Infatuation - Tom Riddle

Twenty Eight

Christmas Eve was rather nice compared to the first few days of their holiday. The Malfoys provided the group with an extravagant dinner, the dining room was decorated a bit more than when Merida first arrived at the manor, and everyone was in a seemingly better mood than when they first arrived.

Merida was seated across from Tom, yet again. They shared little glances throughout the meal, looking back at each other whenever Abraxas would say something stupid or when Oliver would go on a rant about how horrible muggle-borns were with Mrs. Malfoy. Tom and Merida were in their own world the entire time.

  She was pleasantly surprised with how much she ended up enjoying herself over the holiday. When it started snowing they'd all run out into the gardens and have snowball fights, Tom being the target of most of their attacks. This was Merida's best Christmas in a while. Until New Year's eve came around. And she received her fathers letter.

  "Merida?" Abraxas called from the main foyer. She was currently seated in the first floor library with Oliver and Tom, looking at old Hogwarts yearbooks and crossing out the people they didn't like. Tom look at her curiously when her name was called however Merida ignored his stare as she got up to go see what Abraxas wanted from her.

  Merida stopped a few steps away from the Malfoy boy when she saw what was in his hand. A letter, with her father's scratchy handwriting on the back of the envelope.

  "The owls brought this in this morning." He handed the small envelope to her, his face cold. Merida squinted up, trying to read the expression on his face. Her heart was already beginning to beat out of her chest, why was her father writing to her now? It's been months since they last spoke ...

  "Thanks," Merida mumbled, accepting the envelope from Malfoy's outstretched hand. The boy scoffed, hurrying his way back to the library.

  She stood alone in the foyer for a moment, hearing his heavy footsteps fade away before turning over the envelope to open it from the front. The color drained from her face when she had seen that it already had been opened. Abraxas' icy glare. He must have read it already. Merida couldn't tell if she was more terrified or angry at the revelation. She was furious for him to violate her privacy like that, but the thought of him reading something he shouldn't know about has her stomach turning with guilt. She felt her knees go weak, collapsing onto the cold marble floor. Slowly, she pulled the letter out of the envelope.

  Merida.

     The Ilvermorny administration have sent a letter to our residence. You must return to New York immediately, they have decided to reopen your case. All I had asked of you was to be inconspicuous at Hogwarts, but you just love the attention too much, don't you. I am very disappointed with you. I will send over my advisor to speak with you upon your return. Mr. Brown is no longer with us. Do not write back, I will not respond.

They reopened the case. Merida wished that the ground would just swallow her whole right then and there. It's been almost a year. Surely everything would have been finalized by now?

Apparently not.

Merida shivered, suddenly aware of how cold the manor had gotten as Corvus opened the door and walked into the foyer. Confusion graced his face for a moment as he saw her trembling on the floor several steps away from him, however he quickly hid his expression when he saw the letter she was holding in her hand.

He hid a soft smirk and knelt down beside her, noticing the way she folded over the paper so he couldn't see what was written as she scooted a bit further away from him.

  Corvus sighed, "things have gotten a bit complicated for you now, haven't they?"