Four years later...
"A job well done class! Now, you're next assignment is to have a wonderful Christmas with your families!" Said Mr. Flint as the end of his class neared. Christmas break was finally approaching meaning that Tilly and her fellow classmates had survived two out of four semesters.
*a bell rings*
Mr. Flint gave another farewell "Now you all be safe and have a Merry Christmas!" As the students filed out the door, Tilly stayed back to give her favorite teacher a gift.
"Excuse me Mr. Flint." She cooed as she approached his desk. The young professor looked up from his computer.
"Ah! Ms. Partridge what can I do for you?"
From her bag, she took out a box wrapped in shiny paper and handed it to the man.
"Merry Christmas!" She beamed with a soft laugh.
Mr. Flint laughed and began to unravel the paper only to reveal a boxed tied with a ribbon. Once opened, Mr. Flint smiled as he took out a handkerchief with the words "#1 Teacher" written across its fine silk.
"Do you like it? I noticed throughout the semester's that you wear a different handkerchief almost everyday, so I thought this one would be nice to add to your collection."
"I love it Tilly! Thank you!" As he said this, he arose from his chair and gave the student a big hug. They talked briefly about classes and what they wanted for Christmas before Tilly decided that if she didn't leave soon, the bus would leave without her. With that being said, she said her goodbyes and made her way into the hallway.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Tilly was too excited about break and her birthday (which was coming up on December 31) that she hardly noticed the stranger walking towards her. They collided and she knocked whatever it was the person was carrying out of their hand.
"Pardon me!" Tilly apologized. Upon further inspection, the stranger turned into an African American male with dreads and what looked like dark yellow eyes. He was quite buff which caused her to freeze.
"It's alright, that was partly my fault too!" The man replied with a deep voice. He then smiled and began to bend down to get his things.
"No no! Allow me seeing as I am the one who knocked them out your hands!" Tilly shooed his hands away and started to pickup what appeared to be some books and paper. She didn't want it to look like she was being nosy, but she couldn't help but notice a book titled "The Path of Daggers by: Robert Jordan".
"I love this book!" Tilly said as she picked it up.
"Ah yes, I'm about to start it sometime during break." Replied the stranger.
Tilly handed the man the book "Oh! And here are the rest of your things Mr..."
As if in a trance, the man shook his head "Knightheart, Cedric Knightheart, thank you and you are?." He took the papers and books from the girls hand.
"Tilly Partridge" By the time she told him this, she realized that she still had to catch the bus back to her home. "My bus!" She yelled before sprinting down the hallway, skirt flailing around her legs.
"Wait!" Cedric called from down the hallway. He jogged to catch up with her "I feel as if I should walk you down to the bus station, my house can't be too far from yours."
As she tried to catch her breath, she replied "Oh really, where do you live?"
"Just on the other side of Victoria Avenue".
"That's where I live too! Funny how I don't recall seeing you before?" Tilly said confused.
"Well, I just moved there a couple weeks ago, but I'm still learning my way around, so it would be nice to have someone guide me..."
Mr. Knightheart hadn't been in school here for very long. No wonder he was roaming the halls. However, Tilly felt sorry for the man and a sense that she still needed to pay him back for knocking his books from his hand.
"You can just tag along with me, I don't mind, but we need to be leaving now or we will surely miss the bus!" Not to mention she was supposed to meet up with Madison and Alexander, but telling him that might make him uncomfortable.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
The two left the school and hurried to the bus stop. Once there, they sat on a bench.
"We are actually a little early!" Tilly cried, remembering how she made Cedric sprint down the road to get here even though he was pretty fast.
"Tilly Willy!" Called a voice from down the sidewalk. A girl with blonde hair started running towards them. "Madison!" Tilly said as she sprang from the bench. She wrapped her friend in a hug.
"Where's Alexander?" She asked
"Right here Till Bug" Said Alexander as he swung an arm around Madison.
"Who's this?" Madison asked as Cedric appeared behind her friend.
"Oh! Guys, this is Cedric, we had a little run in with each other at school and now I'm going to help him find his way home since he is new in town."
Cedric proceeded to shake Madison and Alexander's hand.
"You look familiar, have I seen you before?" Madison asked.
Cedric assured her that he didn't recall her from anywhere. By then, the bus had pulled into its stop and the four students boarded. The ride was awkwardly quiet until the bus stopped to let Tilly and Cedric off.
"Be safe going home and don't forget about our plans for tomorrow! Cedric if you try anything on her, I'll kill you!" Madison called from the bus window.
Tilly and Cedric watched as the bus left, leaving them in both the cold and a cloud of exhaust. As it was on the bus, their walk was very quiet with the exception of Cedric's descriptions of how to get back home. After walking a ways, Cedric's finally stopped and said his house was nearby.
"Alright, you can leave me here if you want." Cedric said.
"Are you sure? It's awfully dark out..." Tilly replied innocently.
Cedric laughed "I think I can manage."
They then said their goodbyes and parted ways.
"Wait Cedric!" Tilly called halfway down the sidewalk "Would you like to come with me and Madison to the market tomorrow? It would be great for you to know where it is since you're new in town."
"Sure what time?" Cedric called back
"We want to get there a little early so about 10" She called back, voice going hoarse.
"Sounds interesting! I'll go!"
"Great! I'll meet you at the bus station tomorrow. Have a nice night!"
"You too!" Cedric said ending the conversation.
Tilly smiled after realizing she had made a new friend. She turned to make sure Cedric was still ok, but he had vanished.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Once she got home, Tilly shared the news with Madison via call.
"You can't trust people so easily Tilly!" Madison hissed.
"I know, but he's new in town and hardly knows anyone!"
Madison coughed "And what if he's some rapist! What then?"
Madison was always one to go to the extremes "You sound like my mother! I will trust him unless he proves me otherwise!"
Either way, the market was crowded, so it wouldn't be like she was alone with him in his house. Which she didn't actually see. Cedric just said he saw it, but he never showed it to her.
"There will be a good crowd Madison, so if anything happens someone will get help. Don't worry so much!"
"As your best friend, I have the right to worry for you and besides I really don't want to have to kill someone!" Madison's laugh rang through her ears causing a smile to form on her face.
In the end, Madison agreed to letting Cedric come.
Meanwhile...
Cedric made his way into the darkness of the woods behind someone's house. With a flick of his wrist, he turned into a black Smoke and rose into the air.
He made his way back to Draco Manner which he and his fellow death eaters took over two years ago. Cedric stormed upstairs and knocked on the door to his leader's room.
"Who is it?" Chimed a voice inside the room.
"Sir it's me, I bring news!"
The door flew open revealing the devil that dwelled behind it. Braxton laughed and asked Cedric to come take a seat...
"My dear friend, what news have you brought me?"
"I found her."
Braxton's smile turned into a serious smirk "Oh did you? And how was my little white dove?"
"Pure as snow sir, it's been four years meaning..."
"Yes yes, I know." Braxton replied as he licked his lips. He stood and paced the room.
"Shall the snatchers and I go ahead and get her?"
Braxton stopped and shook his head "No no that won't do. You need to get close to her, make her trust you before luring her into our clutches. Wait until after her birthday, suggest going somewhere that will separate you from society. More than likely, she won't trust you enough to go with just you, but we can easily deal with her muggle friends after we've got her."
"That's a wonderful-" Cedric began.
"Braxton!" Called a different voice.
Gabriella Sparows entered the room "Shenzie and her brother are fighting again!"
"Again?" Braxton began "Well, stop them!"
"I don't think you want me to do that sir, unless you want that fine white rug they are fighting over to be drenched in a thick red..."
"Ugh!" He sighed
"I've got them sir." Cedric said as he got up from his chair.
"You remember the plan my good friend. I trust you won't let me down!"
Cedric left the room leaving he and Gabriella alone together.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"So what's this plan?" The annoyance asked.
"Cedric found her."
Gabriella's nostrils flared slightly "Oh, what wonderful news!"
"Such sarcasm...tsk!" Braxton replied.
Gabriella slid her hand onto his. No matter how many times he's rejected her, the woman keeps coming back...how annoying. Braxton moved his hand.
"Stop playing hard to get!" Gabriella said with a pout.
"I need you to stay focused Gabriella! The first part of the prophecy is beginning to take place!"
She plopped down on a chair "If I had anything to do with this, I'd just pass the duty to myself and snap that girls pretty little neck."
Braxton rolled his eyes "That's not your neck to snap." He was beginning to get annoyed with her arrogance. Tilly was his to deal with and he would do as he pleased in regards to her stay at Draco Manner, but he made a note to himself not to leave her and Gabriella alone together.
"Well toodles!" She said in an obnoxious manner before skipping out the room.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
It was now him and his thoughts. Now that he knew of Tilly's whereabouts, he could feel the Dark Lords blood boil as it ran through his veins. It was a satisfying feeling that also made him feel powerful. Different feelings of both excitement and adrenaline filled him as well.
"Hey mum? You will be completely healed soon". He addressed to his sleeping mother in the room next to his. She was still under Voldemort's charm, but he could tell it was beginning to wear off.
Part of him wanted to fulfill the prophecy to save his mother but another part kept picturing Tilly's soft skin pressed against his own. He hated that feeling.
As the moon shined brightly through his window, Braxton found himself slipping into a quiet sleep.
Lets bring mama bird back to her nest...
Yay chapter one :D the next chapter will be leading up to Tilly's birthday and some other stuff too. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I plan on updating sometime but alas school is slowly approaching! I would also love it if you guys give me feedback! Thanks!