You Promised Me→♡•°Tom Riddle°•♡

Chapter 38

Feeling 'happy' had never been something that came naturally to Tom. Happy had always meant something different to him than others, something that only came about from a feeling of pride, achievement- from winning something.

He supposed what he felt now, as he strolled outside the Silvers' house with his heart full and his lips well kissed, wasn't far off his usual feeling of happiness. He certainly felt accomplished, proud. But something was different, about how he felt now. There was something softer about this feeling. Different.

That's how he knew it was real. Love. And for tonight, none of his apprehensions about it seemed to matter. She was all that mattered.

And so, as he wondered outside the Silvers' house into the crisp night air, Tom felt happy for the first time.

He pulled out his wand and a small glass bottle. He'd researched the spell before, but never actually tried it before, and so he hoped it would be perfect. He muttered the incantation, pointing his wand at the night sky, until he felt a sort of pull, and slowly he pointed his wand into the glass bottle, quickly placing a cork bottle stopper in the bottle.

He blinked and admired his work. In his hand, he held a bottle of stars. It looked like the night sky was swirling inside the glass, the very sky that he was stood beneath. It was just an illusion, of course, but a magical one at that. This night will be immortalised.

Of course he would bottle the stars for her.

With a small smile, Tom made his way back inside the house, he stepped with a new sort of spring. Truthfully, he couldn't wait for her reaction to his gift to her. He couldn't wait to see her smile. That was the greatest gift to him.

He opened the door.

And there she was. Tom's heart sank.

She clutched a familiar book in her hands, eyes wide and full of tears as she read the bookmarked page.

He froze, staring at her.

Faith looked up at him with an expression he'd never seen her wear before, eyes full of tears and her face riddled with hurt anger.

There was nothing he could say to make this better, he realised. Because, it's exactly what it looks like.

And yet it's not.
Because he bottled the stars for her.

☆

Faith felt sick to her stomach, as she looked up at Tom, who stood frozen in the doorway. Tom. The boy she loves. Who had kissed her in a way nobody had before. Who had made her feel things she didn't know she could feel.

Tom. A stranger.

Her mouth felt dry and her vision was blurred with tears. She felt she had to ask, yet she already knew the answers. "Why do you have this book?"

Tom blinked, staring at her. "Curiosity."

Faith glared at him and scoffed. She'd read the page he bookmarked. Horcruxes. It had taken all her might not to vomit at the words written on that page. "Curiosity? This is what you're curious about?" Her voice broke, though she didn't want it to, "killing people?"

Tom's eyes grew desperate and he rushed to her side, kneeling down next to her, his tone cautious, "Faith, listen to me, I would never-"

Faith locked eyes with him, her expression angry and hurt. "You're lying." Faith stared at him for longer, before a tear fell down her cheek and she shook her head with a bitter laugh, "you've been lying all this time, haven't you?"

Tom furrowed his brows, "What?"

She glared, "You've been using me. Since the beginning of this year! The books, finding out more about the castle- you were lying! That's why you're here, isn't it? Not to keep me company from my family." Her tone grew bitter, "You just wanted access to my stupid library." Faith's face fell to sadness as she stared at the floor, whispering, "Axel was right."

Tom stared with wide eyes, almost looking frightened. "Faith, please, you have to believe that way I feel for you is true-"

"How can I believe that?" She stared at him, feeling her heart shattering. The pieces were sharp, they tore at the rest of her body until she hurt all over.

He stared with intensity, his voice quiet "I cannot live without you, Faith. That is the truth."

She stared into his eyes, the dark brown almost looking black in the lack of light, and she wanted nothing more than to believe him.

But the hurt wouldn't go away.

"Leave." Faith whispered, turning her head away from him, feeling tears roll down her cheeks.

Tom frowned. "What?"

Faith turned her head, shouting " Leave, Tom! I want you to leave!"

He stared for a moment, his eyes the saddest she'd ever seen them, before he obliged, standing up and walking away without looking back.

And so she was left. Alone. Alone and wondering if she'd ever not been alone, if she'd ever truly had him.

Or if it'd all been a lie.

Note: HEYY.
sorry it's been a while. Thank you everyone for the support <3 it means so much to me