Weeks had passed since the incident. With Hermione's quick thinking, they were able to prevent Hogwarts from closing down due to his mistake. It was quite unfortunate, however, that Professor Dumbledore didn't believe the lie that Hermione and he created and seemed to be suspicious of everything Tom did from then on. Some of the Knights were being kept behind class and questioned about their extracurriculars and post-Hogwarts plans. Tom would need to tread more carefully in the future to prevent exposure by Dumbledore.

But Tom could only dwell on this development for so much during this final season. Using the schedule created for him by Hermione, he focused on making sure that he passed all of his exams and breaking the record for his year.

For his final examination in Potions, Tom had brewed the love potion that he was forced to smell at the beginning of the school year.

Imagine his surprise when he finished the concoction and the smells of peonies, vanilla ice-cream tinged with firewhisky, and fresh parchment assaulted his delicate orifice.

All of which he associated with the tiny witch who had stolen from him so often and now, apparently, his heart and his affections. Tom sneered at the thought and waited for his professor to test the potion.

His emotions waged with one another and a prevalent thought of killing her came forth. Her brains and cleverness were an asset, but love? She would be a weakness if anyone was to ever find out.

"I could very easily fall in love with you, Tom Riddle," she stated matter-of-factly.

But, if it could have been anyone, Tom thought to himself, I don't quite mind it being her.

She was bright.

"You translated that rune incorrectly. That one right there has a slight curve to it, signifying the guardian of the mother, not the protector . . ."

Powerful.

Goosebumps erupted over his skin as her intoxicating magic washed over his body. It was the most pleasurable feeling he had ever encountered as it surged and roiled with fury.

Strong.

"She bested Rookwood, my Lord. Madam Wicke said that it will take a week for him to recover."

Beautiful.

Her honey locks were splayed around her like a chaotic halo. The full moon had bathed her in its white light and she seemed almost ethereal - a fallen star among the world of mere mortals.

Kind.

"The world shifted, indeed. Happiest of birthdays, Tom."

She was equal to him in every sense of the word.

He had a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach that Hermione was holding back on him. She had yet to send any offensive spells at him, choosing instead to only defend herself from him. The duel ended in a draw . . .

And she had proven herself loyal to him.

"Tom, what did you do?". . . "we need to get you out of here." . . . she cast a strong Notice Me Not charm and a silencing spell on the door . . . "You have less than five minutes to complete the ritual, Tom. Get on with it."

Was this love? Was spending an entire year being half-irritated and half-obsessed with her love? Somewhere down the road, it seemed that he fell in love with the Muggleborn witch who was everything he never knew he wanted - no, needed.

She would be a weakness, yes, but he had no doubt that she would be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, occurrence in his life. Together, they would be unstoppable. Together, the world would cower at their feet, her feet. He would reshape the world to accommodate her. He didn't care what it would take because she was his.

The world would never know what hit them and his witch would help him reign over it all.

Perhaps, being in love with her wouldn't be so bad. After all, what is a king without his queen?

End of Part II

Revised April 16, 2019

Author's Note: This was the first chapter I wrote for infinitum and every chapter before this one was just a build-up to this scene. Part III will be wild and fun and I am very excited to start writing it. Please leave a review and I will cherish it forever. Thank you to everyone who reviewed my last few chapters. They make my days and I appreciate them so, so, so much.

As always, thank you to devdevlin/devlin085 for betaing.

Find me on AO3 and Tumblr under the same penname.

DISCLAIMER: After all, what is a king without his queen? is inspired by Alina Baraz's Drift where she sings "what's a king without a queen, you can be my everything."