Bad Romance

Seventh Year

A major time skip.

-From your POV-

Today was finally the day; it was the last day of seventh year. This means my time at Hogwarts was finally over. It had been a long and calloused journey. And so much had happened.

The night Tom had given me that letter, I rethought literally all of my relationships. I knew I was going to go running back to Tom one day and leave Draco a mess, so what did I do? I broke up with Draco and told Tom that we can't have this idea that the door for us is still open.

Sixth year was hard for me. And I mean really hard. It took me months to even feel back to myself again and it wasn't because I just kicked the two people I loved the most to the curb, but it was because I saw how my own character was developing and changing so much and it made me regret almost every single thing that had happened in those 6 years. I regretted ever dragging Tom into the dark arts with me, I regretted even getting involved in the dark arts, I regretted hanging the possibility of 'us' over Draco's head for so long, I regretted having horcruxes, I regretted learning Parseltongue, I regretted killing Aria, I regretted framing Alex, I regretted letting Violet die like that, I regretted all of it. And when your soul feels that heavy, it takes a huge toll on your mind and personality.

It wasn't until the summer between sixth and seventh year that I really even got sort of back to normal. I had created an odd friendship with the Weasley twins and for once, it felt nice to have male friends that I had no romantic ties to. Among them were also Pansy; we grew to be quite good friends in sixth year when we shared a room and grew even closer in seventh year when we got bunked together again.

Despite how I severed all ties with both Tom and Draco, I wasn't on bad notes with either of them; with Tom, I explained to him that I had wanted him to say that the whole time we were together, and talked about some other reasons why we ended. It took me awhile to come to the conclusion, but I admitted to him that he had such an impact on me that in some dark corner of my mind, he will always be there. I couldn't help it. With Draco, I explained to him just how grateful I was for his friendship and how lucky I was to be the object of his affection and to be able to date my best friend. All of it was true; that really was how I felt, and I still stand by that statement to this day. To both of them, I explained how I wanted quite literally nothing but the best for them and harbored no ill will towards either of them, but it was all too much for a teenage girl to process among other things and it wasn't fair for them to be dragged into my self-spiraling tornado of destruction. And to that, they both agreed and understood, despite how difficult it might have been to accept. All that being said, I did tell them that I believed in fate and destiny and that in the future or in another life, the situation would sort itself, meaning somewhere out there, there might be a fighting chance for us.

I had sat down in the seat next to Pansy as we waited patiently for the train to take us back home. All of the seventh years more eager than anyone else on the train. "So, have you thought about what you're going to do now?" Pansy asked me. I smiled and looked at her as Viper (who had given birth to many more drexels in sixth year) was nudging around in my pocket.

"I think I want to do field studies and write books. Like a scientist, really. Studying drexels, dragons, dark magic on the mind, all of it. And then write it all down so it's taught for centuries." I explain.

"Wow, that's oddly profound." Pansy says with a chuckle.

"What about you?" she shrugs.

"Probably end up getting some fancy job using my dad's power at the ministry. Like a true Parkinson would." she says sarcastically. We both laugh and then begin chattering as the train takes off.

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-From Tom's POV-

While my face didn't show it, deep down, I was burning with anticipation. I had been waiting for this moment since fifth year when Y/n and I got involved in the dark arts. Unbeknownst to her, I had been planning for so so long. First, I was going to dive right back into the dark arts and regain all the power we were harboring together, and then I was going to get her back. Whether she liked it or not, she was going to be mine and we were going to hold more power than any other sorcerer in this world. Her little breakdown in sixth year was merely a minor setback for me, but a giant slip-up for her. She let emotions get the best of her and I was planning to fully take advantage of that.

I knew the minute I scripted out that letter how she was going to react; she was going to feel happy that she finally heard what she wanted to hear, and then it was going to go all downhill from there when she realized that if she was truly complacent and content with Draco, not only would she had not cared if she heard that after all that time, but she wouldn't have even cared to read the letter in the first place. And I knew this. Because as smart as my Y/n was, she's seemed to have forgotten her own philosophy.

The only useful emotions are anger and curiosity.

Dating Malfoy had mellowed her out to the point where she became overly empathetic and blinded by emotions when she should have kept her guard up the whole time. Had she not been so dumb and blinded, she would've been able to figure out all my plots and schemes and small details of it coming together. But alas, she let her guard down around someone she knew to be as powerful and relentless as myself, and for that, she could only blame herself.

What she had not known is that I collected one more horcrux during the remaining year at Hogwarts. It was some random muggle from the muggle world when I had gone to the Jenkins' for the holidays. So by now, I had my diary, the locket, the watch she had given me, and my grandfather's ring. I intended on collecting around three more within the coming year.

One thing I had noticed however is that as I descended down this dark path, the skin on my neck and collar bones had become increasingly pale and rough, to the point where you could see the small purple and blue veins coursing through it. Unsure of the exact cause, I made sure my shirts always covered it to hide any suspicion. Also, my wand had began to feel heavier and heavier and had began turning from smooth brown wood to a porous white, almost bone-like, material. I also felt that I would have more frequent bursts of anger; I had always had a temper, but it was progressively getting worse as I found myself growing less and less patient with nearly anyone and everyone.

I was not completely sure yet how my descend into the dark arts was going to transform me long term, all I knew is that I was going to pursue all the power in the wizarding world, and that I was going to do it with Y/n by my side, whether she liked it or not.

It really is a shame that she had become soft since we broke up because in the end, she really is the only person who would be able to stop me. But I knew she never would. Because simply put, trust is for fools. Fear, is the only way.