Written For:
- Day 27 of 366 Days of Writing Challenge: Stranger
- February Event: (word) Heartthrob, (plot/action) Going on a romantic date
- Word Prompt Express: born
Pairings/Characters: Tom Riddle, Walburga, Orion
Word Count: 476
Another Stranger
It's not a war, no, it's not a rapture. I'm just a person, but you can't take it.
It was the day after Walburga had returned to Hogwarts from the summer holidays for her sixth year, and she was waiting in the Slytherin Common Room for her date. For the first time ever, she was nervous about seeing Tom Riddle, considering what had happened during the summer holidays.
It had shocked everyone when Walburga announced openly to the rest of Slytherin that she was dating Tom Riddle. He was the local heartthrob, Pureblood (or at least, he claimed to be) and the apple of everyone's eye—so it was only natural that Walburga would take him for herself. They had kept a pleasant relationship for a year. Walburga didn't care about his strange ability to speak to snakes—in fact, she thought it was intriguing. When they spoke about Muggle-borns and witches and wizards marrying Muggles, they both exclaimed a similar disgust at the thought.
Tom was perfect for Walburga, and she had every intention of marrying him.
But things had soon changed when she returned home. She had explained to her parents that Tom was Pureblood, and at first they were happy. But after doing some research and being unable to source the name Riddle, they concluded that he was either of a foreign nature, or Tom was lying to her about his blood status, and neither was acceptable for the spoiled princess of the House of Black.
Her parents had made quick work of betrothing her to her cousin, Orion, so that she would have no chance of continuing her relationship with Tom. So, she had returned to Hogwarts with a ring upon her finger, and a heavy heart.
Walburga had done her best to make sure that the Common Room was warm and cosy. She had ordered everyone up to their dormitories and lit candles around the room, trying to pull off a romantic atmosphere, but it didn't really work. Any other time, the date would've been romantic, but she knew it wouldn't be the case that night.
When Tom walked into the common room, he noticed the engagement ring on her finger immediately. "Who is it?" he demanded to know.
"Orion," she whispered, feeling her eyes prickle with tears. She had held back the tears all summer, but it was only now that they were threatening to spill.
Tom was silent for a very long time, and Walburga didn't expect him to say anything - especially not what he did say. "It's fine," he replied haughtily, after a long period of quiet. "It's what is meant to be—it's what you were born to do; preserve your bloodline."
"What now?" Walburga murmured.
Tom folded his arms and glared at her. "Nothing," he spat finally. "You're nothing more than a stranger to me, now."
