Time can change a person even if it's only by a small amount and it can be done in many different ways. Something inside me changed but it wasn't time that changed it; time made it worse.

We talk about catalysts; a point in ones life where something happens to evoke change. The major catalyst for me is the murder of the Riddles. You would think that I shouldn't really feel guilty about their deaths but I play as much a part in it as their killer. Even a year on, their deaths have lingered in and out of my conscience constantly eating at me like I was the one who had killed them.

I found myself watching Riddle closely and re-playing childhood memories in search of the person who would be un-emotional enough to kill; my findings were blatantly obvious.

As a young boy, Riddle used to take things from the other children as mementos or 'trophies' as they are often referred to, after he had inflicted pain upon them; he had indeed told me how he often made the other children hurt and he had even tried to hurt me too.

Then there was that red something that gleamed in his eyes every now and then which I couldn't explain but continually confirmed that Riddle was hiding a darker personality beneath his charming exterior.

I kept wondering what it was that stopped me from seeing all these tell tale signs but that answer couldn't be more obvious either; I was blinded by love and it is love still that stops me from running away.

My love never wavered even though my heart ached knowing I was in love with a murderer. He constantly re-assured me no more murders had been committed yet the sudden appearance of a ring on his finger told me otherwise but I dared not bring it up.

Though despite all this Riddle had shown no remorse or guilt and seemed as normal as ever despite him being a wizard. However I did my best to keep things normal.

As usual Christmas came far too quickly but with it came the marvelous snow and the desire to walk through it.

Riddle had taken my hand and we walked through the falling snow anticipating his nineteenth birthday this new years eve. We were both extremely quiet as we walked hand in hand looking up at shimmering lights as somewhere far away the sound of carolers echoed.

"Would you mind a change of scenery?" riddle asked abruptly.

Puzzled I looked at him "you mean go somewhere?"

A smile spread upon his face as he pulled me closer "yes"

"Are we going to-"

He finished my sentence for me "apparate? Yes"

A horrid look swept across my face as he giggled holding me tight. That horrible constricted sensation came over me once again and just as I thought I would never breath again it stopped and I was breathing in that familiar smell of country air.

Looking up, I saw that we were beneath that familiar lone tree where Riddle and I had once…well expressed our love for each other.

Memories of that particular jaunt flashed before my eyes along with the darker memory of that manor, where the Riddles were found dead, which stood opposite the tree.

Blocking images of dead people and other things I turned my attention to Riddle who was staring at me, the moon light shinning down upon his beautiful face.

"Why did you bring me here?"

The only reason he had brought me here last time was to…well you know.

"I wanted to ask you something" he mumbled his eyes suddenly drawn to the ground, some part of his face looked slightly nervous not at all in his character.

Frowning in concern I edged closer "ask me what?"

Surely he wasn't going to ask me about the murders was he? Perhaps he was going to ask me why I was feeling guilty for him? Fear was clawing its way up my throat.

He looked up at me a loving look in his eyes. I remained uneasy; it had been a while since Riddle had given me a look like this.

He came extrememly close his warm breath in my ear "marry me Bethany"

A wave of shock washed the fear away and drained the colour from my face too. of all the reasons why he could have brought me here this was not one of them! My breathing was suddenly elevated like I had just run a marathon and my voice was lost in the sea of shock.

"Bethany?" he whispered again.

It was incredible I had found my voice at all "I-I-I don't know what to-to say"

"Say yes" Riddle whispered again.