"The Serpent's Teeth"
(A Tom Riddle love story)

30th April 1945
Thursday

The 30th April 1998 is the day that I travelled trough time.
Today is the 30th April 1945.

Today is the day I'll tell Tom the truth.
The truth and nothing but the truth.

I've just returned to the Gryffindor common rom with my friends after having dinner in The Great Hall and freshened up again, before rejoining them downstairs in the common room.

I stand smiling on the last step and watch them.
They have changed my life, have given me so much and never inquired who I really am.
They took me as I am and have shown me that I don't have to be the shy little girl that I was in the 90s.

I slowly walk toward them. Memorizing their faces. Each Laughing fold, the curve of their lips, their eyes, their gestures.

It feels like a farewell.
Like a hunch that I'll never see them siting together like this again.

Nothing is certain yet.
I still don't know how Tom will respond.

This might just be the last time that I see my friends.

Because if Tom dismisses me, if he makes me leave, I'll be going back today.

The Time-Turner is in my coat pocket, as are the Christmas gifts to my friends and the green hair bow that Tom gave me is incorporated into my bun.

Better safe than sorry.
He has taught me to be prepared for everything.

I stop next to Tracey's chair.

"Are you joining us?"
She asks with a grin.
"No," I shake my head.
"I have to get something done. I ... ", just wanted to say goodbye.

I weakly shake my head and smile in to the round.

"I just wanted to tell you what wonderful people you all are."

They they look at me surprised.
"What have we done to deserve this?" Asks Sasha.

"Nothing special," I wave off.

"How sweet of you!" Tracey jumps up and hugs me tightly.

"You are a wonderful friend," I whisper in her ear and suppress the tears that are threatening to overspill.

No one will suspect that I went to see Tom.
I usually only meet him on weekends when there's exceptions like this, I share it with my friends.

No one will suspect anything.

I knock twice on the door, which swings open instantly.

Tom recognizes my knock among all others.
Or he monitors the door with a detection spell.
I never asked him about it.

"Hazel. What are you doing here at this time? Did something happen?"
He asks with cool voice from his seat by the fire, and looks at me with one of his rare half smiles.

"Can I offer you a cookie?"
He eleganty points to a small plate with a few chocolate chip cookies.

"No, thanks," I shake my head and walk up to him to sit down as well.

"Tea?"
"If you already made some." Tea is sure to soothe me.

With a wave of his wand a steaming cup of tea appears in front of me.

"Thank-You."

He nods and looks at me searchingly.
"What's going on Hazel?"
"We need to talk," I whisper take a sip and set the cup down.

Taking a deep breath I try to get rid of the nauseating feeling and swallow the lump in my throat.

This is it.
The Moment of Truth.
The decisive hour.
That sounds so melodramatic.
But for me, that's exactly how it feels like.
As if my life depended on this decision.

"Speak," he orders me and pierces me with his steely gaze.

"I ..." I begin, and immediately stop again.

What can I say anyway?
Why am I at a los for words?

"I'm not who you think I am, Tom," I begin cautiously.

He raises an eyebrow questioning.

"I ... I'm from the future," hectic I clear my throat.

"I've traveled to this time with a time-turner to perform a job. And you are part of it."

Tom looks at me coldly.
Anger, confusion and pain rage in his eyes.
"Did I not tell you that your tongue would bring you to your downfall?"

Yes he has.
It seems like yesterday to me.

"Don't get me wrong, Tom. Everything that I have said to you is true and every minute that I spent with you, I did so voluntarily. You've captured my heart by storm and are the most important part of my life. I never lied to you. I just never told you everything. Just as you have secrets from me. But I have accepted this and hope that you show understanding for me," nervously I pick up my teacup and take a sip.

Tom is silent and looks at me blankly again.

"I know more about you than you know about me and your future.
At least parts thereof. I know your ideology and I know that your so-called friends are actually followers. Death Eaters," I sneak a short glance at him.

He's leaned back in his chair and listens carefully.
His face void of any emotion.

"I'm telling you this now for a reason. I don't know what to do, Tom. I'm supposed to return to my time at the ed of the school year, but I don't know if I really want to. I don't want to be without you, Tom. You have to believe me!"
I look at him imploringly, he nods.

"Let me in your head, Hazel. I want to see if you're lying."

I shortly hesitate and then nod.
I have nothing to lose anyway.

Once my eyes are locked with his, I feel his presence in my head combing through shared memories.
On the day when we met for the first time, he retreats. I hesitantly open my eyes and look at his slightly smiling face.

He believes me.

He now knows that I never fooled him.
He knows more about the depth of my feelings than I ever admitted.

Thank Merlin, he didn't touch the latest memories.
If he knew of my concerns about the pregnancy...
I don't even want to think about that!

It would influence his actions.
For better or for the worse.
I don't want either of it.
I want Tom to want me for me.
Not because of a child that I'm still not a hundred percent sure of.

"I think you should go," he gets up stiffly, and offers me his hand.
Confused, I take it.

What does that mean?

He pulls me out of the chair gently tucking a lost strand of hair behind my ear, before he pulls me to the door, leaving his premises with me.

Confused, I let myself be led through the dark corridors of the castle.

This isn't the way to Gryffindor Tower.

I draw a breath when I see his goal.
Professor Dippet.
The gargoyle stands motionless in front of the hidden staircase.

In an unseen niche Tom stops and turns to me.

"Where is the Time-Turner?" He asks directly.

I look at him startled.

He's sending me back.
Back in my time.

Thank Merlin I said goodbye.
At least indirectly.
I should listen to my feelings more often.
My inner voice knew that it was my last day here.

"You're sending me away?"
"I have no choice."
"You always have a choice!"
"I already choose it!"
He places the Time-Turner around my neck and kisses me tenderly on the lips, the nose, the forehead before he possessively encloses my lips, and my mouth and kisses me demandingly.

"You're mine!"
"Yours alone", I agree weakly and suppress my tears.

I will not cry in front of him.
Not in front of him.

He takes a step back.
"Go!"

I nod and turn the Time Turner as agreed.

"Tom?" I ask again softly.
"Hm?"
"I'm pregnant, Tom," I tell him with a fixed gaze, as the world around me begins to swirl.

The last thing I see is his hand suddenly reaching out to me and his hopeful look before I suddenly find myself in the same niche bathed in daylight.

A/N:
Thoughts? (~•_•)~

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Jamz