IT'S A LONG CHAPTER. I KNOW, I'M AMAZED TOO.

Here you go, have 3,000 words. :)

Chapter Eleven: A Chance

I turned up at Madam Puddifoot's just a little after Tom, to find that most of the tables were full.

Tom smiled at me as I sat down on the table nearest the window.

"Hello, Jane. I heard your sister was back?"

I nodded, taking a seat as he poured me a tea. "Hi, Tom. Yeah, she came back to school today." I leaned closer, lowering my voice. "Thank you."

He nodded. "You're welcome."

We chatted pleasantly for a little while over tea. The cold atmosphere that we'd endured for a long time seemed to be almost gone, and Tom actually laughed.

"Jane, I have something serious to tell you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Tom?"

He took my hand. "I... Jane, I like you."

"As a person? That's nice, Tom. Anyways, what were we talking about?"

He sighed agitatedly. "No, I mean... I like you."

I froze up for a moment. "Tom, are you being serious...?"

"Yes." He he told me, trying to gauge my reaction.

I swallowed, staring at the tablecloth.

"Jane?" He asked.

"I'm sorry – I can't do this." I stood up and walked out, only to have him following me.

"Jane, please. Give me a chance!" He begged. "I know... I know what I've done is wrong, but I can be better."

I kept walking, him at my heels.

"Jane, you don't understand how I was raised. Muggle orphanages are awful... I know that I've passed that on to you, but I can and will make up for it." He said with conviction. When I didn't talk to him and kept walking, he sighed. "Please?"

I spun around, checking the street was clear of people.

"Holy Merlin, Riddle. First, you kidnap my sister. Then you blackmail me for months. After that, you ruin my best friend's life and force me to lose contact with the only other person in the school I like. And now you expect me to give you another chance?" I hissed at him.

"Jane, I..." he swallowed. "Please, Jane. Just give me a chance."

"No. Way." I stalked off towards the castle.

Darius was walking down to Hogsmead when I got up towards Hogwarts.

"Jane!" He grinned before seeing my distressed appearance. "Are you alright? What has Tom done?"

"It's nothing, Darius." I sighed. "Don't worry about it. Where's Natasha?"

"She's with Professor Dumbledore, getting some private tutoring. Did you know that Dumbledore used to work here – back in Riddle's third year, so four years ago. He went off to do private research with Nicholas Flamel." Darius told me.

"Really interesting, Darius. I've got to go." I tried to push past him and Darius grabbed my arm, stopping me.

"Seriously though, Jane, what's wrong? You look like hell and I know that you went on a date with Tom just now."

"It's nothing, Darius!" I snapped, trying to pull my arm away.

"Jane, please let me help you." He begged. "I told you, I don't want you to end up like Ella. I will not let Riddle do that to another family."

I jerked my arm away. "Darius, stop it."

He grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. "Jane. I care about you. Please, let me help."

I stared at him, tears coming to my eyes. Without thinking I leant forwards and kissed him before jerking back like I'd been hit with a cruciatus.

"Oh Merlin... Darius, I'm sorry."

"Jane, what's going on?" He asked desperately. "Please just tell me!"

"I'm... I..." I pulled out of his grip. "I'm sorry, Darius."

I could feel his eyes on me as I once again ran up the hill to Hogwarts.

By the time I saw Tom next, which was the next day, it was quite apparent that he knew that I had kissed Darius, and that Darius had not given up his mission.

Natasha and Darius both weren't at breakfast, so I had nothing to distract me from Tom's cold stare across the room.

I began to fear that he'd ask me to kill myself; however what he really did was possibly much worse.

"Jane! I need a word." He took me aside, out of the hall and into an abandoned classroom, before he took a piece of paper out of his pocket and put it on the desk.

"You need to fill out your side of this form and sign it."

I stared at the form in horror.

"A marriage contract? Tom, no!"

"You promised me whatever I wanted. I want this." He snapped.

"But I'll lose all my rights!"

"That's the point." He replied coldly.

I swallowed. "Tom..."

"Shut it, Adler. Or should I say Riddle?"

I glared at him and grabbed my quill. It was either this or lose my magic; the perils of swearing unconditionally on your magic, it seemed.

When I signed it, the form flashed gold before disappearing as my pre-determined dowry was put into Riddle's bank account and 'ownership' was transferred to Riddle. He'd chosen the oldest version of Wizarding marriage he could find, which meant that as well as being legally binding it was also magically binding and highly sexist – I was, for all intents and purposes, his house elf.

"Good, darling." He smiled cruelly. "Run along, now. Oh, and I forbid you from telling anybody anything that would get me in legal trouble or trouble with the school."

I nodded involuntarily before I ran out of the room, straight into Darius and Natasha, who were discussing me.

"Jane?" Natasha asked in surprise.

Tom swept out of the room, glaring disdainfully at them all while I squeezed my eyes shut.

"What did he do?" Darius asked me.

"Nothing." I said, with a slight nudge from the magical contract. "He just wanted to ask me something. I'll catch up with you two later, okay?"

They watched me worriedly as I walked off, and I could hardly blame them for doing so.

"What are you going to do in your free period?" Tom asked me at lunch the next day as I sat at the Slytherin table.

"Oh, I have an assignment to do for Divination." I told him, knowing that he hadn't taken the subject and therefore wouldn't offer to help.

"Okay." He nodded. "I'll see you at dinner, then?"

I nodded back and he got up, heading to the doors. Tom Riddle: Evil soon-to-be dark Lord, and acting extraordinaire. At least, I'm fairly sure about the acting part – I get the feeling that the feelings he confessed a few days ago no longer apply.

"Hey, Jane." Darius smiled at he walked up beside me.

"Sorry, Darius. I've got study club to go to." I made up.

He glanced back at Tom suspiciously. "Okay."

When I got to the library I went straight to the books on old pure-blood traditions.

Magical Contracts (Marriage)

Marriage contracts, which have not been widely used since the sixteen hundreds, leave the woman of the relationship unable to disobey the male. It rejects all same-sex couples and couples where only one of the members have magic, with the other being a squib or a muggle. It forces the woman to become 'the perfect wife' – she may not tell others things that her husband doesn't wish them to know, if her husband asks her to do a chore then she must do it and if she has the willpower to resist, the magic can punish her severely. Very few exclusions exist to these rules. They were once common, however women began to refuse to sign them after Lady Belle Delaclour, an influential woman of Veela blood of the court in France became a widow and revealed the abuse that she suffered in her marriage.

It is to be noted that if the female party resists the punishment and manages to betray her husband, the magic will incinerate her. In 1876 the ministry of magic altered the contracts so that an unspeakable who had been forced into marriage by Dark Lord Alyosha was able to reveal weaknesses of her husband. (See 'Charm: Delora')

That page of the book was missing.

I put the book away and went to Madam Roberts.

"Excuse me?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, dear?" She looked up from her catalogue.

"I'm looking for information on the Delora charm. I was wondering if you could help me?"

"Of course. Have you looked in Modern Uses of Old Magic?"

"Yes the page was missing."

She tutted. "I'll have to speak to Headmaster Dippet about that. Never mind – there's also an article on it in Magic of the Unspeakables. Of course, that's in the restricted section, so I'll just pop in and grab it for you. You won't be allowed to take it out of the library."

"That's fine, Madam Roberts."

I waited while she got me the book before I took it to the most secluded corner of the library and began to read.

The Delora Charm

This charm was created by Unspeakable Weasley-Black in 1876 to allow an unnamed female unspeakable to share information about her husband while under a marriage contract. It is incredibly difficult and involves annulling the magic of one of the parties. This is dangerous and if done incorrectly can leave the party permanently without magic, or even annul the wrong energy – the life energy, thereby killing the subject. There are two variations of the charm – variation one is actually a potion, with several rare ingredients. It lasts for just over three hours and can be repeated. Variation two is a spell allows the subject to speak only to family members, and it lasts for just over three minutes on average. It cannot be repeated.

The instructions were on the next page and I copied them down for variation two. Variation one was far too difficult – I was never going to be able to get basilisk bones, for one, but it also took two months to brew. I didn't know if Tom was going to allow me to live for that long.

I put the books away, thanked Madam Roberts and practically ran to the common room.

A small blue letter was sitting on my pillow when I arrived and I opened it cautiously, expecting some sort of itching powder or punishment from Tom.

Instead I was greeted with my father's familiar handwriting.

To Jane

I was sorting out the family affairs this morning when I noticed a payment had been made from the family vault to a 'Riddle' account at Gringotts under your name. I thought some sort of mistake had been made, and so I flooed straight to Gringotts to confront to Goblins. Do you know what they told me?
It was an automatic payment of a preset price triggered by a signing of a magical contract.

It was your dowry.

Pray tell, Jane, how it is that you continue to disobey my orders? I told you to stay away from Tom Riddle and I meant it!

You are hereby disowned from the family. Natasha shall receive your inheritance.

From this day forth your name is changed – Jane Irene Adler, your birth name will from now on be Janet Marietta Evans.

Do not expect any help from the Adler family if you are ever in a time of need.

Sincerely,

William Adler

Director of Aurors

Ministry Of Magic

The next morning I put a piece of paper in Darius' bag when he wasn't looking.

Curse me. Bring Natasha. The spell is Permitto eius oro veritas.

They caught me on the way to the library in my escape from Tom.

"What did the note mean?" Darius asked.

I opened my mouth to try and explain and I couldn't speak.

"Curse... it isn't a curse, Darius, it's the counter-curse!" Natasha said. "Riddle must have cursed her – maybe that's why she had to sign those marriage forms. I wouldn't put it past him to do an imperius curse. Cast it."

"I won't be able to tell Darius." I told Natasha. "You have to-" I was cut off by the magic.

She nodded. "Darius, move away. I'll tell you once she's done." She took the piece of paper and drew her wand. "Permitto eius oro veritas."

Suddenly the bond magic coiled back and I gasped, grabbing Natasha's shoulder and pulling myself up to whisper in her ear.

"Riddle captured you at the beginning of the year and has been blackmailing me. I promised one favour for your freedom after six months of jumping through hoops. The favour he forced me into was signing the contract. I cannot get free of it and this is a one-use only charm that lasts for a minute and half. Natasha, you have to find a way to get the word out and annul the marriage."

Natasha drew back, eyes wide. "Jane..."

I shuddered as the charm wore off. "It's Janet now, remember? Janet Evans."

"If you're an Evans, I'll become one too."

"And disown the family? You'll be penniless and without a name, Natasha. At least I have a husband."

Natasha smiled sadly. "Perhaps then Father will take us both back. Never mind, Jane... Janet." She turned and walked down the hall. "Come on, Darius. We've got plans to make."

That afternoon I was called to talk to headmaster Dippet to discuss my tuition fees for the future. The Ministry of magic payed for all Hogwarts tuition fees for those of non-magical families, and the poorest student that were enrolled were given 'help'. But I had nothing and didn't qualify for 'help' or the ministry tuition coverage.

As I stopped to knock, I heard Natasha and Darius' voices.

"Jane did not marry Riddle of her own free will!" Natasha was near yelling. "She hates him!"

"She asked me to help her, but he's bonded her with the marriage contract so she can barely talk to me anymore." Darius added.

There was a scraping noise as Dippet stood up.

"Riddle is a model student and I will not hear a word against him. He was instrumental in capturing Hagrid when the chamber was opened and he is bright and popular, a wonder to teach. Why would he hurt Miss Evans - I mean, Mrs Riddle?"

Someone banged their hand down on a desk. "Please, why would we lie about this? My sister is in danger!" Natasha begged

"If you have a problem with the marriage you'll have to speak to the ministry. In the mean time, I have a meeting with a student right now. Please leave my office."

Natasha and Darius stormed out and paused when they saw me.

"I have a meeting." I explained, walking in and closing the door.

"Now, Mrs Riddle. About your tuition fees..." Dipped shuffled his papers. "I am willing to offer you a full scholarship, should you receive a minimum of eight NEWTs. You're a bright girl, and I'm sure a stable husband and family life will aid your studies even more. Should you not make the eight NEWTs, we'll organise a post-school payment system. Is that agreeable?"

"Yes, Headmaster."

Dipped smiled benevolently at me. "If you have any queries or issues with certain people, please feel free to talk to me."

"People, Headmaster?" I queried.

"I hear that Darius Potter has been following you around lately. You simply have to ask and I'll organise some protection charms."

"Thank you for the offer, Headmaster." I left slowly, head bowed.

Tom grabbed my arm as soon as I got to the bottom of the stairs.

"Come with me, Adler-"

"It's Evans now, thanks to you."

"Do be quiet, Evans." He hissed. "We've got to stop Potter and other Adler."

"Why?" I asked.

"They're going to Dumbledore. He's already suspicious about the basilisk incident – I fear that he will not be as sure of my innocence as Dippet."

I followed him silently to the second floor east hallway, the magic not allowing me to do otherwise.

We ran into Darius and Natasha just before they got to Dumbledore's office.

"Hello there, Potter and Adler." Riddle smiled. "I recently discovered a clever little charm to do with marriage rights. Madam Roberts was kind enough to show it to me. She was also kind enough to mention that I was the second that week to be researching that particular charm. I currently do not see this as betrayal; however, should certain professors find out about our little... games, I will."

I glared at him viciously and Natasha looked like she was going to snarl before she took off in the opposite direction.

Darius walked up to Tom.

"I don't know what you're playing at, Riddle, but I'll find out and when that happens, you can say goodbye to your little plans."

"What are you going to do, set your brother on me? The one that's working as an Auror in Hungaria, right? Oh, sorry; he was captured by Grindelwald. Have you received the body yet?"

Darius glared and pushed past Tom and I, disappearing towards Gryffindor tower.

Tom smirked at me. "Come along, Evans."

I glared at the back of his head as I followed him to our 'private' rooms – the rooms that we were granted due to our married status.

"You're forbidden to tell anyone anything that I say to you in these rooms." Riddle smirked as I sat down on our lounge. "Here's the plan, Evans. I am going to be greater than even Grindelwald, even Merlin."

"Sure you are." I rolled my eyes. "And how will you achieve that?"

"Horcruxes."

"Why do you even want to do that?" I questioned, shocked.

He smiled. "I will create an empire! Dark magic will not be shunned, muggles will not lord over us. We will be the superior race."

"And what of muggle-borns and half bloods?"

"When interbreeding stops, muggleborns will also stop. Likewise with halfbloods."

"And what of the halfbloods and muggleborns who already exist?" I frowned.

"They will be killed or made sterile." He said as if talking about the weather.

I gasped. "That's barbaric!"

"That's for the greater good."

"Horcruxes can be destroyed." I pointed out.

"Not a Validus Horcrux." He smirked.

"A what?" I frowned.

"An indestructible horcrux." He translated.

"How do you make one of those?" I asked, slightly horrified. "I didn't think it was possible!"

"It's incredibly difficult." He smirked. "You need to use the blood of a member of your immediate family, a new moon ritual by a lake inhibited by Mermaids, with a unicorn as the being you murder."

"In case you've forgotten, Riddle, you're an orphan." I reminded him. "And you'll never catch a unicorn."

He glared at me coldly. "I don't need to catch one – Groundskeeper Prince has several caught for NEWT classes."

"And the family member?" I asked.

"The spell accepts the wife of a Dark Lord so long as she is his first wife and with child." He smirked.

"I'm not with child." I said flatly.

"Not yet."

DUN DUN DUUUUN.

Yes. I quite like that last line.

Reviews are wonderful. (I'm not sure if Tom was too out of character in this chapter? I know he did a massive turn around but we all know he's a little unstable. I don't think he's the type to take rejection well.)