The Line Between Love and Hate

"Tom... It was you. I didn't expect to see you again. You were a lot younger when you hurt me. A lot younger when you used me, turned me against my friends, and made me think you were the only one who cared for me.

You didn't know I would change my mind about you. You didn't think I'd have the courage. Well, you're dead now; thanks to a heart you didn't think mattered."

She laughed in a sort of hollow, anguished triumph, and then turned her worn face to look at his dead one again.  

"I loved you! I adored you! You made me think I was beautiful, that it didn't matter that he didn't feel the same about me. You mattered more! Now, he's dead. They're all dead. Albus, Harry, you even killed that young, innocent little girl, Ginny Weasley in her fourth year! You drove her brother to suicide, did you know that?"

She started kicking the dead carcass, using what was left of her energy, until she collapsed on top of it, weeping brokenly.

"All this and I can still think of you fondly. Do you know how hard it is to fight someone you loved with all your being? Do you know how - how disgusting it is to treasure fond memories of someone who killed your students?"

"Min-"

"No, Tom, it will never work out. You know the differences between our houses... what will the other Slytherins say about you?"

"They don't matter to me, all I want is you. I love you, Min. If you wish to leave me for your Gryffindor friends-"

"No! Tom...you know how the other students feel about me..."

He pulled her into an embrace.

"They don't matter Min. I love you, and that is all that you should worry about. Love me. Don't worry about the students, or even the teachers. I love you, and that is all that should matter."

"You have no idea how much it hurts to be used. Everyone thought you were so wonderful, getting rid of the tension between our houses once and for all. They were gullible enough to believe you. I was naive enough to trust you. I helped you discover new spells... and then you used them against me. You USED me!! You took my innocence, you heartless bastard!"

"Tom," she said in an excited voice. "With Imperius we'll become the best set of Aurors ever, right? No Dark Lord or anyone like that could ever come to power again!"

"Imperius would allow someone to gain that power." he replied in a cool voice.

"Don't be silly Tom; no one is going to find out from us."

"Are you so sure?"

"Think of it, Min, we could gain our own power. We could rise higher than anyone, higher than Dumbledore. Together-"

His eyes took on a strange gleam, shining almost red in the dim light.

"Tom! Stop it! You know I would never-"

"Imperius can do many things, Minerva. Imperius can allow those who want something from someone to get it. There will be no more waiting until marriage, or any of that nonsense."

"Tom, please... what are you saying?"

Her voice was beginning to sound uncertain, apprehensive, even scared.

He drew out his wand and walked toward her.

"Tom... if you are trying to be funny..." she said pulling out her own. "I'm warning you, Tom! STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!"

"Expelliarmus," he whispered. "Imperio."

"I killed five people under my own curse. No...YOU killed five people using me, countless using others. Five people, until I managed to throw it off. Five people, and one of them was our child! Do you know what it feels like to be forced to commit murder?"

She got up and stared at the soulless body.

"I'm glad you had your soul sucked out today. Now you know what happened to me fifty years ago, except for the fact that I have to deal with the guilt for the rest of my life."

Minerva McGonagall gave the corpse one last tear-filled glare, and slowly walked away.