Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Written for OTP Boot Camp Challenge [Whisper]

And The Popular Song Competition [Taylor Swift – We are never ever getting back together]

And The Greenhouses Competition [Sweet Pea]

And Bookshelf Competition/Challenge [George R.R. Martin – The Song of Ice and Fire]

Decision

The room was absolutely silent.

Harry had turned away from him and had stilled at his words. Tom could see him shaking slightly.

"How could you open the Chamber of Secrets and send the basilisk after students?" Harry's voice was a mere whisper in the room. "What were you trying to do?"

Harry turned around, there was anger in his eyes but there was also hurt. "Were you trying to "cleanse the school" of those of impure blood? Did it not pass your mind of the possibility of me being a muggleborn?"

Tom flinched. "You can't be, not with the amount of magical power-"

"Magical power? You honestly think that your blood judges your power?" Harry asked softly cutting Tom off.

Tom knew Harry was angry, he knew he should not have opened the Chamber of Secrets and released the basilisk but he had simply gotten a bit excited over the prospect of being the Heir of Slytherin without a doubt.

He had forgotten about what the consequences of his actions would be. He had wanted to continue the legacy of his great ancestor and had easily forgotten the details.

Tom took a step towards Harry with his arm outstretched.

"No, don't please," Harry took a step back.

Tom noted with shock that there were tears in Harry's eyes.

"I'm sorry Tom but you are going to have to choose. If you want to continue the way you have and "cleanse" the school, you're going to have to do it without me. I can't allow that," Harry said, his voice was trembling and was thick with his choked sobs.

Tom could clearly see how difficult it was for Harry to do what he was doing, to say what he had.

Tom could not simply give up his blood line and everything he had inherited from it. It meant that he was supposed to be part of the Wizarding World. It was his link, something that told everyone else he was important. His very heritage.

But a traitorous part of his mind questioned him. Could he really give Harry up for power and authority over other Slytherins? Could he give up the only person that cared for him with no regard for his magical power, his authority and blood, who cared for him as he was for power over people who would only use him and betray him at every turn if it benefitted them in some way?

He chose not to think of all that as he watched Harry walk out the door, pain in every line of his body.

It hurt to think that Harry could not accept this part of him. Harry knew he was cruel and had never cared for anyone other than himself yet Harry had tried. He had given Tom more than Tom had given him and now he could not take it anymore.

Tom hated that his stupid decision caused Harry to walk away from him but he could not go back on his decision.

That traitorous part of his mind still whispered, still questioned his decision and whether it had been worth it.