Chapter Thirty-Nine

"I'm going to go and speak to her now in the hospital wing" Tom told his small group of companions.

They just finished their third lesson of the day, history of magic. Thus the break was here. His gang didn't know how they felt about that but nobody dared question Tom and his motives. As they just nodded back because what else were they going to do? Tom turned around in his robes as he wandered down the hallway towards the hospital wing. A fourth-year girl watched him come in as she laid there with a bucket to her side. The only other person in the room was the matron Wendy, an elderly witch (who would be later replaced by Poppy Pomfrey). Eileen was on the furthest bed, having been given eye drops (green liquid was still by the side for she needed some more later). Her hair was once again short and shabby as it reached above her shoulders. The matron standing up as she asked...

"What can I do for you, Tom?"

"I was just coming to see my friend, Eileen. I was worried about her and wanted to make sure she was alright. Besides, we want to get to the bottom of this. Petty squabbles have no business in Hogwarts" Tom answered firmly.

"As much as I agree with you. I still don't think's she ready for visitors. It's not only her eyes which cause her trouble"

"Of cause, Madam...That was another reason I wanted to come here actually. I thought she could do with a friend after her father's tragic death"

This answer made the matron look between Eileen and Tom. She quietly told him..."Go on then but only for ten minutes or so"

Tom just smiled as he thanked her. Eileen giving a small nervous sigh as she held tightly onto the blankets. Watching as he came over as if he really did care for her wellbeing. He sat on the nearest chair by her bed, watching as the matron sat back down again with a book about food. The teenager looking back towards Eileen as he asked her...

"Who did this?"

"Why? So you can lecture them? Not a chance. The people who did this to me might be nasty little cowards but I'd rather have them over you" Eileen hissed quietly.

"So it was more than one person?"

"Yes. So unless you want to question every single Slytherin student. You're not going to find them"

The boy stayed still and silent for a few moments. He tried to read Eileen's mind but it was nothing but sadness. As he briefly saw flashes of her as a very young child with her parents. She was trying not to cry, her eyes were red as she had been crying so much since yesterday. Tom could see more foggy visions of her parents; her mother was a beautiful woman, he could see her in a garden teaching an eight year old Eileen how to make potions.

"It's a shame about your father. I heard he was an unspeakable" Tom spoke. Daring to interrupt her happy memories.

"Yes he was...Which means I can't speak about it" Eileen replied with hostility.

"I can make your life very difficult, Eileen. So don't cross me. I'm giving you a chance to get back into the cause and the group. If you accept, I can make them stop all this silly tomfoolery. You need not worry about a jinx again"

Eileen paused for a moment as she picked up her glass of water. Taking a sip from it before putting it back down. She thought about what he said but she doesn't even know if she wants to pretend to agree with him. It would make life at Hogwarts easier and she knows he won't give her another chance. Though her father was very much against him and so respecting his memory, she just couldn't pretend. Not about something like this.

"I'd rather stick pins in my eyes" Eileen told him with a scowl.

"Very well. If that's how you want it, Eileen. Such a shame with your family line being what it is. You will regret it though in time, trust me. Your children will come to me. Nobody in our house is going to dare have anything to do with the disgusting muggle-loving traitor that you are. I do hope you don't regret your choice" Tom hissed quietly.

The girl just watched him in silence. He tried to read her mind once again but all he could see was himself being expelled. A fantasy she was having of him being expelled and Abraxas returning. The Slytherin house being what it was when Slughorn was a student. He shook his head, that was no good to him. He made his way out, giving the matron a false polite smile as he left. Eileen breathing in as she leaned back, hoping she wouldn't encounter him directly again.

...

By the following morning, Eileen had left again to return to Malfoy Manor. She got there by floo powder in the 'Three Broomsticks'. Lucy was sat at the Hufflepuff table with her friends. Argus once again stuffing his face with the breakfast before his shift began. Grindelwald was again on the front page newspaper, the Riddle gang admired him very much. Tom was seen scribbling his sign in the front of his diary. Headmaster Dippet waited for a few moments before tapping his goblet, making the room fall silent. He had an announcement to make, the other professors awaiting for his speech. Professor Kettleburn giving a knowing smile for he knew what was to come. It was something about 'Care of Magical Creatures'. Some light news they thought might cheer them all up in times of war.

"I have a small but happy announcement to make. As you know, it's been awful these last couple of weeks and you have all done very well. Coping with the rations and the moving away to those unplottable islands. Which I understand to be quite rough at times due to them being right near the sea" Dippet began.

Walburga and Druella just looking at one another. That was an understatement they thought. It was boring too as it was too risky to go on their broomstick and there was nothing around to do besides read, play gobstones, write or look at the waves crashing against the cliffs and coves.

"As for the muggle-borns, you had an equally dreadful time with the war. As I understand. It wasn't that long ago when the first muggle war broke out. So I thought for a few days only that the first-years and second-years will be able to join their older peers for a small lesson in unicorns, bowtruckles and nifflers during the weekend. Newt Scamander is going to give any willing students a brief lesson...the man behind your textbooks" Dippet told them.

Some of the students looking at one another with smiles. The Hufflepuff table were excited the most as he was one of them. The man in question soon came out as he appeared from the room behind the long table of the professors. He got polite clapping and cheering from the Hufflepuff table. Some of the girls looking at him with smiles as they thought he looked rather handsome. The Slytherin table however were not impressed.

"Fool. He wouldn't know an offensive spell if he tried" Tom spoke up. Making his friends laugh.

Newt was only here for a few days as he had things to be doing. Though he agreed, knowing the students were having a difficult time. Besides, he thought it would be nice to meet the next generation of students. He greeted some of the professors with a smile as he shook hands with Slughorn, Dumbledore and Kettleburn. He looked at the Hufflepuff table, recalling his time being there. His eyes briefly went around the room as he caught the cold stare of Tom Riddle. He had to look away as he felt the boy's frosty reception.

"Is that really Newt Scamander?" Lucy questioned her friends in amazement.

"Yes. The man himself...Isn't he handsome?" Ruth rhetorically asked.

Lucy thought he looked quite sweet but with Argus near by her. She shook her head so he wouldn't feel bad. As she ate her breakfast in peace, making her friends just roll their eyes. She really was no fun sometimes. Argus giving a smug smile as he ate another bit of toast.

"I think he's a fool" Argus spoke up; wiping his lips and getting back up.

"Nobody asked you" Poppy told him in a huff as he was ruining another casual chat between them.

"Well that's because you don't enjoy clever conversations. Me and Lucy discuss all sorts of things that you don't" Argus insisted.

This made Lucy just sigh as she shook her head. She just looked between her four friends with pleading eyes, wishing for them to stop arguing. Argus gave one last glance before making his way out of the hallway. Seething with teenage jealously despite having no real reason to be jealous. Just the thought of her talking about any other male made him seethe. Something he never really felt until very recently but he was getting slightly older now.

"He's a brute. He really is...I wouldn't be friends with him if I were you, Lucy. He drags you down" Ruth told her.

"No he doesn't. He's just gets upset easily because at home-" Lucy went to say but found herself being interrupted by an exasperated Ruth...

"How many times are you going to use that excuse? Until he's fourteen, fifteen, sixteen? He's not at home now...You know he scares the first-years? You don't see it because he knows how you will react but so many first-years are scared of him"

"Don't be silly. I think I would have noticed" Lucy replied with a small laugh of disbelief.

"When you and him are together alone again. Look at how alone you both truly are...How nobody wishes to walk past him. You will understand my words then" Ruth insisted.

...

A crying baby could be heard at 'Malfoy Manor' that same morning. As Agnes Prince gave birth to a little girl. The posthumous second daughter of Severus. Eileen was sat on the bed besides her step-mother as Agnes held the baby with a sad smile. She was happy to be a mother but of cause had mixed emotions over her husband's recent death and knowing he would never see her. Mrs Malfoy giving her a much needed glass of water. Irving knocking on the door as he asked if it was safe to come in. He got three "Yes" responses back. Making him open the door as he let himself in, standing to see the child.

"I let him down. He wanted a son" Agnes spoke up sadly.

"No. He wouldn't have cared...He did want a son but he never would have begrudged you for giving him another daughter. Never think that" Irving assured her.

Eileen nodding as she gave her a sad smile in return. Agnes just looked down upon her baby as she rocked her to sleep. Being back at home did make Eileen feel slightly better, she hated being at Hogwarts. She dreaded every term and it was going to even harder now without her father behind the scenes. Besides Tobias was here wasn't he? She wanted to see the muggle boy again, talk to somebody outside of her small bubble.

"What are you going to call her?" Mrs Malfoy asked Agnes.

"Well I was thinking about that. I want to name her after Severus of cause. It's got to be Severine. The female version" Agnes answered.

Talk of her father was a bit too much still for Eileen. As she asked if she could go outside into the woods for a bit. They just told her okay as they understood she needed a small break now and again from the melancholy. Thus Eileen put on her winter cloak and gloves. Letting herself out of the manor house as she walked past the peacocks with fresh tears coming down as she thought about her father again. She made her way through the deep woods as she walked and walked until she reached the muggle boy's village again. Her eyes were once again red from the crying as she stepped into the village. The local children were currently in the muggle schoolhouse. Eileen stayed waiting outside as she looked in the window, they were learning about history. Muggle history. The professor was an elderly man with glasses and mutton chops. Tobias looked slightly bored. Eileen was reminded of Professor Binns and his lessons as she stayed looking in the window. Which was open just a crack.

"Right. Children...Well I will let you go for lunch and a short break. Remember what I told you? Henry the 8th had six wives. I want you to remember their names and dates. Thank you. I want you back no later than ten minutes past eleven"

The muggle children looking happy as the children of all ages left. It was just Tobias and his siblings (and a couple muggle children from the nearest village). They all left the schoolhouse. Eileen suddenly nervously standing up as they walked towards her out the front of the house. Tobias looking surprised to find her here as she shouldn't be back until the Easter break due to her being in boarding school. He told his giggling siblings to clear off again. He ran his fingers through his messy black hair before making his way to her.

"Don't tell me. The boarding school kicked you out?" Tobias asked in a half-joking, half-serious manner.

Though Eileen just shook her head. She was notably sad, he could tell. He told her to come over towards the trees and tell him what's wrong. The other children watching them as the two of them made their way over to the huge trees to avoid eavesdropping. Eileen let tears fall down once it was just them two, she wishes she was kicked out of the so-called boarding school.

"My father...He died" Eileen admitted to him; wiping away more tears.

"Oh. Well I'm sorry for what it's worth. My father's away fighting. I hope this doesn't mean you will have to move. You seem serious"

"I won't be moving"

"Well that's something. I'm sorry, Eileen. I wish there was more I could say but I never lost anybody"

"It's fine. I just wanted somebody else to talk to"

Tobias gave her shoulder a gentle pat. She was expecting a hug but he just stood there. Not knowing what to say. Which didn't help her really but she supposed she did spring it on him. Though this was him, he would never really give out affection. She just didn't know it yet.

...

Another few days had passed. Eileen was still at the manor house and wouldn't come back now until after her father's funeral. Today though was quite an exciting day for the students. As the small unofficial lesson by Newt Scamander was taking place near the forbidden forest. A lot of students showed up, mainly girls. Lucy and her four friends included. She managed to drag a moaning Argus along as the squib stood there with a face like thunder. Newt giving them all a wave as he saw no issue here. The only other person here of note was Tom Riddle. His gang didn't wish to join him as they weren't going to "waste their weekend learning from a muggle-loving Hufflepuff". Tom however deemed it as too important to miss as this man did play an important role. He stood there with his diary, ink pen and a small scowl as he noticed a niffler on Newt's shoulder.

"This everybody?" Newt asked the staring students.

He got a dozen yeses in return. Making him nod as he asked them all to follow him into the woods. Lucy locked arms with Argus as she and the other students followed him into the woods. The students included the first-year Hufflepuff student Barty Crouch as he made his way in with his Fantastic Beasts book in hand like the bookworm he was. Nobody was really told what to bring so some people had books or paper while others came with nothing. Newt paused again as he turned back around to face his group of students.

"Sir, Argus Filch shouldn't be here. He's not a student. He's just a squib" Olive Hornby suddenly spoke up.

"Doesn't matter. Anyone can pitch in with this lesson" Newt replied.

Making her smile fade as she gave a sigh. Lucy giving her a dirty look as she thought how unneeded that was. She just gave Argus' hand a small squeeze so he wouldn't move a muscle. Tom made his way to the front again as he shoved past a few annoyed sixth-year Ravenclaw boys. Newt giving the smallest smile as he noticed this Tom with his serious face and diary and pen. Archibald Filch was another student there as he purposefully pushed past Olive for her dig at his brother. Making her scoff as he stood in front of her.

"Well I would like to introduce you all to one of my many friends. Locket...So-called because he likes lockets" Newt began, gesturing towards the niffler on his shoulder.

"He's adorable" Lucy spoke up with a smile.

"Thank you. He likes to think he is. Today though I thought I would teach you about bowtruckles. Very small creatures but I have a dozen or so of them. If you read my book, you will know all about them" Newt paused before joking..."Or I should say, forced to read my book"

Making some students give polite laughter despite it not being that funny. They just didn't want to leave an awkward silence. Tom wasn't impressed, he thought this lesson was a waste of time. He wasn't getting anything out of it. So he put his hand up to try and coax information that way.

"Yes?" Newt asked him as he noticed the lone boy with his hand up.

"I was just wondering if you could tell us a bit about your last trip abroad. What was that like? Excuse me for my boyhood interest but I did wonder" Tom questioned in a polite tone.

Newt gave a nervous smile. Even the way Tom spoke unnerved him, no thirteen boy would usually admit to it being a "boyhood interest". Yet he was so polite that a lot of the adults at the time barely noticed. Newt just thought for a moment, he supposed he could tell them a little bit before they begin looking at his bowtruckles. So he just gave a nod...

"Yes. I understand adventure is more interesting than looking at my bowtruckles...Well I can't tell you much as it's still very secret. Even I'm not told everything. Though I can tell you I've been to New York and I got to meet some amazing people over there. Quite a few of my animals escaped into the street" Newt began to explain.

Most of the students listening with expressions of wow. Tom meanwhile was writing it all down. As Newt began to talk about how he managed to get the animals back into the suitcase. He never touched upon his work trying to take down Grindelwald as that was still top secret. Though Tom managed to get a little bit out of it nonetheless as he wrote down what the beasts do in practice.

"Told you he was a fool" Argus spoke quietly to Lucy; making her giggle.

After his short tale of adventure. He led them a bit further down as dozens of bowtruckles were walking around in the woods. Argus for once was being included in a lesson and though he would never admit it, he was enjoying this one-off experience. As he bent down with Lucy as the bowtruckle jumped onto his hand. This was a lovely lesson. Though it did make Lucy wish he was a wizard again, she hated the thought of him being left out of everything. She maintains that he's only snappy due to being left out.

"The bowtruckle likes you" Newt told him with a small smile.

"I know" Argus grunted back.

"He has to work silly hours. So I'm giving him a cat to help him patrol the hallways" Lucy spoke up.

"Oh. You're Oakleigh Burton's caretaker's assistant?" Newt asked in sudden surprise.

Argus just giving him a nod back. He wasn't very receptive to him at all. Newt just giving them a polite smile before making his way over to the other students. Barty Crouch began asking him all sorts of questions about his book. Lucy giving a sigh, she really thought Argus might enjoy talking to him but she guessed not. Her other friends had left meanwhile as they were on the other side. Not wanting anything to do with Argus or "The grump" as they call him.

"Sorry Argus. I thought you would like it" Lucy spoke as she watched him with the bowtruckle.

"I know. It's not your fault he's a fool...He gives your house a bad name" Argus insisted.

She quietly disagreed but didn't want to argue. She gave his shoulder a small pat before stroking the bowtruckle on his head with her finger. She looked over as she noticed Newt signing Barty's book for him. Tom politely walked over to Newt as he managed to get there before a couple of Hufflepuff fourth-year girls had the chance to. Newt giving him a polite smile again.

"I very much enjoyed learning about your suitcase. Did you have to charm it yourself?" Tom asked in fake polite tone of voice.

"Yes. It took quite a lot of skill but I managed it. I didn't catch your name by the way, what it is?"

"Tom Riddle"

"Oh yes. Professor Slughorn's favourite. He thinks very highly of you, I had the fortune of attending school with him. He's a very good teacher, isn't he?"

"Of cause, Sir. So is it true you're trying to take down Grindelwald?"

"Oh! I couldn't tell you about that, Tom. Not even if I wanted to. It's top secret stuff is that. Not even I know everything like I said"

Tom giving another nod. He was filled with disappointment however as he knew he wasn't going to get anything else of value. Newt excused himself again as he went over to look over at other students. Tom wrote down more notes as he wrote about Newt's suitcase and how it was charmed. He thought about how difficult it would be at first to charm an object in that manner but how beneficial it would be to have something like that. Lucy briefly looked towards him as she could see he was thinking, barely giving the bowtruckles a glance.

"Tom's only here for the gossip" Lucy quietly insisted to Argus.

"He's trouble. That's all I'm saying" Argus whispered back.

...

TBC