So, first, I'm a day late. Sorry 'bout that. Secondly, also sorry that this is so much of a filler... my outline literally said "a filler". I think I need to think about my outlines again...

Anyway, thanks to everyone who read, fav'd, alerted and to the amazing people who reviewed.

The sun was shining, the birds were singing; it was an all around nice day. I should have known it would not last.

Of course, the reason for this idyll's destruction was once again an unwelcome visitor. Tom appeared around midday, fuming as he so often was.

"Lorraine," he ground out as he saw me, sitting in the parlour, the warm summer breeze drifting in through the opened window. "Finally."

"You found me," I stated. "I used to be better at hide-and-seek."

Red eyes blazing, he made the window snap shut in his fury. My gaze travelled from the vibrating glass to his hardly controlled figure.

"Why, there's no need to lose control, Tom."

"You left me," he hissed.

"I needed some time to myself," I said swiftly. "If I had left you, you wouldn't have found me so easily."

"I would never let you get away," he sneered.

"That, I don't doubt," I muttered. I got up and walked up to him, gingerly placing my hands on either side of his face. "I'm not leaving you," I stated calmly.

"You'll come home with me again."

"I am home," I said, stepping back again cautiously.

"Lorraine," he breathed impatiently, but the relative calmness did not fool me.

"Repeating my name won't make it any better," I said. "I'm not going back to Malfoy Manor."

He took a deep, shuddering breath that did not appear to calm him at all.

"You are coming back."

"No, I'm not," I said steadily.

"I want you to-"

"But I don't want to," I snapped. "In that house, spending every minute with either you or one of your deluded minions. I feel trapped, it's suffocating."

"I'm suffocating?" he said incredulously and I groaned in exasperation.

"A tad," I said sarcastically. "Not to mention completely mental."

"So," he said slowly. "You are leaving me."

I opened my mouth to deny it, but at the anger that he stirred in me, I decided against it. If he would just suffer a titbit of what I suffered through day by day-

"And what if I am?"

His red eyes narrowed to slits and I watched his fists clench. I took an involuntary step back at his expression. At that, I heard glass cracking and swiftly turned my head to see the window glass breaking.

"Tom," I breathed.

He reached out and forcefully grabbed my wrist, pulling me abruptly to him.

"Tom," I repeated. "I won't leave you, all right, I won't-"

"You're right," he ground out through gritted teeth.

"Darling, please, I never meant to leave you, I promise-"

"What now?" he sneered. "Are you trying to make up for your betrayal by resorting to nicknames?"

I stared, additionally confused by the pain from his bruising grip. Did he honestly believe that I would betray him? Leave him? How could he? How dare he?
With all my force, which definitely contained a bit of loose magic, I freed myself and pushed him back, glaring at him.

"You fool," I said. "Has history taught you nothing? I don't leave you. I don't betray you. In fact, running back to you is a nasty habit I have had my whole life. And here you go. This is exactly the reason that I want to stay here."

We stared at each other, both breathing heavily.

"I want you to go," I said finally. "I want to be alone."

"There we go," he said softly. "Now you kick me out."

"Exactly," I said. "Apparently, I do keep doing this."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "What do you mean?"

I considered telling him of Dumbledore's visit. Faced with his fury and his delusion, though, I did not feel like trading information at all.

"Nothing," I said decisively. "Leave."

"When will you return?"

"I don't know," I answered. "But I have no doubt you won't let me forget about you."

Much like when he had returned so many years ago, he did not leave me alone. Tom turned up at the most unusual times and whenever it suited him with little consideration to my liking of it whatsoever.

It was hard for him to comprehend, I assumed, that I did not want to stay in the Manor anymore. I very much enjoyed my freedom, now, even though I always had to be careful. I did not want the neighbours to spot me, afraid that someone might report me to the Ministry.

It was odd, I thought sometimes, how calm life in my house was, compared to the disaster unfolding around it.

"Evenin'," I greeted merrily, stepping into the Malfoy's parlour.

Narcissa Malfoy jumped up frantically and rushed towards me. "Oh, Lorraine, Lorraine, it's so good to have you back, we waited for you to return, in fact we-"

"Don't get ahead of yourself," I advised, smiling at her. "I'm only here to see T- the Dark Lord. Is he in?"

"I'm – I'm afraid he's not here yet."

"But he'll be?" I inquired.

"Uh – I don't – he didn't-"

"I see," I said, attempting to put a stop to her rambling. "Then I guess I'll wait. How about you offer me a drink?"

"Yes," she breathed. "Oh, yes, of course – firewhiskey?"

"Excellent," I said with a smile.

I walked further into the room and sat down on the couch. Narcissa appeared to be even paler than she usually was, I observed as I watched her prepare the drink. She handed me the glass and sank down in an armchair close to me.

"Are you going to move back in?" she asked.

"No," I said. "I quite enjoy my solitude."

She nodded shakily. "I understand."

"Tell me then," I said after taking a sip. "How's Draco doing?"

She pulled a face. "I don't think... he's not come far."

"Why, it is a desperate task."

She sniffled, trying to hide it by gulping down quite a bit of her drink. "I am afraid he won't succeed."

I sighed heavily. "I wish I could help," I told her honestly. "But there's nothing I can do."

"Thanks," she whispered. "I appreciate it."

"What's there to appreciate?"

We both looked up, causing Narcissa to pale and me to put my glass down. Tom was standing in the door way, giving the impression to tower over us even as he only stood at the edge of the room.

"Milord," Narcissa breathed, darting up from her place once again.

"Leave us," Tom ordered and Narcissa rushed out the door, squeezing past him in her hurry. Sent out of the room in her own house.

"You here," Tom said as she had left. "Normally, I have to come for you-"

"You haven't been around about a week, I was starting to grow concerned."

"Touching," he sneered.

"I knew you'd like it," I said with a smirk. "Listen – I was wondering about Christmas."

"I don't have time for Christmas," he said swiftly.

"Everyone has time for Christmas. And if they don't, they take it. I was thinking, I'm making dinner and-"

"How domestic," he drawled. "I don't think I'll make it."

"That's really very sad," I told him before getting up. "I'll go home then. I'm rather tired."

"You could stay of course," Tom offered.

"How domestic," I mocked. "I don't think I will."

"What? Trying to blackmail me?"

"No, not all. Just you don't want to come for Christmas. I don't want to stay tonight. Mere coincidence."

Our eyes met, red eyes boring into mine. "Really?"

I shrugged. "Your choice."

"Fine then. How about a compromise?"

I gasped in mock astonishment. "My, words I never dreamed to hear from the great Lord Voldemort."

"Lorraine," he growled.

I gestured for him to continue. "Please. Name your price."

"We're celebrating Christmas here."

I considered him for a moment before finally nodding. "All right. But we really celebrate. You don't turn this into a Death Eater celebration of misery."

He rolled his eyes at me. "Deal."

"Deal," I confirmed. "You know what... thinking about it, maybe I do want to stay tonight."

You know, reflecting on it, I think there was a point to this chapter. Agree? Disagree? Tell me in a review ;)