A/N: Sorry, but there's really little James in here. He's going to come up more later. Don't worry. And I'm taking a really long time writing this because I've been packed with so much work!

Previously: Remus saw Tom burning someone to flames. What happens next?

As soon as the words "This meeting is dismissed," escaped Tom's mouth, Remus started to run as fast as he could back to the Hogwarts building. The wind slapped his face as he ran with all the might his legs provided. He was too afraid to look back. Perhaps Tom had seen him run away, or even worse-perhaps Tom had seen him and decided to immediately chase after him. Remus stumbled over a large branch at some point during his run. He fell, hurt, and got back up as quickly as he could, trying hard to ignore the searing pain in his arms and legs.

He finally entered the building and safely got back to his dorm room. He did not know what to think nor did he know what to do. He was thinking of telling James, begging for forgiveness, agreeing that he had been correct the whole time. But he could not bring himself to do that. He sat on his bed, wide awake for almost two hours before he drifted off to an uncomfortable sleep.

The next morning, he woke extra early to be sure to talk to James before anyone would be able to hear. He woke James up at around six am. It took a while to successfully wake him, but he finally managed to.

"Remus…what time is it?"

"It's six o'clock."

"What? What the hell are you waking me up so early for?"

"I need to speak to you. It's important."

"Can't that wait?"

Remus stood silent for a short moment before grabbing James by the collar. "It's bloody important!"

"What is it?"

"You know about Tom? All those horrible things you've said about him? You were right. You were right the whole time. They were true."

"What the bloody hell are you talking about!"

Remus heaved an enormous sigh before explaining once again. "There was this enormous time period where you didn't act quite like yourself. Sirius and I asked you what was wrong. You told us about Tom and everything. We didn't believe you but now I'm finally convinced."

James was still very confused. "I didn't say anything about Tom."

"Yes you did! How dare you deny it!"

"But I didn't!"

"Don't make me angry now, James."

"I seriously do not know what you're talking about."

Remus let out another sigh. He left to go back to his own room without a word, disappointed and exasperated. He felt sad; nobody believed him and nobody was listening to him. He then understood how James sometimes felt. Remus felt very alone, isolated in his own little place. There was noone to confide in, there was noone to speak to.

It was lunch time, and Lily and Tom were wandering together around the school. Tom

was in a very bad mood, obviously because his potion was not ready, but of course, he

wouldn't admit that to Lily.

"You seem to be in a bad mood."

"I am."

"Can I help in any way?"

Tom shook his head. "No, no I don't think so."

"Are you sure about that?"

Tom looked at her for a moment. He didn't want to endanger her in any way. He shook his head again. He realized that he was also sad because it was very near the end of the school year, and he would have to spend the summer without her. They sat down at a bench nearby.

"Tom, listen…I want to propose something to you."

"What?"

Lily took his hands into hers. "I know you hate the orphanage, and that you'd stay here at Hogwarts for the summer, but what if I bring you home, hm?"

Tom was a bit shocked at her proposal. He badly wanted to go to her home and live with her, but he had to also drink the potion and work on spells and enchantments at Hogwarts. Besides, he hated muggles. They were the ones who treated him so badly at that orphanage. Originally, Lily's parents were against him, if you so recall, but Lily really brought her grades up and wrote to her parents that it was Tom who had helped her in her studies.

Noticing the silence, Lily continued, "You can meet my parents. They already agreed to it. They're afraid to meet you, but they're willing to."

Tom shook his head. "I'm not so sure if that's a good idea."

"And why not? You're one of Hogwarts' best students. You're a role model, you're practically perfect! My parents are bound to love you!"

"Lily, I don't care whether your parents love me or not," he said, more rudely than he had meant.

She looked down, a slight pain in her expression.

He continued, "Even if your parents hate me, I'm not going to leave you. They're not going to affect our relationship in any way…"

"But it's not just that. I mean, this way we can spend time together, and hang out."

"Hang out and do what?"

"I don't know…take a walk in the park, go to the beach… It would be so lovely. It would mean a lot. Besides, I think that can bring our relationship to a further step. You do love me, don't you?"

Tom sighed. "I'm…actually busy. I've already made plans for the summer and-"

"So why not just do whatever you planned to do with me?"

"Oh no, you wouldn't understand."

"What wouldn't I understand?"

How was he going to explain to her that he planned to increase his knowledge and power in magic just to be the strongest wizard in the world? Lily was too weak for that, too vulnerable to even bear the idea. So he had decided to talk about something else, but something similar.

"Lily, we're going to our seventh year, correct? Where do you imagine yourself to be after that year? What do you imagine yourself doing? Where do you think you'd live?

And with whom?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I really don't. I haven't given much thought to it. All I know for sure is that I'm going to be with you. Perhaps we'll live together, do some work, get some jobs, continue our magic… I remember we talked about this earlier, but it wasn't very clear. I was thinking of just being a normal muggle again, one who knows of magic, and how to use it."

Tom winced. He definitely did not want to take part in a muggle life, never. Seeing his reaction, Lily continued, "but of course, I'm going to be with you, and I know how you have this certain…thing…against muggles, so we'll lead lives as a witch and wizard."

Actually, before Lily had even entered his life, Tom had imagined his life to be one of solitude, where he would roam the world alone, searching for power, meeting new wizards and witches and making deals with them about magical spells…But things changed. Perhaps he can gradually persuade her to be evil? To join him and willingly approve? Yes, that was what he had to do. That was his plan.

"Lily," he said, "I'll think about your proposition."

"Alright," she sighed, hoping his reply would later be positive.

They were in Potions, both the Gryffindors and the Slytherins. It was the same day, and the teacher, Mr Warwick, was taking attendance. There was someone missing from class.

"Could someone please tell me what happened to Drake Barkin please?" he asked.

Drake Barkin was obviously the boy Tom had burnt with flames to ashes the previous night. Tom's followers nervously looked at each other, then at Tom. Heseemed perfectly relaxed and cool as he put his head back and crossed his arms in such a casual manner.

"Tom Riddle, since you are the Head Boy, you have certainly verified the entire Slytherin common room and dormitories, correct?"

"Yes, Sir."

"So have you seen him?"

"I have not, Sir. I thought he left for class, like all the others. And if he went anywhere, he didn't inform me."

"Well if anybody sees him, tell him to come see me."

Without suspecting anything bad has happened to Drake Barkin, Warwick soon began the new lesson. In the middle of it, Remus was watching Tom quite cautiously, being specifically aware of Tom's actions. Noone noticed this, not even Tom, except for Sirius.

"What are you doing, watching him like that?" Sirius asked.

"What?"

"You're not in love with the bloke, are you?"

Remus snapped out of it. "No, of course not! I'm just being attentive, that's all."

"Of Tom Riddle?" Sirius laughed mockingly. "What? What is it that's so interesting about him?"

"Shut up. Stop making fun of me. This is important."

"What's wrong with you?"

"Look, remember when James accused Tom of all those horrid things?"

"Oh please. Don't remind me."

"Well you're about to be reminded. I believe James now?"

"Now? Out of the blue? After several months and all of a sudden you're convinced?" Sirius whispered loudly.

The people around shot him looks and Sirius immediately excused himself. He then continued talking to Remus, but in a much quieter tone. "What's gotten into you, Remus?"

"You realize that James stopped talking on that, right?"

"He gave up, that's all. He finally decided to stop his little annoying charade because he knew none of us liked it."

"I don't know his reason, but what I'm saying is that I've given it some thought and I did a bit of um…Tom Riddle spying."

"You spied on the Head Boy? I bet it gave you nothing."

"Actually, it gave me a lot. It's completely convinced me that Tom Riddle is an evil maniac who seeks nothing but power."

"And what did you see?"

Remus lowered his head to make sure that nobody, not one person, would be able to hear, especially Tom, and whispered, "I saw Tom committing murder. Drake Barkin."

The conversation between the two of them went quiet for a very short moment, then Sirius retorted with a laugh. Remus gave a small punch on his arm and ground his teeth. People, once again, shot them looks.

"Hey, some of us are actually trying to listen!" a boy angrily whispered nearby.

Sirius apologized once more for his disruptive behaviour and told Remus to talk about it later at lunch in the Great Hall.

It was lunch time and the students were enjoying their meal in the Great Hall.

"So tell me, how did Tom kill Drake?" Sirius asked Remus teasingly, but quietly so that noone could hear.

"He burned him to flames."

"Oh please. That's the worst thing you can come up-"

"Sirius, I saw him!" Remus exploded, causing several people around to look at them oddly.

Remus apologized before they went back to their own business of eating.

"So you saw him kill Drake eh?"

"I saw him kill Drake alive."

Sirius had much trouble believing Remus, but he looked at his best friend and saw nothing but deep pain and horror in his expression. A chill sled down his spine.

"You come with me, ok Sirius? You come with me one of these nights and we'll spy on Tom together. You'll see that I was right? Ok?"

Sirius nodded, not knowing what he had just agreed to.