Never Alone

L A K E S I D E

The castle was buzzing with excitement from the first years, oblivious to the battle that occurred right here just months ago.

Vivienna could not stand it.

She held no resentment towards the children seeing as how they had no idea, but the cheerful mood was bothering her extensively.

Walking out of the castle, she begins to head towards the Black Lake. Often she found herself sitting there in thought.

It is peaceful there, quiet even.

Her thoughts were mainly meaningless. Filled with ideas of how to better her grades, which tasks she should begin and finish. Nothing of substantial importance.

It was enough to keep her mind busy.

Vivienna was constantly unsure of how she should feel with the war being over. Of course she felt thankful to be alive and well, but guilt was always lingering in her heart.

The guilt was something she had tried to get out of her mind. So she did so by sitting out by the water lost in a scramble of thoughts.

Although, sitting there she could not help but feel uneasy each time. Unexplainably uncomfortable, why?

On edge.

Vivienna would not consider herself to be a paranoid person, but some moments she felt as though she was being watched.

Eventually the small moments of concern turned into a daily routine. Constantly having to be discrete as she glanced over her shoulder taking in her surroundings.

It was a ridiculous feeling she thought to herself. She never sees anyone following or lingering, and yet she cannot shake the feeling.

Call it inadequate intuition.

After a sufficient amount of time by the Black Lake, the young witch decides it best to head back inside before dinner.

Instinctively she checks her surroundings by glancing around the area before walking back towards the castle.

Just as she begins walking her phones goes off.

A text.

Hello, beautiful.

Confusion sets in as she reads the message. The contact unknown and the phone number unrecognized.

oh, you might have the wrong number. this is
vivienna?

She replies to the text. Absentmindedly she had stopped walking. Standing there patiently waiting for a response.

I certainly have the correct number.

Now she was even more on edge, considering she was assuming it was just someone texting the wrong number.

who is this?

Her message was instantly read.

You won't be needing that information.

She reads the message over a few times before feeling even more uneasy. Vivienna puts her phone away and quickly picks up her pace as she walks inside.

Consider her appetite for dinner gone.

Walking into the old building she decides to wander around the castle as she has done each year. Each year she made it a point to discover or explore a new part of the castle.

As the curious girl turns a corner she walks directly into somebody.

Frightened she steps back hurriedly and looks to see who she just collided with.

"So jumpy." Mattheo Riddle speaks in an amused tone observing her behavior.

"Were you following me?" She asks with confusion easily detected in her voice. Although, it did not come out harshly or accusingly as she intended.

"Oh? She has an ego too." Riddle scoffs out as he rolls his eyes, "I am headed to dinner. As you should be." He continues on.

"I'm not hungry. What are you doing here?" She asks in a seemingly nicer tone.

The dark eyed wizard glances up and down taking in her appearance. He observes the way she is nervously messing with her hands.

"I told you. I am headed to dinner. Why are you wandering around is the better question." He says nonchalantly as he decides to make eye contact.

"Habit." She says distantly as she glances behind the boy ensuring no one is there.

She makes eye contact with Riddle for a few long seconds before she snaps out of it hearing foot steps approaching behind her.

"You are making us late for dinner." A male voice says as she turns to recognize the voice belonging to Theodore Nott.

"I do not do well when starved." Lorenzo Berkshire says next to the other boy as he looks at Riddle.

"Sorry, it was my fault. I stopped him." Vivienna says speaking to the two boys who seem to be friends with boy she bumped into.

"Oh?" Nott says questioningly as he looks at the witch and then Mattheo.

"No need to explain yourself, Matt. I understand now." Berkshire chuckles as he looks at Emrys with a grin.

"Enjoy dinner." She mumbles politely excusing herself before moving past Riddle and continuing her pointless journey.

As she pulls out her phone to check the time, another text message appears. She opens it.

You shouldn't be walking around alone this late.

Immediately her heart begins racing as she looks around her vicinity. She used to feel safe in school, but after the war things have changed.

Vivienna would like to think this is just a harmless joke being played, but her overthinking habit has always been a problem.

are you watching me?

She replies while internally telling herself she logically has no reason to be feeling this way.

As she continues calming herself down she sees the mystery person begin typing and quickly exits the messages.

Vivienna smiles and laughs at herself for being so worried. "You are so dramatic." She whispers to herself. Finding some comfort in convincing herself that the situation is funny.

She sighs before clicking back into the messages to read what was sent.

always, pretty girl.

Quickly closing her phone she begins walking back towards her dorm. Uncomfortable with the whole mystery texts, but determined to not let it bother her.

As she mutters the password to get into the Hufflepuff common room she makes her way up the stairs to her room.

The only upside coming from a wealthy pureblood family is being able to have your own dorm. Although, if it meant her father would actually be a half decent father she would happily share a room.

Unfortunately with her mom passing in the battle last school year, his absence has since grown.

Vivienna finds herself reading over the mystery messages over and over before finally deciding to forget about it.

Changing into her pajamas she gets ready for bed before finally crawling onto her plush mattress and falling asleep.

Not without an hour or so of overthinking. Per usual.