Chapter Seven - Poison

After Christmas break the weeks flew by. The teachers didn't tire of reminding them of their upcoming N.E.W.T. exams. Tom and Cassiopeia studied dutifully. While it was obvious that Tom had already mastered all of the content of the curriculum, Cassiopeia was surprised at the patience with which he kept revising with her. Honestly, Tom was surprised as well, but he found it strangely relaxing. He knew that they were both excellently prepared for the exams, but he enjoyed the intense concentration with which Cassiopeia kept studying.

All too soon it was May. While they were sitting in their exams, Dumbledore finally went out of his way to fight Grindelwald in a spectacular duel and defeated Grindelwald at last. Dumbledore came out of it as the shining hero of the wizarding world, and Tom's hatred of the man increased even further.

Time didn't slow down and, finally, the graduation ceremony was the last big event of the year. Before they were handed their diplomas, Dippet addressed the students, congratulating them on their graduation and wishing them all the best for their future. When Dippet had finished, Tom gave his graduation speech as Head Boy. Cassiopeia realized that it was probably one of the last great performances of the perfect model-student that he was going to give. And as always he truly excelled. Cassiopeia smiled. He spoke as eloquently as always and with his way of talking he effortlessly made people believe him. When Tom returned to the Slytherin table, his Slytherin gang cheered and the rest of Hogwarts' population applauded. Tom slid smoothly into his seat, his gaze slowly moving over the Ravenclaw table. When Tom's and Cassiopeia's eyes met, a grin crossed his face, and she knew that he relished the fact that for seven long years he had successfully fooled everyone at this school, with only a few exceptions.

When Cassiopeia returned to their common room after dinner, she felt strangely empty. Hogwarts had been her home for seven years, and she had always loved it. She couldn't quite picture a life without Hogwarts and, moreover, she didn't really want to. Leaving Hogwarts the next day meant leaving behind everything she had grown used to for so many years. Leaving Hogwarts meant leaving Tom. Cassiopeia was sitting on the windowsill when Tom entered the room, closing the door behind him. He watched her for a moment before he walked over to the window and stood beside her.

"So, that's it," Cassiopeia said, breaking the silence. "We're finally done." Her voice was wistful.

"On the contrary, this is only the beginning. The world is waiting for us."

"I know." Cassiopeia raised her eyebrows. "You kept dwelling on that in your speech." Cassiopeia turned towards Tom. "But I'm sure you are going to miss Hogwarts as well."

Tom didn't respond. He knew she was right. Actually, he didn't want to leave Hogwarts either. He had asked Headmaster Dippet to let him stay as the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher since Professor Merrythought had retired but Dippet had refused. Tom was sure that Dumbledore had interfered again, opting against letting Tom stay. Tom had successfully fought his anger and had decided to go to Albania instead. He wanted to search for Ravenclaw's long lost diadem. He had charmed the Grey Lady into telling him the diadem's whereabouts some time ago, and he had been eager to retrieve it ever since. Tom had pondered if he should ask Cassiopeia to accompany him, but he still hadn't made a decision. Tom didn't give a damn what people thought, but he knew it wasn't regarded as decent if a young lady was with a man without being engaged. However, engagement was no option for him, and he was certain that Cassiopeia knew that. Tom was quite confident that she wouldn't care, but that didn't mean that her father wouldn't care as well. Tom wanted Cassiopeia to go to Albania with him, but he certainly wasn't going to ask. Tom pursed his lips and stared out of the window. Finally, he said, "Hogwarts was my home but there's so much out there, so many ways of magic that haven't been taught here. I want to find them. I want to push magic as far as I can." He paused. "I intend to push it further than anyone before." He paused again. After a moment he added, "I'll go to Albania."

Cassiopeia looked at Tom. There was a sinister gleam shining in his eyes, contrasting sharply with his handsome features, making him look so beautiful and dangerous. She felt herself getting swept away by his power again. His darkness had lost nothing of its appeal. Cassiopeia swallowed. She didn't want this to be the end. She wanted to stay with him; she wanted nothing more than to be part of his quest to conquer the endless power that magic was able to offer.

Suddenly Tom turned to look at her, his eyes catching hers. For a moment they stood there, looking in each other's eyes. The unspoken question was heavily hanging in the air. Tom knew that he would never ever ask, but he truly wanted her to reply. Cassiopeia grew aware that she still hoped against hope that he would ask although she knew that he never would. She pondered her options. Finally she whispered, "Albania is far. They won't care, will they?"

The corner of Tom's mouth twitched slightly when he answered, "They won't."

When they finally arrived in Albania, they felt truly free. Cassiopeia had convinced her father to let her go. Tom had thought her foolish for telling the truth, or at least part of it, but Cassiopeia didn't want to lie to her father. She had raved about the things she would be able to learn there and with that she had won her father over. She had known he would never deny her the possibility to broaden her knowledge and experience. Tom had told her that he wanted to search for Ravenclaw's diadem first. They travelled to the forest in which it was supposed to be hidden, but the forest was big, and they were aware that it would take quite some time to track down the diadem. They had already been walking through the dark forest in silence for hours. Cassiopeia was following Tom closely, her hand clutching her wand tightly. "How on earth did you get the Grey Lady to tell you where she hid it?"

Tom smirked. "I thought you know that I can be very persuasive."

"I wasn't aware that worked in regard to ghosts."

"Well, it did." Tom strode ahead, moving almost noiselessly, keeping his wand ready.

Suddenly they heard some branches break in the vicinity. Tom abruptly stopped, his eyes narrowing slightly. Cassiopeia held her breath. There surely were various creatures living in this forest that she preferred not to stumble upon. She felt her heart beating rapidly. She glanced at Tom. He didn't seem to be fazed at all. His eyes were scanning their surroundings thoroughly, and they were shining with excited anticipation. Cassiopeia exhaled quietly. She felt safe in his company. She noticed the irony that was implied in this feeling, but she couldn't help the ghost of a smile flicker across her face. Tom quickly pulled her behind the massive trunk of a tree, hiding behind it as well. From their hiding place he watched two dark figures approach slowly. He narrowed his eyes and a slight look of disappointment crossed his features when he realized that those were only wizards. He stepped out from behind the tree. The two men were startled when they saw him. Then they regained their composure, realizing that he was still a teen.

"Now, what are you doing out here, boy? This is a dangerous place to be," one of the wizards sniggered.

The other nodded. "You could meet some evil villains out here," he added maliciously.

Tom looked at them, his gaze cold and steady, the familiar contempt shining in his eyes.

The first wizard moved a little closer. "And I see you brought your girlfriend. Not the best day for you, lass, I'd say." He looked at Cassiopeia greedily. Tom felt her tense behind him. He shot the man a disdainful glance. When the wizard made to approach, Cassiopeia felt Tom's magic surging through him, but the two wizards seemed to be completely unaware of the danger. The two men exchanged vicious looks and came closer.

"Stop moving." Tom's voice was cold and sharp, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

The two wizards laughed spitefully. "Who do you think you are, boy?"

Cold fury washed over Tom. In an instant he had brandished his wand at the two wizards. Cassiopeia felt a wave of powerful dark magic pass her. The curses hit the two men straight in the chest before they even had the chance to see them coming. They silently crumpled to the ground, their greedy eyes having turned into an empty, lifeless stare.

"Pathetic fools," Tom hissed contemptuously. "So easily deceived by looks." He eyed the bodies of the two wizards with a bored expression, holding his wand lazily in his hand.

Cassiopeia glanced at him. He had killed the two men without batting an eyelid. There was no guilt in his eyes, no regret, nothing but coldness. Cassiopeia knew she should be appalled but she wasn't. Instinctively she moved closer to Tom, inevitably lured to him by the unlimited power he was radiating. Tom sensed her standing only inches away from him. He frowned. It was strangely reassuring. He wondered if he would ever get used to that.

The next weeks passed rather uneventfully, but finally they came across the diadem. When Tom held it in his hands, his eyes shone with satisfaction. He carefully pocketed the priceless heirloom. Suddenly there were a lot of noises around them. Tom and Cassiopeia quickly exchanged looks and pulled their wands. Tom cast a shield charm around them. Then they saw several creatures emerge from the woods. Tom squinted. He instantly knew that those weren't wizards. It surely was some kind of magical protection for the diadem because they didn't even look like living beings. His mind was racing, trying to figure out a way to fight them. The creatures were circling them and slowly approaching. Tom and Cassiopeia stood back-to-back facing the nameless invaders. And then the creatures started attacking. Relentlessly, curses rained down on Tom and Cassiopeia, but they determinedly fought back. Cassiopeia kept casting shield charms while Tom sent waves of offensive dark magic towards their attackers. Cassiopeia watched some of the creatures fall only to reveal more of them coming from behind, their onslaught losing nothing of its intensity. She slowly started to panic. They were heavily outnumbered. She tried hard to focus on the protective charms she was casting, her heart racing. Tom could sense her fear. He took a deep breath and intensified his attacks, casting his curses even faster, battling all of them at once. Finally, he gained the upper hand. His wrath made his magic grow even stronger, and with a final flick of his wand a wave of blinding fire blasted the remaining creatures away at last.

Cassiopeia sank to her knees, her body trembling and her hands shaking. Tom turned to look at her. His face was as emotionless as ever, but he slowly knelt down beside her, hesitantly taking her in his arms, trying to stop her trembling. He felt Cassiopeia relax under his touch. When she finally raised her head and looked into his eyes, her lips finding his and pulling him close, he willingly gave in to it. He knew it was one of those rare moments when they could completely let go, forgetting the world around them for a little while and only living for the moment.

A few days later Cassiopeia received a letter from her brother asking her to come home because their father was seriously ill. When she left Tom and the diadem behind she clung to the hope that he wasn't going to do what she expected. Her father died shortly after her return, leaving Houlton Manor to his children, Cepheus and Cassiopeia. Cepheus was busy working for the ministry and came to the Manor only occasionally. That left Cassiopeia all on her own. As time went by she started to wonder if she was ever going to see Tom again, if he was ever going to come back. She had heard nothing from him since the day when she had left Albania.

Tom had finally turned the diadem into his third Horcrux. To his dismay, the procedure had lost nothing of its horror, being as painful and humiliating as ever. Sometime after he had returned to England he apparated to Houlton Manor. When his gaze fell on the property he remembered the summers he had spent there. He was ripped from his memories when he saw Cassiopeia open the front door. Obviously, she intended to leave. Quickly, he stepped out of the shadows and approached the house. When she saw him, a smile flickered across her face. She waited until he was next to her. "Do you want to come in?"

Tom simply nodded and they entered the house. "Are you alone?" Now Cassiopeia nodded.

"I want to show you something." Tom held out his arm for her to take. The moment she touched his arm, she was pulled into the spinning darkness of side-along apparition. Quickly, she tightened her grip, trying to stay by his side. When they reappeared, she found herself in a place that looked very similar to the hall of the Chamber of Secrets. Obviously, Tom had put various charms on the place to resemble his ancestor's Chamber.

"Where are we?" Cassiopeia let go of Tom's arm and examined her surroundings. There were no windows and the dim light reminded her of the dungeons at Hogwarts.

"That doesn't matter," Tom answered. "Now that you've been here, you will be able to apparate again."

Cassiopeia raised an eyebrow. "Surely, you put strong wards on this place that prevent Apparition."

Tom smirked. "Quite right. However, you'll be able to enter once I'm finished." He took his wand and grabbed her hand. Without waiting for her to reply, he slashed his wand across her palm, cutting it open. Cassiopeia stared at her hand. Blood was leaving the cut. "I only need some of your blood and then this place will let you return." After a moment he added, "Don't misuse this. Otherwise things might get somewhat – uncomfortable, shall we say?"

Cassiopeia slowly nodded, still staring at her blood dripping on the floor under the pressure that Tom was applying to her hand. Tom waved his wand and muttered various complicated incantations. The blood that had been pooling on the floor vanished. Finally, he released her hand and with another wave of his wand the cut healed.

"So this is what you did the past months," Cassiopeia stated.

"Why don't we take some time to catch up on everything? Don't friends do that?"

Cassiopeia sneered. "Maybe friends do that. We wouldn't know, would we?"

Tom smirked. "Come on, you always knew how I am. Stop chasing shadows at last!"

He motioned her to follow him to the fireplace where they sat down on the sofa facing the flames. They stared into the fire, and for a long time neither of them said a word. Cassiopeia closed her eyes, biting back tears. It felt like Tom had never been away. They were back at Hogwarts, in the Heads' common room, the one place where everything had been easy and nothing impossible. She wished time would stop and they were never to move again. Tom's magic was crackling around him, subtly touching her own magic, comforting her in a way she had missed for so long. Cassiopeia deliberately chose to ignore the subliminal violence his magic was exhibiting.

After a while Tom cleared his throat. "There's a spell I want to try." Tom twirled his wand in his fingers.

"What does it do?"

"It creates a brand that enables communication. When you touch the mark with your wand, I will know." He looked at her expectantly.

Cassiopeia eyed him warily. "What do you need?"

"Your left arm."

Cassiopeia slowly rolled up the sleeve of her left arm. Tom reached out and grabbed her wrist. He slowly traced her inner forearm with his long pale fingers. He noticed how warm she was compared to his cold fingers. Then he pointed his wand at her skin and brandished it, whispering the incantation. The wood of his wand traced the skin of her arm leaving behind the fiery outline of a skull with a winding serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. Tom watched with fascination as the mark burned into her skin, leaving a faint red brand, looking beautiful against her skin. A small smile spread across his face. He hadn't told her the full story. The mark did not only enable communication; it was also going to alert him whenever her life was in danger. Finally, she was irrevocably his.

"Try it," he commanded.

Slowly, she took her wand out of her pocket and carefully pointed it at the mark. The moment her wand touched the brand, the outline grew jet black. Tom felt a burning sensation. "It works." He sounded satisfied.

Cassiopeia removed her wand and the mark slowly turned back to its original colour. She stared at the familiar outline, remembering the night of Tom's eighteenth birthday out in the Scottish Highlands, and the faintest trace of a smile crossed her face. He seemed to remember as well because suddenly he was close to her again and the world faded around them.

When Cassiopeia had returned to Houlton Manor, Tom sat in his armchair contemplating. Before she had left, he had shown her Ravenclaw's diadem. She hadn't said anything but something had been wrong. He just didn't know what it was. Reading between the lines wasn't Tom's specialty. After all, usually that wasn't necessary for someone as skilled in Legilimency as him; but using Legilimency hadn't been an option. Cassiopeia had probably extended her Occlumency skills just as he had extended his Legilimency skills. That meant he would have had to fight her down. For some odd reason, he neither wanted that nor did he want to break the promise he had made to her during the summer holidays so long ago. Normally, promises didn't mean anything to him, and he wouldn't shy away from the prospect of breaking one, but again, Cassiopeia was different. Tom knew that she was the only one he had ever met who knew about him and his true personality and still stood by him of their own free will, the only one who had ever truly cared for him. He knew that if the concept of friendship wasn't alien to him and he was to ever consider anyone his friend then Cassiopeia actually would be that, a friend that accepted him the way he was with all his darker and darkest sides, a friend that dared to look him in the eyes even though she knew what he was capable of. She had always been ready to accept and help without questioning his motives or actions. She was special.

Surprisingly for everyone who knew him, Tom turned down several job offers from the Ministry and started working for Borgin and Burkes. With his pleasant demeanour he was very good at persuading people to part with their wizardly artefacts, making him quite successful in his job. Cassiopeia soon learned that Tom was able to signal her through the Dark Mark. The brand would turn to its jet black colour and burn like fire. Cassiopeia would apparate to Tom's lair, as she referred to it for lack of a better word. They would sit there and read or study, much like it had always been at Hogwarts. Tom would experiment with magic, and they would work together on his inventions, always trying to refine them even further. To Cassiopeia, life was good. She was exactly where she had always wanted to be. The years went by, and Cassiopeia wished that nothing would ever change. However, working at Borgin and Burkes surely wasn't where Tom wanted to spend the rest of his life. Having gained immortality through his Horcruxes she was aware that time didn't matter to him the way it mattered to others. Nevertheless, she knew there was going to come the day when things would change. With every year that passed Cassiopeia felt the end of her peaceful time with Tom drawing nearer.

Then one morning, Cassiopeia read about the death of Hepzibah Smith in the Daily Prophet. Hepzibah's poor house-elf seemed to have mistaken some highly lethal poison for sugar and accidentally killed her mistress. Cassiopeia's heart dropped. Tom had once told her that Hepzibah possessed a cup that used to belong to Helga Hufflepuff and a locket that was Slytherin's. Cassiopeia had seen the greed in his eyes when he had mentioned these priceless heirlooms. Rereading the article she had trouble picturing the loyal house-elf making such a grave mistake. Instead she saw someone entirely else poisoning the cocoa and taking the valuable belongings. Cassiopeia desperately hoped she was wrong. She impatiently waited for the mark to burn again but the days went by and it remained mockingly inactive. When Cassiopeia couldn't bear it any longer, she decided to pay a visit to Borgin and Burkes. However, Mr. Burke could only tell her that Mr. Riddle hadn't shown up for over a week. Cassiopeia returned home and stared at the brand covering her left forearm for over an hour. She knew that if Tom had wanted to talk to her, he would have signalled her by now. Therefore, she didn't expect him to show up if she used the mark to summon him. With a last glance at the mark she made up her mind and apparated to Tom's lair. There was no one there, but a folded parchment lay on the table. Cassiopeia examined it. It was empty. Cassiopeia eyed the parchment for a moment. Remembering the way Tom had granted her access to his lair, she pulled her wand and pointed it at her left hand. Then she cut her hand with her wand and let her blood drop on the paper. The blood was instantly soaked into it. Instead, words appeared. The message was short. "I got them. I need to do this alone. Don't search for me." Upon reading, the writing disappeared.

Cassiopeia stared at the now empty page. She felt her heart shatter, leaving behind a coldness that was taking her breath away. She desperately tried to fight back the tears. Then she cast a last look around the room and turned on the spot, disapparating from the place she had felt at home at for the last decade.

Back at Houlton Manor, Cassiopeia was still feeling cold and empty. She lit the fire and sat close to it but it didn't help. The coldness inside of her didn't subside. Tom had taken the cup and the locket. He would make them his Horcruxes; probably, he already had. The shattered piece of soul that remained inside his body decreased with every Horcrux, and the consequences grew more significant with every split. Already the creation of the third Horcrux had changed his magic in a dangerous way, turning it even more violent and insane. Naturally, Tom had been as powerful as ever but his magic had been cruelly lashing out until Cassiopeia had finally had to admit that it was a lethal poison that was burning deep inside her veins. It condemned her as much as it fuelled her. Two more Horcruxes would turn his magic even more merciless and poisonous; just like him. And still she longed for his presence, even though she knew that it would ruin her.

Cassiopeia wiped a tear from her eye. It was obvious that Tom had not only torn his soul. He had consistently destroyed what little humanity had ever been inside of him. With every Horcrux he had made, he had become less human. He hadn't had feelings in the first place, and with all the damage he had done to himself Cassiopeia was convinced there was no chance that he would ever even come close to understanding their significance. She had loved him so much, and still she hadn't been able to prevent this disaster from occurring. She knew her love was going to destroy her. With a bitter smirk she noted the irony that, after all, she was going to prove him right in the end, that love was a weakness.

Cassiopeia was standing on the platform of the tower of Houlton Manor. It was New Year's Eve again. The night was cold and clear. Cassiopeia relished the quiet peacefulness. So much time had passed. Tom had never returned. Cassiopeia had lost track of the days, months, years since she had last seen him. Her gaze fell on the Houlton's family coat of arms engraved on the stone wall. The words above the crest were lit by the pale moonlight. Semper fidelis. The ghost of a sneer flickered across her face. Always faithful. At least she had always lived up to it, she thought bitterly.

She desperately missed Tom and her magic missed his. There was an emptiness inside of her that consumed all the happiness that had ever existed for her. No one could ever compensate for the void that Tom had left. With him, her magic had been complete. Without him, it lay in pieces. Even though his blinded strive for immortality had altered him and his magic, she was still addicted to it. She yearned for him and his poisonous power, and it felt like withdrawal that she couldn't be with Tom.

She still couldn't believe how Tom had deliberately destroyed everything she had loved by ripping his soul apart time after time. She had grown aware that even if Tom ever returned, things would never be the same again. His magic wasn't the same anymore; he wasn't the same anymore. After he had disappeared, she had cried until there were no more tears left, mourning the inexplicable loss she had suffered. She knew that he had damaged his soul beyond repair. She knew she had finally lost; all hope was dead, as was the person she had held so dear.

When she was standing there, the cool air around her, she felt at ease. She confidently moved closer to the rim until she was right at the edge, only one step away from the ground so far below. She took a deep breath and looked at the stars above. Suddenly the air around her changed. Instinctively, she knew she wasn't alone anymore. She turned around and saw Tom standing on the platform, a few feet away from her. She shortly wondered how he had broken through the many protective wards that made apparition impossible. However, Tom had always been inventive and if there was anyone she would think capable of breaking through impenetrable wards it was Tom. Cassiopeia didn't say anything and neither did Tom. They only stood there staring at each other. Cassiopeia found that she hardly recognized him anymore. He had changed so drastically. Finally, when the silence got heavy, Tom offered with a slightly higher-pitched voice than he used to have, "What are you doing there?" Tom stared at her with his piercing gaze before he continued as if answering some unspoken assumption, "You won't". His voice was emotionless and commanding.

There was another moment of silence. Cassiopeia slightly raised her eyebrows. "You really have the nerve, after all this time?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

Tom felt his temper flare dangerously. He tried to focus on her. "I'm not asking," he spat.

"You can't save me," Cassiopeia whispered hoarsely. "Consider it another life you have successfully taken. After all, it's not as if you cared, is it? The notorious murderer you are."

Tom's eyes turned red, and his hand tightened around his wand. He had to fight hard to keep his temper. "You have always known that I killed. It didn't matter to you back then," he hissed.

"It mattered when you finally killed the one person I cared for." Cassiopeia's voice was trembling. Tom raised his eyebrows. "It mattered when you killed yourself."

Tom laughed, and the sound of it made shivers run down Cassiopeia's spine. It sounded unearthly and insane. Cassiopeia felt like she saw him for the very first time. Then Tom stated in a humourless voice, "I am not dead. In fact, I am immortal and you know it."

Cassiopeia felt tears building up in her eyes, but she didn't mind. Somehow she just couldn't believe that after all this time he still failed to understand. "Yes, you are immortal; but the person you used to be left long ago. That was the person I cared for. That was the person I loved." Cassiopeia's voice broke, her gaze wandering over the surrounding landscape and tears now slowly leaving her eyes. "You killed him."

When Cassiopeia looked back at Tom, unlimited sadness and despair were evident in her eyes. "You think you can change anything now? You are too late. You already killed my heart over and over again, with every damn time that you split your soul. I am just as empty as you are. I don't fear you anymore, and I don't fear death. There's no more pain you can inflict on me." All the despair, all the disappointment that she had tried to suppress for so long flooded her body. She felt tired and exhausted. She looked at him, at his burning red eyes, fury raging through his entire body, his magic crackling savagely around him, only waiting to strike and destroy, and she knew that the man she had loved was gone.

The moment Tom saw the blinding green light leave his wand he felt the shattered remainder of his torn soul, buried somewhere deep inside, aching worse than ever before. Pain tore at him with an intensity he hadn't known to exist. He stared unbelieving at his wand while something strange and unfamiliar was surging inside him, inexorably spreading throughout his body. He felt this unfamiliar power fuelling him. Suddenly, he grew aware of his magic burning in his veins more vividly than ever before. He felt it crackling around him, stronger and more powerful than he had ever experienced. It made him feel truly alive. He realized he was more alert than he had been for a very long time.

When he saw Cassiopeia fall, he instantly knew she had been right. In his quest for immortality he had lost himself on the way. Splitting his soul over and over again had taken its toll on him. He found it increasingly difficult to concentrate, he could hardly ever sleep and his already short temper had even deteriorated. His originally sharp mind was often clouded; his thoughts so often seemed to escape before he could get hold of them. He knew his power had increased with time and experience but the core of his personality had slowly died, he had slowly died. Through his Horcruxes he had gained immortality, but he had paid a high price.

Tom slowly moved towards Cassiopeia's body and knelt down beside her. Her features were even and relaxed. She looked peaceful. The despair, the disappointment, the sadness had all left her face. Hesitantly, Tom reached out with his long pale fingers. When he touched her skin, the strange force that was rushing through his veins grew even more intense, and he was thrown back in memories; their duel in the prefects' common room, his Cruciatus Curse, the night when he had failed to erase her memory, the creation of his first Horcrux, the feverish kiss in the Chamber of Secrets, the night of his eighteenth birthday out in the Highlands, their trip to Albania, her despair when he had shown her Ravenclaw's diadem, the disappointment and hopelessness that had radiated from her back then. Tom slowly withdrew his hand. He stayed there kneeling beside her for a long time. Then he threw a last glance at Cassiopeia, and with a fluid movement of his wand her body vanished. Tom stood there staring at the spot where her body had been moments before. He wasn't going to leave her here. She was his, even now. He knew he had let her down, and somewhere deep inside the remains of his torn soul ached agonizingly.

His magic was still burning fiercely, ready to strike and destroy, fuelled and strengthened by this strange force that kept rushing through his body. And finally Tom understood. He knew he had made his choices long ago. There was no turning back; there was no taking back the fatal curse or repairing his soul. It was too late. But, at least, now, he understood. He would never again underestimate the power of emotion.

Author's note:

Thanks again to all who read, followed, favourited and, especially, reviewed!

I always love to read your thoughts on the story!