rictusempra," Alice stopped when she reached Kate's side of the field, dropped her near the other two girls as Kate started to laugh uncontrollably as she was placed back into normal time.

Upon seeing Kate laughing to the point of trying the other two girls pulled out their wands. "That's gone too far!" Bianca shouted.

"You're just playing with her!" Gertrude said.

"Levicorpus," Bianca was effectively turned upside-down and dangled in the air. "Levicorpus," then it was Gertrude's turn.

"Put me down Hornboght!" the both shouted.

"Alice, end it already?" Camilla said as she hung off of Abraxas's arm.

"Liberacorpus," Alice shrugged as she released the two girls from the hex and dropped them to the ground; she then turned her attention back to Kate. "Repello," he bounced the laughing Kate back a few feet on the ground, making her painfully land on the grass. But also causing the tickling spell to wear off so Kate was freed her eyes watering and her sides in pain from all the laughing.

Kate stopped laughing and caught her breath. Realizing what had happened she got up as fast as she could and glared at Alice. "You are a dirty fighter!"

"You're just not fast enough. It's over, and you have lost."

"I have not, I am going to hex you so many times over your face will still look ugly when they wear off, Accio wan—"

"Stupefy," Alice subdued Kate before Kate realized it, "Silencio Maxima." She waved her wand and Kate flew back with the force of the spell.

She placed her hands against the show and pushed herself up. She started to angrily wave and thrust her hands into the air at Alice. Her lips were moving, but nothing came out. When she realized that she wasn't saying anything, her eyes held a panicked look as her hands touched her throat. Gertrude and Bianca ran to her side and tried to figure out what it was that had happened.

Alice smirked and put her wand back into her pocket, satisfied with her spell, Kate was finally quiet. She turned back to Camilla and Abraxas. Camilla was waving her hands in the air and cheering for Alice's victory, while Abraxas looked on with an astounded look on his face. Alice let out a heavy breath and lent her shoulders back as she approached them.

"Well?" Alice asked.

"Amazing as always, I had no doubt in you!" Camilla clapped her hands.

Abraxas nodded and pulled his hand away from Camilla's side and offered it to Alice, "never knew you had such….potential."

"Potential that is greater than any we have ever seen." Someone said from the hills.

Everyone turned to see Tom walked towards them. His brows raised as a smirk graced his lips. He walked towards Alice, his hands in his pockets. Bianca and Gertrude shouted for Tom to help them as Kate waved her hands in the air, her lips moving. Tom paid them to mind as he approached, they meant nothing. Alice smirked back as she took her cloak from Camilla's hands and shoved her arms thought the sleeves.

"You are fast when it comes to spells." Tom commented as he stood at her sides.

Alice pulled her hair out from under the collar and looked up at him, his eyes shimmering. "Like I said before,"

"As you did." He looked back at the castle and sighed, "we should all head back soon, the meeting will be over." From the corner of his eye Tom looked over at Abraxas.

Seeming to get the hint, Abraxas instantly took Camilla's hand and started back up the trail. Gertrude and Bianca gathered Kate and her cloak and started to follow; keeping their angry and jealous eyes upon Tom and Alice as they did. Tom looked down at Alice; he was truly impressed with her magical ability and range. What an amazing force she would be when he managed to snare her into his Knights. She looked up at him with a new sense of self. She was proud that she had taken on Kate and won the match. She stood taller, her shoulders back and no longer tense, her whole being changed. She was happy, and she was more self-confident.

She held his gaze as she started off for the castle. He followed at her side, smirking down at her. "You were brilliant." He whispered huskily as he bent to her ear.

"Kate if finally quiet. Now let's hope the rest of the girls follow in suite and leave me alone." Alice blushed and looked down at the snow as it crushed below her feet. They walked in silence from that moment forward.

They all snuck back into the castle and quickly made their way into the common room. Gertrude and Bianca took Kate back to the dorm room, Camilla and Abraxas disappeared, and Tom and Alice were greeted by some of the Slytherin class staring at them. From their red cheeks, flushed faces, and damp cloaks you could tell that they had been outside. But what was going through everyone's minds was what they were doing outside. Alice walked through the glares and headed for the stairwell. Tom followed her, his gaze moving to Mulciber and Avery's gaze; he nodded silently to the two then returned his eyes to Alice.

"I'm going to warm up," Alice said as she turned around in the stairwell. Tom was at the bottom looking at her, she took that moment to peak out at the rest of the Slytherin house. "They're watching us." Alice snickered. "Want to give them something to gawk at?"

Tom's brows rose in amusement, "what has gotten into you?"

"Oh," Alice reached out and wrapped her arms around Tom's shoulders, drawing him closer, when she felt his hands go to her waist she leaned in closer to his ear, "I'm feeling very audacious at the moment." She almost didn't recognize her voice, she sounded so completely different. As she leaned back to look down into his eyes she could also see everyone as still at statues. "Kiss me?"

Tom did not hesitate; smirking inwardly he could help but chuckle, it was all working out in his favor. With a tilt of his head he placed his lips against Alice's; her hand quickly gripped his jaw tightly to hold him there. His own hand tightened at the tempo of the kiss. There was nothing sweat in this kiss, this was a passionate, demanding kiss, one others would use to claim the one they desired in front of a rival. At that moment every person in the common room was someone to disprove.

Mulciber jabbed Avery in the side with his elbow, the two exchanged a hopeful smirk and silently applauded Tom's newest accomplishment. Since Tom revealed that Alice somehow knew something to do with the chamber of secrets and the murder of the Mudblood they've all known about his underlying conquest of Alice. He wanted her to be on their side, but they all also sensed that Tom wanted her for a very different reason, and it wasn't hard to guess. He could have blackmailed her, hexed her, or even brainwashed her. But he decided to play a game with the girl's mind, slowly but surely making her believe that she chose Tom all on her own accord.

As the two smirked at one another, everyone else in the room watched in shock as Alice Hornboght and Tom Riddle kissed in public.

A little overdue but here is my next installment of Sick Compulsions. Hope you all enjoy it. I enjoyed exploring more of Alice's inner turmoil and growth as a person. So she has basically grown into the person that she wants to be instead of the doll she was brought up to be. If you think about it the pureblood children are brought up as spoiled children expected to be perfect. Alice is no exception. But now she has changed and yes she admitted her attraction for Tom. But it's kind of a Stockholm syndrome in a much stretched out way. Very extreme but it explains a lot. Tom has taken away almost every freedom she has at the school and bombarded her with his presents, "what Tom givith—Tom takeith away!".

Please review I like feeling loved (lol) but I also like the comments!

Word count: 6044