The Only One

by MorningSkies

Hiding from the Carrows in the Room of Requirement, Neville Longbottom stumbles across the coffin of a young woman who looks remarkably like Harry Potter. Back in the 1940s, the bond between Tom Riddle and Victoria Potter is stronger than anything else. But how far will he go to keep her with him? And what happens when others try to pull them apart? A Tom Riddle/ OC story.

8. Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

Hogwarts, 1943

Victoria's POV

It was fortunate that Slughorn's Christmas party coincided with the final Friday of term, because no one got much done that day. All through the castle, students who had wangled an invitation were discussing outfits, dates and food. Those who had missed out were either looking glum or hanging around Slug Club members hoping to cadge a last minute invite.

That evening, Victoria, Lana and Ruth skipped dinner as Slughorn usually laid on enough food to feed a small army. Instead, they headed up to Gryffindor Tower and began the process of getting ready; they'd had to assign considerable time for this as Lana had taken two and a half hours last Christmas.

By seven o clock, Victoria was putting the final touches to her outfit. She had selected a midnight blue dress that seemed to go well with her colourings. She had weaved her thick, black hair into a sophisticated up-do and added a pair of her mother's diamond earrings. Under pressure from Lana, Victoria had even abandoned her usual flats and chosen a pair of daringly high evening shoes. She wasn't fantastic at walking in them and suspected Alfie would be giving her a piggy-back home later.

'You look great, Vic,' grinned Ruth.

Ruth had been ready an hour ago and was now lounging on her bed waiting for the other two. She had picked a surprisingly daring red dress that suited her blonde hair, and had pinched some jewellery from Lana.

Lana herself was dressing as though it was the last night of the world. After rummaging through more dresses than the other sixth year girls owned between them, Lana had settled on a slinky black number that hugged her figure. On her feet were sparkly heels that matched the expensive jewellery at her neck, ears and wrists. Her long blonde hair had been curled to within an inch of its life and styled into one of the most extravagant styles Victoria had ever seen. The overall effect was mesmerising, if completely over the top.

'Well, we won't lose you in the dark,' commented Victoria, gesturing at Lana's shoes as the light hit them.

Lana stuck out her tongue. She was in the best mood she'd been in all term; Lana loved parties.

Ruth consulted her watch that Lana had tried to make her take off; apparently it was uncouth to wear a watch to a formal party. 'We should head down soon. It started at seven o' clock.'

Lana rolled her eyes as though talking to someone of limited intelligence. 'No one turns up to a party on time.'

Sensing an argument and not wanting to start the night on a bad note, Victoria cut across them before Ruth could retaliate.

'Let's go and meet the boys at least,' she suggested. 'You don't want to keep Lestrange waiting, right?'

Lana admired herself in the mirror and shrugged dramatically. She flicked her hair and spun around, strutting across the room with an exaggerated hip shake. 'He can be patient.'

Victoria and Ruth exchanged amused looks and followed her out of the room.

There was an air of excitement in the common room amongst those who had made the cut for the party. Victoria's brothers were congregated at the fire, both wearing new sets of fine-quality dress robes. Several other students mingled around, waiting for dates and comparing outfits.

As Alfie and Mike did not seem to have appeared yet, Victoria, Ruth and Lana headed over towards James and Monty. James was leaning against the fireplace, looking deliberately cool, whereas Monty was a ball of nerves.

'Don't worry, Monty,' said James, who was clearly trying not to laugh. 'She won't have gone off you that much since you asked her two days ago. Evening girls,' he added, noticing the new arrivals.

'Is someone nervous about their date?' teased Victoria.

'Shut up,' muttered Monty, going bright red and avoiding her gaze. In a panic about going to the party alone, Monty had asked out Georgie Green, a Ravenclaw in his year, a couple of days ago on a whim. He'd been in a tizz about it every since, stressing about what they would talk about and whether she would expect him to dance.

'Where on earth are Alfie and Mike?' demanded Lana, looking up at the boys' staircase. 'If they make us late, I'll Avada them.'

'I thought no one turned up to parties on time,' pointed out Ruth.

Lana gave her a withering look. 'Boys are supposed to be waiting for girls, not the other way round.'

Ruth rolled her eyes. 'Right okay, if you say so.'

Victoria let them carry on their bickering and turned her attention to her brothers instead. 'Have you heard anything else about father and the anti-Grindelwald task force stuff?' she asked them.

Monty seemed to be too nervous to hold a conversation, but James shook his head solemnly. 'Nothing yet. It's been in the papers all week though, hasn't it? Everyone's thrilled the Ministry's finally doing something, and what an honour that it's our family leading the charge.'

'Yes, quite,' agreed Victoria politely. Although she still couldn't imagine their father leading any kind of charge, not now. He was more likely to be holding important lunches with Ministry officials in the London clubs they enjoyed frequenting to prove how liberal and Muggle-friendly they were.

'Well finally!' exclaimed Lana impatiently, as Alfie and Mike emerged from the boys' dormitories.

They had both scrubbed up well. Alfie was wearing a navy blue set of dress robes and a solid gold pocket watch that she knew had been passed down by his uncle. The colour of the fabric brought out his sharp eyes and he'd even smartened up his usually wayward hair. Mike had gone even further and gelled his hair into a style Victoria was sure he had copied from Muggle film posters.

'Evening all,' said Mike, clapping his hands together as he bounded over; like Lana, Mike loved a good party. He surveyed them all and winked. 'You all look lovely. James and Monty you look especially dazzling.'

'What took you so long?' asked Victoria lightly. She touched Alfie's arm gently.

Mike answered for them. 'Yes, please excuse our terrible manners, ladies. Alf here, forced me to play Quidditch only an hour ago and delayed us both.'

Lana looked scandalised. 'So you've kept Vic and Ruth waiting because you were too busy throwing balls around on a muddy pitch?'

'Well technically we were throwing balls above a muddy pitch.' Mike grinned at Ruth, whom he was going to the party with as friends, and offered her his arm in a gentlemanly gesture. 'Miss Vance, would you permit me to escort you down to the party?'

Everyone laughed, even Lana.

'Go on,' said James. 'I'll wait for Rebecca then we'll meet Monty's date and we'll see you down there.'

Victoria glanced up at Alfie, who was grinning at his best friend's antics. He hadn't commented on her appearance at all, she realised. He had wrapped his arm round her shoulder possessively, but he had yet to say one word to her directly.

She watched as Ruth and Mike led the way out of the common room, laughing arm-in-arm and going along with the posh lady and gentleman act. Lana followed close behind them, flicking her hair and practically buzzing with excitement. Victoria brought up the rear with Alfie, wondering why she felt so alone all of a sudden. Everyone in school said she had the nicest boyfriend. Yet why at that moment did she wish she was in Ruth or Lana's shoes instead?

/

Tom's POV

'I'm telling you boys, tonight is going to be successful all round. No one ever leaves this Christmas party without at least a snog. It's practically a school rule.' Malfoy was admiring his own reflection in the mirror and straightening the collar of his extortionately-priced dress robes.

Tom snorted loudly at the sight of him. Perhaps thinking he looked dashing, Malfoy had selected a set of purple velvet robes that had cost roughly the same as a small house. He had even accessorised with a silver-headed cane despite the fact that he was sixteen and decades away from requiring a walking stick.

Also in the dormitory were Lestrange, Avery and Nott. All three of them were wearing black dress robes and, like Malfoy, they had added family heirlooms like a pocket watch or a pair of cufflinks. They were also puffing on cigars which clogged the air with thick smoke.

Tom watched them out of the corner of his eye, feeling resentful. All four of them were as bad as each other. The boys were all purebloods, descendants of proud families who had led the wizarding world for centuries. And what did they do with that birth right? They spent a fortune on robes, showed off their heirlooms, and went to school balls with equally pathetic pureblood girls. In short, nothing they did made them worthy of their names and ancestry.

'We should go,' insisted Lestrange, extinguishing his cigar with his wand. He gave a roguish wink. 'Can't keep the ladies waiting, can we?'

There was much laughing and ribbing of one another at this. Lestrange was going with Lana Morton, his pretty half-blood girlfriend. Malfoy was taking Olive Hornby; Tom was convinced she fancied Alphard Black but Olive was not the kind of girl to go to a party alone. Avery and Nott, meanwhile, had asked a pair of best friends in the year below. Kate Matthews and Rhona Linton were also Slytherins and had been heard around the castle boasting that they'd bagged two of the Slytherin 'cool guys.'

'Let's go,' agreed Malfoy. He winked at his reflection and picked up his ridiculous cane. Tom resisted the urge to snatch it and use it to hit Malfoy around the head.

The common room was busier than usual, as the students who had not been invited were relishing their final night at school before the Christmas holidays. Olive Hornby was stood in the centre of the room looking cold and impressive. She wore an extravagant pink dress and was bedecked with expensive gold jewellery. Malfoy tried to maintain his cool as he approached her, but he withered slightly under Olive's appraising gaze. Tom could tell that she didn't think much of his robes either.

They waited for a few moments and then Kate and Rhona appeared alongside Avery and Nott. They both had pretty, eager faces and kept shooting Tom covert looks; thirty seconds after he'd been introduced, he had forgotten which was one was Kate and which was Rhona.

'Come on,' he said rather tersely. 'We were supposed to be there ages ago.'

'No one gets to a party on time, Riddle,' joked Lestrange.

Tom glared at him and Lestrange fell into an uncomfortable silence. He led the way out of the common room and heard them all follow him; he didn't particularly care if they did at this point.

He heard the party before he saw it. A loud stream of jazz music was pouring out of Slughorn's office, helped by the door which had been propped open for guests. As Tom ducked through the doorway, even he was momentarily impressed by the sight that greeted him.

Slughorn had certainly used an Extension Charm this time because the room was only a little smaller than the Great Hall. In one corner, a lively jazz band performed with gleaming instruments and a gold plated speaker. A hundred candles floated through the air, bathing the dungeon in an attractive light, and a series of drapes and decorations had been hung along the exposed brick walls.

Lestrange took a step into the room behind Tom and whistled loudly. 'Sluggy outdoes himself every year, doesn't he?'

A tray of champagne suddenly floated through the air and landed at Tom's elbow. Aware that evenings like this relied upon his gentlemanly persona, Tom handed one each to Olive, Kate and Rhona before helping himself. He took a sip and felt the alcohol spread to his fingers and toes; he didn't usually drink much but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling.

'Tom, m'boy!'

Tom fixed his mechanical smile as Slughorn bounded across the room like an excitable Labrador. His outfit made Malfoy's look plain. Slughorn had gone for a scarlet smoking jacket with straining mother of pearl buttons, a pocket watch that seemed to have diamonds on its chain, and a small velvet hat that perched jauntily atop his round head.

'Come with me, Tom. There are so many people you need to meet.'

Tom permitted himself to be led across the room by Slughorn towards a small group of visitors. There was Madam Boot- the Ministry witch whom Tom had met at a Slug Club dinner earlier in term- another witch whom he vaguely recognised as a player for the Holyhead Harpies, and a tall, dignified looking man who seemed very familiar.

'...and this is Charles Potter, Head of the Auror Office,' beamed Slughorn. 'Charles and I go a long way back. He's here as one of my guests. Charles, this is Tom Riddle, the most promising student I have ever had the pleasure to teach.'

Charles Potter smiled at Tom and offered a hand; he had a firm handshake. He was tall and formidable, despite giving off an amiable attitude, and he looked remarkably like his children. Tom had already known he was Head of the Auror Office but he didn't know much about Potter as a man; Victoria had never mentioned her parents to him.

Potter gave Tom an appraising stare. 'Horace tells me that you could be very well suited to the Auror Office, Mr Riddle.'

Tom tried to look modest and came out with some nonsense about the Auror Office being an honourable career choice. In his head he sized Potter up and knew that, when they inevitably crossed paths at some point in the future, he, Tom, would easily come out best. Tom understood that Potter had had a long career in Magical Law Enforcement and had been something of a champion dueller in his youth, but now he looked like the kind of man more accustomed to joking with the Minister for Magic than tracking down Dark Wizards.

'I'm sure you know my son, James,' said Potter proudly. His tone made it clear that he expected everyone in Hogwarts to know his eldest son.

'I know your daughter better,' said Tom lightly. He took a sip of champagne with the vague feeling that he was enjoying himself.

'Tom and Victoria are Potions partners,' explained Slughorn cheerfully. 'My best two students.'

'Jolly good,' said Potter amiably. He glanced over Slughorn's head. 'Ah there she is. Now. I wonder where James and Fleamont have got to?'

As Tom turned to follow Potter's line of vision, it took all his self control not to react. Victoria Potter was walking into the room, cutting through the crowd as if she were the only one there. Tom had never seen her look so good. Everything about her appearance seemed to have been designed to tempt him. Her dress robes were the precise colour to compliment her mother of pearl skin. Her diamond earrings drew his eyes to her delicate jaw line and outlined red lips. She even moved with poise, despite a pair of dangerously high heels.

Tom felt his temperature rise and his collar was uncomfortably tight all of a sudden. He took a sip of champagne to try and regain his head. In that moment all he wanted to do was take Victoria in his arms and run his hands along her porcelain skin. Tom took another gulp of alcohol and reminded himself that her father was standing a couple of feet away.

/

Victoria's POV

As soon as they entered the lavishly decorated dungeon, Lestrange appeared from thin air and swept Lana into a fierce snogging session. Ruth, who had been standing right next to Lana, took an alarmed step back and rolled her eyes at Victoria.

'Yes, hello to you too, Lestrange,' whispered Victoria sarcastically while Ruth laughed.

'Yes! I knew Slughorn would bring out the good stuff!' Alfie reached for a glass of champagne that was floating through the air and downed half of it at once.

Mike snorted at his friend and handed two more glasses to Victoria and Ruth. 'Drink up, ladies. I have a feeling we'll be treated to a lot of Lana- Lestrange snogging tonight. I'd get heartily drunk if I were you.'

Victoria grasped Ruth's arm suddenly. 'Oh dear God will you look at Abraxas Malfoy?'

Malfoy was holding court amongst a group of Slytherins, drinking champagne very quickly. He had dressed most unfortunately in a set of purple, velvet robes that made him look like an oversized child's teddy bear.

Mike noticed where they were looking and snorted again. 'I don't think Olive looks too happy, do you?'

Olive Hornby, Malfoy's date for the evening, had edged as far away from him as she could. Victoria watched her throw her date a lack of utter disdain; it could not have been clearer that she was regretting her choice.

'That's what happens when you'll only date purebloods,' sighed Victoria. 'You have to take what you're given.'

'Don't worry, Vic. You've got the best pureblood in school,' winked Alfie, as he helped himself to a second glass of champagne.

Victoria was about to reply with a quip when a familiar face caught her eye. 'What on earth is my father doing here?'

Alfie looked over and stifled a laugh. 'I thought he was busy chasing after Grindelwald?'

Victoria rolled her eyes. 'So did I. Come on, I better go and say hello.'

'I'll join you in a minute,' said Alfie, looking slightly uncomfortable. 'I think I need a couple more drinks inside me before I face your father.'

Victoria was taken aback for a moment. Alfie had met her parents on several occasions, both when they were a couple and before when they'd just been friends. As far as she was aware, he'd always gotten along well with them. In turn her father was a big fan of Alfie; Charles Potter prided himself on moving in liberal circles and adored that Alfie was the first Gryffindor in the Black family for over two hundred years.

Out of the corner of her eye, Victoria noticed Ruth and Mike exchange a look as well. 'Come on, Alf,' joked Mike. 'You won't be popular if you don't say hello to the in-laws.'

Alfie shrugged and drank more champagne. 'Look, this is meant to be an end-of-term party. Slughorn only invites outside guests so he can show off, and I don't see why I should spend my last night of term making polite small talk when I could be getting pissed with my friends instead.'

Victoria stared at him for a long moment. Despite her promise to herself that she'd give up Legilimency for good, she found herself dipping into Alfie's thoughts... will be such a fucking boring night... just want to get pissed with Mike... Olive looks so hot, so much better than Malfoy... wonder why she settled for him...

'Fuck you, Alfie,' muttered Victoria so only he could hear. Then, before anything else could be said, she turned on her heel and wove through the crowds towards her father.

She was not going to run back to Gryffindor Tower and spend the night crying into her pillow over Alphard bloody Black. No, Victoria was going to enjoy the final evening of term with her friends and not give a fuck about how idiotic her boyfriend was.

Victoria walked determinedly through the throngs of people drinking, joking and laughing. The crowds seemed to part for her and she heard several people call her names in greeting. Victoria waved back, suddenly aware that she looked good and that others had noticed.

Slughorn and her father were standing in the centre of the room with the captain of the Holyhead Harpies and Madam Boot from the Department of International Magical Cooperation. All four of them were drinking champagne and chatting away amongst themselves and... Tom Riddle.

Victoria gulped as she took in Tom's appearance. Even by his consistently high standards, he looked amazing. His robes were likely a tenth of the cost of Malfoy's, and yet Riddle made them look like the highest quality tailoring. His thick dark hair had been combed smartly back off his forehead and his eyes danced in the low candlelight. Victoria watched as he laughed politely at something Madam Boot had said; the poor Ministry witch was enraptured, gazing up at Tom as though she didn't quite believe what she was seeing.

Slughorn noticed Victoria first. 'Ah, Miss Potter. Welcome, welcome. Tom beat you down here I'm afraid. Now, let's see. You met Madam Boot last time and I'm sure you know Angharad Jones of the Holyhead Harpies. Then of course you're familiar with my special guest.'

'Hello Victoria, dear,' smiled Charles Potter. Not being one for hugs, he gave his daughter a formal peck on the check.

'Hello father,' she smiled mechanically. Most parents would have realised that turning up unannounced at a student party would be the height of embarrassment for their children. Not so for Charles Potter. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself and did not look like a man tasked with hunting down Gellert Grindelwald. In fact, he gave the impression of not having a care in the world, rather than being a senior government official charged with a deadly task amidst the worst Muggle war the world had ever seen.

'I was just talking to Mr. Riddle here,' explained Charles, gesturing towards Tom with his champagne glass. 'He tells me he knows you well.'

'Does he now?' Victoria chanced a glance up at Tom through her eyelashes; he grinned back at her.

Charles didn't notice the exchange. 'Anyhow, Victoria, Horace invited me tonight and I thought it would be a good opportunity to see you and your brothers.' He gave Slughorn a pained looked. 'My job is so unpredictable at the moment, Horace, you see. I'm not able to spend as much time with my family as I wish.'

Slughorn clucked sympathetically. 'This is indeed a terrible time. One hardly knows where to turn now that Grindelwald has been spotted on our shores. I for one was very taken-aback. Yes, I was very shocked indeed. One felt reassured when he was just operating on the continent, but to think that he's turned his attentions to us.' Slughorn gave a great shudder, while Victoria did her best to keep a straight face. The fact that the European wizarding community had been struggling against Grindelwald for years seemed to cause Slughorn little concern.

'A terrible time,' echoed Tom, fingering his champagne glass thoughtfully. 'I don't suppose there is any news on Grindelwald, Mr Potter? One doesn't know whether to trust the, say we shall, authenticity of the Prophet at times like this.'

Charles Potter sighed deeply. 'Between you and me, Mr Riddle, we are no closer to apprehending the man. Not that that's surprising. The French have been trying for four years, of course. The war makes it harder what with Muggles are raining bombs down all over the place.'

'Can't we do anything about that?' asked Victoria. 'Surely we could help?'

Charles Potter gave her a rather patronising look. 'Yes, it's instinct to want to help our countrymen at this moment of crisis. But the Minister has insisted that we remain neutral. Not that that has been easy for him, what with the Muggle Prime Minister badgering him at every turn.'

'Well maybe we should just help, then,' said Victoria stubbornly.

Her father and Slughorn exchanged exasperated looks that infuriated her. 'The thing is dear,' said Charles in a patronising voice that he clearly thought sounded kind. 'There are forces at play here that you cannot possibly imagine. We have to tread carefully, very carefully indeed.'

With the confidence of a couple of glasses of champagne inside her, Victoria was about to throw back a retort. She was interrupted, however, by the arrival of James. He was now accompanied by his date, Rebecca Corner, who was looking very pretty in a pale blue dress and matching heels.

'What on earth are you doing here, father?'

Charles Potter smiled down at his favourite child. 'Good evening, James. I was just telling your sister that Professor Slughorn invited me and I thought it would be a good chance to see you.'

Charles clapped his son on the shoulder and was soon introduced to Rebecca. In the midst of all the fawning, Victoria moved closer to Tom. 'Got any excuses to get me out of here?'

Tom raised an eyebrow and took a sip of champagne. 'Leave it with me.'

Tom cleared his throat and held out his hand to Charles Potter, who was still enraptured by his prodigal son. 'It was good to meet you, sir. Victoria and I are just going to say hello to Roman Baulder whom we met at the last dinner.'

Charles shook Tom's hand. 'I'm sure I'll talk to you both later.' He spared Victoria the briefest of smiles and then turned back to quizzing James on his latest Quidditch performance.

Since Slughorn was now engaged in conversation with Madam Boot and Angharad Jones, Victoria and Tom were able to slip off without anything else being said.

'Do you want to join the other sixth years?' asked Tom.

'No way.' Victoria grabbed his hand and pulled him through the crowded room. She led the way to a quiet area decked with drapes and ducked behind one of them.

'Any particular reason why we're hiding behind a sheet rather than mingling with Slughorn's guests?' asked Tom sounding amused.

'Listen Tom, at the moment I don't need you to be charming or funny or sarcastic. I just need you to keep passing me champagne and let me rant at you.'

Tom made an open gesture with his hands. 'I'm all ears.'

'I'm just so fucking fed up of everyone. Alfie was late to meet me because he couldn't drag himself away from the bloody Quidditch pitch. Then, when he did deign to show up and go to the party with me, he point blank refused to talk to my father. Not only that, but I looked into his mind and he was leering at Olive Hornby, thinking that she looked really hot tonight. Then, when I finally tell my idiot of a boyfriend to fuck off and go and talk to my father instead, he treats me like a stupid child. Did you see how fucking patronising he was, when all I asked was why we weren't helping the Muggle war effort? I mean, it's not like that's a silly question- it's what everyone's fucking talking about at the moment! And now James has arrived, I don't get a look in. Because it's all about James, he's the son my father wanted, rather than the disappointment of your eldest child being a girl. So James gets everything, all the attention, all the focus. And he will get everything when father dies, the house, most of the money. It's just so fucking unfair.'

Victoria finished her rant and took a deep breath. Then she downed the glass of champagne that Tom had just pressed into her hand. 'Thanks.'

'No problem. You just said fuck five times, you know? I counted.'

'Well fucking lock me up. I know nice pureblood girls aren't supposed to swear in public.'

Tom snorted. 'Somehow I don't class you as a "nice pureblood girl." I'm fairly certain they're not supposed to get drunk on Firewhiskey or use Legilimency on their boyfriends either.'

'Am I being irrational?'

Tom sighed and leant back against the wall. He checked around to make sure no one could see them, but they were well concealed from the main party. 'No, you're not being irrational. I honestly think you have a lot of frustrations to put up with.'

'I do,' agreed Victoria. She sighed dramatically. 'Everything just annoys me, Tom, everything about this life. Fathers who favour sons over daughters. Professors who collect prized students. Ex-pupils who come back to these parties because they've got nothing better to do. People who are too cowardly to say what they think and do what they want.'

'That doesn't have to be your life,' said Tom quietly. He was looking at Victoria with a burning intensity, as though he had never seen her before.

'It does,' she sighed. 'What else is there for me? In ten years' time I'll be married with a couple of children, probably having given up work. They'll be nothing for me to do except come to these things and pretend I'm sixteen again.'

'You're sixteen now. All those choices are ahead of you. If you don't want the life that's laid out then take a different path.'

Victoria took a step towards Tom. They were so close their bodies brushed one another and she could feel his warm breath on her cheek.

'What about you Tom? Everyone says you're going to leave school and become Minister for Magic, but I don't think that's your plan. What do you want?'

'Everything,' he breathed. 'I want everything. I want the world and I want you.'

Then suddenly the remaining space between them had disappeared. Victoria would never know who instigated it, but they were kissing and it was kissing like she had never known. One of Tom's hands was at her waist, the other was tangled in her hair; strands of her immaculate hair-do were tumbling about her face but she could not have cared less. The sensation of their lips pressing against one another was exquisite, like Muggle fireworks exploding. Victoria's hands gripped Tom's shoulders as though, by holding him to her, she could make this last all night.

But then, as quickly as it had started, it was over. Tom was the one to pull away, his hair dishevelled, his lips red. He stared down at Victoria as though he wasn't quite sure what he was seeing.

'I need to go,' he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. And before Victoria could do or say anything, Tom Riddle ducked out from the drapes, strode across the room and left the party.

A/N:

Okay, first of all, apologies for the delay in posting this- it's taken a while to write plus I've been very busy with work and other commitments recently. I'm hoping the next one will be up in the next few days and it will explore the aftermath of Victoria and Tom's first kiss.

Once again, thank you thank you thank you to those who have been clicking favourite and follow. I'm kind of taken aback by how many people have done that so far considering only seven chapters have been posted. So thanks again.

If you're feeling nice, please leave me a review!