Greetings, amazing people! It's been a whole messy rollercoaster of events in the past months, hasn't it? I hope everyone is being safe, wearing masks, drinking water, social distancing. God I hope you're doing all of that because I've seen those videos of people going crazy on twitter and...big YIKES.
So anyway, rambling aside!
It's very late so I'm just going to put up the chapter before crashing!
Riddle hadn't put on his Hogwarts robes just yet. He was clad in a pristine, pressed white shirt, the black school slacks and shoes that was part of Hogwarts uniform. He had combed his hair back neatly, looking every bit the picture of a model student.
The moment he reached the bottom of the staircase, Miss Cole bustled out, some keys jangling in her hand as she muttered quickly and inaudibly to Martha. I turned around to pick up Eric's battered suitcase, ignoring the turn of Riddle's lips and the way he hitched the handle of his wooden trunk closer to himself.
He had no right to be judgmental of me, I reminded myself. He was a murderer. I was just trying to make the best of my situation. I suddenly felt regretful of politely declining Dumbledore's offer of coming to see me off at the Hogwarts Express. It had been in the elation of the moment, just before I overheard Riddle with his pals.
However, I suppressed any grimace that might cross my face, blanking just as Miss Cole left Riddle and me to stand at the gates while she brought about something…huge, black…on wheels.
"What in the world?" I mumbled under my breath.
As the hunkering monster rolled to a stop near us, Miss Cole got out and walked to the back, where she unlatched and then lifted the back. I gaped at the thing, like it stared right back at me before Riddle was letting out an almost impatient huff, grabbing onto Eric's suitcase and hefting it into the big cavern. Next, he grabbed the two sides of his trunk, lifting it after the suitcase and the hood was falling back, engulfing our joint luggage in.
"Stop staring at it like you've never seen anything like a car before, Revel." Riddle hissed, as he opened the door, waiting for me to step in.
I didn't answer, too flustered to form a coherent sentence. I had actually, never seen a…car before. Of course, I'd seen them in passing in the muggle world while on King's Cross, but they had never been this…close to me. For riddle to comment that I actually may seem not muggle like that was just an added insult.
Riddle chose to enter the back of the car with me, with both of us sitting at the very ends near the small windows, looking out.
London was still just as gloomy as ever as Miss Cole drove the hunk down the streets yet there was an odd sort of fascination about them. I had seen older pictures of London in books in the library but to see it in person, had me nearly pressing to the glass.
Our matron chattered a little to pass the time but unless I was actively paying attention, I didn't have much of a response and Riddle blatantly ignored any presence but his own in the small jammed space.
Finally, when we drew up to the older, a little less bustling version of the King's Cross station, a sigh of relief could be heard metaphorically.
Miss Cole was quick to pull out the luggage while Riddle and I fetched some trolleys.
"Now dear, remember we always have an open room for you. Have a chat with Mr. Dunderbore and get back to us. Maybe visit on Christmas, Eric and Billy and the girls would like that." Miss Cole took me aside to say while Riddle got a head start.
I smiled. "I'd like that. Thank you for everything, Miss Cole."
The matron patted my cheek with a final wave, allowing me to vanish into the crowds running to and fro.
I caught up to Riddle a little ahead on. Striding down the platform, he walked straight on, parting the crowds like a knife through melting butter. You'd think a boy that age would be getting knocked to and fro as you usually did when you came for the school train but sticking close to him somehow had us stand before the brick wall separating platforms 9 and 10 sooner than I was used to.
"Now then," Riddle stopped, turning to barely slide me a glance. "You see the brick wall? That's the gateway to platform 9 ¾. Walk straight on. Make sure no one sees you." He ordered curtly.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." I muttered, swiveling my head just enough to make it look like I was looking for a directions board. Sure that nobody was eyeing too teenagers standing suspiciously near a brick wall, I made a subtle show of leaning against the wall, very aware of the fact that Tom Riddle was eyeing each and every movement I made.
To hell with that, I thought and slipped right through the wall.
It was dark for a split second before I was stumbling through on to the platform 9 ¾.
I didn't wait for Riddle to sidle up beside me, grabbing onto the handles of the trolley and beginning to walk down the length of the platform.
Most of the fixtures were the ones I remembered. The overhead lights twinkled with gleaming small balls of lights, pictures and posters of the current big names of the Wizarding world were hung up on the brick walls.
I looked amongst the unfamiliar faces of students, some already in their Hogwarts robes and others in normal everyday ones. Some were even in the muggle fashion I'd seen in the orphanage.
Yet, the most painful, the most daunting was that each and every one of them…had someone standing with them. A mother to rub away creases or steam pouring out of her wand to iron out a shirt at the last second, a father to recite rules to follow and news to share…
I nearly stopped in my tracks to just stare at the scenario.
I would never have that again. I wouldn't have Pam whining next to me as our mother rattled off things to do and take care of while in school, to hug and smile for us. I wouldn't spot Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville or Luna in the thicket and run to tug them over. I'd left that behind.
All thanks to a certain raven haired boy somewhere in this crowd.
Shaking my head, I tore my eyes away from a boy getting his nose rubbed by a woman carrying an overlarge handkerchief and lifted the suitcase up off of the trolley, climbing in the first carriage near me.
I found an empty compartment at the very end of the carriage, sighing in some relief at the thought of being able to just gaze out the window at the passing fields, trees and rivers while trying to come up with a plan.
After all, I was going to Hogwarts now. I would have to find a quick way to deal with and remove the threat of Voldemort so that I could hopefully go back to my own time as per Dumbledore. Plus, once at school, studies and other activities would barely give me time to think at all.
I needed all the empty time and space I could find to formulate some scheme.
I couldn't fail this.
However as I glanced once out the compartment door to see gossiping and chattering students pass me by, with no worries weighing their shoulder – bar the muggle war and Grindelwald of course – I couldn't help but crack a sad smile.
I watched my mother's face slowly fade out into pinpricks when the train picked up speed. Grabbing onto the end of my trunk I began to pull it in the direction of where Harry, Ron and Hermione had went. There was the usual chatter in the corridor and compartments but as I passed I could see some side eyes and whispered hushes that would've seemed way more unnerving if perhaps I didn't have a heavy trunk lugging behind me.
When I found the bunch, it was unsurprisingly only Harry and Ginny, standing with Neville near a compartment door.
"Ron and Hermione are gone already?"
"Prefect duties," Ginny mumbled absent-mindedly.
"Oh…" I looked at the two tall boys curiously. "So, are we waiting for them to come back? Why aren't we sitting yet? These things are heavy you know." I dropped the handle of my trunk.
Neville glanced at the compartment, "I didn't want to disturb."
"Don't be silly. It's just Loony Lovegood."
"Lovegood; I've heard about her from Pam. She's harmless...And that's not a nice thing to say Ginny." I warned the younger girl, trying to squeeze into the compartment door, the trunk banging against everyone.
Ginny muttered something behind me that I didn't hear, instead smiling at the big eyed blond girl who looked up at our arrival.
"Luna Lovegood, isn't it? Hi, are these seats taken?"
The girl shook her head as I dumped my trunk at the floor under the window, Harry and Neville cautiously following after Ginny.
"Had a good summer, Luna?" Ginny asked.
"Yes," said Luna dreamily, without taking her eyes off Harry. "Yes, it was quite enjoyable, you know. You're Harry Potter," she added.
"I know I am," said Harry, sitting plank straight beside me. I glanced at him out of my eye. He looked like all he needed was one poke and he'd shoot right out of his seat and out the window.
"Calm down, mate. It's just a girl." I nudged him, ignoring the impatient grunt and glare he trained on me.
Neville chuckled. Luna turned her pale eyes upon him instead.
"And I don't know who you are."
"I'm nobody," said Neville hurriedly.
"No you're not," said Ginny sharply. "Neville Longbottom — Luna Lovegood and this is Rose Alton. You know, Pam's sister." I raised a hand in a wave.
"Ah yes, she's nice." Luna said dreamily. My eyebrows shot up, hand coming down abruptly. It was Harry's turn to nudge me.
Luna seemed to have tired of our conversation already. She raised her upside-down magazine high enough to hide her face and fell silent. Harry and Neville glanced at each other is bewilderment. Ginny suppressed a giggle while I kicked off my shoes.
The train rattled onward, speeding them out into open country as the silence which had fallen simply because there was an untold tension of a new presence in our midst turned milder and milder, until finally Harry turned to smile at me – somewhat back to normal.
"Excuse me…are you alone in here?"
I blinked; the images of Harry's tousled black hair, Neville's toothy smile, and Ginny's stifled giggled and Luna's protruding eyes falling away. I was in an empty carriage, right at the window, looking to the door where now stood a tall, heavily tanned girl.
"Sorry, what," I said, sounding stupid and vague to my own ears.
The girl hesitated, "Is the carriage available? Are you alone?" She said, louder than before.
"Oh," I looked to the other seats. "Yeah,"
"Good," She turned to her side. "Oi, Fawley, found one."
I was too curious to turn to the window, watching the newcomers pile into the carriage. The tanned girl jammed her trunk under a seat, flopping down opposite to me. Then followed another; a boy this time, about as stout and muscular where the girl was skinny.
He stopped in the doorway at the sight of me. "It's not empty, Lila."
"Everywhere is full, Fawley. Just sit down." The girl – Lila – yawned at the boy. I tried not to appear too obvious at my staring; watching as the boy stashed his trunk under a seat as well, taking the one beside his friend.
He glanced around the compartment once, before his eyes fell on me.
I averted my gaze immediately, looking out the rolling hills that alternated with small sprawls of fields and ponds here and there.
"So, where's Alphard? I thought we were going to be sitting together this time." The boy started.
The girl sniffed. "He's got to sit with that whole pack of his; Walburga and Cygnus the prat."
I frowned to myself. Where had I heard these names before? They sounded so familiar, the kind you've had around all the time but you never register it.
"I didn't know the Black traditions include sitting together in one carriage." He replied.
Black…
Black…?
Oh Merlin, Black…!
I didn't even bother to hide the hitch in my breath, the sudden whiplash of turning my head around, making both the girl and boy stop mid sentence, glancing at me curiously.
I flushed at the sudden stares, defiantly turning my head back to the window, jaw clenched.
"Say; are you new? We've never seen you around before."
I hesitated, my eyes drifting over the river that ran parallel to the train, wondering how I should answer the question, clearly aimed at me. "Yes," I said finally, shortly, turning around as fast.
"Oh…"
"What's your name?"
I glanced at the boy. "Roselle…Revel," I said, barely slipping the new last name I'd been given.
"How can you be new? Hogwarts doesn't take new students." The girl put in.
"No, no, we do. Remember that one time,"
"It was an exchange student, Fawley. They went back to Ilvermorny, good riddance, in my opinion." She sniffed.
At her tone, Fawley rolled his eyes, lounging back with a lazy grin. "You only dislike her because all the boys talked about her for months."
His friend gave him a sweet smile. "Piss off, Fawley. So, then, how did you manage to enroll? Why didn't you come at eleven?"
"I…" I cast about, fumbling over ideas to spout out. I hadn't considered this. I had never thought that some over nosy student was going to be able to rip holes in my cover. What if word got back to Riddle? He'd be way more interested…and more dangerous.
"My parents died. I came because they knew Dumbledore and he got me in."
"Figures," Fawley said. "They always let Professor Dumbledore do anything he wants. Must be nice, being a genius like that," he paused, "Sorry about your parents, by the way. What happened?"
"Grindelwald," I said smoothly.
"What house are you in?"
"Um…" The first instinct in my head was to proudly say Gryffindor before hindsight stopped me. Did I have to be resorted? "I don't know yet. I hope its Gryffindor, though."
"Eh, it's an ok house, I guess. They're all reckless and impulsive monkeys. The only good thing they've got going is that Dumbledore was in it."
I bristled, bordering on a snappy reply but she continued. "There's nothing of the subtle class of Slytherin in them."
"Wait," I sat up straighter. "You're in Slytherin?"
"Oh yes, we both are." Fawley said brightening as he shared a wide grin with his friend.
"Oh we didn't introduce ourselves. I'm Lila Macmillan and this buffoon right here," she ignored his heavy scowl, "is Archibald Fawley. Feel free to call him Archie…or even Baldy."
"No,"
I looked at Lila, trying to see bare resemblances with Ernie Macmillan. "Aren't you supposed to be in Hufflepuff?"
She shrugged. "My mum was. My dad is in Slytherin and he says I take after him so I suppose he's right about that. People with brains do well in Slytherin."
"What about Ravenclaw then?" I asked testily.
Fawley waved a hand at that. "That's just brains and schoolwork. You want a real intelligent person; someone clever and quick, you look to a Slytherin."
I forced a smile at their chortles, turning to look back out the window. Something about their alliances had sparked a prickle in my hairline. They were Slytherin, direct connection to Riddle and his 'pals'. Was this an opportunity or…would they be reporting back to Riddle?
The rest of the trip, I kept my mouth tightly shut, deciding to listen instead of supply conversation. The times were new, or rather old, I told myself; there was no telling when something I said would rub someone off the wrong way and they might become suspicious.
When the candy trolley came, Fawley and Macmillan both stuffed Licorice wands, Bertie Bott's every flavor beans, chocolate frogs and cauldron cakes on to the space between them. I tried not to let my mouth water. Once, I'd have shared those same things with Harry, Ron and Hermione and Neville but now, I barely had any money and I didn't want to waste what I had in case of an emergency.
Once the announcement for the end of our journey sounded over the magical speakers, Lila kindly led me back to the numerous changing rooms to put on our robes.
Considering we were just barely starting in September, the platform on Hogsmeade was oddly chilly. I caught a few students already tightening the clasps on their cloaks, wishing I'd done the same. Sadly, my cloak was still wrapped in the suitcase.
I exited the carriage with Archibald and Lila, surprisingly sticking together with me even though I didn't think I'd rubbed them off at all nicely. Maybe it was some odd form of camaraderie, one you kindled after a long journey. I wasn't complaining however.
The village of Hogsmeade, some distance away was lit up, movement behind many of the windows and I found myself glancing over at them much more than I had before.
What kind of place was Hogsmeade in the 1940s? Was it conservative or eccentric?
My musing ceased when something moved in my periphery, attracting my attention as it loomed overhead.
Skeletal thin, black as the night and scaly, I paused, looking up at the Thestral that pawed at the ground. The rungs of the school carriages were attached to a small saddle, lifted onto its bony back.
As if feeling my stare, the animal lifted its head; staring straight back at me. Its glittering black eyes were emotionless, or so I felt; I couldn't exactly speak Thestral.
"Roselle, are you coming with us?" I heard Lila call, already moving to climb up the open carriage.
"Yeah," I called back, still staring at the animal before starting to walk around it. I stopped yet again when I met someone's eye.
Tom Riddle sat at the carriage before ours. With him there were five more, all engaging in conversation but he didn't seem interested. His dark head was turned towards me, eyes blank as usual but it sent uneasiness rising along my skin. Did he see my look at the Thestral? Could he see the Thestral? Why was he staring at me?
He finally looked away once his carriage started to move, turning to his friends – friends?
Did he even have friends?
"It's going to leave you behind." Fawley finally said. I looked up to see him leaning on the side of the carriage, a teasing grin on his face. The Thestral seemed to agree, bobbing its head as it began to turn about. I darted to the back, throwing myself onto the steps and clambering up before it began the trot up to the castle.
I caught Lila snickering.
Up ahead, I could already spot the looming towers of the castle, looking intimidating in the night light but I contained a shiver of excitement.
I was home. I would soon be in my familiar dorm, in my familiar common room, walking the corridors and sitting in classrooms, eating in the Great Hall and wandering about the castle as I pleased. I couldn't stop the gleeful smile.
"Yeah, it's pretty, isn't it?" Lila asked suddenly.
"Oh," I glanced at her. "Yes, of course. It's…it's bigger than I expected."
Archibald chuckled. "It's bigger and more confusing on the inside."
"Don't worry though, we'll be with you. You won't get lost." Lila spoke, frowning at her friend.
I blinked in surprise at her generosity. "Thank you," I said, looking down. I felt guilty now, suspecting their behavior earlier. Maybe they were nice people, after all, Ernie had been nice too – just a little mouthy.
Once we reached the Castle entrance, the carriage stopped. I spied Riddle climbing down too, his Thestral making its way into the Forbidden Forest.
Following the chattering students in, I made sure to keep my ears pricked for any mention of an Alton. It would be strange to meet one but they…they would be family.
Maybe I could tell my mother and my friends all about my ancestors when I went back.
"Um, Rose, Professor Dumbledore's calling you." A hand landed on my shoulder, making me turn to see a tall man standing at the far corner of the Entrance. His peach robes and stripped hat was painfully obvious and when he met my eye, he raised a hand of greeting.
"Right…excuse me," I said, moving through the throng of students to where he stood, watching the students file up the stairs.
"I'm glad to see you got here safely, Miss Revel." His moustache twitched when I stood beside him. "Safe travel, I hope,"
"It was fine. I made friends with a couple students." I let him know.
"I see; and what did you tell them?"
"Only the things we decided on,"
"Perfect; please do follow me." He said finally, turning to lead the way out through a smaller corridor. I quickly fell in step, just behind him as the corridor turned and twisted before giving way to a much bigger hallway, leading to one large door at the end.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"My office; I spoke to Professor Dippet and he agreed to have you be sorted in private. I didn't suppose you would be all that comfortable at the prospect of sitting up on a stool with first years."
"Oh my god, you're a gem, Professor Dumbledore." I exclaimed making him laugh before my joy faded.
"Wait," I said, pausing even as he opened the door. "Why do I have to be sorted again? I am a Gryffindor."
"In your time, perhaps, but in this time you have never attended Hogwarts at eleven. Your name has just been added to the roster and we cannot send you to a House unless you've been properly sorted. It's just rules, my dear."
He pointed me to a chair, in front of his desk. "We'll make this quick, the hat is needed at the Sorting Ceremony after all."
"It'll just send me back to Gryffindor." I muttered.
"Then we'll all be very happy."
I watched him pick up the battered and patched brown hat up, flopping down into one of the squashy chairs before he was dropping it down on my head. The hat – just like when I was eleven – fell a couple inches down my nose, obstructing view.
How big had Godric Gryffindor's head been anyway?
Quite big, if I remember correctly, the buzzing voice spoke in my ear, making me jump.
Now then, what do we have here? A new student…but not really new, are you?
Um, yes, I thought to it.
Sorted in Gryffindor, in the past…or should I say future.
Yes, so if you could just put me back in there, that would be very nice.
Would it…? You have come back for a reason. Think about what it is. Think about what house it would be smartest for you to go in.
What the hell is that supposed to mean? Of course…Gryffindor is where I belong.
Not quite so…Roselle Revel, you're going to be in –
WAIT –
"Slytherin"
The last word – the most damning one – it was speaking out loud to the office, for Dumbledore to hear. I gripped the brim of the hat, yanking it off my head to glare at it with all the venom I could muster.
"Well then," Dumbledore gently took it from me. "That's that."
"This cannot be happening. It did not just tell me that my mission is why I should be in Slytherin." I gritted my teeth.
"Miss Revel," the professor began calmly. "The hat places according to the student. Perhaps, you should consider that you're not the person you are in 1942 as you were in 1998."
"What could've possibly changed?"
"Everything," Dumbledore's voice was grave enough for me to fall silent, thinking over what the hat had said. I had to consider my mission. Being close to Riddle might just be the ways for me shoot him with one well placed curse.
"Not everyone you meet in Slytherin House is a bad person, Miss Revel; and they'd be glad to have someone of your caliber join them." Dumbledore was already at the door, holding it open for me to walk out.
I sighed, choosing to mope later as I followed him to the Great Hall.
"By the way, Professor," I began lightly. "Why did you tell Tom Riddle to keep an eye on me?"
"Is that what he told you?" Dumbledore appeared surprised. "I merely told him that you were our newest addition, and that he was to see you were in good conditions."
"Oh," I fidgeted uncomfortably, wondering if I should tell him about the conversation I'd overheard in Diagon Alley. Not tonight, maybe later, once I'd gotten a good handle on being in Hogwarts out of my time. Once I'd seen what Riddle was capable of…or what he was up to.
"I should perhaps warn you now. I know your mission is something that would affect the future. If it is unavoidable, I can see why…why my future self would send you but I think it's better to tell you now. Don't do anything that would conspicuously change the timeline. Interfering with time never goes well, my child."
"I know that." I said unemotionally.
"Also," he paused long enough for me to glance at him. "Do not underestimate Tom Riddle in any way."
If I had expected to take Dumbledore's words to heart, it didn't do much good. Nothing looked different. The Great Hall still glittered with golden firelight, under the enchanted ceiling that made it seem as if we were eating under the open night sky.
Dumbledore motioned for me to take a seat, but not before tapping his wand against my robes ones, the inner sleeves, tie and belt changing from black to a deep emerald green. I tried not to shudder…or walk too fast to the farthest long table.
"Hey," I heard Lila raise a hand to wave me over and I gratefully plopped down beside her, avoiding the boring eyes of my now fellow students.
"So, what did Dumbledore want? Wait, you're wearing our colors! You're in Slytherin?" Fawley asked, a wide beam crossing his face when he saw me sporting the same colors, the emblem on my chest a curling snake instead of the proud rearing lion.
"Hmm," I mumbled, ducking my head a bit. I was reminded of the awkward breakfast back at the orphanage; at least there had been some consolation of being not too different from their pitiful state. Here, everyone was most probably magical nobility or some form of snooty snob who would dearly love to bully the new girl.
Not everyone you meet in Slytherin is bad. I glanced at Lila and Archibald gratefully underneath my lashes.
"Oh Sorting is about to begin. I wish they'd hurry up I'm famished." Lila craned her head to look over mine, impatient as Dumbledore unfurled a long parchment and began to call out names.
I listened to the sorting with some interest, noting the familiar surnames and people about whom I'd heard of from friends or – even better – read about in the books. I picked up my spoon and fork, feeling slightly out of place as I cut into a piece of shepherd's pie. What would the people still alive in my time thing?
Oh that girl…seems awfully familiar.
It was a laugh, sitting here with future famous people when I'd been sent back to kill who was possibly the most famous and dangerous of them all.
Speaking of…
I turned my head about, looking along the length of the table to see if I could catch some hint of a tall, raven haired Dark Wizard. I caught some other eyes; brows rose in haughty arrogance and I dropped my head back in defeat.
Soon after Dinner, the Headmaster – Professor Dippet – stood, rolling out the old announcements that somehow sounded much lighter when they came from Dumbledore. This Wizard, feeble and frail, had a thin whispery voice that floated down to the rest of the students by a stroke of pure amazement.
"Off to bed, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow!" He clapped his hands twice, signaling the end of the feast and I sat for a second as around me people began to file out.
Slytherins lined up to walk off when I felt a presence at my shoulder.
"Miss Revel, I presume,"
I looked up to see Dippet standing over me, a benign expression on his face. "Yes sir," I stood up from the table.
"Good to see you up and walking, please, come with me." He motioned for me to start walking in front before him as he began to lead us with the Slytherin students, much slower though.
"I have to thank you, professor, for allowing me to continue my studies with Hogwarts." I said.
"Professor Dumbledore let us know of your circumstances. We can hardly let a child be thrown to the world without proper magical education, especially in these times." Dippet tilted his head.
"I thought I should formally welcome you to Hogwarts. Now, Professor Dumbledore has said that most of your primary education has been taken care of and well evaluated when he picked you up but I still wish for you to come forward and ask for help should you need it. This is an OWL year, after all."
"Of course, but I assure you, I'm well up to speed and," I stopped short when a shadow passed over in front of me, another student soundlessly joined in.
"Good evening, Professor Dippet."
Tom Riddle sidled way too close for comfort, almost ignoring my entire existence as he smiled at Professor Dippet in a way that was so off on his usually carefully blank face. His eyes creased, lips turned up, open and approachable.
"Ah, Tom," Dippet seemed to have taken on new life, a spring in the hand that clamped on the younger wizard's shoulder. "I didn't see you during the Feast."
"I had a quick meal, sir. I thought it would be best to complete my patrol early tonight so I could wake up in good time tomorrow."
"My – you're the perfect choice for Prefect this year." Dippet chuckled, patting his shoulder before dropping his arm, turning to look at me. "You know Tom Riddle, Miss Revel, Professor Dumbledore had you stay with him."
"Oh yes sir, we know each other." For the first time ever, Tom Riddle turned a smile in my direction, as if we already bosom friends. All I could see was the cruel sneer, eyeing me as I hung – wand less and vulnerable – in front of him.
I turned away.
"We've met." I said shortly.
"Excellent, excellent, now then as I was saying Miss Revel; if you need help, you can ask. And who better to help you than the honor student – eh, Tom?"
I felt rather than see him turn his head to me.
"Oh don't worry sir; I will make sure Miss Revel is absolutely well taken care of." He turned away before I could meet his eyes.
"Good, go on to bed then both of you." Dippet waved us off.
Riddle and I turned to each other first, my eyes skirting his before he was striding off, with me just a couple steps behind. My hand had returned to its position; tightly wound around the handle of my wand.
And that's that for now people! Do leave some feedback for me to cry over!
Till the next time!
