It was about two weeks before I was supposed to get married to Garrett, and it seemed that he had given up on trying to get my necklace back for me. It was just as well, because I didn't want to have anything to do with Tom Riddle ever again.

Garrett, Catherine and I were having dinner at the Leaky Cauldron with a bunch of old Hogwarts friends. Garrett had his arm around me and everyone was discussing our upcoming wedding.

"It's cute," said one girl that I had sometimes talked to. "I always thought you guys would get together."

Garrett put his arm around me. "I couldn't be happier. This girl means everything to me." He kissed the top of my head.

"Me too," I said, trying to sound convincing. And suddenly I knew I was, because I felt a passion burning deep inside of me. I melted at the sight of the face in front of me, and my heart started beating quickly, like a girl with a childhood crush.

Only it wasn't Garrett's face I was looking at. It was Tom Riddle's.

At least I thought it was. I couldn't exactly be sure. He was over in the shadows and a few seconds later he was gone. But there was no denying the feelings he produced within me.

Suddenly I felt out of place sitting around with my friends. It wasn't fair. They all thought I had the perfect life, but I was inwardly tortured by things I couldn't control. Or maybe I could control them, but I liked the way Tom made me feel sometimes so I allowed myself to feel it.

All I knew was that I needed to be alone. Desperately. "Excuse me," I murmured to Garrett. "I'm going to go use the bathroom."

With that, I stood up and went into the bathroom. To my relief there was no one else around. I locked myself in one of the stalls and stood there. I looked at the walls around me and suddenly all of my thoughts came flooding forward.

I couldn't be happier. Garrett's words echoed over and over in my head. I should be saying the same thing. Hadn't I always wanted to get married, and have a nice group of friends to spend my time with? And I had good signs of getting a good job. Life was going in exactly the direction I had wanted it to go in. What I was getting was everything that I had ever dreamed of for myself.

Strange, how getting everything that you wanted in life could turn out to be so complicated. When I had imagined my perfect future, there were a few things I neglected to include. Like the romance and chemistry between husband and wife. I had pictured the perfect husband as a hard working, kind, caring, and loving young man. And that's what I was getting, wasn't it?

And then there was Tom. I absolutely hated myself for being attracted to him, and for allowing myself to think about him. I knew that he was no good, but I still couldn't help wishing I could kiss him again, even though it destroyed me last time. What was it that made me keep falling for him?

What I really wished I could do was forget all about Tom completely. The only way I would achieve that is if I didn't have to see him again. I thought that was happening until I had seen him again that night. Every time I saw him again I was right back to where I started, and I would have to work my way back up again.

For the first time in awhile the tears began to fall. I leaned against the stall door and sobbed into the palms of my hands. Finally I lifted my face and whispered, "Please, give me an easy way out."

The tears dripped down my face as I continued talking out loud, to myself. "I hardly ever ask for the easy way out. No matter how tough things get, I try to be thankful for the challenge, knowing that it will make me a stronger person."

I paused. "But this is too hard… I can't do it anymore. I don't want to break down every time I see him. I don't want to go through that. I just want to be happy."

Finally I wiped the tears from my eyes and unlocked the door. I studied my reflection in the mirror and realized the fact that I had been crying was quite obvious. I splashed some cold water on my face and did my best to smile and look happy. If I was supposed to be happy, I wouldn't let anyone know that I was really feeling otherwise.

There is nothing quite like crying alone in a bathroom stall. There is a kind of solitude in such a place, and an intimacy with your inner thoughts that you never really get to experience any where else.

When I came back to finish my meal with my friends I noticed that Garrett was missing. I asked about his absence. "Has he gone off to the bathroom too?"

Nathan shook his head. "No. I'm not quite sure where he went, but he said he couldn't stay any longer, there was something he had to take care of. He did ask that you stoop by and visit him tomorrow evening."

I looked at Catherine, and her face was completely blank. I realized that Garrett truly had just left suddenly, without any real explanation.

Perhaps he hadn't provided an explanation to them, but I had my own suspicions about where he was. There was no doubt he had probably seen the same person I had seen tonight.

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Catherine and I spent the next afternoon shopping around for flowers and other little odds and ends that we needed for the final touches for the wedding. It was like having a girl's day out, and I really enjoyed it.

We stopped for some ice cream, and then we began walking. Catherine was headed back to our apartment, but I was going to Garrett's. She would walk about half way with me, and then we would part ways.

As we strolled along night fell and the sky became dark. Catherine pointed at something off in the distance. "Look, I think someone's setting off fireworks. There must be some sort of celebration going on."

"I guess so," I agreed, as I watched the green sparks in the sky. It was then that Catherine and I said goodbye and I continued on my own.

As I got closer and closer to Garrett's, the bright sparks in the sky seemed to get larger and brighter. When I finally reached his little house I realized they were right over his roof.

I stood staring up at the green image in the sky. I didn't know what I meant, but somehow I knew it couldn't be a good thing. My stomach jolted at the mere sight of an emerald green skull that had a snake coming out of its mouth.

I began to dread what I would find when I went inside, and I almost turned around and went home. However, curiosity got the best of me and I ventured inside, my wand lit up in front of me.

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A/N: Sorry this update is a day late! I was having a bit of an off day yesterday, so I just went to bed early.

Thanks to all my reviewers, and please feel free to leave me your comments on this chapter!

There are a few references to a song from the musical "Wicked"- the song "Thank Goodness." Mostly the "I couldn't be happier" parts. I was inspired by these lines from that song:

I couldn't be happier

Simply couldn't be happier

Well- not simply

'Cause getting your dreams

It's strange, but it seems a little- well, complicated

There's a kind of a sort of- cost

There's a couple of things get- lost

There are bridges you crossed you didn't know you crossed

Until you crossed…