House: Slytherin

Category: Drabble

Prompts: Unpack.

Word count: (For story only, does not include A/N)- 227.


Unpack

Tom riddle had always been happy while unpacking. At the orphanage, he had to close it all and throw it under his bed so the other children would not steal from him. Not that they could, of course. But they didn't knew that and he was forbidden to tell them that.

He had everything packed those days at vacations. Except test books which he had to take out only after locking his door.

It was like a prison without bars where he had to lock half of his self away. He had talked to Dumbledore about it but that annoying old man had said nothing but, "sometimes we have to choose what's necessary over one's joy." Riddle had, of course nodded, profusely. Later, rolling his eyes at it.

Then he had asked Slughorn. Slughorn had helped him better then Dumbledore. Riddle had been doing magic without so much as a warning from ministry. Just not in his own house. Places like the Leaky Cauldron, Diagon alley and other wizarding towns had hardly any restrictions for under age magic as in such a magical place it was hard to find who did it.

But then, none of that mattered when back at Hogwarts. While unpacking, it was like he was unpacking his strained self, his significant other, his magic and himself fully. As the little ink bottles, parchment and old textbooks came out with some of his prized possessions. Riddle felt uncannily open. Like a blooming flower.

Unpacking was relief. It was joy.

But nothing lasts forever.

And in the end, even Hogwarts made him pack again.

He had never hated and loved anything more.