Hello Loves!
I am grateful for all the support you all have given to this story. I apologize for the long wait for this chapter. Writers block can hinder a story's progression. I am pleased to be updating this story with this chapter for you all to enjoy and read.
ENJOY!
The odd group of first years seemed to manage to finish their first year of school at Hogwarts with out any other miss haps. But now came the summer of Society Parties, Tea Parties and such. Cardia's Grandmother sent word that she would be accompanying the Matriarch of the Prince family to the Ladies tea Parties as Eileen wasn't yet old enough. Cardia knew that she wouldn't be named as the Heiress of the Prince line as she was the Beckford heiress. Eileen would be raised to be the Heiress of the Prince family. But according to Cardia's Grandmother, her father wasn't teaching her to be the Heiress she was supposed to be. Especially when she continued to cause much embarrassment and humiliation to the Heirs of the Malfoy, Nott, and Parkinson families. Cardia rolled her eyes at the letter and knew that it would be a long summer for her. Sure she would see Prim at a few and her other friends at the other parties; such as the Potter's summer Solstice party. That was a party she was looking forward to, now the Malfoy's midsummers ball, she was not.
"Hey Cari, what are your summer plans?" Charlus asked pulling her attention from the book or her thoughts.
"My Grandmother has seen to it that I am to spend the summer accompanying her to the Society Ladies Tea parties and Luncheons." She spoke bitterly.
"So you wont get to spend all your time in your families library this summer." Percy laughed.
"No, I'll be stuck interacting with the likes of Malfoy, Nott, and Parkinson while my Grandmother try's to make a match for me even though I'm the Beckford Heiress not the Prince Heiress like Eileen is. But she seems to think its her appointed duty to see to it that I have a proper match." Cardia rolled her eyes at that.
"Cari, that means that you'll be at my mothers tea party." Prim smiled at her.
That was true, seeing Prim would be the better part of the summer as the boys seem to be becoming annoying.
Charlus and Percy are just like Harry and Ron.
An inner thought was spoken by another in her mind. That happens quite a bit when her friends do something that is familiar to her. Cardia over her year of research she had come to believe that her past life she was someone who died and some how became Cardia Beckford. She would have thoughts like; Malfoy is just like his son and grandson, or Pansy is very like Parkinson. It was the little things that would cause her to think these strange thought. Her own father reminded her of another in her subconscious where she had a dream about a dark haired man calling her Kitten in the same way her father calls her Imp. At times she would feel a pang of regret and sorrow when someone around her reminded her of a person from her past life.
With Tom she would feel uneasy around him at moments, like the time he set a snake on a boy that was teasing Prim and Cardia. Or when he would look at her in the eyes and she felt that he could see both her and who her past self was.
"I had invited Tom to spend a few weeks at Potter manor during the summer solicits festivities. I was hoping that all of us could spent those weeks together." Charlus's comment pulled her yet again from her thoughts.
"I would have to speak to my mother, she isn't too impressed with some that I keep company with." Alphrad spoke rolling his eyes.
"Black we all know how your mum isn't impressed with our family as she was infatuated with my father in school, but when he became betrothed to my mother it caused a rift between the two families." Percy laughed.
The Black's and Wesley's have always been at odds with each other. The Black's where able to have one or two children at most three in some cases, but the Wesley's where able to have many. This and some sort of engagement that was broken between the families a few generations before also contributed to this family feud.
"So all families in this world have a grudge against another? Like how Malfoy seems to hold something against Cardia." Tom asked not looking up from the book he had in his hand.
"Well the relationship or grudge as you put it Tom, between Malfoy and Cardia is due to our lovely Cardia having publicly embarrass the Heir of House Malfoy nearly every time she sees fit to." Alphrad smirked at Cardia as he answered Tom.
Sirius used to smirk like that at Harry when speaking of someone faunally.
"Al, remember the time that Cardia exploded the massive cake at one of the Malfoy's grand parties because he was mean to a half-blood that was born into one Noble house of Bones?" Charlus asked knowing that Cardia would turn red at the teasing.
"Oh I remember that! It was accidental magic, we where what 6 at the time." Al laughed.
"I was there! I haven't had the courage to speak to any of you at that time but I remember that." Percy busted out in a fit of laughter.
"I see, so that's why he seems to be incredibly cruel to her." Tom acknowledged with a nod looking at a bright red Cardia who was trying to hide behind the book she has had out.
"It wasn't as spectacular as these three say it was." Cardia tried to reason.
They continued to talk about the summer, Tom agreed to many trips to Diagon with the group. At one point Malfoy, Nott and Parkinson found them and spoke to Tom outside the compartment about something. This worried Cardia a bit. Since Tom never gives his thoughts a voice or any indication that e has other thoughts then what he agrees to. He always projects a cool calm demeanor unless he is pissed beyond his control. After the three devils had left, the group continued to make plans and play exploding snaps. Al, Char, and Percy teaching Tom the game as they know he spent majority of first year studying.
At the platform, Cardia tried to look for her father over all the students that where much taller then her. She had known the boys had grown some over the year, but she seemed to have barley grown. Spotting her father, she grabbed Tom's hand and drew closer to her father.
"FATHER!" She called out to him.
"Well if it isn't my little Imp." He smiled at her.
"I'm not an Imp."
"Well, Imps cause pranks and you my sweet daughter have caused your grandmother a lot of issues."
"Not my problem that the company she keeps children or grandchildren are pricks."
"I know, but who have you brought with you?" He asked looking at Tom.
"Father this is Tom Riddle, he is one of the friends I've made at school. I was hoping that he could stay with up just before we go back to school." She explained.
Cardia knew her father wouldn't mind, but it was still respect to ask for permission then to just make plans. Even though she was sure that the others had asked there parents to owl her father to get permission to make plans.
"I don't see why not, he seems sensible if he made friends with you."
After finalizing plans with Tom and the other's parents for the summer. None knew that the Muggle world would implode just as they started their second year. The wizarding world never cared for the happenings of the muggle world. But what is to come will effect both worlds, as it gives Grindlewald traction as well as more wizards hatred of those who come from muggle beginnings.
Jim; Thank you for your comment and this is a slow burn when it comes to Tom and Cardia's friendship. Have to wait and see what is to come in the story as it progresses.
PinkSlytherin; Im glad that you love the story. As for Tom attending pureblood events, youll have to wait and see along with the hope that Cardia wont get hurt. Its only the first year so six more to see what happens.