kneel | Tom Riddle

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25| Sweet holidays

"Merry Christmas!" Students kept hugging each other with happy faces as Seraphina walked by them, followed by her trunk and her boyfriend. While they were walking towards the Hogwarts Express, she silently complained about Leo being so cheerful and friendly.

Each time they passed by some six-year student who didn't belong in Slytherin, they would hug Leo and wish him a happy Christmas. That's the cost of being loved by most people. Seraphina wasn't happy about it, just because she wanted to sit an empty compartment and sleep. Her latest nights had been horrible and she found it extremely hard to spend more than one-hour sleeping, meaning she was horribly tired and only wanted silence.

It had been a week since Slughorn's Christmas party and her relationship with Leo wasn't on the best terms, for many reasons. Nevertheless, they were still spending a few days together in her parent's manor and she couldn't feel more uncomfortable about it. Yes, she was happy he was going to be with her, but they were unusually distant and she was sure her parents wouldn't approve of their relationship.

Seraphina waited not so patiently for Leo, who was hugging a Hufflepuff girl, "Happy Christmas, Mary!" She smiled at him as he pulled away from her and walked towards Seraphina again, "Sorry about that."

"It's okay," she made a small smile, not wanting to be dramatic.

"Are you okay? You seem tired."

She did her best to keep her smile, even though she felt like running away from everyone and hide in an empty compartment, "I'm alright, Leo," He nodded his head and two of them finally walked inside the long train, "Do you think there's an empty compartment left?" She asked him, cursing him on her mind for taking so long to say goodbye to his friends. Christmas holidays wee only two weeks, what's wrong with them? Why do they insist on saying goodbye as if they aren't going to see each other in years? How ridiculous and unnecessary.

"Empty compartment? Why would you go to an empty compartment? I think George is already with Layla and Grace inside one," Leo chuckled and Seraphina felt the violent urge to slap him across the face. As sweet and caring as he is, it doesn't change the fact he is as thick as a giant. Seriously, why is even in Ravenclaw?

Seraphina took a deep breath while they were walking on the long corridor, "That's right, but, love, you know me and Layla no longer get along. And I don't exactly feel like sitting in the same space as her for hours."

"Now, Seraphina, don't be so dramatic. You had a small fight, alright, but there's no need to create any dramas," he kissed her hand softly as two first years passed by them running, "Don't you think?"

"No, Leo, I don't. We haven't talked in a week and each time she walks by me she sends me a nasty look. Am I supposed to ignore that and pretend everything is alright?" She spat, feeling really mad about the way Leo was acting. Why didn't he listen to her?

"Seraphina, darling," the nickname immediately reminded her of Tom and she cringed inside, comparing the way the two boys used it, "It's really important for me to see my girlfriend and my friends getting along. I'm sure Layla is over your fight, anyways."

Seraphina made a sarcastic smile, "I'm sure she is. After all, she has been holding a grudge towards me for three years for something as insignificant as a stupid boy. But now, after one week, she has obviously forgiven me."