There was only three months left until the end of school. So much had happened since Leecie and she had caught Tom beating the punching bag into a pulp. Leecie and Joe had broken up. Twice. Through both times Beth had consoled both parties. And she was still with Marcus.

Tugging a lock of hair and tucking it behind her ear, Beth sighed. Tom was in Azkaban. She smiled wanly. Sixteen and already in the wizard prison… never thought it would be possible. But, then again, it was Tom. She remembered the trial, screaming at Fudge. The thought made her blush. How she got the courage to do that she had no idea.

Beth sighed, resting her head back on the edge of the sofa. A sound echoed down from the stairs to the boys dorm. She turned her head in time to catch sight of a puppy bounding into view. He stopped and sniffed, looking about him then padded towards Beth, his tongue lolling, giving the appearance of a smiling face.

Smiling, Beth reached down and gently ran her hand over the puppy's tiny head.

"Now, who are you?"

The puppy looked around, retracting his pink tongue, then closed his eyes. To Beth's amazement, the puppy started to change. Tom looked up into Beth's wide eyes, her hand still resting on his head.

"I'm Tom, and who might you be, then?"

He winked, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

Beth gasped and began to stutter. "You… how..?" She shook her head and leant down, wrapping her arms around him and giving him a tight hug.

Tom hugged her back then pulled away gently, a grin lighting up his weary features. "So, miss me or what? And before you say it, don't go spreading this around."

He grinned and gestured with his hands, indicating that he was now and animagus. "I don't know if you've read in the Prophet lately… well, if you had you'd know… but I ain't been let out, alright? I couldn't stand it any longer so I just… kinda…" he petered off, giving a weak smile. "…escaped. I… I know you don't approve but I kind of needed to." He looked around sheepishly then looked back up at her, shifting his position. 'So how come you didn't come to visit me, eh?"

"I tried to visit you! They wouldn't let me," He face suddenly seemed to mirror Toms, an embarrassed grin replacing her initial joyful one. "I think the whole yealling at Fudge… yeah…" She blushed and looked down at her feet.

He settled on the sofa next to Beth and they both relaxed, Beth filling Tom in on recent events at Hogwarts, Tom filling Beth in on what Azkaban was like.

Tom ran his fingers through his hair, still chuckling over Beth's arguments that he and her brother Joe pampered her, then suddenly his eyes grew dark. "You seen that Mudblood, Granger, about?"

Beth raised an eyebrow. Typical Tom, always thinking about girls and his sex life.

"Nope. Why, turn you down, did she?"

She hid a quick smile as Tom glared at her and sneered. "Actually, for your information, we had an argument, and it had nothing to do with the fact that I did have a small thing with her, alright? It was nothing to do with that, actually, and I was… er… looking for her. Think we need another talk," he smirked. "Just to clarify things."

"Clarify?" Beth laughed. "Sure, Tom, sure." "She planted her hand over her mouth, giggling, watching Tom carefully.

He leant back against the arm of the sofa, talking quietly to himself. After his short spell in Azkaban, his inner monologue had been temporarily disturbed and his thoughts came clearly out of his mouth.

"Another little dose of pain, maybe until she begs to stop…" He smirked smugly, pleased with himself. Beth, on the other hand, was far from pleased. She slowly turned to look at him, her face stony. 'What? What did you say?"

She stared at him, her eyes wide. Unconsciously, Beth shuffled sideways on the sofa, putting some distance between them. Tom watched her blankly, not immediately realizing she had just heard every word he'd said. "Sorry, what?"

He smirked as she backed away again. "You're acting like you've just realized I'm an Azkaban escapee or something."

Beth just shook her head, not hearing him. "Did you hurt Hermione?" She stood and moved across the room, standing in front of the fire, a good few metres away.

"What did you do to her?"

"Now, would I do something like that, don't have much faith in me, do you?" He smirked, his eyes flashing. Beth shuddered; that look never meant any good. Tom's eyes followed her every move. "She's alright… for now. Nothing for you to worry about."

Beth was frozen. She knew, just by looking at Tom, that he had done something. And the tone of his voice, the look on his face… he scared her.

"You… you hurt her." Her eyes became suddenly distant. In her mind she could hear Tom's voice, a curse, and then screaming. Hermione screaming. "You cursed…" her voice was barely more than a whisper. Suddenly her eyes snapped back into focus. She looked at him hard and took one steady step backwards, even further from him.

"You tried to curse her."

Tom stood slowly and walked over to the fireplace, Beth moving in step, the two moving in a wide circle, so they remained on opposite sides of the room. He leant casually against the mantle over the fireplace and watch Beth, a satisfied smirk marring his face. "Tried? What are you talking about?" Tut, tut, Come on, Beth, thought you knew me better than that. Since when have I cursed someone and not succeeded?" He rolled his eyes as if torturing was not a big deal. "What I meant was she's safe. I mean, it's not like I can do anything when I'm a wanted convict. Don't want to get caught, do I?" He slowly pulled his wand from his pocket, twirling it between his fingers. "You sure you're alright?"

Beth's face was white and she was still shaking her head slightly. No, not Tom, not possible, he wouldn't… he couldn't… She slowly looked down at his wand. Suddenly, she stood up straighter, adrenaline rushing through her body. He wouldn't hurt her. Of all people, he promised her the most that he'd never hurt her. As much as she hated to admit it, Beth knew Tom loved her. She was immune. And now, she was angry.

"You disgust me! That's two girls you've attacked, what, can't fight a guy, can you? Are you really that pathetic?" She laughed loudly in his face, knowing it would irritate him.

But Tom just smiled. "Two? That it? Why do you think I keep disappearing? I mean, just about everything Fudge said that day was true. Do you really believe that I've changed that much and I'm innocent?" He smirked, amused. "And fight? Oh, no, I don't fight them. That would just be wrong. I just get the information I need out of them." His cruel smile deepened. "Don't always need to curse them, though."

Beth laughed again and stepped up close to him, whispering, her voice light and breathy. "Oh, you think you're so tough, don't you. I know you better than that, Thomas." She stressed his full name, a flicker of hate in her eyes, knowing he hated it. "You're weak and cruel and a wuss. You make me laugh just thinking about you, that's how pathetically weak you are." She rolled her eyes again, turning her back on him and standing in front of the fire.

Tom raised his eyebrows, letting the silence drag on. Then he smirked again, slightly. "Oh, you think so, eh?" His voice was icy, enough to make grown men shudder. But Beth stood her ground. He won't hurt me. He can't. She let him continue. "Well perhaps if I'm so weak and pathetic how about we set up a little duel. Between me and Flint."

He flicked his wand lazily. Beth shifted uncomfortably as she felt herself turn, forced by what seemed like a powerful invisible hand. She glared hard at him.

"Why does it always come back to you and him?" She laughed quietly and nodded to herself, answering her own question. "Oh, yeah, The fight. I have one thing to say to you, Thomas. Get over it, won't you? The rest of us are getting bored of it. It's so stupid and childish and put that damn wand away unless you're going to use it!" She stared at him, shaking with fury, her cheeks flushed.

Tom just smiled then sat down again. Beth sighed, turning back to the fire. "You going to leave or just mar the room a little longer? Because it looks better without you in it."

"You know, if I didn't know better I'd say you hated me right now." He waved his wand, turning her around to face him again.

"I don't hate you, Thomas. Just disgusted at you. And would you quit with that spell already!" Beth clenched her fists.

"No, why should I stop? It'd fun. Besides, I can make you do anything I want…" He flicked his wand again. Beth gasped at the pressure on her back and she involuntarily began to bow. She twisted her body deftly, moving sideways at the same time, breaking the spell. Taking one step forward she swung back her hand and slapped him hard across the face. "And you can have this back too!" Her fingers fumbled at her wrist for a moment before the light, silver chain around it snapped. She threw the bracelet, her birthday present, at his feet, the little angels on it tinkling as they hit the floor.

A flash of anger lit up Tom's face for a moment as he rubbed his cheek, a red mark spreading across it. "I think you should learn how to control your temper, don't you?" He leant down and picked up the bracelet, letting it sliver into his palm, gazing down at the tiny angels. Tom stood slowly, his hand closing around the bracelet, and he raised his wand. "You know I said I'd never hurt you… sit down." He pointed his wand at the table and chairs on the other side of the common room.

Beth just looked him in the eye then slowly folded her arms, staying where she was in front of the fire. Tom narrowed his eyes, becoming impatient. "That wasn't a request. I really hate doing this to you." He walked over to the table and chair, pulled out a chair and flicked his wand, slipping the small bracelet into his pocket. Beth gritted her teeth and let the spell drag her to the chair and force her into it. "That wasn't so hard, now, was it?"

Tom sat on the table, looking down at Beth. She looked so little and frail. He smiled. "Ain't your parents ever taught you any manners and to do what you're told."

She glared up at him, swallowing hard, knowing she looked weak from his point of view. "So what do you intend to do to me, Monsieur? Hurting another girl, well done, Thomas, your father would be proud!"

"Come on, that's a bit harsh, isn't it?" He reached out and let his fingers brush her cheek lightly then turned away, before she could see his face. "And all this time I thought my father hated me. I mean, after all, I was only put here to serve him. So you mean, all those times I was tortured, that was to show affection, was it? Thanks for putting that straight."

Beth grinned suddenly, her face lighting up. Only her eyes remained full of hate and rage. "Anytime! So, lets get this over with, shall we? A curse? A slap? What are you going to do, because I want this over and done with."

Tom looked back at her, surprised. "You actually think…?" But Beth interrupted.

"And once it is, then we'll decide what we're going to do. Come on, hurt me. Or are you as pathetic as dear old daddy think?" She smiled, enjoying goading him.

He scowled and hissed through hiss teeth, furiously. "Watch what you say!" He sneered and jumped off the table, once again in control. "Just the same as the Modblood…"

Beth finally lost her temper and leapt to her feet.

"Screw you, Tom! You're so vain, you think you're a gift to women when you're nothing but the curse! You're a monster, a cheat and a sleaze and I hate you, I hate you so much I can hardly look at you!" She slapped him again, this time using the back of her hand, her knuckles colliding with his cheekbone. Tom cursed under his breath, shaking with anger.

"You know, I wasn't going to do anything but that's it!" He raised his wand, and smirked. Beth gasped. A total stranger was staring out from Tom's eyes. "You asked for this… CRUCIO!"

The spell knocked Beth to the floor. She bit back her screams as her body contorted, feeling as though her entire body was on fire. Tom looked away, starting to calm himself. Beth lay on the floor after the curse passed then, using every bit of determination in her body, she forced herself to stand, swallowed, looked slowly up at him and whispered: "Daddy's boy…"

"Aren't you ever going to learn your lesson?" He slashed his wand through the air and a flash of purple light cut into Beth, slicing open her stomache. He leant back against the wall, watching her with disgust as she slumped again to the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks and her breath coming in short sobs. Beth wrapped her arms tight around her stomache as the blood seeped slowly through her torn clothes.

"You…"

She looked at him, the bravado gone, nothing but fear and pain left in her eyes. She slumped sideways, her breath rasping in her throat and her eyes closed, shivering as tears slipped slowly down her face.

Tom stared at her blankly, not seeing or feeling. "Sorry." His voice was dead and Beth flinched at the sound. "You left me no choice."

Beth coughed painfully and opened her eyes fearfully. "I thought you'd never hurt me. I trusted you that much, at least." She bit her lip and, planting one bloody hand on the floor, staggered to her feet, ignoring the pain just enough to stand up straight. "Well?" she panted. "Aren't you going to kill me?"

His heart heavy, Tom's eyes widened slightly. "Lay… lay down… lay on the sofa," he stuttered. He stared at the blood trickling from the deep wound, transfixed. "Just do it, will you?"

Looking down at her stomache, Beth's head spun and she swayed, clutching at the wall to keep from falling, a smear of bright red blood appearing on the wall. "No," she managed, steadily. "I want you out. Now. Get out of here and don't come back." She pointed to the door and suddenly pressed her hand to her stomache, her strength giving in as she doubled and cried out in pain.

Tom pocketed his wand, rushed over to Beth and, before she could react, scooped her into his arms and lay her gently down on the sofa. He hunkered down beside her. "Look, you need to lift your shirt up for me. I need to see how bad it is."

Beth shook her head, gritting her teeth in pain. "Don't… touch…" She turned her face away and sobbed quietly into the cushions.

"Look, I know you don't want me anywhere near you right now, but what else do you expect me to do? Just leave you? Now stop being so damn stubborn, and lift your shirt. Come on… I've seen it all before." He rolled his eyes, trying to hide the panic that was building up inside him.

Finally giving in, Beth bit her lip, pulling her shirt up to reveal her mutilated stomache, wincing with the pain.

Tom's eyes widened with shock. It was the worst wound he'd ever given someone. He gulped and tried for a relieved look. "It's fine… erm… just a scratch. Look, I can either do this or take you to the Hospital Wing…" He muttered obscenities under his breath, pulling out his wand. Beth stared at his wand and whimpered slightly. She had begun to shake, shock setting in.

"Do it. Just get it over with, I don't care… it's more than just a scratch," she gasped.

Tom turned away and started to mix a potion on the table, his back to Beth. She gritted her teeth against the spasms of pain ripping through her body until she was almost convulsing. Tom turned back, a disgusting green mixture in a small vial and, tipping a little bit onto a piece of cloth, begins to dab it onto the wound. Beth twisted her head away, her body twisting in pain as the mixture burned the wound. Tom looked up at her as he finished, his face white. "It should stop hurting soon…"

Beth nodded and Tom stood with a whispered "sorry" and flicked his wand, the ingredients littering the table vanishing. Beth sniffed.

"Leave. Now."

Tom stared at her for a moment or two then turned and silently walked from the room, marching along the corridor outside. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and withdrew one slowly with a frown. Lying in the palm of his hand was a tiny, delicate silver bracelet. The one he gave her for Christmas.