As the trio's time passed through their sixth year at Hogwarts, Ami couldn't help but notice Tom in a different light than when they first held a conversation on the Hogwarts express.

He was, as Ami believed, a boy who cared deeply about how people were raised but didn't know how to express it. Ami made it her duty to help him become more social with other students when she wasn't focused on her education. Amber agreed to help Ami make the boy less awkward as long as Ami bought her three containers of chocolate from Honeydukes anytime they were allowed to go there.

Tom's problem with his "people skills," Ami told Amber, was how to get his point across without becoming too passionate. The girls realized that, just like Amber had for falling asleep in the matter of seconds, Tom could became deeply angered with anybody who didn't agree with him; and it took the girls all of their might to stop him from lashing out.

"You know what, Ami," Amber said as soon as Tom left the library, "I don't think we can help him. He knows what we're trying to do and he really doesn't appreciate it. I think we should just let him be."

Ami glanced up from her potions homework that Slughorn had given them, and sighed. "I just think that one day he's going to end up killing somebody and be put in Azkaban if he doesn't control his anger."

"Well," Amber paused, trying to find the right words, "I can believe that. However, I don't think we can try to control that anger of his. It's not like it's our fault that he'll do something like that. After all, we've tried this whole year and we both leave for the train tomorrow for Christmas break."

Ami sighed again. "You're right. It's not like we haven't tried to do anything about it. I just think he would be such a good person if he didn't feel the need to hex anybody that disagreed with him."

"You just don't want to give up on him because you like him, Ami. Don't deny it." Amber grinned widely as Ami began to blush.

"How'd you know?"

"Well it's pretty obvious, first of all. Second of all, I'm your best friend and I should know when you start crushing on a guy." Ami mumbled something to Amber that sounded a lot like cursing her; but the Duncan's grin simply widened, if that was even possible.

"Promise not to tell him, Amber?" Amber frowned.

"Why would I tell him your business, Ami? Just because I like prying into yours doesn't mean that I'm going to shout it for the whole world to hear."

"You're pretty unpredictable, Amber," Ami joked as her friend smiled again, "so I just wanted to make sure."

Later that night, Ami was in the Slytherin Common Room, comfortably sitting on one of the plush arm chairs that resided underneath the Black Lake. Surprisingly, she had finished her homework earlier than expected; so the book she had been reading since her train ride, Magic and Its Expansion: The Most Reliable Guide, sat on her lap open towards the middle of the book.

Her mind was so focused on every sentence, every word in the story that she did not realize that she was joined with Tom Riddle. He patiently waited for her to notice him; and studied her while she was reading.

Ami was one of the only red heads in the entire school; but that wasn't the reason why she was different. She treated the quiet kid, Tom, with such kindness he had never experienced before. It was obvious to the young Riddle that Ami liked him. If he could be sad about not being able to feel the same way as she did, he would feel miserable.

Since Tom Riddle was conceived under a powerful love potion, he could not feel certain feelings as "normal" people did. The only emotions he could harbor were rage and glee when others were suffering. While he couldn't share the same feelings as Ami had for him, he could be angry towards his mother for bringing him into the world, unable to love, the one emotion he wanted to give to Ami.

"You look deep in thought, Tom," He looked up to see Ami's warm, brown eyes giving him a look of curiosity. "Care to share?"

"I was just thinking about how magic and potions have changed. I mean if you think about it," he leaned forward, looking past her eyes to a memory, "people can manipulate anybody to do anything they wanted.." He trailed off.

Ami leaned forward, trying to see where Tom's eyes were looking. Clearly, he wasn't looking at her anymore. She wondered if his statement had affected his life and that's why he became so angry and negative.

"Tom..?" She waved a hand in front of his face with no response.

Tom suddenly felt something holding and stoking his hand, and focused his mind back to the present. He realized it was Ami's hand, her thumb gently caressing his knuckles.

"You've experienced the feeling of terrible magic, haven't you, Tom?" He looked away from her stare, silently confirming her suspicions.

He was ashamed with his mother, but could only channel true hatred after learning the feeling called "ashamed" could not be felt within him. Tom quickly pulled his hand out of Ami's and wrung his fingers together on his lap.

Ami didn't need him to verbally confirm that Tom had experienced a pain like no other in his childhood. The poor, quiet boy Ami had come to like had never felt love, she determined, and held and comforted his hand and Tom on instinct.

She didn't expect him to suddenly have a look of deep hatred on his face, but understood that the distant look in his eyes was probably a hateful memory. Not knowing what else she could do to comfort him, Ami decided to take a risk of her own.

Tom didn't expect a peck on the cheek from Ami, but didn't stop her from doing it. After wishing him a good night, he watched as Ami went to the Girls' Dormitory.

He had never hated his mother so much in his whole life.