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—RIGEL WALKED INTO THE LIBRARY AND SAT DOWN. He pulled out a parchment, a quill, and ink, wanting to write a letter to home.
Being too busy with his writing, he didn't notice a certain Ravenclaw walking up to him, until she cleared her throat.
Rigel looked up, merely raising an eyebrow.
"I'm Cho Chang. The Ravenclaw seeker you went up against last year."
He nodded, remembering how he beat her. "Rigel Black, a pleasure to meet you."
Thomas Gaunt, who was reading a book nearby, looked up and watched the whole thing play out. His eyes widened when Rigel shook Cho's hand, but didn't kiss the back of it.
In the Pureblood community, when the heirs and heiresses met and shook hands, the heir was supposed to kiss the heiress' hand.
Only one explanation was there if he didn't do that: he was gay.
It was to avoid awkward scenarios, and understand that he wasn't interested in girls.
So... Rigel is gay?
Cho Chang, however, was a half-blood, so she didn't know that Rigel had technically just told her that he wasn't interested. "Well, I was wondering if you'd like to go to the Yule Ball with me?"
Ah, the traditional Yule ball.
Rigel tried to keep his grimace in, while Thomas harshly shut his book, but wasn't noticed.
"You're a lovely girl and everything, Ms. Chang, but I've decided to go with my friends."
Cho's shoulders slumped. She nodded and walked away, making him let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
Honestly, if rejecting people made him that anxious, asking them out would be much worse.
"Rigel?" A voice suddenly asked.
Rigel turned around, immediately pointing his wand at him. He glared at Tom, putting his wand away. "Be less sudden next time, would you?"
"Sorry." Tom mumbled, sitting in front of him, while Rigel went back to writing his letter. "So, I noticed something."
Rigel tensed immediately, his brows furrowing. "What did you notice?" He stiffly asked.
"You're gay."
"Preposterous!" Rigel exclaimed angrily, standing up and putting his letter in his book.
"Rigel— there's nothing to be ashamed about—"
"I am not gay." Rigel demanded, pointing his wand at his neck.
They were now so close that Tom felt his breath hitch.
"And if you tell one person that I am... You'd wish that you did die that night in Godric's Hollow."
Rigel glared at him one last time, and walked out of the library with the book in his hands.
It wasn't that he was ashamed.
He just wasn't ready to come out.
...and honestly? He felt.. alone for some reason.
Coming out would risk his chances of losing almost.. everything and maybe even everyone, and he didn't want that.
Unfortunately, he didn't even trust anyone to talk about this with.
••
"—sorry." Rigel said, looking bored.
The girl huffed, leaving reluctantly.
"Why'd you say no to her?" Draco asked. "She's a Beauxbatons girl and she was beautiful!"
"Yeah... no." Rigel shook his head, not agreeing.
Blaise slung an arm over Rigel's shoulder, giving him a sympathetic smile. "Atleast none of us have dates and are going together."
"True." Draco nodded, agreeing with him.
Rigel huffed. "Please, Blaise. You're acting like Draco's not going to get busy with a girl 10 minutes into the ball."
Draco spluttered, while Blaise laughed.
••
Rigel looked up from the book in his hands when he accidentally started overhearing a couple breaking up.
The sound of heartbreak in the couple's voice made him look away.
Love. Disgusting... and sad.
If there was one thing Rigel thanked Merlin for— was the fact that he had never been through what teenagers have been through these days:
1-being cheated on.
2-being left.
3-much.. much more.
But most importantly.. 4-falling in love.
It just didn't sit right with him... Giving somebody your heart and expecting it to be given back without a single crack in it? Highly unbelievable and impossible.
A heart was yours. It belonged to you.
Why should people give it to someone else?
Rigel rolled his eyes, going back to the book in his hands.
••
"I apologize." A voice suddenly said, making Rigel point his wand at the person immediately.
Rigel glared at him. "What did I tell you about suddenly coming up to me?"
"Why are you so paranoid?" Tom questioned back curiously.
Rigel gave him a look. "Bellatrix, Rabastan, Rodolphus, Lucius, Regulus, and.. much.. more family members of mine— were all death eaters. I, myself, am heir Black— heir to one of the darkest families! I am seen as 'evil' immediately because of my last name, but everyone ignores that, thinking that just because I was born to a Potter, means that I am a Potter... How the hell can I not be paranoid, Riddle? Oh, and Dumbledore's been breathing down my neck for the past few days!"
Tom's eyebrows reached upwards at the boy's rant. How much more was the boy actually holding in?
"I'm sorry.. again." Tom sheepishly scratched his neck.
Rigel sighed and rolled his eyes. "Just keep that in mind for next time."
"Right... Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry for what I said—"
"Let's just not talk about that. I forgive you. Done." Rigel said, trying not to tense.
Tom nodded understandingly. "Can I sit next to you?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"No." Tom grinned, sitting next to him.
The younger boy sighed, but stayed quiet.
"Hey, Rigel?"
Rigel hummed.
"Why do you hate me so much?"
Rigel stopped trying to tie his hair, and looked at him. "I don't hate you. I merely dislike you."
Tom couldn't stop the smile growing on his face. "I'm making progress, aren't I?"
