As the weeks passed and the weather in late October turned colder, the halls and chambers in Hogwarts stayed warm. It also seemed that somebody specific had warmed up around you as well. Tom didn't ignore you anymore. Not completely at least. He was still distant, but you guessed that was just how he was. Progress, still.

Camille was sure he liked you, even if he didn't show it. You didn't entirely agree with her, but it was definitely a start.

You had just thought of him when you walked along the shore of the Black Lake alone. Since Avery and Lestrange hadn't dared to even look at you for more than a moment, you felt save enough to wander around on your own again. And you enjoyed taking time for yourself. To manage your thoughts in peace, while the wind howled across the water to keep you company.

Tom must have been impressed by your potions skills. His demeanour had changed ever since you beat him making Moonseed Poison, even though you thought he was mad at you at first. You had lost count of how often you had thought about that smirk on his face and what that did to your stomach. It was almost embarrassing how many times you started daydreaming, how your mind wanted to drift off, and you let it.

Your thoughts were interrupted by someone calling out your name and hasty footsteps coming your way from behind. You stopped and turned around to see who it was. Benjamin Hilt. The Gryffindor boy from sixth year, who had already asked too many questions.

He was quite short for a boy of his age, but it seemed like he didn't care about it. He didn't care about a lot of things apparently. He wore jeans a lot. A clothing item wizards would usually not choose as their attire since it was such a muggle thing to wear.

You thought it was his way of revolting the system. A very subliminal way of showing his political views. His hair must have also been part of that. That, or he didn't own a comb.

Not that he was unpopular, he definitely had friends. They were all like him to an extend. Loud, candid and sometimes a bit scandalising. They liked to be the centre of attention, even if that meant they would go on everyone's nerves. You have never had a problem with them. They weren't your friends, but you knew they usually meant no harm.

"Hey," he said, a bit out of breath once he caught up.

"Hi Ben," you answered and started walking again.

"Can I walk with you for a minute?"

"Sure. Did you come up with more questions for your investigation?"

He kept quiet for a moment and you grinned while looking out over the lake, where the tiniest waves rustled in the wind.

"No," he then said. "I mean, yes. I mean... Possibly."

"What's your deal, Ben?" you asked. "Not to be mean, but none of this is any of your business."

"I know. And I'm sorry. But I just can't wrap my head around this. It kind of keeps me up at night. Doesn't sit right with me."

"Well if it doesn't sit right with you, then, of course, we're going to listen to you and throw all plans out of the window."

"Don't be sarcastic now. It's a serious thing."

"Oh really? Thanks for reminding me. Still none of your concern. And even if it was. What doesn't sit right?"

"Two things actually," Ben answered. "Firstly, I still don't believe that you're doing this of your own free will. I think he's forcing you to marry him. And secondly, with your two families combined, Tom and his relatives will be given a whole new level of respect. And power."

"So?"

"So? Don't act like you don't know what the Gaunts are all about."

Of course you knew. Everyone did. And Ben was probably right. But what should you do about it now?

"Look, Ben," you sighed. "I'm thankful for your concern, really. But it wasn't forced. Tom and I... We love each other. And I'm afraid you don't know him or any of his relatives as well as you think. They're not seeking power. Or anything of that sort."

You've never lied to someone like this before. Twisted the truth a bit, yes. Kept some information secret, yes. But this was the greatest lie that ever left your mouth. And Ben knew.

"Alright," he said slowly and raised his eyebrows. "The Gaunts are dangerous, whether you believe it or not. Who knows what they're capable of when they get even more respected in the wizard community. I thought you weren't like them, you know. But seems like you're one and the same."

You didn't respond. Maybe you really were like them. But what did Benjamin 'knight in shining armour' Hilt know about your life? You had your reasons and you weren't going to share them with him. Who did he think he was?

"I see you don't want my help," he said. "Just know, you can always ask for it when you change your mind."

Then he walked off. And it made you angry. Not that you had anything else to say. But the mere fact that he thought he knew better than everyone else turned your insides sour. So much that you wanted to scream. But he would have heard you. So you kept it down and walked for a little longer.

One and the same. Sure. Like one of the Gaunts would do anything remotely similar than what you had done for your sister. What an idiot. And even if you accepted his help. What would he be able to do for you? Nothing.

One and the same. If people wanted to see you like that, they should. But then, they should be as afraid of you as they were of Tom.

You thought of Elsie and your parents. They had sent a letter some days ago. Finally. A reason to keep going. To keep the facade. You would be lying if you said you hadn't thought about quitting. Now that your sister was better, you had thought that there would be a way that would lead you out of the pact. But the letter reminded you that there wasn't. And what you did it for. Who you did it for. You took it out of your pocket and read it again.

"Dearest daughter,

we are delighted to let you know Elsie is doing much better. The Gaunts were a tremendous help. Morfin brewed several potions and one of them seemed to be the cure. Her cough stopped immediately and she is on the mend.

She is finally eating again, she even wanted to help the elves make lunch yesterday.

I think she also grew half an inch over the last week.

It is an incredible joy to watch her laughing again. We wish you could see her now.

And we want to let you know, again, how thankful we are for what you did. Without you, Merlin knows what would have happened. We are so proud of you.

However, Marvolo informed us that they haven't broken the curse entirely.

He said if there will be any kind of breach or breaking of the pact, they can make Elsie sick again. And that it would be worse than before.

We hope you know what that means and what is expected of you. We wish we could take that burden from you.

All the best,

Mum and Dad"

There was a little red heart scribbled at the bottom right corner of the letter, that Elsie had drawn. It made you smile each time you saw it. It reminded you of the countless times you had sat with her in the garden and had watched her draw random figures and shapes. She would always get angry when your drawings came out better than hers. But she never gave up trying. And you couldn't give up trying either.

The sun went down earlier each day now, so you went back to the castle once you had walked off the anger in your bones.

Tom sat there in the courtyard. He was alone to your surprise. Even though he didn't talk much, he was usually with at least two other people, who competed for his attention. But not today.

"Hello," you said and he nodded. You sat down at the stone bench next to him. "What are you doing?"

He looked at you for a moment, then leant forward and gazed into the distance. "Thinking."

"Me too."

"Really?" he asked sarcastically.

"What do you mean?"

"It didn't seem like you thought of much when you were walking with Hilt."

"Ben? Did you see us? Hang on. Did you watch me?"

"Does it matter? I just happened to take a walk towards the lake. Then I saw you two."

"Okay," you said. "Well next time feel free to join in. Anything to keep him away. Ben really gets on my nerves you know."

"Sure," he said, still not looking at you.

"What's the matter now?" you asked and smiled. "You're not jealous of him, are you?"

Tom shot you a look that could have possibly killed you. Your smile disappeared instantly and the wind suddenly felt icy.

"Because there's nothing to be jealous about," you went on. "I don't even like Ben."

"Do you think I'm stupid?" he asked.

"What? No. I'm just trying-"

"Listen! If you're going to be my wife, you must not give the impression of being unfaithful."

"And being unfaithful means walking with anyone that isn't you?"

"You know what it means."

"So I'm not allowed to talk to friends?"

"I thought he wasn't your friend."

"He isn't. This is not about Ben but in general."

Tom stayed silent.

"You can't be serious," you said. "What do you expect me to do? Only ever speak to you, even if other people approach me? I didn't even invite him. He just happened to be there all of a sudden."

Tom turned towards you again and came uncomfortably close.

"I. Don't. Care. I expect you to be loyal."

"I am," you said but he stood up and left.

"Wait! You can't just walk away."

But he went. You ran after him, your frustration banging from inside your head against your temples. When you entered the hallways, quite a few people were around, some of them already looking at you.

There he was, still walking away. You finally reached Tom and grabbed him by the shoulder, to make him look at you. He stopped abruptly and turned around, quicker than you had thought, so you almost bumped into him. A second of silence and staring occurred before you took a step back. Okay. Now was the time to get your point across.

"Listen," you said quietly. "I don't know what you think you saw, but I guarantee you that's not what happened."

"I know wh-"

"No, I said listen to me," you interrupted him more vehemently and people's heads turned your way, so you kept your voice low again. "Ben is not my friend. He came up to talk to me about us. I think he knows about the pact. And he wants to ruin everything. I'm not going to lose my sister because of him. So I tried to convince him. And if you think that's being disloyal then so it be. I don't care either. But never run away from me when I want to explain myself. And never distrust me again for no reason."

That was the first time you witnessed Tom Riddle being speechless. So you left him standing there without another word. If people wanted to believe you were one and the same, you would make him believe it too.