Chapter 13 is finished and waiting for your votes and inline comments! Y'all do y'all's thing ; )

Tom sat in his study, staring down at his second glass of fire whisky that night. It had been two days since the kiss he and Ellison had shared, and he hadn't seen her since. Honestly, he had been doing his best to avoid her, confining himself to his room or study all day long. He had lost control in her room ... Had given in to desires he, up until a little over a week ago, had thought he had outgrown.

That's what she had been after all ... a phase ... and phases were meant to be outgrown. Had he been fooling himself for fifteen years? Had the distance he had put between himself and Ellison been the only thing keeping his affection for her at bay?

He sighed, taking another gulp from his glass, the familiar burn of the whiskey spreading a warmth through his chest as he swallowed. How had he managed to find himself back here, after fifteen bloody years.

A knock sounded at the door ... Probably Avery or one of the others wanting to hear about his trip. Ignoring it, he uncorked the fire whiskey bottle, pouring himself a third glass. A second knock sounded after a moment, louder than the previous.

"Come in," he breathed with a sigh, leaning back in his chair. The door creaked open, revealing Ellison's petite frame.

"Is this a bad time?" She asked, peering around the door.

"Would it stop you if it was?" Tom asked, masking the dread rising within him with a sarcastic smirk. He knew why she was here. She would've come sooner if it hadn't been for his determination to avoid her at all cost.

"No," she replied simply, closing the door behind her as she stepped inside. He watched her as she made her way across the room, her eyes scanning her surroundings, taking everything in before they rested back on Tom. "I haven't seen you the past few days," she stated matter-of-factly.

"I've been busy," Tom shrugged.

"Or you've been avoiding me," she corrected. Merlin, she was still just as tenacious as he remembered, if not more so.

"What reason would I have to avoid you?" He asked, taking special care to keep his voice casual.

"You know why," she replied. "Or are we not going to talk about how you kissed me and then bolted out of the room?"

"That kiss was a mistake," Tom said coolly, taking a sip of fire whiskey.

"Do you really think that?"

"I do," he replied.

Ellison snorted, her lips turning up into a smirk. "You've lied to me enough for me to know when you're not telling the truth Tom ... You have a tell. You won't look at me when you're lying."

Tom rolled his eyes. "I've been looking at you this whole time," he replied.

"You've been looking past me," she corrected. "I can see it in your eyes ... You used to do the same thing when we were in school."

Tom glanced away, clenching his jaw in annoyance. "Whether or not I think it was a mistake doesn't matter."

"Doesn't it?" Ellison retorted.

"No," Tom said, staring into her eyes intently until it was Ellison's turn to look away. She drew in a deep breath, and spun on her heel, turning for the door. "Ellison wait," he called, after she had taken a few steps. She turned slightly, looking back over her shoulder at him. "Would you like a drink?" He asked, nodding towards the fire whiskey bottle sitting on the end table. She eyed it for a moment, before nodding.

Tossing back the rest of his drink, he grabbed the bottle and uncorked it, pouring them both a fresh glass. Taking it from him, she sat down in the chair across from his.

"Do you drink often?" She asked, taking a sip from her glass.

"Only when I'm trying to forget," Tom replied.

"I could say the same," she said, taking another sip. The two sat in silence for a moment, the crackling of the fireplace encompassing the room.

"How did it happen?" Tom asked, sitting his glass down for the first time all night.

"He was on a job," she began, knowing exactly what he had meant. "A tomb raid, for Gringott's. There was a curse they hadn't accounted for ... it struck him before he even realized what was happening," she took a swig from her glass before continuing. "I got the news a day later ... that his injuries had been too severe ... that they hadn't been able to save him." She looked down at the glass in her hands, running her thumb along the rim absentmindedly.

"You loved him?" Tom asked, eyeing her intently.

"Still do..." She smiled bitterly, "That's what I drink to forget." She looked up from her glass, her eyes falling on Tom. "What about you? What is Tom Riddle trying to forget?"

"Nothing in particular," he replied coolly, picking up his glass and swallowing another gulp of whiskey.

"You've always been so closed off..." she said, a sad smile gracing her lips. "I used to wonder if you ever grew lonely, living like that ... But I suppose you prefer it that way, don't you?"

"Most of the time," Tom replied, meeting her eyes.

"You never told me why you're keeping me here," she pressed on, changing the subject.

"I'm not even sure why I'm keeping you here," he replied, glancing away, training his eyes on the flames within the fireplace.

"You lie just as much to yourself as you do to others ... You always have," she said softly. Standing up, she sat her half empty glass down on the table. "Goodnight Tom."

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I'm kind of torn with this chappie. I can't decide it I like it or not! What do you guys think??