Disclaimer: I do not own any of JK Rowling's characters. I own the rights to my original characters.

Special Thanks: chini and This Is!

Chapter 4

That night, Tom found that he could not sleep. He stared up at the ceiling and could only think of Lara. What had she done to him? Tom smiled tiredly, for, he realized that she had not done a single thing to make him feel this way. She had not pursued him like all the Slytherin girls had done. In fact, it had been the other way around.

Yet, he could not help thinking that it was possible that she had done something to him. A spell perhaps … or maybe, she had slipped a love potion into his food. No. He shook his head and turned over in his bed.

He tossed and turned that night and groaned when he heard birds twittering outside his window. The harsh blue of early morning hit the walls; illuminating his small one bedroom flat. He moaned sleepily and pulled the blankets over his face.

It was Monday morning and soon, approximately 3 hours; he would have to get up for work. But, he lingered in bed longer; wishing that she were at his side.

Eventually, he pushed himself off his bed and sat at the edge; holding his head in his hands. He had never slept so badly in his life because he always had what he wanted. He needed to have her too.

His head ached and as he dressed himself for work; he realized how dreary his life had become. A pressed grey flannel suit had become his uniform of choice, for; they were all the rage for working men. But, it seemed so out of place on him. Yet, he realized that in order to be taken seriously, especially at his young age, he would have to play a part to climb ahead. Power was at his grasp just as long as he played along for a bit.

Soon, he was out the door and walking through the streets of London. He walked into Borgin and Burke's and was asked by Burke to visit Hepzibah Smith to see if there was anything new in her collection of valuables.

He walked to Hepzibah Smith's and opened the door with a slight jingle. Hokey, Hepzibah's house elf was there to greet him. Hokey had told Tom that Hepzibah would be down shortly.

Tom politely stood in the room; waiting for Hepzibah to come down. "A grand entrance for a rather grand woman," Tom thought to himself with regards to her large size.

After several minutes, Hepzibah walked down the stairs as though she were a debutante at a coming out ball. She was a very portly old lady. She wore a highly structured ginger wig that must have come straight from 17th Century France. Her dazzling pink set of robes flooded all around her, giving her the look of a tiered wedding cake that was melting in the sun.

"Oh Tom," she sighed dreamily.

"Hello Hepzibah," Tom kissed her plump hand; causing the old woman to swoon.

She smiled and Tom could not tell if she were blushing, for, she had just added rouge to her already red cheeks. "Have you had your breakfast, my dear boy," she sweetly asked.

"No," Tom smiled; looking forward to eat something.

"Have some hot chocolate and crumpets with me," Hepzibah led him to a small table that had an elaborate tea set. It was as though Hepzibah were waiting for him.

Tom's appetite was voracious, but, to be polite he ate slowly. After two cups of hot tea and five crumpets, he was full. "Thank you, Hepzibah," Tom smiled, "I really needed that."

Hepzibah smiled and offered Tom a thermos of hot cocoa and a basket of crumpets for the road. Tom charmed, "I really enjoy our chats here."

Hepzibah smiled, "Oh so do I."

Tom smiled back, "Now back to business. Mr. Burke has sent me here to inquire if you've got any new trinkets and what not."

"Burke again," Hepzibah pursed her lips. "Well, tell him I haven't got what he's looking for. I've only got these." She pointed towards a second-rate bronze bowling trophy found in a muggle dumpster and a few amulets with weak spells upon them.

"Hmm," Tom shook his head, "decidedly not what he is looking for."

Tom studied Hepzibah closely and saw her lip twitch into a smile, "All right, my sweet boy, tis' true that I've got more than what I've just told you." She opened a curio cabinet and took out a golden cup and a locket. The cup was golden and possessed two delicately bent handles and a badger engraved onto it. The latter was a weighty gold locket with a serpentine S in emerald on the front.

Tom tried to not show the greed in his eyes as he looked upon these rare treasures. He eyed Hepzibah, who had foolishly shown these items to him, and asked, "How much for the both of these?"

"Oh," Hepzibah smiled proudly, "these are not for sale. I cannot bear to part with these."

"Name your price."

Hepzibah shook her head, "You'll be late for work, Tom."

Tom sighed and then said, "I shall be back."

"She didn't have anything new," Tom lied to Burke the minute he walked into the store.

"Well," Burke shrugged, "can't say we didn't try, eh?"

Mr. Burke eyed the thermos and basket on Tom's arm, "Did you eat there?"

"No," said Tom; not wanting to share. "I stopped by the market to purchase breakfast," he lied.

Burke nodded and did not pursue the matter. "Tomorrow morning," Mr. Burke nodded, "go see her again. Her place is always bursting with new treasures."

Like clockwork, Tom was back the next day and the next until he could not stand it anymore. He wanted to have the items.

When Hepzibah had turned her back, Tom had poured a white powdery substance into her hot cocoa. Hepzibah sat down in front of him as he said, "Name your price, Hepzibah. I would pay handsomely for those items."

"My sweet boy, I have told you that I cannot," Hepzibah took a sip of her hot cocoa and her eyes widened. She grabbed her throat as though it were burning and gasped for air. She shook feverishly and began to foam at the mouth. Soon, her limbs and mouth went slack and the cup that she was holding in her hand smashed to the ground.

Hokey, Hepzibah's house elf ran into the room to see what was the matter. Hokey grimaced at what she saw and proved to be stronger than Tom thought.

A nasty duel ensued to which Tom felt that he was at the losing end. Hokey blasted him; hitting him in the arm. Tom screamed in pain; clutching his arm and warding off Hokey's power until he knocked the house elf unconscious. Tom waved his wand in such a manner as to imbed the false memory into the creature's mind that she was the killer.

Tom swiftly grabbed the locket and golden cup and walked out the door without turning back. No remorse shown upon his features and as he caressed the locket and cup; he realized that he could not go back to Borgin and Burke's.

He knew that he would have to leave London, maybe even the country. But, that also meant no more Lara and he couldn't have that. Now that he had received what he wanted; he did not want to lose ever again and that meant Lara would have to be all his … or else.

Walking to the café seemed more arduous than it had ever been for him. He was used to walking places. But, he had never felt that he was going to pass out and this injury on his arm was making him feel very lightheaded.

Then he saw her.

He stood across the street; facing her. Through the passing crowd, she saw him, slumped against the building behind him. His wand was dangling between his fingers and his shoulders were slouched in defeat.

Through slit eyes, he saw her running towards him with open arms and his heart leapt.

She reached him. "Tom? What has happened?"

Tom was confused by her and stood rigidly; not pushing her away as his mind screamed at him to do, but, let her continue, for, to be loved was new to him and it felt good.

He cast a wary eye, "That's enough."

"Why?" She caressed his face.

Tom closed his eyes, for, though he hated anything associated with love; he had to admit that it sure felt nice.

Real nice. Too nice. Too good to be true.

Did she really love him? Or, was her love a trap?

He pushed her away, but, in doing so, he groaned in pain. For, Lara had made him forget about his injuries. Lara gasped, for, there was a deep wound upon his arm.

"A-are you okay?"

"What does it look like," he glared.

"Yes, um, you look horrible," she looked away from the blood.

He looked away from her, for; he did not understand why he felt that he could not live without this woman. Resentment entered his eyes as he turned towards her and glared. She backed away from him and he grabbed her by the waist; pulling her to his chest. His resentment faded as he deeply kissed her. When he let her go, his emotions were so mixed that he did not recall how he had become wounded.

"What is this power you have over me?"

"I have no power over you," Lara blushed.

"Sure you do," said Tom. "You just don't know it yet."

"Tom," she changed the subject. "We've got to get you healed."

"I have my wand."

"You can't heal yourself," Lara sighed. "It's too dangerous."

Lara was right, but Tom did not want to hear it. "What do you know," Tom raised an arrogant chin.

Lara lips quivered into a mischievous smile. "Let me take care of you. I want to take care of you."

He clenched his jaw, "Fine."

She placed her arm around his waist and he leaned towards her. They walked down the street and turned towards a small cottage at the end of the block.

"We're here," Lara unlatched the gate.

"Is this your home?"

Lara turned towards him, "It's-"

There was silence. Tom thought, "Well, it's better than the orphanage."

"I know it's not much," Lara hesitated. "But, I call it home."

"I like it."

"Really?" Lara smiled brightly.

"Yes."

Tom walked inside the home with Lara. "Are you hungry?"

Tom smiled, "Yes."

She turned towards the kitchen and started to make him a meal. Tom's eyes diverted towards the meal that she was preparing for him. There were kitchen tools on the counter, but, not a single wand was present.

"Why don't you use your wand?"

"Oh," Lara shrugged, "I don't use it at home."

"WHAT?"

Lara backed away from Tom, "Wh-what's wrong?"

"Why don't you use your wand at home?"

"I just don't."

"Is there a reason?"

"No," Lara looked confused, "I just don't want to get too dependent on it."

"Are you," Tom swallowed, "non-magical?"

Lara looked away, "Please don't look at me like that."

"You're a Mudblood!"

"Excuse me," Lara looked at Tom in disbelief, "one minute you tell me we're friends and the next you can't even look at me in the face. Make up your mind."

"You're mudblood."

"Stop calling me that word!" Lara turned her back to Tom. Though Tom could not see her face, he could tell that her feelings had been hurt, for, her shoulders shook as she quietly sniffed.

Tom grumbled, "Lara, stop crying … you're better than that."

"Please don't," she shook her head. "I didn't think that that would matter to you, but, you're just like everybody else."

He could not look at her without thinking that it was wrong to do so. He was a half-blood, certainly not ideal. So, did that make him a hypocrite calling Lara a Mudblood?

Lara broke the silence, "I-" She trailed off, "Here." She handed him his meal, "Eat this and get out."

She stood in the kitchen; her back to him as he took the meal into the dining room. He picked at the plate; thinking a muggle-born made this.

After some time, Lara walked into the dining room and glanced at Tom's plate (which he was beginning to polish off). She knelt beside him, wand in hand and bitterly said, "I don't want you to leave without healing your wounds."

She waved her wand; healing his arm. The gash upon his arm vanished as though nothing had happened. Tom stood up to leave, "Farewell, Lara. I wish you well."

Lara curtly nodded as she watched Tom reach his hand for the doorknob, "I hadn't pegged you for a coward."

Tom's shoulders tensed, "Coward?"

"You can't look at me now that you know I'm muggle-born. I thought you were different. You are so disappointing that it hurts to look at you."

Tom angrily turned around, "Did you actually think that something would happen from this? You're nothing to me but a passing fancy."

"Look me in the eyes and tell me that."

Tom walked closer until he was a mere foot away from Lara. He looked into her eyes and said softly, "You are nothing to me."

Lara scoffed, "That's definitely believable. Good-bye Tom Riddle. I wish-"

Before she could finish her sentence, he kissed her. Every nerve and bone in his body was screaming to turn away but he found that he could not. It was difficult for him to break away, but, when he did, he found that she had tears in her eyes.

"I have one condition." She looked up at him, "You are never to call me a mudblood again."

"That is what you are."

"And that is what you will never call me as long as I am alive."

"As long as you are alive," Tom drawled.

"This is not a joke, Tom." Lara glared, "If you insist on calling me that then I must show you the door."

Tom laughed his high-pitched nasal laugh, "You would never do that to me." Tom rolled his eyes, "You love me too much."

"I never said I loved you." Lara smiled as though she had won a carnival prize, "You did."

Tom deadpanned, "Did I?"

"Mmm," Lara smirked. "Just like a man to answer in the form of a question."

Tom sighed delicately, "Lara, we cannot be together."

"Because I am muggle-born?" Lara asked resentfully.

"Yes." Tom shook his head, "But, I cannot walk out on you. Not when I am this involved."

Please review!