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Y/N sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers tapping nervously against her thigh. It had been a rough day at Hogwarts.
Tom Riddle, her boyfriend, had been distant and on edge ever since he received a letter from home. She knew better than to pry into his family affairs, but the tension in his demeanor was palpable.
As the evening crept in, Y/N heard a soft knock on her door. Opening it, she found Tom standing there, his usually composed expression marred by a haunted look in his eyes.
"Tom, what's wrong?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.
He hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, his shoulders slumped. "It's nothing," he muttered, avoiding her gaze.
Y/N reached out to touch his arm, but he flinched away, a reflex she had grown all too familiar with.
Tom had never been comfortable with physical contact, a result of his tumultuous upbringing with his abusive father, Voldemort.
Ignoring his reaction, Y/N took a step closer. "You can talk to me, Tom. Whatever it is, I'm here for you."
He let out a heavy sigh, finally meeting her eyes. "It's my father. He's been sending me letters, demanding I return home for the holidays."
Y/N's heart sank at the mention of Voldemort. She knew how much Tom despised his father and the memories that haunted him.
"You don't have to go back if you don't want to," she said softly, reaching out to place a comforting hand on his arm.
This time, Tom didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned into her touch, seeking solace in her presence.
"I can't sleep," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Every time I close my eyes, I see him."
Y/N's heart ached for him. She knew the nightmares that plagued him, the echoes of his father's cruelty that lingered in his mind. Without another word, she gently took his hand and led him to the bed.
"Come here," she said, pulling back the covers and guiding him to lie down beside her.
Tom hesitated for a moment before complying, his body tense with apprehension. But as Y/N wrapped her arms around him, he slowly began to relax, the warmth of her touch easing the turmoil in his soul.
For the first time in weeks, Tom felt a sense of peace wash over him. With Y/N by his side, he could let his guard down, if only for a moment.
As exhaustion finally overtook him, he closed his eyes, the weight of his burdens lifting with each steady breath.
But just as he began to drift off to sleep, a sudden panic gripped him, his chest tightening with fear. Instinctively, he reached out for Y/N, his fingers trembling as he clung to her desperately.
Y/N woke with a start, her heart racing at the sight of Tom's distress. "It's okay," she murmured, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him close. "I'm here. You're safe."
Her voice was a soothing melody in the darkness, her touch a lifeline in his storm-tossed sea of memories. Slowly but surely, the panic receded, replaced by a profound sense of calm that only Y/N could provide.
As Tom finally succumbed to sleep, his breathing steady and his mind at peace, Y/N held him close, her heart overflowing with love and gratitude for the fragile soul lying beside her.
In that moment, she knew that no matter what trials they faced, as long as they had each other, they could weather any storm that came their way.