Chapter 8
The library was dead silent as students were furiously studying for either their upcoming tests or getting a head start on their OWLS. History of Magic had never been one of my strongest classes so I made sure to study a little harder on the subject. Books and parchment lined my table as I jotted down some notes I thought would be relevant. Corie was surprisingly also studying next to me as she too was worried about her OWLS. It was a few weeks till Christmas, which was typically one of the holidays I had dreaded. Every year, my brother and I would be "requested", but really demanded, back home. It was very awkward sitting at a dinning table during Christmas day with a brother that refuses to talk to you and a father who was constantly disappointed in you. Luckily, I was able to see Corie during the holidays because we lived relatively close by but Tom stayed at school. We sent owls right on Christmas day to greet each other a Happy Christmas but this year was different. I was finally able to stay during the holidays. Well… more like... my father was all too happy to get some father and son time without his troublesome daughter getting in the way. I scoffed at that last thought.
"Are you sure you don't want to come over for the holidays? My parents wont mind," Corie looked up from her half done assignment.
"Yes, I'm sure. It would be nice to spend the holidays with Tom. He's always so lonely you know."
"Uh huh... Sure… I just hope you're not pregnant by the time I get back." I dropped my pen in shock and immediately shoved Corie as she combusted out laughing.
"Shhhh… shut up Corie! And you know it's not like that. We're just friends and far from…. That,"
"Oh come on Eli. We both know you fancy him and he asked you out. Besides, he has become quite attractive since last year. Maybe it's the hair… He stopped sleeking it back so now you can see his curls. All the girls are gawking at him but if you ask me, he seems to only have eyes for one girl in particular," My heart sped up at her last comment and I tried to hide my smile.
"I don't know about that…" I commented in the most nonchalant tone I could muster.
"Uh huh… everyone already knows you two are going out so why hide it?" she replied with a smirk.
"Corie just because we're going on a date, doesn't mean we'll end up together. I mean, what if he doesn't find me girlfriend material by the end of the date? He could just realize that we are better off friends. And besides, he seems to be preoccupied lately… His mind seems to be elsewhere."
"You are so pessimistic Lestrange."
"I'm being REALISTIC Bulstrode." Just then I felt a presence behind me. I turned expecting Tom who had said he would meet us here about an hour ago.
"Good afternoon Ms. Eliana," It was not Tom…
"Yes Abraxas? What is it now?" I retorted.
"Why is it that every time I come to say hi, you act as if I'm about to hex you."
"Because there are only two reasons for you to be coming up to me. Its either you want to copy my homework again which for the millionth time NO, or you're going to ask me to accompany you to Hogsmeade which is also a NO. I already told you I'm going with someone else." Ever since we started sitting next each other during Divinations, Abraxas had been trying with great effort to befriend me. He was a decent fellow but was a little too prideful for my taste and he also liked picking on the first years and muggle borns with my brother. That in itself was a reasonable cause for me to avoid him.
"Come on Eli. I'm not a total arse like you make me out to be. I'm pretty sure you were laughing during lunch the other day. Do you not remember?" Yesterday, Corie had to make up a test she had failed in Astronomy and Tom was MIA as usual. Abraxas offered to sit next to me and since I didn't have my friends around, I accepted his offer. He was quite charming and funny, until he started making rude comments at a muggleborn Hufflepuff…
"Until you decided to be a complete bully…."
"Come on Eli. Give me one more shot. It doesn't even have to be a date." I was getting more and more irritated with Abraxas. First of all, I didn't give him any permission to call me Eli… Only Corie and a few people I liked called me that.
"Take the hint Malfoy." We all turned to see Tom behind Abraxas with his hair disheveled and eyes menacingly glaring at Abraxas.
"Well guess who comes in the nick of time. Where have you been Riddle? We've been waiting for an hour," Corie asked irritated.
"I was held up… You can leave now Malfoy."
"All right Riddle. Relax. No need to get all snippy. I'll see you at Divination, Eli." I waved politely as he walked off as Tom took the seat next to me.
"But seriously Riddle. Where in god's name have you been?" Corie continued.
"Well Bulstrode, I am a prefect so it would make sense that I am much more busy than you are."
"Horse shit! Valentine is a prefect too and she's been in here snogging Romulus all afternoon." I tried ignoring the last comment Corie said but couldn't help throwing up in my mouth.
"Well she isn't trying to be head boy now is she Bulstrode." Corie stuck her tongue out at Tom then proceeded to take down more notes.
"Guys seriously…. I'm trying to study. Tom it would have been nice if you had told us you would be late and… Forget it. I'm going to dinner." I said while standing from my seat.
"Okay. Go ahead. I need to finish this assignment so save me something okay?" Corie asked not looking up from her review page.
"Okay." Without even looking at Tom, I headed to the Great Hall. It irritated me how secretive Tom had been. I had also overheard Valentine talking to her friend on how close she and Tom were getting. I knew it was definitely false rumors but I couldn't help feeling a tug in my heart when she talked about their prefect meetings and casual talks together. Since Tom had been rather busy doing god knows what, I felt jealous of all the quality time Valentine had with Tom. It was definitely more than I got with him recently. I turned around to see if by some miracle Tom had followed me out but he didn't. As I entered the Great Hall, I took a seat at the Slytherin table.
"What happened to Buldtrode and Riddle?" I could tell who was talking without even looking up. I heaved a deep sigh.
"Not now…" I thought.
