Okay guys, this chapter is one I've been looking forward to writing since the very beginning! Now that I've written it though, I'm not so sure I love it. I love parts of it, but I feel like it's a little 'pieced together,' Idk, lol. Let me know what you think! I'd love to hear your feedback! A little forewarning, things are about to pick up and big things are about to start happening so you won't want to miss out! As always, I love your votes and comments! :)

Ellison walked down the sidewalk, the bitter December air stinging her cheeks as she made her way to Tom's flat. She had taken her time getting up once Tom had left, running the previous night over and over again in her head, like a movie. When she had finally decided to get out of bed, it had been a quarter 'till eleven. Having promised her mum the day before that she would pick the girls up at noon, she had showered and dressed hastily and had arrived at her parent's home at twelve exactly. When she had climbed the stoop to the front door however, she had been met with a note taped to the frame explaining that her mother had taken the girls out for lunch and a shopping trip, and that she would drop them off that evening. Not interested in going home to an empty house, she had decided to make the journey to Tom's instead.

Turning into the alley that led to the flat, she walked to the back wall, running her fingertips along the weathered surface until she found a familiar chipped brick that signaled she was standing where the front door would appear.

"Beasley, it's me," She called, wrapping lightly against the wall. A door appeared, just as it always did, creaking open ever so slightly to reveal the scrawny house elf that always greeted her. "Hello Beasley," She smiled down at him.

"Oh Ms. Ellison!" Beasley squeaked, opening the door completely now. "It's wonderful to see you miss!"

"It's wonderful to see you as well," She replied, stepping inside as Beasley snapped his fingers, the door closing behind her. "Is Tom here?"

"Yes ma'am. Master is in his study," Beasley nodded nervously. "Master is quite busy at the moment though. He wishes not to be disturbed."

"I'll wait in the sitting room then?"

"Of course miss," Beasley nodded again, bowing as Ellison walked past him, exiting the foyer. Rounding the corner, she entered the sitting room. What was Tom up to that was so important? Eyeing the closed door to his study, she contemplated whether to go in. After all, she had let herself in numerous times before when Tom had requested not to be disturbed. And most of those times he had been sitting at his desk reading a book or seated in one of the armchairs having a glass of Fire Whiskey. He had said he had some things to take care of when he had left earlier though, so maybe he really was busy this time. Resolving to wait outside, she plopped down on the sofa in the center of the room, absentmindedly picking at the lint from her cardigan that had begun to cling to the front of her dress.

A loud thud sounded from the study causing Ellison to jolt to her feet. She walked towards the door slowly, placing her ear against the oak, listening intently for any other sound. Tom was speaking in a low voice and there was another voice, Avery's maybe, speaking back, though she couldn't make out what either of them were saying. She listened for a few more minutes to the muffled voices on the other side of the door, curiosity finally overtaking her. Placing a hand on the door knob, she twisted it gently, cracking the door open just enough for her to peer inside.

Her breath hitched in her throat as her eyes fell on the horrific scene before her. Seated in the middle of the room was Mr. Ashby, tied up and bloody from the beating he had taken. Gathered around him in a loose circle were Tom, Avery, Lestrange, and three other men she didn't recognize. She door was completely open now, Ellison standing in the middle of its frame, though no one had seemed to notice her arrival, their eyes all trained on the victim seated before them. She watched in horror as a jet of red light shot from the tip of Avery's wand, Mr. Ashby writhing in pain as the torture curse connected with his body. She tore her eyes away from Mr. Ashby to look at Tom, who was observing the scene with a satisfied smirk.

"E-Ellison?" A hollow voice called, causing Ellison's cheeks to drain of their color. She looked at Mr. Ashby, who was staring at her, along with the rest of the room now, with heavy, bloodshot eyes.

"Who the bloody hell let her in?" Avery snapped, taking a step towards her. She swallowed, her feet rooted in place. She looked around, her eyes connecting with each pair that was trained on her until they fell on Tom's. The satisfied smirk he had worn seconds before was now replaced with a look of shock, the color having drained from his face as well. Finding her feet, she turned on her heel, bolting out of the room, towards the front door.

"Ellison," Tom called from behind her, but she didn't stop. She need to go ... needed to get out of this wretched house as quickly as possible. "Ellison!" Tom called again, directly behind her now. A hand reached out, grabbing her arm but she jerked away.

"Don't touch me!" She spat, recoiling from Tom's touch.

"Let me explain," He began, reaching for her again.

"I think I can manage to sort it out for myself," She cut him off, stepping out of his reach.

"He knows too much..." Tom began, but she cut him off again.

"So obliviate him!"

"It's not that simple," He shook his head.

"Why bloody not?" She said, raising her voice. "You were going to obliviate me. How is this any differ-"

"You know how!" He snapped.

"So what Tom?" She began, her tone thick with venom. "You're going to kill him, is that it?" God, he's a friend of my father's Tom ... He gave me Christmas presents as a child ... His daughter went to school with us," She shook her head, taking another step back, the cool wood of the front door pressing against her back now. "He has a wife ... children ... grandchildren for Merlin's sake!" She choked, her eyes burning from the tears she had been biting back.

"It has to be this way," He replied coldly.

"No," She shook her head. "No, it doesn't ... I can't let you do this Tom ... I won't let you do this." With that, she pushed herself off the door, blowing past Tom as she made her way back into the sitting room.

"Ellison ... Ellison get back here," Tom called, but she continued on, ignoring him. Marching through the sitting room, she entered the study, all eyes falling on her once again. Standing in front of Mr. Ashby she turned on her heel to face Tom, who had been trailing close behind her. "What are you doing?" He asked, as she drew her wand.

"If you want to kill him, you'll have to kill me too," She replied, gripping her wand tightly at her side.

"Ellison, step aside," He said, glancing at the others who stood around them.

"No," She said flatly, squaring her shoulders defiantly. "Don't even think about it," She snapped, raising her wand at Avery, who had taken a step towards her, his own wand drawn and ready. He froze, his eyes ablaze with rage. "What will it be Tom?" She said, turning her gaze back to Tom, her wand still pointed firmly at Avery.

"Ellison," He began, his voice more desperate now. "Please, get out of the way."

"This is rubbish!" Avery spat, advancing towards her again.

"One more step and I swear it will be the last one you take," She snapped, glaring at Avery, who was only a few steps away from her now. He halted his advance again, lowering his wand to his side. Keeping Avery in her line of sight, she looked back to Tom expectantly, who was glaring at her now, his jaw clenched tightly. In the blink of an eye Tom raised his wand, a jet of green light shooting from its tip, Ellison barely dodging it as it whizzed past, hitting Mr. Ashby square in the chest. She stared at Tom in shock, horrified by what had just happened.

"Get him out of my sight," Tom said in a low, deadly voice.

"My Lord-" Avery began.

"I said, get him out of my sight!" He yelled, taking a threatening step in Avery's direction. Ellison turned slowly, afraid to lay eyes on the lifeless body of Mr. Ashby that lay behind her. When her eyes fell on the man seated in the chair though, he was far from dead. There Mr. Ashby sat, a bewildered expression on his bloody, beaten face. She looked back at Tom, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. It had been the obliviation charm he had cast ... Not the killing curse.

"Out ... All of you," Tom's voice boomed. Not having to be told twice, Lestrange and Avery carried out Mr. Ashby, the other men following close behind. "Not you," Tom called in a dangerously calm voice, when Ellison made her way for the door as well. She turned to face him, averting her eyes from his icy ones. "Are you satisfied?" He asked coldly.

"Hardly," She replied, meeting his gaze. "I don't know you anymore Tom ... This person you've become ... He's unrecognizable to me," She said, tears welling up in her eyes once again.

"This is who I've always been," He said indifferently.

"That's a lie-" She began, jumping when Tom slammed his fist against the desk suddenly.

"Oh bloody hell Ellison! Wake up!" He yelled, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "I'm the exact same person you knew fifteen years ago ... This person, this monster, you think I've become is who I've always been."

"I don't believe that," She shook her head, her voice nearly a whisper now.

"Because you refuse! You always have!" He replied scathingly. "Merlin, stop lying to yourself and, for once, see me for who I am! This perfect picture of me you've painted in your head is a lie."

"There's still good in you ... I know there is," She said, a single tear gliding down her cheek.

"The only good thing about me is you," Tom replied. "It's only ever been you," He added desperately.

"You'll never make me believe that," She shook her head. "There's good inside you ... I know it ... I've seen it." She continued, taking a step towards him, Tom eyeing her out of the corner of his eye as she closed the gap between them. "It doesn't have to be this way," She added, her voice softer, less harsh than before.

"Yes it does," Tom said, flinching away when she reached out a hand towards him.

"You don't have to manipulate and hurt people to get what you want."

"What? You think The Ministry will give me what I want?" Tom scoffed. "The Ministry is afraid of people like me ... Of anyone who might challenge their ideals. They're all mudblood fools, too weak to do what needs to be done."

"What needs to be done?" She pressed, doing her best to ignore the foul word he had used.

"Wizards should be in charge ... Pure wizards." He began, his tone indignant, as if what he were saying was obvious. "We shouldn't have to hide who we are. We're better ... stronger than the Muggles."

"And what would you have happen to them ... The Muggles?" She asked, her eyebrows furrowing in concern. "They're not all like your father-" She added, instantly regretting her comment as Tom's fiery glare returned.

"My father was a filthy excuse of a man," He spat, his eyes dancing with the rage he had undoubtedly been carrying for so long. "And my mother was weak for allowing him to do what he did."

"As long as you hold on to this hatred, you're allowing him to do to you exactly what he did to your mum," Ellison said softly, placing a hand on his arm. He looked away, but didn't recoil from her touch this time. "He's been dictating your entire life ... whether you realize it or not." She continued, placing a hand under his chin, willing him to look at her. "Let me help you."

"You can't help me," He replied, peering down at her, defeat evident in his eyes. She gazed back at him, her soul aching for the boy who had grown up an orphan with so much hate in his heart.

"I can try." 

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