Chapter 40

"The second brother, who was an arrogant man, decided that he wanted to humiliate Death still further, and asked for the power to recall others from Death. So Death picked up a stone from the riverbank and gave it to the second brother, and told him that the stone would have the power to bring back the dead"

HP7

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If a part of him was hating that whole situation, another part of Tom loved that game. He knew he would win. He had the dagger, his prey was defenceless. It was just so easy.He just had to catch his prey at his back and it was done. The dagger almost felt like a living creature into his hand. Tom could feel its thirst for magic blood. And he could understand it. Just as he craved for power and knowledge.He walked softly, silent like a cat, catching every single noise or movement in the air.He almost caught his prey once.

The laughs stopped echoing. The sick man had realized what was going on.Tom smirked, shaking in the anticipation of the crime he was about to do.He could still remember clearly his first murders. When he saw Myrtle Warren collapsing after crossing his basilisk's eyes. When he used the Killing Curse on those disgusting muggles who abandoned him before he was even born.Killing was such an intense pleasure that could become addicting. He remembered how much of self control he had to master to stop himself from killing again at school.Now his whole body was waiting for that pleasure to be freed again, while his soul trembled for the upcoming tear.His predator self startled as he saw some dim light and a dark figure giving his back to him.Tom laughed mischievously inside. It was so easy. Just so easy.

He raised the dagger and approached the figure from behind, determined not to lose that precious occasion.His prey was so desperate that was trying to summon some magic or a new curse from books.Tom had to end it once and for all.He fastened his pace and grabbed the hooded figure from behind, stabbing the chest with the dagger, forcing it deeper into the flesh, giving it the blood that it needed.A female voice screamed and Tom felt his own heart falling with a thud.He never felt so shocked. Because it was his mistake.Evelyn rattled while he supported her."No" he whispered flabbergasted "I didn't... Stay with me. I'll save you. Please, stay with me".Her eyes were fixed on his, she gaped in agony but was unable to say something on her death rattle.Desperately Tom placed his hand on her chest and tried to heal her, then used magic to slow her dying.He removed the dagger and her body winced, but no blood came from her wound thanks to his magic.Tom watched her blood dripping from the dagger, then he felt a breeze on his skin that turned to its original color.

The curse was broken, but Tom wasn't satisfied. He would have never accepted such a big price.Evelyn was lying senseless into his arms, her body getting cold fast. He realized how much he needed her.The echo of a laugh slapped him as a bucket of icy water on his furious face."What a pity. I hoped to get out from here with her" the crazy man said "Cheer, mate. You will live".Tom grabbed the dagger again, the thirst for murder unbearable. He wanted to stab that bastard. And to stab him again and again until his fury cooled down.But if he chased that bastard, he would lose Evelyn forever. Tom quickly worked out his choices. Evelyn worthed much more than that idiot's life. Killing him out of spite wouldn't bring her back.He gathered all his strength to stay still and let the crazy man go. He held Evelyn's body close to himself, hoping to keep her warm with his own warmth.He heard the steps echoing around. The bastard was climbing some ladder in the nearby. So there were other passages to leave that place, Tom realized.But what he wanted was to go back into the shop. And he needed to hurry.Tom lifted her body up, feeling crushed by her weight because he felt exhausted. He gathered his magic to carry her out of that hell. He never meant to leave that place alone. He never planned to survive without her. And now that she slipped out of his reach, he felt lost and it was unbearable.The journey back to the shop seemes endless. He walked passed many priceless objects and books, but nothing was as priceless as the treasure he carried into his arms.

When finally Tom resurfaced into the back shop, he was extremely exhausted but he couldn't stop."Caractacus!" He shouted and wiped away all the objects from a nearby table, making the old wizard come quickly."Help me to save her" Tom said firmly as he laid the witch on the table."Evy" Mr Burke turned from angry to shocked in a blink of an eye "What the hell happened?"."I froze her vital organs, but we have to hurry" Tom said impatiently "How much do you know about necromancy? Or what can we do to heal her?"."She got stabbed?" The old wizard looked angrily to the boy."No time to explain. What can we do? I won't let her die" Tom insisted."Maybe she already is!" Caractacus complained."She's not!" Tom shouted so loudly that Caractacus stopped complaining "And if she is, I'll bring her back. She had said she saw the grim yesterday".Burke frowned "I heard many telling the same. But do you know what I believe? That believing that you see something so disturbing and scary is enough to make bad things happen to you. It's like with profecies. If you let them upset and affect you, somehow they will become true, not because profecies work but because you made it happen"."I agree" Tom said absentmindedly "Now what do we do?".The old wizard examinated the wounds on his niece's body "Dark magic, isn't it?"."Yes" Tom confirmed."Bloody dark magic" Caractacus cursed "I had the feeling you weren't good for her. And I saw right. I even warned her. She's my only niece, my only relative. How much are you ready to sacrifice for her? How much does she worth to you?"."Everything" Tom said without hesitation "Tell me what to do. Necromancy? Time travel?".The old wizard grimaced "A time travel to fix a murder is impossible. And necromancy is a really bad stuff. Death has already engulfed her and is ready to take her away. I need to know how she got into this situation. Who stabbed her?"."It was me" Tom confessed "But I didn't mean to hurt her. We were hunting a wizard.."."Thank that she needs you now or I'd strangle you with my bare hands" Caractacus hissed menacing "Do you regret it?"."Of course I do" Tom spat offended."Then prove it. You have to deeply regret it or she won't come back. And reverse the whole process. How did you stab her?".Tom showed the dagger, that the old wizard greedily took into his hands "Fresh blood. Good. But if this dagger is what I think it is, it's really bad. You're too much into the dark arts, for being such a young boy. Not a drop of this blood must be wasted. Then you must be ready to shed your own blood".Tom froze but didn't give up "How?"."I have some old parchments on necromancy" the old wizard said thoughtful "You have to play again how she got like this, but istead of stabbing her you must stab yourself and saying reverse spells that I'll show you".Tom swallowed hard. The biggest price for his big mistake. He looked at his ring, recalling Evelyn's words just few hours earlier "Will I die instead of her?"."No, you must not die" Caractacus made it sound like an order "You'll link your life to hers to bring her back. The stabbing will be painful as she felt it, but you'll have to bear it and end the spell. Not a single letter spelled wrong or everything will be lost. Are you ready?".Tom didn't understand fully the ritual, but replied promptly "Of course I am"."Good, then wait her and make your mind ready for the ritual. I'll look for the details about how this should work" Caractacus rushed away to his flat and Tom was again left alone with Evelyn, wondering if he had any chance to succeed.He touched his ring, his only way to survive in case the ritual didn't work, or it was a way for Caractacus to get his revenge.But Tom didn't need to read his mind to know that Caractacus wanted his niece back more than anything else.And to get that, he couldn't harm Tom, if he truly was the only way to bring her back.The idea of stabbing himself kept him nervous and he knew it was an obstacle to his success."Do you know what's the main point in the Dark Arts?" Caractacus asked when he came back minutes later, handing to Tom the list of complicated words to pronounce during the ritual."Intention" Tom replied confidently. He dealt with it with his past crimes. He knew it wasn't something to undervalue."Exactly" the old wizard whispered "Now we'll see of your intentions are sincere. You can't lie to Dark Arts. This ritual will work only if you really mean to use dark magic to bring her back"."Understood" Tom said defiantly, unbuttoning his shirt to reveal his chest."Help me lay her down on the floor. It's easier on there".Tom obeyed and delicately moved the witch's body from the table to lay her on a carpet."You'll lay down next to her" Caractacus explained "Then your magic should do the job"."Good. So how do I start?" Tom grabbed the dagger, the one he wanted to use to kill the crazy man, instead it was about to kill him.Caractacus looked badly at the dagger "That one sank into so much blood through the centuries that it's almost as bloody as the Elder Wand"."How do you know what is this? Have you been into that grave?"."I don't need to have met that weapon before, to understand what is that. Here in Knockturn Alley, I heard many stories of people who came from the underground describing that dagger and then disappeared. But those were believed to be creepy fables, as many others"."I hope this is the last time it stabs someone. Although I'll be its last time. What if it suck away my magic?"."It should have already done it when you carried it all along. Do you feel your magic is weak?"."No"."Then put it into work before it's too late. Start with the first lines of spells. Remember, speak clearly aloud and also in your mind".Tom obeyed and waited for his next instructions."Now kiss her like you truly mean it and feel the deepest remorse you can feel".Tom hesitated "Can it truly work?".The old wizard rolled his eyes with impatience "This is parallel magic, Tom. A kiss represents the opposite of what killed her. You were filled with hatred when you stabbed her, so you must feel the opposite if you want to revert the whole process".Tom nodded and swallowed hard. He inhaled staring deeply at the witch, then pressed his lips on her cold ones.Caractacus hoped that he would shed at least one tear for her, but he accepted to see his eyes just watered."This is the moment, Tom" he said soflty.Tom stared at her when he raised the dagger against himself. He focused on his purpose and gathered all his strength to stab himself.He cried when the sharp iron cut his flesh and dug its way into his chest. The pain was unbearable, but Tom forced himself to focus on his mission. He crawled on the floor and said the words, unsure if he said them just to himself or aloud.The agony was just as bad as when he created his horcrux. He felt himself dying, but the certainty that he saved a part of himself into his ring made him reckless.He felt his magic rushing away from his body like a waterfall he couldn't contain. He saw Caractacus waving at him and repeating to him that he had to remove the dagger from his chest alone.That was the turning point. Tom's work ended there. He felt no strength left to make that effort. His mind focused his intention. Intention was the key. He recalled the pleasant times with Evelyn, her smile, her energy, her smell...He grabbed the handle of the dagger and with one last giant effort he screamed at the top of his voice and pulled it out from his body and collapsed on the floor senseless.

Caractacus was out of breath. He witnessed something so disturbing that made him shake with worry.If the ritual didn't work, he had two young people dead into his shop. The two people he loved the most. He couldn't bear the responsibility. If only he didn't get drunk.He cursed his birthday and waited impatiently for something, anything. He was sure that he heard He watched the blood spilling from Tom's wound. The dagger was on the floor.Caractacus bowed to take his hand and noticed his black and golden ring. For a moment he was tempted to take it away, then he recalled how the young wizard was fond of that ring. So he placed his hand on his niece's one.In their free hands he placed their wands.Then he looked at the dagger. He would have died to save Evelyn, but the trade couldn't work because it wasn't him the one who caused her death.His desperation suggesting him to take it and end his life too.But before he could do that, he saw something unreal happening. The senseless bodies started to glow from their united hands to their bodies. Caractacus drew back with fear as a grey, electrical mist started to fill the room.Magic blew as a wind that shook the whole room until it gathered on the bodies' chests and healed the wounds, then was absorbed by the bodies.The temperature was cold but Caractacus was sweating for the energic phenomenon that he witnessed.When everything turned quiet again, he bent his knees and sat down on the floor, waiting for something else to happenSlowly Tom woke up. His bare chest started to slightly move as he was breathing again.He opened his eyes and looked around himself, until he focused on his healed chest.Then he spotted Caractacus, who stood up and approached him clumsily."Did it work?" Tom asked weakly raising on his elbows.Caractacus didn't know what to say. He kneeled carefully next to Evelyn and touched her wrists and her throat.Tom held his breath, waiting for the response.The old wizard looked unsure, then his face was lit by a big smile "I think I feel her heart beating, although weakly. You made it, boy. Hell, it's a miracle".Caractacus threw himself on the young wizard and hugged him "Well done, boy. Thank you for bearing hell to bring her back".Tom felt awkward in that hug and freed himself to check Evelyn's vital signs.He felt proud of himself for erasing his mistake. He had gone further than anybody else. He defeated Death and got away with it. But he didn't want to appear too arrogant, so he kept his hubris inside.

"She needs some rest before waking up" Caractacus said softly "Now, tell what the hell happened to push you to stab her. I had noticed that something was wrong, but as usual I didn't dare to stop you two".Tom hesitated, then narrated their adventures underground. He had nothing to lose if Caractacus knew about the treasured hidden many feets below them.The old wizard listened without commenting, the reactions on his face were enough to show his disapproval to most of the story.When Tom ended, Burke got a glass of water for himself and drank thirstily."I got drunk for the first time in many years and what happens? I almost lost my niece!" He grumbled "She's more precious than the whole objects that passed into this shop and whatever you found down there"."It's the same for me or I wouldn't have almost killed myself to bring her back" Tom said coldly.Caractacus nodded "Yeah, you proved it. I never met someone brave as you, ready to stab himself in the heart for a dark ritual. I just know about many fools who killed themselves for love, not powerful enough to use necromancy and bring their beloved ones back from death".Tom avoided his wild stare and focused on the sleeping witch. Regularly he had been  checking she was still breathing. He tried to shake her a bit to wake her up, but Caractacus pushed him away."It's not a good idea if yours is the first face she sees" he explained in a whisper, throwing him his shirt "After what you did to her".Tom agreed and unwillingly moved away from her.

Delicately the old wizard shook his niece, until finally moned her eyelids."Hey, princess, welcome back" he said with the sweetest tone.Evelyn looked very confused and weak. Caractacus tried to make her speak, but she just coughed and he almost gave up."Do you remember who I am, right?" He asked worried."Uncle" she whispered with a hoarse voice, enough to make him so happy that he was tempted to shout and jump in the whole shop."Good girl" he said with tears in his eyes "Now you need some rest. You're still recovering. Don't think about anything, just relax. I'll be watching over you".She slightly nodded and looked relieved to have the permission to fall asleep.

"A miracle. This is a miracle" Caractacus said proudly as he stood up watching the young witch sleeping. He glanced at Tom, who was hiding in a dark corner, and his tone changed "You should take some rest as well"."I'm not sleepy" Tom hissed annoyed."I'll be here with her. She wouldn't like to see a ghostly face like yours. So listen to me. There's a free bed in my flat"."Her bed" Tom said disapproving "She should be moved there. I can levitate her"."We are not sure if she can handle magic. She's still too weak. I prefer letting her here"."Then let's move the bed here. I can pull her up and lay her on there".Caractacus disagreed but he didn't want to argue any further, so he allowed him to follow his plan, being very nervous when Tom lifted her. He feared that it could wake her up, but luckily she was in deep sleep."Well done. Now you sleep in another room" Caractacus said with an imperative tone that didn't allow any complaints.He pushed Tom towards his flat."I want that bloody dagger to disappear forever".Tom didn't disagree "Destroy it?"."Or hide it where nobody can ever find it. I don't want anything that dark into my shop"."I can deal with it" Tom offered, scanning the small flat."Of course you can" Caractacus hissed simply.Suddenly a powerful fist hit Tom's face, making him turn his face to the other side.Caractacus moaned for the pain at his hand but he didn't regret it "This is the least for what you've done".Tom felt anger rushing and boiling into his vein, but he didn't fight back. He deserved that. So he just waited for the pain to subside."Now, take some rest" Caractacus said harshly and locked the young man into the room.

Tom hated being ordered. His face had an itching pain, but he was angry to the old wizard. He was angry to himself for letting things go that far. Sleeping didn't appeal him, after risking to fall into the eternal sleep. But his exhausted body won over him.

The sound of the door getting unlocked woke him up some hours later.Caractacus stepped in with a tray of food."Is she awake?" Tom asked impatiently."Nah, she didn't wake up. She's sleeping as the angel she is".Tom frowned badly and Caractacus explained "She's alive. That's a way of saying".

They marched to see the sleeping witch. Tom tried to reach her, but Caractacus again imposed him to keep some distance.Then the shop's owner kneeled next to her and gently shook her until she moaned and opened her heavy eyes."Hey Evy, do you feel better now?".She nodded and he helped her to sit up."Is this real?" She asked with hoarse voice."Yes, it is. Why do you ask?".She sighed and when she raised her eyes she spotted Tom on the other side of the room. Her breathing fastened and Caractacus grabbed her hands to make her stay still."It's alright. He brought you back".Evelyn freed one hand and pressed it on her chest, with a scared face."Evelyn" Tom said with a remorseful tone, stepping closer "It was a mistake. I never meant to...".She lowered her head and checked her pale skin "The curse..."."Is broken" Tom replied promptly."Maybe it's too early to talk about it" Caractacus warned, but Evelyn didn't listened to him."Who died? That crazy man?" She questioned Tom, her hard stare warning him not to step too closer."No, he is free now" he assured, but she clearly didn't want to believe it."Then who?"."You broke it" Tom said carefully "The curse disappeared when I... did what I did. But I brought you back"."How?" She kept asking impatiently."Necromancy. A complicated ritual, but it worked" Caractacus said hoping she would stop asking, but she didn't give up."What ritual? Who replaced me?"."Nobody, really. Nobody died. Relax" Caractacus tried to stop her, but she was growing stressed."You didn't want anyone to die" Tom intervened "And your wish has been fulfilled".Evelyn stared at him, trying to catch some signs that he was lying. But she couldn't find anything, so she sighed with frustration. Her eyes couldn't find a place to rest "I can't relax here. Where everything reminds me of what happened"."Then let's go home" Tom said simply.She glanced at him with worry."He will take care of you. He can be very delicate" Caractacus said and Evelyn looked at him as if he lost his mind. "Evelyn?" Tom called sweetly to catch her attention. He offered her a hand "Do you need help to walk?".She swallowed looking at the hand that probably stabbed her.She took it and when she stood up she felt dizzy, her heart beating fast to recover the blood circulation in her body or it was dued to his closeness as Tom held her to keep her balance.

Caractacus bid them goodnight like a happy puppy, but Evelyn noticed some intimidating glances that he shot to Tom.The simple movements took a lot of effort. It's like she was waking up very slowly.

Stepping back into her flat was bittersweet. She believed she wouldn't be back and now she feared to stay in there alone with Tom.He helped her sit down while the little snake Hydra slithered to them hissing in a friendly way, but Evelyn shivered remembering how poisonous that pet was."Do you want something to eat or drink?" Tom asked kneeling next to her, looking like a servant ready to satisfy her requests, but she knew he just meant to flatter her."No, I'm not ready to try to swallow something"."Okay. So you want to talk".It wasn't a question. She nodded a confirm anyway.He took her hand and massaged it, the hand that was poisoned by the curse and that now fully recovered."You are scared of me. You don't have to. I'm always the same"."Are you? The last thing I remember was..." She held her breath "I thought you wanted to kill me"."I didn't. I'll never want to kill you" he said firmly " I made a mistake but I stole you to Death's hands" his eyes sparkled with a light that she disliked "We won over Death and you should have learned from this experience. You need some precautions as well. And I can help you with that".She felt totally uncomfortable and her eyes fell on his ring. "How did you bring me back? What was the ritual?".It wasn't the question he wanted to deal with."I was stabbed to death" she insisted "I'm sure of it. It's the only thing I'm sure of".Tom stood up pressing his fingers on his forehead as he had an headache, then he snapped "I was sure that I was stabbing that bloody bastard. Why didn't you follow my instructions? I told you to keep your wand raised. What the hell were you doing?".He knew he didn't have to be that harsh, but he was tired of blaming himself."I don't know. I don't remember that. Something distracted me" she stuttered."So you confess that it's also your fault. I would have never scratched you. Finding out that I stabbed you and not that bastard was worse that stabbing myself".She ignored his complain and asked bluntly "What did you do for the ritual?".Tom swallowed looking straight into her eyes "I stabbed myself"."What?" She hissed jumping up."I had to revert the accident that almost killed you" he explained quickly "I used that dagger and stabbed myself using dark spells that Caractacus found for me. And it worked, Evelyn. That's all that matters"."So nobody died in the process?"."Nobody" he confirmed firmly "As you always wanted".Evelyn sighed, slowly shaking her head "It still sounds so unreal to me"."But that's true. Necromancy can work. Dark magic is effective when there's a strong intention feeding it. And I wanted you back, at any price".Words were so sweet, but her evidences proved the opposite. She couldn't get rid of the memory of the agony as she was dying into his arms."So did you feel guilty?" She asked narrowing her eyes at him."Yes".She felt hard to believe him and he knew that.He grabbed her face making her stare into his dark eyes "I would have kept trying forever just to bring you back. You're special to me, more than you'll ever understand"."You're insane" she snapped moving away from me."Insane?" He repeated confused."To break the curse someone had to die. I was dead. You should have not involved necromancy"."I stabbed myself to bring you back!" He stated bewildered."Should I thank you for this? I don't want someone to stab himself to break nature's laws!" She replied hotly.Tom scoffed at her and blurted "Who cares if you don't want it".Evelyn shook her head with bitter disappointed and stepped away from him."I can't believe that I was forced to come back just to keep arguing with you. I can't breath in here".His fingers wrapped around her wrist to stop her. "Don't walk away from me" he hissed."Is that an order?" she snapped."It's what I want" he tightened the grip on her wrists, enough to pull her closer.Evelyn felt overwhelmed by the unexpected attraction that was pushing her into his arms when she just wanted to run far away from him for a while, enough to clear her mind. She wasn't free to choose what was best for her. She didn't have the strength to fight him.Tom seemed sharing her feelings and leaned his face closer, making their breath intertwined.She wanted to kiss him so badly, but forced herself to retreat. That lust couldn't fit the insane situation she woke up in.

"Who cares what you want?" She hissed in the end "Let me go"."Is that an order?" He whispered in a mocking, but also seductive tone."Yes, it is"."Can't you see? Why do you try to deny it? We are bonded in life and death now" he uncovered his chest to show the scar that proved that he stabbed himself.It was a painful sight. Evelyn was used to admire the perfection of his chiseled body and couldn't accept that he ruined it for her. She was used to rest her head right on his chest to hear his heartbeat and now there was that bloody scar right on it.

Tom grabbed her violently and tore her shirt open, to reveal a similar scar on her chest too.Evelyn gathered her strength to resist to the attraction that wanted to throw her on him and beg him to make her feel alive. She felt so disgusted of herself she had to close her eyes and cover herself crossing her arms."I need some air".She marched towards the door, while Tom called out with frustration "Evelyn!"."Really. That's why I need" She said blankly.She walked away and closed the door behind her, waiting for a moment, surprised that he wasn't trying to stop her.Then she exited the building, feeling anxious to walk outdoor in the dark night.

Just a dim light showed her her path.She raised her head and spotted the moon over the dark roofs. For a moment she was mesmerized by the beauty of that sight. She lingered there, letting the moonlight caressing her skin, then she hurried to her uncle's shop. Knockturn Alley's streets were still very creepy at night and she didn't want any new trouble.

"Evy, how do you feel?" Caractacus was surprised to see her again at that late hour, but he warmly welcomed her."I don't know. I just need to talk to you. Tell me the truth of what happened" she asked with impatience "Didn't Tom tell you?"."Yeah, but how can trust the one who stabbed me to death?" How could she trust someone like her uncle who could have been easily manipulated by Tom. Caractacus nodded thoughtfully, then waved at her to follow him "Come, I'll show you. Memories and pensieves can't lie".But Tom was able to manipulate people's memories too, she mentally noted.

His memories weren't something pleasant to explore. Her sense of guilt just grew unbearable."As you saw, I was hesitant in front of the chance of using necromancy" Caracturus said when Evelyn retreated from the pensieve "But here you are now, alive. That's all that matters. Thanks to him".She placed a hand on his shouder "That's also thanks to you. You instructed him with necromancy"."And for the first time I don't regret knowing a little bit of that dark stuff. Tom has been..." His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm "...outstanding. He is so very talented, also with dark arts. But he loves you. Nobody would stab himself to try something that could turn into a complete failure".He was sure he wasn't going to die, she reminded to herself. He would never kill himself for anyone."Love? Or just regret?" She whispered."I saw that for him it was more difficult to push his regret out than to show that he loved you. I'm sorry for doubting about you two together, but now I'm just grateful that he is with you. He can protect you".She frowned "You know that he was the one to stab me, don't you? Do you call it protection?".He didn't change his mind "It was a mistake. And he fixed it with an incredible effort. Don't make him regret it, Evy. I beg you".Evelyn smirked "Wouldn't it be funny if he decides to kill me again after stabbing himself almost to death?".Caractacus turned severe "No, it's not funny. We should stop talking about death"."It was all my fault, right?" She simpered, but there was sorrow in her voice "He told you why we went underground. I brought him underground, I saw that bloody carpet. It's my fault if we got the curse because I was the first one to touch the dagger. It's my fault if I stopped and led him to that mistake. And it was about to kill us both".Her uncle grabbed her shoulders and slightly shook her "Don't you dare to even think in that way. It just happened, it's nobody's fault. Tom never blamed you, he was ready to anything to bring you back and he succeeded. Stop brooding over that and enjoy the second possibility you got".Evelyn could hear Tom's voice into her mind "I can take care of what's mine"."Evy, did you hear me? What's in your mind?" Caractacus enquired nervously.She sighed and nodded "I was thinking of staying at Milly's parents house for a while. To recover from this. But I came here to ask you if that ritual has side effects. I feel the same, I'm just worried that it's just a beautiful dream that I came back from being dead. But does it mean I can't keep some distance from Tom? Is this why you are now insisting that I have to stay with him?".Caractacus looked uncomfortable "I'm not an expert on the matter, Evy. You two developed a unique kind of bond. The bond between you is something so special and at the same time so dangerous. So don't challenge it. I suggest you not to go to your aunt and uncle's house just to avoid him. Don't try to lie to yourself that you can still decide to break that bond and start a new life leaving him and everything you had behind".His words sounded bitter to her, but that was the truth."So I simply have to surrender to it? Being his shadow, no matter if he becomes the new dark lord? You always said that with one dark lord gone, a new one is ready to replace him"."Do you think Tom would replace someone like Grindelwald?" He lowered his voice, intimidated by the sound of that dark name "Grindelwald didn't have you. I believe Tom wants a good life with you. He's working hard and this shop owes him so much for our business. Just don't give him a reason to become the new dark lord".Evelyn smirked at her thoughts. Lord Voldemort wasn't going to let her keep Tom Riddle, she was sure of that.

Evelyn left her uncle only late in the morning. In the end she decided to go back to her flat, unsure of what she would have found there or how she would have been welcomed.

She placed her hand on the door, feeling it unlocking under her touch. They had used dark magic to get that trick. But it was for a good purpose.Dark magic could be used for doing some good, if the magicians had good intentions. Sadly, most of the times the magicians weren't strong enough to resist to the dark thirst for more power.

"You're back" Tom said clearly surprised when he saw her closing the door behind her."I really needed a walk outdoor" she replied with a friendly tone.He looked relieved that they weren't in a fighting mode anymore and took advantage of it "I made some breakfast. Or call it lunch. Would you prefer some tea or hot chocolate? I made both".A breath of normal life. Evelyn inhaled deeply "Some hot chocolate, thanks. Have you already eaten?'."Not yet. I was waiting for you" he could easily be so charming and flattering that it made her smile, putting aside her worries."Then let's eat".He helped her sit down then he took the chair in front of her.Tasting something sweet brought back pleasant sensations. For minutes they didn't say anything. Evelyn observed Tom eating, as any normal person, looking natural but every movement was balanced and elegant."What's in your mind?" He asked politely when he realized she didn't intend to break that silence.She shrugged "Nothing relevant"."Really? This is one of the times I wish I can read your mind" he smiled for not making it sound menacing.She smiled back "I'm just enjoying something so normal, that I was about to lose forever"."Even the simplest things look like incredible wonders now, right? I feel you. Do you want something to eat?"."No, enough for me. Keep eating, don't mind me"."Enough for me too" he frowned when she placed her hands on the table to raise herself "What are you doing?"."You made the lunch, so I clear the table" she stood up and waved her wand before he could complain.She pretended feeling weak and losing her balance, being promptly supported by Tom."You shouldn't use your magic until you're fully recovered" he was at her back, wrapping his arms around her and gently taking her wand away from her hand.Her body enjoyed feeling his hands holding her. For a moment Evelyn pondered if she could pretend to faint, but she didn't want to worry him any further."I hate being clumsy" she complained resting her back against his chest. She felt good, although they were in the same position of when he stabbed her."Don't" he said softly in her ear "I'm here to help you".She smiled and turned to face him, crossing his confused but burning dark eyes. She leaned closer, catching his lips like she needed to breath.Tom hesitated, waiting to be sure that she meant it, then took control and deepened the kiss."Does it mean you forgive me?" He asked when he allowed her to catch her breath "Although I have nothing to forgive".She wrapped her arms around his neck with an amused look "This just mean that I want to enjoy being alive. Thanks to you"."I'll make sure you'll be more than grateful for being back" he provoked her, his fingers dealing with her clothes "I need some comfort too after all I've been through to get you back".

Forgetting all the recent fights they had, Evelyn realized how she missed feeling simply good with him. They were back at the start, how they were before she got the bad idea of looking for a more private place into her uncle's shop.It wasn't just her fault, she reminded. If only he agreed to go home as she suggested, they would have never had those dark adventures in the secret undergrounds of London.They would have been on their bed, as they were then.At least she earned that Tom was gentle and delicate when he was usually rough and self centered."Are sure you? Or will you blame me for this too?" He asked before going too far.She just decided to let her feelings rule so she nodded confidently "I'm tired of fighting you".Tom smiled making her sit on his lap "I'm glad to hear that".

It was a weird welcome back to the world for Evelyn. She felt every fiber of her body shaken with life. She just wished that she wouldn't regret it, to have been back from that cold place of the afterlife just to drown into darkness with her murdered and savior melted in one single person.

A/NHey guys!Thanks for reading so far ❤So this is quite long because actually it's two chapters melted in one 😅

Some behind the scenes or behind the lines notes (you don't have to read them all if you find them boring)

Since I'm not sure I made it clear, here some personal considerations on Evelyn having been dead or not and other things:

1. she was dying when Tom stabbed her, that's natural. But Tom used his magic to freeze her one step from being irreparably dead. ( Cryotherapy is now used also by muggles in medicine xD I heard about terminal ill patients who have been frozen, waiting for being healed in a future when it should be possible to heal them... Yeah, Ikr, this sounds crazier than what I wrote hehe )

2. Tom was unconsciously wearing the Resurrection Stone, but since she wasn't truly dead, he didn't see a ghost of her as it happened in some previous chapter in the forest of Albania where he met his mother and Evelyn her parents. So let's say that the stone helped the ritual to be a little easier, but it was the magic released when Tom stabbed himself that made the "miracle" happen

3. Evelyn didn't truly die but it tricked enough the curse so it didn't come back when both she and Tom were back to life

4. Tom would never stab himself for anyone if he didn't have a horcrux. Sad but true xD

5. Tom threw the bloody dagger into the lake of his cave. I think this won't have any rule in next chapters, so goodbye dagger. But don't forget the cave, although you wish you never hear about that again 😌

Alright, that's all for now. If you have any sort of question about the story, always feel free to ask me.I'm working on the last chapters, trying to be quick because I'm impatient to start working on the sequel, for which I have a lot of inspiration now and I don't want to lose that inspiration, that is worse than chasing a golden snitch 😅