Pick Your Poison | Tom Riddle |

Chapter Eighteen: A Winter Wonderland

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"The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people."
--Martin Luther King Jr.

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December 25, 1943

The Ravenclaw Common Room was filled with presents underneath the glistening Christmas tree and the sun was just making its way above the mountains, peaking into the room ray by ray.

Eleanor woke early that morning with Julius to make sure it'd look perfect for the younger year students who couldn't return home this winter break.
She propped the presents up neatly around the tree for the fifteen that were still here and even the sixth and seventh years who'd be staying for the Yule Ball.

"Psst, Eleanor." Julius whispered as she sat on her knees, adjusting the names of the presents in alphabetical order.

When she glanced over at him by the fireplace where he cast a fire with his wand, he nodded at something above her and she followed his gaze to see a mistletoe.

"Absolutely not."

Julius laughed. "I know. I'm just messing with ya."

Rolling her eyes, she turned to see all of the students swarming the common room.

"Okay, so I organized all of your names alphabetically so no one has any trouble searching for their--"

"Don't listen to her. It's Christmas! Go find your presents!" Julius interrupted, dragging her aside by her hand as the children dove towards the once neatly piled boxes by the towering tree.

She felt slightly awkward around Julius in the moment but wondered if it was worth chancing again with him. Even just as friends the way they used to be. Everything was so tense lately.

Just as she parted from him, the Sixth and Seventh year students mingled with the others and suddenly, it seemed like the festive holiday it's meant to be.

Eleanor even wore a silly Santa hat like those found in Muggle Christmas culture.

When Marcella came running out looking just as excited as the children, she called out to Eleanor,

"Put on your record player! It's Christmas!"

A laugh escaped her lips and she pointed her wand at the record player by the sofa that shortly began to play Let It Snow.

The room only became more exuberant as the Ravenclaws tore open their presents by the tree, all laughing and smiling.

It pleased Eleanor to see them all happy as she looked around. Even Cormac was sitting among the First Years who played with him and Lillian adoringly watched. Marcella was trying on the new jewelry she had shipped from New York from her family. Julius also sat there, quietly minding his own business with a smile on his lips as he read a letter which Eleanor found out was from his brother in the British army.

Regardless of what her past few days consisted of  --the betrayal and the lies of Tom-- she felt a glimmer of warmth in her chest when she realized that things might actually be okay for once even if she wasn't entirely okay with it all right now.

Just a little adjusting was all she needed.

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The Great Hall was illuminated by the white clouds outside and the sky in the ceiling that spilled snow flakes was decorated with jingling bells and sparkling lights. Behind the long table of Hogwarts teachers was the tallest, largest Christmas tree that glowed even in the day time with its excessive tinsel and ornaments.