Anna walked through Hogsmeade, enjoying the snow that was settling around her. Snow settled softly in her hair, but Anna just lightly brushed it off. Anna was uncharacteristically feeling peaceful. Tom was out somewhere with his friends, Abraxus was off in the quidditch store, and no one was bothering her for information or help.

The dinner party plan had been a success last week, and Tom had been in a good mood ever since. \Anna wasn't stupid enough to ask but she was curious.

She traveled through, stopping in a few shops, but mostly she walked around, watching as kids ran around her and how adults mingled in the shops. She picked up a few books that Tom had wanted and moved to The Three broomsticks.

She stepped in, sighing at the warmth that covered her, head to toe. She took off her cloak and set down her packages on a table before heading up to the bar. A young woman was cleaning glasses and pouring drinks.

"Hello dear, what can I get you?" The young women asked, turning to face Anna. Anna pondered the woman's face, a bit shocked at how much the young woman resembled Madam Rosemerta.

"You all right dear?"

"Yes, sorry. You just look very similar to someone I used to know," Anna answered quickly, her cheeks warming. "I'll take a butterbear, please."

"Comin' right up dear. And don't worry; I have one of those faces where everyone thinks they know me." The woman winked at her before turning back to her bar, pouring Anna's drink. Suddenly a little girl ran out from behind the bar and up to Anna.

"Rosie! Come back here." The woman, who was obviously her mother, scolded. She picked the little girl up and carried her back, placing the girl on her hip while she gave Anna her drink.

"Rosie?" Anna asked hesitantly, peering closely at the child.

"Oh yes, excuse my daughter miss, she just can't sit still while I'm working."

"Someday I'm going to work here," Rosie said very seriously to Anna. Her mother just laughed and hugged her child.

Anna excused herself and walked back to her table, a smile on her face. She sipped her drink and looked around the bar. Memories rushed back, of her, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sitting in the booth, drinking and laughing. She could remember talking to Ginny, how to girl complained and joked with her for hours.

She and Luna went here quite often, and Luna would point out whatever creatures she saw that day.

Anna missed them.

"Anna, there you are." Anna sighed, and closed her eyes. Her peace for the day was over, and what replaced it left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"What do you want Tom?" She asked, taking a last drink of her Butterbear before turning towards him. His cheeks were pale, but the tip of his nose was red form the cold. Though his eyes were slanted and his mouth set in a grim, hard line, he still looked cute.

"You're staring," Tom commented.

"Because you're not talking, I'm waiting. What do you want?" Anna repeated, as she got up from her seat and pulled her cloak on. Whatever Tom wanted, she could easily guess that he wouldn't want to discuss it here. She grabbed her packages, which were really his packages and started out the door. She left the door open, knowing Tom wouldn't be far behind her.

He easily caught up with her, jogging to her side.

"Do you have my books?" He asked, reaching out his head before she could answer. Anna grumbled a bit but handed him the package, filled with the books he had sent her to purchase.

"Is this really all you needed me alive for? To be you jockey and run errands?" She complained. Tom ignored her and instead ripped open the package, to really look at the books.

"You're missing one," His voice bit through the wind, making her shiver.

"They didn't have it," Anna shrugged. "I asked the shopkeeper, and he just started at me like I had three heads. He told me that the book had been banned for years, for being "Too Dark". "

"What in the world could be in that book that is too dark for this period?" Anna asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"What do you mean?" Tom asked; his voice was still a bit sharp from annoyance, whether it was directed at her or not, Anna decided she didn't really care.

"Well half of the dark books that even still reside in the Hogwarts library are forbidden where I'm from."

"You're kidding," Tom commented, looking at her with amusement. "How dull."

"Oh it's very unfortunate." Anna laughed.

She looked over at him, his eyes were still twinkling with some unknown amusement and his lips were set in a smirk. He clearly found something else funny, something he wouldn't let on. Not her, and still the warmth in Anna's chest refused to go away.

"Let's go back to the castle; I'll have the house elves bring us some tea to warm up."

"Tom, are you really not going to help me get back?" Anna asked, as she stopped in her tracks, staring down at the snow covered ground. Tom stilled as well, and looked back at her, his expression indecipherable.

"Why would you want to go back?" He challenged.

"Why would I want to stay here?" Anna shot back. Darkness settled over Tom's expression, and instead of answering her, he turned back around and started walking again.

"There's nothing for you in the future, except misery, that's what you said." He challenged.

"But staying here is dangerous and honestly exhausting." Anna shot back, catching up with him.

"Let's go, it's getting cold out." Anna resisted for a moment, but in the end she knew she really had no other choice, so she gathered her pride, or what was left of it, and followed him back to the castle.

"What are you doing for Winter Break, Anna?" Chelsea asked her at breakfast. Her tone was gentle, as though she was trying to be delicate, as if Anna would break.

"I'm staying here." Anna answered, finishing her oatmeal. She peaked at the girl and winced at her sympathetic expression. She was so sick of people feeling sorry for her.

"So, you really can't remember anything?" Chelsea asked. Anna sighed and put down her spoon, fully facing Chelsea. She had known this question had been coming, it was unavoidable. It didn't make it any easier though.

"No, I wish I could. Madam Pomfrey had said that my memories may return, but there was also I good chance they wouldn't. I hit my head really, really hard." Anna answered her. Chelsea nodded understandably and patted Anna's hand.

"You are so strong," she whispered. Anna gave her an uneasy smile and pulled away.

"Thank you, but I'm really not," Anna muttered as she grabbed her bag and excused herself from the table. She was tired of this, she was tired of being here, she was tired of Tom, and most of all she was tired of acting like another one of Tom's airhead minions.

Anna angrily made her way to Dumbledore's office; even though she couldn't tell him what was happening to her, she could still demand that he help her. She had been afraid to demand anything of Dumbledore before, too afraid of what would happen, but now she was determined.

She was getting home, before she could cause any more damage.

Of course going home had its own consequences. Tom would kill her in the future when she came back; he would know how she betrayed him and would be out for her blood. But even running and hiding for the rest of her life was better than staying here, playing house with him.

Anna whispered the password and stepped into Dumbledore's office. He was sitting at his desk, writing a letter. He looked up at her, a mixture of surprise and regret mixed into her face. Anger rushed through her veins; it was his fault she was in so much trouble with Grindlewald and even Tom.

"Albus, you need to help me, and if you refuse to, than I need the name of another wizard who can help me." Anna demanded. Dumbledore didn't object but instead took out another piece of paper and wrote something quickly.

He handed her the paper and she looked down to see a name and an address.

"There is a man in Little Hangleton. It's a town full of muggles but there is a wizard who lives among them. He experiments with time travel and magic in general. It isn't much, but it's the only lead I've been able to find."

"He might be reluctant to help you, because he is under cover but tell him I sent you. Explain your problem to him, and he might be able to help."

"You must go during Winter Break, it's the only time you will be able to get away from Tom and it not be suspicious." Dumbledore said to her, before returning to his letter. Anna could tell it was a clear dismissal and slipped out of the office, the paper tucked safely in her books.

Was it stupid to try and deceive Tom Riddle? Yes, it was. But Anna didn't care, not when she was that much closer to escaping him, and when she got to Tom's common room, and he demanded she sit next to him, she didn't even object.

"Anna," Tom's voice rung though the library and Anna's hard thumped a little harder, as it always did when he used that voice. The horrors ran through her mind of him finding the paper, and demanding answers. Those horrors would lead to torture, or worse, her death.

"Yes, Tom?" She called back, hiding among the shelves.

"Come here, there are things we need to discuss." He responded. She grumbled a bit before heading back to their table, where Tom had put away his journal and his books. He seemed to be staring off into space, thinking hard about something.

She sat back down and leaning back in the chair, waiting for him to say something.

"I'm going away for Winter break; there are a few places I need to visit." Tom said to her, turning his gaze on her. Anna suppressed the glee that was rising in her stomach.

"When?" Anna instantly asked. Anna winced at her eager tone but if Tom had thought something was off, he didn't let on.

"The first day of break, I'll be gone for about 3 days." He answered her.

"Oh really, where?" She asked, trying so sound interested and prying, as though she cared, though not as eager as she was before. It was the right technique because he glared at her and snapped back.

"None of your concern. All I need is for you to stay here and continue our studies; I'll need them in the next couple weeks." Tom bit back at her.

"You mean you're going to start making them, aren't you." Anna accused but Tom just ignored her.

"You can stay in the heads dorm, since Emily will be away." Tom commented lightly before grabbing his bag.

"Excuse me," Anna shot up, blocking his way. "I have my own room, and my own bed that I'm perfectly capable of staying in."

"I'm not letting those books out of my room," Tom glared down at her.

"I can go back and forth." Anna said stubbornly.

"Anna, stop being ridiculous, it's not a big deal. I won't be there." Tom rolled his eyes at her, and stepped around her. Anna couldn't find any other reason and before she could open her mouth again, Tom had left.

Anna perked up and pulled her own bag onto her shoulders. The plan was all set, Tom had just given her the last piece. He would leave, and she would play good little servant and when he was gone, Anna would travel to the apparition spot outside of Hogsmeade. She would apperate just outside of Little Hangleton and travel into the village and find the wizard.

Now that Tom was leaving, there was nothing that could go wrong. She would be back before he was, and he would never know she was gone, and if he did somehow know or find out, then Anna would make an excuse.

If he found out, he would kill her. He would kill a Weasley and a potter. He would start killing the ancestors of everyone she cared about one by one. Not because he had to, but because he knew it would hurt her.

The threat of Tom's wrath weighed down on her, she had seen what his anger and determination could do. It could kill all her friends, it could kill Benjamin, and torture her.

It had to be worth it.`

Anna sat on Tom's bed she watched him pack. He didn't pack much, just enough clothes for three days and a book. Anna hadn't really tried to engage him in conversation, but his almost giddy mood made him talkative.

"I'll be back in three days. I'm traveling for some meetings and then visiting someone, and then I'll be back." He told her as he finished tying up his pack.

"Who are you visiting?" Anna asked, a bit curious.

"Don't be nosy," He warned her. He laid back down on the bed, and took a deep breath, sinking into the mattress. It was hard to remember who he was when he acted so…human.

"What are you looking at?" He grumbled, even though his eyes were closed.

"Nothing," She lied, though she kept looking at him.

"I can feel you staring."

"You act incredibly normal for someone so…" Anna trailed off, looking down at the bed. Flashes of his future self rushed in her mind, and she had to hold her tongue to keep from growing in anger. He looked at her with an unreadable expression and she looked away, back at her hands.

"You'll stay here while I'm gone," his voice had gone unnaturally soft. "You'll be okay." She looked up to see a pained expression layed out on his face.

Guilt?

Couldn't be.

Anna looked down again, warmth spreading through her face and settled in her chest. Her eyes flew open when she felt his hands on her cheeks. She froze while he looked her in the eyes, and her heart beat sped as he came closer.

He softly kissed her forehead, before smoothing down her hair and gathering himself back up. He unhanded her and grabbed his bag, walking out of the room. Anna sat there in shock, long after she heard the portrait door slam close.

She didn't notice the tears running down her cheeks until they dripped on her arms and legs.

Anna grabbed her cloak and the little scrap of paper and headed out of the dorms room. Anna quietly walked through the halls, though the effort wasn't needed. Everyone had gone home for winter, except of course Tom's associates.

They had been annoying her all day, watching her do her studies and Tom work, never letting her out of their sight. She suspected that Tom had ordered them to watch over her, to make sure she wasn't trying to sabotage anything.

Though she had easily taken care of them, with a sleeping drought she put into their drinks. They were both fast asleep right now and wouldn't bother her.

Anna jogged down the stars by the DADA classroom and slipped through the passage from beneath the one-eyed witch statue. The followed the passage until she was able to sneak into Honeydukes. The store was dark, and Anna quietly slipped out and into the cold wind.

Anna closed her eyes and everything went black. She repeated the address in her head and she shuddered at the darkness as she was pressed in all directions. Apparition didn't hurt anymore like it did when she first did it but it was still uncomfortable.

She landed in the snow and she opened her eyes to see a small village, covered in night and snow. Anna sighed softly and trudged through the snow onto a road, towards the town to find an Inn. She wasn't going to be able to talk to Professor Edwards this late at night.

She walked through the village until she came to a small pub, The Hanged Man. She walked in, and was instantly surrounded by warmth. She could still feel the cold on her cheeks but she was grateful for the change in temperature. She walked up to the bartender, who was cleaning glasses.

"Do you happen to know where I can find an Inn in this village?" She asked. The man looked at her curiously, looking at her up and down. She had worn her old muggle clothes and her cloak, and she knew she looked strange.

"Uh, yeah. There's one above here. You need a room?" He asked her, choosing to ignore her outfit. She nodded and handed him some money. She pocketed the money and led her upstairs to where there was a hallway with 4 different rooms.

"Here you go, you can stay here." He said, unlocking the door. Anna thanked him and walked into the room. Anna didn't have any luggage or anything, so she just put her cloak on the chair and laid on the bed. It didn't take long for sleep to take her.

Anna traveled to the village, following true sheet of paper. The address for the man that could help her was vague, just giving a street name and a number. Anna followed the houses and went until she came to end.

At the end of the street was the address Dumbledore had written, though the house looked deserted. Anna almost didn't knock, for a second she was in horror that her only lead was a dead one.

But in the end she braved herself up and went up to door and knocked. To her surprise she could hear shuffling and muffled voices from behind the door, and a pair of eyes peeking out at her from behind the window confirmed that someone was home.

"Mr. Edwards, please let me in. Albus Dumbledore sent me, please sir." Anna begged from the door. She could hear a sigh from behind the door, before it creaked open.

Anna slipped into the house and found it was just as dark and dingy on the inside as the weather on the outside.

A man stood in front of her, and he tapped his foot, impatient with her.

"Who are you?" He demanded angrily. "What do you want from me?"

"Please sir, Albus sent me. Albus Dumbledore. I come from the future and I need to find a way home." Anna begged him. The man's face turned confused before anger settled over his expression.

"Is this a joke?" He asked her angrily. "A joke on the crazy old wizard that believes in time travel? I didn't know Albus to be so cruel."

"No, no! Let's explain, please." She asked of him. Mr. Edwards hesitated before nodding and sitting down at the dirty table in the middle of the room.

"I do come from the future, and I do need help getting home. Albus doesn't want to mess with time, and the only other person who knows refuses to help me." Anna explained, and then told him her story. He listened thoughtfully, nodding and to her pleasure, taking notes.

After she was done, he started at her and she him.

"If what you say is true," he started

"It is." Anna quietly interrupted him. He nodded absentmindedly, as he tapped his pen lightly on his chin.

"In your case, I've never heard or read any documents that could account for your situation. You say the room of requirements got you here?" Mr. Edwards asked curiously

"Yes, I was running away from... Well someone and the room just appeared and when I stepped in, I fell into darkness." Anna shuddered at the feeling; she pulled her cloak closer to her, for she couldn't shake the shiver.

"What did the darkness feel like?" He asked.

"Like blackness. It was cold and consuming. I felt like I was dying." Anna confessed. "I didn't know what was happening, so it was almost worse."

"Have you felt that same darkness since you came here?" He asked her, leaning forwards.

Anna thought back and immediately her mind went to Tom. Everyone she was with him, or near him, chill ran up her spine. A chill that reminded her very much of the cold, consuming darkness.

She had never noticed, had just thought it was because of what he had done, she had thought she was afraid

"Yes," Anna whispered, looking back up at him. "Yes I have."

"Always around the same person?" He asked.

"Yes," Anna said eagerly. "I don't know why I hadn't thought about it before. I thought it was fear."

"I know exactly how you got here my dear, and I'm afraid It will not be easy to go back home." He said gravely.

"Please explain sir." Anna begged.

"The room of requirements isn't meant to travel through time, it's meant to give the person exactly what they're looking for, though sometimes it gets confused."

"The room saw your situation, and if I may be so bold, I'm guessing whoever you were running from is the same person you feel the darkness around, am I correct?"

"Yes, yes." Anna urged him to go on.

"Then yes, the room saw the two of you and assessed not only what you needed but what he needed. Promptly sending you back here to meet him in a new light, maybe a better, maybe a worse light, but new none the less. In a way the room was protecting you, though it doomed you all the same."

"What I think you are with this man is a twin flame. They are very, very rare but it can happen."

"What is it though?" Anna asked.

"The only thing I can tell you are from the myths I've read, I've always believed but never have seen this. You and this person's magic is connected. You may have noticed your magic being stronger or being better at school. It's because you're close to your twin flame."

"How do I sever the connection?" Anna asked.

"You can't, you were born with it. We don't know how or why it happens but it does. You were destined to come here; it was no mistake."

"How is that possible?" Anna whispered.

"How is anything possible? How can we do magic and control the elements? We just can; things just happen sometimes, and we have to deal with them."

"Can you get me home though?" Anna asked.

"Fifty years is longer than anyone has traveled, the most was 48 hours. So no, I cannot help you, I'm so sorry."

"So I'm stuck here? For the rest of my life?" Anna cried, burying her head into her hands. Despair washed over her in waves.

"I will keep searching of course, and I'll consult some people" he said awkwardly. "I will keep in touch if course."

Anna nodded miserably before gathering herself up.

"Thank you for your time," she said. "I'll write you soon."

With that she left the shabby little house and traveled back into the dark and gloomy town. People look oddly at her as she passed but she could care less.

She had to get back to Hogwarts, as Tom would be returning Tonight, and if she wasn't there studying like he had told her to, there would be questions that she just couldn't answer.

As soon as she thought his name, a shiver ran down her spine. Anna shuddered and spun around widely, before her eyes settled on Tom, who was standing on the road, looking angry as hell.

Anna stared at him for a moment before bolting. She was sure when she thought back; she would regret running but now she chose to ignore this voice. Anna knew there was no point in running away from him, there was nowhere to go.

She ran harder, as she felt his presence behind her, and before she could do anything, an arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her down.

She screamed as she fell, and tried to fight him off. He growled as she got his cheek, scratching it. He pinned her arms down and straddled her. Anna glared up at him before opening her mouth, prepared to scream.

"For god's sake, would you shut up?" Tom hissed, covering her mouth with his hand.

"Let me go," Anna mumbled from behind his hand.

"Will you behave and answer my questions?" Tom asked her calmly. "You can do this which is the easy way, or we can do this the hard way."

"Fine," she snapped. "Just let me go." He let her off the ground and she moved away from him, shaking the dirt off her cloak.

"Why are you here?" He asked her suspiciously.

"I was running an errand for professor Dumbledore." Anna lied.

"What kind of errand?" He asked. "And why didn't you tell me?"

"To deliver a message to a friend of his. He would have sent a house elf to do it but they were all busy the feast for tonight. And, he told me to tell no one. I don't even know what the note said; he made it so I couldn't read it."

"Who to?" Tom asked.

"Just a wizard, I don't even know his name. He told me to just slip the letter under the door. Then I heard him apperate away." Anna lied.

"Why did you run from me?" Tom demanded.

"I thought you'd be angry that I lied to you. But Dumbledore made me swear not to tell anyone."

Tom seemed to accept his answer, and as he brushed his hair out of his hands, she noticed a ring on his finger. The same ring Professor had been wearing when his hand was blackened.

"What did you do Tom?" Anna asked quietly. "Where did you get that?" He snapped out of it and glared back down at her.

"Never you mind. We have to get back to castle. I have some things that need to be kept safe." He muttered, seeming to forget all about her.

He apperated them back to Hogsmeade and Anna quietly walked next to him, waiting. She didn't know if he was just distracted or if he was waiting for her to let down her guard so he could attack.

He seemed to just be distracted though, a hard look had settled over his face and he wasn't paying her the least bit of mind. He didn't say anything to her as she slipped away from him, and back towards the castle.