A/N: Here you go peeps, another (completely) new chapter. This ones totally new, never before been posted. Hope you like, and as always, I love hering from you.

Chapter 10: Wake of a Duel

Unfortunately for Tom, the first promise that he'd ever made he was unable to keep and, come Monday, he found himself in the hospital wing gulping down Pepper-Up Potion. Waiting patiently for the steam to stop pouring from his ears, Tom took of towards what remained of lunch.

He made it to the great all with just enough time to gulp down a few forkfuls of kidney pie and a goblet of pumpkin juice before departing for Defense. The bell rang before he could get there and Merrythought, along with everyone else, fixed him with a look of surprise as he yanked the door open and slid into his seat. Tom Riddle, you see, was never late.

"Mr. Riddle," Merrythought said as soon as he was seated, "I assume there is a good reason for your tardiness?"

Tom glared at the man and was pleased to see the Professor tremble a bit. Tom sighed, he would have liked to not explain to the entire class his previous whereabouts. He especially didn't fancy telling Lily, who was glancing back at him from the desk in front of him. Tom looked back up at his Professor and figured that the old man was feeling rather emboldened today, that is to say he hadn't backed down like he usually did when Tom glared at him. "I was in the hospital wing, Sir," he emitted finally, knowing that it would do him no good to lie.

"Oh dear," Merrythought simpered, "You do look a bit off color, I trust everything is alright?"

Tom glowered at the man. "I'm fine," he bit out. A belated giggle had him looking up only to catch the dancing eyes of his dueling opponent.

"Yes, well," Merrythought was saying and Tom focused his attention on the old professor, "Today we will be beginning our unit on pre-auror level defense. Now who can tell me the strongest spell they know?"

Tom blinked. One would think that the strongest spell known would be one of the unforgivables but Tom found his mind wondering back to Lily and her patronus. Casually he raised his hand.

"Yes," Merrythought called as he pointed at him, "What is the strongest spell you know of?"

"Ten galleons says it's the killing curse," Tom heard a Gryffindor snicker. Tom glared at the boy who had the good sense to look sheepish.

He turned his attention back to the Professor. "Magmorta Patronus," Tom answered.

Lily's eyes went wide as he gave the name of her spell. Well, it wasn't technically her spell, but the only reason he knew of it was because he'd seen her use it. Twisting, Lily looked back at Riddle who nodded at her in mute acknowledgement. Lily blinked, had Riddle just thanked her? Curiously, Lily continued to stare at him until he grinned at her. Oh dear lord, he had just thanked her. What in the name of Salazar was going on?

"Interesting choice Mr. Riddle," Merrythought was saying and the whole of the class turned their attentions to him, "I wonder why, when in previous assignments you have stated otherwise, you believe this to be the most powerful?"

Tom shrugged, "I was reading a book the other day. It theorized that since the patronus charm is pure emotion that it has the potential power to block even an unforgivable."

The Slytherins nodded solemnly. Each one of them, with the exception of Emily, knew that this was more then just a theory. They'd seen it proven true.

The Gryffindor's scoffed. Ignatius Prewett, the Gryffindor equivalent of himself, only vastly less influential, turned to him. "Block an unforgivable? Are you sure you're alright Riddle? Maybe you should go back to the infirmary."

Tom growled at him and the auburn haired boy backed down. "Sorry, Riddle," he mumbled, cringing under Tom's hard stare.

"It's not just theory you know," Lily spoke up. While she was loath to defend Riddle, it was her spell they were debating. And really, it had been nothing but theory until Mad Eye had mentioned it to her. Lily had been the first to make it work, a fact that had driven the grizzled ex-auror positively mad with glee.

The whole class turned to look at her, including Merrythought. Lily raised her head proudly, almost daring anyone to contradict her. No one did and she continued, "The only limit to magic is what we think it is. If not for the limitations that others have placed upon certain spells, dictating what they can and can not do, then there would really be no limit for what our spells could achieve."

"An interesting thought, Miss Claire," Merrythought murmured as he considered the witch before him. She had said little so far during the term but now that she had spoken it was clear that she was brilliant. She might even rival Mr. Riddle in theory.

"It's not a thought," Lily said forcefully, "Lower the wards and I'll show you."

Tom smirked, he knew exactly what she was doing. Someone had challenged her intelligence by amusing that a spell that she had cast was only theory. Lily was going to prove them wrong. He couldn't wait to see the looks on the Gryffindor's faces.

"I'm not so sure that is wise Miss Claire," Merrythought said briskly, "Such a spell should only be attempted by an auror."

"Lily's had auror training," Yaxley shouted from the very back of the room. He'd already seen the spell that she was asking to perform but he'd love to see it again and he knew that Tom would also. It really was a marvelous enchantment.

"You have?" Merrythought asked in respectful awe. Good Lord, she was only seventeen. What other secret talents did this girl possess?

Lily smirked. "Level three."

"Well, shit," Ignatius called and Lily turned her bright eyes to his own soft brown ones, "Why the bloody hell are you still in school?"

"I'm a war refugee," Lily stated calmly, "I learned to fight because I had to."

"Be that the case Miss Claire I still don't think…" Merrythought trailed off as Lily turned and fixed him with a potent stare, "On second thought we'll just see."

Lily smirked in triumph as the Defense Teacher hurried about in preparations to remove the wards that protected the room. He got maybe a quarter of the way through when he paused, apparently stumped.

"Here," Lily said quietly and noticed that all eyes were on her every move, "Let me."

Tom watched in fascination, along with everyone else, as Lily made a complicated set of movements in the air with her wand before muttering an incantation that he didn't quiet catch. The whole room glowed a dull green that faded slowly to blue and then seeped back into the stone. Tom stared, Lily had just removed the wards without so much as a second thought.

Lily lowered her wand and turned back to the Professor. Merrythought was staring at her and so was everyone else. Except Tom. Riddle was grinning at her as if to say, 'I know exactly what's coming,'. The way he was looking at her also reminded her of how he had stared at her on Saturday when she'd been in his room. It was like he was trying to absorb her very essence. Lily shivered slightly and turned back to Merrythought, "We may begin now," she said crisply and took up stance a few paces away from her teacher.

"Oh," she added as if an afterthought, "I would suggest you use something other then the Imperious, I'm immune to that one so there's really no point."

Merrythought squeaked. That left only the torture and the killing curse. He couldn't cast those on a student, what if she didn't block it? He was still trembling when he heard Tom's voice, "I'll do it."

Merrythought turned to the approaching head boy and was about to refuse the whole exercise when he caught the gleam in his blue-black eyes. Nervously, he turned back to the defiant Lily and realized that the lint in Riddle's eyes mirrored hers exactly. Good Lord, they've done this before! The thought was disturbing and mildly comforting all at once.

Tom took up his position before Lily and had just raised his wand when the door to the classroom opened and in walked Dippet, Dumbledore and Limpkin. They were here to investigate the ward, Tom was sure.

"Professors," Merrythought greeted them, "We were just about to demonstrate -"

Tom looked at Lily who nodded. If they waited for the old Professor to explain then they'd most likely be told to stand down. Readying his spell Tom fired.

"Curcio!"

As Tom released his spell he saw all three new arrivals snap their heads up in shock and horror.

"Magmorta Patronum!" Lily's voice screamed. The sliver serpent erupted from the tip of her wand, coiling in the air before her. Baring it's fangs it lunged forwards and swallowed his curse. "Finite Incantartum!" Lily commanded and her patronus vanished.

Both she and Riddle lowered their wands in complete silence. The lack of noise was almost defining as both students felt every eye in the room upon them. As one they turned towards the grouped Professors and waited for their word.

Merrythought's mouth was open in shock; Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling merrily; Limpkin was speechless and trembling; and Dippet looked, well, Tom wasn't exactly sure how to describe the look on the headmasters face. The image of a drowning fish came to mind.

Lily bowed slightly to her professors and then turned abruptly and retook her seat. As she walked down the aisle she noted with satisfaction that every single one of the Gryffindor's were staring at her in dumbstruck awe. As she sat down beside Emily she turned to her friend and tried very hard not to laugh at the look on her face.

Tom, too, passed by his fellow students with a look of supreme superiority on his face. Although, for the first time ever his arrogance was for someone other then himself. Lily was, after all a member of Slytherin house, his house.

"Miss Claire," Merrythought called, having apparently found his voice, "Would you be so kind as to replace the wards please."

Lily nodded and, standing at her desk, repeated the intricate flicks and jabs of her wand; in reverse this time since she was putting them up instead of down. The room glowed again, this time from blue to green and then, when the glow had dissipated, Lily sat back down.

"Thank you," Merrythought said nervously before turning to address the rest of the class, "You may talk amongst yourselves for the remainder of the period. I have some matters to attend to with the other Professors."

Merrythought then proceeded to follow Dippet and the others out of the room, presumably headed for the headmaster's office.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind him the class erupted in whispers. Yaxley, who was seated in the very back, sauntered over to Lily and sat on her desk, smiling down at her. "Nice job, again. I didn't get to congratulate you last time."

"Last time!" Emily yelled, and the Gryffindor's stopped muttering, "What do you mean last time? When in Salazar's name have you had the chance, the need, to do that before?"

Lily gazed at Emily for a few moments before turning her head to stare pointedly at Riddle. "When I'm defending my friends."

Slowly Emily's eyes widened as she realized just exactly when Lily had used that spell. That night that Tom had called the seventh year wizards to him and disappeared into that room. Lily had gone after them and Emily had been too terrified to follow. She should have, she realized now, she would have paid to see Riddle's face as her friend blocked his spell.

"Hear that," Abraxas laughed nudging Xander, "We're friend's with the great Lily Claire!"

"Oh I don't know about great," Lily smiled in reply to their teasing.

At the same moment both Antonin and Yaxley cried, "What about us?"

Lily turned her dazzling smile on the remaining Slytherin wizards and nodded, "I suppose you are as well."

The two wizards grinned brilliantly and proceeded to lounge themselves in varying positions near Lily's desk. Yaxley was already sitting on top of it; Abraxas and Xander where standing next to it; Emily was sitting next to her; and Antonin was sitting backwards in a chair leaning towards her.

Tom watched all this with various feelings running through him, all in quick secession. While most of him was somewhat dejected as he watched the lot of his housemates talking amicably to her, another small part of him wished that she would speak to him as readily as she did the others. Tom smirked as he realized that she looked very much like a queen holding court. If he was the Slytherin King, then Lily had just been elected it's Queen and it would simply not do for a the King and Queen to be at odds with one another.

And at the same time, based on how she had seemed to forget his presence, Tom suspected that she still hated him. Or if not hated, then thought of him as little more then dirt. Tom was still in the middle of his reflections when a couple of the Gryffindor's wondered over.

As they neared Tom's eyes narrowed and Lily looked up. "Yes," she said softly.

The taller of the two boys pushed his companion towards her. Lily quirked an eyebrow at the display. The boy that was now in front of her looked her over once and then said, casually, "That was some spell."

Lily smirked, "Yes, I suppose it was."

The boy looked sheepish. Then, puffing out his chest as if summoning all his Gryffindor courage, he blurted, "Can you teach me that spell?"

Lily looked him over before answering, coolly, "I doubt it."

The boy glared at her. "What's that suppose to mean?"

Lily just looked at him and after a moment her retreated a few steps. "It takes someone with a great deal of power to cast that spell, and I'm sorry," she said this in a voice that clearly said she wasn't sorry in the slightest, "but I just don't think you have it in you."

"Oh really," the boy scoffed, irritated, "And what makes you think that I'm not just as good as you?"

"Well for starters," Lily sneered, "If I'd wanted to talk to somebody I wouldn't have needed one of my friends to shove me over here."

Tom smirked at her tone and the Gryffindor turned red. Clearly the idiot wasn't used to being insulted by a female, and he wasn't taking it well. The both of them left in a huff and Lily turned back to the gathered Slytherins.

"I think he just wanted to talk to you," Yaxley said dismissively, "After all, there really aren't that many girl in Gryffindor that look anywhere near as," he paused, "fetching as yourself."

Lily blushed and Tom felt himself frown. Why did that comment bother him so much? Lily ducked her head coyly and flickered her eye in his direction. Ah, yes, that was why. Because Tom would much rather it be him giving her the compliments and having her blush pettily then watching Yaxley do it.

Leaning back in his chair and sighing, Tom began to work on a plan that would make Lily acknowledge him as something more then just a rival. Something more then anyone else.

XXX

The rest of the week following the duel passed slowly and completely without further incident. The seventh years had been sworn to secrecy in regards to the whole unforgivable mess; it would seem that Dippet didn't want the younger students to know that he'd let two seventh years throw illegal curses at each other. So without the news of Lily's triumph in prowess to spread about the school, the social dynamics among the Slytherins remained. Nobody was any less intimidated by Tom, and it was clear to Lily (and begrudgingly to Emily) that he was still the official King of House.

The only slight change in social structure came in how everyone else treated Lily. After several days of noting how the seventh years behaved around her, the rest of the house began to follow suit. That is to say, Lily began to receive the same preferential treatment that Riddle did.

As Emily was kind enough to point out on Thursday, the rest of slytherin house seemed to be under the impression that she was just as scary as Tom. Lily didn't quite know how to take this announcement but really, there was nothing she could do. Everyone from first year and up, (with a few exceptions like a couple fifth years, a sixth year named Avery, and a girl named Olive who worshiped the ground Riddle walked on and secretly wanted to marry him) seemed to want nothing more then to cater her every whim.

Lily honestly couldn't say she minded all that much. It was rather nice to have people around whose soul purposes seemed to be to do as she asked simply because it was she who asked it. Really, now she knew why Tom spent so much of his time trying to intimidate people; he got rewarded for it.

Really the only other thing that changed was that Riddle seemed to withdraw himself from her and everybody else, throwing himself feverously into his studies. According to Antonin and Abraxas, who seemed to know him best, it was normal.

"I wouldn't worry too much," Abraxas had said to her during Transfiguration on Friday, "Whenever he doesn't get what he wants, which I'll emit is very rarely, he sota closes himself off until he can come up with another way to get it."

"And what part of that is suppose to comfort me?" Lily had hissed back, "You're telling me that he's going to sit there and plan and scheme away until he figures out another way to get rid of me."

"I don't really think he wants to get rid of you," Yaxley murmured form behind her.

Lily snuck a glance over shoulder to the subject of their conversation. His head was bowed and he was writing furiously on a length of parchment that was steadily growing by the second. 'Good,' thought Lily, 'He doesn't seem to have heard us.' Turning back to Yaxley he whispered hurriedly, "Well what else would be want with me?"

Both Yaxley and Abraxas gave her pointed looks which sent her mind careening back to the way he'd looked at her in his room. She turned fearfully back to Abraxas and he looked sadly at her.

"Just promise us you'll be careful," the Malfoy heir whispered to her, "Riddle's used to eventually getting what he wants. I'd hate to see what he'd do to you if he figured out he couldn't have you."

Lily promised and was sincerely glad that Abraxas was mistaken. There was no way in hell that Tom Riddle wanted her, not like that anyways. No, Lily was sure that he wanted her as much out of the way as he always had. If he wanted her at all in any sense of the way Abraxas was implying then it was to pick her brain and strip her of everything she knew; spitting her out when he was done with her.

As Lily walked with Xander and Emily to potions she thought back over the last week. A week ago she couldn't turn a corner without finding some trace of Tom Riddle's lurking presence. Now the only time she ever saw him much at all was in class. That brought her to a whole knew conclusion, where previously they had bantered back and forth, squabbling over this and that, now he stayed mostly silent. He only spoke when it became absolutely imperative that he do so which was beginning to annoy her. He didn't try to challenge her anymore; he didn't try and persuade the teachers that his answer was better. He just sat there.

And studied her.

Lily would honestly rather have him oppose her then sit there and stare a hole through the back of her head. It was no secret that Lily was top of the class, but at least when Tom argued with her the resulting conversations had kept the class interesting. As it were, she was now left to nothing but the droning voices of her ancient professors as they continued on and on about theories and history and other boring things that were essential to their future survival in the wizarding world.

"I liked it better when the two of you argued," Emily said as they gathered their supplies after a particularly dull Potions class, "At least the two of you were entertaining."

Xander nodded vigorously, "Between the two of you, I could usually figure out what Ol' Sluggy was trying to tell us. Now it's like listening to my mum's Great Aunt Carla play the piano. It's just noise, there's absolutely no sense to it."

"I could help you study if you like," Lily offered, "I understand it all fine."

"Well lucky you," Xander said as the three of them made for the door.

"Oh Miss Claire," Slughorn called just as she was about to open the door.

Grimacing slightly, Lily turned back. "Go on, I'll catch up," she called to Emily and Xander before walking slowly over to where Slughorn and Riddle were standing. "Yes, Professor?"

Slughorn puffed up excitedly as Lily stopped before him. "Young Tom here tells me that you magnified a patronus charm to block an unforgivable," Slughorn said proudly and Lily scowled.

"Did he?" she asked, her voice hard, "I was under the impression that we'd been sworn to secrecy."

Tom was standing with his arms crossed just to the left of their head of house. He smirked as Lily turned and glared at him. "He already knew," he told her casually, "I just confirmed it."

"Yes, yes, no need to be ashamed at all Miss Claire," Slughorn chortled, "An amazing feat to be sure. In fact I'd love to hear how you learned such a thing. Say," and Lily almost grimaced at the look of utter delight that lit up the fat man's face, "I'm having a small get together of some of me finest students this Saturday, Tom knows when. I insist that you came along."

Well he'd finally said it. Lily had just been invited to join the Slug Club. "I don't know Professor," Lily said slowly. She really had no desire to sit in the same room with the man any longer then was necessary.

"Oh come now, I insist," Slughorn waved off her hesitation and turned amiably back to Riddle, "You'll make sure she comes?"

Tom smirked at the obvious outrage on Lily's face. Smirking he nodded, "I shall escort her."

Slughorn looked like Christmas had come early. "Good, good. Right then, off to dinner with you. I shall see you both tomorrow."

Lily glared once more at Riddle before turning and leaving as quickly as she passably could. She was halfway down the hall before Riddle caught up with her. Leveling his strides to her own he came up on her left and looked down on her.

"You know," he said slowly, fully aware that she was glaring at him from the corners of her eyes, "You really shouldn't judge people before you get to know them and Sluggy's not so bad. The dinner's are actually quite entertaining."

"To you maybe," Lily said angrily, "Personally, I have better things to do then sit around and talk about how great you are"

"Oh I doubt that we will be discussing me very much at all," Riddle told her in a patronizing tone as they rounded the corner and came within sight of the great hall. "Beside's, I've promised."

Lily stopped walking and angrily turned to him. "And since when had you kept your promises, Riddle?"

Tom scowled at her; nether of them seemed to be aware that they were standing directly in front of the doors to the great hall, or that a great many students were looking up from their meals to watch them. The slytherins in particular, were all leaning over the table in the hopes of getting a better look.

"And to what exactly are you referring?" he growled, "You don't even know me."

"No one in their right mind would!" Lily screeched, "You are a foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach!"

Tom's eyes narrowed at her insults. How dare she! Taking a step towards her he glowered down at her. "Why is it," he whispered, his voice cold and calm and more terrifying then if he had yelled, "That you are the only one that seems to think me worthless? Should not the fact that so many to as I say be enough for you to see what I am capable of?"

"Seeing is believing Riddle," Lily hissed at him through clenched teeth, "And I have yet to see you do anything even remotely praise worthy." Lily watched in triumph as his eyes darkened and his face clouded over in rage. Boldly she took a step up to him, stood on her tiptoes, and looked him dead in the eye. "Most of the time you don't even act human. You're just some evil Lord that sits upon his self styled thrown looking down on everyone and everything. Until I see you act in anyway other then as a vile tyrant, I will continue to view as something that belongs on the bottom of my shoe!"

Tom's eyes widened at the cruelty in her words before narrowing to slits and turning a dull shade of red. Drawing himself up to his full height, some six feet, he glared down at the witch before him. "Is that what you think of me, Lily?" he whispered, his voice deadly in it's calmness.

"Yes," Lily breathed. He was doing it again, standing so close to her that she could vaguely hear the dull but steady thump of his cold heart. Why did he always have to get so close to her?

Tom dipped his head downwards until his lips were hovering just next to her ear. "Then I shall have to prove myself to you," he whispered.

Lily blinked, Riddle drawing away from her as she did. Her eyes slid out of focus and she looked urgently up to him. Why? Why did her opinion of him matter so greatly to the insufferable boy? Her eyes searched his face but found nothing that would ease her troubled mind. Why did he care what she thought of him? Why? Why?

Tom looked around and realized that they were being watched. He wouldn't have minded, except that what he wanted to say to her was for her ears and hers alone. Reaching up the head boy grabbed Lily by the arms and pulled her backwards until his back ran into the wall. Tom drew Lily forwards until she was pressed flush against him, both their bodies hidden in the shadow of the great doors.

Lily looked up at her captor in anger but was too enthralled by the darkness in his eyes to struggle. "Why?" she whispered, her voice becoming lost in the shadows.

"Because I can not bare to know that you think ill of me," Tom whispered against her cheek. "Without your approval, everything else means nothing."

Lily's green eyes widened in shock. Her approval, he needed her approval. Tom Riddle didn't need anyone's approval to do anything. Hadn't he reminded her of that often enough over the past two months? He; Tom Riddle, Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin, head boy and King of Slytherin house. Why did her opinion, her approval mean so much to him?

Tom looked down on the woman pressed against him, her eyes darting desperately across his face, searching. She, who could read him like no other, she would captivated his mind, she who saw him as nothing but a monster. And he, who had done nothing to show her otherwise. "I'm not a monster, Lily," he breathed, pulling her still closer.

Lily looked searchingly into his eyes, black in the darkness. Was he a monster? Yes, she supposed he was, a cruel demon man without a heart. 'But why would a demon, of any sort, want your appraisal?' a tiny voice spoke to her. On impulse, Lily placed her hand flat to his chest and felt his heart flutter softly. She inhaled sharply; stunned that there was any evidence of it at all. Was he a monster, no maybe not. Tilting her head towards his ear, she murmured against his neck, "Prove it."

Tom tilted his head back; her breath on his skin both burning him and enflaming him. Reluctantly he released her, watching through hooded eyes as she stepped away from him into the harsh, unforgiving light pouring from the great hall. Darkness became her so much better then light. She belonged in the shadows, a creature of darkness just like himself.

"Prove it," Lily whispered once more and then turned and fled. Dinner forgotten, back down into the dungeons.

Tom remained in the shadows; back to the wall, head back, breathing irregular. Her presence still clung to him weakly, her words echoing in his soul. Prove it, her voice had been so soft.

Prove it.

"I will."

XXX

Angrily, Lily threw herself on her bed. What had she been thinking? Why, why had she let him get that close to her. How could she forget that that boy was the future Lord Voldemort? How could she have let herself see him as something other then a monster?

'Because he's not' the little voice was back and it was frustratingly right. Lily didn't know he would be but the truth of the matter was that Tom Riddle, right now, was not Lord Voldemort. He was just Tom Riddle, a cruel, arrogant, conceited, pompous, powerful, and ambitious boy but definitely not the purely evil Dark Lord.

This realization both bewildered and frustrated her. He was not evil, but he was cruel. His soul was still intact and his heart beat like all the rest of us. But he was not Lord Voldemort.

"Prove it to me, Tom," Lily whispered to herself in the darkness, "Show me you can be human and, maybe, I'll give you what you so desperately seek."