Rosie ⎮ Tom Riddle

Twenty Six

Locket

  "Catch me if you can!" Rosie screamed as she ran past Lily, tapping her on the shoulder before booting it further down the hill.

  Lily paused, taking a moment to realise what had happened. "Hey- no fair!" She screamed after her as she tried to keep up.

  They hadn't spent much time together recently, and although their conversations were strained by each of their circumstances- stupid moments like this, just playing around, felt like some freedom in the mess of it all. They didn't have to be deep all the time, they could just live, understanding what the other was going through without anything being said.

  That's why they were best friends.

  Tom and Ben observed from a distance, leaning against the castle walls as they watched over the meadow that Rosalie loved so much. The sight of the two girls chasing each other, their voices echoing with unbridled laughter, brought a bittersweet feeling to Tom's heart.

  There was an innocence to their play, a freedom unnoticed by the troubles of the world. Yet, beneath the surface, Tom couldn't shake the nagging sense of danger that lingered, threatening to disrupt their moment of bliss.

  Feeling the weight of his thoughts, Tom turned to Ben.

  "Do you think I'm being selfish, Ben?" Tom's voice broke the silence, his gaze fixed on Rosalie as she darted across the field.

  Ben regarded him thoughtfully before responding. "What makes you say that?"

  Tom swallowed. "I'm keeping her all to myself when she'll likely be killed for it," Tom admitted, his tone tinged with a hint of desperation.

  Ben, without considering Tom's feelings, would've told him to let the girl be killed, that he was better off without her. For his purpose, it was true. But Tom was a man who had his mind made up. Rosalie would stay.

  Ben considered his words for a moment before responding. "You have horcruxes, why can't she? If you can't live without her, make sure she stays alive." He said rather simply, looking out onto the field which held the girl causing his lord so much pain.

  Tom's eyebrows furrowed as he contemplated Ben's suggestion. The idea seemed both logical and terrifyingly reckless. "She would never agree to that," Tom argued, his voice betraying a hint of uncertainty.

  "When have you ever taken no for an answer from her?" Ben countered, his gaze unwavering.

  Tom fell silent, his mind swirling with cynical thoughts. He had the very same Idea some weeks ago, but the very thought of binding Rosalie to him through dark magic felt both enticing and repulsive. He couldn't bear the thought of her being harmed, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that such a decision would only serve to further taint their relationship.

  As Rosalie's laughter echoed across the field, Tom couldn't help but feel torn between his desire to protect her and his fear of losing her forever.

---

  He had been distant to Rosalie most of the week, grappling with his emotions and uncertain of how much of his darkness he should expose her to. The fear of losing Rosalie clawed at him relentlessly, a visceral dread that overshadowed everything else.

  Watching her, engrossed in conversation and laughter with William, Tom felt a pang of jealousy gnaw at him. Why wasn't she looking at him like that? Why did it seem like her joy belonged to everyone but him?

  Jealousy, he knew, was a treacherous emotion, capable of unraveling even the strongest bonds. Yet, despite his growing awareness of its destructive power, he found himself unable to escape its grip.