kneel | Tom Riddle

𝟑𝟎

30| wicked plans

"Christmas is in two days, Tom," Seraphina said as they walked towards the dining room, where they would have supper with her parents and Leo, "I don't really feel like going to the Malfoy Manor for another big party, but I bought a new dress," she rambled as Tom just listened to her, without saying anything, "It's so pretty, but it's black and I'm not really used to wear black, you know?" She didn't give time for Tom to answer, "I think it makes me look older."

"Why would you want to look older?" He asked her when they reached the hall that led to the dining room.

"I just don't want to look like a child," she smiled at him as they heard voices in the dining room. Tom looked at her in a strange way and stopped walking, grabbing her arm so she would stop as well, "What?"

"When are you breaking up with him?" She frowned when she heard his voice, it didn't sound like Tom at all.

"I don't know, I'll think about it during dinner, maybe being in his presence will help me making a better decision."

Tom sighed, still with gripping her arm, "Just end it already."

"I will, but not right now. I can't just break up with him in the presence of my parents," he didn't say anything and kept looking at her with a straight face, "Tom, he's my boyfriend, not yours. I think I still have the power to decide when am I breaking up with my boyfriend."

He released his grip on her arm and she rubbed the spot where his hand was previously, "You know I can't stand his presence."

"You sound just like him. Are you going to call me a child as well?" She gave him a sarcastic smile, "What's with people telling me what to do?"

Tom took a deep breath, "Don't you dare compare me to him."

"Drop it, Tom. Let's just have a peaceful dinner, alright? I'll break up with him whenever I feel like it and if I want to," she narrowed her eyes at him, "And you're not changing my mind."

She turned around to walk inside the dining room and he stood a few moments behind her just to watch her walk. The corners of his lips slowly turned upwards, deciding the way he would actually change her mind. And he was absolutely certain that after dinner he would have Seraphina all to himself, no Leo or anyone else there to interrupt them.

•

"Tom, my boy, I have a special project on summer at the Ministry, something that has to do with lost valuable artifacts," Seraphina's father spoke when they were already on their second dish, "You'll finish your studies in less than a couple years and I think it's a great opportunity for you to start searching for a suitable career. What do you think?"

Seraphina, who was sitting between Tom and her father, didn't raise her eyes to look at Balthasar, but didn't contain the anger inside her when she heard his words, "I know Tom will accept it within a heartbeat, father. However, I can't help but wonder if you have another great opportunity ready for your daughter."

After years and years, she still felt hurt her parents liked Tom better than her. Seraphina simply couldn't understand why they saw him as someone perfect and she was an epitome of disgrace. She was as intelligent as him, as cunning as him, as ambitious as him. Surely she wasn't well managed like him, but maybe if her parents cared enough to raise her she wouldn't feel that constant anger inside her chest.