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YOU and the marauders have always been inseparable since 1st year to the point that each of them felt a strong desire to protect you, even when you were pretty capable of taking care of yourself.
they were constantly skeptical about any guy you'd talk to or anything else that could possibly lead to you getting hurt. which is why they hated tom riddle.
tom had always shown signs of jealousy and aggression towards you. he felt intimidated by your power and how well you were at controlling it. so much so that he found ways to manipulate you into teaching him how to improve his magic through potential blackmail and other threats.
however, through all of the time you spent together, tom began to warm up to you to the point that all of his threats were mere bluffs that he would never actually have the heart to do. he wasn't sure why he felt this way. you both practically hated each other from the beginning. why would he suddenly have a soft spot for you?
you both didn't seem to realize it, but as time passed, it rarely felt forced anymore to be there with him.
you were now in your 6th year at hogwarts when the marauders caught on to what had been happening and they didn't like it one bit.
"i can't believe you didn't tell us. i'll kill him!" sirius sat up from the gryffindor sofa, his chest puffed up with rage.
"i know i sound stupid but he's not even that bad once you get to know him. he says all of these things but i know that he wouldn't actually hurt me. he knows that too. he's just scared to admit it." you told the boys.
they all shared a look before turning back to you.
"do you... like him?" james asked, his eyebrows furrowed with curiosity.
"i-" you tried to muster up more words but you weren't sure on what to say.
luckily, you got away with it when a barn owl flew through the window to deliver a note addressed to you.
you opened it and skimmed over the message before balling it up and gathering your things from the chair you had been sitting in.
"it's from professor mcgonagall. she wants to discuss my O.W.L. score from last year," you told them before hurrying out of the common room. that was a lie of course. it was from tom.
—
"what were you thinking? you're so careless. letting them find out. you obviously don't care about the consequences. i can easily report you and get you expelled from hogwarts. performing magic on your muggle father."
riddle was referring to the time when you removed your abusive father's memories so that you and your mother could get away from him without worrying that he'll follow.
"sure, like you would actually do it. i mean you're practically an expert at magic now yet you still keep me around. why? there must be a reason. therefore, i doubt you'll get me expelled." you stood tall, not allowing what he said to affect you.
his face faltered. you were right. you taught him everything he needed to know. you were no use to him anymore, so why couldn't he manage to let you go?
"you act like you don't care about me but i know you do." your voice became more clear with each word.
"stop it, y/n!"
"why can't you just admit it?"
"because!" tom turned towards you, his eyes softened once realizing that he had just yelled at you. "i've never felt like this about anyone before and it's scaring me."
"well...too bad. because i like you... a lot. and if-" you were cut off by his lips colliding with yours. they were surprisingly soft and gentle as if he feared hurting you. it felt as if time had stopped as it lasted for a good while.
"i like you." he studied your eyes once pulling apart. "and i don't want to lose you. especially to your group of guy friends."
"don't worry about them." you giggled at the sudden jealousy that washed over his face.
—
"what the hell!? why would you want to be with tom of all people?" sirius questioned.
"please stop. this is what i want. you need to let me make choices for myself."
"she's right... if she's happy then that's all that matters. and if something happens along the way then we can deal with him then but for now, we need to trust her judgment." remus lupin spoke up to the group. everyone hummed in agreement as sirius nodded his head and looked down.
"i'm sorry." his eyes moved back up to you. "forgive us?"
"always."
you loved them and no matter how much you argued, that feeling stayed the same.
—
a few days passed and you were happy to see that the group and tom had been starting to get along. mostly because they shared a very common interest: protecting and caring for you. tom loved you and he wasn't afraid to admit that anymore.
