Pure

Partly Cloudy

"Riddle, We should go soon," I finally said. The dark had brought on such a chill in the air that I couldn't even feel my toes through my shoes. Did Riddle even feel it? He was still completely lost in thought, and had barely moved since the sun went down. I couldn't tell if the loud waves had completely drowned out the sound of my voice or if he was just ignoring me, until a few moments passed, and he nodded.

"Right," he muttered, and wiped all of the clinging sand from his robes as he stood. He turned then, and stretched out his hand, to help me up. A part of me still didn't want to take it, but I knew that the repercussions would undo Riddle's calm, and destroy all of the progress we'd made. That hand signified that he trusted me, even if he didn't know it himself. Riddle would never have give anyone else that hand, and truly, I couldn't fathom why he gave it to me, but since he did, I was powerful. He was changing, and I could see it. His shell crumbled, just as mine had a little the night before, and right then, I didn't think I could never hurt him in the ways that I'd planned.

He helped me up from the coarse ground, but pulled a little too hard which caused my body to fall into his. I inhaled sharply as both of his hands steadied me. One hand still clung to mine, while the other reached behind me, and lightly pressured my lower back. For a second, I didn't pull away, and neither did he. The shadows that loomed across his already dark features made me want to look at him even more. I was compelled towards him, and felt myself leaning closer.I couldn't stop...

Everything came back to reality when Riddle let go of me, except for my hand, and disapparated us back to Hogwarts. As my cells spun through space, my mind also raced as I thought of the gentle nature that Riddle had used this night. Those were two words I never thought could go together. Riddle gentle? Never... except for tonight. 

When our feet thudded back on the same path we left earlier in the day, I let our hands linger, linked together, a second longer than I would admit, but then mentally shook my head and let go.

We walked back in silence, and only when we reached the stairs did I say, "Goodnight." Riddle nodded, and I turned to head up the stairs the the Gryffindor common room.

"Wait," he said abruptly. I turned back in confusion, and raised my eyebrows, waiting for him to finish his thought.

"I'll see you to your common room... Wouldn't want you to get caught roaming the castle after hours without me to smooth things over," he added with a tinge of humor in his voice, and in surprise, I nodded.

"Okay," I turned back to the stairs and didn't wait for him to catch up. I knew he would anyway. I smirked a little when his stride matched mine.

"What's France like?" Riddle asked.

"Hmm?" I murmured. Why on earth would he ask me that?

"Well your time in Beauxbaton... Is it very different from here at Hogwarts?"

Ah yes... that. I scrunched my eyebrows a little and thought hard about what I was going to say. When professors asked me about Beauxbaton when I first came here, I rushed to move on to another subject, but Riddle would never let this go now.

"Well," I started, "It really was a lot like Hogwarts. Classes were riveting, and the Professors were kind... however I much prefer the Hogwarts staff and school in general. I truly think that Hogwarts is the best place to learn and master magic," I said. I knew Riddle would cling onto the idea that he was in attendance of the best school. Maybe he'd quit asking me questions then.

"What about the war?" he questioned further, "Did you ever hear anything about Grindelwald? France is much closer to the fighting," He continued with peaked interest.

My mind automatically reverted to anger when he talked about a war with such interest. Of course that was what he really wondered about. I stopped and turned to face him.

"You know nothing of war," I said a little too loudly, "A friend on mine died because of the selfishness of someone else... My best friend lost the only parental figure he ever had because of the war... and they were innocent pureblood wizards. Is that really what you want? I am here because of the war that is happening. Don't talk about things that you know nothing about," I finished, and suddenly I realized how loud I'd truly been because of the astonished look on Riddle's face... and then the barely contained anger.

"Lets go," he said, and roughly pulled me along by the elbow, until we'd regained the routine pattering of footsteps on the stairs. He didn't speak to me for the rest of the way to the common room, and I didn't even try to initiate a conversation. I really needed to get my emotions in check, and I needed to repair my broken mask before blurting something important out that I couldn't take back.

When we reached the sleeping portrait, Riddle charmed the fat lady into being nice enough to let me back in. I thanked Riddle cordially, and climbed though, and just as the portrait was about to swing closed, Riddle spoke out in a low voice.

"Sorry about your friends."

I could tell he wasn't being completely genuine, or he was but was reluctant to say it. Either way, a small smile found its way to me as I walked through the common room back towards my dormitory.

~~~

After a long shower, and some time for my brain to calm down, I plopped onto my bed, and then cried out at the same time. Something poked me hard right between my shoulder blades, and I shot up in pain. That pain didn't last long though, because my eyes landed on a wooden carving in the shape of a sun. That carving quickly made me smile, and then made me want to hit myself across the head with it. I'd forgotten about my plans with Abraxas! I opened the note that was attached to it so forcefully that it almost ripped in two before I could eve read it.

You'll always be my sunshine... even if I can't be yours. I understand, but keep this anyway.

-Abraxas

My heart clenched and a tear sprung down my cheek. Why was my life so messed up?

I dropped the note on my bedside table next to the necklace from the shoppe in Hogsmeade, then flicked out the lights with my wand. I grasped the little wooden carving, which I cradled until I stopped crying and fell asleep.

~~~

A/N:

3 weeks in a row is an accomplishment for me for sure! 

Sorry this isn't a super long chapter today. I always love being able to tell a complete story with every chapter, but I really wanted to get something out for you all to read. In my final draft, I'll probably combine this chapter with the next one, so consider this a little teaser chapter for what's to come!

Have a great read, and don't forget to vote and comment because it really means a lot!

<3 Always,

RememberMe525600

Question for the comments: What's your favorite HP book?