Here we are with Chapter 14. For all those curious - yes, he did leave her. Yes, it was for long. And no, I won't focus on these years since it's boring without him ;)

Thanks to all those who read, fav'd, alerted and especially to those who reviewed. I know I say that everytime, but I really mean it.

"How are you doing these days?"

"Are you still going to marry this Black boy?"

"Yes, mother, I'll marry Alphard."

"Then I'm not fine."

I sighed heavily. "Please, mother."

"I couldn't be more proud." My grandmother sat down next to my mother. "Tea, darling?"

My mother shook her head. "I couldn't be more ashamed."

"She's marrying a Black. I never thought she would do quite so well."

I had enough. "I'm not a marrying a Black. I'm not marrying a good name and I'm certainly not marrying pure blood. I'm marrying Alphard because I honestly like him."

"Do you love him?" my mother asked.

I didn't know what to say. Did I love him? Probably not. But Alphard was one of the good ones and I liked him very much. It was a compromise – I knew it and Alphard probably knew it, too.

"Why, mother, what does it matter to you?"

"You can't force her to be something that she's not, Lucida," my grandmother said warningly.

"Well, you can't either!" My mother jumped up and left.

"Wow, she needs to calm down."

"She can't. She hasn't calmed down ever since Dad is dead."

My grandmother scoffed. "I haven't mourned your grandfather so much..."

"Well, gramps was already old and ill. You had your time..." Truth was, she probably had never loved my grandfather. Arranged marriage, like it always was...

"It's almost two years. She should move on."

"It's not that easy, nana."

"And when, when will the wedding be? It's time, you see... you're engaged for..."

"Almost two years, I know. It's just - we're both having so incredible much work to do."

"You are 25, it's time that you..."

"You excuse me? I have to go." She stared at me in disbelief, but I simply got up and grabbed my coat. "I'll see you soon."

"How's your mother?"

"Horrid, as always. She never recovered from my father's death."

Alphard sighed heavily. "She still hates me, huh?"

"Funny enough, she just hates that you're a pureblood. In her eyes, I couldn't have done worse. My grandmother adores you, though."

He laughed bitterly. "I'm sorry for getting you in trouble."

"Oh, no. No, no." I gently touched his cheek. "This is not at all your fault – I am sorry that I even told you."

"Strange family you got," he muttered and I laughed.

"Yeah, sort of."

He kissed me softly. "See, I have to go... lots of work. Minister Diggory has ordered a meeting."

"He's a numptie."

"Now, come on, Lorrie, don't."

"I'm just saying..."

He chuckled and kissed me once again.

"Will I see you tonight?"

"Oh – sorry. No, I'll probably be working till I fall asleep at my table."

I sighed. "Alright... pity. See you tomorrow, then."

"Yes, of course, Mr Cuffe, it'll be the first thing I'll do on Monday..."

"Monday, Monday, whenever I hear things like that – I want it for the Sunday issue."

"It's impossible, Sir, I'll never mange to finish it in due time."

He growled. "You're always later than I expect you to..."

"I always have better quality than you expect me to, Sir."

He groaned again, but obviously, this had him convinced. "You're right," he muttered.

"I promise you that the Prophet will have an excellent article on this. Tuesday. I'm doing that after the weekend..."

"Alright, Riley, head on home."

"Thank you, Sir." I jumped up. I was already quite late and I couldn't wait to go home.

I apparated right outside the building and landed safely in front of the house which contained my flat. It was surprisingly quiet all around. There was no sign of lights or any sign of life at all in the whole building. I shrugged the bad feeling off as I climbed the stairs.

I stopped in front of my door. "Alohomora!" I whispered, half chuckling at the thought of what my mother would say if she knew that I didn't use a key for my door. I reached for the light switch, but the light didn't turn on. I tried it once again. Nothing happened. Maybe there was a power outage? I glanced out the window and saw that the street lamps were lit.

"Weird," I muttered to myself. I would just go check the fuse. "Lumos!" My wand produced a wonderful little light and I felt better in no time.

That was, until I was certain to hear footsteps in the living room. I held back my gasp and instead muttered: "Nox!" Everything went dark again.

I entered the living room, my wand raised, ready to defend myself against anyone. Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind. I screamed, but a hand had moved over my mouth to muffle me.

"Relax, it's me, you're fine, it's me."

I stiffened, but didn't try to free myself anymore. Even though his voice was higher than I remembered, I recognized it at once. He let go of me.

I turned around to face him. "You're back."

He passed me, not even bothering to answer. Tom looked horrible – his eyes were nearly red, he was even paler than I had last seen him and his once handsome features seemed – washed out, less clear. Much less beautiful.

"I've come to inquire about the ring I gave you."

I stared at him. "Six years? Six years and the only thing you're interested in is the bloody ring?"

"Where is it?"

"I don't have it anymore!"

His eyes grew wide with fear. "What have you done with it?"

I didn't answer him and he pushed me roughly against the wall.

"Where is it?"

"Let go of me!"

"Tell me where it is!"

"Let go of me now."

He crashed me hard against the wall. Tears shot in my eyes, but I refused to give in. "Tell me," he growled.

"Let go of me. My fiancé will be home soon," I threatened and suddenly he backed off. "Your fiancé?"

"Yes, fiancé, shall I spell it for you?"

"How – since – who?"

"None of your business."

"Oh, well, I suppose I'll just have to stay and I'll find out."

"No!" I gasped. "You will leave him alone!"

"Yeah? What's so special about him?"

I stared at him, afraid by now. "What do you mean?"

"What's so special about him that you actually want to marry him? You never wanted to marry me."

"Well, for instance, he cares about me. I like that."

"So – basically you're with him because he likes you. That's all?"

"Relationships have been based on less."

"Where is the ring?"

"Don't worry, I hid it in a safe place. You didn't honestly think that I would just throw it away, did you?"

He waved his wand and suddenly the lights went on.

"You tried to be scary, huh?"

"Where?"

"Remember the old shack your uncle lived in? Little Hangleton? I hid it there."

"Why?" he growled.

"I wanted to be rid of it and this was the only place I could think of."

"You're sure that it's safe?"

"100 percent. Do you want a tea? Or coffee?"

"Whiskey? I need to drink on the shock."

I didn't feel comfortable turning my back on him, but I did it anyway. He would probably only get angrier if he understood that I mistrusted him. I filled two glasses with whiskey.

"There you go."

He took a nip without moving his eyes from my face. "Is it true? You have a fiancé."

"Yes."

"Will he really stop by?"

"Probably not," I admitted. "It's already quite late."

"Yes it is."

He sat down on the sofa, finally freeing me from his intense stare. "Who?"

"Alphard Black."

His eyes shot up. "I should've known it," he whispered. "You were always quite close."

I shrugged and took a rather large sip.

"How long?"

"Oh... uhm – we're together for like 3 years? Engaged for 2."

"And when..."

"We haven't set the date."

He didn't say anything, just stared into his drink with an unreadable expression.

"Why did you leave?"

He sighed. "It was complicated..."

"Don't you dare! I know you murdered Hephzibah Smith, and you stole the locket and the cup from her! You turned them into horcruxes, didn't you?"

His gaze was murderous. "I don't think that you can prove that."

"No. Because you blamed it on the poor house-elf."

"I don't think that you can prove that," he repeated.

"Only question is – why didn't you tell me? Why did you leave me?"

"Would you have stayed? I planned another murder – two, actually – just for possession. And you're oh-so-moral. You would've never approved."

"You never cared before."

"I needed these years alone. To become Lord Voldemort."

I scoffed. "That was probably the poorest apology that I've ever heard."

"Maybe that's because I didn't mean to apologise."

"You know what, Tom? You should leave. It's late."

He got up and moved towards me, only stopping when he was right in front of me. He was so close – if I would just lean in a little...

"Would you tell your fiancé to leave, too?"

I swallowed hard. "That's hardly the same."

"He shouldn't stay overnight, you see. Play the good pureblood and be a virgin on your wedding night."

I laughed bitterly. "We both know it's a little late for that."

"Oh, I know and you know – but can dear Alphard tell the difference?"

I scoffed. "I'm fairly sure he can."

"Then you certainly won't mind..." And suddenly his arms were wrapped around my waist and his lips were on mine. I didn't know how it happened but out of nowhere, he had me backed against the wall, his tongue exploring my mouth. Eventually, we had to break apart for oxygen.

"Don't," I whispered and freed myself from his touch. Curiously enough, he didn't object. He just looked... hurt. "Please don't."