His gaze fell on me and my body froze. The boy from my dreams was standing meters away from me. I could make out his features clearly though. Flawless tanned skin, a messy mop or untamed black hair falling into deep chocolate eyes. I wanted to reach out and touch his cheek, but held my position. He walked, no, floated up to me and the snakes scattered. Those eyes looked me up and down. I was in such awe that I never noticed the black smoke billowing around us, spreading across the floor.

"Who are you?" He asked in a soft voice, "And what has brought you here, of all places?"

I opened my mouth, but my words were hard to find.

"D-Draco," I stammered, "Draco M-Malfoy. I was asked by a snake for a promise of some sort. I followed it here."

The boy smiled, and tilted my face up with one hand. I felt my face flush bright red and tried to steady my breathing.

"Draco, eh?" He said finally, "I know this snake of which you spoke of. He came to me, and told me of a boy who could help me. A boy who would promise. One who would promise to help me of his own will. To risk himself and his life and not fight."

To this I nodded. I understood what he meant. I was the boy he was talking about. I was willing to give everything to him. I saw him smile and knew I had done a good thing. He caressed my cheek gently with his thumb. I closed my eyes and tried to stand straight. How could he have this much power over me? Why didn't I resist. What was this promise he kept talking about?

I opened my eyes, "Who are you?"

The boy simply smiled, "Of course. How silly of me. I am Tom Riddle. I attended Hogwarts many years ago. I, as I am to you, appear as an image of who I was. A mere shadow or what I should be. Do you understand?"

I nod, but from the puzzlement on my face, he must have known I was lying. He laughed and dropped his hands to his sides.

"I didn't want to be forgotten here at school, with my work unfinished of course. My memories were put in a diary, waiting for someone to find them. Someone did, that Weasley girl. She let me out, but that damn Potter stopped me from coming back completely. He though he had me but no. I'm still trapped down here. Waiting for someone to help me. that someone is you, Draco."

"So, you're not really real? Like a mirage?

"Like a solid mirage," Tom replied. "That can touch and feel, but doesn't really have a purpose. Thus I live in the world rather as a spectator of Mankind than as one of the species."

As to make a point, Tom pulled me close and looked me in the eye. He tilted my head up with one hand and I wrapped my arms around his neck. He kissed me. My first kiss ever. I could feel his full moist lips on mine and I shivered. I parted my lips and let his tongue explore around my mouth. I hesitated but pushed back against his with mine. I was swallowed up by the scent of his skin and his taste.

He pulled away and looked at me like he didn't know who I was. He must have been thinking, because he stayed like this for many seconds. My skin crawled under his gaze and I bit my bottom lip hard.

"You're a pure-blood aren't you?" Tom finally asked.

I look at him questioningly, "Of course! The Malfoys have always been purebloods. Never has a muggle every had anything to do with my family."

Tom smiled approvingly, "Mudbloods are a very disgusting kind aren't they? Each treated exactly like Purebloods. Working with them. Even being taught at the same schools. They're a disgrace to all wizards."

"Exactly."

"Like a parasites, really."

"But," I started, "It's not like we can just get rid of them. There are lots. And you can't just go killing off wizards. People would notice."

"A desperate disease requires a dangerous remedy. Besides, we would be doing them all a favor."

I smirked. I liked how this boy thought. Then it hit me.

"How could you kill all of the mudbloods if you're just a memory."

"That, dear Draco, is where you come in. I feed off of people's thoughts and dreams. I need a little of their soul, in exchange for a little of my soul. Eventually I become strong enough to have a physical place in this dreary world."

"I'll do whatever I can Tom." I smiled, "I promise."

"There you go. You finally got it."

I glanced at Tom, who seemed to be waiting. What was I suppose to do? It's not like I gave out my soul everyday. So I did the only logical thing I could think of. I put my hands on his chest and kissed him again, long and slow. I knew it was working when I felt a sharp electrical shock down my spine. I moved my hand to his waist and he moved his hands into my robes. I moaned and moved against him. The slight spark suddenly surged and exploded in my head, and I felt myself on something cold. I opened my eyes and I was lying on the floor. I groaned and tried to sit up. My entire body hurt. When the world came back into focus, I saw two large grey eyes staring at me.

I gasped and blinked many times. Despite the pain I shot up and looked into the face I knew so well.

"Thank you," I heard my own voice say. "I never knew you'd be such an easy subject. It's a real shame that I had to dispose of you. You could have been a great help for my cause. Alas, you don't know how to survive like that. Your mind is too weak, too easily corrupted and manipulated. You're going to fade out of existence and I'm going to take you place in the real world."

I fell back onto the ground and closed my eyes. It was all a trick? I was going to die right here, but no one would know. People were going to blame me for the deaths of mudbloods. I was going to die.

Everything seemed so light. My body felt like it would float into the air. My head was clear of all thought. I couldn't move or feel anything. I felt I was spreading like melted butter. I heard Tom move towards the door I had entered through. The footsteps stopped.

"By the way, Draco. you're a great kisser." -------

The bright light of the corridor blinded Tom momentarily. He blinked and surveyed his surroundings. He was on the second floor, and daylight was shining in through the large windows. A picture of a fat man looked over and smiles.

"Well. It's nice to see you again dear boy. Back off to classes now I presume?"

Tom headed down the hallway, laughing cynically to himself. He called back over his shoulder to the man.

"Oh yes sir. It's right off to work for me."