Ethereal Catastrophe | Tom Riddle

chapter fifteen

The aromatic scent of the tea swirled into Asteria's nose like ribbons of sweet steam as she gazed into the delicate china tea set embellished with pretty pink roses and baskets of juicy fruit.

It was the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year and Abraxas had been desperate to take her on a date. Asteria hadn't really been bothered about it, she just wanted to go to a book shop that apparently held as many books as the library at Hogwarts.

She had been focused on finding out about Tom's linage and the secret chamber within Hogwarts. It had been a week since she had found out Tom Riddle was the heir of Slytherin.

A week since the tragic death of Clementine Diggory. Her remnants had been found a few days before the weekend, Asteria had spoken to her aunt who had heard from Dumbledore that her bones had gone brittle and yellow and what flesh was left of her had been eaten by hungry insects.

Tia had been distraught. None stop sobbing about how they were meant to be together and how tragic it was. Asteria couldn't empathise. Clementine had been kissing Rio Foster when she was killed, Asteria couldn't say that she deserved to die but she deserved something. Even Li was hysterical, which Asteria couldn't understand because Rio was her ex-boyfriend, not that they knew about their little affair but that didn't matter in Asteria's eyes. If she had found Abraxas kissing another she would wish death upon both parties.

A lot of students, including Li, Tia and Rio, had decided to stay at Hogwarts- Headmaster Dippet had been reluctant to let people go to Hogsmeade during the current predicament, however, was charmingly persuaded by Tom Riddle himself.

So as she sat in Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, admiring the frilly pink bows adorned onto the lacy tea cloths and the silken pillows cushioning her seat that were appliqued with teddy bears and love hearts she didn't see what everyone hated about this place. Something Asteria adored was her femininity, she loved being dressed in the finest of silks or the softest cotton. She loved smelling like the sweetest of honey and applying rosy blush to her skin. But every time Abraxas mentioned he was taking her there everyone sighed and said how hideous it was and that they should go to The Three Broomsticks with them.

Trays of different cakes and tea's sat on the gossamer table separating her and Abraxas, she had taken a bit of lemon drizzle cake spiced with sugared lavender but declared it to be too sweet whilst Abraxas sat and admired her licking the sweetness off the tips of her fingers, the sugar dancing on her tongue. She smiled at his expression and laid down her hands back on her lap, "What?"

A small smile appeared on Abraxas' lips. "Nothing," he murmured still gazing at the sparkles of sugar on her rosy lips. "How do you like Hogsmeade so far?"

They had been to a couple of places, Abraxas had named them that classics: Honeydukes and Zonko's Joke Shop. Where he bought her three big bags of different sweets Asteria had never heard of. And then Zonko's where they had found Gabriel Rosier and a Slytherin girl in the year below snogging by the love potions.

"It's nice," she said simply as she buttered a scone with rich cream.

"Just nice?" Abraxas spat dramatically to which Asteria laughed at his reaction. She had always thought Abraxas to be funny- his humour was something she could tolerate and didn't feel like she had to force out a laugh. "Nice is what you call something my mother picks you out. This is Hogsmeade- a retreat from the hell hole down the road."

"Your mother has impeccable taste, Abraxas. Those ballet slippers that she got me for my birthday were gorgeous- I wear them all the time." Abraxas gave her a confused look as she went on, "As for Hogsmeade, it's nice. I can't say it's my favourite place in the world but I can't say it's my least."