but daddy, i love him ♡ marcus riddle ♡

summer

Cordelia was sick of being Harry Potter's friend, honestly, how much bloody trouble could one boy get her in. In first year they had become quite close, bonding over shared trauma of having no parents and being raised by an uncle that hated them, but when he had nearly died trying to do what Cora believed should've been left for the teachers to deal with, they had a massive falling out.

They quickly rekindled, once second year had started - despite him and Ronald having zero sense and coming to Hogwarts in a flying car that they had a clue of how to work it - as they once again bonded over how their families hated each other. Although, unlike Harry, Cora did have a cousin who liked her, Theo, not being one to hold a grudge, quickly got over her 'Gryffindor-ness' (as he called it) and they were back to their normal banter.

When Harry had nearly died the second time, after being bitten by a highly poisonous basilisk fang, Cora lost it. She vowed that if he nearly died one more time she would stop being friends with him. Truthfully, she was being dramatic. However Cordelia didn't know if her heart could take anymore scares like that without it causing her some issue. Merlin-forbid she had a heart attack at thirteen and died. Honestly, did he have no regard for how she felt about him? He was one of her best friends.

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Sitting on Hermione's bed in the hospital wing was not how Cordelia imagined her second year of school would end. She was waiting for her best friend to wake up after being provided the mandrake potion that would waken her from her months long slumber.

The cold stiff fingers of her friend gently squeezed her fingers, however Hermione gave no other sign that she was awake so Cora was convinced she was imagining it. Although a groan immediately made her doubt that it was her imagination. "Hermione?" She whispered softly not wanting to disturb the other people in the wing waiting for their own friends and family members to rise.

This whisper made Hermione bolt upright. "Cora! The monster is a basilisk and it's using the pipes to travel! We need to find a Professor or Dumbledore or someone. We can't let anyone else get petrified." Hermione exclaimed all in one breath, her eyes frantic, trying to leap out of the sick bed completely.

"Hermione, take a breath." Cora waited until her friend obeyed and laid back down until she continued. "Everything is fine. Harry and Ron figured it out, they found the clue you left them. It's a long story and I'll tell you everything later, but long story short they went down to the chamber, Lockhart was obliviated, Harry killed a basilisk, Tom Riddle is You-Know-Who and all the petrified victims have been given a mandrake potion." Cora said, leaving out the more gory details - not wanting to scare Hermione so soon after she woke.

Her attempts were useless however as Hermione stood suddenly and then dramatically fell to the ground unconscious. Cora giggled muttering an oops while shouting for Madam Pomfrey to help Hermione. Deciding to wait for Hermione to go down to the end of year feast, she sat back down on the bed and waited for Hermione to once again awaken.

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On the train ride from Hogsmeade station to King's Cross station Cordelia shared a carriage with Harry, Hermione and Ronald (who hates his full name), despite Theo not harbouring any hateful feelings against her for being in Gryffindor the other Slytherins definitely did. Sitting with her feet thrown over Harry's legs, her back against the window, across from Hermione, Cora was reading a book Hermione had got her for Christmas about Metamorphmagus and how they can manipulate their abilities.

The book was teaching Cora a great deal about how to fully shape-shift, some believed that, if in complete control over their ability, a Metamorphmagus could change into an animal form of their choosing. Almost like an animagi but without needing to do years worth of training or having to do any of the legal formalities. Knowing that this would help a great deal with sneaking around the castle to explore or to set up pranks, Cora started planning on how to master her abilities as soon as she got to Nott Manor.

Being so absorbed by her book, she didn't even notice the trolley lady coming past until Harry chucked a packet of sugar quills at her head. "Harry, what the hell? That hurt. Why did you throw that at me, you dickhead." Cora exclaimed as she put her book down to pick up the sweets that had fallen off her lap and onto the floor of the compartment.

"Stop being so dramatic Cora, it's not a good look. You're welcome, by the way." Harry retorted, not at all phased by her lack of manners, overly familiar with how liked to forget her 'pureblood manners' (as she called it) when they were at Hogwarts and when she came back after the summer, she'd be back to her robot self from being reprogrammed all summer.

Cora gave him a cheeky grin in response and stood saying she was going for a walk. Taking her book with her, wanting to show the twins what she had read so they could start planning new pranks to pull when they returned in September. Making sure her hair was still bright purple, purely because it would piss Mr. Nott off if she had any 'unnatural' hair colour.

After a few minutes of looking around the train she found the twins in carriage with their best friend Lee Jordan. Flinging the door open, not bothering to knock, she shoved Freds feet off the seat and laid down so her head was in his lap. "What are you doing, Black?" Said Fred, looking rather unimpressed by her interruption, "We were planning something, but we can't now because you're here."

"Yeah, pranks. Duh." She stated, not asking, for Cora already knew what they were talking about. It's all they ever talk about. "I've just found something to help with your silly pranks. I thought you would be interested." Cora continued, faking getting up from her relaxed position to leave.

Fred instantly became interested, pulled her back down, saying, "Tell us everything." With a wicked grin on his face. Cora immediately handed him the book, telling him to be careful with it, and telling him the page number that the animal transformations were on. As Fred read aloud to the other two, Cora felt his fingers tangle in her hair and as his hands caressed her hair, she fell asleep.

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She didn't wake until Fred shook her when the announcement came that they were almost at King's Cross. Yawning, she apologised for sleeping on him and stood to go and get her stuff from her carriage with the trio. She took the book from Fred's open hands, before she lifted her wand and casted an advanced copying spell on the book so the twins could have a version of it also. Throwing it at him, she said goodbye to the three, reassuring them that she would write when she got a chance. Turning back to close the door behind her, she caught sight of Fred staring at her. She stared right back, while changing her hair and face to match his completely, causing him to double over laughing. She sent one last wave, then made her way down the train.

When reaching her compartment she was met with an angry Hermione standing with her hands on her hips. "Now where have you been, young lady?" Mione all but screamed at her, causing both the boys to flinch remembering times they had been told off by Hermione.

Cora scoffed "You're only two months older than me you know. Besides I was only with Gred and Forge, if you were really so worried you would've found me. I was only three compartments down." Cordelia sat down to get her bag and pack away her things then stood again, giving Hermione a hug "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. Please write to me this summer, and let me know when you're going to Diagon so I can come too. I'll miss you terribly."

Turning to Harry, she did the same, saying goodbye for the summer. Before adding, "And let me know if you need anything, okay? You'll tell me if the muggles give you trouble, yes?"

As she left the compartment she glared at the only one remaining, sneering "Ronald." Before she had the door completely closed, still not over his immediate judgement of her when they first met. She knew it was petty, but she was extremely good at holding grudges.

Walking down the train she found Theo quickly, he had been looking for her as well. Linking arms to stop them getting separated and grabbing their trunks, they stepped off the train to be met by one of Mr. Notts house elves. As he would no doubt be too busy to pick them up himself. Dippy snapped his fingers and transported their trunks to the Manor, bracing themselves, they grabbed a hand each, preparing for a summer of pureblood school. That was, in Coras professional opinion, even more boring than actual school, if that was even possible.

author waffle:
okay so this was shit, but oh well soz.
published: 11/04/24
words: 1591

xoxo ivy