I'm back! It wasn't half as bad as I had thought, in fact I had a rather good time :) Never mind that, now, I do update now.

Thanks to all those who read, fav'd, alerted and to those who reviewed. I mean it, you guys are great.

"Why again do we have to attend this stupid wedding?"

"It's not stupid and her brother had her parents invite me."

"Don't try to hide it. She invited you herself."

Tom barely scoffed and I hurried after him. I knew that Lucretia had probably seen to it herself that he was invited, but I didn't exactly mind. Though she couldn't invite me, obviously, blood-traitor that I supposedly was, she had insinuated to Tom to bring me along.

"I beg you to be nice and – adapt, as you like to put it. See, she only marries once her life."

"Are you actually caring about someone else? Tom Marvolo Riddle, I am impressed."

He glared at me but didn't respond as in this very minute Orion, Cygnus and Alphard stepped in front of us. Cygnus and Orion were actually younger than us, barely fifteen and yet, I could see the same devotion to Tom in their eyes as I saw it in Malfoy's, Nott's or Lestrange's eyes. Alphard was quite a different case, though, and I flashed him a warm smile. By the way his hands gripped my waist even tighter, almost painful, I knew Tom had seen it.

"My lord, it's nice of you to attend. Lucretia will be happy."

"Hope so," Tom muttered and passed the Blacks, still dragging me along.

"Now, darling, I thought we should be play nice?"

He glared at me. "I want you to stay with me and keep away from them."

"My, that's sweet. You're jealous."

He growled and let go of me. "I think you understood me."

"And I think you know I'm not one of your little slaves that you can order around. I'll be wherever I want to be."

He didn't say anything more, but turned around and stormed off, somewhere in the direction of the parlour, I guessed. I sighed heavily and thought about following him, when suddenly Alphard appeared before me.

"Man, he's really kind of possessive, ain't he?"

I shrugged. "From time to time."

"What do your grandparents say? He's not exactly what I'd call from a respectable pureblood family."

If only he knew. "Well, they don't really know. And you're probably right, they wouldn't approve."

He rolled his eyes. "You know, sometimes I think your parents are getting it right. This whole pureblood-supremacy stuff is just daft."

I chuckled. "Couldn't agree more."

"Come on, I'll show you something. My father's incredibly proud to have that."

He led me into a room nearby and showed me the wall. It was covered by a large family tree. My eyes wandered over the faces and names. I found all the Blacks I knew in the lowest row.

"Wow," I muttered.

"Yeah right. All the Blacks for several generations. As pureblood as you can be, I guess... see? Toujours pur. It's French, meaning..."

"Always pure," I whispered.

"Right," Alphard muttered, obviously surprised that I knew my French so well.

My eyes still wandered over the family tree and then something suddenly caught my attention. Cedrella Black didn't have a face. All that was there was a burn mark.

"What happened there?"

"Oh," murmured Alphard. "You see..."

My eyes wandered over the tapestry once again and now I found several of these black spots. Marius Black – a burnt spot. Isla Black – no face. Phineas Black – only a black mark.

"My mother blasted them off."

I frowned and turned to watch him. "But why?"

"Well. For being blood-traitors. Marrying muggle-borns or... unworthy wizards. My uncle Marius, though, he's simply a Squib, that's why..."

"And she really just blasted them off? Just like that?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, well, just like that."

I sighed heavily. In fact, this was really horrible. "I guess if my grandmother had a family tree like that – she would've done it, too."

"Can you believe that? They actually blasted them off the wall! So much for family! Aren't Slytherins supposed to be loyal?"

He looked at me without any emotion showing on his face. "Well, I suppose so. And I should think those who were blasted off were those who were disloyal."

"Disloyal?" I gasped. "That one man – he was a Squib. What's disloyal about him, it's just the way he was born..."

"A Squib, Lorraine? I wouldn't want to have one in my family."

I stared at him and then I realized what was behind his calm behaviour. "You're still mad at me."

"Why, yes of course I am!"

"For what, I may ask? I never gave you any reason for jealousy."

He growled. "It's the way that Black guy looks at you – and you encourage him..."

"I don't encourage anything. Don't you trust me enough, Tom, to know I'd never leave you for someone else?"

His eyes met mine. It was as if he tried to read my every thought in them. "What would you leave me for, then?"

I touched his cheek. "Nothing, I didn't... why would I leave you, after all? I love you."

He stared blankly at me and then got up from the couch. "I suppose I better start packing. The train leaves early tomorrow."

And then he was gone. I remained, staring into nothing. I knew these words were never going to pass his lips. Why did I have to say that?

"You attended Lucretia Black's wedding?" asked Lydia incredulously. "Why?"

"I was invited, that's why."

Lydia and Olive stared at me, as uncomprehending as my parents had when I had told them. "Doesn't necessarily mean you have to join these racists."

"I didn't join these racists. Actually, I accompanied Tom."

"Where's the difference?"

I gave Olive a cold look. I hated it when she talked bad of Tom. Maybe, because I was afraid she would see through him and give him away. I frowned. Shouldn't I be happy about at least one girl who didn't fancy my boyfriend at this goddamn school?

"Difference is, I didn't go because purebloods stick together or something. I went because my boyfriend asked me to."

"About him. How's he doing?"

"Fine. He's been appointed Head Boy..."

"Along with you? What a coincidence."

I glared at her. I had had no doubt that I would be appointed Head Girl. Tom and I were the best students of our year, after all.

"Yeah, along with me. Which is why I'm going now. I just stopped by, we have a meeting with the prefects in about ten minutes."

"Then hurry," Olive said sarcastically. "Tommy will be mad if you're late."

Sometimes I wondered why I hadn't already killed her. I got up and left the compartment to march through the train. Half-way I met Orion Black, Slytherin prefect fighting with Cassandra Ashton, his Gryffindor counterpart.

"Shut up, filthy Mudblood!"

"How dare you, Black! Stupe..."

"Expelliarmus!" I yelled and both their wands flew at me. I let them fall to the floor with a clashing sound.

"I expect you both to pull yourselves together. You can be happy that the school year hasn't yet started."

"But he...," Ashton started to protest, but I cut her off.

"I know what he said. You'll stop insulting classmates, Black and you, Ashton, will stop cursing them. No, come on, we're already late for the meeting."

"Sir, is it true that Professor Merrythought is retiring?"

"I'd like to know where you get your information. More knowledgeable than half the staff you are."

Lestrange and Avery began to laugh, but I kept to a slight smile.

"Now, Tom, I couldn't tell you if I knew, could I? By the way, thank you for the pineapple. You're quite right, it is my favourite."

This time, I had to laugh and some of the others joined me in my amusement.

"But how did you know?"

"Intuition."

Slughorn smiled and then suddenly, he looked at a clock. "Good gracious, is it that time, already? Off you go, all of you. Lestrange, I want that essay on my desk by tomorrow, or it's detention. Same goes for you, Avery."

I got up and wanted to leave, but Tom held me back. "Stay with me. I have a question," he muttered into my ear.

"Why do you need me, then?" I whispered harshly.

"Be charming."

Slughorn turned around and eyed us suspiciously. "Tom, Lorraine? Look sharp. Don't want to be caught out of bed after hours."

Tom didn't answer straight away, he seemed to hesitate. I tried not to show my concern as this was most unusual for him.

"Is something on your mind?"

"Yes, sir... you see. I couldn't think of anyone else to go to... the other professors, well – they're not like you. They might misunderstand." He interrupted himself and threw an acted insecure look in my direction. "You don't mind if she stays? I promised to walk her to her common room later on."

"But couldn't she..." Slughorn asked confusedly.

"'Course I could, Sir," I muttered. Tom wanted me to stay. I decided to play along. "But you see... I don't like wandering through the dark alone..."

He didn't question me no farther. It would've been strange if he did. "Go on," Slughorn sighed.

"I was in the library the other night," Tom started. "In the Restricted Section and I read something rather odd about a bit of rare magic... and I thought, perhaps, you could illuminate me. It's called, as I understand... a horcrux."

I stared at Tom in bewilderment. Why would he risk revealing any of his plans to a teacher? And what did he want to learn?

"I beg your pardon?"

"Horcrux. I came across the term while reading and I didn't fully understand it."

"I'm not sure what you were reading, Tom, but this is very dark stuff. Very dark indeed."

"Which is why I came to you."

"Well... well, it can't hurt to give you an overview, of course. Just so that you understand the term. A horcrux is the word used for an object in which a person has concealed part of their soul."

I joined Tom, who was standing by the fireside, much closer to Slughorn than I had, while Tom asked: "I don't quite understand how that works, sir."

"Well, you split your soul, you see, and hide part of it in an object outside the body. Then, even if one's body is attacked, or destroyed, one cannot die, for part of the soul remains earthbound and undamaged. But, of course, existence in such a form – few would want it, very few. Death would be preferable."

I decided to interrupt because I saw that hunger for information in Tom and I sure as hell didn't want Slughorn to hear it. "But how do you do it?"

"By an act of evil – the supreme act of evil. By committing murder. Killing rips the soul apart. The wizard intent upon creating a horcrux would use the damage to his advantage: he would encase the torn portion..."

"Can you only split the soul once?" Tom asked and I stared at him. Now he was really giving too much away. "For instance, isn't seven a powerful magical number..."

"Seven? Merlin's beard, Tom! Isn't it bad enough to consider killing one person? To rip the soul into seven pieces..." He stared at his favourite student and then suddenly became somewhat nervous. "This is all hypothetical, isn't it? All academic?"

Tom flashed him his most charming smile. "Of course, sir. It'll be our little secret."

Don't have anything to say, really ;)