"So this is the last part of the house. The bedrooms," you said, after giving Tom a quick tour around the mansion. "The guestroom is right at the end of the hallway."

Tom peered towards the half-open door to the guestroom, that the house-elves were preparing for him.

"This right there is Elsie's room, next to it is the master bedroom. And this," you said, leaning onto a door. "Is my room."

He turned back to you.

"Want to come in?"

He nodded. "Sure."

There was a sense of excitement in the air, letting Tom enter your room. It was something so private, it felt like you let him walk straight into your head. But you wanted to be nice. He still seemed crushed from the argument he had had with his grandfather and uncle and you thought it would make him feel better if you showed him he was welcome here.

"Take a seat if you want. Anywhere," you said and went over to sit on your bed.

Tom slowly walked across the room towards your desk, his eyes incidentally scanning your belongings. He sat down on the chair by the desk and looked at the framed picture of you and your family that stood there.

"Sorry about my mother," you mentioned when you noticed what he was inspecting.

Tom looked at you. "What do you mean?"

"She can be a bit brash, you know. When she asked you to stay earlier. But she usually means well."

"Oh," he spoke. "I didn't mind actually. You know my family. They're brash. And not the good kind."

"Fair," you agreed. "Have they always been that way?"

"Since I can remember at least."

There was a moment of silence.

"I'm sorry," you then said.

"For what? That's just how it is. They have their ways and I have mine."

"Right. Did you know they would bring up the unbreakable vow?"

"No... I had no idea. They're idiots. Just stupid. Why ask for more each time? They always want to be a step ahead for nothing."

"What did you say to them?" you asked, hiding that you already knew.

"That I wouldn't do it. They took our word for it then and that should be enough. They can't force us to do a vow."

"Are they mad at you?"

"Yes. But they'll come around. It wasn't our first argument and it won't be our last."

You pondered if you should say what you were thinking. Maybe it was a bit too much, but Tom didn't seem bothered talking about his family. So you went on: "Do you ever wish it could have been different? To grow up with your parents, I mean. That would have made it easier, don't you think?"

Tom smiled weakly, his eyes wandered across the floor and he shook his head. "Wishing for something won't make it happen. And no. It would have been quite the same, I think. Maybe even worse."

"Worse?"

"You've heard how Marvolo talks about my parents. His daughter and a muggle. A stain in the bloodline he said, didn't he?" Tom chuckled lowly.

"But if they loved each other that shouldn't have mattered to him."

His eyebrows rose in what looked like a strange form of amusement. "Well, that's a whole other story."

You frowned. What did that even mean? You had heard all kinds of rumours about the Gaunt family and how Tom's parents had met but never would have thought that one of them might be true.

"Have they-"

Tom shook his head as he got up, making it clear that he wasn't going to talk about it. He walked across the room towards you, fiddling something out from the inner pocket of his jacket.

You had gone too far apparently and wondered if he was pulling out his wand or wanted to leave, but as you opened your mouth again, he sat down beside you and looked into your eyes.

"I'm going to tell you," he said. "Not now though. You're going to know everything about me eventually. Someday."

"Someday then," you repeated. "What have you got there?"

He held the thing from his jacket in his hand now. It was a package that seemed a bit squished as if it had barely fit into the pocket.

"Hold on," he said and waved his wand at it, to smooth out the wrinkles on the paper. It was a present, a rectangular box, covered in dark green gift wrap.

"I thought it would be impolite to come over for lunch without bringing at least a little Christmas gift."

"Oh, you shouldn't have," you said as he handed over the present.

"Go on, open it," he said and motioned with his hand.

So you did and quickly found out what the package contained. A small handwritten book, full of potions recipes.

"Nicked it from my uncle when he wasn't looking," Tom said. "So you better don't mention it to him."

"Oh great," you laughed as you flipped through it. "Wow, I haven't heard of any of these."

"None of them are taught in school. I thought you'd like them. Didn't seem like the ones we do with Slughorn were much of a challenge for you."

The book looked as if it had been used a lot. The thin black binder was frayed and faded, and the edges of the pages were crinkled. On every other page, the handwriting changed, so it seemed that many different people had written the recipes. Poisons, antidotes and bewitchments you had never heard of were all listed, neatly explained and completed with full lists of ingredients.

"Where did your uncle get this from?" you asked, still looking through it.

"I'm not sure. Knockturn Alley perhaps, or on some market. I wouldn't be surprised if he had added a few ones himself."

As peculiar as it was, not many people could say they got a book of dark magic and probably illegal potions for Christmas.

"What an unusual gift. I do like it. Thank you, really!" you said and opened your arms to hug him, out of pure habit, but froze when you saw his stern expression, your arms still open.

He looked into your eyes again, seemed to think for a moment and finally nodded to let you hug him. Just like when you had held hands, he was stiff and rigid, it felt like he was uncomfortable. You retracted, but as soon as you let go, he wrapped his arms around you and held you a little tighter, extending the embrace for a few more seconds.

There was a ghost of a smile on his face when you sat back straight and he was about to say something when the door flew open.

Tummy, one of the house-elves, stood in the door frame. "Miss, the guestroom is ready. Mister Riddle, Sir, please follow me."

"Great," Tom whispered sarcastically under his breath, got up and followed the elf.

You quickly hid the book under your pillow and called after them: "It'd be nice if you could knock next time, Tummy!"

"Sorry Miss! Will knock!" you heard him from the hallway.

When Mother called for dinner in the evening you picked up Tom from the guest room and went downstairs.

Sitting at the table together was a bit awkward at first and no one said anything. It seemed that your parents were still thinking of the incident from lunch, but didn't want to talk about it in front of Tom. You didn't know what to say either and Tom wasn't one to talk much in general.

"Tom?" Elsie said all of a sudden, breaking the silence.

"Yes?" he answered and you looked back and forth between the two.

"Did you know I'll go to Hogwarts too next term?" Elsie went on, a very proud tone in her voice.

He grinned while picking up some green beans with his fork. "I did know that, yes."

"I haven't gotten the letter yet, so technically I don't know if I'll get in, but my parents said it will come on my eleventh birthday."

"I'm sure it will."

He had barely finished his last word when Elsie asked the next thing.

"What's your favourite subject?"

"Um... Defence Against The Dark Arts, I think," Tom said. "It's interesting enough."

"Why?"

"Well," he took a second to think. "I like to be prepared."

"And you're in Slytherin, aren't you?"

"Yes. Do you have a favourite house?"

You caught your parents exchanging looks and smiling at each other.

"Um... Well," Elsie began. "I think they're all nice. But Gryffindor is the best I guess."

Tom clicked his tongue and shook his head jokingly. "Shame," he said.

"Do you play Quidditch?" Elsie asked.

"No, I'm not into sports."

"But can you fly?"

"Yes, I'm a decent flyer."

She looked at your parents for a moment and whispered to Tom: "Do you think you can show me? How to fly a broom. I got one for Christmas, you see. And I-"

"Elsie," Father said laughing. "Let the boy eat, please."

"No, I can show you," Tom said. "It's the least I can do to show my respect after you're letting me stay here."

"That's very kind of you Tom," Mother said. "And you can stay as long as you like."

"Thank you. I won't bother you for long though," he answered.

Dessert was served and Elsie peppered Tom with questions about brooms until Father finally told her to leave him alone.

You thought of the book he had gifted you and knew that your parents would be pleased to hear that at least one member of the Gaunt family had manners. They didn't need to know exactly what it was about.

"Tom gave me a Christmas present earlier," you said.

He shot you a quick look as if to ask you if you were out of your mind telling your parents about this. You ignored him.

"Oh really?" Father asked. "What is it?"

"A Potions book. Handwritten. It looks very rare," you said and looked at Tom who was still staring at you. "It's like an extended version of our school books. I can use it to perfect my skills. Maybe I'll even get an O on my N.E.W.T.s because of it."

"Oh lovely," Mother said. "Where have you got that from?"

"Diagon Alley," Tom lied and seemed to be more relaxed now.

"Very nice," Mother said and turned towards you. "But you didn't have anything for him, did you?"

"No," you mumbled.

"Well, let's talk about that another time. Tom, have you heard about the time when we went on a trip to Italy?"

Later that night, when you lay in bed, you pulled the book out from under your pillow and held it for a while. It probably wasn't even meant to be so special, but the fact that Tom had thought of giving you a present for Christmas, was not what you would have expected.

And you hadn't even wasted a single thought about getting him something. How ignorant.

You wondered how he felt about that. If he even felt about that, one way or another.

Your fingertip ran up and down the book spine countless times while you stared up onto the ceiling. You had to get him something. Something special.

And then you wondered if he couldn't sleep either. If he wanted to talk for just a bit as well. If he thought about lying next to you, too. You could try to sneak out of your room and over to the guest room. Your parents wouldn't like that of course, but you were going to marry him. They had to get used to the thought. And if you were quiet enough, they wouldn't even notice.

You sat up slowly, put the book back under your pillow and tiptoed to the door of your room. Turning the doorknob as quietly as possible and holding your breath, you looked out into the dark hallway. You wouldn't even need light, you knew this hallway like the back of your hand. Fifteen, maybe twenty quick steps and you would be right by the door to the guest room. So you took the first step out of your room.

"Miss!" a squeaky voice whispered in the dark from below.

It was Tummy, standing there alone.

"Tummy?" you asked quietly. "What are you doing here?"

"Miss, master told Tummy to keep watch all night. So that Mister Riddle wouldn't disturb you in your room."

Great. Your parents were a few steps ahead.

"Can Tummy get you anything, Miss?"

"No, I... I just thought I heard something," you sighed. "Does Father really force you to stay up all night? You can go downstairs to sleep if you want to."

"No, Miss, no," the elf said and smiled. "Tummy sleeps right here on the floor. I have very good ears, yes. I hear every little noise, you see? I will wake up whenever I hear something and alert the masters."

Unbelievable. They had thought of everything.

"I see," you said. "But I'm not afraid Tom would disturb me. You really can go downstairs."

"Miss, Tummy is thankful for your offer, but I must follow the master's order. Tummy doesn't mind it."

"Alright then," you gave up. "Hang on though."

You went back into your room, walked up to your bed and fetched one of the three pillows from there.

"Take this at least," you told the elf and gave him the pillow. "It's big enough for you to sleep on."

"Oh, that's not necessary. Please."

"I insist," you said with a jokingly strict tone.

Tummy smiled, took the pillow and nodded. "Thank you, Miss. Tummy is very grateful."

"Good night, Tummy.

"Good night, Miss."

The following day went by quicker than you had wanted it to. Father, Tom and Elsie went outside in the late morning to give Elsie her long-awaited flying lessons. They were a great team, against all expectations. You watched them from the kitchen window and noticed how Father held himself back from helping. He kept a careful eye on the two when Tom showed Elsie how to mount the broom correctly.

Elsie listened intently to everything Tom told her, tried to follow each step precisely and could properly hold herself in the air after a while. Father and Tom seemed incredibly proud, not only of themselves but of your little sister.

You could have watched them for hours, but Mother had called you to the reading room, to go to Diagon Alley via the Floo Network. You had asked her to take her with you since you wanted to get some new quills for school and a proper Christmas present for Tom.

Thankfully Diagon Alley wasn't too busy, yet it took you a while to find an appropriate gift. You hadn't even known where to start looking, but when you finally saw it in the shop window, you knew it was perfect.

Back home, Elsie, Father and Tom were just walking back inside, their cheeks and noses all plump from the hours they had spent out in the cold. Elsie jumped through the living room excitedly and told Mother and you how high up she was able to fly now. She had even attempted to do some advanced twists but almost had taken a fall.

Father patted Tom on the shoulder and thanked him for his time, which made Tom's ears turn almost as pink as his cheeks and nose.

After congratulating your sister on her achievement, you turned to Tom and said: "Would you follow me? There's something I want to show you."

You took him to the reading room, where the parcel you got him stood under the desk.

"Long day, huh?" you asked when you closed the door behind you.

He nodded. "Long but successful. Your sister is a quick learner. She could make it on the Quidditch team one day."

"Thank you for teaching her," you said. "We all appreciate it."

"It's my pleasure."

Now that you were with him, you didn't know where to start. Should you tell him about lying in bed with the book in your hand, thinking of him? That you almost would have knocked on his door in the middle of the night, if Tummy had not been there? That could sound terribly invasive. What if he wouldn't have wanted you to come? Now that you thought about it, you were glad that Tummy had spoiled your plan. Nighttime certainly made you too reckless.

"I hope you slept well," you mumbled mindlessly. Merlin, why would you say that?

"I um..." Tom looked at you surprisedly. "Yes, I did."

"Good."

"If it wasn't for the elf in the hallway, it would have been even better," Tom added nonchalantly.

How would he also know about Tummy? Did he leave his room too?

You scanned him questioningly and Tom smirked.

"Father is overprotective," you answered.

"Shame, isn't it?"

"Certainly."

You looked at each other, both with mischievous smiles on your faces. It would not have been awkward at all if you had gone over to his room last night. Tummy be damned.

"I thought of your present a lot," you went on, changing the subject. "And I decided I had to get you something as well."

"Not necessary. Your family let me stay the night, that's more than en-"

"Stop it," you snapped playfully and went to get the parcel from under the table. "There's not a lot of things I thought suited Tom Riddle. But this does, I believe."

He took the box with both hands, as it was quite big, placed it onto the desk and pulled off the top.

"Oh," he breathed when he looked inside.

"Her name is Nagini. She's not fully grown yet."

Tom took a dark green, medium-sized snake out of the box and let it curl around his arm.

"Did you know?" he asked.

"Know what?"

"That I'm a Parselmouth."

"Yes," you nodded. "People in Hogwarts were talking about it years ago and then I thought of your house and your relation to Salazar Slytherin. It made sense."

"Thank you," he said genuinely, looking into your eyes before he watched Nagini gliding from one arm to the other. "Stretch out your arm for me."

You did and let your fingers touch his. Both of you now stood there with one arm pointing towards each other. The snake slithered around Tom's arm, quickly making its way towards his outstretched fingers and over to yours. It hissed quietly while wandering up to your shoulder.

"She likes you," Tom said softly. "A lot."