December 24th, 1944

Reader POV

Tom and I linked arms as we walked into the Yule Ball, the ceiling enchanted to snow on everyone.

While I was wearing a lovely white dress and black fur coat, Tom sported a classic tailcoat and a cologne that smelled like pine trees.

He looked at me with warmth and affection. "You look gorgeous tonight, darling."

I couldn't help but blush at his comment. "Thank you, Tom. You're not so bad yourself."

We spotted our friends at the Slytherin tables, Abraxas wearing a black suit and green tie with Skyrin wearing a green gown similar to mine as we did this intentionally. Serena was with Adolfus, Adolfus raising his cup to me but Serena not even glancing at me.

When news got out that I was dating Tom, she distanced herself from me. My feelings of pity vanished when Tom and Adolfus both informed me that she was experiencing a one-sided crush and Tom wanted her just as a friend. Now as we had been dating for over a year and we were in the last year Hogwarts had to offer, I had no time or energy to spend trying to make amends with her. I missed her dearly, but I didn't miss the catty fights.

Tom and I took to the dance floor and spent many dances together, much to the amusement of Professor Slughorn who was adamant on reminding us to send him an owl with a wedding invitation.

The thought of the wedding made me blush. Though the Livingston side of the family would've preferred I maintain blood purity, the Malfoy side of the family was more tolerant as Tom was a descendent of Salazar Slytherin as well as the Gaunts despite having a muggle father.  Philip did come back safely, though he was greatly injured and sent back home with an honorable discharge.

Cygnus Black himself was pleased that I would be marrying almost immediately after finishing school and often joked about whatever child I have with Tom would be friends with the children he was planning on having with his fiancé Druella Rosier.

My family were a bit skeptical at first, but eventually came around under the promise that I would visit home as much as possible. Philip didn't care, he and Tom worked out their differences and only made Tom swear not to teach our children bad habits.

As the night went on, Tom and I grabbed food and snuck outside the great hall to eat outside. Professor Dumbledore was monitoring the outside courtyard as there was an incident last year of someone getting down and dirty in the carriages.

"Just think," Tom said as he made sure the fur cost around me was secured. "This time next year we'll be married."

"Maybe we'll start trying for a child too," I joked with him while fully knowing I did not want to start having children until we were more established in our careers. Speaking of which, I had been asked by Professor Slughorn to come back the following year as a teacher's assistant and Tom had been trying to get Headmaster Dippet to approve him as a teaching assistant for the defense against the dark arts.

To my surprise, Tom's hand moved down and patted my stomach. "You know I wouldn't mind knocking you up now, seeing as we'll be married in a few month's time."

"No," I poked his face. "We both agreed we'd start trying when we're both 23, right? We're 17-18 right now."

"But if it happens..." his hands moved to my hips and he pushed his against mine, earning a tiny whimper from me. "Then it'll be welcome news."

Though we had never actually done the deed, we came very close to it and more often than not, I would find myself underneath him as he pushed his tongue or fingers (or both) into me or I would find myself on my knees. One of his favorite things to do was to push me against the wall and lift my skirt up, something I was secretly hoping he would do tonight.

"Perhaps." I picked up the plate I had previously placed onto the bench near us. "What would you call our children, if we have any?"

"What do you mean if?" Tom gave me a funny look.

"No, I mean if we had three, what would we call them?"

Tom thought for a moment and shrugged. "I've wanted a son named Victor, or a daughter named Daphne. Though I know you are fond of the name Perseus."

"Hm..." I looked up and saw the bright chilly sky. "I also like the Black family tradition of naming children after constellations. The name Carina or Caelum sticks."

"Then I suppose we should have five children," Tom teased me. "That way we can use all the names."

Despite his initial worries about having children, I knew deep down that it was something he wanted the most. Orphaned at a young age, Tom had no one to lean on, also due to his previously prickly nature and defensive personality. I could only hope our happiness would last as long as possible before we were thrown into the rockies of life. If life was a storm, I wanted him to serve as my island just as I served as his.

"Tom?"

"Hm?"

"What about your...club?" I asked with anxiety. "If you want to continue it after we graduate, I don't want our children around them. My own brother is a muggle, and you know I will tell them about Myrtle, may she rest in peace."

Tom kissed my cheek. "Not to worry, Moony. They are just my weird little club, nothing more. You have absolutely nothing to fear."

I didn't like the way he put emphasis on the word you, but it was Tom. He wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone, that much I knew. Unless they fucked with anyone he genuinely cared about. "I guess. But will you enforce those...pure-blood extreme views? I don't want them to believe that nonsense."

At his hesitation, I sighed and poked his face. "This is why we're not ready for a family, Tom. When we can reach an agreement, I'll be more than happy to have a family with you. Until then..." I winked at him. "We're using a protection charm."

"You caught me." He rolled his eyes at me but I couldn't help but blush at the way he looked at me constantly, like I was the only thing that mattered. I knew he had darker tendencies and sometimes liked to inflict torture on those who he thought did him or I wrong, but I couldn't help but feel attracted to it. In more ways than one, his dominance was very attractive and I myself knew that I wasn't exactly going to stop him unless he got too far off the rails-which was yet to happen.

"I have a gift for you." Tom's words snapped me out of my thoughts. He took my hand and smiled at the beautiful engagement ring of sapphire and (birth stone) before taking another out of his coat pocket. "It belong to my grandfather Marvolo Gaunt and has been passed down through the Gaunt line. I retrieved it this past summer when I went to visit."

But before he could place it on me, I flinched and withdrew my hand. "Tom, what is this magic? It feels...unnatural. As if it's possessed."

"Nonsense." Tom took my hand again, more forcefully. "It's a very powerful protection charm. The reason why it might feel possessed is because I poured some of my life force into it."

"I've never heard of pouring a part of yourself into an object," I said with skepticism. "And I've studied magic, I got OWLs on the magic theory exams!"

"It's an old magic Professor Slughorn once informed me of," Tom said. "I'm giving it to you to protect you. That way I'll always know where you are and if you're alive."

"Why would you need that?"

Tom rolled his eyes and spoke as if it was the most obvious answer in the world; "There's a war going on, silly. Until it ends, I'll have no way of knowing if you're alive or not. When it's over and you still feel uncomfortable, you can give me the ring back. Deal?"

His reasoning made sense and despite my initial worries, I didn't press further. I allowed Tom to put it on my finger, but panicked when I couldn't remove it.

"It's an old family heirloom," he said. "It's very valuable and I don't want it to be stolen. When the time is right, I'll take it off you myself. But please, no more questions. I want to enjoy tonight-" his voice got lower and I felt him caress my thigh. "And you later."

My face went scarlet as I knew what exactly he was talking about. As for the ring and its curiosity, I made up my mind to to ask Professor Slughorn about this magic as I never heard about it. I knew Tom had all good intentions, but something felt very off and I would get to the bottom of it one way or another.