You wanna know what the horrid thing about doing a gap year is? You have to attend seminars. I'm just back - and it was horrible. Really. Like... I'm SO glad I only have to do another week of it in February and can be done with it. Honestly I'm - I don't have words for it.
Anyway. I survived and am now updating. We left off with Tom being back after 6 years and also, with Tom being an egoistic ***, as one of my reviewers so eloquently put it. I'll stop rambling now.
Thanks to all those who read, fav'd, alerted and especially to those who reviewed.
I had never seen Alphard angry. That was a first. "When did you want to tell me that he's back?"
"Sorry, what?"
"Huh, when did you want to tell me that Riddle is back?"
I looked at him calmly. "I wasn't going to tell you at all, because it is of no importance."
He shook his head in fury. "No importance, aha, that's why you snogged him, am I right?"
I went pale at once. "Oh, no, he didn't!" I jumped up and started walking up and down in the room.
"So he told the truth."
I stopped to eye him. "Did you doubt that?"
"I hoped that he was lying."
"He...he came here and... I don't even know how it happened."
"Honestly, that doesn't make it any better." He turned to leave, but I grabbed his arm.
"Al, please – I...I'm sorry... I mean – I don't –"
"And what now, huh? You know him! He's gonna want you back – and you will give in, you always did."
"Don't, come on – I don't want him back, I... I want to be with you. We are going to..."
"No. That's just the point; we are not going to do anything, because he's back. You waited for that – don't deny it."
He wanted to leave again, but I stood in front of him and put my hands on his chest. "Please, don't, Al, I didn't, I still want..."
"Do you love me?"
I searched for answer to neither tell him yes nor no, but he understood way too quickly.
"See, I always knew that – and I didn't care. But now that he's back... you love him, you see? Don't try to deny it. And this is why I won't be enough anymore. I can love you all I want. I'm just not enough."
"Al," I muttered, unable to say anything further. He was right in a way – I had never loved him that way. But I still...
"Don't try. It will only make it worse."
"Al, please..."
But he was gone and left me standing there, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Tea, darling?"
I eyed Druella suspiciously. Mrs Black usually didn't invite me over for a tea – she had to have something in mind. With my luck, it certainly had something to do with Alphard's and mine recent breakup.
"That would be too kind."
She smiled, and handed me a cup. "There you go."
I nipped. "So... how is your lovely daughter?"
Bellatrix was by now around a year old and I had only once seen her when she was officially presented to society.
"She's very well... healthy. A pretty baby, actually."
I eyed Druella. If I was right, she was pregnant again. Probably hoping for a son this time.
"If I may ask...," I muttered. I would regret this. "What about Alphard? How does he cope?"
"Rather bad. I'm afraid you broke his heart."
Any sign of gentleness had left her eyes and she stared at me, probably repeating blood-traitor, blood-traitor, blood-traitor in her head.
"He broke up with me, not the other way round."
"But you... I mean. I can understand that it's not easy to refuse the Dark Lord – not clever, even..."
"The Dark Lord?" I asked in disbelief. He couldn't be serious. No, he just couldn't be serious. He didn't make people call him the Dark Lord now!
"The Dark Lord, yes, whatever is wrong with you?"
I gave a bitter laugh. "And that is who I lost my fiancé for." I took another sip and shook my head. "The Dark Lord, he must have gone mad..."
"Lorraine! Talking like that about him..."
I put the cup down and stood up. "Would you mind – telling Alphard that I... that I miss him. And if he ever feels like talking to me – he shall come."
Druella stood, too, quickly and then whispered: "You should never speak about our lord like that again."
"Our lord?" I breathed. "Your lord maybe – I will speak about Tom however I like to."
She stared at me with a terrified expression, but I didn't bother. I would surely not give in so easily.
I shrieked as I found him sitting in an arm-chair in my living-room, but I regained my composure rather quickly. "Tom, dearie, what are you doing here?"
He smirked coldly. "I was visiting dear Cygnus Black today and his wife told me a most interesting thing."
I stiffened. So Druella actually felt the need to tell "her lord" about what I was saying. "I didn't realize you were spying on me."
"I don't need to spy on you."
"Yeah? Why would talk to Druella about me then?"
"She only told me about your recent disobediences."
"Disobediences? I wasn't aware that I actually had to obey the Dark Lord."
He managed to smile, though I could see his fury. "See, the Blacks are really supportive. Good followers. But it's only right that they look up to me and that they honour me by..."
"By calling you the Dark Lord? I thought you suffered from hubris when you called yourself Lord Voldemort, but that really topped it."
He stood up and walked towards me. I remembered the last time he had been so close, but this time he really scared me. "You will never talk about me like that to my... friends again. Did you understand me?"
I didn't answer but glared at him angrily. Suddenly, he shoved me against the nearest wall, hand on my throat. "Did you understand me?"
"Perfectly well, yes."
He let go of me and I rubbed my throat. "That was absolutely unnecessary."
He sat down and I noticed that he was weighing his wand in his left hand.
"I heard about your breakup with poor Alphard. Such a pity."
"Don't try to fool me. I know you told him that..."
"That what?" His intense eyes met mine and I shivered involuntarily.
"That you kissed me."
"Oh, but you kissed me back."
I sat down on the couch across from him. "Still you told him..."
He shrugged. "I can't help being a little possessive."
"A little?" I repeated. "Hate to break it to you, but you're more than just a little possessive."
He smirked once again. "What do you think? How long will you be angry at me – I mean it's like – I did worse."
"Enough is enough. See, I needed years to get over the fact that you just left me, I surely won't fall back in your arms just because you ask me to!"
He sighed heavily. "You know me – I always get what I want."
"Why don't you find yourself another girl and let me be? I'm sure it wouldn't be a trouble – they all used to fancy you."
"Right, but see, you already belonged to me once and I don't like to lose anything."
"You lost me 6 years ago."
He merely smirked. "We'll see, I guess."
"Yes, we'll see."
"I checked on the ring."
I rolled my eyes. You should think that he could trust me. "So?"
"Well hidden, I must say and not too bad protected. I improved the protection a little..."
"By doing what? The thing is now probably killing anyone who touches it?"
"Pretty much."
I stared at him. I hadn't actually thought that I was right.
"You should leave," I whispered weakly. "I'm tired."
"You're scared."
"Terrified."
He laughed shortly, a very cold, high tone and got up. "Maybe that teaches you to be a little more respectful."
"You wish," I muttered under my breath. Whether he didn't hear it or simply didn't care, I didn't know.
He kissed me on the cheek as he passed me and as I turned around to watch him, he was already gone.
I apologize for the relative shortness of this chapter and hope you enjoyed it nevertheless :) Review?
