His Mark [Tom Riddle's son] DISCONTINUED

Dividing Paths

His Mark
[Knowledge is Power]

16th September 2016
Friday

Cordelia

I followed behind Aileen, watching him stumble out of the hall in a dazed fashion though if I watched carefully there was a sense of purpose in his footsteps that was more defined than before.

What in Merlin's name was that?

We walked in silence until we reached the staircase to the Slytherin dungeons, where we spoke about matters regarding the Polyjuice Potion-well I suggested that I would collect the fluxweed and check on the lacewings alone and he just shrugged in what I assumed was an agreement.
****
As September progressed we barely conversed, falling from whatever we were before back into business like acquaintances.
Every time we met, the shadows under his eyes grew more defined, and he became more withdrawn and quiet.

Trying to find out what was wrong with him was like running headfirst into a brick wall and just as painfully frustrating as he just gave a monotonous reply of 'yes, I'm fine' or in worse days, he would snap, 'just leave me alone, Cordelia!'

After two weeks, I gave up.
What's the point of trying to help a person who refuses to said help?
Besides, I have no obligation to care for his welfare or health.

However, that didn't stop me from noticing his forsakenment of his friends for thick books, that the work of the Polyjuice Potion was slowly sliding to me or his tiredness in class-a memorable moment in History was when Aileen was nodding off to sleep and I threw a screwed up piece of parchment at his head, waking him up with a start. I don't think he knew it was me, seeing that I had put on a straight face and Juliet was trying to hold in her explosive snorts,but either way, I don't think he cares.

So instead of replaying my moments and suspicions about Aileen, I dove into the mindless, fun activities with Juliet and Rosaline, which revolved around the latest Muggle trend in preparation for the Halloween Ball, watching the Quidditch players practise (this was mainly for Rosaline's benefit, who had a suppressed crush on my brother that she still denies) or helping them with homework (which is basically tutoring them in whatever they didn't understand) or subtly annoying Regan Leer.

Aileen was pushed to the back of my mind, and for one brief month, I thought that our paths would never cross again.