So, guys, I hope you started the new year all right :) Thanks to everyone who read, fav'd, alerted and most of all reviewed! On we go.

Tom was fuming when he met me later that day.

"You promised not to embarrass me," he yelled.

"You were going to kill her," I said quietly, unwilling to match his tone.

"I have," he spat and I wondered if he enjoyed rubbing his wickedness under my nose.

"I know," I said. "I never doubted you would."

"You disobeyed me in front of my followers, you spoke against me and you-"

"I told you," I said. "I don't belong."

"I just want you to pull yourself together," he said forcefully. "She was just a blood-traitor, telling us to mingle with Muggles-"

He broke off, stunned as my palm connected with his face. Sometimes, even I could not quite believe the nerve of me. I glared at him as his eyes narrowed dangerously.

"You dare-"

"I dare," I spat. "How can you talk like that? How can you – knowing how I grew up? How can you, considering your heritage? Do I have to remind you of the Muggle blood flowing in your veins? Did you steal your magic as well, yes? All that magnificent power, you stole it?"

"Are you suggesting-"

"I am suggesting that you're a hypocrite."

We stared at each other, both breathing heavily in our anger. Tom's red eyes were blazing, but I did not give in.

"So you say I'm wrong," he said finally. "My values are wrong? My goals are wrong?"

"Of course they are. I know you know it, too. You're not stupid, Tom."

We were both silent. What else was there to say, really? Nothing had changed over the past fifteen years. Everything was different, but nothing had changed.

I shook my head slightly, more at myself than at him.

"I'm so tired of fighting," I told him.

"Well, let's not."

I scoffed. "Right."

I turned around to leave the room, but he grabbed me by the shoulder and forcefully turned me around again.

"Don't turn your back on me!"

"I should have turned my back on you ages ago!"

We glared at each other again until I finally threw my hands up in defeat.

"Look, we should just... forget about it."

"Maybe you should just stay away from our meetings from now on," he suggested.

I nodded stiffly. He swept past me and left without another word.

I was pacing up and down in the parlour, waiting for their return. He wanted to kill Harry Potter, obviously, but whenever he tried, it seemed to go wrong. Needless to say, I was worried.

The door opened and Tom strode in. I rushed towards him and hugged him close, relief flowing through me.

"I'm so glad you're okay," I whispered into his chest.

"I'm fine," he said. "I'm fine, relax, I'm fine..."

His grip on me tightened and I pressed further into him. But his grip grew even tighter; I gasped, realizing that it got hard to breathe. I looked up to find that it was not Tom at all; it was his horrible snake, even larger and more terrifying than usual, choking me.
I screamed.

I gasped as I awoke, alone this time. What the hell was going on?
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm down my breathing and frantic heartbeat.

I got up and tapped into the kitchen for a glass of water. My eyes landed on the calendar. It was July 27. He actually was out there right now, trying to get the boy. I sighed heavily, pressing my hands down on the counter to steady myself. I did not want to worry, not after all that went down the other day. I found myself wishing the numbness I had felt for weeks after Azkaban had remained; if it had, I would not be standing here right now. I would be lying comfortably in my bed, sleeping without a care in the world.

I shook my head at myself. It was senseless wishing for these things.

"Lorraine!" Narcissa appeared to be very pleased by my arrival. "What a surprise – I didn't think we'd see you again so soon..."

"Well, I had to inquire how it went-"

"Oh," she said and her smile dropped. "Well..."

"Many?" I inquired.

"How many are many?"

"One, I'd say."

She bit her lip. "We've lost several. And many are injured..."

"Is he around?" I inquired.

Narcissa nodded and pointed me to the drawing room. I sent her a wary smile and walked in. She had not lied when she said that many were injured. Several Death Eaters were lying on quickly conjured cots, faces pained and pale. I looked around and found that Tom was standing at the far end, with Bellatrix standing next to him and whispering hurriedly to him.
As I turned my eyes away, I found that her husband was lying on a cot nearby, bleeding profusely from a gash on his arm and he sported several more cuts.

I stepped closer and he blinked up at me, confused.

"You're not the healer," he managed hoarsely.

"No, sorry," I said. "Maybe I can-"

I grabbed my wand and swiftly conjured a pack of bandages. I reached over and wrapped them around his arm. "That'll do it until there's a healer seeing to you."

"Thanks," he muttered.

"Welcome," I said. "Just a friendly turn."

He attempted to laugh, but it was more of a cough than anything else. I looked over to Tom again and found that Bellatrix was still talking.

"Are you up to paying me back?" I asked.

"Depends," he said.

"I'll send your wife over."

"You're no friend," he deadpanned.

I smiled wryly and got up. "Sorry, mate."

I got up and walked across the room, which took up a long time due to the very restricted room.

"Hey," I said as I reached the two of them.

Tom's eyes widened slightly, though I doubted that anyone else noticed. Bellatrix glared at me, though.

"What?" she said. "Came to gloat?"

"There's nothing to gloat about," I bit back. "Your husband asked for you."

Her brows furrowed and she glanced across the room. "Really?"

"Yes," I said. "His arm doesn't look good, you know?"

She sneered. "I'm no healer, I don't see why-"

"Bella," Tom said softly without even looking at her. "You should grant Rodolphus' request."

"Yes, master," she said at once, her eyes dropping obediently. She walked away and I heaved a sigh of relief.

"I pity Rod," I said.

"Well," Tom said coldly. "What do you want?"

"I came here to check on you," I said. "What happened?"

"They used Polyjuice Potion," he said bitterly. "They had seven Potters and we had to split to get him-"

"And-?"

"We failed," he spat. "Look."

He pulled out what had once been Lucius Malfoy's wand. I stared at the sorry remnants and then looked back up at Tom.

"How-?"

"I have no idea," he growled. "Just the two wands connected and... Ollivander promised the connection was due to the twin wands-"

"Well, maybe the connection runs deeper," I said thoughtfully.

Tom's lip curled dangerously. "There has to be a way to kill that boy!"

"Maybe it's not meant to be," I said.

"I don't care if it's meant to be," he growled. "Only one of us can live! I'm going to make sure that's me."

"Our destiny is often met in the very paths we take to avoid it," I told him.

He groaned and turned to observe the room before him. "So what? You came here to impart your wisdom?"

"Merlin knows you need it."

He huffed. "I'm not avoiding any destiny-"

"You're trying to escape death," I said flatly. "I'd say you're avoiding all right."

He sneered but did not answer and I was thankful for it. I did not want to fight, not again.

"At least we took Moody down with us."

"Moody?"

"Mad-Eye, you know? The Auror?"

"Oh," I said slowly. "Yes, I've heard of him."

Tom nodded, more to himself than to me and then added, "We got the boy's owl, too."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Great. Now you kill animals. You're an animal murderer."

He sent me a stern look and I gave him a small smile in return. His lips curled in amusement. I chuckled and I was sure that if he did not have to keep up appearances, Tom would have laughed as well.

Just for the record before anyone gets upset, right, Hedwig's death was one of the saddest things to ever happen in that book. Or any book for that matter. Was that really necessary, J.K.?
No owls were harmed in the writing of this chapter.