Not Broken, Not Yet | Tom Riddle

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Eight weeks had gone by since the start of term. Time had moved quicker than I had expected and I found myself slowly starting to feel more at home at Hogwarts. Of course I enjoyed the classes and the scenery always struck me with its beauty. But what really made it feel like a home where the people. The friends I had made. Tyler, Kate and even Ashley to some extent had grown to be constant presences in my life. And my fellow Gryffindors and roommates, June and Ruth, slowly started to feel more and more like sisters.

Yet the relationship I had with the two seemed different somehow than that which I had with the others. Despite all their kind words and smiles I couldn't help but feel like a stranger. Like I was but a visitor in their world. And of course I was, to some extent at the very least. Our early lives couldn't have been more different. I was surrounded by people with loving families. People that took the unconditional love handed them for granted. How could they ever understand the hollowness within me? They couldn't. And I would probably never be able to tell them the full story. They wouldn't be able to understand. None of them.

And then there was Aiden. Sweet Aiden with his stupid jokes and his stupid handsome face. When I was with Ruth and June I felt like an intruder in a different world. But when I was with Aiden I found myself wanting to be a part of it.

He had of course realised something was off rather quickly. One could only flinch at physical touch that many times without it arising suspicion. Despite all my smiles he knew there was something hiding underneath the surface. Perhaps he could sense the darkness lurking, feel the pain and see the heartbreak in my eyes. Yet he never treated me differently for it. Instead he let me be a part of his world. He allowed me to be the person I always wanted to be. He gave me a short cut into a world of sunlight and held my hand while doing so, holding me steady. Always a pillar to count on.

So perhaps it isn't that strange that I found myself falling for him. In many ways he was my polar opposite. But through the darkness he gave me the gift of laughter, and something else, a companionship I'd never felt with anyone before him and doubted I would ever feel with anyone else. Still we never passed over the threshold. We remained friends, nothing less and nothing more, however much I might have wanted so.

Even if he didn't reciprocate my feelings I was happy to simply have him in my life. A constant reassuring presence. An escape of sorts. If nothing else, at least I had that.

Professor Merrythought was a short witch with long silvery hair and bright eyes. She had a love of long dresses and wearing hats indoors. She had a jovial presence and was beloved by most students. She's quickly become my favourite teacher next to Professor Dumbledore. Her class, Defence Against The Dark Arts, seemed to be most people's favourite course but I found it comical that such a tiny person taught such a serious subject. But alas she did, and she excelled at it.

Never in my life had I seen such skill. The woman must have been well over a hundred but her quick wit and energy could match even the first years. And, she was, without a doubt born to teach her subject.

I had never in my life seen such skill. She was quick smart and talented. It was as though she was born to teach this subject. She was a wonderful teacher that made everyone in class understand and remember what she taught us.

This day was a friday in the beginning of November. We stood eagerly waiting outside Professor Merrythought's classroom. Eager chatter filled the corridor. Today was a day most had been looking forward to for weeks. The start of a new course theme - Dueling.

"Not a chance in the world." Kate said in a firm voice and crossed her arms over her chest as she glared at Aiden. I had no idea whatsoever what they were talking about.