Tom was a pragmatist - worse than that, he was also a successful manipulator. Your skills could have taken his own plans to the heavens. Could he have missed the opportunity to use someone else's weakness to control an entire magical world? Hell no.

He's been circling you like a vulture. He's been studying your pain points and weaknesses for a long time. Looking for breaches in your defences, which he planned to break down and shatter.

The tip of his wand rested under your chin, lifting it up until it was hard to breathe, given your state of mind, slowly falling from the height of euphoria to the bottom. That was good for him.

"Think with your pretty little head," his voice was tantalising, almost innocent. "What do your pathetic friends have to offer you? Look at them, birdie, they don't even respect you."

Tom was a venomous snake, waiting for the moment to attack. Your chin drooped listlessly as he put his wand away. He walked around you, standing behind you and placing his palms on your shoulders, seeming to press you to the very ground. Husky voice sounded right next to your ear, forcing you to lift your chin again and stare at the mirror in front of you.

"I offer you a whole world of possibilities, limitless power," one palm left its place to use your hair as leverage, not allowing your gaze to move away from the mirror, forcing you to look at yourself. "Come to think of it, is it worth wasting your talent?"

Tom was ready to use any manipulation, and your broken state after endless arguments with your friends could be played as the final card. Like a trump card.

And in the still silence of the prefects' bathroom, he was waiting for the opportune moment to win you over to his side.