September, 1951

Slughorn POV

Every single time you have a meeting with him, you must continue to record your conversations with your wand and then place the memories into a vial so we may see if he's truly the danger that we suspect him to be.

She will not believe us otherwise. When the time is right, she will find out who exactly her fiancé is and assist us.

Just at the memory of the new Headmaster Dumbledore discussing this with me long ago brought shivers down my spine as I recalled the predictions of Tom Riddle turning into a nightmare and the biggest threat to the world.

As I watched young (y/n) Livingston explain to the new first years about lab safety, I couldn't help but worry for her future. I didn't want to keep a secret such as that from her, but I trusted Dumbledore enough to know that she was a crucial part to saving him, should he fall from grace.

The young woman was a talented witch and she herself knew it, even when others doubted her. I was more than happy to write her a recommendation to the Auror's Office and once she was done being my assistant this year, she would begin her training.

Watching her closely, I could also tell she knew something was amiss by the way she looked at Tom's family ring. I was almost sure that he had cursed the object but if he ever consulted me, I did not recall as he most likely wiped my memory and the recording on my wand went right to Dumbledore in the event she ever asked me.

"Professor," a student's voice knocked me out of my thoughts. "What does it mean that we may be getting another potions master? Will Miss Livingston replace you?"

"No," I said with a smile. "She is here because I asked her to come back and teach after graduation. She will be going to begin her Auror's training very soon."

Being an Auror was a high privilege in our world, the equivalent of training very hard for the military in the muggle world and eventually earning a commission as an officer into a military branch.

"Work hard and your dreams are very achievable," (y/n) said to the student with a smile . "Especially with the right connections, hm?"

Though I wanted her to replace me as the potions master as I wanted to do some traveling, Dumbledore had someone else lined up and I was sure he would do fine. I could only hope that (y/n) was making the right choices, both in career choices and life.

Reader POV

"Make sure you hand in your lab reports at the beginning of next class," I reminded the students. "Any day late, I take off 10%!"

Slughorn and I quickly cleaned up the room and complained at the lack of respect the first-years had in regard to the equipment as there was a flask dropped and it was shoved under a table, glass and all.

"So when will you be wed?" Slughorn teased me. "You've pushed the wedding off for over a year now."

"I'm not sure," I said with honesty. "I'm not having second thoughts, but I also want to be established in my career. Tom wants to have children soon, but I'm just not ready."

I could tell he had something to say but he hesitated. "He loves you, young (y/n). Perhaps to a level I don't understand, but he will listen to you. If you do not want children yet, then don't have them. You decide it, not him."

"But that's the thing." I sat down and looked at him with distraught. "We...did it recently and I don't remember if he used a protection charm."

"Hm...that is a tricky situation." Slughorn gave my shoulder a pat. "I admire you a father would admire a daughter, may yours rest in peace. But it is your decision to keep it or not if you find yourself in a...situation."

I knew that it a complicated situation, but I knew the potion to brew in the event I could not carry the child for any reason. "I know. Professor-"

"Please call me Horace."

"Horace, what if I'm making a mistake in marrying him too soon? We've been dating for years and live together now, but..."

"Has he done anything that makes you question his character and love?"

"The club, Horace. His club calls themselves the Anti-Muggle Society. It scares me since I have a muggle brother, despite being born from two pure-blood households."

Horace shrugged. "I'm sure you've voiced your concerns to him. If he won't listen to you, then be more firm. Perhaps if it comes to it, come with an ultimatum. One thing I do respect about you is the fact despite being born from snobby pure-blood houses, you have a deep respect for everyone despite their background."

"That's where Tom and I disagree the most. I don't want his club or him teaching our children pure-blood supremacy." I touched the rings he gave me. "I've noticed since my father died that my mother has been less tolerant to muggles. She blames their existence for the cause of my father's death even though he died because he was killing Nazis in the war. Something she felt he never should've been part of."

"It was a tragedy what happened to Victor Livingston," Horace said with sympathy. "He was a wonderful man, your father. Perhaps he joined the war because the magical world all but rejected him, starting with his own family. Perhaps him joining the military in the muggle world and going to Oxford for his graduate school was his way of finding a purpose for himself."

"Tom's group calls my father a coward and a waste of time," I said. "I think I've made my mind up, Horace. I don't want to marry someone with a group like that. Tom and I will have that conversation. But I still love him, I don't want to end it."

"I know, child." Horace gave me a side hug. "Love does things that will make or break someone. You love him, I know. I don't think breaking up is the option, but make your opinions very clear. I hold you in high regard, but you do tend to give mixed signals, you're young. Either way I will offer any advice should you ask."