The way home
As the train approached London, the tension dropped off Tom’s compartment. It was almost, as if the worry about Alice had stayed behind in Scottland with Hogwarts. Here, almost back in the world of the muggles, it was much easier to accept that they indeed could do nothing. Tom and his friends talked and joked and snacked Christmas biscuits. Snow had started to fall and coated the fields outside the train windows in a thick white blanket. The trolly witch hummed a Christmas tune, as she served them copious amounts of cauldron cakes and juice.
All of them were excited to spend the holidays with their families. Alphard told them about a big ball Black family would host. “I bet Walburga is already shopping for dress robes”, he chuckled. Minerva and her family would go hiking in the Scottish Highlands. Her brothers were already looking forward to having a big snowball fight in the mountains. Constance's family would close the shop over Christmas and take a portkey, whatever that was, to Spain and the Prewetts would celebrate with the whole family at Lance’s grandma’s house. It all sounded like a lot of fun.
The train ride flew by, and they reached kings cross in no time. Tom could already see the Riddles and their staff from the window. Mommy Cecilia held little Jane in her arms and the little girl stared at the big, red train with wide eyes. Excited Tom grabbed his trunk and rushed to the door; his friends close behind him. Happily, he hugged his dad and his mom and little Jane and grandpa Thomas and grandma Mary and even Frank, while Patrick fetched Miss Noodles from the train.
Happily, he introduced all his new friends to his family. Alphard, Lance and Constance were immediately swarmed by the Riddles, Mrs. Robin, the Bryces and Patrick, and bombarded with questions about their holiday plans, families and grades. But the interrogation did not last too long, as the children's families soon wanted them back and took them home. Walburga Black, Alphard's one-year older, strict looking sister dragged her brother away to the fireplaces on the side of the platform with a disgusted look on her face. The Prewetts were next, whisking their son away so they wouldn’t miss the portkey to grandma Prewett. Constance left last, on the hand of her parents, who remembered Tom’s dad and chatted a bit with him.
The Riddles and McGonagalls left the platform and the train station together, chatting about their Christmas plans and quietly discussing what might have happened to Alice Axeman. Much to Tom’s family’s displeasure Mrs. McGonagall didn’t know how that could have happened either, but she was sure that Tom and Minerva would be alright, if they just stayed together and, even more importantly, away from the forbidden forest. Mrs. McGonagall had made a few very scary experiences with that forest during her time at Hogwarts. Minerva and Tom agreed to never go into that forest. Why should they in the first place? It sounded scary and the castle was nice, right?
In front of the cars Tom and Minerva hugged and said good-bye to each other, then they all drove off. “Did you enjoy your time at school?”, grandpa asked as soon as they were on the road. Tom nodded. “I liked it, well until Alice went missing. That made everything very uneasy. And I think Dumbledore thinks she is dead. At least he said something to me that either means he suspects me to be involved, or he wants to write a eulogy”, Tom mumbled nervously chewing on his lip. “I mean, she has been missing for quite some time. In the great war we would have declared her dead by now too”, Mary Riddle said, touching up her red lipstick coldly.
“So, let me guess: Lance Prewett. The pale one with the red hair. You like him, right”, grandpa Thomas asked with a wide grin at Tom. Tom’s cheeks became red. “Noooo”, he mumbled. “Of course not, Thomas dearest, it’s that Alphard boy, isn’t it?”, grandma Mary chuckled, tucking s straight, black strand back into place. Tom’s face was now as red as a tomato, and he stared down at Miss Noodles' basket while he nodded. “Ha! I knew it! He has my taste, my Junior. Black curls am I right?”, she chuckled. “Well, I’m the one who has a thing for cheekbones”, Thomas grinned. Mary Riddle looked a lot like Tom senior and junior and had high cheekbones. And Alphard had those too. Tommy groaned. “Oh, come on, leave poor Junior alone. He looks like he’s about to have a stroke!”, dad scolded with a smile and petted Tom’s back. This would be a long ride...