So we were in love. We spent the rest of our Winter Break together, mostly sitting on the couch before the fire in the Slytherin Common Room. Tom was the only Slytherin who'd stayed over the holidays, so we had no risk of getting caught. Getting caught, yes, that was how we saw it.

We knew our relationship would never be accepted. By no-one. Even our friends, we knew, would object and regard our love with scolding eyes. It simply could not be. Slytherin and Gryffindor were opposites, enemies even, and enemies could never be bond. Period.

It was all so ridiculous, but the worse part was, that that belief secretly was in our heart as well. But that wonderful two weeks, we didn't care. When my head was on his shoulder and his arm was around me, nothing could harm us.

At least, we thought so.

~*~

But the harm did come. And the most ironic part of it was, that it came from a quite unexpected direction.

Namely me.

Tom, I loved you and love you, and every time I looked into your eyes, I felt my love for you consume my heart, and I know that I'll always love you. Stern, old, rigid Professor McGonagall… consumed by love for the one and only Lord Voldemort? It's almost ridiculous and yet it is the truth.

I loved, love Tom Riddle.

But then Albus came.