The Halls of Hogwarts have been dressed for the Holidays. Reefs of green wrapped around all the light fixtures up and down the halls, Red bows hung everywhere, the ceiling of the great hall snowed as the charms professor helped levitate large ornaments up onto one of the four trees that stood behind the Professors tables. The Ghosts of the castle dang carols as they flouted through the school. Peeves caused holiday chaos until the Baron came to stop him. Tom avoided all manners of the cursed plant that caused girls to swoon, Mistletoe. It was like some strange torture to the boy, who would charm his cloak to detect the blasted small plant that would appear out of no where.
'Why would anyone charm the blasted plant to appear and disappear at will.'
Tom thought after he watched a girl who became a fit of giggles when she and Malfoy where caught beneath the cursed plant. Tom wondered if Cardia would giggle like that strange girl if caught under the plant. He shock his head knowing that if she got caught with anyone she detested she would hex them and then hex said plant. Over the last four months, Tom came to realize that Cardia Beckford was a kind soul unless you cross her then the hexes start to fly.
Just last week, he witnessed Malfoy, Nott and Parkinson causing her grief about how close she is to the Heir of Slytherin. At first Tom wanted to intervene, but knew that Cardia would throw hexes his way as well. She had done so the last time Percival tried to come to her rescue. She hexed him for thinking she needed his help, and once she was over being mad at him, she apologized and explained that she liked fighting her own battles to the best of her ability. But when she was being teased by the three terrors of Slytherin as she calls them, her magic caused her hair to spark and have a life of its own. To an eleven year old boy, watching a girl's hair grow a life of its own is actually sort of scary. Alphrad told him he had seen it happen before, mostly when Malfoy was involved. Even Potter agreed not to cause the girl to turn her magic on them. Prim laughed at them and said those thoughts let the Nargles in, he mentioning the imaginary creatures set off a whole other conversation about magical real or non-real creatures.
As Tom walked the halls looking for those he deems closest to him, he realized that he'll be left alone in the castle for the next couple of weeks. Yes in the orphanage, Mrs. Cole left him alone for the most part, but anytime someone was hurt or something came up missing, he was blamed for it. Majority of the time it was not him, only the ones that tried to hurt him first were the accidents he could honestly take the blame for. But this was different, Cardia wouldn't be around to entertain him, even though the girl in question had no clue how entertaining she was compared to everyone else in the school. Alphrad his only roommate that he considers close would be home with his family. Tom was even envious of Potter and Weasley for being able to go home.
Lost in thought Tom turned to corner to find that Cardia and Alphrad where caught by the infestation of the bloody plant that terrorized the school.
"I can not believe that a kiss on the hand didn't work!" An exasperated Cardia sighed.
"I'm still wondering how your creative spell hadn't denigrated that Blasted plant." Alphrad rolled his eyes.
"Al, this isn't funny!" Cardia scolded him.
"What are you two doing?" Tom asked eyeing them.
The school's blasted Mistletoe would let its captives go after a kiss on the hand, cheek, or the equivalent. Tom looked at the plant and then at his two allies who where clearly caught by an older students prank.
"Cari, no its not funny, but nothing else to do but stand here. I don't even think Tom can do anything about this torturous plant., right Mate?" Alphrad eyed Tom.
"Black, it's clearly an upper classes prank. Probably set up to get the girl they had their eyes set on." Tom drawled unfazed by the other boy.
"Tom, go see if you can find the Charms Professor." Cardia looked at Tom, with pleading eyes.
Tom made if way to Professor Suirattigas's class room. The Professor was one of the most interesting people in the school. The rumors that he had heard in the dungeons where that he was raised by the ghosts of his own parents, another was that he was some how related to Jack the Ripper, who many in the wizarding world was a wizard that had gone crazy after the death of his wife caused by muggles. Its quite interesting because the Professor doesn't deny or confirm the rumors.
"Mr. Riddle, why are you interrupting my class?" Professor Suirattigas called before even Tom had knocked on the door.
"Sorry Professor, but the Mistletoe has two other students trapped." Tom explained.
Tom honestly thought the Professor was a vampire like a few of the upper classmates have gossiped about. The man's dark hair, pale eyes and pale skin coincide with the rumor. Even though most wizards know that the vampires tend to never turn wizards now a days, but no one has ever figured out how young the Professor is.
Sighing Professor Suirattigas turned back to his class and spoke; " Read up on the charm we have been disguising before our interruption and I'll go rescue the other students."
Soon Tom found himself fallowing behind the Professor back to Cardia and Alphrad. When they happened upon them they found Malfoy with his wand drawn pointed at Cardia while Alphrad was leaning up against the wall looking as though he got punched in the face.
"ENOUGH MALFOY! 20 points from Slytherin for attacking a student and 15 more for pointing your wand at a Lady who clearly hasn't drawn her own wand." The Professor spoke as he flicked his wand at the plant holding Black and Beckford from going to get help.
"Professor, she said some horrible things and Black only got in the way!" Malfoy countered anger showing on his face.
"From what I've seen Mis Beckford never provokes you or your friends Mr. Malfoy." The man sneered at the student.
"Beckford, Riddle see Black to the Hospital wing. Malfoy, I expect to see you every night after returning to school from break for detention as tomorrow you are heading home."
As Tom helped Alphrad up, Cardia grabbed their bags and took Blacks other arm to help stabilize him. After they had walked out of ear shot Tom threw a look at Cardia that he knew she would know what it was about.
Sighing, "Malfoy stumbled upon us and began to taught us. Saying things like Black falling for the 'Blood Traitor' and that I would taint any Noble families houses if they chose to marry me, things along those lines. Al stepped infront of me and asked Malfoy if he was jealous as the Heir of Slytherin prefers the company of Lady Beckford over the Heir of the house of Malfoy. Basically the retched boy threw a hex that hit Al in the face and caused him to fall back. I was trying to get Malfoy to leave when you and Professor Suirattigas came around the corner."
Knowing that his roommate was attacked for standing up for someone who he considered a friend was noble to Tom. Tom's mind was going through the different things he could do to Malfoy in retaliation to this.
"I'm sorry that you'll be left alone for the Holidays here Tom. I asked father if you could come back with me. But I found out I'll be expected to be at many Yule tide affairs this season so he didn't think it was the best time to have company." She sounded sad that he'll be alone.
"It's fine, I'm used to it."
"But you shouldn't be Tom."
"You'll be back in a couple weeks, who knows maybe I'll see if I can figure out Old Professor Suirattigas's secrets while your gone Beckford." Tom lifted and eye brow at her over their friends head.
"You wouldn't dare Riddle." She hissed back with a glair.
"I don't know, finding out something you don't know first seems like a great way to pass my time."
Hello Loves!
A little different having this at the end of the chapter, but decided to change it up a bit. Thank you all for the support that you've given this story so fare. I enjoy all your comments and reviews as they come in.
Thank you!
Kasy
Lucyole; I'm so glade that you are enjoying this story! I've read very different variations of Hermione trying to keep Tom from turning into Voldimort. So I hope that this story continues to keep you reading and Thank you for you great review!
Ghost Claw 001; Thank you! If you enjoy this story not sure if you have looked at Aphrodite's Shattered Time or Fate of Time. All very different Twists on Time Travel. Thank you for your review!