Author's Note
Chapter 11! We're actually getting quite near the end, and I still haven't decided what I want to happen. But anyway, enjoy!
I own no HP characters...

Harry was less upset about the idea than Gwen thought he would be. She had expected him to be angry, to be furious at Tom for even asking her to go with him, let alone the fact that she was going to be accompanying the future Dark Lord to a party. It's very weird to find yourself excited about going to a party with a handsome young man who would one day grow up and kill hundreds of people, including your parents.

"Just be careful." Was all Harry said when she told him. He looked torn. Like he really wanted to say he was unhappy with the situation, but he knew some benefit would come of it.
"Besides, that way, you can keep him from coming back to the dormitory early while we search for the diary." He added.

Gwen hugged him "I'll be fine. Don't worry about it."

Inside she felt tormented. She really liked Harry. Liked him a lot. And everyone knew about their "relationship". Students they knew said it was mature and they were both lovely people, etc etc. They were a perfect couple in Gwen's mind. But something about Tom just seemed so much more emotional and mysterious and dark. He was, dare she say it, tall, dark and handsome.

She daren't tell Hermione about it, she would scold her and tell her to be extremely careful. That it was a bad idea. Gwen knew it was a bad idea. She didn't need someone to tell her that. Besides, Hermione was usually with Draco now, studying or just talking together. They often went "missing" after dinner some nights. So she simply told Hermione that Tom had invited her to go, and she had accepted only for the goodwill of their purpose. She had been thinking of their mission all along.

Meanwhile, she had been secretly working on her costume. She had found a seamstress in Hogsmeade who had sewn the basic gown for her, but Gwen would have to attach the embroidery and details. It was a good thing she had learned spells for this sort of thing when she was young. Her mother had been good at muggle embroidery, but had preferred to use sewing spells when she could. She had taught them to Gwen, knowing it was a practical skill to have.

It was only a few days until Halloween, and the leaves outside Hogwarts had all turned. It was still nice outside, nice enough that many students were gathered around on the lawn. Some down by the lake, some sitting on the steps or under the trees. Gwen and Hermione had come outside to study, while the boys played a game of quidditch with some others. Hermione had just left to go speak to "Professor" Dumbledore, as he was known back then, when Gwen saw Tom approaching.

"I knew I might find you out here." He said, taking a seat next to her under one of the trees next to the lake. "I have something to go with your costume."

Gwen arched an eyebrow. "What?"

He pulled a fold of green fabric out of his robe and hand it to her. It was heavy. Gwen unwrapped the fabric, eyeing him the whole time. He just smiled back in that secretive way of his.

She folded back the cloth and looked down. Inside was a thin circlet of what looked like real gold. Gwen took in a sharp breath, the autumn sun hit the gold and it shown brighter. It was beautiful. No, exquisite was more the word she was looking for.

"Tom, where did you get this?"

"Don't worry about it." He replied, taking the circlet out of her hands and placing it on her head "Every legendary queen needs a beautiful crown, Guinevere."

She instinctively reached up, feeling the weight of the crown there on her head and smoothed her hair down. Tom reached out and brushed one of the reddish-gold ringlets away from her face. Their eyes met for a few seconds and suddenly Tom stood up.

"I'll see you in class then." He said abruptly, before turning and walking away swiftly.

Gwen watched him go, confused but feeling very honored, to say the least. She quickly took the crown off and wrapped it back up, tucking it into her bag with her books. She didn't want anyone to question who it was from. Especially Harry or Hermione.

Later though, when she was alone in she and Hermione's room, she took the crown back out and put it on her head. She looked at herself in the mirror. Long curled hair topped with a circle of gold, all framing deep green eyes. She really felt like Guinevere, torn
between Arthur and Lancelot.