Malignantly Cursed

12

Tom was sweet and caring as he took her back to his place. Just outside his bedroom door, Harry came to her senses and stepped away.

"No," she said, shaking her head.

He blinked down at her, disappointed.

"Just stay for a little while. So I can know you're okay."

"I'm okay," she insisted. The Horcruxes in her pocket weighed heavy, she didn't want to linger around him for him to notice.

How detached was he from his soul pieces that he couldn't sense five of them in front of him right now?

Tom's eyes darkened.

"Harry, I don't mean to be rude, but you look a mess. You're not okay. Sit inside and tell me what happened."

She had enough and wanted to push him away from her. Just a second before she did, she remembered that more than her, he cared about himself and their standing in the relationship.

"We're okay, if that's what you're worried about," she said. She had cried on him and told him she couldn't trust him, there would be no way he'd let her leave until he was certain she still trusted him.

Tom watched her for any signs of distrust in her.

"I mean it," she added, taking one of his hands and covering it with both of hers. Exhaustion washed over her. "I'm really tired and I need to sleep. I can't do that here."

"You can, just take my bed—"

"No, Sirius will come home soon and I don't want him to get suspicious."

He glowered, still annoyed about Sirius.

"We're okay for now," she repeated slowly. "I just need to be alone for a little bit."

"I don't like it when you're alone," he admitted. "I don't like it when you're away from me."

Harry's heart rate started to pick up. She didn't know what to say to that so she dropped his hand and took a step back.

"I'll see you soon," she promised. He kept his eyes on her as she Disapparated.

The moment she was back in her room, Harry headed to her closet and pulled out the charmed case with Tom's gifts. She inspected each of the Horcruxes as she put them in.

They all had an ominous feel to it. Harry felt uneasy as she handled them, like if she held onto it for too long, she would catch some of his dark soul and be half as hateful as him.

Locking the pieces away, she took a moment to gather her thoughts and feelings. Harry was too nervous to continue going to headquarters with Ron and Hermione. If Tom found out about their connection and found a way to spy on her, he would never forgive her for what they were working on. He would never trust her again and he would probably kill her.

There was no real need for the Horcrux research anymore either because they had all six now.

Harry laid back in her bed and wondered what the hell this meant for her.

If Tom turned vicious and violent, would they have to kill Harry to kill him?

***

It was almost spring.

Harry spent weeks away from Tom and he, again, let her have her space. She was coming around on her opinion of him. He must truly care for her, he simply does not know how to channel his feelings and reactions.

She couldn't abandon him simply because he didn't understand how to deal with feelings. After all, how many times had she reacted poorly to certain aspects of life? Ron and Hermione were always there to calmly explain things to her.