Sooooo... thank you Amarantine and DamonSalvatorelover!

I'm feeling so much better... :) lol

You'll find this chapter familiar... ;)

Disclaimer applied...

8

The Horcrux…

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1944

After that fateful night, as Aurelia would call it, she was rather nervous… Tom was nowhere in sight, but that wasn't new to her… She just hoped that he'd appear more often…

When she went to professor Dumbledore's office he'd tell her about Tom talking a lot about her while being there… Dumbledore thought they were spending a lot of time together, but Aurelia barely saw him during meals…

Soon classes begun again and all the students returned from their homes talking about how great the holidays were, she received letters from Septimus and Cedrella and a few pictures of Bilius, he was growing steadily…

The classes were getting harder…

Transfiguration with professor Dumbledore was easier… he was a great teacher; he was really nice and helped them when needed…

Defense against the dark arts was harder than most, professor Merrythought decided upon a written test, luckily for Aurelia since she didn't want to confront the boggart, everyone would laugh at her…

Divination was excellent for her, professor Penrose actually wanted to have a talk with her… she just hoped it was good news and not a prophecy she'd regret…

Potions with professor Slughorn was usually easy for her, she even made it into the Slug Club… with Tom… which wasn't good; since he was acting as if nothing had happened between them… since they were "friends" that'd mean they'd have more time together…

Aurelia was looking for a book one afternoon, she was fuming she wanted to speak with Tom… so maybe she was not his first kiss and honestly she didn't care, but he was her first kiss and she didn't like how things had gone from there… she felt downright used…

She walked some more looking for the book and soon found herself in the restricted section, she scanned the shelves and caught a glimpse of someone on the floor reading, she saw Tom' form there… and she swallowed thickly…

She didn't have the courage to confront him… she sighed and was about to turn when she heard him…

"Come here… sit with me…" he said not taking his eyes off the book.

"No, thanks…" she said stubbornly, she turned again to leave and he spoke again.

"Now, Aurelia…" he said looking up from his book, his eyes reflecting the megalomania syndrome…

"What if I don't?" she dared to ask and he smirked and stood gracefully from the floor.

"I've been neglecting you… I am most sorry…" he said walking to her and she took a few steps back to be on everyone else's sight, Tom narrowed his eyes…

"No hard feelings trust me…" she spat venomously. She glanced down at the opened book he had in his hands and frowned when she realized it was the same book from her dream… she looked up at him… and said… "Doing some light reading I see…" she let her eyes roam the pages.

"Researching…" he said lifting the book and was about to close it when she grabbed it and read rapidly. "Why?" he asked amusedly.

She caught a word but the book didn't explained farther…

"Hmm… you afraid of something, Tom?" she asked and saw Tom's eyes glinting with mischief.

A few memories assaulted her mind, some from her dreams and some from classes; she widened her eyes and then looked down at the book…

"You afraid of death, Tom?" she asked and Tom did a bold and quick movement, she gasped and let the book fell to her feet when he put each hand on each side of her against the shelf.

"So… it's really bothersome those bloody dreams you're having… Aurelia…" he whispered.

"Are they true?" she asked. Tom stared at her.

"You tell me, Aurelia…" he said in a daring tone.

"I don't…" she gasped. "I don't think… I don't believe you'd do the things you do in my dreams…" she admitted…

Tom frowned and stepped away from her leaning on the shelf that was in front of her, his arms crossed over his chest…

"Why not?" he asked.

"You're not like that…" she said.

"Evil? Vile? Cruel? Sadistic?" he smirked. "You call yourself my friend, Aurelia?" he tilted his head to a side. "Anyway, the main problem here is… you're being nosy…" he said walking up to her to pick the book from the floor. "…honestly, it is bothersome having you writing down things for Miss Penrose… She… she doesn't like me too much… I think Dumbledore is behind that…" he said absently and then turned to her with a kind smile… "Be careful with what you do, Aurelia…" he said and stepped up close to her, her breath hitched and he laid a kiss on her forehead. "I'll see you tonight, I hope…" he said and left the aisle.

That night she had a meeting with professor Slughorn and other classmates that belonged with her to the Slug Club… she wore a dress Cedrella sent for her… it was dark blue summer dress and really simple it reached down to her calves and she wore blue shoes as well… her hair was half tied in a simple bow Suzanne did for her and the rest falling down her back in wine red ringlets…

She got there and sighed… she didn't enjoy these kinds of things, but professor Slughorn was very eager for her to come… she raised the hand that wasn't holding her purse and knocked…

"Weasley…?" she heard a male voice a turned.

"McLaggen…" she said acknowledging him…

"Looking good aren't we?" he said coming to stand next to her. She smiled shyly.

"Thank you…" the door opened. "… You look good too…" she smiled up at him and turned to the door and gasped.

McLaggen looked to the door and saw Riddle there, standing with his eyes glued to her face, one hand holding a drink and the other the door…

"Good evening, Riddle…" McLaggen said with a nod… and stepped past him.

Aurelia went to follow behind him, but Tom let the door and grabbed her arm, she cursed…

"What now?" she whispered harshly.

"Stay close…" he lamely said, but she tugged her arm away from him and walked inside the nicely decorated place…

There was soft music playing and lots of food and drinks, lots of Slytherin's too… she talked with professor Slughorn for a while and even danced with McLaggen… it was far too good to be true… or maybe far too early to be having a good time… she went for another drink… the smile plastered on her face…

"Having a good time, Weasley?" McLaggen asked on her right, she smiled up at him, she liked him he was funny and obviously smart… but she liked the way he treated her as an equal…

"I cannot remember the last time I had this much fun…" she laughed before taking a sip of her drink.

"Come on! You're too young to be saying that!" he laughed with her.

"Well… it's true…" she turned to him with a smile and he narrowed his eyes, she frowned… did she do something wrong?

"So, Weasley… Do you have a boyfriend?" suddenly his tone was different and totally… sweet?

Aurelia stared at him with curious eyes and was about to reply when she felt a hand on her waist and a body pressing behind her, she turned to her left and saw Tom's face way too close to hers…

"She does… sorry, McLaggen…" Tom smirked and McLaggen smiled out of politeness…

"Bad luck for me…" he smiled down at Aurelia and winked walking away from them.

She saw him walking away and felt anger running through her veins, she stepped on Tom's foot and he let her go with a gasp…

"That was totally uncalled for!" he whispered trying to maintain his coolness…

"Likewise, Riddle!" she muttered angrily.

The rest of the evening she spent it avoiding him, but when people started to leave and professor Slughorn have her seated with him having a long chat about the magnificence of divination; she wanted to leave too, she was tired but then she saw Tom take a seat beside her on the table, and some other Slytherin's did the same…

She kept quiet while professor Slughorn talked to someone, but soon Tom interrupted and Slughorn was almost glad he did…

"Sir…" he said with his smirk in place. "Is it true professor Merrythought is retiring?" he asked and Aurelia turned to him confusedly…

"Tom… I couldn't tell you if I knew… could I?" he said taking a bit of dried pineapple… a gift from someone…

Aurelia was confused… Was professor Merrythought retiring? Who was to take her place?

"By the way…" he added with a smile. "…thank you for the pineapple; you're quite right it is my favorite…" Aurelia frowned but refrained from looking up at Tom… "…but how did you know?" he leaned on the table and looked at Tom curiously.

Aurelia turned to see him; he was deep in thought, but quickly replaced that expression for one of pure mischief, his smirk cynical and his eyes haunting… her frown deepened.

"Intuition…" he said nonchalantly.

Slughorn frowned a bit not knowing what to say, Aurelia did the same, her green eyes focused on Tom's… He looked at her as a little chiming was heard; he took her hand under the table and smirked…

"Gracious! Is it that time already?" Slughorn exclaimed. "Off you go boys, or professor Dippet will have us all in detention…" She snatched her hand out of his and stood rather quickly…

"Good evening professor…" she said running out of there…

She walked out the classroom, not actually waiting for Tom since she didn't want him close, she was halfway down the corridor when she stopped…

"Bloody hell… my purse…" she sighed and turned around.

She got to the door and noticed that it was opened, she was about to step in when she noticed Tom there, he was talking with professor Slughorn… she hid behind the door and waited…

Slughorn had just asked something…

"You see, I couldn't think of anyone else to go to…" Tom said with his impassive face staring directly at Slughorn's sunken eyes. "The other professors, well, they're not like you…" he said seriously. "They might… misunderstand…" he finished and Slughorn sipped at his drink.

"Go on…" said Slughorn, Aurelia wanted to snort, that old man was so proud…

"I was in the library the other night… in the restricted section…" he said while walking idly around the office… "…and … I read something rather odd about a bit of rare magic…" he said while professor stared at him wonderingly. "It's called… as I understand it… Horcrux…" he finished.

Slughorn's face seemed pale and surprised.

"I beg your pardon?" he said not believing his ears…

"Horcrux…" Tom repeated unfazed by his expression. "I came across the term while reading… and I didn't fully understand it…" he said with fake confused eyes.

Aurelia swallowed whatever Horcrux was it couldn't be good…

"I'm not sure what you were reading, Tom… but this is very dark stuff, very dark indeed…" professor said with a pained expression.

"Which is why I came to you…" he said flattering the professor, after all Tom was good at everything… but even more when convincing… they shared a look and Aurelia held her breath, she knew Slughorn would give in…

"A horcrux… is an object in which a person has concealed part of their soul…" he finished and Tom took a step towards him, he seemed even more interested now…

"But I don't understand how that works, sir…" he said, Aurelia saw his golden-brown eyes glinting and knew that Slughorn would explain more to him.

"One splits one's soul and hides part of it in an object… by doing so you're protected should you be attacked… and your body destroyed…" Slughorn said.

"Protected?" he asked with his eyes full of interest.

"That part of your soul that is hidden lives on… I other words… you cannot die…" he said, his eyes seemed unfocused and worried.

Aurelia put a hand over her mouth… professor Slughorn blew it… she knew this wasn't good…

"And how does one splits his soul, sir?" Tom turned to the fireplace, his face deep in thought.

"I think you already know the answer to that, Tom…" Slughorn said.

"Murder…" Tom whispered and Aurelia gasped silently.

"Yes… killing rips the soul apart… it's a violation against nature…" The professor's eyes were glued to the side of Tom's face, but Tom's eyes were glued to the ring on his left hand…

"Can you only split the soul once… for instance, isn't seven?" Tom asked with his whispery deep voice…

"Seven?" Slughorn paled even more. "Merlin's beard, Tom! Isn't it bad enough to consider killing one person?" he exclaimed with his croaked voice. "To rip the soul into seven pieces!" he dragged with horror, but soon his face relaxed and almost smiled kindly… "This is all hypothetical isn't it Tom, all academic?" he pleadingly asked.

Aurelia watched in horror as Tom turned to him from the fire with his unfazed expression, for a second there she thought he'd say something like; "No, professor I am actually thinking of killing the whole school so I can be immortal…" but he just smiled, his devil's smirk, the one with which he could have everything he wanted…

"Of course, sir…" he said relaxed and composed, his eyes no longer glinting. He hesitated for a second before adding with the same whispery voice and smirk. "It'll be our little secret…"

Somehow at that very moment Slughorn seemed to notice his mistake, but how could he know anything…

Aurelia clasped a hand over her mouth; if Tom got to the process of making a Horcrux he'd probably kill someone… if he had not already done so… she felt her insides twist and her throat tightening…

She turned to the door and paled when Tom came out of the room… he frowned upon seeing her there…

"Aurelia…" he said as if expecting her excuse.

"I forgot my purse…" she composed and went inside the place excusing herself with professor Slughorn who in turned just waved his hand…

She got out and paled once more seeing Tom there waiting for her…

"I'll walk you to your quarters…" he smirked.

"Not necessary… I can get there by my own…" she tried walking quickly, leaving him behind, but he caught up to her.

"So… what is it this time, Aurelia?" he said taking her hand in his not letting her go, she grunted. "Do you fancy McLaggen? Is that it?" he asked mockingly.

"So, what if I do fancy him?" she said trying to slip her hand out of his…

She was walking so fast she didn't notice the dark look that crossed his features… he tugged on her hand and made her stop in her tracks, she almost fell…

"What's wrong with y-!" she turned in time for him to plant his lips over hers.

She was stunned for just a second before she started to push him away, but he held a firm grip on her waist and hand, she wanted to yell and punch him, with her free hand she pushed his chest and finally he pulled away… both of them breathing raggedly…

She stared up at him and he stared down at her… She felt her face wet and realized she was crying… she saw her wet fingertips and looked up at Tom; he had wide eyes and was confused…

"I thought…-" he started.

"You thought wrong!" she snapped, she didn't even know what he was about to say, but she hated him… "I hate you!" she yelled and ran down the corridor, leaving him there…

That was the last time that year she spoke to Tom… he was too confused and angered to even try and fix things… she left for her home during the vacations, and returned to her seventh and last year on September… they were still mad at each other…

Indeed wrong... so... was it good?

:)