Not About Angels (A Tom Riddle Story)

Chapter 85

He wanted her to look into his eyes, the way she looked at Tom Riddle's.

"I'm so sorry...I-I never knew."

"Would you still be friends with me, Gabe, If you had known all along?" She asked.

"Of course. I don't care about your past. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

"Thank you." And she meant it, for his friendship, his acceptance.

He thought about it for a second, before speaking. "Come home with me over Christmas, Abi."

"What?"

"I mean it. I mean...It's not like you have a family to go back to. So come with me. It'll be loads of fun, I swear."

"Won't your parents mind?"

"Of course not! They would love to have you over. There's always room for more at my house. Especially for you. As friends, of course." He added.

"I would love to." She replied. She wanted to celebrate Christmas again. She wanted to feel warm again. And he was so enthusiastic, she could not refuse him.......

But that was just distant memory now..... 

Gabriel stood outside that St. Mungo's door, hearing her screams, hearing her bang on that door....

He closed his eyes and then, he walked away.

He walked away, not because he was under the influence of a love potion, but because he was heartbroken....

Gabriel was not stupid. Never has been. 

Sooner or later, he did realize that Cassie was slipping things into his food and drink. One day, she ran out of her usual supply, and as soon as the potion wore off, he realized what she had been doing.

But he hid it well...

Whenever she gave him something to drink, he would feign obedience, but secretly dispose of it when she left the room.  

Why?

He submitted to her charade because he knew of nothing else to do. He willingly became a puppet to her schemes because, in truth, it was wonderfully numbing to not have a mind of one's own. 

It was bliss to be guided because he did not know where to go.  

As the potion wore off, he was empty.  

He remembers vividly clutching the piece of paper in his cold hands, the piece of paper that sealed his fate forever and delivered the news of his father's death...

Marvolo was not a good father. Never has been, never will be.

But Gabriel spent his whole life looking up to his idol, his god. 

His father protected his whole family, the pillar of stone that guarded them against the cruel reality of the world. As long as Marvolo stood in front, Gabriel was scared of nothing. 

But Marvolo, the iron giant, crumbled before Gabriel's eyes to the force of evil that was Tom Riddle. His wings were gone, and he was left flightless and crippled. 

Growing up, Gabriel only had one wish. This was the prayer he repeated in his heart at the blowing-out of every birthday candle: that his father might spend a day with him.

Just one day, of golfing, quidditch, long walks, talks, tea, dinner, whatever it may be. Just one single day....As he grew older, he tucked that wish away because he realized that his father didn't belong to him...his father had the world on his shoulders.