AN: Here's chapter 6 up, hope you guys enjoy it! Please review after you've read it, thanks!

Chapter 6: Memory

Gisele remained mute as she watched Minnie's body being whisked away by the Ministry officials. She let herself be dragged to Professor Dippet's office, unable to truly comprehend that her best friend had just been murdered.

"Honey, I understand that this must be hard for you, but you must try to help the professors here. They want answers just as much as you do," soothed Aunt Gina. She had flown here immediately when she heard what had happened. Gisele just buried herself into her aunt's chest and sobbed.

"Gisele, dear, could you tell me if you saw anyone near the body when you found it?" Professor McGonagall asked kindly. She shook her head.

"No," she replied, her voice breaking. "We went to look for her because she'd been gone an awfully long time and then I just saw her lying th-there." Gisele broke into a fresh round of sobs.

"Who's 'we'?"

"Me and Riddle." After some more questions, Gisele was sent straight to the Hospital Wing to be treated for shock.

"All right, dearie, this time I will make sure you are a 100% better before you leave the Wing," fussed Madam Pomfrey. Gisele was still mute and only nodded her head. Suddenly the doors to the Wing burst open.

"GISELE!" yelled Nellie as she and the other girls ran towards her. "Are you alright? Is it true that Minnie was murdered?" her voice breaking with the last sentence.

"Minnie's dead," Gisele replied monotonously. Nellie sank to the ground.

"How could he have killed her? That cold-blooded psycho deserves to die," she wailed.

"He?" Gisele asked curiously. "Who do you mean 'he'?"

"Well it's obvious who killed her. It was that Riddle," Nellie accused.

"Hang on, who said anything about Riddle killing her?"
She gave Gisele a patronizing look. "Don't be so daft, Gis. He hates Muggleborns. And Minnie would've been an easy target. After all, we heard that it was just you three alone in the corridor; he could've easily done it," Nellie replied.

"But he didn't do it. He was with me the whole time," pointed out Gisele.

"Are you siding with that maniac? Tell me Gisele, are you supporting that psychopath who killed your cousin, tried to kill you and now killed your best friend? I wouldn't believe you to be the type who would side with the person who killed your friend. You have to choose," challenged Nellie.

"Nellie! What is this about? Our best friend was just murdered and we're arguing? C'mon Nellie, Minnie would not have wanted this," pleaded Gisele. Nellie gave her an icy stare.

"You're right Gisele. Minnie would not have wanted you to side with her killer. Looks like you've made your choice. Traitor," she hissed. "C'mon girls, let's go." Gisele stared at their retreating figures, unable to believe what had just happened. Had she just lost all her friends over some person she was trying to protect? A person who had previously tried to kill her? Today easily topped her list of shittest days ever. She woke up, puking everywhere, puked during Potions, discovered her friend's body and now lost all her friends. She had every right to be moody, even to all the various well-wishers who had come to visit her. Towards evening, Tom came.

"Gisele, I know who killed Minnie."

She just gave him a blank stare. "It doesn't matter anymore. She's dead."

He sighed. "It was the Death Eaters. You know how I immediately told you she was dead? I found the mark in the wall. The mark of the Death Eaters. The mark I created."

"You know what Riddle? I actually don't care. I just lost all of my friends because I argued against them when they started accusing you of killing Minnie. They claimed I wasn't loyal to them and that I was siding with a killer," she said blankly. "So without trying to offend you, I don't want to see you again. I need time to think things over and I have important decisions I need to make. So would you please leave now?"

Tom stared at her, but got up and left without a word.

Dumbledore was a sharp man, Tom had to admit. Though there was no concrete proof to link Tom to the murder, he suspected that Dumbledore didn't care. He wanted to finally expose Tom as the deceiving, sadistic person, Dumbledore thought he was. He laughed to himself. There would be no way he could be linked to this, because simply, he hadn't done it.

Walking towards the Slytherin Common Room, he noticed his former group of 'friends' walking out. Sneering, they passed each other and Tom flopped down onto his bed. Picking up his copy of Ancient Wizarding Families, he flipped to the 'G' section, finally finding the entry on the Gaunt family. He had looked at this many times before, always recoiling in disgust as he remembered the time he learnt how his pathetic, weak mother had deceived is father, that filthy bag of Muggle shit, into loving him. The fact that Tom was born out of a loveless union didn't really bother him. He knew he couldn't love others and this made it all the more easier for him to fulfil his task of bringing order to the world. The only exception was that Gisele. He'd had his chance to kill her and he had failed. The only thing he could do now would be to try and recruit her to help him in the cleansing of the world. She was a talented witch and would make a great asset to him. An asset. That's all she should be. Tom refused to believe he felt something more for the girl. She was a mudblood, for god's sake. Pushing that thought out of his mind (he had become very good at controlling his thoughts), he went to sleep.

Gisele had gotten a personal house-elf from the kitchens to bring her her books and the work she'd missed in classes. She had a lot of work to do and it wasn't motivating when you were by yourself. She was tempted to call him back and apologize for being an idiot, but she had to get her priorities right first.

Every night when she fell asleep, Tom would come and visit her. He knew she didn't want to see him, but that didn't mean he couldn't visit her when she didn't know. Why did they have to use his symbol? His whole plan was going downhill from here and he couldn't wait for the whole bloody saga to be over. He shifted in his makeshift chair when something caught his eye. On the bedside table was a bracelet with many charms on it. It must be hers. He reached out and took it, feeling the tingle of the enchantment that was placed on it. Getting his wand out, he tapped one of the topaz charms that was pulsating blue and suddenly the Hospital Wing around him faded out until it reformed into a shabby apartment.

Tom stood there in disbelief. What in Merlin's name had just happened? Standing in front of him was a slightly younger Gisele and an older lady.

"Here, Gisele dear. Happy sixteenth birthday," the old lady said, putting the very same bracelet he was holding on her wrist. She gazed at it in awe. They didn't seem to notice Tom standing there.

"It's so pretty, she whispered. "Thanks Aunt G." The older lady chuckled.

"Not only is it pretty, but it's enchanted. You can keep your favourite memories in each charm and view them whenever you want."

"Wow, seriously? That is cool!"

"However beware that once you store a memory in it, it cannot be removed or replaced. Choose your memories wisely," the lady warned.

"Will do. Thanks again Aunt G," the younger Gisele replied, giving the lady a hug. Then before Tom's eyes, the shabby apartment swirled around him until the Hospital Wing materialized again.

Whoa, thought Tom. Did that bracelet show him Gisele's memories? He had to admit that that was some advanced magic. He considered viewing some of the other memories, but thought better of it. He placed the bracelet back. It was weird. Everyday, he was learning a new thing, experiencing new feelings, recognizing mistakes and questioning his beliefs and it was all because of the girl that slept in front of him. Could it simply be that he wasn't as immune as he thought he was? And he had to admit, it was certainly different to standing around in the Slytherin Common Room discussing ways to kill people or get revenge. Before he left that night, he Transfigured the empty vase into an unsigned get well card, then promptly left.

Gisele awoke with a yawn, a couple of days later, and groaned when she saw a figure walking towards the Hospital Wing's door and left. What part of 'I don't want to see you again' did he not understand? For someone who was capable of thinking up 'clever' plans, he was incredibly stupid too. The Hospital Wing food wasn't bad, but Gisele craved something a little more substantial. She summoned Blinky, the personal house-elf to sneak her some food when she saw the get well card. Who had sent it? She didn't recall anyone giving it to her. Opening it, she saw it was unsigned. Typical, she thought. Now that she didn't have any friends, it would be nice if she knew who actually cared about her. She placed it back on the table and opened her Charms book to practice a few spells.
"Levicorpus," she muttered, pointing her wand at the unfortunate patient sleeping in front of her. He awoke with a yelp and came crashing down when Gisele freaked out. That spell could come in handy later. Her thoughts turned to Minnie as she remembered that her funeral was tomorrow. Gisele desperately wanted to go, but she was confined to this bed for at least a couple of days, and she wasn't sure how many people attending Nellie had talked to and turned against her. The Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff Quidditch game was also this weekend, and she knew she would be unable to play this time round. Gazing outside the window she wondered, if it was possible for things to get even worse than they already were.

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