We had plenty of fun with the 'Bertie Botts every Flavour Beans' spending hours that morning trying all the different and unusual flavours. It was amusing watching Riddle's face contort and twist as he managed to find a lemon flavoured one. Unfortunately, the novelty wore off as we came across a sewer flavoured one.
Still I couldn't believe he had returned to this orphanage just for me.
Again we snuck out for about an hour to walk down the street and watch as the children played with their new toys or ran around like little warriors throwing snowballs at each other. Riddle constantly referred to them as 'muggles'.
"What's a 'muggle'?" I quizzed.
"They are what wizards and magical people in our world call the non-magic people" he explained "helps differentiate them from us"
"Oh" I said nodding wonderingly.
"You are not one of them, if that's what you're thinking, you're most probably more magical than any wizard or witch outside the magical world" he reassured smiling at me.
A smile spread across my face too as he slyly took my hand in his. We continued our observations as we walked down the street and I felt on top of the world; this is the happiest I have been in months. Even though Riddle was away from Hogwarts he too looked happy as he watched me laugh like a small child.
We returned to the orphanage in time for Christmas lunch which wasn't too bad; they had managed to find a turkey which wasn't huge but it wasn't small either and with that they had found a few veggies to accompany it.
It was almost filling but at least we had something in our stomachs. The only thing missing was bonbons and actual presents but of course I got my presents so it didn't really matter.
After lunch the orphanage provided us with a single Christmas fruitcake which we each got a small slice of. It was a little dry but we were grateful except a few who didn't like the cake at all. But others were happy to scrounge what people didn't eat.
Once desert was over we all departed the table feeling slightly more full but happy. Riddle and I were the last to leave and we headed toward one of the larger rooms where everybody else was already chattering away and probably playing the old board games again.
As I walked across the threshold between the larger room and the hall I felt a warm soft hand grab my arm gently and pull me backward so that I was back in the doorframe.
"What?" I smiled staring at Riddle.
He looked upwards and hesitantly I followed his gaze. A withered, fragile looking mistletoe hung above our heads. A sudden bout of fear pulsed through my veins as I realised what people do beneath a mistletoe. Riddle was already staring at me waiting for my gaze to meet his. I contemplated on taking a step back but what good would that do? I would probably mortify him.
Slowly I met his gaze.
A bright smile appeared on his face "you look extremely frightened"
"You do know what that is right and what people do beneath them?" I blurted unable to control my fear at the current situation I was in. somehow I preferred it when he had me by the throat.
He laughed "I'm not stupid; who would have thought that this was all I had to do to make you afraid of me"
His hand found my waist and he pulled me closer and my argument of 'I'm not afraid of you!' died on its way to my mouth. Now we were almost nose to nose and his stare was piercing.
"Don't be afraid" he whispered in my ear, his mouth inching closer to mine. Easy for him to say.
My breath was taken away as his lips touched mine.
"Merry Christmas" he smiled.
I blushed still full of fear and slightly trembling "you too"
He took my hand again and we walked into the large room together where the other children stared at us but Riddle and I didn't notice their looks of shock as we were too busy staring at each other.
But it soon dawned on me that one day perhaps both our different worlds will pull us away from each other and we would never see each other again…however its best to make the most of what we have now and ignore the bad thoughts.
One thing I am absolutely certain of is that I was becoming quite fond of Riddle and I am positive he is quite fond of me too!