Your relationship with Tom began in your fourth year, when he was a seventh-year student. It was a carefully guarded secret, fiercely protected by you both. You believed your love was unshakable, destined to endure—but fate had other plans. His parents arranged a marriage for him with Daphne, a girl in his year. Your world shattered the day he graduated, leaving you heartbroken.

For two years, you fought to piece yourself back together, striving for a sense of normalcy. Just as life seemed steadying, your parents dropped their own arrangement—a marriage to none other than Tom’s younger brother, Mattheo, set to take place after your graduation.

On the first day of your seventh year, you sat with your friends, gossiping over trivial matters, laughter filling the air. Then came the announcement: the retirement of Professor Merryweather—and the appointment of none other than Professor Tom Riddle as the new Head of Slytherin House and Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

The shock was palpable, but it didn’t take long for your connection with Tom to reignite, as though no time had passed. His marriage to Daphne no longer seemed to matter—not when you still loved him, and he hadn’t let go of you either.

One evening, as shadows danced across the walls of his dimly lit office, Tom leaned against his desk, intense blue eyes locked on you, the air between you crackling with tension.

"You can’t marry him," Tom said, voice low and commanding.

Your heart raced. "Tom—"

"He’s not right for you. He never will be."

"And you are?" you shot back, voice trembling.

His jaw tightened. "Maybe not—but I’ll be damned if I let you become his."

"It’s already arranged," you whispered.

"Sod your parents," he muttered, his hand brushing yours. "We both know you don’t want this."

Silence stretched between you, heavy with unspoken truths.

"Please," he murmured, his voice softening, "don’t marry him."