Tom Riddle sat at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall. The Hall was empty besides a few Gryffindors sitting two tables down from him. He was alone, as usual.

Hallyn entered the Great Hall and immediately noticed Tom sitting at the table. As she walked towards him, Tom lifted his head from a black book he seemed to be reading.

"Tom?" Hallyn said. Tom quickly shut the black book and turned to her. "I have to tell you something," she said.

"Yes?"

"I just… well it's difficult to say," Hallyn paused.

"Then perhaps you should not say it at all," Tom suggested.

"It's important."

"Well go on then," Tom replied.

"I was in the girls' lavatory. I was washing my hands and… I heard something. It was a girl and she was crying in one of the stalls."

Tom nodded once.

"I asked her if she was alright and she said she was fine so I left. I was barely a few steps away when I heard a crash. I ran back in the bathroom and…" Hallyn paused again. "I-I j-just can't believe it. The girl… I found her and she was lying face down on the floor. S-She was dead."

Tom adopted a stern expression.

"I'm scared, Tom," Hallyn said. "First, these attacks, and now a girl is dead?" Hallyn whimpered a little. "Tom, what's going on?"

"I don't have time to talk now," Tom replied. He stood up from the table.

"Wait!" Hallyn said quickly. She grabbed his arm before he could walk away. Tom looked back at her with the same stern expression. "I just want to talk to you," Hallyn added quietly.

"I haven't the time," Tom said again.

"Please?" Hallyn begged. Tom grabbed her arm and pulled her out of her seat (without any effort whatsoever) so she was standing close to him.

"What?" Tom said rather coldly. Hallyn narrowed her eyebrows in frustration.

"Is something going on?" Hallyn asked him. It took her a lot of courage to ask him but she knew she had to do it.

"Nothing," Tom said.

"You never talk to me," Hallyn said angrily. "Every time I try to get a word from you, you run off or you say you don't have time to talk. Just tell me what you're thinking!" Hallyn stopped and took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Please," she added.

"I haven't anything to say," Tom told her.

"I like you, Tom," Hallyn said. "I like you a lot but I feel as if I barely know you at all."

Tom didn't answer.

"I just want to know you," Hallyn said calmly. She locked eyes with him. She wished his expression would soften, but he only continued to glare at her. Hallyn shook her head. She could feel the tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "I give up," she whispered. And with that, Hallyn let go of his arm and left. Tom sighed angrily, tucked the black book into his cloak, and then followed her.

"Hallyn," Tom called. Hallyn stopped just outside the doors. "I'm sorry," Tom forced himself to say. Hallyn sighed refusing to look at him. "Look at me."

Hallyn shook her head "no".

"Look at me," Tom repeated. Hallyn wanted to look at him, she really did. She always found it difficult to stay mad at someone anyway. Hallyn sighed and looked over her shoulder at him. She was surprised to see that Tom had a sympathetic look in his eyes. She was also noticed for the first time that she was actually surprised to see him like this, and it confused her. "Don't be angry with me," Tom told her.

"Why should I?" Hallyn snapped.

"Because," Tom said.

"Because…?"

Tom touched her shoulder and spun her around to face him. He looked into her eyes and said, "I want you."

Hallyn felt that sudden burning desire for him again. She closed her eyes and let him kiss her, long and hard.

"Tell me you want me," Tom muttered quietly. Hallyn opened her eyes.

"I want you," she whispered.

"Come with me," Tom said. He laced his hand with hers and pulled her along. She followed him through a door by the staircase and down a few flights of stairs to the dungeons. They arrived at a stone wall.

"Where are we?" Hallyn asked. Tom didn't look at her; instead he waved his arm in front of the wall. The wall split and fell away to each side. "This is the Slytherin common room?" Hallyn asked as she stepped inside onto the black carpet. The room was decorated with green leather sofas and armchairs. A fire sprung up in the fireplace at their presence. Green curtains framed the dark windows. Hallyn looked around.

"This is… cozy," Hallyn said quietly. "But why are we here?"

"Will you come with me?" Tom whispered. He pulled her along, up a spiral staircase, and to a wooden door with a chain-link handle. He opened the door. "Go on," he whispered in her ear. Hallyn swallowed nervously and entered the room as she was told. A full size bed with a nice green comforter and white sheets sat against the right wall. The same green curtains decorated the window by the corner. The wood floor creaked as Hallyn stepped inside. Tom closed the door behind them.

"Are we alone?" Hallyn wondered aloud.

"Do you see anyone else in here?" Tom said raising his eyebrows making Hallyn feel slightly dumb for asking that. Hallyn swallowed nervously again. "What is it?" Tom asked taking note of her nervous expression. Hallyn shook her head and looked down at the floor. Tom took a step closer to her. He lifted her chin and stood even closer till their bodies were just barely touching. Then, he leaned down and kissed her lips. Hallyn's heart exploded at his touch. She wanted nothing more than to stand here and feel his lips on hers. Tom ran his fingers through her hair and tucked it behind her ear. They continued to kiss as Tom moved her closer to the bed against the wall. He pulled away and sat her down beside him on the sheets. He kissed her again and again. His hands moved down from her shoulders, to her chest, and then to her stomach. He gently pulled her shirt up a little revealing her bare skin. She felt his fingers delicately touch her as he continued to kiss her. Tom pulled his lips away from hers. Hallyn closed her eyes again as he kissed her neck gently. Her heart beat faster and she began to feel fear. What was going to happen next? Was he going to continue to kiss her and touch her? Hallyn wasn't sure if she was ready for this just yet. She shuddered and pulled away from him.

"Tom," she said quietly. Tom removed his lips from her neck and looked at her. "I…I can't do this." Her voice shook as she spoke. Tom narrowed his eyebrows.

"I brought you here for a reason, Hallyn," Tom told her.

"I know why you brought me here," Hallyn said. "I'm just not sure I'm ready for this."

Tom closed his eyes and groaned, frustrated.

"Please don't be angry with me," Hallyn added. Tom nodded.

"I want you, Hallyn," Tom said. "I want all of you. Here, right now."

"I know," Hallyn said. "I want you too."

"Then why…?"

"I'm scared," Hallyn admitted. Tom touched her cheek and caressed it with his thumb.

"There's nothing to be afraid of." He leaned in and kissed her cheek but Hallyn pulled away again.

"I can't," Hallyn said. "I'm sorry."

Tom nodded again.

"Okay," he replied.

"I should go," Hallyn said quickly. She stood up and left the room leaving Tom staring after her. As soon as Hallyn was out of the Slytherin common room, she sighed. Her hands were shaking, still trying to recover from what almost happened. As Hallyn headed up the dungeon stairs, she spotted a black book on the floor. Curious, she picked it up and examined it. She turned it over in her hands. Her eye caught gold lettering on the back. Tom Marvolo Riddle. Hallyn's eyes widened. She looked over her shoulder to make sure she was alone, and then found herself opening the front page. Her eyes scanned over the delicate script. She flipped through the pages then closed the book.

"Tom's diary?"