Dumbledore's POV

"Have you heard, Dumbledore?" Professor Binns whispered in my ear as we gathered with the students into the Great Hall.

"Yes, it's tragic." I solemnly replied.

"Their ghosts are wondering about it. Myrtle hasn't left the bathroom since she crossed over."

Professor Binns and I stood next to Dippet as the rest of the students gathered in and took their seats. Tom walked the Slytherin boys in and sat down at his table. He had a smile on his face, but I disregarded it as blissful ignorance. The boy didn't know. He looked around the room, sitting up high on his seat to peer at all of the heads. I began to take a head count myself, revealing that Mishka wasn't in here- although neither was Danny or Grey. Tom appeared to come to the same conclusion and his fists tightened in his lap.

All of the school took their seats and looked up at Dippet as he cleared his throat to speak. Tom frowned deeply as he was forced to give up his search. I began to worry slightly for the girl. It's bad enough that Tom was holding her hostage 24/7, but it's even worse for her to be missing. At least we all knew where she was before.

"As gossip may have informed you all, Hogwarts and Beauxbatons have both lost their champions Pre-tournament." Dippet sniffed. "This tragedy is under investigation as we speak. If you see Aurors in the hallway, do not speak to them or distract them from their task. Anyone under suspicion will be taken under Auror supervision until the culprit of this horrendous crime is prosecuted."

Dippet's sadistically sarcastic tone was sickeningly blunt. He was never in favor of Myrtle, and her being our champion only worsened his distaste. "Regarding the tournament, since no trials have taken place, we will have to pick two new champions for the schools who have lost their champion. So without further ado- Hogwarts' new champion is…"

I could see out of the corner of my eye that Tom was beginning to grow anxious. His fists balled up as he eyed the flames that grew larger and more powerful. They spit out a piece of paper that spun in the air and floated down into Dippet's hand. He looked at the paper as if it were an idol. Dippet looked at the name and took in a breath to announce the champion; Tom held his.

"DANNY HOUSE!"

The disappointment on Tom's face turned swiftly into blood- curdling, brow-raising passionate anger. I myself was pleased at the distance I had from him- and pitied the Slytherin boys who surrounded him. He was truly frightening at that moment. One day that boy would have to learn to tame himself, otherwise he was going to end up in trouble.

"And from Beauxbatons-"

Tom looked up, all anger had subsided and now only what appeared to be fear spread across his face. Mishka was the only person who could calm him- keep him humane. In a way, it was good she was with him, even though it was bad for her health.

The Goblet erupted furiously and the flames rose up and scorched everything in close proximity. Dippet stepped back to keep himself from being burned by the rippling flames. The paper was born from the chaos and fell down from its height. Dippet caught it in mid-air and looked down at the name. "Mishka Gryffindor," he said lamely.

I had lived a long life, seen many things and been in many predicaments- but never in all my years have I seen a man throw such a tantrum as Tom began to.

"BULL SHIT!"

He slammed his fist down on the table and stood up above all the students. A few of the Slytherin boys slouched their heads down (most likely a habit they developed from dealing with Tom's anger.) He marched over to Dippet who seemed shocked by the temper Tom was having and ripped the paper out of Dippet's hand. Dippet stepped back knowing not to try to scold him at this time. Tom read the name to himself, then crumpled it up and threw it down on the ground. His foot crashed on it in an effort to demolish what had already been done.

"SHE IS NOT A CHAMPION!"

Dippet only looked at him with his jaw slightly a gape. "The Goblet has chosen her, what is done is done-"

"SHE'LL DIE!"

Tom pointed at Dippet in a threatening manner, "Don't even think about it old man. You don't even deserve to think about her- nobody does!"

Tom's tantrum was going too far. He was only embarrassing himself at this point.

"Tom-" I intervened. His eyes blazed into me and my blood ran cold. He stared at me with such ferocity I nearly felt the urge to look away.

"Don't."

It was short but it got the point across. Tom retreated out of the room as all eyes watched him with curiosity. I didn't follow him- trusting my instinct to stay away from danger. Tom threw open the tall doors and raced around the corner and out of everybody's sight.

Immediately the room broke out into speculative chatter and Dippet looked at me blankly. "What just happened?"

I blinked and looked absently at the door, "Tom lost."

Tom's POV

I was running quickly through the halls. I have to find her- I have to hide her. If anybody get's in my way I'll kill them. Danny and Grey are dead, I'm going to bury them right next to that mudblood. AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING! I'm going to kill that fucking snake- I'll make belts out of its skin and hang every low life in this school by them. How dare Dippet even think about her- he has no right! NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO THINK ABOUT HER!

I gradually began to run slower until I stopped completely. I was in front of the moving stair cases. I looked up, seeing all of the diverging paths that I could take, but there was no sure way of knowing which way led to Mishka. My fingers clasped around my cloak and dug into my rib cage. I bent over and howled as I felt my heart beating through my chest. I felt like I was having a heart attack, my world moved fast around me and I was falling behind. This bond, this connection that once held me to Mishka wasn't working. I could once close my eyes and see through hers, know where she was without asking, and no every thought she was thinking as she was thinking them.

So much has happened I turned and rested my head against the stone wall. I felt the cold temperature press through my forehead and the smooth textures brace my skin. My mind was racing, I felt my head grow light and memories flood my eyes. Things that have happened that I could never recall before were suddenly playing before me. But I couldn't understand why- it was as if my mind was trying to explain what was happening to me.

I was outside, and I was short- my feet were treading a gravel path… and Mishka was next to me… this…it can't be?

"You act arrogant and brave to cover up the fact that you're hollow on the inside. Do you think I haven't noticed? Suddenly you lose your only friend and family member and you start to act out and try to get everyone's attention. You're depressed, and I can help you."

"At the cost of my dignity! You dropped me, you made it clear that I was no longer of any use to you, and that you didn't want me in your life anymore. If I let you back I'm letting you use me! And who knows, you left me once you could do it again!"

"I won't."

"And why not?"

"Because, there's no escaping you! There is something about you that I need; just something you have within in your stupid green eyes that keep me coming back- that makes me need more than just your popularity." He looked away briefly in shame, and then looked back at me. He looked at me almost as if he were worried about something. "You feel it too, don't you?"

I paused and felt the connection that was buried deep in my chest. It was there, and was tightly gripping onto my organs; squeezing them, straining them. "…yeah."

"This feeling makes me calm, and gives this…invincible feeling. Before Hogwarts, before Dumbledore, I felt like there was no breaking this bond; I didn't want to break it. But then, when I saw the school and the opportunity, I thought I didn't need you. I was overconfident and believed that it wasn't you who made me calm and strong but just magic itself. But when I walked away from our connection, I felt angry and disordered. There is something about you that makes me feel powerful. I searched every book in the library and I can't find one syndrome that fits. You're like a disease, an incurable, malignant, cancer!"

It all was clear now, what had happened to us.

I stood in front of Dumbledore's desk, young and naïve. This memory was long forgotten in my self conscious. "There are two kinds of magic, Tom. Light and dark; good and evil. Intentional and unintentional. Intentional magic is easily manipulated, and so can be good or bad, depending on the reason of creation. While unintentional magic, as it so happens, is mainly pure since it is done without spite. I believe you and Ms. Gryffindor, while spending so much time with each other inside the orphanage, found yourselves manufacturing a form of unintentional magic, something that connects your souls so that you know each others thoughts and feel each others pain."

"And what magic is this, Sir?"

"I don't think at your current age and maturity that you would understand the name. Just know, this connection is something that most cannot create these days, it's become rare, especially at your age. If this connection is allowed to grow strong, immortality and prosperity will grow from it's roots."

I love her, that's what he was talking about. I want to hold her and never let go, but at the same time I'd like to ring her neck until her lips turned purple. I want kiss her- hit her- feel her- hurt her, I'd kill every man in the world before I let one touch her. She's the only thing in the world that keeps me sane, but she is the reason for most of my insanity. Without her- I don't know what would happen.

This trauma through, all of the pain of Azkaban and the loss of everything she ever loved. Her disease has poisoned her mind, and she lost the will to preserve it. I opened my eyes, almost as if it were the first time, and looked up. How could you forget that you love me? How could you, Mishka! I didn't want to believe it was all over, that I had lost her for good. There can be no way that she could just forget that we had a future together. I did nothing to deserve this spite! I did everything for you! This numbness- it's only from not seeing her in so long. She still loves me, if I concentrate hard enough I'll find her!

I focused all of my energy into one singular goal, finding her. I tried to tie a knot in our connection, trying to bring myself to look through her eyes again- but I felt like I was only confusing myself further. My mind raced through images but only one stuck out. Mishka was lying down on a cot looking up at the ceiling. She looked so young… but I chased after the image regardless. I ran up the stairs, tirelessly pushing my legs to climb higher and higher. I was growing out of breath by the time I stopped. I was on a plat form with a portrait of a pudgy woman sang a ballad of intolerable screeches that made all of the other paintings flee. I pulled my wand out and stared at her as she stood in my way.

She stopped for a moment and eyed my cloak- particularly the green emblem of the snake. "What are you doing here, Slytherin?"

"Let me through." I warned.

"Gryffindors only, and you need a password." I had had enough of her yapping. I flicked my wand at her causing her portrait to tear and singe. She screamed out and fled from the doorway, causing the painting to unlock from the wall and open. I stepped into the red and gold common room. I peeked around remembering the concert that once occupied the room and the staircase that held Mishka and me captive. Calmer than I had been all day I walked up the stairs solemnly and nostalgically. I listened to my footsteps pat down on the steps making the drumming noise that caused panic in me years ago. The music began to play- and then cut off abruptly. I heard a stampede come from the down stairs and yelling echo the room.

Mishka's voice cried out, "Tom?!" and I opened my eyes to reveal I was once again in the Gryffindor girls corridor. I looked around for Mishka- only to realize that there wasn't a single person in the room. I looked everywhere, not wanting to acknowledge that my instinct took me to the wrong place. I tore apart the beds, dumped out chests, and looked outside the window before I finally came to realize that my heart was only taunting me now. Only the ghost of Mishka was here, whispering in my ear.

"You were everything to me."

"… No… I still am! I DIDN'T LOOSE YOU," I bellowed but as I looked around Mishka was gone, her ghost had vanished. I was alone, not only in this room but as a person. "I couldn't have lost you…" But as I dug deep, I realized- and this time I understood, Mishka no longer loved me, I was alone.

…I can't find her- I can't protect her-I can only love a ghost. I lifted my wand out of my pocket and carefully aimed it at her bed.

"Incendio."

I'll take everything away from her until there's nothing left for her but myself. She'll have no choice but to love me than. She'll love me again- she will.

I walked away as the fire burned the small cot, and spread to the curtains, and the rug, and to the other beds. The Gryffindor girls wing was on fire, and my only hope was that it would take the whole school with it.

A/N: Happy Saint Pattys day