the end, again - tom riddle

chapter nine

Hello! This chapter is short, but I will hopefully make up for it in the next one.

Content Warnings for this chapter include: Graphic mentions of torture, and references to child physical & sexual abuse as well as domestic abuse.

I also just realized I've been writing Keith as a Mulciber for some reason?? Until I get the energy to go back and fix that, please just pretend I've always written him as a Zabini.

Thank you for reading.

November 6th, 1951.

It was officially November. Time passed quickly, Mara had started to realize. Wasn't that ironic.

But something else November brought? The freezing cold weather.

Sure, it wasn't as bad as December would be and certainly wasn't as bad as January would be. Did she give a fuck? No. Mara was still frozen to the bone from simply sitting outside for ten minutes.

Along with all of the other realizations the weather had brought, Mara realized she would need to invest in a much better winter coat.

It wasn't like she struggled to make ends meet, but good winter robes were expensive. She certainly would have to lay off buying so many weekly bottles of whiskey. Or maybe she'd have to space out her bar visits. Merlin knew it was cheaper to buy a single bottle and pour herself rather than pay more than what was worth the tiny shot glasses or slightly larger glasses.

But her struggles with alcohol were besides the point. The point was, she needed a new winter coat.

And that was how she found herself in Diagon Alley on a Tuesday evening. An hour before the stores closed.

Getting the coat itself was simple. She walked into the most popular robes store of the time period, Mister and Madame Levins Robes for Every Witch and Wizard. A bit of a mouthful of a name, but they sold some damn good robes.

She was greeted by Madame Levins upon her entrance. "Is that who I think it is? Miss Vaux! How can I help you? Oh, you look far too boney. Would you like some biscuits?"

Mara laughed off the unintentional insult. "I'm just here for some winter robes, Madame. And don't worry about my eating. I don't think a witch can be fed better than Hogwarts feeds."

Madame tsked but ushered her further into the store. "Oh, alright then. Same measurements?"

"Yes. I need something with better charms against the cold. Bloody winds are killing me and it's only November."

Madame Levins nodded her head rapidly. "Oh, yes you do! I don't want you freezing out there anymore. I'll send you the robes by Thursday, eh? Do you need boots? Or socks? Or mitts?"

Mara shook her head as Madame Levins continued listing off various items of clothing for combating the coming harsh winter weather.

"Oh, you need a hat! I'll get you one of those cute ones made of spider silk!"

"No, no. I have everything else I need. It's just this damn coat."

Madame Levins clucked her tongue at the language but brought her over to the cash register anyways. "Alright, missy. That'll be twelve galleons."

Mara picked twelve shiny pieces of metal from her purse and handed them to Madame Levins. They made a clacking sound as they dropped into the register.

Madame Levins smiled up at her after handing Mara the receipt and date of receival. "Darling, are you sure you don't want to stay for a biscuit or two? It's getting dark out and you can just floo back."