Chapter Thirty-Eight

A black owl flew over Hogwarts later that day. It previously belonged to the now deceased Severus Prince. Irving had wrapped a letter around it's leg, the owl flew down into the 'Great Hall' while the students were having their afternoon meal. Slughorn standing up when he noticed the lone owl, he could already see the black envelope it was wrapped in. It dropped into Eileen's lap, briefly pausing as if the owl knew it was looking at it's late master's daughter. Flying away as quickly as it came as it went back out of the hall. Eileen herself was confused and secretly scared to open it. Though she unwrapped it and saw the writing of Irving Malfoy...

Dear Eileen,

As the most loyal and trusted friend of your father's, I thought it only right I tell you first. Your father sadly caught dragon pox a couple days ago. He was very ill very quickly. I'm so sorry to tell you but he passed away an hour or so ago, his body was too weak. He's dead, Eileen. I can't collect you yet however as the house is no place for a child at the moment. Your father's body is being taken away as is all his things, his funeral and tomb will be sorted out by us and your step-mother. We have already told Headmaster Dippet, he will allow you back in two days or so. I'll let him know when.

From Mr Irving Malfoy

Her tears fell down onto the letter (which sounded very cold to a girl of nearly thirteen). She put her hair over her eyes as she could see her classmates looking at her. Tom briefly looked over at the letter but before he could read a single word, Eileen put it in her pocket and made a speedy exit. Not wanting anyone to see her upset. Slughorn was seen talking to Dippet when she left, the two men were in a serious conversation.

"Poor girl. I really do think Irving should have left it to me though or at least her step-mother to tell her. He's only done this to get to me" Slughorn spoke quietly to Dippet.

"May I suggest this isn't about you, Horace"

"Severus was a friend of mine too. This silly feud Irving has got with me is getting beyond a joke now. All over a boy he's never even spoken to...It's not good, Armando. Not when it concerns the welfare of my pupils"

"Well I believe he finds it's difficult to think a non pure-blood boy who grew up alongside muggles can outshine the pure-bloods" Dippet suggested.

"He doesn't even know his background. Not like it matters. Not when one of my students loses a parent and needs support inside of Hogwarts. What does he think I do as head of house? I'm sorry but I'm very upset" Slughorn replied in a huff.

Albus Dumbledore looking over as he nodded in agreement. Though he did understand where Irving was coming from with regards to Tom. Though Slughorn was right, that didn't mean he should be keeping him in the dark about topics such as this.

"He's put him in an awkward position" Dumbledore politely chimed in.

"Thank you. If you don't mind, I'm going to write to him. I'm not taking this lightly" Slughorn promised.

Getting up as he walked away and out the hall. The students watching him leave with interest. They did wonder what went on. Nobody knew Severus Prince was dead yet. It did seem sudden to the small number who did know, he was quite a respective wizard. Likely down to the amount of duels he got involved in and how he won in most of them. Him being an unspeakable was another reason nobody dared to cross him.

"Do you know anything about that?" Tom asked Rosier.

"No, Tom. I did notice however that the letter was black, perhaps it was a death notice. I would guess one of her older aunts or uncles, she has a few of those" Rosier answered back.

"Age is such an ugly concept" Tom uttered; putting down his fork.

"Well. Let's just be happy we live longer than muggles" Nott joked.

Making Tom just shake his head as he rested his chin on his knuckle. Death was an ugly concept to him. He didn't really think about immorality until this moment as he began to think. Wizards and witches do live longer than muggles he thought, he looked briefly towards the old headmaster. Armando Dippet. The headmaster however was known to have exceeded expectations in that regard. Even in the wizarding world, he was considered old. That wasn't good enough for Tom, he didn't want to grow old. He didn't want to age at all. He didn't want to die.

...

The rumours were too much to bear for Eileen. She refused to come down for the last two lessons of the day and stayed in her room, sobbing quietly under her blankets and covers. Everyone just assumed it was one of her elderly aunts or uncles, her roommates tried to ask her but they got no response. Just a loud "Leave me alone!". Nothing changed by the following morning, Eileen just remained in her bed. Making the girls she shared a dormitory with just reluctantly leave. Not knowing more than anyone else. The students got dressed and went downstairs, the truth of Eileen's 'mystery death notice' soon became clear. As on the third page of the 'Daily Prophet', it read Severus Prince, dead by dragon pox, aged fifty-six. Students and staff alike were stunned to read that such a strong wizard would be taken out by a disease. Some of the remarks from readers under the headline were rather cruel but others were written with admiration.

"Joyous news. Such good news. Now you may call me heartless but that man put the fear of Merlin into people. So I'm happy he's dead, I feel sorry for his daughter of cause but perhaps him dying now will spare her from becoming such as twisted. Such as cruel. He killed his wife you know...Broomstick accident my eye. What grown woman dies from a broomstick accident? Too convenient I always said. I'm going to his funeral yes but only to see he's really dead in his tomb"

Muriel Prewett says from Godric's Hollow

"Such a shame to the wizarding world. He was a great wizard, one of the best of his generation. There wasn't a duel he didn't win. There are so few left from the Prince family line as is it that we can only hope his daughter and unborn child have his talents. His job of cause cannot be talked about but he did a very good job, mark my words. He will be missed dearly by all of us"

Pollux Black says from 12 Grimmauld Place

Archibald reading it on the Ravenclaw table. Lucy picking up a copy herself as she sat down to read it. Her three friends already reading it. Every table was gossiping about Eileen and her deceased father. Even Argus was looking at it as he stood behind Lucy and read it from a short distance. Slughorn thought this was a disaster as he knew what this would do to Eileen. She was so young, she didn't need to cope with this. Though there was nothing he could do, the news was out.

"He's dead...He's actually dead" Walburga spoke up first.

"No more hiding behind him now, is there?" Druella asked with a cruel smile on her face.

"Druella. That's beyond nasty" Jean Tiller said in disgust.

Though the girl pretended that she didn't hear that. The wizarding world was slightly shook up from this news. Grindelwald (and the muggle war) being the only things that kept it from being front page news. Tom reading it with strong interest as he read the short life story on the following page. Lucy reading it on the Hufflepuff table meanwhile.

"Poor Eileen. Imagine people reading about your father's death like this. I feel like I shouldn't even be reading it" Lucy admitted, closing the paper.

Argus picking it up himself as he just put it in his pocket. He would read that later he thought. He kept a hand on Lucy's chair as he looked across the room to see students gossiping and talking.

"It's awful. Dragon pox is such a nasty illness too when you're past a certain age" Ruth explained.

"Rotten things happen to rotten people" Argus spoke up before adding..."Saying that, Severus Prince was quite impressive, he never lost a duel I heard or at least, never lost badly"

"I don't want to gossip" Lucy said as she carried on eating her breakfast to avoid further chit-chat.

"You're no fun sometimes, Lucy" Argus told her before walking away with his mop and bucket.

The girl just giving a shrug as she carried on eating. She would rather be no fun than gossip about things she knows nothing about. She just felt sorry for Eileen, she already lost her mother. Who could she rely on now?

...

"Go and get her, Druella. Bring her down" Walburga spoke up.

Some of the Slytherin girls had returned to the common room. Druella making her way upstairs with her wand. Eileen was still in bed under the covers as she didn't want to face anyone. Though Druella wasn't having that as she removed the covers rather viscously. Eileen quickly getting up in defence as she picked up her wand. She was still wearing her nightgown and so felt very exposed as she pointed her wand towards Druella.

"I'll use it" Eileen warned her nervously.

Sounds of footsteps coming up the stairs was heard. As Walburga stood with Lucretia and Penelope Parkinson. Eileen lowered her wand with a scoff as she knew it was one against four. She knew that her father's death would mean that they would stop pretending to be her friend. They had no reason after all to keep up the charade. Druella standing back besides her three friends as she shook her head slightly.

"Such a tragedy, isn't it? Your father dying from dragon pox...My father made a small comment to the 'Daily Prophet' about it" Walburga told her.

"Stop stalling...Jinx her!" Penelope snapped impatiently.

"We aren't doing anything without Tom's say-so. So just wait until he talks, right? We can do what we want to her after that" Walburga replied.

Eileen breathing a sigh of relief on hearing this. They still haven't asked Tom what he thinks. Maybe the boy won't make them do anything, he might deem it too risky as Irving was still lurking around behind the scenes. This still didn't stop the girls from spewing out verbal bile however. Druella gave another nasty smile before saying something which crossed the very fine line they were already on...

"Between you and me, Eileen. I think the guilt of killing your mother is what killed him"

This made Eileen pause before smacking her around the face. Giving the girl a small bloody lip as she stepped back. The other girls got out their wands as they began to jinx her. There was no more false polite talk, there was no waiting to talk to Tom beforehand now. Eileen felt two immediate jinxes at once as she felt her eyes swell up and her long black hair falling to the ground until it was just above her shoulders. The girls quickly departing the room as they left the Slytherin common room and out into the hallway, walking to their first lessons as if they didn't do anything. A heartbroken Eileen left behind as she stumbled to the mirror. Her hair was once again a mess, like curtains (as everyone liked to tell her last time). Though her eyes were the most concerning as her vision became foggy. She called out...

"Help! Please!"

As she struggled to see her way out the room. The girl wandered through the common room and crawled back outside. Slughorn thankfully being present as he looked on in shock at her. Helping her along as he placed his robe around her and led her towards the hospital wing. He asked her who had done this but the girl wasn't talking. They walked past a bunch of second-years, Lucy being among them as she stood in shock with Myrtle.

"Go along children. Nothing to see here" Slughorn told them gently.

"If there's anything we can do, Sir. Let us know" Tom spoke up politely.

"Thank you, Tom" Slughorn replied to him.

The lad just nodding in response. He wasn't happy about this actually. Tom wasn't at all concerned over her injuries. No. He was just concerned about this attack being traced back to the house and peers. It wasn't a good look and he would get to the bottom of this. He just spoke quietly to his gang as the boys surrounded him to avoid eavesdroppers...

"Once I find out who did this. I will keep a note to never trust them again, girls most likely; don't you think?" Tom asked in a quiet tone.

"Druella. She's been wanding for her for a while" Nott told him (wanding being the wizarding version of gunning).

"Don't accuse my sister without any proof" Rosier snarled.

Tom saw the cracks once again as he put his hand out. Making them stop the small argument before it began. The charms classroom soon opening as Professor Burke told them all to go in. Tom and his gang giving one last look before following their fellow classmates into the room. The mood had shifted once again.

...

TBC