Chapter 3 3.

Third POV:

Winter had passed, and the world outside had begun to bloom. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, their branches dotted with fresh green leaves, while flowers of every color peeked out from the soft earth, swaying under the warmth of the sun.

The children gathered near the gate of the orphanage, each clutching their small bags, filled with snacks or little trinkets they'd hurried to pack the night before. Excitement buzzed in the air as they talked and laughed, their voices a blend of giggles and eager chatter.

Helen stood near the front, bouncing on her heels, her red braids swinging with every movement. She clutched a bag that once belonged to one of the older girls, now hers, and hugged it tightly to her chest. "I can't wait! I hope we see butterflies," she whispered to her friend beside her, her voice brimming with excitement.

In the back of the group, Tom lingered, holding his worn bag loosely. He wasn't talking like the others, but his dark eyes were fixed on the road ahead, a small frown tugging at the corners of his mouth.

The workers checked their list and called out for everyone to line up. The children quickly obeyed, their anticipation making it hard to stand still. "Alright, everyone," one of the workers said, smiling. "It's time to go. Stay close and stick together!"

The children began climbing onto the bus, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Helen was just about to step on when she felt her shoe loosen. Looking down, she saw her lace had come undone.

"Mrs. Cole!" Helen called out, hurrying over. "My shoe came untied!"

Mrs. Cole knelt down with a kind smile, her hands working quickly to tie the laces back into a neat bow. "There you go, Helen. Now off you go before the bus leaves without you!"

"Thank you!" Helen chirped, running up the steps of the bus. But as she stepped inside, her smile faltered. Every seat seemed to be taken, and her two closest friends were already sitting together, giggling as they shared a snack. Helen hesitated in the aisle, clutching her bag tightly. She glanced toward the front, where the grown ups were seated, and her heart sank at the thought of having to sit there. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted him-Tom Riddle, sitting alone near the back of the bus, staring out the window with that quiet, brooding expression he always seemed to wear.

Helen's face lit up. Without a second thought, she darted down the aisle, her braids swinging behind her, and plopped herself into the seat beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Hi, Tom!" she said brightly, smiling at him as though they'd been friends forever.

Tom blinked, startled by her sudden presence. He looked at her, then at the empty space that had just been his, his brows furrowing slightly. He said nothing, but Helen didn't seem to mind. She simply settled into the seat, swinging her legs happily as the bus started moving.

She glanced at Tom, who was still staring out the window, his expression unreadable. Undeterred, she leaned a little closer, her smile warm and inviting.

"Isn't this exciting?" she said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "I've never been on a field trip before. Have you?"

Tom finally turned to look at her, his dark eyes studying her face for a moment. He gave the tiniest shake of his head.

Helen grinned wider, taking his silence as a good sign. She opened her bag and pulled out a small, slightly squished cookie. "Do you want one? I saved it from breakfast. It's my favorite!" Tom hesitated, his gaze flickering to the cookie and then back to her. Slowly, he reached out and took it, his fingers brushing hers briefly. He didn't say thank you, but Helen noticed the faintest hint of curiosity in his eyes as he bit into the treat.

She giggled softly. "See? It's good, isn't it?"

Tom nodded, chewing quietly.

Helen beamed, encouraged by his response. She reached into her bag again and pulled out a small, worn toy teddy bear. "This is Lucky. He's my second favorite toy. Do you have a favorite?"

Tom's brow furrowed, and he looked down at the bag in his lap. After a moment, he pulled out a small, carved wooden bird, its paint faded but its shape still elegant.

Helen gasped. "Oh, it's so pretty! Did you make it?"

Tom shook his head, his fingers tightening around the bird. For the first time, his lips parted. "I've always had it with me."

Helen's eyes softened. "It's special, then," she said gently. "Like Lucky." She held out the horse. "Want to trade for a bit? Just to play?"

Tom stared at her, his expression cautious. But something in her earnest smile seemed to chip away at his defenses. Slowly, he held out the bird, letting her take it, while he took Lucky in return.

Helen laughed lightly, cradling the bird in her hands. "See? Now they can be friends too!"

She couldn't help the warmth that spread through her chest as she watched Tom carefully hold the her teddy bear in his hands. It felt like a small victory, even though it was something so simple. After so many days of trying, of offering him smiles, toys, and words of friendship that had mostly been met with silence or indifference, this moment felt like progress.

She had always tried to be kind to him, even when he seemed like he wanted nothing to do with anyone. He wasn't like the other boys-he didn't play games or talk with the other children. He often kept to himself, distant and quiet, and Helen had noticed how the other kids didn't always include him. But she didn't want him to feel alone.

The bus rolled to a stop, the brakes squealing slightly, and the moment it did, the kids scrambled to gather their bags, ready to go outside. Helen was the first to hop out, her energy practically spilling over as she bounded down the steps of the bus, bag clutched tightly in her hands. The sun was shining brightly, and the meadow that lay in front of them was stunning-green grass, wildflowers in all shades of pink, purple, and yellow, and tall trees on the outskirts of the field, their branches swaying gently in the breeze.

"Come on, Tom!" Helen shouted over her shoulder, already taking off toward the open field. Her voice carried the excitement of the whole trip-she could barely contain it.

Tom lingered at the back of the bus for a moment, staring out at the unfamiliar landscape. The air felt different here, fresh and free. He tugged at the strap of his bag, fingers tightening around it as he hesitated. It wasn't like the orphanage, where everything was familiar.

Helen spun around to look at him, her smile big and welcoming. "It's so pretty here, Tom!" she called again, twirling in a circle like a little whirlwind. Her laughter rang out, clear and bright.

Tom took a step off the bus, his shoes sinking slightly into the soft grass beneath him. Her voice called to him again, and this time, there was no hesitation in her words. "Come on, Tom! Let's play!"

He looked at the other kids scattered across the field, already running around and laughing. A part of him wanted to stay back, to keep to himself as he always did, but there was something in Helen's invitation that made it hard to say no.

She jogged back toward him, a hand reaching out. "Please, Tom? It'll be fun!"

For a second, he just stared at her, uncertain. Then, with a small, reluctant sigh, he shrugged and took a step toward her. The grass felt soft under his feet, and the more he looked around, the more the open field started to feel less like a strange place.

Helen grinned when he walked up to her, and without another word, she grabbed his hand and pulled him along.

The day passed in a blur of laughter and play, with Helen somehow coaxing Tom into getting his hands dirty with mud. He grumbled at first, his usual aversion to messiness taking over, but Helen's persistent cheerfulness wore him down. By the time they'd finished their game, he was covered in mud from his knees down.

Afterward, when Tom went to wash his hands at a nearby fountain, Helen stayed behind, picking up the toys they'd left scattered across the grass. As she bent down to gather everything, her eyes caught something moving out of the corner of her vision. A small squirrel was darting across the field, its tiny paws nimbly carrying it toward Tom's wooden bird, which was lying on the ground nearby.

The squirrel, mistaking the bird for a nut, picked it up with its teeth and scurried away.

"Hey!" Helen yelled, rushing after it without thinking. She dropped the toys in her hands and bolted after the little creature, her heart pounding in her chest. It wasn't just any toy-it was Tom's. He'd been so proud of it, and now it was in the squirrel's greedy paws, headed toward the woods.

The squirrel dashed toward the trees, its fluffy tail flicking behind it. Helen's legs pumped faster, her breath coming in quick gasps, but the squirrel was fast, too fast.

Tom, meanwhile, had finished washing up and returned to the spot where they had been playing, his hands still damp. But as he scanned the field, he realized with a sinking feeling that Helen was nowhere to be seen. His stomach twisted uncomfortably.

Where had she gone? He waited for a few moments, thinking she might've just wandered off to find her other friends, but the more he thought about it, the more it gnawed at him.

Why wasn't she here?

A cold knot of anger began to form in his chest. It wasn't like she'd promised him anything, but why had she left without saying anything? Was she just tired of playing with him? Wasn't he interesting enough?

He walked around in a small circle, trying to distract himself from the thoughts that clouded his mind. His eyes narrowed. He spotted the spot where they had left their things-everything was still there, but she was gone.

The air had begun to cool as the evening drew closer, and the sky turned a dusky purple, the sun slipping behind the horizon. Mrs. Cole had gathered the children, calling their names one by one to make sure everyone was accounted for, her voice carrying a hint of weariness as the long day came to a close.

"Helen!" Mrs. Cole called out, her voice a little more impatient this time.

No response.

"Helen, where are you?" she repeated, her brow furrowing.

The other children began to look around, their faces growing concerned. Helen was usually so easy to find, her laugh echoing across the field like a bell. But now, there was only silence. The playful energy of the day seemed to have drained away, replaced by a growing unease.

Tom, who had been standing a little apart from the group, his arms crossed, realised that she was missing.

He scanned the field, hoping for a glimpse of her bright red hair, but there was nothing. No sign of her. Mrs. Cole called her name again, louder this time.

"Where could she be?" Mrs. Cole murmured to herself.

Tom's eyes darted across the meadow. And then, like a sudden spark, an idea lit up in his mind.

The forest. Had she gone somewhere interesting?

Without thinking, Tom turned and started walking toward the trees. His feet moved quickly, quietly, as he slipped past the others unnoticed. He didn't want anyone to stop him.

The woods weren't far, just beyond the meadow, but the further he walked, the more the darkness seemed to press in. His breath hitched as he pushed deeper into the woods, the cool night air biting at his cheeks.

"Helen!" he called, his voice sharp and loud against the quiet of the trees. It echoed, bouncing off the trunks.

As he ventured further into the woods, his steps were slow and steady, a quiet curiosity guiding him forward. The night air was cool, and the woods seemed oddly calm, the trees swaying softly in the wind. He wasn't panicked or worried, just vaguely interested in where Helen had gone off to.

Then, he heard it-a faint sobbing sound, soft but distinct.

Without much thought, he turned toward the sound, his pace unhurried, as though he were simply walking toward something mildly interesting. A few steps later, he found her-Helen, sitting at the bottom of a deep pit in the ground, her shoulders shaking with quiet sobs.