I want to thank everybody for the great response to the last chapter, I received 5 reviews, which is the most I ever had in a week for one chapter. THANKS EVERYBODY! :) It's greatly appreciated.
I hadn't seen Tom for a couple of months. I heard about him, though. Wherever I went, whoever I spoke to, they told me about Lord Voldemort and his ambitions. How they liked him! How they respected him! Surely, he would be Minister of Magic in less than five years. I knew Tom well enough to know that he didn't want to be Minister. A mere position wasn't enough for him.
I didn't have the time to worry about it, though.
My grandmother died in summer 1953. She stated in her will that, as I was the only one of her descendent who had "the decent wizarding pride", I would inherit pretty much all her fortune. I didn't exactly mind, of course, but my mother refused to talk to me for weeks after that. I knew she was only sad – she had lived with my grandmother for the past few years, after all and – Merlin, she was her mother, she should be sad. Still, I was pretty angry at her. It wasn't my fault after all!
I looked in the mirror and flattened my robes. I could go out like this. Druella and Cygnus Black were celebrating the birth of her second daughter, Andromeda. Actually, I was surprised to be invited – since my breakup with Alphard, I had been excluded from Black family events. I was going anyway, of course.
The Black family home was decorated and full of noises. I was pushing through the crowd, searching for the hosts. The sooner I greeted them, the sooner I could leave again.
"Lorraine? Oh, hey, Lorraine!"
I looked around and found Abraxas Malfoy waving at me from across the room. I raised my hand to return the gesture and he moved towards me, accidently knocking a small witch of her feet. "Oh, Mellonia, so sorry..."
The witch grumbled something and refused to let him help her up. He shrugged and then finally caught up to me. "Lorraine, what a nice surprise. I didn't know you were invited..."
"Actually, I'm quite surprised myself..."
He nodded understandingly and then sighed. "If you are searching for the hosts – you can't find them right now."
"Sorry, what?"
"Yeah, it seems as if Druella had another crying fit –"
"Another?" I repeated.
Malfoy nodded and looked around. Nobody actually paid attention to our conversation, so he was going on. "She so hoped for a son, you see, to carry on the family name... since Walburga and Orion don't have any children and Alphard..." He fell silent and looked at me apologetically.
"Oh, don't concern yourself. So she has another girl and gets that hysterical about it?"
"Obviously."
"That's just stupid."
Malfoy shrugged. "Actually – if I was in the same position..."
I raised my eyebrows and he sighed. "You have to carry on the line!"
"Yeah, well – I don't see why Alphard shouldn't marry and get children – he's a nice fellow, isn't he? And what about Walburga and Orion? They are still young..."
"Sure, I just – I suppose they don't get along that well."
"Well, that doesn't surprise me."
"Ah, Lorraine, there you are!"
I spun around and saw Tom suddenly standing next to me. He smiled shortly at me, a smile that didn't reach his eyes and then he looked at Abraxas, who obeyed at once.
"Milord," he muttered and then turned around to leave.
"I was just having a conversation," I said irritably.
"Yes, and I interrupted it."
"Noticed that."
"Don't you want to thank me?"
"For what?" I asked, perplexed.
"For making them invite you."
"So that was you. I thought there was something wrong with that."
He smiled smugly. "Actually, I wanted to see you, so..."
"When exactly did you decide that you'll stop just appearing in my flat?"
"Would you prefer that?"
"No, it was creepy."
He grinned and shrugged. "Where is the lovely Druella tonight? I thought this was her festivity..."
"She's crying out her eyes upstairs. Absolute hysteria, obviously, because she didn't get a son."
"Ah, I see..."
"Don't tell me you understand that."
He smiled, mildly amused. "Actually, no, I don't understand. But I don't need an heir, so..."
I shook my head in disbelief. "No, you don't, seeing as your immortal and all..."
He groaned quietly, obviously not pleased with the topic. "On to more mannered subjects – you look lovely tonight. Though I have to say, black is not your colour. Since when-"
"My grandmother died just recently."
"Oh," he stared at me. "I'm sorry."
I shrugged. "She was old, so... didn't exactly come unexpected, I guess."
"Only your mother left, then?"
"And my siblings."
"You see them often?"
"No. Never."
He fell silent, obviously didn't know what to say anymore. I sighed. "I hope she's recovering soon. I can't go if Druella hasn't seen me..."
"I'll tell her you where here."
I flashed him a small smile. "No, thank you – but if you'd excuse me, I see Lucretia over there... have to greet her..."
"Lorraine?"
I froze in my path and turned around once more. "Yeah?"
"See you soon?"
"If you keep on making people invite me..."
He shrugged and I picked up my path again to join Lucretia and her husband.
"There you go – it's just a small article, we just need to mention it quickly. A little humour, you see – for tomorrow."
I nodded and Mr Cuffe handed me the slip of parchment on which he had scribbled the information. I read over it and froze.
Ghost of young girl (Miriam – Myrta, something like that) bashed wedding of haunted girl's brother (Hornby). Ghost has to go back to place of death (Hogwarts).
"Mr Cuffe – is that – is that all accurate? I mean – is it true?"
"Why, yes, of course it's true."
I swallowed hard. "I would've never thought..."
"What?"
"Nothing, Sir. Very – humours."
He stared at me curiously and then left. I leant back in my chair and stared at the parchment. So Myrtle hadn't ever stopped haunting Olive – and Olive had been so happy to be finally rid of her when we had left Hogwarts! And now that – Myrtle even ruining her brother's wedding!
At least she now was going to be rid of her. Going back to the place of her death. I knew it exactly. The bathroom on the second floor, I would never forget the day they found her.
"Good story, isn't it?"
I jumped and looked up to see Tom sitting on a chair in front of my desk.
"If I had known what a nuisance that girl would be as a ghost..."
"What then?" I whispered. "Don't tell me you wouldn't have..."
"Wouldn't have what?" he asked threateningly. "I'll give you an advice – you won't mention the circumstances of dear Myrtle's death in the slightest."
"I wasn't going to," I answered calmly. It was the truth, after all. I wouldn't have mentioned that. Still, he was obviously concerned that I could spill.
"I don't know why you're checking up on me."
"I have to make sure, don't I? I can't rely on others."
"You have trust issues."
"I was betrayed too often."
"Maybe you just betrayed too often."
A smile formed on his face and he seemed genuinely amused. "I missed this."
"Missed what?"
"You fighting me all the time. I missed it. I don't have so many people that are actually retorting."
"That's because they're scared of you."
"They'd better be. But they can't tell when to be scared and when not. They don't know me well enough... that's only you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Careful, Tom. I might actually think there is a bit of affection in you."
He shrugged, still smiling. "Maybe there is."
I laughed shortly. "Don't try to fool me. As you said, I know you well enough."
He suddenly seemed very serious. "I'm not fooling you. I never tried to give you another impression, Lorraine. I want you back."
"And I told you that you can't have me back!"
He leaned forward, a hint of red glowing in his eyes. "Sure you did. I only don't believe you really mean it."
"Stop it, please," I whispered. "You should..."
"Right, I should leave. How many times are you going to dismiss me like that?"
"As many times as you keep coming back."
He smirked. "Well, I'll never stop coming back." Tom got up and moved around the chair and the desk until he was standing right in front of me. "Why don't you just give in?"
"Because it's wrong."
He shook his head and then bent down slowly, his lips now only millimetres away from mine. "Is it?" he whispered.
He closed the small gap between us and pressed his lips against mine. My eyes fell shut and I responded to his kiss almost immediately. It was crazy, insane, madness that I was still yielding to his every touch, that he had me there so easily... the feeling was incredible. His lips were softly moving on mine, his hand had somehow found her way into my hair...
He pulled back slightly. I turned my head so that I didn't have to see the smug expression on his face, but he gently grabbed my chin with two fingers and turned my head around so that I had to look at him. He didn't look smug at all.
"Did that feel wrong? Please tell me, 'cause to me, it didn't."
I bit my lip and then whispered: "I never said it feels wrong."
"Then just give in."
He must have felt the submission in me, because he bent down to attach our lips once again.
So, there you are. Happy that they're back together? 'Cause I certainly am ;)
