Lilith sucked a deep breath in as she entered the library once again. It was well past midnight and there were no signs of Filch nearby. Taking every step more careful than her last, she flicked the lock to the Restricted Section. Lilith wandered through the area slowly. Her heart raced every time the floor creaked or an owl screeched outside. The wind rattled the windows as if it were trying to flood into the room and catch Lilith red-handed. She shook her worries away. Moments later the book she'd stolen had been returned to its original home. She let her fingers touch its delicate spine one more time before leaving the section. Her fingertips trembled as she pushed the lock back into its place, and the slightest noise rang throughout the silent library.

"Well, well, who do we have here?"

With those words, Lilith felt the collar of her shirt being yanked up. She was hauled off her toes and she met the angry, squinted eyes of Argus Filch. His eyebrows were deeply furrowed in complete disgust. The girl in his grasp choked out, "I didn't steal anything!"

"Words of a thief," Filch spat back, dragging her along with him. He didn't care much for her well-being - he let her feet bend back on the floor and his scraggy nails scratch the back of her neck. She yelped in pain occasionally when his fingernails dug in just deep enough to leave tiny red marks.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To Professor Dumbledore," Filch told her, distaste haunting his voice. He allowed Lilith to walk on her own feet again, but kept a strong hold on her collar so she wouldn't run. Lilith did consider using a spell against him so she could escape but decided that Dumbledore would find out either way. She sighed. This is gonna be the end of me, she thought.

He chucked her into Dumbledore's office; the old man woke from his slumber on his desk and coughed, stroking a hand through his beard and reapplying his burgundy-purple hat to his head. "What brings you here, Miss Lovell, and- Argus?"

"This one 'ere was roaming around the Restricted Section," Argus Filch replied, nastiness seeping from behind his rotting, yellow teeth.

"Thank you, Argus. You may go now," Dumbledore said, giving the squib a wary glance. He wasn't entirely sure he believed the worst in Lilith. As soon as Filch closed the door behind him, he interrogated her. "Miss Lovell, is this true?"

"Yes, Professor."

"I'm not quite sure I understand," he told her.

Lilith crossed her arms. "That book you gave me of my father's - it was cursed, wasn't it?"

Dumbledore's face became filled with surprise. He looked down at the young girl. "Are you certain?"

"Yes. Draco and I discovered it."

"Please accept my sincerest apology, Miss Lovell," Dumbledore almost begged as he bowed his head at the child. A composed man, he may have been, but something unsettled him in thinking that there was a possibility Lilith could turn against him. She had far too much potential for him to lose, and he was entirely certain that if she lost faith in Hogwarts, she'd lose faith in the right options, too. The dark side was sure to snatch her.

"Professor, I understand that it was not intentional," she smiled back at him. "I didn't realise either."

"Thank you, Miss Lovell. May I ask where the book is now?"

"Draco discarded of it, in the Black Lake."

"What a wise choice," the headmaster commented, nodding slowly as his hand intertwined with his white beard. "Well, Miss Lovell. I do believe I am obliged to ask why you were in the Restricted Section."

"When the book was still having an effect on me," Lilith started, "I was almost taken over by it. I went into the Restricted Section and took out one of the books. I was returning it."

Dumbledore's eyes lifted from his desk to meet hers. Why, one of the most powerful wizards and what would be one of the most powerful witches shared a trusting gaze. Although no further speech was heard quite yet; it was evident some form of alliance, some form of truce was being formed. They both knew it.

"I see, Miss Lovell."

"You believe me?" she asked inquisitively.

"Yes."

Lilith was discharged from Dumbledore's office moments later. Lilith pounced down the stairs, joy overtaking her actions. It had felt like such a long time since someone believed in her. Even Draco, who appeared to be her only friend - if she could call him that - had doubted her.

As she ventured the lengthy hallways, Lilith realised she hadn't had the opportunity to appreciate Hogwarts in itself since becoming a proper student - the ageing stone floors; intricate arches of the tall glass windows, the spiralling patterned roofs. The ground spoke back to her as she journeyed back to the Slytherin common room, her abode.

She did consider going back to her dorm room but decided against it considering Daphne and Millicent would definitely be there. Chances were Pansy had stolen Lilith's space anyway. She shook it off with ease - she was getting used to hearing the gentle song of the fire and the green tinge that lit up the room, accompanying her sleep. Even the Giant Squid sometimes came to watch her. She'd given the creature a few smiles before, and although it couldn't respond, she longed for company. 

She drifted into sleep again, the table in front of her fading from her vision as her lids brought her comfort, but the soft embrace of slumber did not last long. Before she knew it, Lilith was seeing images of a familiar blond boy. He was restless and awake, his body breaking out in a harsh sweat as he became consumed by darkness. Lilith's nightmare did not last long, as she reacted almost instantly - she sat up with such a force that dragged her out of her mind. Her greatest fears had been amplified by sleep.