A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #4 Ancient Studies - Task #2:Write about someone under the effects of a love potion

Writing Club February

Lyric Alley: 23 - When you gonna own up that you got got got it bad

Disney Challenge: Loss of Childhood Innocence: Write about a loss of innocence (can be an adult or a child).

Showtime : 23 - The Fall of Saigon - (Relationship) Married couple

Amber's Attic: 30- Not a fictional character but I am hella gay for Kristen Stewart: (prompt) write about someone introverted (bonus)

Sophie's Shelf: 1- 'Drag on a Dime' - in which the contestants must create looks with thrift-store clothing. Prompt: (object) Hand-me-down clothes

Angel's Archive: 7 - The Wedding Planner - (object) lace

Warning: mentions abuse, non con

Word Count: 1045

"It won't work. He'll never love you, and forcing him to drink that won't change anything."

"It will," Merope whispered. She had managed to slip out of her father's house just long enough to meet with a witch who lived in the next village over. The witch, whose name Merope had forgotten already, came by once a month selling potions and little jars of cream.

The Muggles didn't know they were magic and viewed them as medicines. Merope had known the moment she'd seen the woman. She'd begged her, month after month, to brew her a love potion. Anything she could use to get Tom to see her. Now, finally, it seemed Merope's persistence had paid off.

"He'll love me, first with help, and then... Then I'll take away the potion and he'll love me for me," she whispered, giving the woman some gold coins she'd managed to steal from her father. He'd never notice them missing, or if he did, he'd blame Morfin. Morfin was always doing weird things. He was part of the reason she needed Tom to love her. If Tom loved her, he'd take her from that house, that prison. She'd never have to be hurt by her father's or brother's hands again.

Merope waited. Waiting was key to her plan. If she just suddenly approached Tom, he'd be suspicious. No, it was better to bide her time, to wait for the perfect opportunity. She was good at waiting. Waiting for her magic to show up. Waiting for her father to stop beating her. Waiting for Morfin's current pet snake to unwrap from her body. Yes, Merope Gaunt was good at waiting.

The perfect time came during the summer. It was hot, Tom had been out working, doing whatever he did. His carriage had come into view from the tiny window where Merope sat. She grabbed the potion, poured it into a goblet and slipped out the door.

"Excuse me sir, but you look rather thirsty. Might I offer you a drink?" she asked, holding up the goblet. Tom looked at her the way one might look at a cockroach. His nose wrinkled in disgust. Merope didn't notice, all she saw was his beautiful face, his cold eyes.

"Very well then," Tom muttered, taking the drink and downing it quickly. Merope took back the empty goblet. Tom looked down at her again, this time, though, his eyes filled with light.

"Where have you been my whole life, you beautiful creature?" he asked. Merope smiled, revealing her several missing teeth.

"Here, in this shack," she answered. Tom took her hand and pulled her easily into the carriage.

"Not any more," he announced. "You will be coming with me. A beauty such as yourself deserves better than this squalor."

Merope nodded, almost in shock that her plan to escape was working. The pair rode in near silence until they arrived at Tom's manor.

"It belongs to my father now, but once he passes, it shall be ours," he promised, taking Merope's hand and leading her inside. Her eyes widened. She had never been in a Muggle home before and everything was more than she had expected.

"It is rather impressive," Tom agreed. "Let me show you to our chambers. I believe one of the maids will be able to find something more appropriate than those rags for you to wear."

"Thank you, these are the best that I own though," she whispered.

"Now, you shall own much better," Tom answered. "I can't let my future wife wander about in rags, now can I? Imagine how that would look," he stated. Merope nodded, wondering how long it would take Tom to actually fall in love with her. She hoped it would be quickly.

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The wedding was a grand affair. Merope wore a white gown, decorated in beads and lace. Her face shone as she took Tom's hand. The vows were exchanged. Merope knew she could be a faithful, obedient wife. She'd been mostly obedient to her father, hadn't she? He hadn't been invited to the wedding. Thankfully, the ministry had come and arrested both Morfin and her father a few days before the ceremony. Merope took that a sign that she was finally free.

It was time to set Tom free also. Tonight, their honeymoon night, she would stop the love potion. She'd learned it was called Amortenia, but that didn't change anything. She still could not brew it herself and she wanted Tom to love her, to really love her. Now, with these rings and these vows, he would.

"You're freak! A witch!" Tom screamed, raising his hand. Merope whimpered, having curled into a ball in the corner. They'd consummated their marriage, a painful act for Merope, but she had done it. She'd allowed the potion to wear off. Things were not going as planned. Tom didn't appear to love her without the potion. She wondered if she had made a mistake.

"Tom, please, we're husband and wife now, please don't hurt me," she begged. She hated begging. She'd begged her father to spare her, begged her brother to leave her alone. Now, she was begging the man she loved to not hurt her.

"Why? Why shouldn't I? What did you do to me! I was to marry Lady Elisabethe Germine, and I am married to you! What did you do to me?" he roared. Merope bit her lower lip. Should she tell him the truth? Would he hate her?

"I gave you a drink," she answered. "It was a love potion, I thought... that maybe once you got to know me... you'd truly love me?"

"I don't. I want you gone, Merope. I want you out of my life, forever. Now, get before I call the constable and have you arrested."

Merope dressed quickly, grabbed the few meager things she'd entered this relationship with and ran. Tears streamed down her face as she slid back into the shack she'd once called home. Her plan hadn't worked. Tom hated her now more than ever. No one would ever love her, she was certain of this fact. She curled into a ball in the corner of the kitchen and slept, hoping in dreams, she would figure out what to do next.