Tom was your other half. You were joined at the hips, like you two were born of the same laugh. There was nothing else that valued at the same level as he did. Though, it was unlike you had much. Because of that, and other factors, you two bonded from first year, both being outcasts with dead parents, raised in a muggle world. It was like you found your soulmate, as time after time, you laughed over the same meal. Loving the way the food tasted, different from the orphanage meals you grew up eating. A mutual love for cherries, a mutual annoyance for loud, obnoxious noises. And yet, the both of you seemed to enjoy it from time to time. You wanted the best for him, and you thought he wanted the best for you. So, you happily encouraged him to hang out with other Slytherins. Ones like Malfoy and Avery. Until, he started to fade from your grasp, starting second year. Starting with forgetting about study sessions, and slowly turning to blatantly turning down your invites to go *anywhere* ***together***. Until, he was gone. Until, he hated you. Despised you when he turned himself into something different. Found, what he called, was the *true him.* His potential. The one thing you had, something true, was gone. Was burned, like he threatened to burn you, torture you, *kill* you himself, for the same past he had. *Has*.