Yo! So, like the previous chapter, this chapter was also an AN chapter explaining my eye issues that were preventing me from updating. I decided to remove that AN now, but don't want to delete the chapter itself because these sites get kind of weird about sending out notifications when you delete and re-upload chapters.

Original AN chapter posted: April 21, 2020

Mini Dream chapter added: Sep 20, 2021

When Violet woke up, it took her an embarrassingly long time to realize she was up on the Astronomy Tower at Hogwarts. It took her even longer to realize that shouldn't even be possible. It was the middle of summer break, and she was back at Starlight. Or so she'd thought. So how was she here? And why?

"A rather interesting predicament we've found ourselves in here, haven't we?"

Surprised by the sudden voice, Violet whipped around, only to find herself even more surprised by the person said voice belonged to. "T-Tom Riddle...?"

"Indeed."

"But-" Violet cut herself off, not sure what to say. She was sure she was looking at the same Tom Riddle that had come out of that strange diary in her second year, but that diary had been destroyed, and he'd vanished, hadn't he? So how was he here now?

...And when did he become so dang cute?

"Is this a dream?" asked Violet abruptly. And she didn't mean that in a sappy sort of way or anything-this being a dream was the only thing that made any sense to her.

If she really was remembering everything right, and it really was the middle of summer break, there was no other way to explain how she'd ended up back at Hogwarts. And Tom being here, being back, only made her wonder all the more.

"A dream?" said Tom. He looked around too, then said, "Yes, that would make some sense."

"But, why am I dreaming about you?"

Tom looked at her with a small smile. "Or perhaps I'm the one dreaming about you?"

Violet felt a sudden flutter in her stomach. Oh no. Oh man. Was this...? She'd heard some of the other girls in Slytherin talk about this sort of thing, but could this really be-? No, no, it couldn't. It wasn't. It- She couldn't think about this right now.

"How are you here?" she said instead. "That diary was destroyed, wasn't it? Doesn't that mean you were destroyed too?"

"It was, and it does." Tom moved over to the railing and leaned against it, looking out over Hogwarts' expansive grounds. "I must be searching for the rest of my soul. I wonder why it has connected to you instead?"

Violet blinked and cocked her head, feeling confused. What did he mean he was searching for the rest of his soul? Had Tom, or rather, Voldemort, done something to his soul? And maybe something went wrong?

Thinking back, Violet could remember Tom saying something about plans not going the right way back when she'd been in the Chamber of Secrets. She couldn't remember exactly what he'd said, but she thought it was along the lines of his future self's plans backfiring. She kind of wanted to ask, but even as she thought that, the words got stuck in her throat.

Slowly, feeling a little hesitant, Violet approached the railing too, standing next to Tom. "Your other self still hasn't contacted me," she said.

Tom nodded, but didn't look at her, grey eyes seemingly focused on the lake. "I must not be in a position to manage it," he said. "Whether that position is a magical thing, a physical thing, or an emotional thing, I can't say."

"So, if there wasn't anything wrong, you would actually contact me?" asked Violet curiously.

"If my future self knows what I do about the situation regarding you and your sister-which I seem to, seeing as you told me he, or rather, my future self was the one who told you about it all, then yes, I certainly would. If you've yet to hear from me, it's because there is something preventing me from making contact."

That was...actually kind of a relief, though Violet really wasn't even sure why. Why did she want Voldemort to contact her at all? Why did not hearing from him bother her instead of relieve her?

"You will hear from me again, Violet," said Tom.

Violet nodded slowly. He sounded pretty damn sure about it, and because of that, she found that she couldn't really even doubt him. This was Voldemort, after all, so didn't that mean he knew what his future self might possibly do better than anyone else?

Wait. This guy was Voldemort.

Suddenly, things around them starting becoming rather hazy, and Tom made a soft sound of understanding as he looked around at the growing haze.

"It seems we must part," he said, turning to look at her.

He was Voldemort. He was really, seriously Voldemort, and she-

Smiling gently, Tom reached out and tucked some of Violet's stray hair back behind her ear. "Good night, Violet. We will speak again."

And then he was gone, leaving Violet all alone, staring wide-eyed at the place he'd just been standing in a second ago. Realization and understanding of her thoughts came crashing down around her, and Violet felt her face burn.

"Well, I guess that's one way to develop a first crush," she muttered. It was a damn good thing this was just a dream. ...Right?

But when Violet woke a little while later, she had no memory of the encounter, or her newly developed crush at all.

That's that. Hope it's alright. I made it a dream that she couldn't remember so it doesn't seem weird when she doesn't mention it in the first chapter for fourth year, which was already posted by this point. It'll probably come up again later though. Again, sorry this isn't a proper chapter.