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|| DATE || CHAPTER 37
THE WORLD AROUND THEM HAS shifted. The wizarding world was in chaos—war had broken out, and the tension in the air was palpable. Voldemort's followers, once a hidden force in the shadows, were now making their move, and the light side had begun to rally against them.
But amidst the chaos, Tom Riddle and Nyx found themselves carving out a small moment of peace, something that felt like it had been pulled from another time.
It had been a long while since they had had time to themselves, especially with the weight of the world pressing down on them. But tonight, for just a few hours, they were just Tom and Nyx.
The night was cold but clear, the stars scattered across the sky like a sea of diamonds. The small, secluded cottage they had found refuge in—far from the fighting and the constant danger—was their sanctuary. The children, Selene and Apollo, were safely in the care of their uncles, tucked away in the hidden rooms of Malfoy Manor. Nyx had insisted they be kept away from the growing violence, but she knew that wherever they were, the boys would make sure they were safe.
Tom and Nyx had decided to make the most of the rare peace. A simple dinner, a walk under the stars, and perhaps a quiet conversation that wouldn't be interrupted by the threat of danger or war. It was one of those rare, fleeting moments of normalcy that they had to hold onto—because the reality was, they couldn't afford to think that they were in a world that wasn't already fighting for its life.
"So, tell me," Tom began as they walked through the quiet streets, their hands brushing against each other every now and then, "how do you see all of this ending? Do you really think we're going to win this war?"
Nyx's dark eyes met his, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're asking me that now?" she teased, nudging him lightly. "The last thing I want to do is think about how this ends. I've learned that you never make plans in a war. You take it as it comes."
Tom chuckled softly, his gaze drifting to the horizon. "You're always so... pragmatic."
"You would think I'd be the one to get sentimental with a few rare moments like this," she replied, her voice softening. "But I've learned that everything can change in an instant. The war could end tomorrow, or it could go on for years. We don't know. All we can do is make sure we win. And, more importantly, that we keep our family safe."
Tom's expression darkened slightly at the mention of their children. He couldn't help but think of Selene and Apollo, two tiny beings who had never known a world without fear. The thought of losing them... it was almost unbearable.
Nyx noticed the slight shift in his mood, and she reached over to squeeze his hand. "Don't worry," she said gently. "They're safe. And that's all that matters right now."
A heavy silence fell between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence only shared by people who had fought battles together and survived the worst of it. It was a bond that spoke without words.
Later that evening, the two of them sat together on a small balcony overlooking a peaceful, moonlit garden. A bottle of wine rested between them, glasses half-full, the quiet hum of the world around them offering a temporary escape from the war that loomed just outside the door.
Just as Tom was about to say something else, the sound of distant yelling interrupted them. It started soft but grew louder, coming closer and closer to their little haven.
Nyx's eyes narrowed, and she stood quickly, pulling Tom with her. "Stay close," she murmured, her hand slipping into her robes where her wand rested.
They didn't need to exchange words. Both of them were already on high alert.
It didn't take long for them to realize what was happening. A group of light wizards had found them. Perhaps they had tracked them down or stumbled upon their retreat—either way, they were here, and they were ready to fight.
Tom's wand was in his hand before Nyx had even finished drawing hers. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a blast of green light toward one of the advancing wizards, a curse that sent the man flying backward into the stone wall. The wizard didn't rise again.
"Stay close," Tom ordered, his voice low and commanding.
Nyx didn't need telling twice. She moved gracefully beside him, her own spells cutting through the air as she disabled two more light wizards who had been foolish enough to attack her. The air was thick with the smell of burnt magic and the sharp crack of spells hitting their marks.
"You think you can just come here and take us down?" Nyx shouted as she sent a particularly nasty curse flying toward one of the attackers. The wizard screamed, vanishing in a cloud of smoke. "We'll end you all."
Tom, meanwhile, was in his element. He moved with precision and cold determination, each spell cast with lethal accuracy. It was as though the war had been preparing him for this exact moment—a moment when there would be no room for mistakes, no room for mercy.
As the last of the light wizards fell, Nyx turned to Tom, her eyes bright with adrenaline. "Are you done now, darling?"
Tom's lips curled into a rare, satisfied smile, a flicker of pride in his eyes. "For tonight, yes."
They stood in the silence of the aftermath, surrounded by the fallen wizards. It wasn't until the adrenaline began to wear off that the weight of the situation hit them. They were in the middle of a war. A war where one wrong move could lead to everything they had built collapsing in an instant.
Nyx let out a breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly, but she didn't let her guard down. Not yet.
"You know," Tom said, his voice now quiet, "sometimes I wonder if it's worth all the bloodshed. But then I look at you... at our children... and I know that this is all for them. For us."
Nyx met his gaze, her dark eyes softening as she reached up to touch his cheek. "You've always known what you want, Tom. And you've always done whatever it takes to get it. I've seen that firsthand. But you're not alone in this. I'll fight with you—until the end."
Tom didn't respond immediately, his gaze flickering over to where the last of the light wizards lay. His expression was one of cold calculation, as if the thought of the next battle had already crossed his mind.
A few moments passed, and then Tom pulled Nyx into him, his arms wrapping tightly around her. "I love you, Nyx. No matter what happens."
She smiled softly, leaning into his chest. "I love you too, Tom. And we'll win this together. No matter the cost."
As they stood there, the moonlight washing over them, it felt like a fleeting moment of peace—before the war continued, before the darkness returned. But in that moment, the only thing that mattered was the two of them, and the love they shared.
And then, in the distance, the unmistakable sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence. But this time, they didn't need to fight. This was a moment for them, and they would cherish it, even as the war raged on.
