third person pov

' every time I close my eyes,
it's like a dark paradise '

The second floor girls laboratory was empty as usual from Myrtles occupancy until Rose rushed in, wishing her tears to stop.

Nyx hissed in Rose's ear as the girls shoes sounded out against the stone floors with the door closing, "I don't think you should go back to the chamber Rose"

Rose scoffed in response, hating how weak she felt as she passed the showers lining the walls-keeping her gaze on the sinks forming a circle in the center.

The entrance to the chamber.

Nyx hissed again, sliding down Rose's robes and curling around the material on her arms to garner attention.

"Leave me be Nyx"

The snake nodded her head, not wanting to send Rose over the edge as she stopped by one of the sinks.

As Rose began to run her fingers over the metal faucet, memories of the year before came. She hadn't returned to this bathroom since Tom or the horocrux or whatever you wished to call him was killed by Harry and herself.

I don't think I'll ever forgive myself for spending that whole year with a ghost of a man.

Myrtle appeared beside Rose as the girl started to slowly walk around the circle of sinks, "Is Rose Black back to see her old friend?"

Rose jumped back, placing her hand over her heart while quickly wiping her eyes.

No.

My 'friend' is dead.

"Fuck off Myrtle"

Myrtle gasped at the crude language, "How dare you be so mean to me!"

"I'm not in the mood"

The words sent the emotionally unstable ghost into a fit of dramatic tears, zooming away to plummet herself into a toilet with a splash.

Rose had spent a lot of time coaxing Myrtle last year, manipulating the ghost into believing someone cared for her so Myrtle wouldn't tell a soul where Rose was disappearing to.

Being a master of manipulation made it easy, but then again Myrtle was desperate for any attention-making her light work.

Was Rose a good person? Maybe, Maybe not.

Nyx could see Rose hesitating, battling a storm in her mind as she grasped onto a sink with a snakehead faucet. "Don't do it Rose"

Of course, Rose didn't listen.

She took a step back, beginning to speak directly to the faucet in parseltounge. "Open"

A slow resounding creak echoed through the bathroom. Then the sinks clicked, all seven beginning to push outwards in opposite directions.

Rose took the deepest breath of her life before stepping between two of the sinks and onto the top step of the entrance to the chamber, nothing but pitch blackness five steps below.

With nothing other than the intense drawl back to the place, Rose began trecking down the long and winding staircase-using her hand to create a warm orb of light after the darkness became too much.

Upon reaching the bottom there was rubble everywhere but her eyes could only stay trained on the circle door covered with carved snakes, one large one wrapping around it.

"Open" Rose said once more in parseltounge, the snake encasing the door clicking before sliding backwards-creaking after.

She latched onto the metal, carefully pulling it open before stepping onto jaded piece of stone and climbing through the wide hole.

The Chamber was flanked with towering pillars that were entwined with carved wood, and the Statue of Slytherin was at the far end with the mount still opened from where the Basilisk once hid. Thankfully, the body of the beast had been removed after the incident last year.

Water splashed on the sides, multiple enormous snake head statues sitting in the green murky liquid, linning the pathway to the Salazar Slytherin head.

Rose paused by the first snake's mouth, placing her cold palm against the nose of the bronze statue with a painful flashback coming through her mind.

rose pov flashback- New year 1993'

I entered the chamber, searching for that familiar head of dark hair. And when I find it, he turns the corner and comes into view.

I can't help the grin that breaks out onto my face.

Tom.

Tom.

Tom.

He smiles warmly back at me before I run to him and throw myself in his arms as he spins us around.

"Merlin I missed you"

Tom pulls back from the hug and puts both his hands on my cheeks, setting me back down on my feet. "Rosalie, it was a lonely two weeks without you I must admit"

I laugh, letting it echo throughout the chamber.

"I wish I could bring you out of this place, let you see the outside world again"

He sighs and he starts to stroke my hair out of my face, "You'll stay by side when I do leave here?"

I raise my eyebrows and smirk, "Would you suspect anything else? I like to believe it'll be us against the world in every life"

He gives his most devilish smirk right back, "Every life?"

"Yeah" I begin, tapping his cheek-making Tom scowl. "I'll always find you Tom"

end of flashback

Her memory is interrupted by a voice she never suspected to hear again, a chill running down her spine as a presence settles behind her.

"Rosalie"

Rose went stiff, refusing to turn around while muttering. "Not possible"

"Well you can choose to not believe in such" spoke Tom Riddle, still appearing as his sixteen year old self but now with a slight sheen to his skin. "But that would prove my high belief of your intellect wrong"

That condenscing tone, that smirk she could feel without looking at him.

"Your dead!" Rose spat shakily before running a hand down her face, "I'm losing my mind"

Tom wished to truly touch Rose, unable to though as he placed a hand on her shoulder-knowing she couldn't feel it. "If I truly was not here, would I know about the small scar on your right wrist-so faded it is almost impossible to see?"

Rose's breath hitched, "If I'm making you up of-of course I would know about my own scar"

"Considering how much you've attempted to block me out of your head though I wonder-" Tom paused, "Would you recall how many times I traced it in agitation with the inability to heal the mark for you?"

Nyx stilled on Rose's arm, whipping her head up and around to lock eyes with Tom's malicious blue eyes. "Rose....he's....here"

Tom felt Rose become even more stiff, knowing well enough that words wouldn't be able to escape her lips until she looked at him.

He used the hand on her shoulder to turn her around, and Tom was sure he had never seen someones eyes so glassy and wide all at once.

Rose felt too many things, the water threatening to break free from her eyes as she stared at him.

He was the same, thick dark hair, jaring facial structure with eyes to match as he stood tall above.

Tom's face went firm, "Do not dare do that weird crying thing Rosalie"

Rose shook her head with a whimper, making him glare even more menacingly as she grasped onto his freezing face.

"Rosalie" He warned.

"I-I can't help it" Rose croaked, in comeplete disbelief. "You're here"

Tom let out a frustrated noise as the tears began to flow down her cheeks, "You are irritatingly disobedient" he said before wiping her face off.

Rose forgot everything in that moment as his fingers grazed over her skin, more tears coming out. "I-I can't feel you"

Tom gave her a blank stare, continuing to frustratedly wipe each stream of tears that wouldn't stop."Very well so considering you helped murder me"

Rose casted her eyes down at his sheen skin in confusion and unneeded guilt, Tom pushing her face back up before speaking stern.

"I may forever hold anger at you for such but there is not point on dwelling. It is not your fault that sick man Dumbledore has twisted you into thinking you owe this world altruism"

"But how?" Rose croaked, "How are you here?"

Tom flexed his jaw, "You killed me but my spirit lingers-I'm only presentable to you because of our connection which you refuse to let go of"

"Your wrong" Rose weakly attested, "I let you go"

Tom raised his brows, telling her he knew better.

"It is why I am able to touch you but unable to feel you" He leaned towards her, fully tilting her head up to look at him. "Besides, do you truly believe there is a world where you let me go?"

Rose failed at keeping a cold gaze, his unblinking stare on her making it impossible with the amount of emotion she was experiencing. "I was hoping you could do it first"

"I would be a fool to do such" Tom whispered harshly, "Despite your actions"

"You tricked me in every way a human can be"

"I did not-if I was using you Rosalie then you would have carried that journal, you would have known about my true origin. All you were was a mind I enjoyed" his thumbs pressed roughly onto her cheekbones, "Do not blame one that you stumbled upon a place you shouldn't have and met me-talking a million words at once with a idiotic grin"

Rose involuntarily smiled, the look of happiness growing as he frustratedly began wiping the new tears again. "Are you admitting to enjoying my presence?"

"Is that seriously all you can think about at a time like this? When I finally get to see you again?"

"Yes"

Tom lowered his voice to a whisper once more, "I could never admit to such"

"Let me bring you back" Rose blurted out, "I'll bring you back and we can-"

He cut her off with what she could almost mistake for regret written across his face, "It is impossible"

"But I can find a way! You and me-"

"I said no Rosalie" Tom spoke overtop of her in a demanding way, "You cannot fix this"

Her eyes closed, a heavy weight on her chest. People weren't replaceable, and as psychotic as she sounded for saying she needed the literal dark lord in her life-Rose meant it.

"But you-" This time Rose stopped herself, she didn't need to say it, Tom knew.

"Can I hold on for a little longer?" Rose weeped in a way that made her feel pathetic, "I'm not ready to never see you again"

"You can come here to find me anytime you wish"

"You don't get it" Rose began sadly, "I want to actually touch you-there has to be a way to bring you back"

"Parts of me still live my dear Rosalie, you'll find me again" Tom smoothed her hair back, not seeing a point in upholding their games when he no longer existed beyond their tether. "That is what you always used to say, is it not?"

She smiled, a real smile, up at him. "Yeah" she spluttered out, "But what if your a ugly old man?"

Tom lips quirked up in amusement, shaking her head slightly with the hands on her cheeks. "Then in the next life"

"Too long"

"Not for us"

Their moment was cut short by a glowing phoenix patronus rushing in, both their heads turning as it stopped close by and spoke in the voice of Albus Dumbledore.

"Come to my office immediately, it is of the upmost importance you hurry-the acid pops are waiting Miss black"

Rose sighed heavily, Tom waiting until the patronus disappeared to let go of her face. "I don't want to leave"

"You may come back"

Her eyes darted to the exit and back to him repeatedly, "I'll come back tonight"

Tom gave her a reprimanding look, making Rose huff.

"Fine-tomorrow"

"Very well" Tom stated, "Go on"

Rose went to leave but stopped, turning back to throw her arms around Toms neck-uncaring if she couldn't feel him touching her because in someway, he was back.

She would handle all of her arguments with him once the shock and relief of his existence still being some part of her life wore off.

*

Rose made her way up the inclined steps to Dumbledores office, Nyx hissing rapidly in protest as she did every time they came there.

"He is untrustworthy Rose"

The Black heir could only laugh, Dumbledore had been like a father to her since starting Hogwarts and would never put her in harms way-that much was for sure. Although Nyx had the best radar when it came to reading people, Rose was certain she was wrong about the headmaster.

From wandless magic lessons, weekly hangout sessions, the stock of acid pops he kept in her honor, Dumbledore was a pure soul to Rose and always would be.

Once reaching the office door, Rose swung it open without hesitation-making sure to put her best mask on first.

"Good evening Dumbles!"

As the door slammed shut behind her, Rose found not only the headmaster behind his desk but Mcgongall and Lupin sitting in front of him.

She narrowed her eyes at Dumbledore, "Is this a intervention?"

Dumbledore chuckled in response, waving her over to the empty chair in between the two professors. "Of course not Rose, simply want to check on you"

Rose scoffed, reluctantly taking the suit meant for her. "I don't need to be checked up on-now pass the acid pops"

The headmaster laughed, reaching below his desk before tossing a wrapped acid pop at her seamlessly. "We all need a little checking in sometimes"

Rose raised her eyebrows challengingly, plopping the treat into her mouth as she flicked her wrist-a stool flying across the room and landing under her feet.

Mcgongall could tell Rose was attempting to ignore the two presences beside herself, casually kicking her feet up without a second glance to anyone.

"You can do wandless magic?" Remus cannot help himself from asking.

Dumbledore answered for her, "Since the end of her first year, Rose will be one of the best witches of her age it seems"

Rose gives professor Lupin a smug smirk, making him experience deja vu for the fourth time that day as she perfectly hides all the emotions just endured.

"So I guess you didn't call me here to gossip" Rose broke the silence, clicking her tongue.

Dumbledore shook his head, "No I'm afraid not....it would seem your boggart took two forms today"

"With all due respect sir I don't see how that matters to anyone in this room, it was no big deal"

Mcgongall began to protest, "You saw your grandmother doing an unforgivable and you-know-who! It is a big deal Miss Black and I will not let you downplay this!"

Rose looked up at her, tensing but playing it off. "So what? And he wasn't Voldemort to me Minnie, he was Tom"

The head of Gryffindor shook her head in disbelief, muttering under her breathe as Professor Lupin spoke.

"We are just concerned for you...First your father breaks out of Azkaban, your grandfather passes and-" He stops himself short, pulling a odd look from Rose. "I'm sorry but can you please explain who Tom is? How is he related to Voldemort? Why he is your fear?"

Dumbledore went to open his mouth, but silenced by Rose beating him to it.

"Don't you dare Dumbles-I don't know this man, he doesn't get to ask questions about my life just because he's my professor"

Remus looked down at her words, shifting uncomfortably as Mcgongall felt sympathy for his situation.

Rose sat up straight, kicking her feet off the stool. "Let me clear up some things, I am perfectly fine with Orion being gone, and you-" she turned to Lupin, "Don't you dare call that man my father, he is no such thing"

Mcgongall reached out, moving some hair out of Rose's face. "But dear, we know you went to the chamber after you left class"

Rose attempted to swallow the bile rising in her throat, reality hitting her in the face as she recalled Walburga as a boggart and everything with Tom. "I don't know what you all want me to say"

Dumbledore sighed with a wave of his hand, "It's okay to miss him, no one is going to judge you for it. Tom was an extremely charming boy and a great manipulator....you could've not known he would be the most evil to walk"

Rose stood up abruptly, knocking the chair she sat in back-starting Mcgonaggal and Lupin. "He was just a boy too"

"Rose! Do not humanize him-"

"No Dumbledore I-I can't do this today"

Rose turned, rushing out of the room with urgency as Nyx peaked her head out from under the robe sleeve. She ignored the calls from both professors, Dumbledore demanding they leave Rose be as she slipped out of the room.

When she got past the gargoyle statue, Rose ran to the bathroom directly across the hall-swinging a stall door open before beginning to throw up.

Sick because of the alcohol consumed, sick because Draco and her own endless war, sick because she was forced to see Walburga at her one place of escape, sick because everyone now knows her grandmother is her worst fear, sick because she spent a year bonding with the darkest wizard of all time. But most of all, sick because she needed Theo and a Whitman-badly.

Dear Merlin, help me. I'm drowning again.

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A/N: hahahahahahahaa i made her snd Tom super sad

^evil laughter if you can't tell

-ADRIAN NEXT CHAPTER, I REPEAT, ADRIAN NEXT CHAPTER

xx