Splitting One's Soul

The Daily Prophet

Every inch of your body hurt, you refused to move more than necessary and resolved to just stay in bed, snuggling into the warm blanket, when you heard muffled voices coming from the other room. Confused you peeled open your eyes. This was not your bedroom. At least you recognized one of the voices as Tom's and when you peered through the crack in the door you saw his barren hallway. Tom was talking to the young man you recognized from the shop, Avery. To your surprise he bowed before Tom and then left, Tom headed your way and you quickly let your head sink back into the pillow and stared at the ceiling.

"Ah, you're awake," he said in a hushed tone.

"Why did he bow to you?"

"Avery? He is a bit strange, don't worry about it," Tom replied. "The important question is how you are feeling."

"Terrible. Did we get drunk yesterday, after... you know...?"

"That wasn't yesterday, I'm afraid. You have been out mostly for the past three days."

"Three days? What happened?"

"Well, what do you remember?"

Tom stepped up to the bed, hands linked behind his back and looking down at you, his eyebrows cocked.

"I remember having been on a date..."

You were interrupted by his groan, Tom rolled his eyes and you couldn't help but enjoy his jealousy, you've been pining after him for weeks and even though now you both got what you wanted he could sulk a little.

"Afterwards you came to my place," you continued. "We had sex but that feels unclear already. I assumed I was exhausted and simply fell asleep after but apparently I missed a few days."

"You came down with a fever which I only realized afterwards. Your skin was burning but under those circumstances I didn't think much of it," Tom explained.

"So, we did have sex, right? It wasn't just a fever dream?," you asked with a nervous laugh and looked down at your hands.

Tom took your chin in his hand and lifted your head to face him, he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on your lips, you felt the heat rush into your face.

"No, it wasn't," he whispered against you. "And you were really into it."

"To be honest with you, I wanted to ever since I saw you at Borgin and Burkes."

"I know, you were really bad at hiding it," Tom replied with an impish grin. "It was quite amusing to watch you blush every time I just so much as looked into your direction."

"While we are on the topic of embarrassing things I did: did I call you master?"

"Don't worry, I like it," he said, his grin widened and he pulled your face closer for another kiss. "Care to join me for breakfast?"

"Yes, master," you giggled. "I just don't think I can get up."

"No wonder, you haven't eaten the past days, I had trouble enough to make sure you didn't dehydrate."

And then a tray with croissants floated through the door, it was small things like this that actually showcased Tom's talent. Letting something levitate was first year stuff but doing it without wand and incantation was rare, very rare, and yet he did it effortlessly. A few more items came in and settled on the bed, then he lifted your blanket and sank into the mattress next to you, propping up the pillow so both of you could sit up and lean back. These small gestures made your heart flutter, this bit of domestic bliss felt uncharacteristic but you were grateful nonetheless. Tom busied himself with arranging his breakfast while you watched him, his side profile made him look like a Greek god and you couldn't resist. You gave him a peck on the cheek which he acknowledged merely with a hum before you grabbed a croissant and nibbled away on it, your eyes roaming over the tray with the croissants, some fruit and a pot of coffee. Then you spotted the Daily Prophet, you dropped your croissant and your stomach turned. On the cover was a picture of Mason, the headline announcing his death. You were frozen in place, you couldn't look away.