So word ran around quickly about how Amycus had called me Riddle, and theories and rumors started to run around the school rather quickly. Some said I was Voldemort's daughter, which in a sense I was since he kind of adopted me, some said it was just a mistake that he called me that. Some asked me directly if I was actually the dark lord's daughter, but to all of them I simply would roll my eyes and walk away. It honestly got really boring rather quickly, before everyone seemed to hate me because I killed their beloved headmaster, but now most of the students were also really afraid of me, and would stay as far away from me as possible.
As for my friends, well let's just say they didn't take it well when they asked me and I didn't reply anything, they got angry and most of them weren't speaking to me anymore because for some reason it seems like it was my obligation to tell them I was Voldemort's daughter, even if I'm actually not, or I am, whatever.
November came around, and by now basically the only person who wasn't scared to death of me or angry at me was Draco, but he also happened to be acting like he'd rather just not spend time with me because well, he didn't want our friends to be mad at him too.
So I'm on my own, and I'm getting used to it. It's honestly even amusing sometimes how first years would get scared by me if I happened to be walking down the same corridor as them and they would walk the other way, but at the same time it's also really tiring how my friends aren't talking to me because either they're mad or the ones that aren't as angry don't want to get on the bad side of the ones who are. So that's that, life's fun.
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December arrived, and so did it's characteristic freezing cold weather and snow. I like it.
My friends are still not talking to me, but at least Draco seems to be wanting to spend more time with me, I guess he feels bad for me being isolated from everyone else.
It's Christmas break, and most students back home to celebrate with their families, however Draco and I decided that we should maybe stay at Hogwarts, which I was really thankful for, since I didn't particularly want to have to face Voldemort right now.
I stayed the night at Draco's private room, so when I woke up early in the morning I was a bit surprised when I found he was nowhere to be seen. The normally cold dungeons were freezing, and through the small window I could see the frozen lake outside.
I got up, wrapping a blanket around me to keep me warm, wincing a bit when my bare feet touched the cold floor. I looked in the bathroom, but Draco wasn't there either, so I decided to get changed and go downstairs to the common room. As I was walking down the stairs I could hear the fireplace on the background, and also the emptiness of the common room as there seemed to be no one around. When I got closer to the sofas near the fireplace, however, I noticed him sitting on one of them, playing with something in his hands.
"Draco?" I called out to him, and he quickly hid what he was playing with, turning to look at me. "What are you doing down here so early?"
He smiled at that, and chuckled a bit. "Darling, it's Christmas!"
"Oh, right." I answered confused, it still doesn't seem like a good enough reason to be awake so early in the morning. "So, what'd you get?" I smiled a bit, remembering the book and lots of candy I had gotten him.
"Well, I haven't opened any yet, I was waiting for you." He replied simply.
"Oh. Well then, I'm here now, let's open them!" I sat next to him, reaching out and getting one of the gifts directed for him. "Here, start with this one."
He took the gift from my hands, unwrapping it quickly to find a box that contained some books, a gift from Narcissa and Lucius. We kept on opening his gifts, he got new colognes, lots of candy from our friends, and a couple of new ties, as another gift from his parents, soon we got to his final gift, mine.
"This is the last one." I smiled and handed him the small box, and he happily took it from me.
"Who could it possibly be from?" He asked jokingly, opening the box and smiling widely as he was met with a lot of chocolates and candy, along with an astronomy book and a letter I wrote for him. "Thank you so much, sweetheart. I love it." He gave me a kiss, and pulled me in for a hug. I felt really bad that the only thing I could get him was candy and a book on astronomy, because sure he loves those things, but I just wish I hadn't been a coward and had been able to go back home so I could have bought him something better.
I zoned out for a moment thinking about it, when I realized Draco was looking at me expectantly.
"What?" I asked confused.
"Well, it's your turn. Let's open your gifts." He chuckled.
"Draco, everyone is either scared of me or really angry at me, I don't think anyone sent me anything." My smile faltered, and I sighed. "Let's just go get something to eat."
"That's not true, I'm sure you'll find plenty of gifts meant for you." His reassuring smile wasn't enough to convince me, I just don't want to feel disappointed at knowing I won't find anything for me.
Normally, I'd get something from Bellatrix and Rodolphus, something from Narcissa and Lucius, a couple of things from my friends, and of course something from Draco, but since none of my friends are talking to me, though I did still make sure to give each of them a pack of candy, and Bellatrix and Rodolphus are furious at me, I probably will only get something from the Malfoys, which I'm not saying is something bad, just sad.
"Look, this one's from my parents!" He took one gift and gave it to me. I opened it to find a box full of different kinds of muggle chocolate, that's cute. "Here," he said when I was finishing opening the first one. "It says it's from..." He got a little pale as he read the name. "It's from you-know-who."
I opened it to find something that shocked me. It was a small black box, which to my surprise contained nothing but a ring with one big really dark greenish stone on it, it looked really old and almost like it if it had been repaired. I couldn't believe it, why would he get me this? I reached out to grab it, and soon as it came in contact with my skin, I felt as though I was touching something electric, a weird sensation coursing through my veins. I couldn't stop looking at it, it's almost like if I could hear it saying something, talking to me from a distance.
"Irya?" Draco said, breaking me out of my trance-like state.
"Oh, sorry. It's really weird, it's almost like that one time when we..." I remembered that day on the Riddle mansion when I found the book Draco's parents and Bellatrix and Rodolphus were so obsessed with finding, and that's when it clicked, I had seen the ring next to the book. It must be really important then. "Nevermind, is that the last one?"
"Well..." He started checking the pile of gifts again, grabbing a couple more and passing them to me. Contrary to what I had thought, I did get a couple of gifts from some of my friends, even if they still hadn't talked to me for months. Blaise got me some candy, as did Theo, and Pansy and Daphne each got me dresses. It was then when I thought they were the last gifts that Draco started looking at me weird.
"Is everything alright? You seem a little off." I asked, a bit worried.
"Everything's fine." He chuckled. "But there's still one more gift for you. Irya, I know we haven't been having the best of times lately in our relationship, I know I can be difficult sometimes and maybe I should be more understanding, so I'm sorry that I've made you feel bad for my behavior. I love you so much, I don't know what I'd do without you" I could feel my heart melting, and tears forming in my eyes as he spoke, his eyes and his voice telling me just how much he felt every word he was saying. He took my hand in his. "I love you so much, and that's why I want to give you this." He took a small box out of his pocket, opening it and revealing two rings, that shared the same detailing and style, simple and delicate, just a silver band, but with engraving of a beautiful snake design. "This, Irya, is a promise ring. I want to give you it because I want to promise you that I'll love you always, and that I want us to be forever, I know we'll have rough times as everyone does but we'll work together on it, to be better, to help each other. And I promise that one day I'll give you another ring, an engagement one that'll mark the start of our lives together, because I want to spend my life by your side. What do you say, Irya? Do you accept this promise?"
He looked so nervous, and so sentimental, just like I felt. I threw my arms around him, embracing him in a tight hug. "Of course, Draco. I love you, and I know that I haven't been the easiest person to be with lately, and for that I'm deeply sorry, but I love you so much."
"There's no need to apologize, the two of us have been going through shit and we know it, just know that you can trust me and that I'll always be here for you." He pulled away, and he smiled as he took my left hand, placing the smallest ring in my ring finger as he then proceeded to put his own ring on. "I love you." He said before kissing my forehead. I went in for another hug, but then something from the pile of gifts caught my eye, it was a letter that was were my other gifts had previously been.
"Wait, I think we missed one." I said, reaching out and taking the letter in my hands.
'To Aillie Stark.'
"What the...?" I couldn't help but wonder who it could possibly be from, it's definitely meant for me, but no one apart from Voldemort, Bellatrix and Rodolphus and the Malfoys know what my real last name actually is, and sure as hell they wouldn't address me like that. I opened the envelope, a letter in black ink greeting me.
'Aillie:
You're probably wondering who I am, so I'll introduce myself, my name is Tony Stark and I have been looking for you for a long time now. I'm not sure whether you're aware of it, but I am your father, and I would like to start by apologizing for not being there for you all these years.
In the past I made decisions I am not proud of, but I'd like for us to be able to meet and talk in person. I have been looking for you for years now, and I have to say it's a task that has proved itself difficult, that is why I hadn't been able to contact you in any way up until now, with the help of a friend who was kind enough to help me look for you.
I would have rather talk to you in person, but I'm afraid I couldn't exactly get an address, only the help of someone who assured me would make sure you get this letter by Christmas, so I'm sorry I have to say this over a letter. I'd love for us to meet in person, so if you please give me a chance to do so here's my address and phone number so we can get in contact to set a date and place.
Hoping you'll want to meet soon, Tony Stark.'
"What the actual fuck?" I couldn't help but say. I looked at Draco, who had a troubled expression on. "Who does this idiot think he is? Does he think it's just that easy to send me a fucking letter and then everything will be solved? He must be retarded or something, honestly. As if I'd want to see him, stupid idiot." I was furious, what the bloody hell? Does this Tony Stark idiot really thinks he gets my forgiveness just like that? He's crazy if he really thinks so. Besides, it's not like I'd want to meet him, that bastard already decided he didn't want me seventeen years ago, so now he gets to live with it. And it's not like I'd talk to him anyway, Voldemort would have my head if he so much as finds out I even have this letter from him, a dirty muggle. So now I have to hide it from him, thanks a lot stupid excuse of a human being.
"Hey, calm down." Said Draco, finally finding the words to say something. "Maybe he really is sorry, you don't know that. And besides, it could be your chance at running away from the war, you know? From, well, you-know-who." He said the last part quietly, almost in a whisper even though we were the only persons awake and at the common room.
He had a point, almost. If the letter had come in a year ago I would have no doubt ran away to meet with this Tony Stark idiot and run away from everything, but it would have been useless and right now it'd just be completely stupid and reckless. Voldemort would find me and kill him, and most likely me too, so right now it'd be no use, besides I'm still supposed to help Harry in any way I can, otherwise everything I've already done wrong will be useless and I'll truly just be no more than the bad guy.
"You know that's impossible, he'd find me right away. Besides, what if I don't want to run away anymore? And he's a muggle, so don't forget that." I tried only thinking of that, he's a disgusting filthy muggle who didn't even want me when he had the chance.
"I suppose you're right, sorry." He looked uncomfortable now, again I keep screwing up. "You know what? Why don't we just go get some breakfast and then we spend all day by the lake?"
"That sounds good, let's go."