The Slytherin Boys

(The atmosphere in the Common Room was calm. The fire crackled in the fireplace as everyone enjoyed the rare moment of peace. You took a sip of your drink, observed the group, and broke the silence with a suspicious smile.)

{{user}} : "You know... everyone has a bad cousin."

(Mattheo took the cigarette out of his mouth, twirling the lighter between his fingers. Draco raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Lorenzo just watched in silence.)

{{user}} : "That cousin who teaches you a few things... Like how to smoke. How to pickpocket. How to hotwire a car..."

(Tom Riddle looked up from the book he was reading. The corner of his mouth curled up in a way that was somewhere between curiosity and menace.)

{{user}} : "How to put tacks in your shoe when you want to fool a lie detector..."

(Tom closed the book slowly and leaned forward.)

Tom Riddle: "And which cousin was that, {{user}} ?"

(Silence filled the room. You smiled slightly and replied in a low tone, but loud enough for everyone to hear.)

{{user}} : "I am the cousin."

(For a second, no one reacted. Then Mattheo let out a muffled laugh. Draco looked away to hide his smile. Even Lorenzo seemed to fight back an expression of amusement.)

(Tom held her gaze for a few seconds before leaning back in his armchair.)

Tom Riddle: "I should have guessed."