The last Hollingworth - a Hogwarts Story

The last Hollingworth

As we came back he sat me down in one of the arm chairs and kneeled down in front of me.

„Darling look at me. Are you alright?"

He lifted my head to look at him.
My fingers were fiddling with the silver chain around my neck.

„What was this? What happened?"

„I kept my promise."

„Are you..are you ok? Are you hurt?"

My fingertips traced his face.
Usually for me it was cold because my hands were always so warm.
But this time it was the other way around.
My fingers felt like ice touching a fire.

„A bit sore but I'm fine darling. But what about-„

„Where is Pansy? Is she ok?"

I suddenly looked up and around.
I got up, even as Tom tired to stop me.

I saw Pansy laying down on the couch and Eve sitting next to her.
I rushed over and kneeled next to her.

„Pansy. Pansy are you ok?"

„I'm fine Elli. It was just a stupor"

„But what about-„

„The baby is fine. We're all fine Elli"

She said calm and quiet.
I layed my head on her shoulder and sobbed a little.

„I swear on Merlin. If you ever do something like that again Pansy I'm gonna ... I'm gonna"

She patted my head and smiled weak.

„Try me"

she grinned slightly.
We laughed slightly through our sobbs.

I looked back at Tom who was about to head out again.

„Where are you going?"

„Helping Mattheo and father to track down the rest of this pathetic little group. I'm gonna be back soon."

He left but not without kissing my forehead.

I sunk down and sat leaning against the couch and looked into the fire.
I felt my body slowly heat up.

„Did you...?"

Eve said low.

„No"

I replied silent.

„I almost had.
I wanted to.
So bad.
But Tom did it for me"

I couldn't look away from the fire.

„It's better that way. Believe me"

Eve said sweet.
And I knew she was right.

Without another word she got up and came back shortly after with some warm clothes for Pansy and me.

I looked at them as Eve helped Pansy getting into an old jumper from Mattheo.
I looked at my family.
It was over.
I was free.

Only a month after my birthday we had scheduled the wedding.
Or what we called a wedding.
It was way to cold to do it outside so we had removed the large dining table in Marvolos and Eves house to make room for some chairs and a small flower arch.

Wether Tom nor I wanted to make a big show out of it. Only a few people.
Toms parents and our friends.
Nothing more.
Due to his status in the ministry Theodore's father was able to perform the wedding ceremony.

I had never been this nervous in my entire life.
Pansy did her best to calm me down.

I looked back in the mirror.
We had agreed to keep it simple and classic.

The silky white dress I was wearing looked almost like the dress I had worn to my first Yule ball.
My hair fell over my shoulders, only two strands were pinned back with some white flowers and the silver snake pin Pansy had gifted me in school.
Shortly before the start it knocked on my door.

„Ready?"

Marvolo stepped inside with a wide smile.
I looked back at him a little bit confused.

„Shouldn't you be down there with Tom?"

„And who is supposed to walk you down the aisle?"

I had a hard time to hold back my tears.
I jumped in his arm.

„Thank you so much"

„Don't. You were always like my own daughter. It's my job"

he smiled and held out his arm.

Shortly before the door to the dining room I took a deep breath.
As we stepped inside everyone was looking at us.

It was late afternoon and it was rather dark.
The room was lit with so much candles.

But all I could see was Tom.
As his eyes met mine I could swear I could see some tears.
He even smiled.
The most beautiful smile I had ever seen.

His father handed me over to him.
Toms eyes sparkled bright.

„There are so many words in this world. And not a single one of them comes close to describing how beautiful you are"

I had to giggle.
These were the exact same words he had said to me in the night of the Yule ball.

We had a quite small official part.
Because we wanted to focus on something else.
After mister Notts part where he announced us mister and misses Riddle, Tom got out our rings.

Mine looked a lot like the promise ring he got me for my 16th birthday.
A blood red stone and some silver details.
His was more nondescript.
A simple silver ring.
But when you looked closer there was a blood red snake engraved.

Both, the snake and the stone seemed like liquid.
Just like my old necklace.
We placed the rings on each others hands and then grabbed each other's wrists in a tight hold.

A warm feeling flooded me.
I could practically feel our heartbeats pounding in union.
The rings like fire on our hands.

I looked up to Tom with a wide smile.
We looked at each other for a second and then I started.

„I, Elisabeth Avalia Riddle, promise to always stay by your side and support you in every part of your life.
I promise to be your rock and your light in the dark.
I promise to love you forever.
I promise to be yours til the day I die.
In this life and every other life"

„I, Thomas Marvolo Riddle, promise to protect you with everything I have.
To support you in every part of your life.
I promise to protect my light in the dark.
I promise to protect and cheerish your pure heart and soul.
I promise to love you forever.
I promise to be yours till the day I die.
In this life and every other life."

The rings seemed to glow for a couple of seconds.
Then they went back to normal.
But the bond between us stayed.

We lowered our hands and Tom bought his forehead to mine.

„And with that I take this cursed name from you.
This awful line has an end now.
You are where you belong.
You're finally a Riddle. I will love you forever my light"

He murmured.
A couple of tears fell down my cheeks.

„We will love you forever too"

I said with the sweetest smile.
He hesitated.

„We?"

I rubbed slightly over my belly and nodded.

„Yes we"

His eyes widened and he looked down to my belly and up to me.

„Really?"

„Yes my love"

I nodded.
He pulled me into a deep kiss and lifted me up in his arms.
He held me tighter than ever.
I had never seen him this happy.
And I couldn't be happier either.

Our love sealed with this blood oath.
The start of our own family.

And with that the line of the Hollingworth had an end.

The last and purest Hollingworth found her place.

Her peace.