The last Hollingworth - a Hogwarts Story

New bond

It was rather cold this late.
But that didn't bothered me at all.
I liked the cold.
I climbed up the stairs of the astronomy tower.

I was late.

I was held up by some first years that were lost.
I helped them find the way back to their common rooms.

I only had time to quickly change into my sweatpants and a sweater.

I was heavily out of breath as I reached the top of the tower.
I saw Tom standing on the railing.
I walked up to him still panting.

„I'm so sorry I'm late. I helped some first..."

I was interrupted by him as he pulled me into a hug.
I stopped suprised.
He was always so pissed when I was late.
Being on time was something very important for him.

„I was worried you wouldn't come"

he whispered after a while.
I relaxed a little and smiled.

„Really? Why wouldn't I?"

I asked breaking the hug.

„Well because I really fucked up. And I would really understand if you don't wanna talk to me. Even if it would kill me"

His eyes were so desperate.
I had never seen him like this before.
He gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
We stood there for several minutes just looking at each other.
Then he broke the silence.

„Can I take the fact that you wear the necklace again as sign that I get the chance to do better?"

I smiled slightly and nodded.

„Yes you can. Even if I'm mad I can't live without you."

His face instantly lit up into an absolutely beautiful smile.
He couldn't hold back anymore and pulled me into a deep kiss.
He kissed me as if he hadn't seen me in a lifetime.
As we broke the kiss i looked at the necklace.

„Tom?
Why did it turn red?
I mean it's pretty but why?
What is that?
It looks like liquid"

I fiddled with the necklace.
It looked like liquidated.
But when I touched it, it was solid.
He smiled and tapped the necklace.
It seemed to react to him.
This what looked like liquid seemed to flow around in it.

„It looks like blood"

I said fascinated.

„Because it is"

he said short.
My eyes widened and I looked up to him.

„What? That's blood?"

„Yes. To be accurate it's my blood."

I looked down at the necklace and back up to him.
He had a pretty amused look on his face.

„I made it better.
It deepens the bond of the necklace and strengthens the spells on it. It was hard work but this way I will always find you.
No matter what.
Nothing can stop me.
You're carrying a piece of me."

I felt warm tears fill my eyes.
I was speechless.
He did all of this for me.
I looked up to him.

„Thank you Tom"

I whispered not knowing what to say.
My heart felt like it was about to burst.

„I gave you a piece of me. And with that I want to repeat and deepen the promises I made to you. I will always be by your side.
I will always protect you.
No matter what. Because..."

He hesitated.
He took a deep breath and looked me deep into the eyes.

„Because I love you Elisabeth.
I never thought I could love someone.
Especially not the way I love you.
But I do. I always thought love makes you weak.
But you taught me that love only makes someone stronger.
You make me even better.
I'm nothing without you"

This caught me off guard.
Did he just?
Did he say that he loved me?
My face lit up in the most radiant smile ever.
I couldn't help but jump at him and wrap my arms around his neck.
He catched me and held me tight.

„I love you too Tom. Really."

I could feel his body relax at my words.
I realised that he was really worried I wouldn't have the same feelings.
I pulled slightly back and looked at him.

„Did you really doubt that I would love you?"

I said amused.

„No not really. But i was worried that you would be to mad at me to say it back"

„You're an idiot. But my idiot."

I smiled and kissed him.
This kiss meant everything for me.
He loved me.
He really did.
He silently admired my smile and slowly caressed my face.

„You're so beautiful."

he whispered.
I let go of him and looked back at the necklace.

„I love you. But really, do something like that again and I'm gonna kill you myself"

I said raising my eyebrows.

„Kill me? At least you don't leave me"

he said amused.

„Of course not.
Youre mine.
I won't leave you.
If you fuck up I just kill you so no one else can have you"

I said while I smiled sweet up to him.

„Sometimes I think you're even scarier than me love. I mean I saw Annabeth.
I'm honest I will do everything that you never want to punch me like that"

„As you should!"

I said poking my tongue out.
I laughed and looked at the starry sky.
We stood there for a long time.

„Tom?"

„Yes my love?"

„How does it work?
The necklace.
I've never seen something like that"

„Oh well let's say it's always nice to be one of Slughorns favourites and have access to the restricted section of the library"

I looked at him with wide eyes.

„Oh. Well I'm not even gonna ask"

„Yeah it's better that way.
The only thing you need to know is that you're safe. I can always find you.
And I will always come when you need me"

he kissed my forehead.

A particularly cold wind blew through my hair and I shivered slightly.
He looked down to me and held me close.

„Let's go inside princess. It's getting cold"

I just nodded and we walked back to the common room.
His arm around my shoulder.
This was new.
The most he would used to do was hold my hand when we walked through the castle.
Even though he always had his hands on me in the slightest way.
But just so that no one noticed.

We walked to our dorms and he stopped before the stairs.

„You wanna stay at mine tonight princess?"

I blinked.
Was this a dream?

„What about your not staying over rule?
Because it distracts us?
That I should not get used to that?"

I raised my eyebrows.

„Well you shouldn't get used to that.
But I want you by my side.
Maybe it is possibly the fact that I sleep better when you're there"

He mumbled the last sentence but I smiled bright.

„Well when that's maybe possibly the fact then I will be a good girlfriend at stay at your room tonight"

He roled his eyes at my teasing tone but pulled me down the stairs to the boys dorms.