the end, again - tom riddle

chapter twelve

A/N: I didn't have time to edit this chapter, as short as it is, so please let me know of any mistakes. Thank you for reading!

Little extra note: Development in Mara and Tom's relationship coming v soon!!

November 27th, 1951.

There actually was an activity Mara hated more than grading.

Staff meetings.

They didn't even require work for her when she attended. No, all she had to do was sit and listen to Dippet drone on about the school's activities for the weeks and watch teachers give input. She had no logical reason to hate them as much as she did.

Oh, but did she hate them. They forced her out of bed early, forced her to drink coffee earlier, forced her to shove a hangover relief potion down her throat sooner, and they worst of all forced her to joyful (at least Mara's version of joyful) at much too fucking early in the morning.

And so here she sat, barely able to keep her eyes open as Dippet went over the detention schedule for the month.

Messo had the first week, Allaband had the second, Hulls had the third, and Freling was the backup for that month's detenion rotation. None of this information concered Mara.

"And for our next order of buisness," Dippet said and paused as he sorted through the papers on the table in front of him to sort out exactly what was their next order of buisness. "Ah, yes. Next, I have arranged for the house elves to prepare a lovely feast the night before students leave for their winter break. There is also a wonderful menu planned for the students who will be staying at the castle over break."

"And the gifts!" Professor Kidston said.

Some other professor Mara had never bothered to solidify the name of nodded her head sympathetically. "Yes, we have the gifts prepared. Oh, those poor dears. I'm sure the gifts will make them feel better."

Other professors added to the conversation, commenting on how it was just so sad that some of the students would not be returning home for Christmas, for whatever the reason.

Mara could honestly not care less. All she wanted was to pour a generous sip of firewhiskey into her coffee to jump start her day.

Riddle looked inclined to agree, from where he was sitting across from her. He was, of course, also nodding sympathetically with the other professors. But she could tell it was all for appearance sake.

That made Mara feel maginally better. The fact that Riddle did not enjoy the meetings as much as she didn't made her feel like less of an ass in the part of her deep, deep down that happened to maybe care just a little.

Mara could not help but watch Riddle send barely disguised hateful glares at Dumbledore over the course of the meeting. She did not blame him. It would make her a hypocrite if she was to do so, especially after she had planned the old wizards death in such explicit detail.

Eventually, the meeting came to an end. Teachers packed up their parchments and secured their tea and coffee cups in their hands.

Mara was first to leave the dreadful classroom in which staff meetings were held. All too soon, Riddle caught up with her though.

"I couldn't help but notice you looked particularly hateful this morning. Any reason?" he asked conversationally as he matched his pace to hers.

"Oh, I don't know. This morning the birds sang, the wind blew, and I had not spontaneously combusted yet. I'll let you know if anything changes."