Chapter 14
Despite the disappointment I had with the knowledge of Hagrid's arrest, I tried to make the best of the summer. Luckily, staying at Corie's was like a dream. Her mother was also fond of muggle things so she taught us how to make these beaded bracelets called friendship bracelet. Corie and I made one for each other. We had each made one separately but we got a laugh when we gave them to each other. We each had made one with green thread and the same silver charms; a small heart vial, a pair of wings, an owl (our favorite animal), a wand, and a willow tree. The only difference was that I had given her a broom charm for her quidditch and she gave me a book charm.
Her parents had also separated but they were still on good terms. Her mother worked for the ministry so they weren't destitute like my mother had been. She was a kind woman who shared my mother's views on everything. No wonder they were such good friends. She would have taken me and my brother in but my father protested. My father was very different from Corie's father who was a noble man who worked for the daily prophet. He wrote honest but very intriguing stories. He had visited quite a few times during the summer, always with a handful of sweets and stories. Corie had said that he didn't really acknowledge the fact that Corie had grown up. To him, she was still a little girl who hid under the covers if she heard the slightest noise. She didn't mind though… She enjoyed her father's company enough to overlook his denial. Tom visited too, but not as often. His last visit struck me as odd though. It was a few weeks before we had to return to Hogwarts. The three of us visited Hogsmeade to get some last minute school supplies while we could.
"Tom? Tom?"
"Huh? What?"
"Are you okay Tom? You've been spacing out all day." We were at Honeydukes upon Corie's request, who was going crazy over the various sweets.
"Sorry. I've just got a lot on my mind lately."
"I can tell… What's been on your mind lately, Tom?" He seemed hesitant on answering my question but sighed in defeat.
"I found my father." My eyes widened and my mouth gaped open.
"And my mother," he continued.
"How? Who are they? Did you meet them?"
"When I accidentally slipped to Romulus that I was a Parseltongue, he went searching for other Parseltongue wizards which was pretty clever." I had known Tom was a Parseltongue since third year when he had an interesting conversation with a snake like creature near the Black Lake when it almost bite me as I was skipping stones. I knew being a Parseltongue was a rare gift and Tom wasn't keen on revealing this gift to others. Not even Corie was aware of it which was why I was surprised he just let it "slip" to just anyone, let alone my brother.
"Wait what? You still talk to my brother?" I could see the regret in Tom's face. I guess he wasn't planning on telling me of his friendship with my brother.
"Well yeah… He isn't that bad of a chap."
"Are we talking about the same Romulus?" I asked skeptically.
"He may be an idiot but he has some uses."
"What do you mean by that Tom?"
"Don't worry about it, love. Just consider it a mutually beneficial arrangement."
"Okay… Go on about your parents," I urged. I was still uncomfortable about the fact Tom and Romulus were friends but I was far more curious about Tom's parents.
"You were right, my mother was the wizard but she had passed away just like the orphanage had told me," he announced.
"Oh. I'm sorry… How about your father?" Suddenly a fierce fire burned in Tom's eyes.
"That stupid muggle left her. He wouldn't even look at me. That filthy excuse of a father got what he deserved," he raged.
"What do you mean? Tom, what happened?" I inquired worriedly. Tom met his father? Did they have a fight? He turned away with anger still in his eyes. I went to grab his hand and gave it a tight squeeze.
"Tom, tell me what happened? Did he hurt you?" Tom scoffed at my questions.
"He was too weak to even fight back," I heard him utter. I felt a lump stuck in my throat and my breathing pause as I stared at him.
"Tom…" He turned to me but his expression was dark, calm but smug.
"What did you do?" I asked in a low voice. Before he could respond, Corie jumped up from behind us.
"Are you two done making out yet? Come on! We still need to get those boring textbooks!" she exclaimed as she strutted out of the store with her purchases in hand. I turned back to Tom who had a smile on his face as he held out his hand. I took it wearily and in a soft but stern voice said, "Tom?"
"It was nothing, love. We just had a disagreement but he wasn't able to argue against my reasoning," he explained, "Okay, Eliana?"
"Okay," I nodded and stood up with him and we followed Corie out. I wasn't quite convinced of what he was telling me but something in me wanted to believe him… I mean this was Tom, my best friend… I loved him… I trust him…