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—THE WEEKS PASSED BY, MEANING IT WAS ALMOST YULE BREAK. Rigel glared at Draco, who was anxiously rubbing his face. "Draco—"
"Rigel, please." Draco sighed. "You've helped enough. Let me take it from here. You've got to enjoy Yule, please."
"But I—"
"You gave me your word, I know." Draco cut him off, knowing what he was going to say, and looked at his cousin. "But you didn't have to. I brought you into this mess and it's time you get out. You've got to be enjoying Yule, Rigel. Don't stay here for me. I'll finish the cabinet myself."
The desperation was evident in his voice, making Rigel sigh and reluctantly nod.
••
"Rigel!" Cierra excitedly exclaimed, rushing up to her brother who had just been apparated back home by Sirius. The Lestranges were now at Malfoy manor, wanting to be with Narcissa and Lucius.
Rigel's eyes widened. "That's the first time you've ever said my name, Cierra." He said with a smile, putting his sister on his hip.
She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Rigel's smile vanished as soon as he spotted Tom, who tried to act like he didn't notice.
Remus walked in and ruffled Rigel's hair affectionately. "Welcome back, Ri."
Rigel nodded, not saying anything.
Remus and Sirius shared a look. They both then walked out of the room, their daughter following behind, leaving Tom and Rigel alone.
"You're ignoring me." Tom stated, a hint of hurt in his voice.
Rigel didn't look at him and walked to the few bookshelves, not answering.
"You still are." said Tom, walking over to the boy who had his back turned to him.
He put his hand on Rigel's shoulder and turned him around. "Why?"
Rigel tensed at the contact, making Tom frown even more and pull away.
"Have I done something wrong?"
"No." said Rigel quietly, pursing his lips when his heart started to beat faster for some reason.
"Then why are you ignoring me?" asked Tom in confusion.
"I'm not."
"Bullshit."
Rigel sighed and turned back to the bookshelf, grabbing a book. "I've got to go—"
"You've got nowhere to be, Rigel. You're just going to go to your room and read all night, thinking that you don't have anyone."
Rigel raised an eyebrow as he looked at the older boy. "I don't see where the problem is."
"The problem is that you're pushing me away.. again."
"So?"
Tom's face fell. "Rigel.. why?"
"Look, Riddle, I'm sorry, but I really don't want to talk to you right now. If you'll excuse me." Rigel turned around and walked out of the room, leaving the frowning Tom alone.
••
That night, Rigel was writing, while his sister was playing with Indigo, when someone knocked on his door.
"Come in." said Rigel, not looking up from the parchment in his hands.
Sirius walked in, smiling softly. "How're you feeling, Ri?"
His son sighed, giving him a look.
Sirius' smile vanished slightly. "Ri, I'm just trying to look out for you. You're my son and.."
"And you think James would be blaming you for my mental illness." Rigel knowingly said.
"Rigel—"
"I know, Sirius." Rigel cut him off and sighed. "And I'm fine. I'm getting better."
Sirius looked extremely hopeful. "You are?"
"Yes." His son easily lied.
••
"You're not getting better, are you?" Tom knowingly asked the next morning, sitting down next to him in the living room.
Rigel didn't look away from the fireplace he was staring at. "Better?" He asked in confusion.
"Sirius claims you're getting better. I, however, know you're not." Tom leaned forward on the couch, while Rigel still didn't look away from the fireplace. "Rigel, you can trust me. I'm here to listen—"
"Listen? What use would that be, anyway— you can't even feel." snapped Rigel, irritation evident in his voice.
Tom frowned. "You.. you know? How?"
"Dumbledore."
Tom's frown just got deeper. "Dumbledore? What did he tell you?"
"Your mother used a love potion on your muggle—"
"Don't mention that."
"—father. You were conceived under a love potion. You cannot feel." Rigel finished, trying to hide the fact that his eyes started tearing up.
He was just holding way too much in.
"You don't get to know what I can or cannot feel. Nobody does." said Tom. "If you bothered to do more research on it, then you would've found out that if somebody was born under the influence of a love potion, their feelings would start showing when they find someone worth it. Only someone worth it."
Rigel froze, but didn't say anything.
"You are my worth it person, Rigel. Only you."
The 16-year-old sighed and looked at him. "Really?"
"Really, Ri. You always have been.."
Rigel hated the fact that he was letting himself fall for Tom.. but it felt good.
