Broken Wings / tom riddle

Chapter 31 - Mysteries

Briar's back rested up against the tree in the courtyard. Julian and Casper sat beside her studying. The couple still received some funny looks from students who walked past. It saddened her that they had to face discrimination on a daily basis.

Whilst their heads were buried in a book, her head was up straight observing Tom from across the courtyard. He sat elegantly in his Slytherin robes reading old news papers and history books, she wondered what he was up to, but he wouldn't tell her or any of his knights. "Why's Riddle reading newspapers from September 1927?" Julian asked. Briar and Julian both turned to look at Casper.

"What? How am I supposed to know?" he asked.

"Because you're his right hand man," Julian said.

"Well I don't know everything about him, if you're that curious, go ask yourself."

"I'll pass, I think he'd hex me if I stepped within five feet of him." Julian frowned.

"Probably," Casper said, dryly.

Briar however, decided she'd take Casper's suggestion. She stood and walked over to him. "Why are you reading that?" she asked outright.

"Do you have no manners Emeralds? Mind your own business." He waved his hand and shooed her off.

"I'll figure out what you're up to Riddle."

"You can't even brew a Polyjuice potion correctly Emeralds, I'd like to see you try," he hissed. She was offended by his remark. "Meet me in the room of requirement later please."

She pulled a disgusted face at his request. "Merlin no Briar, not for anything like that. We need to continue studying the stones," he said. She rolled her eyes and walked back over to Casper and Julian.

"Well?" Julian asked.

"Well, nothing. He's so stubborn I hate it." She plonked herself back down against the tree.

"Do you though?" Casper asked with a raised eyebrow. Julian chucked, Briar whacked him, lightly.

____

They gathered in the hall for dinner. Abraxas watched as Briar  rested her head on Casper's shoulder, trying not to doze off as Dippet spoke a few words. Tom eyed her from directly across, his jaw tensed and he was not blinking. Abraxas chuckled to himself. Riddle was not immune to human feelings after all. He whispered to Riddle, "He's gay. Remember. No need to look so green with envy." Tom rolled his eyes and ignored the boy.

Dippet's speech finally came to an end and the feast had begun. Abraxas turned to grab a roll of bread when his eyes darted to the Gryffindor table. Sitting on the end next to Julian was Cordelia. "When did Cordelia return?" he asked.

"This afternoon," Briar said, finally raising her head off of Rosier's shoulder to eat. Abraxas looked at her. She heard what Julian said in the library, there was a good chance she believed it to.

"She looked different when I saw her walking," Aleks said. "She didn't have that dreadful cheery glow she normally does."

"Good. Maybe her fiancé has talked some sense into her," Gabriel said stuffing his face.

Abraxas' body stiffened at the mention of her fiancé. He glanced over again to observe her. The way her thick hair bounced heavily as she moved her head. She was still as beautiful as ever, eyes as enchanting as a the glow of a patronus. But Aleks was right, she did look different, more tame.

When dinner finished he followed her out of the hall. He had told himself he was done with her, but seeing her again, just sitting there, allowed for all of his emotions to flood back into his mind like an unstoppable stream. "Delia!" he called. She stopped and waited a moment before turning around to look at him.