Music: "WATR" by REGN.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; I do, however, own all original characters and storyline.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX:

From Water to Wine

.

Saturday, January 23rd 1945

11:56 P.M.

Audrey wasn't sure whether she was still dreaming or not.

By some strange turn of events, she was being dragged to a party—in the middle of the damned night.

Unannounced and unexpected, Braxton had burst into the girls' dormitory in a flurry of activity, a piece of parchment clasped in one hand and a bottle of Firewhiskey in the other. "Audrey! Stella! Party time!" He'd then flung himself onto her bed with such intensity that she'd actually bounced. "Who's coming?"

So there she was, traversing down the hill with almost all of the seventh-year Ravenclaws in tow. Delia, Camilla, Oliver, Adeline, Braxton, Reuben, and Stella had all managed to drag themselves out of bed for the occasion. Even Julian—her sixth year teammate and one-time date—was there, tagging along near the back of the group.

The party was being held at the lake, she had been told—in January. Something about the scenario didn't quite make sense to Audrey, but she was helpless to do anything about it. Braxton had all but shoved her into the girls bathroom to change from her nightdress, explaining in a playful tone that she "needed some fun." So she had put on a dress, shoved her hair into a high ponytail atop her head, and headed down to the lake with all her friends.

Stella was beside her, their arms entwined, gazing dreamily up at the stars. She, too, was in a dress, and her blonde hair framed her face in a waterfall of curls.

As they neared the bottom of the hill, a giant bonfire suddenly became visible through the winter haze. All raound the heaped fire, students were milling and mingling. Bottles of Firewhiskey, Simpson Steaming Stout, and Dragon Barrel Brandy were being passed around.

Audrey raised an eyebrow. "How in Merlin's name are they keeping this a secret?"

Stella turned to her. "Lots of charms. Lots of bribes. It's a tradition at Hogwarts!"

Audrey was dubious. Clearly this tradition died out in a few years. "What's a tradition, exactly?"

"Each year, the seventh years take it in turns to organise a party after Christmas break, to belatedly celebrate New Year," interjected Braxton. "Last year was Hufflepuff's turn. They did a huge blowout in the dungeons."

Ah.

"And who's this year?" asked Audrey. She didn't particularly feel like attending a Slytherin-organised event.

"Gryffindor," he replied.

Stella nodded in agreement. "I think Elijah did most of it."

They arrived to find thirty or so students gathered around the roaring bonfire, all spread out in different groups but occasionally intermingling. The lake, in the background, was shimmering with the light of the full moon, and Audrey had to admit that the scene was quite inviting. The wind rushed in over the water, but, thankfully, was not as bitterly cold as Audrey had been expecting. A large speaker to her right was blaring music.

Much to her surprise, almost every seventh year she had ever encountered was at the party. With annoyance, she saw that even the Slytherins were there. She spied Avery, Malfoy, Lestrange, and Walburga and Orion, near the back. They were passing around a large bottle of Beetle Berry Whiskey, chatting animatedly, occasionally cackling like a coven of old witches.

Even Tom and Eloise were there, she realised with horror. They were chatting with two girls near the bonfire, looking far too cozy.

She felt her annoyance surge, but managed to suppress it. She was resolved to not allowing him to ruin her mood anymore.

Stella dragged her by the arm to the designated Ravenclaw spot. Three large logs had been dragged in from the shore and placed just by the fire, in a large and welcome circle. Audrey took the same log as Stella and Reuben; Braxton, Oliver, and Camilla shared one, and on the end sat Julian, Delia, and Adeline.

Out of nowhere, Braxton was suddenly passing her an open bottle of Firewhiskey, and she accepted with a smile. The liquid burned her throat as she took a large swig, but by the time it settled in her belly like molten fire, she could only appreciate the warmth. The fuzziness in her head was just an added bonus, she supposed.

Audrey snuggled into Stella's side, feeling much more mellow. Sitting around the bonfire with her friends, drinking whiskey, she finally felt happy for the first time since New Year.

Camilla, across from her, was watching the water with curious eyes. When she squealed in delight, Audrey jumped. "Merlin's beard, they're going swimming!" she cried.

She was pointing and giggling with such mirth, Audrey had to look. There, she saw Regan, Elijah, and one other Hufflepuff girl she did not know the name of, stripping down to their underwear.

Braxton gave a deep laugh. "Oh, I am so getting in on this action," he declared, put down his Firewhiskey, and headed in the direction of the water.

Oliver, too, with Camilla in hand, was hot on his heels.

Stella was giggling beside her. "What do you think, Audrey?"

"What do I think?" asked Audrey disbelievingly. Was she serious? "I think I don't want hypothermia!"

"Oh, come on," said Stella, pouting. "Since when have you not been up for something spontaneous?"

Audrey thought about that for a long moment. Since New Year, she thought, suddenly bitter. Since Tom had smashed her heart into a million pieces without a care in the world.

She frowned. "You're right," she said with conviction. "C'mon, before I change my mind."

Braxton was already in his boxer shorts by the time she and Stella made it to the shore. He gestured down to himself, then looked to her expectantly.

Bugger it. What did she actually care anymore? She lifted her dress over her head before she lost her never, leaving her in her slip.

To add to her mounting embarrassment, Braxton actually wolf-whistled. "Lookin' good, Fitch!" he announced with a laugh.

Stella was giggling, but did the same.

To her immense relief, Audrey saw Reuben approach them with a smile, before taking their their clothes into his possession for safe-keeping. He gave Stella one perfect, loving kiss before pushing her towards the water's edge.

Regan, Elijah, and the Hufflepuff girl were already in the water, splashing and yelling. Oliver and Camilla, she saw, had almost joined them.

Audrey made her way to the lake's edge and, very slowly and very carefully, let the water softly caress her toes. Much to her chagrin, it was horribly cold. Not frigid, she argued with herself, but cold. She was definitely going to get hypothermia, though.

She heard a gentle noise behind her, and suddenly she was being lifted by Braxton's strong, cold hands. He hauled her over his shoulder and began wading into the water with alarming speed. She squeaked in protest, scrambling to get out of his grip, but he was determined to hold onto her—

He threw her into the water with a resounding splash. It was so cold, she almost screamed in fright—though barely managed to restrain herself.

She came back to the surface, soaked head-to-toe, and gasped for air.

Both Stella and Braxton were waist-deep in the lake, a little further up towards the shore, and in fits of laugher.

Audrey could feel her slip clinging to every curve of her body, and instantly felt her embarrassment increase tenfold.

"You're an arse," she said crossly.

Braxton bellowed a laugh, then signalled her over.

The trio made their way toward the larger group that had formed in the water. Camilla and Oliver were staring lovingly at one and other—as per, thought Audrey a little bitterly—but the other three were passing a bottle of Firewhiskey between them.

"Hey," said Audrey, siding up to the Hufflepuff girl she did not know. "I'm Audrey. Nice to meet you." She held out a soaking, freezing hand.

The girl smiled at her, extending her hand as well. "Nice to meet you, too." She was taller than Audrey by a hair's length, with blonde, wispy hair, and a nose slightly too large for her face. "I'm Dorothy. You can call me Dot, though."

Audrey nodded, turning her attention back to Braxton. He took a long swig of the Firewhiskey before handing it to her.

Two swigs later and she was feeling more than a little tipsy—so tipsy, in fact, that she allowed Braxton to take her onto his shoulders as they played a game of make-shift Quidditch in the water. Two boys from Slytherin had joined them—Audrey did not know their names, she realised—and they had formed teams in their expanding numbers. Much to her chagrin, however, she had been relegated to Keeper.

A ball was being tossed around haphazardly by Braxton, Oliver, and the two Slytherin boys mostly, but occasionally Stella, Dot, Camila, and Regan managed to get a throw in.

One such time, Reagan managed to get it past Audrey with an almighty throw, and Audrey cried out as yet another ball whizzed by her face. She had no idea how Reuben managed to keep his cool when quaffles came barrelling toward him. She truly was an awful Keeper—but, she argued with herself, she was also kind of drunk.

She sided up to Dot once again, trying to be inconspicuous. "Hey. Are there any bathrooms around here?" she whispered.

Dot laughed. "Afraid not."

Audrey groaned. "Then where am I supposed to, you know, go?"

Dot pointed behind her—towards a gathering of bushes and trees just off the lake.

Audrey fixed her with a cold stare. She was supposed to pee in the bushes? "You're serious?"

Dot laughed again and nodded. "Yep. It's the designated bathroom for the night."

"There's no way that's happening," said Audrey resolutely.

Audrey grumbled under her breath as she made her way back to the shore, then emerged from the water. She felt eyes on her, but didn't want to give them the satisfaction of acknowledgement. She made her way back toward the Ravenclaw spot, where Reuben was still perched atop one of the logs, chatting animatedly with Julian.

Audrey sided up to him. "Hey, Reuben. Do you have my dress?"

He blinked. "I do. You not playing anymore?" He gestured toward the water, where the game was still in full swing. Stella had taken over as Keeper, from the looks of things.

"No. I need to use the bathroom." She snapped her fingers impatiently. "Dress?"

He turned and dug into the large pile of clothes he had been made responsible for. He handed her dress back to her without a word, then resumed chatting with Julian.

She pulled the cotton dress over her soaking-wet slip, and instantly her dress was soaked, too. Her hair, dripping down her back, most definitely did not help matters. She could only hope to be dry by the time she returned, she supposed. The walk up the hill to Hogwarts would be a chilly one.

But she made her way up the hill nonetheless, the breeze horribly cold on her skin. The walk was uncomfortable at best, with no Stella to snuggle into, and she had just made it to the castle entrance when she saw him.

Bloody hell.

Tom was sitting at the bottom of the stone staircase, looking distinctly austere. He had evidently watched as she approached.

"Oh," she said flatly. This was clearly a coincidence. He wouldn't be waiting for her—certainly not after what happened at New Year. She moved to the other side of the stairs, to make her way into the castle—

"Audrey."

She was loathe to admit it, but she had missed the sound of her name on his lips.

She sighed, stalling with her hand on the bannister. "What do you want, Tom?"

"May I speak with you?"

Audrey deliberated, biting down on her bottom lip. What in Merlin's name could he possibly have to say to her?

"I was actually just about to—"

"Please." The tone of his voice was...strange. It was so strange that it made Audrey really look at him, and Merlin, did he look miserable. His entire visage screamed despondency.

Stupidly, because clearly she was a glutton for punishment, she took a seat on the bottom step beside him, careful to leave some space between them.

There was a long silence, before Tom put a hand through his hair. "This is much more difficult than I anticipated," he admitted.

What was?

She rolled her eyes. "Look, I was on my way back to my dorm—"

But he cut her off, and in a whoosh of breath, said very quickly, "I'm sorry."

Audrey lifted her eyebrows. Of everything he could have possibly said to her, she hadn't been expecting that. He looked as if he'd never had to apologise in his damned life.

"Oh," she said quietly. The sound of the wind blustering in from over the lake was loud as their silence stretched. It rushed in between the pillars in the courtyard.

"Everything you said about me, when you left, it's all true." He stared at her evenly, eyes dark. It was the first time he'd actually looked at her since he'd asked her to sit. "I do push people away. It's a routine I've settled into these past few years. But this—" He ran his hand through his hair again, and Audrey was beginning to understand what that meant. "I am pushing you away, Audrey, because I am afraid of what I feel for you."

Her stomach twisted. Was he actually doing this, here and now?

"And what is that?" she pressed. She tried not to sound as breathless as she felt. "What do you feel for me?"

"I have no idea," he admitted flatly. "I have honestly never felt anything like this before."

Audrey couldn't believe what he was saying to her. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. It wasn't registering in the rational parts of her brain.

"When I kissed you..." he trailed off, seemingly lost in thought. "It woke up. It was buried and it woke up. I don't know what it is..." He was talking to himself more than her now, she thought. "I'd like to try something," he said, tone resolute. Before she knew what was happening, his lips were on hers. He kissed her with such unexpected tenderness that she felt her legs go to jelly.

Wait.

It was her turn to push him back. She shoved at him with both hands and with as much force as she could muster, but he barely moved.

"You can't," she said, and, much to her chagrin, her voice wobbled. "You can't just do that after you—after you..."

After you hurt me like that.

He nodded wordlessly, understanding her meaning.

But his words were echoing in her head like a prayer.

I am afraid of what I feel for you...

She was utterly stupid and utterly hopeless. Before she knew what she was doing, she kissed him again, with much more force than he had kissed her. She curled her hands behind his neck and pulled his mouth down onto her own.

Tom was startled by her sudden interest, though not for long. He regained his composure, placing both hands on the small of her back and dragging her toward him on the step. "I think of you constantly," he managed between their breathless, panting kisses. He was talking to himself again. "It's maddening."

Merlin, she didn't know what came over her, but suddenly she wasn't just kissing his mouth anymore. Her lips went to the strong line of his jaw, his neck, and then finally back to his lips.

They parted, breathless, and reality set in like the cold winter dawn.

Tom Riddle...had feelings for her.

Audrey wasn't quite sure this was real.

"What do you want from me?" she asked after a beat, realising she couldn't leave their conversation like that.

There was a fire behind his eyes that she did not recognise. "I want you. In whatever capacity I can have you."

Merlin. She actually felt her heart drop into her stomach.

"You can't run away when this is inconvenient for you," she said, a little weakly. "Not anymore. Promise me."

His gaze met hers. "Be my girlfriend."

Bloody hell.

She swallowed thickly. "Promise me," she managed.

"I couldn't run from you even if I tried." His eyes were so damned intense. She'd never seen him like this before. "I've been trying for five months."

"You don't care what people think?"

Tom fixed her with a cold stare. "Audrey, I have just bared my heart and soul to you, and you are making me wait."

She gnawed on her bottom lip, feeling nervous. "I want to say yes. I do, but..."

He waited patiently, face impassive.

"Please don't hurt me," she finished lamely.

Tom frowned, and she thought she saw a flicker of guilt cross his face. "I will never intentionally hurt you, Audrey." He was always so careful with his words. Every word and every position of every word was always measured—and it unnerved her.

A gust of wind went billowing through the courtyard, more violent than before, and Audrey realised with a start that she was still soaking wet. She shivered involuntarily.

Tom's eyes never left her. "You're freezing," he said, and the concern in his voice was plain—so plain it started her.

He got up from his place on the steps, then offered her his hand.

Audrey bit her lip, a nervous pit in her stomach. The metaphor was not lost on her. He was giving her a choice.

Do you follow me down this path?

She was pretty sure she would follow him anywhere. She grabbed his hand with less deliberation than she would have hoped; Audrey was surprised when he didn't let go of her hand. And because she was greedy and stupid, she entwined their fingers like she had at New Year.

He lead her absently in the direction of the Ravenclaw common room in comfortable silence. They were just rounding on the Charms corridor when Audrey suddenly heard chattering voices behind her, closing in at an alarming speed. Much to her horror, she recognised both.

"Quick," she whispered, a little spooked. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt and hauled him into an empty classroom. She pressed her back firmly against the wall, trying her best to hide.

Though initially confused, Tom seemed to understand the situation with relative ease. He took the opportunity to box her in against the wall, a hand above her head.

"Can you believe it?" It was Adeline. She was whispering, but her voice was magnified in the empty hallway.

"I know," came Delia's hushed reply. "And remember all those times she told you she wasn't interested...?"

There was a laugh. "I knew she was lying. She behaved so oddly every time I mentioned him."

"You should ask him to the Farewell Ball."

"That's months away," replied Adeline. "But perhaps Valentine's. I should just pluck up the courage and do it..."

The two girls rounded a corner and suddenly Audrey couldn't hear their conversation anymore.

Thank Merlin.

Audrey blinked. "Well. That's a little...awkward."

"I've suspected for a while," he admitted. He meant about Adeline's crush, she realised.

"Maybe you shouldn't walk me back to my dorm," said Audrey after a pause. "I don't want her to find out like that."

Adeline wasn't a bad person—a little bitchy, perhaps, but not an inherently bad person—and she certainly didn't need to find out face-to-face with Tom there.

Suddenly his hand was on her face, and he tucked a stray piece of nearly-dry hair behind her ear. "You're so beautiful."

Audrey could barely find her voice. "Can I come to your dorm instead?" she managed.

Tom nodded, his hand falling.

When they arrived, Audrey was gratified to find that a fire was already burning. The entire room was filled with a delicious warmth that licked at her damp skin. But, feeling brave, she bypassed all the couches, the table—the whole damned common room—and lingered outside his bedroom door instead.

Tom watched her intently from the entrance. Judging from his expression, he hadn't expected her to be so bold. But he didn't exactly seem perturbed by her sudden bout of courage.

"Can I?" she asked. Feeling like she perhaps needed to explain herself, she added hastily, "Just to sleep, of course."

He nodded, then strode toward her. He opened his door with a flick of his wand.

Audrey ventured into the room, feeling vulnerable despite herself. As he followed in behind her, she took the opportunity to survey her surroundings. Before, when he had healed her with just a candle for light, she had not been able to take much in. Now, she saw everything. In the corner was a plush armchair filled to capacity with thick volumes on Runes. His dresser was covered in parchment—his sketches, she realised—nd a few bottles of what looked to be potions. His bed was a double—one if the perks of being Head Boy, she supposed—and the quilt was green and inviting.

She perched herself on the end of it as he closed the door behind them, and suddenly they were well and truly alone together.

"You never agreed," he said eventually. He was still lingering by the door, trying for nonchalance.

It took her a moment to understand his meaning.

"No, I didn't."

He sighed and began rummaging through his drawers. He took something out, then passed it to her. It was a plain white t-shirt, she realised—one of his shirts.

"I thought perhaps you might wish to not sleep in a wet dress."

That seemed...reasonable. "No, I guess not." When he made a move for the door, Audrey managed, in a very small voice, "You don't need to leave. Just...turn around."

Tom raised an eyebrow, looking sceptical, but complied with her request nonetheless.

Audrey swallowed hard, then peeled her still-damp dress and slip from her body. Much to her pleasure, the shirt smelled like him. She pulled it over her head, and was grateful that it pretty much came down to her knees.

"Done," she announced. She was standing rock-still, she noticed, and awkward. She couldn't shake it off.

Tom turned to survey her. "It suits you."

Despite herself, she laughed. "Thanks. I've never worn a guy's shirt before, so..."

"Ah, no?" He turned to rake through his chest of drawers again. He was hedging, trying to sound uninterested. "Not even your friend? The one at the party?"

She realised that he was talking about Braxton. And maybe she was imagining things, but his tone sounded...jealous.

"No," she deadpanned. "And for your information, he declared his feelings weeks ago, but I was too busy mooning over you."

"Is that right?"

Audrey thought his tone sounded...playful. It allowed her to relax a fraction. "It is."

He turned to her holding a pair of flannels and a white shirt. "Turn," he instructed her.

Audrey arched an eyebrow. Well, wasn't he bold. She smirked, and turned on the spot to stare at his bedroom wall.

The sound of him changing behind her made her flush. She began to imagine him removing his shirt, what his bare chest would look like—but immediately had to stop. She could feel her face reddening. She wondered, with a little too much curiosity, if he had imagined her doing the same when she had instructed him to turn.

She suddenly felt a hand at her waist. She turned to find him staring down at her with that intensity again—the one that made her stomach do little flips. Audrey absently wondered if Tom did anything without his full attention.

He led her to the bed in silence.

Audrey cleared her throat. "You're sure this is fine?"

Her thoughts flickered back to kissing him on New Year. He hadn't been ready then, and this time she wanted to make sure. She didn't want to push him anymore, lest he snap.

"I'm very sure, Audrey," he replied. He climbed in without another word, but not before blowing out the candle on his nightstand.

Darkness enveloped the room—save for a faint light from under the crack of the door—and the mood went from magnetic to electric.

The light from the common room was enough to illuminate Tom's bed. Audrey climbed in beside him before she lost her nerve, feeling like if she was ever going to bitch out on something, climbing into bed with Tom Riddle might do it. Not to mention she'd never slept beside a guy before. "If Dippet ever found out about this..." she murmured.

Tom considered that. "I suppose. However, Eloise has Gabriel Goyle over every other night in her room—"

"She what?"

"Gabriel Goyle. In her room. Bi-nightly," he repeated.

"Wow," said Audrey, a little disbelieving. "You know, she called me foul once."

"Yes, well, she's not very smart."

Audrey laughed, despite it all. Despite the fact she was in his bed. In the dark. And they were talking about Eloise.

"Can I ask you a question?" she asked suddenly.

"You have already, but go ahead."

Audrey rolled her eyes. He always had a quick answer for everything. "I guess I just...don't understand." She licked her lips, feeling nervous. "Why now, Tom? What's changed?" Then, a little sadly, "Why did you tell me to leave that night?"

Tom was silent for a long moment. "That's more than one question."

She groaned. "Tom..."

He sighed into the darkness. "Nothing has changed, Audrey. I've been enamoured with you for months and I am still enamoured with you. As for why now...I suppose I lost all self-control the second you made your intentions clear on New Year."

The fact that he used the word enamoured and not infatuated did not escape Audrey.

"As for the way I treated you on New Year," he continued, sounding a little uncomfortable, "I don't have an excuse for that. It is not one of my prouder moments."

"Then why?" She knew she was pressing him, but she wanted a proper answer from him.

"I was afraid that..." He sighed then, sounding defeated. "There is a very real possibility, Audrey, that once you get to know me, you will not feel the same way about me. You...could do much better."

He was warning her, she realised.

She thought she knew him already. All that she had read, all that she has researched, all that she had seen... it didn't seem real. It seemed like a fantasy story she had been told as a child. The Tom in front of her was not Lord Voldemort. The Tom in front of her was not evil. The Tom in front of her was just Tom.

She didn't know if she was an optimist or stupid—maybe both—but either way she knew she was in trouble, because he was Lord Voldemort, and he was going to do terrible things so very soon.

"Audrey? Please say something."

Truthfully, she didn't know what to say. Right here, right now? She could only say what she felt. "I feel like I know you enough already, Tom. And I like who you are."

She needed to keep him this way. That was all she knew. She didn't know what happened to make him into the cruel man of legend, but she knew she had to stop it.

Then, out of nowhere: "You have to come closer, Audrey, before I lose my mind."

Audrey blinked. Like a moth to a flame, she inched closer in the darkness. Every shift of the bedsheets was like a little electric shock to her system. She felt his arms encircle her, to drag her closer, and suddenly his mouth was on hers again.

It was as if their kiss on New Year had opened a dam in him. Where once he had hidden his feelings for her, he now told her freely. His thoughts, once private, spilled to his lips. Every action he wanted, he did it.

She kissed him back, voracious and unable to stop herself. The thought that she made him as crazy as he made her was so damned good.

"Be my girlfriend, Audrey," he repeated, when they had parted.

She nodded into his chest. "Okay," she said after a moment.

He ran his fingers down her cheek in the dark, and Audrey finally felt at home.