Tʜᴇ Dᴀʀᴋ Lᴏʀᴅ's Aɴɢᴇʟ | Tom Riddle √

129: Torn and Mended

"I used the Imperius Curse on her," Draco confessed, looking down. "I told her not to touch it, but she did."

It was the day after Cassiopeia woke up. Her muscles and bones ached, and she felt exhausted. But with Draco sitting there to talk to her, everything felt a bit easier for a moment.

She apologized to Harry for what had happened to them because of Tom. She never expected him to do such things; she thought he had changed. However, Harry informed her that Dumbledore had forced him to make an Unbreakable Vow not to create a Horcrux and become Voldemort.

At first, Cassiopeia was curious about how they had learned about Horcruxes. Harry explained that he had pressed Slughorn for information, and reluctantly, Slughorn had provided the accurate memory.

Everything that had happened that year had been a roller coaster. She couldn't bring herself to believe that Tom had threatened to kill her aunt to compel Draco to complete the task. How could he do that to her second mother?

"What about Tom?" Draco interrupted her thoughts. "I think he's truly regretting it now."

"How can you say that when he threatened to kill her, Draco?" Cassiopeia reasoned, running her fingers through her hair. "You were right, it's just a crush that got into my head when I was young, and I should move on."

"He loves you, still," he blurted out, and Cassiopeia looked at him. "I despise him, and you know it, but I saw it in his eyes. He was still outside the Wing until you allowed him to see you. He does love you, and he has changed now."

"I hate him," Cassiopeia rolled her eyes, and he chuckled. "Why?"

"Do you mean it?" his brows quirked amusingly as she playfully hit his chest.

"Yes, I do," she looked away. "I do mean it. Doubt it?"

"I fucking love him, Draco," he mimicked, and she shot him a death glare. "Come on, just talk with him, I think he will say everything he didn't say to any of us."

"I cannot," she began to protest, but Draco interrupted her.

"Fine, he will visit you," Draco winked and walked away, leaving Cassiopeia annoyed.

"This bastard," she muttered under her breath as she lay on the bed. She covered her head when she heard footsteps. "Shit."

"Do you really hate me?" Tom's voice was laced with sorrow as Cassiopeia remained silent beneath the sheets. "I'm sorry. I... I just want... no, just please forgive me. Give me one last chance, Cassie. I promise I will never leave you and never do something like that again."

Cassiopeia closed her eyes, conflicted. For the first time, she felt that she shouldn't get caught up in his charms.

"Cassie, I love you," this time his tone was entirely different. "I... I cannot live without you. Please."

She slowly uncovered her sheets and looked at the boy whose eyes were on her. For a moment, she thought she was just dreaming, but it was real.

Tom Marvolo Riddle was crying.

"Are you crying?" Cassiopeia gulped as he bit his bottom lip and looked away. "Tom, look at me, love."

Cassiopeia extended her hand as Tom met her gaze, and he pressed his lips together as he reached for her hand. The touch of his skin against hers was a sensation she had missed for days and nights. Her hand felt as if it was glued to his skin.

"Come," she tilted her head, inviting him to share her bed. "Lay with me."

"Seriously?" he asked, his face adorned with an adorable smile. Cassiopeia nodded in response.

Without wasting time, he removed his boots and laid down beside her. His head found a comfortable spot on her chest, and he wrapped his slender arms around her.

"I'm truly sorry, angel," his voice sounded strained as hot tears soaked her white nightgown. "I was just scared of losing you again. I felt the need to make a Horcrux for us."

Cassiopeia rubbed his back soothingly, her other hand caressing his curly hair. Forgiving him so easily felt naive, but she couldn't bear to see him suffer.

"That's okay," she murmured. "I hope you won't do something terrible again. You broke my trust, Tom."

"What can I do to gain your trust again?" he raised his head to meet her eyes. "I'll do anything for you."

"I don't know. It's about time, Tom," she ran her fingers through his hair. "I hope this means we're alright again, no more breakups?"

"No, I'm yours again," he smiled, leaning in to kiss her. "You're mine, only."

With that, his soft lips locked with hers, his thumb caressing her cheek. She had missed his kisses, and it felt like the sun had risen in her world once more. He sucked on her bottom lip, nibbling it slightly.

"I missed this," he mumbled, kissing her jawline and then her neck. "You're driving me crazy, angel."

"Tom," she moaned when his fingers traced her cleavage. "Someone will come."

"Not anytime soon," he assured her, kissing the top of her breast and leaving a mark. As soon as he saw the black lace bra underneath, his lips curved into a pout. "Not fair, I didn't expect that."

"We have time to do everything later," she kissed the top of his head, watching him pout. "Let's take a nap. I'm a little bit tired."

He nodded and rested his head on her chest. She wrapped the sheets around both of them, and he quickly drifted to sleep, a sign that he had not had proper rest in the last few days.

Cassiopeia gently caressed his curly hair, closing her eyes. She felt herself slowly succumbing to a deep slumber until she heard footsteps. She pretended to remain asleep.

"How's Miss. Black, Poppy?" It was Dumbledore, and his voice was close to her bed.

"Oh, she's recovering," Cassiopeia heard more footsteps approaching her bed. "She—what's this boy doing here? She needs rest—"

"Don't disturb them," the headmaster interrupted Madame Pomfrey. "Sometimes, young love is irresistible, and it can change lives, don't you think?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Professor Dumbledore," her curious voice remarked. "All I care about are my patients."

"Don't you see, she's resting better now?" Dumbledore pointed out, and the footsteps retreated.