Previously... Cho gave Tom a chance and finds that he's not actually that bad of a person while Tom fends off a ghost of her boyfriends past.

Chapter 14- Guilt and Weaknesses

Guilt.

That was the overwhelming feeling that enveloped Cho like a prickly blanket as she lay in bed that night. Not fear from the boggart or contentment at seeing Riddle have an expression other than emptiness and bitterness. It was just guilt – guiltiness for betraying Cedric's memory by having these thoughts about him.

Cedric had been more than a silly crush to her, and when he came back from the Third Task unmoving and cold it had almost broken her spirit completely. People would call her weak, say that she would get over it; but Cho knew she never would. There would always be a part of her heart that yearned for the grey eyed boy who was also her best friend and confidante. He was there when other's weren't, a comforting presence that understood her so completely that Cho felt as though she knew him longer than the few short years they spent together. Even though she had been a young girl of 15 when he passed, Cho could truthfully say that she loved him with all her heart and if things had turned out differently, she knew that they would have married after graduation.

But things hadn't turned out the way they had planned, so why did Cho feel guilty? She had felt guilty when feelings for Harry arose and what good did that do? It had made her paranoid and distracted and even though Harry was too nice to say it to her face, she was not fun to be around. She cried and grieved and the only glue that held her together even left and married Ginny Weasley. She knew if Cedric were here, he would want her to be happy but she still couldn't let herself, and especially not with someone like Riddle.

Expelling the air out of her lungs, Cho turned to her side while hugging her pillow close to her chest. Riddle. She hated thinking about him as every time she did, it would lead into a sleepless night. But sometimes it was as unavoidable as a plague, and after that night's events, it was certainly unavoidable.

He suited his name for he was a riddle. Enigmatic, mysterious, cold and even psychotic on one occasion but these were all things that Cho were used to until tonight. Tonight he had shown her a different facet to his personality and even though it only lasted for a few short moments, it was unmistakeable. There was vulnerability in him tonight as he spoke to her and for once Cho believed that was the most honest and truthful he had ever been with her. Usually there was wall around him, a mask that protected him from whatever he was scared of. His indifference stopped other people from getting close to him and Cho was one of those people but now she wasn't so sure. Was there more to Tom Riddle than her suspicions? Would it be terrible if she genuinely wanted to be friends with him? And more importantly, would he allow her in?

And what of Dumbledore's words tonight before she encountered the boggart? She had originally come to him asking for progress on her situation but it was clear that he was otherwise preoccupied. There was hardness to his usual twinkling blue eyes and serene smile and she observed weariness about his limbs. She had asked about it, and he had told her. Cho had chided herself in his office, not believing that she could possibly forget that this was the height of the war led by Grindelwald. Even though she knew Dumbledore would triumph in the end, she couldn't tell him that lest it would change something. In the end, Dumbledore had promised Cho he would further look into a way to get her back to her time after she revealed the small bits of research she had been doing on the matter. They bade each other goodnight but just as she was about to exit his office, he called her back and asked her a strange question.

"What do you think of our Head Boy?"

Cho had stammered back a reply, something about him being resourceful and kind and other lies that she couldn't recall now. She remembered how Dumbledore had knowingly smiled at her then, giving a small nod and murmuring something to himself before waving her off. Even though it was a seemingly innocent question, Cho felt nervous and flushed when faced with it.

Glad that there was no one here to see her embarrassment, Cho slid further beneath her covers and closed her eyes while willing herself to go to sleep.

Weakness.

That was what it was. Being with Cho Chang was a weakness that he could not afford and tonight had been evidence of that. He tried to push away that strange warm feeling inside of him as he remembered her soft laughter and smiling eyes but it was impossible. For some reason that Tom could not fathom, Cho Chang brought out parts of him he didn't know he had – a goodness that he was sure didn't exist till now. She made him want to care for her, and while Tom knew that was a long way from what 'goodness' was, it was the beginnings of it and the feeling scared him more than he would like to admit.

For now she would just be a distraction but then the distraction would lead to a problem and the problem could lead to a catastrophe, and that was not a chance he could take. His plans had been set in motion for such a long time that he didn't take into account some silly notion like a girl.

But she wasn't just a silly girl to Tom and he knew that if push came to shove, he would not be able to completely abandon her to recklessly pursue his plans. On the other hand, Tom knew that no matter how many scenarios he dreamed up or how persuasive he could be, Cho would never accept the ideals he had created for him and his followers. While she was pureblooded, as reported by Orion, he could not imagine a girl with such delicate sensibilities to share the same fervor that his followers attained. She obviously had nothing against mudbloods or muggle filth, associating with them without prejudice and even partaking in actual friendship with them.

He didn't know the exact moment when, but somehow along the way she had wormed her way into his thoughts at an alarming rate, swarming his very being like a plague. It became more than a game to him, more than finding out why she was so guarded. He found he genuinely enjoyed her company – her soft Scottish accent that became more pronounced when she was tired, the spark in her eyes when Tom didn't agree with her or even the seriousness he saw in her face as she completed an essay or piece of homework. She was just like every other girl at Hogwarts in some respects but vastly different at the same time and Tom found himself wanting her far above the rest.

But even as Tom contemplated these ridiculous thoughts, he couldn't help but wonder if she returned the sentiments. As charming as he knew he was, he was acutely aware of the fact that Cho Chang was an attractive person that could potentially attract many suitors that may pose a problem to him. Even if Tom consciously made the decision to somehow include her into his future plans, there was no guarantee that she would agree to it. Furthermore, from the evening alone, it looked as though Cho Chang's heart already belonged to another.

Cedric.

The unfamiliar name that she had breathed with such longing and love that it made Tom's insides churn with foolish jealousy. He yearned to know more about him – who he was to her and where he was now. But how could he ask her that without triggering some sort of suspicion on her behalf? Perhaps it would be best if he didn't question it – after all, Tom knew better than anyone else that some secrets were better left untold.