Hide and Seek ● Tom Riddle

🇬🇧 ♦ 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟐 ♦

After Tom's fourth year, they saw each other only few times. Melanie wasn't visiting her mother in the orphanage at all, but few times she picked her up because they had some plans after Mrs Benningfield's work.

Tom made sure to always be around. He couldn't help himself. She was getting prettier with each year and her chest was becoming even bigger. Melanie's face was becoming both cold and hurt whenever she spotted him around.

She couldn't figure out his behaviour. She understood it, she wasn't stupid. He probably had other friends now, some special ones, wizards. Maybe even some witch girlfriend, who knew? He was very handsome after all. But he should at least tell Melanie something. Anything. Thank her for all the childhood years and wish her luck in the future. He decided to act like a jerk instead and that was alright. She wasn't going to be dramatic about it.

But it still hurt. And she was often crying herself to sleep. Maybe Tom had found himself new friends, but she didn't. Not really. She had Luise Brown, a nice girl from her class, but it wasn't the same. Her bond with Tom had been extraordinary.

One time, at the end of the summer, she gave up and tried to start a conversation. It wasn't difficult because he was sitting alone under the willow tree as usual. The kids in the orphanage still didn't like him.

"Hi", she started, "So, did you become a Slytherin's prefect?", she smiled a little, trying to impress him with the knowledge about Hogwarts she had remembered.

"Obviously", he didn't even look up, "I got the letter with a badge this morning"

"Will you show me?"

"There's no need", he finally raised his head and she took a step back seeing how cold his eyes were.

He treated her worse than a stranger.

"Also", he added, "I don't think that muggles are allowed to see such things"

"I understand", Melanie nodded her head and turned around.

Her heart broke into million pieces. She went back inside and locked herself in the bathroom.

Tom felt a one single tear leaving his eye when he saw her turning around and walking away. He quickly wiped his cheek with his hand and sniffed. He desperately wanted to shout after her, to tell her not to leave.

But it was better this way. Better for the both of them.