Chapter Thirty-One: Becoming

When Cordelia had decided to remain complacent with Tom for the remainder of the first term, she certainly hadn't thought it would come with the need to constantly find a balance between his world and hers.

She hadn't thought Abarax Malfoy would provide her with that balance either, but after a week or two of sulking in her bedroom and reiterating notes to her walls, Cordelia found that studying with the complacent blond seemed to be the best option for her.

It certainly helped that Abarax was smarter than most and took great pleasure in assisting Cordelia where he saw fit.

Whether it be simple refills of ink bottles or referencing her to the right text at the library, Abarax had come to become an essential part of her study sessions and after only two weeks of initiating their friendship of sorts, Cordelia found that she couldn't quite focus on her NEWTs without him around.

The NEWTs. That was another pressing matter she had to address.

With their seventh year starting off so eventfully, Cordelia had all but forgotten about what really mattered at that moment: her education.

However, the appearance of the first test season of the year was enough to have the brunette fumbling to get back into her usual study-centric ways. Cordelia had taken to all but holing herself up in the heads dorms or kitchens with Abarax, having known better than to risk showing up at public places like the library with the best friend of the boy she was supposedly courting.

Somehow, Tom seemed more than happy to welcome the change in her attitude and had even taken to spending time away from her in order to work on his tasks by himself. His acceptance only pushed Cordelia to sink further into the heap of parchment sheets and tomes, choosing to throw all her woes away to instead focus on the trepidation of idleness.

"Will Binns be including the goblin war?"

Cordelia didn't bother to look up from the parchment before her as she spoke, but was quick to do so the second she registered the disgruntled sound Abarax let out.

"I thought you were preparing for the tests."

"And?"

The exasperated sigh Abarax let out at the small question had her gaze quickly switching to stare into his blue eyes that were crinkled in annoyance.

"The goblin war only appears in the final NEWTs!"

Cordelia couldn't help but let out a giggle at his exclamation, one that only had Abarax's tight frown deepening.

A few days ago, every smile Cordelia wore was yet another ploy in their act to convince Hogwarts that the two most brilliant students the castle had to offer had joined forces, yet as she leaned further into the couch behind her, the brunette realised that she had changed.

She was happier.

It wasn't the kind of happiness that Cordelia was used to, the kind that came with accomplishments and a strong sense of self, no, it was the kind that had her feeling a confusing sense of contempt, one that was bittersweet enough to not truly be considered joy yet positive enough to have her desperately cling to it.

It was the kind of happiness that came with new adventures, the kind that she had gotten all but accustomed to feeling over the past two years.

Yet, as her gaze sunk to follow the sound of Abarax scratching away at his parchment, Cordelia realised that she didn't quite care how dim the light in her tunnel was, she was simply grateful it existed.

"Here-"

Her hand almost automatically gravitated to a familiar black leather journal as she spoke, choosing to hold it out to Abarax with a small smile.

"-you're constantly using parchment and I can't help but fear that you'll lose all of your notes at one point."

It took him a moment, but eventually, Abarax reflected her smile as he, albeit hesitantly, accepted the journal presented to him.

"Isn't this your journal?"

Cordelia nodded at his question, but was quick to let out a dejected sigh as she noticed the way he flipped through the black pages of the journal.

"Let's just say it's yet another byproduct of Tom Riddle's destruction. So, you might as well fill it up."

Abarax nodded at her words, dropping a small 'thank you' even as he flipped over his full parchment to present the completely black side. The sight had Cordelia yet again chuckling as she noticed the small smile on Abarax's face, however, their little bubble of joy was quickly burst by the sudden appearance of the bane of Cordelia's existence.

"You should get this over with before this evening."

Cordelia hummed at his words, only truly registering them a moment too late.

"What happens in the evening?"

"Well, you didn't think you were my Dark Lady just for namesake, did you?"

Cordelia had originally sought Abarax Malfoy out as a way to once again find a part of her that she couldn't help but feel like she had lost, but as her gaze flickered between the evidently anxious blond and cynical Dark Lord behind him, she couldn't help but wonder whether it would have been better to stay away.

Whether being close to his subordinates was exactly what Tom needed to force her down the path of becoming his Dark Lady.