Amor Saxum

Tom Riddle had just turned eighteen, he stood on the edge of boyhood and manhood and had euphony while standing on the platform awaiting the train that would take him home, away from Hogwarts, where he had spent the last seven years of his life and now it was over. He was a full-fledged wizard, and had no idea what to do with the power that he had learned to control. He had no home. The orphanage had told him not to come back after his eighteenth birthday. Tom shoved his hands into his pockets jingling the last few galleons he had left. The day was dreary and wet, to suit his mood. He had lost everything in a matter of hours, his home, his childhood, and his best friend. He had nothing to live for; friends and family were beyond his reach. With no money he had no way of supporting himself. No one cared if he died.

"So, I should just jump onto the tracks with the knowledge that no one will bother scraping poor Tom Riddle off the tracks." He finally said this and took a step towards the tracks.

"You can't, Tom." The voice was barely above a whisper in the roaring of the storm. Tom whirled around to meet the tear filled eyes of his long time friend, Sirena Sterling.

"Why?" he questioned in a mocking tone

"What do I have? You probably will never speak to me again." He took another step forward, the tip of his boots skidding the edge of the platform. The young girl ran forward gripping him around the waist with a strength that he had never known she had.

"Please, Tom, you're my only hope, you're the only thing that keeps me alive when I'm at home." He snorted but, turned to her, her head barely reached his chin, so small for a fourth year. She had her arms wrapped around his waist and her head lay on his chest. Tom had never been in a position of this type. Her curling brown hair clung to her face, wet with rain.

"And what is it about me that makes you stay alive?" his voice mocked her.

"I love you." His eyes grew wide with surprise and he lifted a long fingered hand to stroke her cheek.

"Why are you telling me now? When it won't matter? When I have to leave this place."

"I've always been fond of you, Tom, I've wanted to tell you but I never found the strength," she pulled away from him to stare up into his acidic green eyes. She fumbled in the deep pockets of her robe and removed a long chain with a small stone on the end. The stone glittered blue then pink and orange the colors swirling inside it were magnificent for such a small trinket.

"It's a special kind of stone, my mother gave it too me before she..." Sirena trailed off and her eyes grew wide again.

"She said it connects two souls." She took his hand and placed the glowing stone in it.

"Connects two souls?" he whispered leaning down, so his lips were achingly close to her lips.

"It means you'll never be alone and I'll never be alone, we'll always have each other, through this we can feel each others emotions even if your half way across the world." She moved her scarf aside to reveal the same stone around her neck glowing purple and gold like fire.

"I'll know when you hurt, and you'll know when I hurt." Her hands gripped him fiercely around the waist.

"I don't know what to say, I...have thought so much about these feelings I have for you Sirena, you've meant the world to me." He took her in his arms and held her to him. She could barely believe what she was feeling. The train's whistle howled into the storm and they broke from their embrace. Tom gently placed the stone around his neck; it glowed a fierce red and then an acidic green like his eyes and continued changing and swirling in reds and greens. He tucked it into his jacket's collar and wrapped an arm around her.

"Best be off, we mustn't miss our train." She smiled a light blush forming on her cheeks as he took her hand and led her to the train to begin the journey home.