Chapter Text
Clarissa's anxiety was at an all time high. Truly, she'd rather risk her neck in the chamber than have to deal with the torment of this day. She couldn't dodge Tom Riddle anymore when they were required to make sure all students leaving for Christmas got safely onto the Hogwarts express. They'd shockingly had a pretty good time at Slughorn's party but he had to be a twat and try to kiss her with his stupidly perfect, murderous, parseltounged mouth. A date was one thing but she was not about to drop to the level of letting him kiss her.
"Relax, Darling," Riddle chuckled from beside her, "I'm not about to attempt to kiss you again in front of the entire school."
She shot him a harsh glare and rushed forward to help a struggling first year with her owl, "Pardon me for not knowing where you draw the line, Riddle," Clarissa hissed once she'd rejoined him and the young girl had boarded the train.
"Publicly embarrassing myself is where I draw the line, Clarissa."
"It's Clari, and if you could not make today harder on me that would be fantastic."
Tom ticked a name from his list and listened for the next student before responding, "What's the matter? Don't know how you'll survive without me for two weeks? How sweet."
"I can't think of a worthwhile response to that level of idiocy leaving your mouth," Clari growled, forcing a smile as a nervous second year approached her.
He turned to her with a grin though it faltered slightly as he eyed the scar on her cheek. She'd hate to see what he'd think if he saw her other scar. Riddle turned back to take the name of a fifth year girl who practically swooned at his attention before saying to Clari, "Nothing is stopping you from staying here over Christmas."
She huffed and reached up to fiddle with the button on her cloak, "It's none of your business, Riddle."
From the corner over her eye she watched him frown at her but she ignored it as the final students boarded the train and it was only the two of them left on the platform. Riddle shook his head in irritation and crossed her name from the list before gesturing towards the train with his quill. She was almost on board when he spoke, "Darling," Clari turned to him with a sigh but he just said, "You have an owl, if you need it... use it."
She'd be lying if she said that didn't take her aback. Her brows pinched together in confusion but all she did was nod and watch as the train pulled away and Tom Riddle disappeared. Somehow, she was less relieved than she'd expected to be.
***
"See you in two weeks, Clari!" Eileen called as she rushed off to her awaiting mother. Sera blew an obnoxious kiss her way and sauntered off to her own parents, sending Lestrange a swift wink as she passed him.
Clarissa held her smile in place, how Riddle managed to keep up his facade for so long was astounding, maybe she did need to give him some more credit. Her father stood not two metres away, a broad smile on his face and arm held out for her. She hated it. This would be the last time she'd be coming home to him, she wondered if he realised that.
"Dad," Clari shone her smile at her father, trying her best to imitate Riddle and his almost imperceptible mask.
"My girl!" He exclaimed, pulling her into an awkward hug, "How's you final year been going?"
She cleared her throat, "It's been eventful."
"Oh I'm sure it would be, being head girl and all!" He laughed jovially and tugged her towards their car.
Her shoulders tensed with every step they took. She'd rather be at Hogwarts. Clari stifled a laugh... Merlin she'd rather spend the two weeks hanging out with Tom Riddle and his damn basilisk. Her father's dark green eye's flickered to her at the sound she'd let slip but he said nothing as they reached the car, just opened her door and watched her sit inside.
The man that entered the driver's side was different.
"What was that about, Clarissa?" He drawled.
"Nothing," Clari spoke quickly, "I was just remembering something funny that a friend said."
"One of those girls that I saw you with when you got off the train?" He asked gruffly, starting the car and pulling out of his parking space.
"Yes."
"Mm," her father hummed, "They pureblood?"
Clarissa had to force herself not to roll her eyes, it seems her time around Riddle had made her a bit reckless, "Yes, they are."
"Good, I don't want you fraternising with any mudbloods."
Her lips pinched together tightly and she turned to the window so he wouldn't see her irritation.
"And stay away from that Tom Riddle character."
Clari's head snapped to her father and she breathed, "Pardon?"
"Tom Riddle," He insisted, almost growling the name, "I asked around about him and no one seems to know his blood status."
"Nothing is going on with Riddle."
"There had better not be," he looked over, eyes dark, "You don't need anymore reasons for pureblood men to overlook you as a potential wife."
Clarissa's teeth clenched at that and she was certain her next words were somehow the fault of Tom Riddle because she never would have said them to her father before their time together, "The last thing I want is a pureblood husband."
She flinched before he'd even moved. Blood seeped into her mouth less than a second later from the split in her lip left behind by the back of her father's hand. Clarissa hunched forward, clutching her quickly swelling mouth. He began shouting, the same things she heard every time she was home.
"You vile, dirty, half-blood!" She barely heard him, "I should have killed your mother as soon as she was pregnant! You ruined my life! You dare disrespect me after everything I've done for you!"
She wished she'd stayed with Tom.