Purée

Labels

"Vanessa, get your ass down here!" My father's voice, deep and laced with impatience, echoed up the grand staircase and through the dimly lit corridors of Snape Manor. I leaned over the wrought-iron balcony, peering down at him with a mix of curiosity and mild annoyance. Below, a small group of visitors lingered in the foyer. A young boy, no more than eight, caught sight of me and whispered something to the man next to him, who quickly turned to see what had grabbed his attention.

"Down here, now!" Dad repeated, his voice sharper this time as he turned his attention back to a man who could only be Max Riddle, Tom's father. They exchanged words, their conversation too quiet for me to hear, but the tension in the air was palpable. I rolled my eyes and retreated back into my room, nudging the boy sprawled across my bed.

"Wake up," I muttered, giving him a none-too-gentle shove. He groaned, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he slowly sat up, tousled hair falling into his face.

"Already?" he mumbled, still half-asleep.

"Yes, already. Get dressed and get out," I said, tossing his shirt at him. He grumbled but obeyed, pulling on his clothes in a sleepy haze. Once he was decent, he fumbled for his wand and waved it, producing a small pouch of coins that jingled softly as he handed it to me. I took the pouch, smirking as I slipped it into the hidden pocket sewn into the lining of my bra. With a brief nod, he left, slipping out the back door to avoid any awkward encounters.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself before heading downstairs. As I descended, the hushed conversation between Dad and Mr. Riddle grew louder, and I caught the end of it as I reached the bottom step.

"Tell me again, why was Vanessa bullying your son?" my father demanded, his tone icy.

I blinked, confused as I looked at the young man standing beside Mr. Riddle. He was tall, with dark, brooding eyes that flickered with something between anger and curiosity. But there was no recognition in my gaze. I'd never seen him before in my life.

"Who is this?" I asked, pointing at the stranger. "Do you not have another son? I've never met this guy."

Before I could react, the stranger reached out, pushing my hand away with a sneer. Instinctively, I grabbed his wrist, twisting it sharply until he winced and dropped to one knee. "Don't touch me," I warned, my voice low and dangerous. "Got that?"

His eyes darkened with fury, but he nodded. I released his wrist and straightened up, brushing imaginary dust off my hands before turning back to Mr. Riddle.

"Yes, I have another son," Mr. Riddle admitted, a hint of frustration in his voice. "But he's not here. Thank you for your... cooperation, Vanessa." He shot his son a look, and the young man begrudgingly extended his hand to me. I hesitated for a moment before taking it, pulling him to his feet. The tension between us was thick, but I kept my expression neutral as I turned back to my father.

"You hurt Tom? Why?" Dad's voice was softer now, tinged with something like disappointment.

I met his gaze, unfazed. "You know I go to that hideous school, don't you? Someone threatened me to get information about Tom, but they didn't like the ending," I said coolly, crossing my arms. "Just a warning."

Dad narrowed his eyes, studying me with a mixture of concern and frustration. "I knew you and Tom were dating, but I didn't realize it ended with you hurting him."

I turned to face him fully, the tension between us crackling like static. "I didn't hit him first. He started it."

Dad sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if trying to ward off a headache. "We're moving. You're going to a different school, and if you mess this one up too, that's on you."