𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐇 ; Tom Riddle

04. Dark Arts

     PHOEBE NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO TELL TOM ABOUT HER PARENTS. Every single time she would try, something would come up. Eventually, she just decided she needed to wait until the time was right. A week had passed since she had found out, and she was finding herself immensely enjoying her time at Hogwarts so far. Cedrella was still speaking to her, even though her other roommates weren't and Tom kept glaring at the black haired girl like she was the scum of the earth. It seemed that Cedrella was the only one who was not afraid of him.

      Malfoy, however, had avoided her ever since he had told her about her parents. Everytime she approached him he practically ran away. It confused her, but she figured it probably had something to do with Tom. It was nothing new. She had just been hoping that Malfoy could hold out a little longer against him.

     "-you're not even listening!" Cedrella exclaimed, bringing Phoebe back to the present. The librarian shushed them and Cedrella rolled her eyes.

     "Sorry, I was thinking." The two girls were currently supposed to be doing their homework, but Cedrella insisted on keeping Phoebe in the loop with the current gossip, "What did you say?"

"I said that everyone thinks you and Malfoy have been dating." whispered Cedrella as she leaned in closer, "I heard a Gryffindor girl talking about it. She said she swears she saw you to come out of a classroom together holding hands."

"Um, but, that never happened." Phoebe said, her eyebrows were scrunched together in confusion.

Cedrella sighed and shook her head, "I know, but nobody else knows that. So, anyways, apparently it made Riddle very angry because Malfoy was seen in the hospital wing not too long ago."

Phoebe once again looked confused, "What does Tom have to do with him being in the hospital wing?"

It was Cedrella's turn to look confused, "Well, Riddle is very.... possessive over you. If he was to think someone was claiming to be your boyfriend or even snogging you, he would definitely find some way to hurt them." She paused, "Didn't you know that? He's been very obvious the past few years."

     "Yes, I know how he is. I just figured he wouldn't actually send anyone to the hospital wing. I thought it was always just empty threats." Phoebe lies smoothly. Of course she knew he would actually hurt someone. She still remembers the things he's done to the kids at the orphanage. But Cedrella didn't need to know that.

      Cedrella scoffed, "If it was empty threats you'd have a lot more friends right now. Why do you think everyone is so scared of him? Don't you remember that Gryffindor girl you were friends with in our first year?"

     "Yeah, I do." Phoebe replied. She tried her hardest to keep the bitter tone out of her voice.

      "Well, I was there the day Riddle's little followers threatened her... and well, I don't blame her for doing as she was told." Cedrella admitted.

      "You were there?" Phoebe asked, shocked.

       Cedrella nodded, "Yeah, I was pretty small during that year and I was able to follow them pretty easily."

     "What did they tell her?" The brunette witch asked quietly. She looked back down to her parchment, worried that the girl across from her would see the sadness in her eyes. She had always wondered what made her give up on their friendship so easily.

      "It's not my place to say." whispered Cedrella, "But I'm truly sorry you've had to go so many years without a friend. I'll admit, I was scared of Riddle for a long time too."