It had been extremely difficult dating Tom Riddle. Minerva had heard all the girls gush about what a charming, wonderful boyfriend he would make, and each time she listened to a compliment she wanted to laugh.
He was sweet, at times, and he could be caring... at times. It was difficult to actually see each other during the busy last few months of school. Minerva had spent a lot of time with Dumbledore, sometimes assisting with the younger classes when she had a free period. It had hit her one evening that she wanted to teach everything she knew to students one day, and the only way to do that and give back to Hogwarts was to become a professor.

Dumbledore suggested Transfigurations, as she excelled in that above everything else, and also inquired if she would be interested in taking some summer courses with him this year, and then finish half a year earlier in that field. He said he planned on changing job positions, and she would make the perfect replacement, once she got everything down pat. It was such an honour to even be considered by Albus Dumbledore, and Minerva instantly accepted.

Besides the stress of living up to his new standards, Minerva also found herself worrying over the exams. She barely had time to study and see Tom, and after one moody evening of her complaining, Tom simply suggested she take all the time she needs to fully fill her mind with knowledge. It stung a little, but she moved past it quickly and buckled down.

The final Quidditch scores left Minerva miserable; Gryffindor turned out third overall, and Slytherin managed to keep their undefeated victorious title. Tom was rather smug about it, but she found he was more enjoyable to be around when he was smug, since it meant he was happy.

The weekend before exams, when she was too frazzled to study anymore, she and Tom spent the night together. Not 'sleeping' together, but he showed her a quiet, out of the way room where she could get some good, well needed rest. It was the first time he actually showed a great deal of affection toward her, which made her want to be with him more and more. He enjoyed her; she knew that, in every aspect. He did compliment her, in his own way, and he was a rather touchy boyfriend, despite the fact he generally stood a few feet away from her when they were around other people.

Her friends would have killed her if they knew. Naturally, they admired Tom Riddle because he was athletic, and smart, and had rather good people skills, but he was a Slytherin. Any Gryffindor that was spotted dating a Slytherin would be shunned! She was sure it was the same in the Slytherin house, though somehow she knew Tom would get around it... He was clever like that.

Her examinations went much better than she expected, and ending up finishing each one with time to spare. The Potions one was a little difficult, as it was never her strongest subject, but she remember Tom had helped her out on one of their rare study sessions, during which he proved to be a surprisingly good teacher.
The parties had been so many lately. The Seventh Years were getting ready to ship off and away. It was the first time Minerva felt sad about the eldest in her house leaving, mainly because she had been so close to all of them since her very first year at Hogwarts.

While all of her friends were dying for her to come down to Hogsmeade that night, the last night of the Sixth Year as a student, Minerva was forced to decline.

"Aw, c'mon..." George moaned, standing before her in a t-shirt and shorts, as it was officially one of the warmer days of the year, "It'll be fun!"
"I've been to too many parties," she sighed, shaking her head, "I'm just going to recheck my luggage, then go bed... I'll meet up with you all at breakfast."
"But, Minerva... It's our last chance to go out," Elizabeth moaned, "We'll be on the train tomorrow!"

Elizabeth had been revived almost a month ago, and Minerva couldn't have been happier to have her best friend back in perfect health. She still hadn't told her about Tom, which was secretly eating her up inside, but she promised herself she would do it eventually.

"I know, but we've been out almost every night since the exams finished," Minerva laughed, watching as Elizabeth quickly checked her hair in a nearby mirror, "I promise we'll have the best time on the train, all right?"
"Fine," she sighed, rolling her eyes, "I'll talk to you in the morning."

"Good night!" Minerva called, waving to her group of friends as they left through the portrait. The rest of the room was buzzing loudly as students flew around, tossing unneeded papers into the fireplace, or lugging bags up to a friend's dorm to finally break the rules and sleep there. Couples were publicly expressing their affection on some of the couches in the rear, and Minerva instantly felt jealous. Not that it mattered; she was spending her last night at Hogwarts with Tom anyway.

As quickly as she could, she rushed up to her room and threw her black cloak on over her knee length blue skirt and white t-shirt. She wished she had nice clothes to dress up in for Tom, but that just wasn't the case. He never seemed to complain, anyway, but was getting more and more persistent in his attempt to get them off.
With all the subtlety she possessed, she crept out of the Common Room, and made a run for the outdoors. They were planning on meeting down by the Quidditch Pitch, because if either were caught alone, they could simply say they were out for one last fly.

The night was warm, and it would have been nicer to be without the cloak, Minerva preferred it, as it managed to shield her in the darkness. Her hair was up in a rigid braid, and had been for a day or so. She looked horrible during exams; people rarely cared about personal hygiene when it came to the week of Hell that was known as Examination Period.

A hand suddenly shot out from behind a tree, and Minerva let out a shrill scream, swinging back at whoever it was. Tom luckily managed to dodge it, and quickly steal a kiss, "Merlin, Min... You should know it's me."
Min. She wasn't particularly fond of the name, but the way he said it made her stomach knot, in a good way, and she always found herself grinning when he called her it.

"I know... But it's dark, Tom," she giggled, pushing herself up on her toes to give him a quick peck, "You shouldn't scare me like that."
"What can I say?" he purred, wrapping an arm around her waist as they walked, "You have an addictive scream."

She let out another giggle, yet found she really had to crane her head up to look at him. He had gotten so tall over the past couple of months, and his voice seemed deeper. It's not like he had just gotten puberty or anything, but it seemed as though he had gone through a growth spurt. She quite liked him being so much taller than she was.

"So what are we doing tonight?" Minerva asked as she wrapped her arms around him, resting her head awkwardly against him, "Please don't tell me we're flying... I can't tolerate anymore flying this year."
"Nothing like that," he mused, steering her away from the pitch and down towards a different path, one that wove through the trees to the lake, "I've got something to give you."
"Have you now?" she inquired, suddenly feeling completely at ease with him, her body acting in the complete opposite manner as it would usually do. Tom kissed the top of her head, and finally stopped her at a little bench, halfway toward the lake and just a little into the woods. It was a little eerie, but she had Tom with her, which made everything seem slightly better. He asked her to sit, which she did, and he soon gingerly took a seat next to her, "Look... I don't think we'll see each other during the summer."

"We may," she laughed, glancing down as he placed his hand on her knee, "I-I mean... I can come around sometime and see you-"
"Let me make it clearer," he said softly, his tone deathly serious, "We won't be seeing each other this summer."
"Oh?" she snapped, cocking an eyebrow and pushing his hand off her leg, "What makes you say that?"
"I have a lot of... family things to do," he explained, rubbing the back of his neck, "I'm off to find out a few bits and pieces... I can't have distractions."
"I'm a distraction?" she asked, her a tone a little friendly now as she ran a hand down his cheek, smiling when he caught it and gave it a soft kiss. His eyes weren't quite as warm tonight, which made his smile seem less genuine, "Of course you're a distraction... I think about you all the time."
"Good."

He looked as though he wanted to say something more, but instead, he leaned in and pressed his lips firmly against hers. Minerva's hand flew up to gently touch his face, immediately opening up to him. She always liked how he kissed, it was rather lazy, but there was still this power behind it that made her weak all over. Normally she had such a strong personality, but around Tom... Everything was different.

He unclasped her cloak and shoved it off her shoulders, curving his arm around her hips and pulling her up onto his lap. She let out a shocked giggle and broke the kiss, "Tom!"
"What?" he grunted, suddenly slipping his hand under her skirt deftly, his hand traveling up to her thigh, "Something wrong, Min?"
Her eyes quickly flickered down to where his hand was currently resting, then shook her head, "Well, no... But... Didn't you have something to... give me?"
"Greedy little thing, aren't you?" he snorted, giving her another quick kiss, "But yes... Can't let myself get too carried away... Never know when I'll be able to stop."
She laughed uncomfortably, shifting on his lap as he pulled something out of his pocket. A tiny black box; it would have taken a moron not to know what was inside it.
"Tom," she breathed, stealing quick glances at it, "You-"
"It's nothing much," he mused, opening the box to reveal a simple silver ring, nothing fancy at all, "Took all the money I've been nicking from people this year-"

"Tom!" she gasped, pinching his arm, "I told you to stop stealing from people!"
He had this despicable habit of pick pocketing, and he was really too good at it.
"But it got you this," he argued playfully, taking her hand and slipping it on her pinky, "It's small enough that no one will suspect anything... and you can wear it all the time."
"I love it," she gushed, tilting his head up for another kiss, but he stopped her, instead opting to take her hands and hold them together.
"Promise me you won't leave me," he ordered firmly, staring directly into his eyes, "Next year is going to be difficult... and I need to know you'll be there."
"Of course I will, Tom," she whispered, frowning, "What-"
"Say you promise, Minerva," Tom demanded, urgency in his tone, "Say it."
"I promise I'll never leave you, Tom," Minerva stated, running a hand through his hair, "I'm not going to let you go."

"Good... Now, smile... Sweetheart."

And with that, Minerva McGonagall promised her own ruin to Tom Marvolo Riddle.