Malfoy sat back in his comfortable chair, his grey eyes gazing at the piece of parchment in front of him. This certainly wasn't what he had been expecting at all. His long pale fingers reached the parchment for the tenth time and he read it again as if he had imagined every single word he read before.

Son,

I must tell you that I am very content with your letter, if what you wrote is somehow the truth then I shall investigate this boy. Until then, you are not to interfere with the boys plans, nor are you to bother him at all, understood?

Now, what do you think of having a new brother?

I shall arrive at Hogwarts this weekend to discuss important matters with that imbecile headmaster of yours.

Yours,

Father.

He clutched the parchment in his hand, forming a ball of paper, and then he threw it away. He felt revolted and angry. This wasn't definitely what he had in mind.

"Damn you, Riddle!" Malfoy muttered angrily.

How would it be like to have a new life? How would it be like to start it all over again? To be able to write an entirely new whole parchment on which he could write whatever he wanted, only this time he could do it more carefully, more wisely.

Or he could just read what he had written before, follow his old ways, his old paths and change nothing. Discard completely the chance to start over.

The truth was he didn't know what he was doing. He wasn't counting on losing or to be given a second chance, nevertheless there he was.

What to do now? He had many plans in his mind; he had the future in the palm of his hands now.

He was warned to follow a different path or there would be consequences. There was this temple that Tom knew nothing about. He had searched everywhere for information about it but found nothing. Not even the smallest reference.

Then there was the medallion issue. If he possessed the medallion he would become more powerful. He would possess the dead souls; he could do practically whatever he wanted with them.

After that there was Gretchen. She was different. He doesn't know what, but there is something about her. He can almost be himself around her, she doesn't seem to care what he does, and she accepts him for who he is. It was like he had found a real friend.

Oh really Tom, who needs friends?

She's not my friend. I'm just using her.

Ahm hmm … you just thought of her as a friend.

Did not.

Did too.

Did not!

Did too!!

Shut up, go away.

Okay, he was definitely loosing it.

Gretchen hated transfiguration right after Potions. Why? Because they had class together with the Slytherins.

She tried her best to ignore Abraxas Malfoy. She wondered how the Slytherins found all that energy to scowl like that all the time. The platinum blonde boy had been staring at her for some minutes now. She could feel his gaze on her as she tried to concentrate on turning her mouse into a bird.

Minutes passed by and he was still staring at her. Gretchen started to grind her teeth together and after a while she snapped.

"What? Do I have three eyes or something?" Gretchen eyes widened as she realized she had said it too loud. However she was proud of herself for facing him like that. From the corner of her eyes she could see an amused Riddle staring at her.

"You're close." He answered, raising both eyebrows and then returned to his work.

Transfiguration finally ended with a happy Gretchen relieved that she got away from Malfoy. She glanced around looking for Tom but the crowed corridor turned it quite difficult.

"Hey Gretch!" Myrtle said cheerfully.

"Hi!" Gretchen answered smiling at her two friends.

"Looking for Tom?" Melissa asked crossing her arms. Gretchen smiled weakly and nodded.

"Are you Tom's boyfriend?" Myrtle asked raising her eyebrows and grinned mysteriously. Gretchen eye widened at Myrtles question.

"Of course not, Myrtle!" Gretchen said rolling her eyes.

The three girls walked together towards the Great Hall discussing the properties of the love potion. As Gretchen spotted the dark haired boy sat at the table she smiled to herself and hurried in his direction.

"Tom!" Gretchen said as she sat next to him. "Have you finished your potions essay?"

"No, you're not copying it. Why don't you try and do it yourself?" He snapped.

Gretchen licked her lower lip. "Why? Just a tiny peek at it, I won't copy it fully!"

Tom didn't respond. Instead he kept gazing at the plate filled with grapes.

"Fine, but when I fail this class, I'm going to blame it on you." She said.

"If that makes you feel any better," He told her calmly.

"Tomm! Come on!"

"Fine! I'll let you peek into it." He said looking at her. Gretchen smiled and was about to hug him but his cold look made her think twice. "By the way, meet me at the common room after everyone's asleep." He told her with importance in his voice as she left to sit next to her friends

The small pictures which were on his desk were looking at him expectantly. Albus Dumbledore had been reading the book for some days now. Normally it takes him one day, one hour. However this wasn't a normal book.

Fawkes was resting respectably on his perch staring at the golden tome in Dumbledore's hand. If Fawkes could read he would have read "The temple" on the books cover.

Suddenly Dumbledore stood up, placed the book on his desk near the pictures and began to slowly pace along his room, his facial expressions deep in thought.

"What am I missing?" He whispered.

He had been doing that several times now. It was really frustrating not getting to any conclusion.

The auburn haired wizard sighed and walked towards the window and inspected the view. Grey and dark colors reflected in and across his eyes. As he slowly blinked his tired eyes and reopened them, one lone drop of rain dashed against his window. Dumbledore eyes widened in realization and walked towards the book one more time.

Gretchen walked down the spiral stairs arriving to the common room. She was sleepy and her stomach was growling with hunger. She had been waiting impatiently for Melissa and Myrtle to fall sleep. She rolled her eyes in frustration as she recalled their conversation about that Diggory boy.

The Ravenclaw girl looked up to see Tom leaning against the wall near the common room door. He was carrying a small bag with him and stared at her with interest.

"What?" She snapped. She was furious that he had requested her to meet him tonight; she was tired and wanted to sleep.

"Time is precious, dear Gretchen." He told her mysteriously. She raised an eyebrow at him. Sometimes she wondered if he was sane at all. He grabbed her hand and led the way.

As they walked down the corridor, Gretchen stopped. Tom stopped as well and looked at her quizzically.

"I'm hungry." She blurted out and Tom blinked.

"What?" He asked stupidly.

"I'm hungry! Can we go eat something first?" She implored him. Tom rolled his eyes and nodded.

Tom sat as he looked at the house elves preparing some food for Gretchen. They were all very friendly and happy to help. Gretchen sat in front of him. She was eating two mini chocolate éclairs and a hot cocoa.

No wonder she's overweight. He thought as he looked into her pleased eyes as she ate.

"Today is the day." He told her darkly.

Gretchen stopped chewing on the mini éclair. "Uhh waaat?" Tom tried to ignore the bits of food still inside her mouth.

"We're doing it tonight." He said, opening the bag he had been carrying the whole time, taking the book Gretchen had found from inside. He opened the book at the page he had set a small mark on it. "It says we have we have to stay near the body for the next 24 hours and only then we can see Death coming for her soul."

"Well, what If Death already came?" Gretchen asked frustrated. "It's not like that Hufflepuff girl body is still inside the castle anyway."

Tom stood up and walked towards her. "Well there's only one thing to do then," Tom said smirking. His smirk sent cold shivers through her spine, the way his onyx eyes stared at hers was scaring her.

"What do you mean?" She asked though she had a feeling she knew the answer.

"It means we have to kill someone." He told her shrugging his shoulders. His eyes were cold and unreadable. His face showed no emotion.

Gretchen opened her mouth in horror; he couldn't be serious, could he?

Everything seemed to have frozen in time. Gretchen conscience didn't seem to be working. She knew it was wrong but why wasn't anything inside her telling her so. Why wasn't that small voice that sometimes comes up and shares their opinion telling her it was wrong? That she shouldn't go forward with that lunatic plan?

Tom realized she was having an inner battle with herself. He didn't blame her; he could smell from her waves of innocence. However he knew she wanted this as bad as he wanted. She wanted her father back.

"Gretchen." Tom spoke softly startling her from her thoughts. "After we possess the medallion, we'll bring this girl back." He said surprising himself with his genius idea.

She looked up vibrantly and smiled widely.

"Oh Tom!" She whispered as she stood up automatically and placed her arms around him.

The Slytherin heir was caught of guard. He looked down to her as she hugged him. She looked so happy and this felt good. It actually felt good to help someone.

And to be hugged

Sandy McClain was a 6th year and a Gryffindor. She was also a perfect and today it was her day to patrol the halls. She didn't liked to be a perfect, at this moment all she could think of was her soft warm bed. She cursed under her breath as she thought that everyone but her was already sleeping.

If she found someone past curfew they would suffer. She laughed silently at her own bad mood.

Tomorrow would be hogsmeade weekend and she was so happy that she was finally having her first date.

Sandy walked down the corridor towards the Library day dreaming about her date when something caught her attention.

There was a noise, a noise approaching her but she could not tell from where it was coming. She turned around abruptly to the left but there was nothing.

"Just your imagination, Sandy!" She told herself as she tightened her wand grip.

The library was clear. She glanced at her watch and sighed, she had thirty minutes left of patrolling.

Szzssszzzzzz

This time the noise was much closer. Sandy turned around shakily. If someone was pranking her, this wasn't funny at all.

"Hello?" She asked. Her brown eyes were scanning the area intently. Her breathing was becoming heavier; her heart was racing faster by the second.

Ssssssszzzhhh

"S-stop it! T-this isn't f-f-funny." She chocked out the words.

Sandy started to walk faster, whatever it was coming, her guts were telling her to run away from it. She glanced behind her from now and then, the noise was still following. The Gryffindor turned around in the corner and a loud scream filled the empty corridors.

Tom and Gretchen stared at the dead body a head of them. Tom had found out she was a mudblood last week when he heard some slytherins mock her, then it wasn't hard to know the day she was patrolling her. He smirked at the dead body as he felt no remorse.

Gretchen eyes were filled with sadness and guilt. She couldn't stop looking at the dead girl face. The Gryffindor's eyes were blank, her face was pale and her open was open in horror. That snake had done it, had done it because Tom had ordered it to.

She found it extremely scary that he had control over it, what if- what if he did the same to her?

Gretchen's face slowly turned left to face Tom's.

"Don't worry. Everything will turn out just fine." He told her as he read her thoughts.

He looked back at her suddenly realizing that he wouldn't harm her. Maybe he would back then, but now he felt no real use to it.

Four hours passed by and Gretchen let out a loud yawn.

"Tom, this is taking forever." She complained. "What if it doesn't work?" Suddenly something hit her. What would they do when Death finally came? It wouldn't for sure just give the medallion to some kids. She was about to ask Tom if he knew what to do when it happened.

A scary bright light filled the chambers and blinded them. Gretchen opened her mouth to scream but no scream ever let her lips. It was cold, so cold. What was happening? It was like the chambers were running out of oxygen. Her whole body was numb; her eyes were threatening to shut down at any moment. She was fighting with all her strengths to stay firm, not to give up. She needed to see, she needed to know what was happening.

The bright light came unexpectedly and left the same way. Gretchen opened her eyes and gasped for air. As she composed herself she saw it.

There it was, bending over the girl's body, holding a golden light in his hand. The Ravenclaw eyes widened as she saw it. The medallion.

The creature was indeed the scariest thing she had ever laid her eyes on. It was wearing shred dark robes, his face, if he had one was hidden by the long hood. She could see his undernourished fingers. Panic and fear was taking over her. She turned her head around, looking for Tom.

Tom was standing on the opposite wall with his wand pointed at Death. Gretchen brought her hands to her mouth in surprise and horror. What had she been thinking? This was far dangerous than she actually thought.

"Stop!" Tom shouted. His face was serene and he was rather calm.

Death looked up to face Tom.

It laughed, and that was the scariest thing Gretchen had ever witnessed.

A/N: PHEW PHEW PHEW OK I GOT IT DONE. IT DIDN'T CAME OUT AS I HAD PLANNED BUT OH WELL, I STILL HOPE YOU LIKE IT! Please Review and tell me what you think, if something didn't made any sense so I can do better next time.

I want to thank to everyone who reviewed this story! I have over 3000 hits! It's amazing. It really is. And it means a lot. :D