RIDDLES PROPERTY

chapter 61

"We must go," Tom said as he shook Emelia.

"Where?" she asked.

"Away, Emelia. Things are going to get horrible soon unless we go. I already told you this last night."

She woke up, groggy, and rubbed her eyes. She was very tired. He stood staring down at her in only a towel.

"It's four AM, tosser," she groaned. "Let's go tomorrow or the day after tomorrow or perhaps never."

He started to rip off the sheets and she curled up when the cold hit.

"I'm getting Ophelia." he said casually.

That seemed to have woken up Emelia. Her eyes widened and she got up. He smirked, arrogantly, and she pushed him gently.

"I must go alone. Molly has her."

Emelia went to the closet and pulled on a jacket over her brown tank top and grey shorts. Quickly, she put on her black Doc Martens. Tom eyed the shoes.

"The soles on those are abnormally large."

"You're abnormally large," she retorted.

"No I'm not," he said defensively. "You're a fucking prat, get ready. I'm going with you."

Before she could interject he added, "I'll wait outside."

"Put on a shirt, you'll catch a cold."

"I'm a wizard, I don't catch colds."

"You're a male who has a superiority complex, get ready."

Emelia threw a shirt off the hanger at him. He caught it and looked at it for a moment.

"I'm not wearing this," he stated.

She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed from his stubbornness.

"So you're afraid of embracing your femininity because you think it'll question your masculinity? Great, what else do I need to know about you?"

"I'm not afraid of anything."

She raised her eyebrow.

"I'm not doing this today, Tom, either you wear the pink crop top or catch a cold."

He reluctantly put it on. It stretched out the second it slipped over his head and Emelia winced. It was her favorite shirt, why'd she let him wear it?

"I'm putting a jacket over it," he grumbled.

"Fine by me. Let's go."

They held hands and disapparated from the Malfoy Manor, landing at the Burrow.

"Stay here," she said and kissed him. Tom eyed the house with disgust.

"Also, stop looking at it like that."

"It's so..."

"Poor?" she suggested.

"No, just why is it so large?"

"Well, Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Molly, Percy, Arthur, and them live there."

His nose flared.

"Potter?"

"Stay here." she ordered and went in.

He watched her walk away and tried to shield himself from the Burrow's view. The Weasley family signified everything he didn't have; a family, a home, humanity.

Emelia knocked on the door and Miss Weasley scuttled over to open it.

"Emelia! My dear, how have you been?"

She ushered Emelia in.

"I've been well, Mrs. Weasley, you?"

"The same, it's been the same. We've missed you, I hope this break helped you recollect your thoughts and whatnot."

Emelia tried being polite by smiling and nodded.

"I came to pick up Ophelia, I've got to...head back to the flat, yeah."

"The flat?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah."

"Emelia, Fred's told me you've barely been at the flat this past week."

Emelia stopped fidgeting. Mrs. Weasley sighed and went to the other room. This was when Emelia knew she fucked up. She came back out with Ophelia in her stroller and Emelia smiled.

"Emelia, I know you're not going back to the flat. While you aren't my child, you're as good as one of mine. Please keep Ophelia safe and be good."

Emelia nodded. Unexpectedly, she gave Mrs. Weasley a hug.

"Thank you so much for this. You've been like a motherly figure to me and so supportive."

Molly looked as if she were going to cry.

"Now, now. You should be on your way, I'll see you later."

Emelia waved goodbye and strolled out with Ophelia. The scar was still prominent against her face, but her child was beautiful.

"Tom?" she called out.

No reply.

"Tom, this isn't funny!" she yelled.

Emelia waited for two minutes before freaking out. Where'd he go? She waded into the mucky water, but luckily only her soles were submerged.

"Fuck." she said. He was gone. Why did this have to happen now. Suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder. She whipped out her wand.

"Surprise, Adams."

There he was, holding flowers. They were very dark roses with sharp thorns.

"You're a fucking tosser, Riddle, you know that?"

He grinned.

"You were taking a long time, I got bored."

"I was in there for barely five minutes, be patient. Now where are you taking us?"

"It's a surprise...it'll be a family surprise, yes."

It sounded as if he was trying to convince himself. Tom looked down at Ophelia and gave her a sad little smile. She noticed they shared the same scar.

"Wherever you go I won't be far to follow, we're gonna do this together."

"You'll learn what I already know," he replied. "I'm going to do this right."

They smiled at each other and Emelia looked away before she could melt even more into his gaze.

"We must go soon." she said.

"Yes, we will."

"How're we going to get there? The Knight Bus will know you're a wanted criminal and we can't exactly apparate anywhere with Ophelia..."

"That's where you come in, darling."

Her face darkened.

"What do you mean?"

"Does Mr. Weasley still have that flying car which Ron and Potter crashed into the Whomping Willow in second year?"

"Spit it out, Tom."

His eyes were switching colors from black to dark green.

"Well, here's what you'll have to do."