"Dorea!" Kaylee ran over to hug her friend. Break had ended and the students were returning today. She had been watching for the carriages so she could greet her friend.

"Kaylee! How was your break? You didn't lock yourself in the library too much did you?" Dorea gave her a mock glare.

"Of course not," Kaylee grinned, "only a couple hours of day. I even went to Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade a couple of times. I also spent some time training this little guy." She motioned to her feet where Shadow was practically shaking with the need to greet the new person. Kaylee had been working hard to curb his enthusiasm over the last week.

"You got a familiar?!" Dorea bent down to pet the wolf, "What is he? Is he even allowed at school?"

Shadow bounded forward at Kaylee's nod to give kisses to Dorea's face. The girl laughed while trying to pet the dog and hold him away from licking her all over.

"I had to get permission from Professor Dumbledore but since this little guy has some magical heritage, he said it would be ok. His name is Shadow by the way." She called the little wolf back to her side and the two girls headed into the castle.

"He's adorable but he isn't the biggest thing that happened over break."

Kaylee looked over to see a mischievous grin on her friend's face.

"Oh? Did something happen to you?"

Rather than speaking, Dorea held out her hand to show off her new ring.

"Charlus proposed?! Om my God Dorea! I didn't know you guys were getting so serious!" She was happy for her friends; it was just hard to remember that marriage happened much quicker in the wizarding world than the muggle. Although, she supposed, in this era, marriage generally happened around this time in both worlds.

"Well, we've been spending quite a bit of time together and I determined quite a ways back that he would suit me much better than any suitor my parents would find." Dorea grimaced. "The candidates they had in mind were horrid, there was no way I was going to be stuck with some cousin or something. Charlus invited me over for Christmas dinner and proposed that night, so I accepted." Her friend smiled wistfully, "He was completely awkward about it, fell over trying to get down on his knee and stuttered through the whole thing." She sighed wistfully, "It was perfect."

Kaylee giggled, picturing the scene in her head. That sounded exactly like Charlus.

"Are your parents ok with the match?" She knew the Blacks were pretty…strict about marriages and blood purity. Charlus was a pureblood but the Potters were generally lax about the subject compared to other families.

Dorea sniffed. "I told my parents I accepted and they could either wish us congratulations or burn me off the tapestry. I could care less about maintaining the Black legacy, I would much rather be happy than sold to the highest bidder just to maintain purity. They graciously decided that he would do since he was at least a pureblood and my brother Orion had already made a…more than acceptable match to that horrible woman Walburga."

Kaylee wrinkled her nose. She had heard about Walburga Black, none of it good. She had never been to the Black home but she had heard a few stories from Hermione during their study sessions together. She was glad her friend had stood up for herself to ensure she had a better life.

"Well I am thrilled for you two! Where is the lucky man? I want to congratulate him on making the best decision of his life."

Dorea smiled and bumped her shoulder as they sat down in the Great Hall. Dorea had taken to eating with Kaylee at the Ravenclaw table, declaring the company was much better than at her old table.

"I always knew you were a smart one." She smirked at Kaylee. "I told Charlus to ride with his buddies so I wouldn't have to endure the rowdiness all the way up to the castle."

Kaylee laughed, "they are a little rambunctious at times, aren't they?"

A few minutes later, Kaylee spotted Charlus and his group of friends walk in through the doors. She waved and gave him a thumbs up. He smiled broadly at her and made his way over.

"I see you snatched the best girl in school up before anyone else could." She smiled at Charlus as he sat down across from them.

"Had to, couldn't have another bloke moving in on my girl." He gave Dorea a broad grin, "You ladies been swooning over my smooth moves during the proposal? I assume she told you how utterly romantic I was."

Kaylee tried but failed to hide her laughing grin, "I heard something about almost doing a face plant…"

Charlus glared at his fiancée. "We agreed to not speak of that." He put on a serious expression and looked at Kaylee. "My proposal was flawless. I swept the fair lady off her feet with my romance and poetry."

Kaylee waited, watching him closely. Charlus began to squirm, and then he broke.

"Damn it! I can't keep a straight face when you look at me like that!" He banged his head on the table. "Alright, it was a complete disaster. I tripped over my loose shoelace on my way down and then promptly forgot everything I had memorized with my Dad."

Kaylee laughed, "Well, she said yes so it couldn't have been that bad."

Dorea giggled, "It was terrible, I couldn't understand a word he said until he got to the part about actually asking me to marry him." She reached across the table to take his hand. "Of course, none of it mattered because it was you asking me."

Charlus looked up with a smile. "Yeah?" When Dorea nodded, he perked up even more. "Well of course! I'm a catch!" He looked at the two girls intently, "But this story ends here. I already told my boys my great love story and won't have you birds making me a laughingstock."

Kaylee and Dorea both laughed but agreed.

Entering into the new year, the seventh years were confronted with the realization that NEWTs were right around the corner and then graduation. Homework loads and dire warnings from professors to study became commonplace during the weeks of January and February. Kaylee found herself in the library more often than not to keep up on the increased workload. Dorea and Tom shared her table constantly attending their own studies. Charlus would join sporadically, he still maintained a Quidditch practice schedule and wouldn't come to the table if Tom was there.

Kaylee had given up trying to get the boys to interact cordially. She had a feeling the rivalry would continue to Charlus' grandson regardless of what she did to change things. The future barely entered her thoughts during the spring months however; her NEWTs took preference over everything else. Tom was also focused on his studies as well as preparing his knights for their futures after Hogwarts. Between the two, she rarely saw him outside the library. Although he maintained his small physical affections in public to ensure she wouldn't receive attention from any other possible suitors. She rolled her eyes at the thought. Men.

In fact, Tom had been given much thought to the future and Kaylee's place in it. Of course, he had not let her in on his plans yet. Tom was not concerned about his NEWTs, he had been above his peers for years now and had no doubt he would do well. His focus lay primarily with placing his knights in key places in the wizarding world. Their inside knowledge of the Ministry and various departments would be essential in his quest for power. Several of his followers including Malfoy and Nott would be shadowing their fathers to prepare for their eventual placements in the Wizamgot. These hereditary positions would provide Tom with internal leverage in future legislation. The other boys would be scattered among Ministry departments like the Unspeakables, Aurors, and other essential places where information could be used.

Tom had spent a good portion of Christmas break researching the bond he had chosen to tie Kaylee to himself. Astronomy became a particular interest to him when he saw the correlation between certain astronomical events and the strength of a bond. The rarer the event, the stronger the bond. After researching extensively on when and what event would be occurring, he found what he had been looking for. One of the rarest forms, a Total Solar Eclipse, would be occurring on March 29 of this year. Given this event occurs once every 140 years or so, it would create a bond of astronomical strength between the two. The ritual was fairly simple to perform but the bond created had not been made for hundreds of years due to its…particular end result.

"You are still performing the end flourish incorrectly." Tom was watching her from the side of the room where Kaylee was practicing a new curse he had found that morning.

She huffed in frustration. They had already been dueling for 45 minutes before he began teaching her the spell and she could feel exhaustion setting in. After her late night study session, her mind was sluggish and the duel had been a nightmare.

"I…I think I'm too tired to do this right now. I can't concentrate well enough to learn something new." Despite her words, she raised her wand to try again. She hated quitting and giving up right now would be just that.

"Stop." Tom strolled up behind her and placed his hand over hers holding her wand. "Close your eyes," he whispered in her ear. After she complied, he guided their hands through the complicated movement. "Your frustration is hindering you. Allow your magic to guide you."

He had always been more comfortable about that than she. Although she had not put her constraints back, she struggled with utilizing her magic in the same way he did.

"I think I have it now." He stepped away from her and she squared her shoulder. Her wand moved as she said forcefully, "excaecatio!"

"Good." Tom turned her around by her shoulders. His eyes studied hers for a long moment. "You are working too hard. You will do fine on your NEWTs but you will not without proper rest."

"I will rest once my NEWTs are done. There is still too much to do right now." She started to turn away so she could gather her bag, already thinking what books she would be needing for her next assignment.

He didn't let her go but forced her closer to him and raised her gaze to his with a finger under her chin.

"I have plans for you little messenger and they do not include you fainting from exhaustion. Do not make me force you to take rest; you will not like my methods."

She stiffened, her mind racing with what "methods" he meant. Gathering her courage, she glared at him.

"My studies are important, you cannot dictate my study schedule. If I feel I need to study, that is my business."

Rather than arguing he yanked her to his chest and initiated a forceful kiss. Without waiting for permission, his tongue forced its way into her mouth and dueled with her own. Kaylee whimpered at the sheer heat of the act and gripped his shoulders for support. Closing her eyes, she gave into the utterly decadent feeling of Tom's embrace.

So lost in the kiss, Kaylee failed to notice Tom's wand pointed at her temple.

He caught her as she slumped against him. A necessary sleeping spell would ensure she slept until tomorrow morning. Apparating back to her room, he laid her on the bed and left. Tom fully expected an earful tomorrow regarding his actions but at least she wouldn't be dropping of exhaustion while she did it.

Tom was highly amused when Kaylee kept a close eye on him for the next several weeks. He dipped into her mind to see her thoughts centered on if he would put her to sleep again. Each time this happened, he would raise an eyebrow at her in question and she would blush and resume her work. She never failed to get a full night's sleep again however which amused Tom all the more.

Kaylee felt a hand on her shoulder, trying to shake her awake.

"Five more minutes Luna," she mumbled sleepily as she burrowed back into her pillow.

"Wake up Kaylee, I want to show you something." Kaylee's eyes fluttered open at Tom's voice next to her ear.

"Tom?" she asked quietly, "What are you doing here?"

He didn't answer but handed her the heaviest cloak she owned. "Put this on, it will be cold where we are going." His face was expressionless, not giving her any clues about what he was up to.

Knowing if she dawdled, he would merely apparate her away cloaked or not, she hastily pulled the cloak around her shoulders and slid her fuzzy boots on that Dorea had given her for Christmas.

As soon as the second shoe slipped on, Tom pulled her into his chest and apparated them away.

They appeared in a small meadow with snowcapped mountains towering around them. There was still some snow under the surrounding pine trees but Kaylee couldn't make out much beyond the first ring. She looked to Tom who was setting down a few items by a large boulder in the clearing.

"What did you want to show me?" She was getting a little nervous about his lack of dialogue and didn't see anything of note in the clearing that would prompt their visit.

He walked back to her slowly, "Did you know tonight a rare astronomical event is occurring? Look up."

She tilted her head to the sky and gasped. The sky looked even bigger up in the mountains, millions of stars dotted the black as far as the eye could see. And hanging right above them, the moon shown bright red. It was giant; larger than she had ever seen it before.

"What…what is it?" she asked, still observing the moon in awe.

"It is called a Total Lunar Eclipse. Quite a powerful event in our world." His tone sent shivers down her spine as she brought her gaze back to his face.

"In what way?" she asked, her voice shaky and barely above a whisper. Kaylee sensed something deeper was going to happen tonight than merely observing the moon's altered appearance.

He stepped closer to her, only a foot remained between them. His eyes were intent on her own, a heat in his gaze she had only seen a few times before. Mainly when some plan of his was about to come into fruition.

"Rituals performed under such an event gain an extra dimension of power…bondings are a good example of such a ritual." His gaze held a wealth of meaning.

A conversation months before came back to her. She had inquired about the small silver book he had purchased, asking if it had provided him the insight he sought. He had smirked at her and told her its contents had…intrigued him. He had asked her thoughts on ancient bondings and she hadn't known much about them at that point. She had done research after their conversation of course and determined they weren't in practice anymore due to most people's preferences for a more simple way to connect with one another. The bondings he had spoken of were powerful to be sure, but the requirements to attempt one…

"Why did you bring me here Tom?" she asked in a quiet voice. She sincerely hoped she was wrong in her conclusion.

"My little messenger," he tilted her head up to his and pressed a light kiss to her lips, "I think you know exactly why we are here."

Her heart stuttered at his words. He wanted to…Bond with her?! Was he insane? She wasn't going to bond herself to Lord Voldemort! The idea of it…she shuddered.

"Why would you want something like that?" she cried, trying to escape his grasp.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her closer despite her struggles. His arm felt like a steel band, trapping her in this nightmare.

"I have already told you that you were mine little one, this will merely cement our relationship. I had already begun contemplating on how to tie you to me permanently when I happened upon the book. It was an elegant solution. I will seal you to me in the most permanent way possible as well as gain the power of your magic for myself. In return, you will be guaranteed a place by my side during my rise to power."

"And I'm supposed to just accept that?! You want to bind me to you so you can draw on my magic and use me as some…some crystal ball for the future?!" She was beyond furious. He had played her from the very beginning; he had planned this for months!

His magic flared with his anger and battered against her own.

"Our magics call to one another, I know you can sense it. This was meant to be, my future self knew this. This is why you were chosen Kaylee; you have been mine from the beginning."

She whimpered as his magic swept hers in a tidal wave that broke through the clearing; a strong wind shook the trees nearest them.

"Am I to just lose myself in you? Will there be nothing left of me once you have what you seek? Once you solidify your rule, what will you do with me then? I will not let you wither me away until I am just a shell of who I am today."

His magic drew back from its onslaught at her words. His hand gentled on her chin and slid to the back of her neck to tangle in her brown hair.

His tone gentled at his next words but were no less forceful.

"You know that the bonding I seek requires sacrifices to be made from both parties. I would not tie myself to someone who could not hold her own against me. Our magics compatibility was only the first clue; you yourself convinced me this was the right course when you argued with me about the future. Your words and passion showed me that you would be worthy of being my partner."

She stilled at his words. Kaylee knew a bonding required both parties to enter willingly and sacrifice something to the other. Her conflict must have shown in her face because Tom's magic began to flow through her again but at a gentler pace. Despite her mind's indecision, her magic rose up to meet his in welcome.

Thad's advice came back to her at that moment. She had thought about the animal caretaker often and their conversation. He and Tom had told her repeatedly that she needed to trust her magic more. Was she limiting herself because of her fear? She hated the idea of being a coward and limiting her potential because of it. At Tom's side, she could do so much for the world. Was the opportunity worth the risk thought? She knew Tom didn't love her; the entire thought behind the bonding was to gain access to her magic and knowledge of the future. Could she enter into a bonding, so much more binding than even marriage, with someone who would probably never love her?

She looked up at him. His dark brown eyes were watching her closely but he was giving her time to think about his…proposal. More like a command, she thought irritably. She would be spending most of her life deciding which commands of his to either follow or refute which sounded tiring but also a little exciting. Her life would never be boring that was for sure. Her magic surged from her as she realized she had made her choice. God help her.

"I accept."