The next day, Tom dragged his exhausted body through the end of his classes and sat alone in the library. Suddenly, the loneliness he had once grown accustomed to became almost unbearable. He desperately wanted to throw himself into that warm embrace. Pressing his lips together, he closed his book.
Tom jogged all the way back to the common room. Seeing the platinum-haired aristocrat chatting with the others, he did not know what to say for a moment. Secretly annoyed at his own impulsiveness, he turned and left the common room the instant Abraxas looked back.
"Aren't you going after him? He's been staring at you the whole time~" Volga tilted her chin toward the common room door, winking with an expression of eager amusement. "Your little kitten... looks like he really wants comfort from his master~"
Abraxas frowned slightly and shot his younger schoolmate a sidelong glance. For some reason, the word "master" sounded especially grating to him. "Volga, he isn't my pet... I don't want to hear that again."
Holding her teacup, Volga gave a derisive laugh and said no more. Even if Abraxas cared deeply about that half-blood now, how long could it last? Pure-blood aristocrats never gave their hearts sincerely. The moment they were granted their noble surnames, their fate for the rest of their lives was decided: to live proudly and alone, wearing false masks as they carried on their family's glory...
"Abraxas, for your own sake and his, keep your distance... Your father wouldn't want to see... his perfect heir giving his heart to anyone. That would doom you beyond redemption."
Abraxas's expression darkened, but he did not reply. Frost filled his gray-blue eyes. He closed them and drained the wine in his cup in one swallow. When he opened them again after a moment, he had returned to being the noble, elegant platinum-haired aristocrat. "How could I possibly do anything... to disappoint a beautiful lady...~"
Tom walked through the campus with his head lowered, listening to the laughter and chatter around him. Suddenly, he wanted to escape all of it. He alone did not belong here, like a drop of filthy oil on clear water, forever unable to blend in.
"Tom... is something troubling you? If you're willing, I can listen to you..."
The steady, familiar, gentle voice brought Tom back to himself. Looking up at the person before him, Tom realized in surprise that he had somehow arrived at Professor Dumbledore's office on the second floor. "Sorry, Professor. I didn't notice that I'd come in. I'm truly sorry."
Dumbledore's eyes flickered. He pushed up his glasses, rose to press the young wizard onto the sofa, then drew his wand and tapped a cup. With a wave of his wand, he sent over a cup of hot cocoa. "Actually, I'm very happy that you came here unconsciously. It means I hold an important place in your heart~~"
The cheerful tone seemed to soothe his restless heart. A brief, sincere smile appeared on Tom's face. He nodded in agreement and took a light sip of the sweet drink he did not particularly like. "That's right, Professor. You've always been the professor I respect most. In fact, I've been hesitating over whether I should explain... You know, untying a knot is much harder than tying one, isn't it..."
Dumbledore looked at Tom with deep, unfathomable eyes, as though he were looking through the young wizard before him at someone else. "Yes... it is difficult. But we should still have the courage to take that step."
Tom could tell that the professor had not done as he said. He was somewhat curious about what had happened to this professor, and why Dumbledore always looked at him with an expression that was both nostalgic and wary. Yet he did not voice his doubts. After hesitating for several seconds, he finally said what he had long wanted to say. "Professor Dumbledore, do you remember the first time we met..."
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