Playing With Snakes △⃒⃘ Tom Riddle

•06•

6th year 1943,
Hogwarts

Christmas was without a doubt Marcella's favorite holiday, or at least, it used to be.
She could remember the days when she would wake up and run to the tree to open up her presents. She could remember her mother, father and little brother sitting togheter, talking, laughing.

But ever since her father became minister and him and her mother got new 'friends', Christmas had never been the same again.

Nowadays, Christmas was like every other day would be. She would wake up, eat her breakfast alone or sometimes with her mother and brother and they would do whatever they wanted. Nothing special, nothing hartwarming.

At least she had gotten used to it.

This year's Christmas hadn't been any different. Her father had thanked her for het gift as she had thanked him for hers and her mother had been very pleased with Riddle and her's Drink of Despair. Marcella couldn't help but be happy to see her mother so proud of her gift. The rest of the day, however, hadn't been as much fun.

Christmas had passen and the worst was yet to come and with the worst, Marcella meant the Winterball. She would have to fake-smile at everyone and act as if she was enjoying herself, while the truth was far from it.

Marcella sighed as she stood up and started pacing around her bedroom, worrying about tonight's Winterball.

She looked outside her window, hoping to spot any signs of her owl. She had sent a letter to Riddle to invite him for the Winterball. After all he had done for her, it was the least she could do.

A little part inside of her also wanted him to be there, because she enjoyed his actual presence. She seemed to like the way his presence made her feel. When he was with her she just always feels so warm and... happy. And when he would complement her, she would always blush and a weird feeling would spread through her stomach. She even hired a magical taxi to get Riddle to her mansion, as she had heard that he lived in a muggle orphanage.

"Marcella?! Are you readying yourself for tonight yet?"
She heard her mother's voice yell from across the hallway.

Marcella quickly walked towards her big doors and opened one. She then yelled an answer back.
"I'll be starting in a bit, mother!"
Before closing her doors.

It was 4 pm, which meant that she had around 2 hours to get ready. She had alreay showered so that saved her some time.

She looked around her big bright room. Unlike the rest of the dark shemed house, her room was completely white with hints of pastel. She liked the brightness of the white, it reminded her of the Ravenclaw commonroom, a place that felt like home when home didn't...

Marcella eventually dressed in the midnight blue dress her mother had bought her as a Christmas present. The dress was strapless and was fitted at the top but began loosening as it fell to the ground. Marcella thought the dress was a bit too daring for her taste, but her mother wished she wore it so she did. She then curled her hair in hollywood waves with a simple spell and put on some heels. She then finished her look with some dark makeup and added the silver jewelry her father had bought her.

Once she was finished she went to the ballroom, and yes they had an actual ballroom in their Victorian styled mansion.
As she entered, she noticed that a few people were already present, which meant that her parents are probably displeased with her for being late, so she quickly walked towards them.

"Hello, father, mother."
She greeted.

"Marcella, good of you to finally join us."
Her father said in a tone that almost made her cringe away.

"I must excuse for my tardiness, you know how girls can be when they are getting ready."
She said trying to make a joke to lighten up the mood.

"Of course, Marcella. Please go mingle with the guests, darling."
He said. 

"Of course, father."

"And Marcella, I want you to personally great the Malfoya as soon as they arrive, okay young lady?"
Her mother said.

"Yes, mother."
She answered with a monotone voice as she went to mingle.

She spotted a few of her mother's colleagues, some people she didn't know and the Weasleys. There were going rumors around that they in fact weren't a full pureblood family, but since a lot of the Weasleys work in the ministry they still got invited to the Winterball.

Although Marcella's family didn't exactly hate those who weren't pureblooded, they did think of blood as something sacred and that is why they kept their title as Pureblood Family high to only marry with pure wizards and witches.

A flash of white caught Marcella's gaze, which could only mean that the Malfoys had arrived. She quickly made her way to the door where her mother and father alread stood.

"Septimus, Violetta, how great to see you again!"
Her father said.

"It's great to see you and Gillian too! And of course Marcella, what a beauty she has become."
Septimus Malfoy said.

"Thank you mister Malfoy, it is great to see you all again. I must say that I love your dress misses Malfoy."
Marcella said with a sweet tone.

"Oh thank you so much dear, you look beautiful yourself. What a daughter you have, Gillian!"
Violetta Malfoy said.

"Oh please, do not forget about your son! Abraxas has grown to be quite the handsome gentleman hasn't he?"
Marcella's mother answered.

"Yes he has become quite handsome, my little man!"
Violetta said as she grabbed one of Abraxas' cheeks and pinched it as Marcella had to hold in her laughter.

"Marcella, why don't you and Abraxas go and enjoy yourselfs?"
Her mother then said while sharing a look with Violetta Malfoy.

"Of course."
She simply answered before grabbing the young Malfoy's arm and following him.

"I quite hate these kind of festivities."
Malfoy suddenly said.

"Well, I do too."
Marcella said as she sat down at one of the tables, next to him.

"Did you see how our mothers are trying to get us togheter? I mean, I'm not complaining since I certainly don't mind spending time with a beauty such as yourself, but they do make theirselfs quite obvious."
He said with an amused smile.
Marcella felt her cheeks grow hot at his not so subtle compliment and let out a cough to distract herself from what he had just said.

"Are you serious? How-"

"Look behind me."

Marcella did as he said and saw her mother and Violetta Malfoy looking at the two of them with smiles on their faces.

"You're right! How preposterous!"
Marcella said as annoyance flared inside of her.
"And please, your flattery does me nothing. For years you have simply ignored me and suddenly I am a 'beauty'? I don't believe a word you say, Malfoy."
She said as she held her head high and play off his complement.

"For years, you were just a little girl. But now, you are a beautiful young woman, and I am a handsome man myself and if our parents have any say we will be getting married soon anyway."
He said with a smirk.

"Please-"

"Well hello, Moon, Malfoy."
A voice interrupted their conversation.

"Riddle, so you came."