3 months later
Marcy's plan with Tom was not going as planned. Brutus would often get physical with her and she would have to put up with it. It was a week before the Christmas holidays and Marcy had received a letter in the mail.
Dear Marcy,
We all miss you terribly, and we are most upset to bear this horrible news. We are departing to Norway for Christmas and we are afraid that we will not be back in time for you to be at Hogwarts. I am so apologetic Marcy and your father would love to have you come but it is just not what fate has planned. We were thinking about taking you out of that horrible school due to all the attacks but your father is certain you will be safe, considering your pure blood lineage. I hope you are having a wonderful year and I can't wait to have you home next holidays! Love, mother
Marcy felt the tears beginning to flood over her eyes. She refused to allow Tom to see her cry. She stood and vacated the Great Hall as swiftly as possible. She ran into the nearest girls' laboratory. She sat on the floor. She didn't know why she was crying so much. It may have been because she hadn't seen her family in months and they decided Norway was more important than seeing their daughter. Marcy felt sad but anger washed over her. She heard another girl weeping and she stood to enter the stall where the crying was coming from. She jumped when she saw the small plump figure floating above the toilet with her face in her hands. Myrtle. The Ravenclaw that was killed.
"Myrtle?" she said wiping the tears from her face. Myrtles head shot up.
"A Slytherin! Get out! Your friends did this to me! Leave!" she shouted.
"I thought you were haunting Olive Hornby?"
"Get out!" she wailed as she flung herself into the toilet. Out of pure respect for Myrtle, Marcy left the bathroom. As she walked down the halls with tears still slowly trickling down her face, she realized clutched in her hand, was a picture of the family. Her mother was a tall woman with dark red hair and green eyes. Her father had the same black hair Marcy had, but blue eyes. Her brother and sister both looked very similar. They were both, to some extent short, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. They had their mothers body, which was straight as a board with no curves even their faces were narrow like her mothers. Marcy took after her father. Marcy was the owner of a perfect hourglass figure, and tasteful curves which made her very appealing. She had her father's round face and flawlessly set lips. The only trait she took after her mother was her breathtaking green eyes. She was also short like her siblings with a petite figure. Marcy was the outcast of the whole family.
She finally put her back against the wall and slid to the floor. She closed her eyes and imagined her family in Norway. It only brought more tears. She heard footsteps but didn't bother to move.
"You forgot your letter." A smooth male voice spoke.
"Hello Tom" she managed to choke out.
"It's not the end of the world, so stop the dramatics." He said rolling his eyes, and keeping a bored expression.
"You read it?" she said standing up and furrowing her eyebrows. He let out a small laugh.
"Yes. You left it there completely open after you stormed out. I wouldn't say it's the worst thing that's ever happened to you. It's one holiday. Spending a holiday at Hogwarts is not as horrible as you might think"
Marcy had completely forgotten that Tom lived in a muggle orphanage. She would be stuck with Tom the whole time. She also felt stupid for being so childish when Tom never goes home, simply because no one wants him. He knew what she was thinking.
"Don't pity me." he said with disgust.
"Maybe you shouldn't rummage through my thoughts and you wouldn't be hurt by my pitying you" she retorted. He put up a hand as if to silence her.
"Never mind. I have come up with a plan that will surely make Brutus angrier than ever. It might make him leave you alone. But I don't think you'll be happy with it…" he trailed off.
"Why? Why won't I like it?"
"Well, we'll have to practice, make sure we don't slip up. And we must time it perfectly. It will happen after Christmas break though." He had a smirk on his face and his eyes were set on Marcy.
"But you have to help me with something…" he said getting a look of agitation.
"Tom Riddle, needs my help?"She said with complete sarcasm.
"Don't flatter yourself. I require help with potions. A precise potion."
"What potion?"
"It's a love potion." He said nonchalantly. "I entail it"
"Why? They're very complex. I may perhaps make you one, but they're quite potent"
"You don't need to know. My business is none of your concern."
"Right. Sorry I asked."
They walked to the common room together as Tom began to tell Marcy of Alice Bates.
"She is completely infatuated with me. It is getting rather annoying." He said with a shutter.
"It is your mistake she's so obsessed with you"
"Do not blame me for this" he said as his face hardened "I did nothing in the wrong"
"In point of fact, you led her on. You got quite physical with her, and then you determined she was no longer laudable of your time and you dropped her. I can't really fault her for being so troubled about this entire thing with you." His expression showed that he was appalled.
"I told her this would happen. I warned her that she would get upset in the end but she didn't listen. She was getting rather bothersome and I also don't quite comprehend why you are defending her when you don't even like her?"
"How do you know I don't like her?" she said pushing his shoulder so he would face her. "You're reading my mind! You always have been!"
"Of course I have. Your thoughts are rather intriguing, and I love to know where your feelings towards me stand. In addition I know how she pushes you around and makes fun of you. I find it ridiculous that you take offense."
She walked away in a huff. She knew he was following her, but she chose not to turn around. It was nice having Tom always there, whenever she would run into Brutus Tom would always be the first one there. Eventually Tom parted with her and went to the library to start researching the love potion. Marcy was very curious on why he needed this love potion. She suspected he wanted it to make Alice fall in love with someone else and leave him alone. That was probably the case. She was daydreaming when someone wrapped their arms around her waist embracing her. When she turned to see who it was, she came face to face with Brutus.
"Brutus, please. Not now." She said writhing herself out of his grasp.
"I don't want to harm you. I have a matter that I would like to discuss with you" he said pocketing his hands.
"Go on." She said crossing her arms over her chest.
"You and Riddle seem to spend a lot of time together. I don't like it. So I'm going to put this as respectfully as I can. You are not to see that Half-blood, muggle born. He disgusts me."
"Why? Because he excels at everything over you? You're jealous." Marcy spat
"He does not have perfect lineage as I do. But that is besides the matter at hand. Are you two in a relationship?"
"No you ignorant lout. We are barely friends!" she snapped
"Oh. Well that is a relief. We can still be together." He smiled and put his arm around her waist. "I know that you are fully dedicated to me, don't deny it." He said bringing her closer to him.
"Don't touch me."
"So I'm not good enough for you? But that Half blood, muggle born is?" he was screaming at this point.
"I and Tom Riddle are not together you fool!" she snapped "we are friends and nothing more! I am not committed to anyone!" she walked away, in a complete outrage.
When she arrived at the library she found herself in the presence of Alice Bates.
"Hello Alice" she said with a mock smile.
"Marcy" she said pursing her lips.
"Alice why have you been so cold to me lately?"
"Because of Tom." She said with a frown
"Tom Riddle?"
"Of course! I and he are meant to be together and you ruined that Marcy! Now he follows you around like a puppy and it is quite obvious that you despise him. I am equally beautiful, and I worship the ground he walks on! What do you do that is so special?"
"Miss Bates! I must stress that this is a library, not the quidditch field!" the librarian spoke, standing from behind the desk.
"Alice, if I could get Tom to leave me alone I would. I can promise you that. I'm only with him most of the time, because he asked me for help with something, and I owe him. But we hate each other, so don't worry"
"It is evident he cares for you, but I need not worry. He will be back in the palm of my hand as soon as possible."
Marcy had no response. What if this was true? Did Tom Riddle actually care for Marcy in some weird form? She walked to the potions section of the library. She found books about many different love potions until she found the perfect one. A love potion that has no taste and you can easily slip into someone's pumpkin juice. It was perfect. Out of her peripheral vision, Marcy could see Tom walking towards her.
"What?" she said with aversion. He scoffed and moved closer to her, he dropped his voice to a whisper.
"How was the talk with Alice?"
"How did you know about that? Are you stalking me?" she knew he didn't read her mind, because then he wouldn't be asking how it went.
"Answer the question." He said shaking off her remark.
"It was fine. You crushed her though, she's heartbroken. Now leave me alone, so I can get this done."
"So, did you find any love potions?"
"Yes. This one can be made in a week, and is completely flavorless."
"That's perfect."
Marcy hadn't seen Tom for Breakfast or for some of the early classes. She ate with Hannah and Violet at the great hall for the first time in months. She ate fast and went to her first class of the day. Potions. She was the first one in the room, and as Professor Slughorn, prepared the classes assignment for the evening she stared out the window daydreaming, about Christmas holidays. She was positive her family would send her sweets and presents by owl, but she would miss the Christmas experience of being with her family, especially her father.
"Marcy. Oh, stop daydreaming and come back to reality you fool" he barked.
"I'm not in the mood for you Tom. Is anything relatively important?" she said groggily.
"Brutus would like to speak to you, I thought you should know." He said sitting next to her taking out his potions book.
"Tell him I am not available." She said mimicking the same action.
"I am not your messenger. You are capable of telling him"
"If it is something of relevancy he will come to me. are you prepared for transfiguration?"
"stop with the small talk" he said with a bland voice.
"You are impossible. I was asking because I cared, but you wouldn't know what the feeling of care is would you? I don't know why I hang around you. All you do is ruin my day" as they started arguing, Marcy could see Alice Bates eyeing them from the opposite side of the room. Tom noticed Marcy and Alice staring at each other.
"You two have not made amends I see?" he said in a non questioning voice.
"stop with the small talk, Tom" she hissed with sarcasm. He flicked her arm and shook his head with displeasure.
"I want to know. Only because you insist on blocking me from your mind."
"Well if you must know, she is threatened by me" she huffed.
"She also wants the monster to kill you. Alice Bates has very dark thoughts about you" he then looked up and stared at Alice until she made eye contact with him. He leaned over towards Marcy and pulled her stool closer to him. He leaned in until his lips were half inch from her ear.
"This should make her go insane" he whispered and then backed away looking down at his books. Alice Bates frowned and buried her head into her book.
"Why would you do that? She already hates me." she growled.
"Why do you care? Very soon she'll be obsessed with someone other than me, and she won't have a care in the world about you. "
"Right, and until then, she'll be thinking up ways to push me down a flight of steps and make it look like a complete calamity" she hissed.
Before Tom could argue, Slughorns voice flooded over the room. Today they would be learning a simple potion called 'peace draught' Marcy flipped open her book and skimmed the pages until she found the page with 'peace draught' written at the top in large black letters. Underneath the large words it gave ingredients and description.
Ingredients: includes powdered moonstone and syrup of hellebore
Description: calms anxiety and soothes agitation
Marcy thought how Tom would benefit from this potion and she quietly laughed to herself. Tom glanced over and started flipping through his own potions book. He stopped at a page and pushed the book towards Marcy
Wit-Sharpening Potion
Ingredients: ground scarab beetle, cut up ginger root, armadillo bile
Description: Makes a person think more clearly
"And you would gain a lot from this potion"
She giggled. Tom had a small smile of satisfaction spread across his face.
"Miss. Nott, I am assuming you are distracting Tom for good purpose?" Slughorn said form across the room.
"Yes professor we were analyzing the choice of ingredients and found some of them rather odd for this potion, I thought it was funny. My apologies"
"Yes, well, keep up with paying attention." And he went back to his cauldron.
"You are a superb liar, Nott"
"Thank you Tom. Now help me with this moonstone…"
Tom and Marcy worked together quite nicely. The only argument that broke out between them was when Tom accused Marcy of not properly pouring in the ingredients. When Slughorn announced that they should begin cleaning out their cauldrons and putting the ingredients back, he approached their table.
"Marcy, I must speak with you after class"
"Okay, professor. May I ask why?"
"We will discuss the matter in private Miss Nott" and he walked away. Tom didn't look too concerned but his voice sounded otherwise.
"I'll see you in transfiguration. You can tell me what he said then" he said roughly. When everyone was out of the room Marcy slowly made her way towards his desk.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, please do sit down" she placed herself on a wooden chair on the opposite side of his desk. "I wanted to discuss something, a bit personal with you. Please stop me if you would wish to speak no further, but I have noticed you and Mr. Riddle have been spending some time together."
"Yes" she nodded her head
"Forgive me, but I must ask: are you two in a serious relationship?" he placed his hands on the desk.
"Oh, no. we are barely friends. I have been helping him with things and he has helped me. but that is all." She replied quickly.
"And he has not seemed a bit strange to you?" he persisted.
"Not that I have noticed…"
"Well that will be all Miss Nott. You may go, thank you" and he showed her to the door. The next class was herbology; she made her way to the greenhouse when she saw Alice Bates walking with her friends. she noticed a new found prance in her step. And she was smiling intensely. Had Tom finished the potion? He hadn't had a chance to slip it to her yet… she couldn't help but feel somewhat happy for Alice. She seemed to be in high spirits, and this meant she would no longer be in such a sulk all the time. When she entered the greenhouse, Alice made her way towards Marcy and plopped herself next to her.
"So, how have you been?" she said with a strange edge to her voice.
"Very well thank you." Marcy replied with a smile. Marcy looked up to see Alice beaming down at her.
"Look, Marcy. I don't want to hurt you, but Tom has moved on." Marcy looked at her taken back.
"Moved on, from what?" she said completely confused.
"You. I'm so sorry, but me and him are together again" she shrugged "it's for the best though, you seemed to hate him, and now we're finally together. I guess he came to his senses" she said with a high pitched laugh. Marcy had an expression of complete bewilderment all across her face. Marcy and Tom were never together, and she had no feeling towards him. None that had been discovered anyway. Why does Alice Bates think Marcy would even care?