Don't Let Me Fall (a Tom Riddle not-so-short-short-story)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

An End to Terror?

Gellert Grindelwald has been defeated at last! Late last night Albus Dumbledore, transfiguration professor at Hogwarts, defeat the dark wizard in a long and tiring duel. Grindelwald has been sentenced to life in the Bulgarian Wizarding Prison. Dumbledore has received the Order of Merlin First Class...(cont. pg. 7)

Rose put the daily prophet down. In a month she would be heading back to Hogwarts for her final year. Being 17, a legal adult wizard, Rose had to find her own place. Minerva decided to join her half way through the summer and Fleamont soon followed. Rose knew that the wizarding world would soon have another dark wizard take Grindelwald's place and terrorize the muggles and muggleborns.

"Anything interesting in there? Or is it the normal crap?" Fleamont asked sliding in to a seat across from Rose, helping himself to cereal.

Rose took a sip of tea before answering, "Grindelwald has finally been captured. Dumbledore put a stop to the terror at last."

Minerva had walked in just in time to hear that, "Really? Dumbledore defeated the greatest dark wizard of our time?"

Fleamont shook his head, "I don't believe it. I mean, I love Dumbledore and all, but he's an old man."

Rose smiled and tossed him the paper, "Read it yourself then. It seems you head of house isn't as old as you think."

Fleamont looked shocked, "Bloody hell, you're not joking. Dumbledore really did defeat Grindelwald."

Minerva snatched the paper from him, "Oh let me read." She turned to page seven and skimmed it, "Says here the Grindelwald and Dumbledore used to be friends, but when Grindelwald took a turn for the worst they got in a fight and their friendship ended."

Fleamont laughed, "Dumbledore really needs to work on making better friends!"

Minerva smacked Fleamont on the back of his head, "Shut your mouth Potter! You should respect the man!"

Fleamont rubbed his head, "Sheesh, I do respect him, calm down. That man is my favorite professor."

Rose laughed at her friends, "You two act like siblings, it's entertaining to watch."

Minerva smirked, "What about you and Faolan, hmm? You two seemed pretty close."

Fleamont grew serious all of a sudden, "Yeah, what happened between you two? Myrtle died and Hagrid was expelled, and soon after you two stopped talking and hanging out."

Rose grew still, "I did something he disapproved of greatly. I-I was a coward and others paid the price. Faolan, he-he refuses to even look at me. I regret what I did but I-at the same time I don't."

Minerva shook her head in disbelief, "What ever you did must have been bad, that boy was head over heels in love with you."

Rose looked up in surprise, "What? No he wasn't!"

Fleamont stared at her in disbelief, "You didn't notice? All the times he hung out with you, helped you, comforted you? All the times he would stare at you smiling. How hard he would try to get you to smile and laugh? That man loved you more than his life, I bet he would've even died for you!"

Rose thought back to all the times he would get her to laugh and smile when she was feeling down, how he said that he couldn't give up on her. She realized that she ruined something that could have been beautiful. This whole time she was too busy thinking about Tom that she never noticed the perfect boy in front of her, always by her side.

Rose put her head in her hands, "Oh what have I done?"

Minerva and Fleamont moved on either side of her. Minerva took Rose's hand to comfort her, "Why don't you tell us everything? You have always been secretive, I think it's time to come out with it."

Rose looked at her two best friends, two people she could trust, "Okay, I will. But it's along story."

Fleamont laughed, "We've got all month!"

Rose smiled slightly, "First thing you must know is, I'm from the future."

Minerva and Fleamont stared at her in shock, "What?"

"I came from 2016, where Minnie here, is Headmistress of Hogwarts and you, Fleamont, are dead as dead can be." Rose said pointing at Fleamont.

Fleamont laughed, "Yeah right I don't believe you. How is that even possible."

Rose rolled her eyes in annoyance, "I don't know, why don't you ask Minnie? She's the one who sent me back in the first place."

Minerva's eyes widened, "I-I did?"

Rose moaned, "You guys don't believe me. You want proof? Here it is, " Rose summoned the letter she received from the future. Minerva and Fleamont read the letter over and over again.

Minerva looked up, "This is my hand writing and signature..."

Fleamont nodded, "You really are from the future."

Rose smiled and told them everything. Afterwards the two were quiet for a bit, "So Riddle and Faolan know," Minerva stated.

"And you knew Riddle was going to kill Myrtle and frame Hagrid. You really let that happen? Damn, you are a coward." Fleamont said, not sugar coating any of it.

Rose nodded, looking down, "And I regret it. I just---"

Minerva smiled understandingly, "You love Riddle and couldn't betray him. Love is blind."

Fleamont grimaced, "I would hate to be you. So, tell me what happens in my life?"

Minerva  smacked Fleamont again, "You idiot! She can't tell you the future! It may mess with the whole timeline and everything!"

Rose smiled, "You'll have a grandson who becomes famous and survives the killing curse. You will never meet him though. You live just long enough to see your son get married before you die of dragon pox and your wife soon follows."

Fleamont looked disappointed and proud, "I don't like the idea of Minnie out living me but eh, at least I'll have a famous grandson."

Rose than turned to Minerva, "You become the Head of Gryffindor and eventually Headmistress. You'll teach Fleamont's son, who will be a Gryffindor and a prankster, as well has his grandson, who will look up to you, will be famous, and be a Gryffindor and the youngest seeker Hogwarts will have in a century, and his great grandsons and granddaughter, one who will be a Slytherin and two who would be Gryffindors."

Minerva look pleased as Fleamont complained, "How come she gets to live a long and healthy life, seeing my grandson and great grandchildren instead of me?"

Minerva smiled, "Because I am luckier and better than you."

Fleamont stuck his tongue out at her. Rose laughed, smiling broadly, "I love you two."