Broken Wings / tom riddle

Chapter 19 - Nott expected

The hot tea left a warm sensation down Cordelia's throat as she swallowed it. She had spent the last week in Paris. It was Christmas eve and the snow fell beautifully around the Eiffel Tower, replicating a painting.

She had not returned home for the holidays, she was far away from school, her friends and most importantly her family. She smiled at the thought of her mother's raged filled face when she did not return home at the start of the holidays. Or perhaps she didn't care? Delia hadn't heard anything from her, so maybe they had truly given up on her.

However it became clear she was not out of the woods yet as she saw her family's owl Nora approaching the balcony where she sat. She was holding onto a letter. Delia's heart sank when she turned it around and saw the dark green wax seal. It was from her family.

Cordelia Jane Nott,

Once again you have proven what a disappointment you are to the family by failing to return home these holidays. However, you will join us tomorrow for Christmas otherwise you will not be returning to Hogwarts to finish your studies. We expect you no later than 11am.

Jacqueline Nott.

The fact that her mother signed her name instead of 'Your Mother' proved how little connection the two had. She desperately did not want to go home but she knew if she didn't her parents would pull her enrolment from Hogwarts.

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Cordelia approached the entrance to the manor. She wore a long red skirt and a black tight turtleneck top with a red jewel necklace. With a loud swallow, she knocked on the door.

She was let in by the house elf who carried her bags to her room. The room had not changed since she had last been in it, there was still unfolded clothes on the ground and an unmade bed. The shelves were covered with a layer of dust indicating that her parents had instructed the elves to not touch her room or pay it any attention. Just another reminder to the girl how insignificant she was in their lavish lives.

She used her wand to clean the dust particles away from her room and make her bed. And when she sat on a velvet chair, she picked up the book she had bought with her and began to read.

____

About an hour had passed when a house elf knocked on her door. "Your parents wish to see you now," he spoke to her meekly.

Delia followed him down the stairs to the dining room. A decadent feast had been laid out on the table and at the head of it sat her parents. Jacqueline resembled Cordelia almost entirely. Her dark brown skin always had a luminous glow to it, and her black hair was curled to perfection, she was the epitome of beauty. Her father on the other hand was not. He was an older plump man with a moustache that always looked like it had been left to grow too long.

"Sit," her mother remarked sharply. She did as she was told. "Red looks ridiculous on you."

Delia ignored her mother's nasty remark, "is it just us?" she asked.

"For lunch, yes. We've been invited to your aunt Adeline's for dinner," her father replied. He took a breath, "But you will not be going."

"They don't want to see me? Well that's a surprise." Cordelia rolled her eyes.

"Enough with your ungrateful attitude! This family has given you everything you needed to be successful and thrive but you have tossed it out to the streets and done nothing but disgrace our family name." Jacqueline eyed her daughter.