Tied [A Tom Riddle Story]

6. A Merry Christmas

Sela

15 years

"Varton are you mad? Staying here at Hogwarts while you have a big arse mansion waiting for you. With a bunch of elves catering to you I might add." Remi continues to yap about her father's wealth.

 
She continues sipping her tea as she watched Chahni and Louisa play chest, completely ignoring Remi.

"Checkmate." Louisa smirks.

"Merlin's beard! Again." Chahni fake cries as she leans into Sela. She chuckles.

"At the end of the day, you have to admit, I am the best around here." Louisa mockingly flexes her left arm.

"You are the best." Sela said.

"And you're not on my side!?" Chahni exclaimed in surprise, looking at Sela with wide eyes.

"You know I always tell the truth." Sela raises both eyebrows while her friend stomps on her feet like a damn baby.

 
"Anyways, we're all taking off now. Take care alright?" Louisa utters.

"Must you always utter the same words every holiday?" Sela asked.

"Yeah, she's never left school for Christmas in five years, must you always talk like a mother?"

 Chahni, being the sassy character that she is spoke.

"That's why I like you the best." Sela says, jokingly as her friend blows her a kiss.

"Fine fine, but we're going now. Just keep yourself company with... whatever it is. Bye!" The other two said their goodbyes next.

Sela waved at them and went back to her tea.

A lot has changed over the years, as it should. To her people are flexible, they change due to each and their own individual circumstances. Take her for instance. A cold hard face to strangers and a warm blanket to her three best friends. Somehow the abuse that she went through had wired her not to trust another easily. She should always remain cold and make them fear her. Instead of showing her vulnerable side. leading to getting used. Then getting hurt. She specifically dislikes boys (except Remi) she hates how they smell, she hates how they behave, how they talk, how they walk, how they eat. Since a member did a plenty on her, she took the liberty to hate the entire species. But not him.

She did not know how to feel. They had not talk in more than a year. It was just stares. Not glances. But stares. After that they would continue to do whatever they were meant to do. When she looks towards the door of the great hall, there he was standing, conversing with Avery about Merlin knows what. After awhile Avery departures. And his eyes. They landed on her. As before where she would hold his stare, now she looked away. It is as if some sort of new found feeling erupted. Where she sees him and feels comfort and warmth, now it was as if something would threaten to kill her, if her feet would not lift off the ground upon sighting his eyes.
A hand on her shoulder broke her from her trance. It was Carlton Minerva. The boy from Ravenclaw she had befriended in her second year.

"I'm guessing you are staying again?"

"As always." She gives him a small smile.

He nods in acknowledgment.

"Listen, it seems that you don't want to spend time at home for whatever reason, so if you want to, you can come to my home. I promise you it is very warm and cozy. Oh! And my parents are really nice muggles." He plasters a smile.

"I do not doubt that." She laughs.

"But wouldn't that be improper. You, taking a girl home." She smirks.

"Oh no, not a big deal at all. They are quite quite modern for this generation." He jokingly put both hands on her shoulder pushing her gently forward and back.

"Thank you for the offer Carl, but I'd rather spend my time here. I don't feel safe outside of my routine, you know. And the view of snow from outside my window is magnificent."

 
"As you wish my queen." He bows down, a laugh bubbles from her throat.

"Number four is leaving now. Have fun here!"

"Don't forget to bring me some muggle sweets!"

"You hate sweets!"

"It was a test!" They both laughed and Carl departures.

And this, will be her Christmas.

She finally remembers where a certain person resides. But as she glances over.
He was not there.