The 'Document Manager' deleted this chapter when I had it almost finished... (very lame defiantly.)

Thus I stalled for ages before writing it again (I need backups...).


Draco was very nervous, and Tom could tell.

Was it the flinches whenever Tom addressed him?

Perhaps how he walked just a little too fast?

Maybe is was the scared glances, which Tom knew he wasn't catching all of?

Or it could be the soft, careful tone in which Draco talked?

No, it was probably how high he jumped when Tom tapped his shoulder.

"So... where's somewhere good to eat?"

"What?! Oh, um... we could go to the Leaky Cauldron." Draco said it like a question.

"Ugh, I'd prefer not. Anywhere else? That's not a pub?"

"Erm, there's this other place I know, Eat Water Drink Fire, kinda weird name I know but it's actually pretty good. So er um-"

"Alright, we'll go there."


Tom sat alone at a table for two as Draco scurried about near the register, looking much more relaxed now that he was away from Tom. He stared out at the other patrons and at those that worked here. Without realising (until she was walking his way) he had glanced at the same young waiteress quite a few times. She stood polietly to the side of the table.

"Are you right or looking for someone to serve you?" she asked with a sweet smile on her face.

"My..." He searched for the appropriate word "Associate was looking for someone, but if your here and willing..."

"Oh, I am! So, what would you like to order?"

"I've never been here before, what can you suggest?"

The girl glanced down before turning her deep onyx eyes onto him again.

"Well, it may not sound like much, but the Black & Bleu is actually really nice. It's just a salad but..."

"What has it got in it?"

"Oh, fresh garden lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber. But what makes it 'Black & Bleu' is the black olives and bleu cheese. And it comes with dressing."

"That's sounds lovely, I'll have it."

"Really?" She looked down at her feet for a moment and when she looked up her olive cheeks were tinted with a blush. "Actually, it's my favourite."

It was only at this point that a few key ideas clicked into place for Tom. The downward glance followed up with the shy blush was just too obvious a clue. This girl fancied him! She was acting shy and bashful. Tom knew he was good-looking, he had had a few admirers in his own time and knew how to turn on the charm when he wanted something. But he usually just gave these admirers the cold shoulder.

Tom remembered the raw power that enveloped Harry.

Harry stood there, shaking, his head bowed down and his hands balled into fists at his sides.

"I promised, I swore on it." He spoke with devistating certainty.

He remembered the words stated in such a tone that left no room for arguement.

"Because I love her. Because I love her more than anything in the world, more than life itself."

Tom remembered how well love seemed to serve Harry and the most logical course of action. Swallowing years of his own tradition, he glanced around before leaning over conspiratorily. Stealing a glance at her nametag he addressed;

"Sonia, is it?"

She predictuably blushed a light pink spattering.

"Yes." She seemed to grab her wits as she replied, "Good to see you can read."

He smiled, she smiled. Unconsiously, Tom was sure, she had leaned into him.

"May I be so bold as to ask when your shift ends?"

Eagerly she said; "Of course!" Then in sadder tones "Er, in about 3 hours, actually."

"Excellent! A comfortable amount of time for me and my associate to eat and finish shopping before-."

He looked away sheepishly. Knowing just how to play this he said in quiter tones;

"Oh. My apoligies. I just assumed, I didn't actually ask, that was rather rude."

Stealing a quick glance at her face from under his eyelashes, he saw a satisfying blush that indicated she was in the bag.

"Would you like to accompany me around Diagon Alley for the afternoon?"

Her barely concealed smile told him the answer was yes, but she beat about the answer for a moment.

"With your, erm, associate?"

"No, just the two of us."

A soft silence hung between the two, the answer already there but not yet uttered.

"I'd quite like that."

And the two of them were still smilely dopily at each other when Draco returned to the table.

"I found someone and ordered, but then I realised I didn't know what you'd-"

Draco seemed to realise what he'd walked in on and shut up, but the damage was done. The mood broke and Sonia took a step back.

"Erm, yea, so, I'll be back with your order, -?"

"Tom."

"Tom." she repeated.

Sonia had a rather pleased look on her face as she walked back to the kitchens. Draco sat in a chair at an angle to the table, elbow up he stared over at Tom.

"What?" Said Tom in an offended voice.

"Where you... flirting?"

"Yes." Seeing Draco's expression he added in a patronising voice "Is there anything so wrong with that? Have things changed that drastically that one can not flirt in a public place?"

"N-no! It's just, um..."

Draco snuck a glance at Tom, only to be met with a raised eyebrow and a look that indicated he was about to cross into a metaphorical minefield.

"Nothing." He concluded in a small voice.

The rest of the meal was, understandably, conducted in silence.


"You let him off on his OWN!"

"He wasn't on his own, Weasley."

Ron and Draco were in a heated argument, heated enough that they had even reverted to calling each other by their last names. The next few lines of argument;

"You let Tom Riddle off in Diagon Alley on his own!"

"He was with a girl! How the hell could I say 'Oh, I'm sorry Future Dark Lord, but I don't think I'm allowed to let you go on a date'."

Summed up the cause nicely. Once Sonia's shift had ended, Tom had dismissed Draco's presence and proceed to go on his date. Draco had meekly returned to the Leaky Cauldron at the agreed upon time - with no Tom Riddle in tow. Once Draco had barely got out the minimum of what had happened, Ron had started to yell at him.

Harry decided to step in; "I'm on Draco's side."

Both arguers turned to Harry in confusion, though Ron's look was paired with an offended and incredulous "What?".

"What would he have done, Ron? Told Tom not to date? Not to have a life? Not only is that cruel but it's ridiculous. Honestly I think this is a good sign - or don't you remember what Dumbledore always said?"

As if saying Dumbledore's name he had invoked the name of some great god, Ron instantly bowed his head in shame. While Draco shifted into an unatural poker face, the effect was not quite the same.

"What did he always say?" Draco asked for the key piece of infomation in soft tones one expects at a funeral.

Though Harry continued to stare right at Ron, he also spoke to Draco, Hermione and Ginny, reminding them all.

"He said love was a powerful thing, that love could save us. He said that one of the main reasons Voldemort became so twisted was because he had never felt loved."

Harry sighed deeply, weight of seemingly insurmountable tasks heavy on his shoulders for a moment, then;

"Look, Tom Riddle - this Tom Riddle - is a different person from the Voldemort we know. He became a different person the moment the Mirror Soul transported him here. he has the potential to be all that Voldemort is but he also has the potential to be everything Voldemort isn't. The only way I know to stop him from following Voldemort's path is by treating him with kindness and preparing for the chance that he turns and bites us for our efforts. It's- I think-," He collected his thoughts "I think it's what Dumbledore would have done."

The five of them stood in a heavy silence, mourning Dumbledore once more and realising how true Harry's words were. As Ron gave Draco a reassuring pat on the shoulder and apoligised, the heavy silence was lifted but left them with naught to say. Thankfully, this uneasiness was broken comfortably by the taverns doors jovially swinging open to admit a happy, young, smiling couple. As the couple proceed to approach Harry and the group also approached the realisation that this couple consisted of Tom and a Vietnamese girl in a waitress uniform. They had just finished laughing once more as they reached the group.

"Harry! Draco! Everyone! This," here Tom gestured "Is the lovely Sonia Nguyen. Sonia, my asscociates."

Gesturing and naming each of them in turn (and good spirits) Sonia exchanged pleasentries with them all, and a small gasp of excitement to be meeting Harry Potter. Sadly admitting to Tom that it was much to late and that see truly had to leave, Tom promised that they would see each other again - soon.

Tom carefully avoided the awkward silence as Sonia left. He took a chance to glance at Harry only to find the wizard already looking at him. Tom bristled, expecting a reaction similar to Draco's, but was instead greeted with;

"I hope for your sake you keep that promise." a slight yet pregnent pause followed before Harry continued much more jovially; "After all, you know what they say - 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'."

"I plan to do my best to keep that promise - I don't fancy trying myself against all the furies of Hell!"

And the group relaxed into contentment.


It became a common sight, in the following weeks, to find a trio of couples walking down roads together. The famous pair, unmistakable Harry Potter and fired-up Ginny Weasley. The token couple, with bookish Hermione Granger and bold Ron Wealsey. The last, much more mysterious couple, charming Tom Riddle and witty Sonia Nguyen.

You could, of course, find these couples on their own, but it became rare to ever see half of either couple. And for once in his life, Tom felt as if he was having a good time. Things seemed to be going right. He was on very good friendly terms with Harry (though he dared not admit that they might actually be friends), he was once again surrounded by friends, he even had a girlfriend. And he had found out that Sonia was a Ravenclaw in what would be his year group. He had gotten comfirmation that he could almost certainly be attending Hogwarts once the term resumed, so he could even look forward to returning to the one place that felt like home.

Yes, he was well liked, he was happy,everything was going right and Tom Riddle dared to say that he was honest-to-Merlin in love.

Which of course was exactly when it all went WRONG.


Ah ha! Cliffhanger. Actually I should be heading to sleep but I feel guilty that I haven't written anything in ages so I thought I should finish this chapter up.

On an unrelated (but very awesome) note: I totally saw Wicked a few hours ago!!! It was very very good and makes me feel bad about not going and finding the books (the original Oz series or the Wicked book). So I will find them soon.

Hoped you liked that chapter, reviews are not only welcome but very much appriciated!

And I apoligise for the strange summary to explain that Tom and Sonia are going out. I'm a horrible romance writer at the best of times and right now my brain is gone so that's the best you're gonna get.