Being back at Hogwarts felt strange. Usually, you loved being back there, how the old stone walls made you feel warm, even if they were so cold. You loved to see your friends again and tell them everything you had done during summer holidays.

But this time, after leaving your sick little sister behind and after practically selling your soul to the devil, you felt as if everyone knew already. Every time someone looked at you, it felt like they were judging you.

How could she do this? How could she agree to marry someone she didn't love? She probably did it for the money. Or for his reputation. Both perhaps.

No one had really said anything yet and you weren't sure if people had always looked at you like that, or if you just interpreted something into it, but you were quite sure they knew.

Girls from fifth grade had always greeted you and had looked up to you, trying to impress you and wanting to be noticed. Now they didn't look you in the eyes, even though you could feel them staring at you from behind. They would group up in the hallways and whisper to each other after you had passed them.

Camille Kegley was the only person you trusted enough to talk to. She had been your best friend since the first year of Hogwarts and was the most loyal person you knew. A true Hufflepuff. So you had told her every little detail. How your sister got cursed, when the Gaunts visited, what they offered and what they asked for in return. She was shocked, but she understood.

"I would have done the same thing for my brother," she said. "I'm so sorry all of this happened though. If I can do anything to help you out, just let me know."

"Thank you. Really. The only thing I want right now is for everyone to stop looking at me like I murdered someone."

"You think they know already?"

"'I'm not sure," you sighed. "Seems like it."

"Have you told anybody?"

"Just you. And please. Don't tell anyone. I don't want Elsie to be the girl who's been cursed when she starts school next year. I won't be here to help her."

"I won't. Don't worry. But how would anyone know it then, by now?"

"I have a feeling the Gaunts want as many people to know as possible. To make it harder for me to back out."

"You think Tom-"

"No," you said and shook your head. "It seemed he was even more against it than I was. His grandfather. I think it's him who's eager for everyone to know."

"Wanker," Camille said.

"Tosser," you added.

"Merlin's saggy left bollock," Camille went one better and you both laughed. "And what about Tom?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, looks like you're going to marry him. Do you like him? In any way?"

"I... Don't know. I don't really know him. He seems to really take after his grandfather."

"Saggy bollock," Camille whispered.

"I guess I'll try to get to know him. I mean we'll have to get along someday."

"Good idea. You should do that."

"He's so distant. Cold. I don't know how to approach him really."

"Oh, don't act like you don't know how to talk to boys," she snickered. "Maybe he's quite nice."

"Maybe."

Maybe not. Tom acted like nothing had happened for the first week of school. He must have mastered the arts of ignoring someone because you felt as if he didn't even know who you were. He didn't greet you in the hallway, hell, he didn't even glance at you in class. Nothing.

How was this supposed to work if he didn't try at all? He left you clueless.

The only person who talked normally to you, besides Camille, was Benjamin Hilt. A Gryffindor boy from year six. He was annoying, to say the least. Maybe he just tried to be nice, but it seemed he wanted to know a lot about Tom and you. And, to be fair, you didn't even know much about Tom and you.

Ben acted like Hogwarts' very own private investigator, trying to elicit as much information as possible from you. He had you wondering if he was working for the Daily Prophet.

How did the engagement happen? Weren't you still too young? Did your parents agree immediately? Was it possible that you didn't do it willingly? Was it forced?

"Merlin, Ben!" you shouted. "Stop asking all those questions. What are you trying to get out of this?"

"I don't know," he said and scratched the back of his neck. "It's just so strange, you know. I've never seen you two together. Seems off."

"Well, mind your own business then. Freak," you said and rushed out of the great hall.

Even though Tom avoided you magnificently, his friends, or rather his followers, seemed very much interested in you. And not in a positive way. They looked you up and down in class, followed you in the hallways and you could only guess what they were mumbling to each other. Certainly not compliments.

Emlyn Avery and Tiernan Lestrange were the worst of them. They were on you all the time. You tried to act as if you didn't notice, but it got more concerning each day. Every time you looked over your shoulder, those two were standing close. And they smiled so spitefully, you could tell how much they enjoyed freaking you out. Bastards.

You had made it a habit not to walk the corridors alone. Camille was with you most of the time and if she couldn't be there, you followed random groups of people until you found one of your friends.

This technique, as humiliating as it was, worked well. Until that one day, when Professor Binns asked you to stay for a moment, after your History Of Magic lesson. Not only did he ask you the most boring things, but made you more nervous each second, when your classmates' voices faded until you couldn't hear a single sound from the hallway.

Your heart was beating in your throat when you left the classroom. Of course. Avery and Lestrange had waited for you. With their stupid grins on their faces. They didn't even act as if they were there for something else.

You pondered where to go. The great hall was always busy and also quite near, so you turned right. They were following you. You heard their footsteps behind you and they were coming closer.

Whenever you went a little faster, the two of them did too. You thought about running away but didn't want to give them the satisfaction.

Eventually, they caught up. Avery walked to your left, Lestrange to your right until they had you cornered.

"What do you want?" you asked and tried your best to control your voice.

"Just wanted to say hello," Avery said.

"Hello," you said and tried to push through them, but they didn't let you.

"No," Lestrange smirked. "We're not done yet."

"Did Riddle send you?" you asked. "To scare me?"

"Why would he do that? To his future wife."

"You tell me."

"We're here to clear some things up," Avery said. "That you might not know."

"And what's that?" you asked.

"You see, we don't know how you did it. How your family pulled that trick to make Tom agree to marry you. It can only mean that you're plotting something. And -"

"Wait, he didn't tell you?" you asked.

"We know enough, okay?" Avery hissed. "Tom has a great future ahead of him. And I swear, if you get in the way, you're going to regret it."

"I'm not -"

"Shut up," Lestrange interrupted you with his wand close to your face. "I don't know what you're after. Money, fame, whatever it is. You might want to think about it again and I'll have you know it's not worth it."

"I don't care for any of that."

"Come on, what other reason could you have to pull off something like that?"

There was no way you were telling them about Elsie. Every student would know by next year and she was far too sensitive to handle that.

"None of your business," you answered.

"That just proves you're not trustworthy," Avery said.

"Because I'm not telling you two my reasons?" you almost laughed. "Give me a break. Why didn't you ask Tom? Your friend. Or should I say your leader?"

They both blushed and you could tell they were embarrassed. Even if everyone knew how much power Riddle had over his friends, they apparently didn't like to be reminded of it.

"Listen here, you little -" Avery stopped talking when a hand touched his shoulder and pulled him and Lestrange away from you.

Tom stood there, looking at them rigidly. "What are you doing?"

"We're... Just..."

"Talking to her. Trying to get to know her better," Avery mumbled.

Tom looked at you for a second, then back at his friends. "Doesn't seem like you were having a nice chat."

"Oh it was very nice," Avery said. "Making friends."

"Was it a nice chat?" Tom asked you.

You were still so tense from them threatening you and hadn't expected Tom to talk to you directly after days of silence, so you just stammered: "I... They -"

"Shut up you," Lestrange took a step in your direction until Tom pressed his wand against Lestrange's chest.

"Don't," Tom said through gritted teeth.

"I wasn't -"

"I don't care Tiernan. Let's go."

Without another word, the three boys walked away towards the Slytherin common room. You were still glued to the spot when Tom turned around and glanced at you quickly.