B O N U S  C H A P T E R (1)
A Random Tuesday

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this chapter takes place during part ii between chapters Halloween and Turkey day. This is just a mini-adventure that Tom and Pandora embarked on together. enjoy! :))
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"Pandora..."

Sometimes I hear it.

"Pandora..."

My name.

"Pandora, I miss you..."

Like a mantra that continuously calls out to my mind.

"Stay strong, my daughter,"

It was the archangel Gabriel, my father. However, no matter how much I wish his words to be real—I know they are not. There was not a possibility.

For mortals, death was not the end—it truly was the next great adventure. Albeit, it was normally a peaceful adventure mortals took. Heaven, for humans, was made for peace. For celestial or otherworldly beings though, when we died—it truly was the end.

There were not big golden gates or firey pits of punishment awaiting us on the other side. Nor was there any sort of purgatory ready to welcome us in its neutral chaos. Nope, for us, it was lights out, authentic eternal sleep.

My eyes cracked open at the last thought which served as a silent reminder that my own sleep was now over. I yawned, stretching while sitting up in the small bed that Hogwarts provided. It may have been small, but damn—this shit was comfortable. We have the founders to thank for their magic charms.

I was greeted by the sound of silence, something that did not generally happen. Usually, there was to be the noise of my roommates running around and preparing themselves for the day. The girls were very adamant (especially in the olden days that I was trapped in) about having their hair perfectly cropped and curled tightly as well as making sure their makeup was flawless.

Then again, things in my day were not too different. Although, makeup styles varied dramatically from now to 2016. I will not lie either, there have been days where I wanted to go full face of makeup, Jeffree Star type deal. However, even if I did not quite care about the reaction I would get, the attention it would bring is something I did not want. Not to mention, if I happened to screw with time any more than I already have by starting a new trend... well, let's just say that would not be good.

Like at all.

"Cause I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it..." I sang quietly to myself, dramatically flinging the curtains to my bed back as I did every day.

"Good morning bitches," I rose a brow but smiled at the empty room, "well, looks like I'm the only bitch in sight," I shrugged, standing from the bed with a stretch.

Catching sight of the clock in the corner of the room, I suddenly remembered why I was the only one in the dorm room. It was already the third-hour of classes, ten minutes past eleven to be exact.

I was skipping class for the day. Oh well!

Dumbledore probably would not like it, and Lavender already gave me an earful while she was getting ready this morning. I love the girl, but sometimes she is just a little much when it comes to school.

I was fast asleep the second she left, however.

"Sex in the air, I don't care, I love the smell of it," I grooved while opening my trunk.

Placing a finger under my chin, I mockingly chose an outfit. Shrugging, I waved my hand in the air, and just like that, I was ready for the day.

Two french braids kept my rebellious hair at bay and seeing as I was not bothering to show up to any of my classes, I did not put on my uniform. Instead, I was wearing one of those old-fashioned high waisted khaki pants with a sweater tucked in.

Seeing as I am feeling extra shitty about the olden days today, I gave zero fucks and wore some white Vans. They blended in enough with the style, but still unusual.

Mockingly, I shoved my hands in the huge pockets. "What am I? A 50s' house wife?" I shook my head before taking my hands out of my pockets and turning toward the door.

As I walked out of the room, the Gryffindor hallways greeted me—the flames of the torches roaring and heating up the dense space. These torches were a lot of the reason the Gryffindor tower was simply so cozy.

Rounding the corner, I practically swung around the banister and leaped down the stairs two at a time. Just as I suspected, the common room only held a few students. The ones who currently had a free period.

Walking past two guys studying, I whistled a tune before quietly singing under my breath.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but the chains and whips excite me..." I hummed immediately causing the two students who I had walked past to snap their heads up at me.

They looked... disturbed, to say the least. They were probably in their fourth year, maybe third. Okay, so I possibly just broke two 13-year-old's innocence.

Yeah, that is totally fine—not going to think much about that.

Just before I headed out the door, I pointed finger guns at the two awkwardly.

"Don't drop out, children," I nodded giving a horribly cheesy smile at the end.

The one on the left just looked scared while the one on the right shook his head.

"Mental that one is,"

"I take zero offense to that," I waved them off just as I left.

The second I was in the corridor, the feeling of hunger suddenly ebbed at me. Biting my lip, I debated whether I should wait until lunch that was just around the corner but a better idea soon came to mind.

The Three Broomsticks never fails to disappoint.

With that thought, I started down the corridor in the direction I knew the Charms classroom to be. On my way, the staircases moved three times—nearly making me fall off the railing every time. I caught sight of Peeves harassing some first years which I happily stopped to watch for a few minutes. And finally, I flashed some crazy lady in a portrait to which she promptly fainted upon me doing so.

Got to love Hogwarts though.

As slid through the hallways, not unlike to being in some smooth Pop music video, I could not help but yearn for some sunglasses. They would make me look so much cooler. With that thought, a pair appeared on my face and I nodded along to the make-belief beat.

"Oooh, who's bad?" I sang terribly, pausing just outside of the Charms classroom door.

Performing a spin that would make Michael Jackson proud, I snapped and popped out my hip before leaning against the wall. I fiddled around for a few minutes trying to decide what would look coolest, but as the school bell soon rang I was jumping and a̶w̶k̶w̶a̶r̶d̶l̶y̶ quickly crossed my arms one over the other.

I blew a bubble with my bubblegum (don't ask where it came from)... kidding! I gave it to myself because I am just that amazing.

Students filed out of the classroom, a few throwing me incredibly odd looks. Not that I can blame them, I mean if I saw me I would probably do the same. However, soon a certain curly dark-haired boy came out of the class accompanied by (Ew!) Malfoy and the other guy I can never remember the name of.

Oh, yeah! It's Nott... or maybe Avery?

"Oh, Tommie boy!" I called immediately catching the three Slytherins attention as the other students left the corridors. "Tell me how amazing I look,"

"What the bloody fuck?" Abraxas Malfoy questioned in mild disturbance while the other guy who was either Avery or Nott simply looked confused.

Tom was staring at me blankly, the seemingly emotionless boy blinking.

"Aw, Tom, you're doing your emotionless but secretly admiring thing that you—"

"I don't do that," Tom cut me off, shaking his head while continuing to look at me as though he was seriously judging.

"C 'mon now, don't lie—"

"I am not," he narrowed his piercing eyes.

"Tommie—"

He held up a hand, "look, Rhiannon," Abraxas and that other dude were slowly backing away from us, as Tom spoke, "you are a single bead in the string of lives I hold together..."

"Woah buddy, someone needs a nap!" I cut him off while holding my hands up.

There was a moment of silence with Tom starting to sneer at me; however, his eyes still held that judgy look. Out of nowhere, I reached forward to poke him only for Tom to smack my hand away, his look now shifting to that of annoyance.

"Really, Lightly?"

"Really, Lightly?" I mocked in a disgusting British accent that had Tom pursing his lips.

"Why do I give you the time of day again?" He almost questioned himself, appearing to seriously consider the question.

"Oh, that's not important right now," I waved him off, "what is important is," I pointed to him, "you," I pointed back to myself, "and me, having brunch at Three Broomsticks?"

Tom quirked an unamused dark brow, "Brunch? Is this supposed to be funny, Lightly? Do I look amused?"

"You never look amused unless someone is in pain," I scoffed when he nodded at my words with an almost sinister grin, "Okay, cool it, you psycho—"

"Not denying that,"

I facepalmed at his words before continuing on, "Brunch is the period between breakfast and lunch—seeing as I got up like 15 minutes ago,"

"You got up 15 minutes, that's why you were not in class earlier?" He spoke down to me, as though preparing to scold me.

I waved him off, "not important!"

"Yes, it is—!"

"Anyway, I'm hungry and I don't want to go to Three Broomsticks alone, you in?" I questioned, huffing when Tom dramatically looked around the corridor as though looking for someone.

"Oh, are you talking to me?" He had the audacity to gasp and place a surprised hand on his chest. "Sorry, I thought you were inviting one of your other hooligan friends!"

"Did you just call yourself a hooligan—?" Tom quickly cut me off.

"I'm honored, but what is this? You asking me out on a date?" He picked at his nails bored, while my cheeks flared with heat.

"NO—!" I quickly tried only for him to once again cut me off.

"You know, you could have done better than peer pressuring me into scuffing my perfect student record and ditching class with you to—mind you—sneak off campus and go have this 'brunch' that you are no doubt making up the name of..."

I gaped at him before my face went red with fury rather than embarrassment. I was so glad the classroom door was closed, for if the teacher heard what I wanted to say, I would no doubt be expelled.

"Listen you—"

"But..." Tom did not let me get a word in, dragging out his words, "I suppose that I will come with you, if not because I am a bit peckish myself..."

Any previous words I had were lost. Instead, my face morphed into confusion as I tilted my head.

"Huh?"

"Oh, come now," he rolled his eyes while smirking and swiping the sunglasses off my face before I could blink. Instantly, he placed them on his own features. "Stupid muggle contraption... still though, tell me how amazing I am, Lightly," he mocked me from earlier causing me to growl and try to grab my sunglasses back.

He snickered, dodging every attempt I made while also walking through the corridors. My chest warmed—Tom was suddenly in a surprisingly good mood, and honestly, I did not want to break that. As much as I hated how my heart did backflips with the slightest quirk of his lips, I knew I would do anything just to see him smile at me.

"Is that all you have, puppy?" He cooed in a mocking tone, dodging my next attempt to take the sunglasses off his face.

Whoever would have thought? Voldemort wearing sunglasses indoors like some douchebag... or a really cool dude.

"Well," I rubbed my chin in thought as we walked down one of the many staircases, "as a seer, I feel like—"

"Oi, cut it with the seer nonsense," Tom huffed—he had been sour after suggesting that I was a seer and was unceremoniously proven wrong.

However, that did not stop me from milking it. Tom hated that I did that, and—not that he would ever admit—I think he hated it mostly because it only confused him all the more.

"Look, buddy," Tom scoffed at my words. That was another thing, oddly enough I noticed that everyone from the UK found it weird and borderline offense whenever I called someone "buddy". On my end; however, "buddy" was simply a New Yorkers' phrase that I grew up hearing. "It's not my fault that I am smarter than you—"

"Ha!" Tom cut me off with a loud snicker, "that's why you copy my papers all the time, eh?"

"Not my fault you let me!" I held my hands up defensively as Tom's handsome features contorted into something akin to annoyance.

"I do not let you," he scolded before adding in a quieter tone, "I just don't tell the Professors when you do," he hmphed at me before suddenly pausing.

It was then I took into account that we actually made it to the Slytherin common room. The dungeon corridors were dark and cold (like Tom's soul), but empty nonetheless. The next class of the day had begun a few minutes ago leaving the only people for us to avoid being the Headmaster and caregiver.

"I will be right back," Tom spoke smoothly and before I could ask what he was doing, he was gone.

I groaned, leaning back against the wall. He still had my glasses. After a few minutes, the dark-haired boy walked back out, except he had dropped his bag off and replaced his robes for a warm coat.

His wand peaked out of his pockets, and in his right hand was a green scarf. Unfortunately, he still had on the sunglasses and was showing no signs of taking them off. I narrowed my eyes, realizing he must actually like them, but made no comment on it.

Instead, he suddenly wrapped the green scarf around me causing me to let out a noise of disapproval.

"Hey!"

He hushed me.

"Quiet, Lightly," I could practically feel the eye roll, "it's cold out there and even if you are an idiot, I am not," he expressed before tugging me to the staircases that led out of the dungeons.

"At least I am not akin to a child of a dementor," I huffed as we jogged up the stairs, but paying mind to who was potentially around.

We did not want anyone to see us. I was suddenly glad that the magic schools did not have cameras stationed around campus.

The cameras back in high school made it nearly impossible to do stuff and not get caught.

"Why thank you," he grinned, staring down at me with what I realized were Ray-Bans.

I growled. "Give me those back!" He snickered and dodged yet another attempt.

"Mmm, no thanks, I quite like these actually—think I'll keep them,"

I whined, "Why? Because you look cool?" I sarcastically spat as we made it outside and started heading to the Forbidden Forest.

It did not take a genius to know that heading the normal way to Hogsmeade would get us caught instantly. We had to take another way, one where we cut through the Forbidden Forest. It was a slightly longer way, but effective nonetheless. Not to mention, Tom and me were both dangerous enough that we truly did not need to worry about the questionable creatures lurking in the woods.

"I look cold?" Tom asked, just as we first broke through the treeline, heading deeper into the forest.

Behind us, the gigantic castle school gleamed magnificently in the sunlight. The wind ruffled against us and silently, I was more than grateful that Tom gave me his scarf to use.

Turning my attention back to the boy in question, I noticed his sunglass-covered gaze was already on me. Seriously, it was hard to take him seriously with those on. A grin threatened to consume me at the more boyish look those glasses gave him.

Suddenly, I found myself loving how he looked with those stupid things on and never wanted him to take them off. Well, that was an overstatement for I loved his blue eyes too much, but still—he almost looked adorable with those glasses on.

Wow, Pandora, way to compliment a psychopath—pat on the back for that one. I might as well be saying Vlad the Impaler is adorable. Realizing I may have been staring a little too long, I spoke up.

"Not cold," I cleared throat, cursing myself when I understood that I became too comfortable with my vocabulary and am speaking too much from the future, "but cool—it's an American saying," I smiled, trying to play it off.

Yep, it is totally fine, I am not messing with history's vocabulary or anything. I almost snorted. Here I am changing one of history's most diabolical villains and I am concerned about using the word "cool" a few decades too early.

Before Tom could utter another word, I drove my point across in taking his mind off of the saying by reaching over and tousling his hair harshly. I laughed loudly when something akin to a growl left him at his now messy hair.

God, his hair is soft.

Sticking my tongue out at him, I raced forward through the forest.

"Get back here, Lightly! I swear to Salazar if you—" he could not finish his sentence, for he launched himself after me.

And somehow, at that moment, on that random Tuesday—Tom Marvolo Riddle and I were playing a miniature game of tag in the Forbidden Forest.

The leaves crunched beneath both our footfalls, loud laughter erupting from me as Tom continuously tried to catch me. Darting through the trees, I turned my head and waved at the maniac in sunglasses who was right on my tail.

He sneered in response, myself darting onto one side of a tree while he remained on the other.

"Lightly, you never touch my hair," he growled venomously.

"Well, I just did," I smirked earning an ear-deafening sound of protest and Tom rounding the tree to grab me.

I screeched, darting off and nearly slipping as I did so. Thankfully, I kept my footing and ran further into the thicket of trees, narrowly avoiding Tom Riddle as I did so. We jumped over logs and avoided branches, leaping over my bodies of water.

We were just... free—kids doing as we pleased.

Turning once again, I stuck my tongue out and placed my fingers in my ears, riling him up even more. For a second, his eyes lit up and he let out a laugh before he became all the more determined to catch me.

In a split second, Tom jumped forward—his body hitting mine heavily and we were rolling down a small hill, leaves darting up in our wake. Tom had his arms wrapped around me, my own arms wrapped around him as we tumbled down on the forest ground.

Yet, we both found joy in it, letting out smalls chortles of excitement as we went.

We stopped rolling, myself landing on top of the teenage boy with a large smile. He did not look too different: a huge smile, messed up glasses too far up which revealed pure excitement in his blue eyes, red face, and messy hair. He was entirely human. Too human to possibly lead the most deadly uprising in history.

He was breathing heavily like me, both of us simply staring into the eyes of each other without care. For once, I was not aware of how his arms wrapped around me perhaps a bit too tight, or the way my body was pressed up against him in a way that was anything but friendly.

No, I was only focused on the little flakes that lined his eyes. A brown shade hidden deep within the depths of an ice-ocean, it was entirely beguiling.

I also did not notice how the wide grin on my own face was replaced with a much softer smile. There was no note of how my hand reached up behind Tom's head, digging into his soft dark curls. I did not blink when he reached up, an almost dazed look in his eyes as he fixed my flyaways.

My fingers weaved throughout his hair, tugging lightly and scratching affectionately. I did not even notice how my body was leaning down, nor did I see how his head began reaching up.

I did not find anything wrong with staring from his eyes to his lips and wondering just how Tom Riddle tasted. Were his lips as icy as his soul, or were they perhaps as warm as the brown flakes hidden within his irises? Did he taste of mint or perhaps cinnamon?

How would I ever know if I did not take it upon myself to find out?

The wind continued to ruffle against us, but alike to everything else—I did not notice or care to take notice. The only thought was just how very divine Tom Riddle was.

Everyone saw him as a monster, and while that may be true, he was also much more. His soul may have been twisted and tainted, but he has just that—a soul. And his soul glowed and it reached out to my own as any soul bounders would.

And yes, he very much was capable of love. Was it going to be harder than anything else in this world ever would be for him? Yes, I am not nor ever will deny that. But, was it impossible? Most certainly not.

And as we leaned in getting closer and closer—it seemed our souls reached out as well. His soul pulsed in waves of wispy blue, black, and purple: very dark but beautiful. It contrasted very much to the pure gold of my own soul.

I did not care though, for I was locked in the same trance as Tom Riddle. And something, perhaps gravity—but maybe stronger? There was no telling what it was and I doubted that I ever would understand. Whatever it was, it was pulling us together and I could not stop it, nor did I want to.

His grip tightened as did mine—I fisted his curls. My eyes closed on their own accord, and while I could feel everything around us from the wind to hearing the birds chirp in the distance or the rustling of the leaves on the forest floor below, I could focus on nothing more than the warmth emitting from his soul or the feel of his breath centimeters from my own lips.

His magic crackled as a flame would around us, it was nearly electric. It pulsated in waves that seemed to go for miles, a sheer reminder of just how very magically gifted Tom Riddle was.

We were so close that with one more move, our lips would meet. Should we finally surrender, I would taste Tom Riddle for the first time ever.

It was an enchanted moment in time—something I do not believe myself ever capable of forgetting. The world, for once, was in perfect harmony.

There was a pause, and just as we both were about to touch lips, a sound startled us out of whatever trance had managed to trap us. And suddenly, I noticed everything: from the way we pressed against each other on the ground, to the way we gripped the other as though our lives depend on it, and most of all—the way our breaths mingled.

I was not the only one either, for my eyes snapped open at the same time Tom's did. Once again, we were staring at each other, but rather than pure gravity forcing us together—we hesitated. Even Tom—who never was taken by surprise—allowed small ounces of shock to filter his gaze.

It seems the situation had just caught up to him as well.

However, if there was one thing that Tom and I had in common, it was the fact that we were both masters at pretending as though little issues such as this did not so much as affect us. It was much easier to move on and get over it rather than ponder it for months on end.

And so, my lips pulled into a large wolfish grin—the playful smile lighting up my features. In seconds, I darted forward and wrapped Tom in a huge hug causing him to groan in displeasure.

"Really, Rhiannon? Really?"

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but the chains and whips excite me!

He did not hug back, simply growling when after a few seconds I did not move. Rolling my eyes at his stubbornness, I pulled back slightly so we were eye-to-eye.

"Don't lie," I rose a brow, "you needed a hug,"

"Do I look like a hugger to you?" He sneered, keeping his arms in the air in an effort not to touch me.

"Mmm," I shrugged, and before either he or I could comprehend, I planted a nice slobbery kiss on his cheek.

"THAT IS DISGUSTING!" He exclaimed while frantically rubbing his cheek as I only fixed his sunglasses before standing up with a hop.

"Oh, do not be such a wuss," I pouted as Tom stood back up as well, making little effort to fix his scrunched coat and messy hair.

I wrapped the scarf around me a bit tighter as well, ignoring the way my body already missed the warmth Tom provided.

"I'm sorry," he sarcastically spat, "would you like me to drool all over you as well?"

I only waved him off, taking a look around at where our little game of tag had landed us. A bit further from Hogsmeade than I would have liked, but we will make due. With that thought, I tranced forward with Tom close behind me.

"You know, I cannot say that I would exactly mind it," I spoke a few minutes later, "You know, you drooling over me and all..."

Tom chuckled in reply, itching his nose before stalking next to me and staring down with a smile. The glasses seriously made me want to laugh and smile in glee—with those on along with his coat, he almost could blend in as a teenager from my own time.

"What? Like nearly every other hormonal boy in our year?" He rhetorically questions causing a smirk to tilt my lips.

"Exactly like that," I nodded in confirmation earning a scoff.

We continued our trek, the fresh smell the trees gave making me breathe deeply. Sometimes, especially as I was born in the city, it was easy to forget just how beautiful the natural world was. It was sad that in nearly three-hundred years the majority of the world's natural land would be gone.

A few more minutes passed by and Tom was shaking his head.

"I cannot believe you've deceived me into joining you,"

"Uh, you chose to come," I sassed right back, nudging his shoulder, "What? Having anxiety over missing like 3 classes? Come now, Tom, don't be such a goody-two-shoes,"

He scoffed, but his response was not what I was expecting. "Very well, I obviously need be here to watch you anyway, you'd no doubt have got yourself killed walking through these forests,"

"I would not have!" I immediately disagreed.

He sniffed. "Probably lost too," was his great response.

"NO, I WOULD NOT HAVE!" I did not stop myself from full-on ranting. "Honestly, you and Alexius might as well be the same, thinking I am so incapable of... Tom?" I paused when I noticed he was gone. Disappeared as though he vanished off the face of the Earth. "Tom, where'd ya go? TOM!" I shouted, turning in a full circle.

Realizing that perhaps the Forbidden Forest really was as dangerous as the teachers spoke of, even in the middle of the day, my heart rate started speeding up.

"Tom, where are you?" I called, becoming fearful of Tom.

There was no way something got him in the ten seconds that I was talking. I would have sensed it! Swallowing, I debated on immediately waking up my grace so I could track down my douchebag of a soul bounder.

However, before I could ever hope to put that plan into action, something grabbed my shoulders and roared in my ear. I jumped what felt like fifty feet and screamed so loud that the birds hanging out at the tops of the trees flew away.

My voice echoed and a hand was placed over my heart and I bent down and breathed heavily.

"You ASSHOLE!" I hollered while whipping around to yell at Tom who was cackling madly.

He sniggered while pointing at me, shaking his head in disbelief. "I can't..." he wheezed with a large smile, "believe you actually fell for that! What were you thinking, Rhiannon?"

As upset as I wanted to be, I could not find it within myself when Tom Riddle of all people was actually laughing. Not only laughing but smiling.

Crossing my arms, I rolled my eyes before trudging away.

"Oh, come now, darling," Tom tried to coo while following after me.

I only marched forward, my hands set at fists at my sides and steps determined as I mumbled not-so-kind words under my breath. It must have been comic to see Tom and I walking through the woods, me trying to storm away from him as he followed cackling.

"Dickish psychotic sociopathic asshat," I simply replied causing Tom to snicker even more.

"My, my," he tsked, suddenly at my side, "what a mouth you have, at least you're creative," he threw an arm over my shoulder, pulling me into his side.

To say I was shocked at his sudden and astonishing display of affection would be the understatement of the year. This day was almost too good to be true. Tom walking around with those sunglasses followed by an almost kiss and now an easy display of physical display affection.

Honestly, what did I do to get my grandfather so hyped? If there was ever a day that God is in my corner, it must be today.

However, trust me to ruin the moment...

Tom cried in outrage when I placed a leaf I picked up from the ground in his hair. Wow, he really hated people touching his hair.

Quickly, he patted the leaf out, releasing me as he did so. As soon as the leaf was gone, I tried to poke at his cheek only to have him swat my hand away in annoyance.

"How old are you? Five?" He said in an irritated tone that made me smile.

There was the Tom Riddle I knew and loved... wait loved? I was unable to ponder on this new discovery any further for Tom shoved me to the side. It was not hard or anything, but it was enough to have me stumbling away.

"Oh, suck a cunt, Tom!"

"As long as it isn't yours," he smirked as I growled.

"You wish it was mine," I pouted as his lips tilted ever-so-slightly at the corners.

He mocking placed a finger under his chin as though thinking. "Mmm, I don't think so..." he finally shook his head which made me huff.

"Okay, whatever—" I was cut off by the sound of hooves hitting the ground.

Tom paused as well, both of us listened as the sound got closer. He wasted no time in pulling out his wand, holding it in his right hand tightly. I could tell based on his stance that he was ready for anything that would show itself.

My nose itched—a familiar smell burning. The smell of a pure equine creature was nearing. A unicorn... but not just any unicorn.

I felt her presence before she appeared, listening as the air crackled around us. And with the swiftness of a rabbit, from the brustle behind us leaped out a creature of untainted glory. A magical creature who was the color of snow with a sharp long golden horn protruding from her head.

Karoline.

She landed frantically next to us, and unlike her normal calming presence—she was anxious. Tom actually let out a noise of disbelief before spluttering.

"A unicorn? But they never reveal themselves—!"

I cut him off by placing a calming hand on the top of Karoline's muzzle. Her response was instant, her being nuzzling closer to the palm of my hand. Her magical starry eyes bore straight into my own, and I listened as she broke through the surface of my mind in order to communicate.

Telepathic creatures, one of the only creatures that communicated only telepathically on this entire planet. And in doing so, communicating with a unicorn was only that much more intimate.

"Karoline, what has happened?" I soothed, using my other hand to brush through her hair.

"You know her?" Tom spoke coolly, though his voice betrayed his interest.

"Of course," I scoffed, "don't you?"

I could feel his eye-roll.

'Troll,' Karoline's voice came as a whisper within in my mind, 'quickly, we must go...' she hesitated as her eyes flicked to Tom who was watching her with interest, 'you and your friend may ride on my back to safety...'

I knew to be honored: unicorns rarely allowed anyone to see them let alone ride them. Not to mention, she was allowing Tom to ride as well, all for my sake. Unicorns were not necessarily selfish creatures, but they certainly did not go out of their way to help those in need.

The fact that Karoline was doing this spoke volumes.

There was a loud yell in the distance and it did not take a genius to know that it was a troll. Tom quickly held his wand out, but I stopped him by putting an arm up.

"Rhiannon, it's a troll," he spoke seriously only for me to shake my head.

"We need to get on, c 'mon,"

"Are you kidding, there is no way a unicorn will allow us to—" he ate his own words upon me swiftly jumping on Karoline's naked back.

Unicorn's were generally bigger than the average horse, so she was perfectly capable of carrying both Tom and me.

"What was that?" I smiled widely just as another shout of anger came.

"It seems I stand corrected," Tom shook his head before quickly hopping on behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

Just as the troll broke through the treeline, we were off like a bullet.

"Woohoo," I hollered, holding my arms out as the wind whipped past us at alarming rates.

Karoline snorted, her hooves hitting the Earth harshly as she ran. Tom coughed as one of my braids got caught in his mouth, something that made me laugh. Karoline leaped over crevices and darted through trees, hopping over little rivers. However, throughout this, she stayed near to surface of the Forbidden Forest—making sure not to take us too deep into it.

Unfortunately, this was also making the troll angrier as the hideous beast raced to keep us with us. I nearly screamed when it reached out one of its large hands and brushed against the unicorn's tail.

"Shit! Kill it, Tom!" I shouted, not really considering the consequences that such an action would cost.

To be fair, I did not think that Tom would actually do it. However, like most things concerning Tom, he once again surprised.

With literally no hesitation and his sunglasses pulled over his eyes like a boss, he turned his torso and carelessly waved his wand.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Green light shot from his wand and hit the troll straight in its chest. I watched as the poor troll's eyes went wide before taking on a lifeless gleam and the huge being fell to the ground in a heap. At that moment, I should have felt regret, should have cursed Tom to the moon and back, should have screamed and cried.

Lord knows anyone else would have. It was the normal and morally right reaction.

However, remember that time I spoke about being not completely light or dark. A space in which a person could simply just be?

A gray zone, so to speak.

Well, that was the category that I fell in, and it was what enabled me to not feel those guilty feelings. To not feel sorrow, and to instead turn away from the dead troll and face Tom flabbergasted.

Karoline did seem to mind either, in fact, she was more relieved than anything that her hunter was no longer chasing her.

"What the fuck, Tom?" I cried over the wind whipping past us. "You actually did it! What is wrong with you?"

Tom was appalled, "you told me to!"

"But you never listen to me! Everyone knows that! Why would you listen to me?!" I slapped his shoulder weakly.

Our argument on the back of the unicorn was not able to last any longer, for Karoline suddenly stopped. Tom and I huffed at the sudden stall, hanging onto each other to stay steady. Curiously, I looked around until I realized we were at the very edge of the forest leading to Hogsmeade.

Seeing as it was only Tuesday and not the weekend, the town was practically empty. It truly was odd to see the town looking so bare without the lively students to bring spirit. But then again, there was only one day of the month that students were allowed to venture to Hogsmeade. This chill vibe was what the town normally was.

Actually, chill was a stretch, this was a ghost town.

"Hmm, we're here," Tom hummed while checking his watch that he pulled from his pocket, "only two hours after we left campus,"

I snorted in reply, "were you expecting anything different?" I questioned while he hopped off.

"Honestly," I did not even blink as he helped me down, seeming out of instinct, "not really," he answered.

After dusting ourselves off, I turned to Karoline and pet her mane gently. Nodding, I rested my head against her side.

"Thank you," I spoke quietly, so only she could hear.

She let out a small chortle before racing off, Tom and I watching the pretty unicorn fade in the distance.

"I cannot believe a unicorn actually likes you," he shook his head in disbelief while walking toward town with me in tow.

The Three Broomsticks was nearby, it would not take us too long to arrive. The town, like always, looked like it belonged on a magical little postcard.

"We should go camping sometime," I suggested instead of responding.

Tom scoffed, "Never in a million years," he answered, "but should we not go back and hide the body?"

I paused before shrugging, "eh, it will probably be fine. To be honest, wizards don't really care when it comes to magical creatures," and that was the cold hard truth.

Tom nodded, taking off his sunglasses and folding them before placing them in his coat pocket, "You are correct in that statement,"

We stopped talking about his recent murder the second he opened the door to Three Broomsticks for me. The witch waitress who was working looked up in surprise at our arrival. Just as the rest of the town was, the Three Broomsticks was dead with only one man sitting in the corner.

Even the bar, which was normally full, was dead empty with the bartender looking bored as fuck. The place smelled of food and happy times as it normally did—the magical newspapers sitting in a pile right next to the entrance.

I debated grabbing one but decided against it.

Because of the non-busy nature, the waitress quickly scampered up to us.

"Can I have your nose?" I questioned in a darkly serious tone causing the waitress to pause and stare at me with huge eyes.

Tom scoffed and bumped me out of the way, "table for two," he said while throwing me an annoyed look.

I laughed in reply while the waitress quickly took us to a window booth.

It was on that random Tuesday afternoon—that turned out to not be so random—that Tom Riddle and I ditched class to go have brunch that turned into lunch. However, can you blame us? A few things did end up happening that stalled us. Tom stole my sunglasses, we played tag, w̶e̶ a̶l̶m̶o̶s̶t̶ ̶k̶i̶s̶s̶e̶d̶, we rode a unicorn, Tom killed something, and then we made it for a late lunch.

Perfect afternoon if you ask me. Deep down, I wished more than anything that this could be our life. But I knew that was only a dream, that hard times lay ahead and I could not get distracted.

But still, this day was one that I do not believe I could ever forget. It was something for the books.

———————

Author's Note:

Hey all! How are you guys doing? I hope everyone had an amazing holiday weekend, consider this as a late Christmas present!

I am so sorry, I know it took me a hella long time to write this and publish it, but I finally found the time to simply sit down and get it done. As I said before, this was just one of their adventures during their sixth year at Hogwarts—it happens in part ii between the chapters "Halloween" and "Turkey Day".

It is a fun little scenario and kind of an example of their lives after the whole "Battle of Hogwarts" disaster. This was also when Pandora first knew that this was how she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Tom.

Anyway, I hope you all liked it—I promise I did try with it and I swear this is not the last bonus chapter. There will be more chapters that take place throughout the story, after the story finished, and even some smut potentially as I know quite a few wanted it lol.

Please, please, please, comment on all your thoughts—I love hearing from you guys! And also, comment for different bonus chapter scenarios that you would want to see, I need help with choosing what to write about!

Also, I feel like the song at the top of the chapter sorta—in a weird way—really goes along with this.

I love you all and have a happy rest of your holidays!