RIDDLE ME THIS

23

TOM

i sat alone in a train compartment on the way back to Hogwarts.

it seemed word had gotten around about the incident on Saturday and even the Slytherins were avoiding me.

i didn't want to go back to school but Father said someone had to continue his task, and neither of us had heard anything from my siblings.

i got up and stuck my head out of the compartment door.

a group of Slytherins walked down the narrow hallway, led by Regulus.

"is Draco here?" i asked him.

"haven't seen him," the boy replied.

"what about Matteo?" i asked Blaize, who followed him.

"what do you think?" he retorted hotly.

"and Lola?" i stared at Pansy.

"shut up," she didn't even look at me.

Theo Nott pushed me back into my compartment and Enzo Berkshire pulled my door shut.

i just sat on the seat, resting my head against the plush cushioning.

Father had told me i'd done the right thing, but i didn't even know what i'd done.

i didn't know what spell i'd hit Lola with, where she, Draco and Matteo had gone and how i'd woken up face down on the forest floor.

at some point we reached the Hogwarts station and i got off the train, walking up to the castle with the rest of the students.

Snape waited on the front steps and called me to one side as i approached.

"Tom, Mr Malfoy informed me of the weekend's events."

"Draco?" i was going to kill him again.

"no, Lucius." he said. "it's going to be hard for you here now."

"tell me about it,"

"you need to stay focused and complete your Father's task."

i nodded, watching a group of Slytherins enter the castle.

"you don't need any distractions. don't worry about lessons or friends or... whatever else you do. just get it done."

"i can't do it without Lola and Matt." i finally looked at him.

his face has hard but there was a note of understanding in his eyes. "you're going to have to."

i sighed.

"you don't seem to understand—you don't have much of a choice here."

"i know,"

"anything you need just come and find me."

"alright." i headed towards the doors.

"thanks, Snape."

i had no idea what the next task was, how to start it or who to ask.

Matteo and Lola had always been there for me, no matter what had happened.

but now, for the first time in my stupid life, i was well and truly alone.