Hello. I found this old story from 2009, reread it and liked it so decided to continue it. Starting off again and trying to get back into it so this chapter is a little shaky and short, but there'll be more. Please review.
The Separation
Last day of term came much too quickly for Grace or Tom. Both of them, predictably, equalled top of the class in their exams. Slughorn was beside himself with glee, blustering about the halls telling practically anyone who would listen of their successes in just one short year. Slytherin was also well in front in the House Cup, with over 200 points between them and the runners-up, Ravenclaw. The Gryffindors were rage filled after Hufflepuff had demolished them in the last Quidditch match of the season, earning them bottom of the House Cup, and bottom of the Quidditch table. Ravenclaw had just edged out Slytherin for the Quidditch Cup, much to the chagrin of the Slytherins, but they were comforted by their prowess in the House Cup. None of this meant anything to Tom and Grace though, they were miserable.
While Abraxus bragged about how his parents were taking him to Germany in the holidays, to meet with the newly elected German Minister for Magic, who, in the words of Abraxus was 'championing the purity of the community, in a fine example for us all', Tom and Grace glumly contemplated separation for three long months. They had tried to convince Professor Dippett to let them stay at Hogwarts. They'd tried to get Dumbledore and Slughorn to argue their case for them. Each time they were told the same thing – Hogwarts could not be their home for the summer, no teachers would be there.
So Tom and Grace had packed their things, and Grace was desperate to brighten their spirits, uttering placatory phrases at every turn ('it will be hard, but I'll write everyday', 'maybe if we think about the assignment long and hard as we won't go backwards even if we're apart!') but nothing helped. Tom was bitter and angry about returning to the orphanage. Grace was listless at the prospect of three months without Tom.
While everyone else cheerfully flooded into the Great Hall for the end of year feast and awarding of the House Cup, Grace and Tom dawdled slowly up from their common room, to sit meekly at the very end of the Slytherin table, closest to the door. Grace sat with her chin slumped in her hand, while Tom sat straight-backed and grim, silently admonishing Grace for looking so slouched, as Professor Dippett began the speech announcing Slytherin's win.
The Hall was suddenly draped in emerald and silver tapestries and banners, snakes emblazoned on every hanging. Around them cheers erupted, deafening them, but they could only conjure the strained smiles and dejected clapping that would have been more at home on the Gryffindor table.
'What is WRONG with you two?' scolded Mulciber. 'You look like you just got sorted into Hufflepuff.'
Tom bristled and shot Mulciber a look that immediately quietened him, he shook his head and turned to the other first years, talking quietly about Tom and Grace's morose demeanours.
Grace poked at her food with her fork, flipping a small piece of treacle tart backwards and forwards across her plate. 'This summer will be awful,' she groaned.
'At least you have a father. I'm going to...well. I don't have anyone to go home too,' Tom finished in an uncharacteristic mumble.
Grace's heart broke for him. She had been so preoccupied with not seeing him for three months she hadn't considered the other implication of not seeing him. That he would be completely and utterly alone, surrounded by people he hated and who didn't love him. She at least would run straight into her proud father's arms in London Cross. He would just be shunted back into a house full of children, with no one to hug him. Grace bit her trembling lip and Tom's eyes flared as he noticed her on the verge of crying.
'Stop it.' He snapped. 'I don't need anyone feeling sorry for me.' He spat the word sorry like it was poisonous.
Grace nodded and quietly finished her treacle tart, before slipping off back to the dungeons. She lay on her luxurious green velvet bedding, thinking about everything and nothing as she waited for the other girls to drift back from the feast, full and sleepy. One by one she heard them toddle into the dorm, talking excitedly about holiday plans as they changed into their night clothes. Grace lay silently pretending to sleep, not wanting to be interrogated over her holidays, or over Tom.
Grace lay awake in her dorm room, watching the green undulating light from the moon as it pierced the waters of the lake through their dorm's lower windows. Finally she drifted into a fitful, restless sleep.
In the boys dormitory Tom sat awake, Salamae curled in his lap. I won't have anything back in London. He opined to Salamae. Not that I need anyone. But I will miss Hogwarts. It's my home. I hate that place. Salamae nodded back at Tom knowingly.
I am sure Hogwarts is all you will miss, he hissed back.
