The streets of London were busier than usual, most likely due to it being summer break for students. Children ran in the streets while teens smoked around hidden corners. She watched them with keen interest, and a tad bit of envy. What she would give to be anyone else right now.

"Come along," Tom chided, curious to what was so interesting about a group of muggles drinking out of a flask. Their laughter rang in his ears but he ignored it, like she should.

Delilah wondered how different her life would be if she was a muggle. The bliss in the ignorance almost seemed intoxicating. Not in the forties of course, but in her own time. Going to a normal school, normal classes, normal everything. However, picturing a life without magic just seemed... empty. Despite all the chaos it also caused.

They turned down a familiar street, Delilah only recognizing it when they came upon the memorial. There were even more names added, more pictures, more letters from loved ones. Tom stole her attention away when he began to peel at the pictures, pulling up a few layers. "Hey, what are you-"

It was a worn picture of a pilot he stopped at. Standing up on her toes to peak over his shoulder, Delilah squinted her eyes to read the name.

Aaron Cloverfield.

"So that's who," Delilah muttered, staring at the young pilot. He was quite handsome, a pity he went so soon. She was going to ask Tom why he mentioned him in his graduation speech, but there was an odd expression on his face so she left the topic alone. He looked conflicted, nearly uncomfortable, as he tore his gaze away.

"This way," Aleksander urged them along, also peering at the picture but saw no immediate importance. Delilah knew exactly where they were going, but it kept it to herself as they neared one of the entrances to the ministry. "It's just around this corner-" he stopped short and threw out his arm, blocking Tom from moving any further and causing Delilah to run into his back.

"Ow," she grumbled, rubbing at the new sore spot on the bridge of her nose. Aleksander shushed her with a finger to his lips and and she felt like smacking him.

There were muffled voices, maybe about five in total. Having casual conversation from the likes of what they could hear. Tom looked down at Aleksander's arm that was still blocking him and lightly slapped it away. The childish act nearly made Delilah laugh but she bit her tongue.

After a few minutes, conversation ceased and Aleksander slowly stepped forward, looking left and right before gesturing for them to follow. The cobblestone beneath her feet was still slick due to the previous nights rain, nearly causing the traction on the bottom of her shoes to give way. Rounding the corner completely, she was met with a red telephone booth.

"This is an entrance?" Tom asked, raising his wand as he ran a series of spells over it. Aleksander nodded, glaring at him half heartedly. Must he always doubt him? "Yes it is, it's muggle protected just in case a straggler finds themself back here."

Delilah took a step towards it and lifted an arm to open the door when Tom reached out his own hand to stop her. "Careful," he warned.

Rolling her eyes, she tugged on the handle and it squealed on it's hinges. "Calm down, it's just a phone booth not a bomb." His jaw ticked at her attitude but nonetheless he pulled back, though the smug smile she gave him wasn't appreciated.

"Ah," her nose scrunched up and she held a hand to her mouth, peaking her head back out to get a breath of fresh air. "It smells like shit and piss in here," Delilah gagged out. Tom bit his cheek to resist a smile and Aleksander merely chuckled.

Shaking her head, she took a deep breath before turning back around. The boys watched as she poked and prodded at what appeared to be random things inside. Her wand wasn't being of much use so she pocketed it and in a last ditch effort, she poked at the rotary dial with her finger.

Gotcha.

Spinning on her heel, Delilah walked towards them only for them to take a quick step back. "What?" Looking at them both, the boys shared a knowing glance and she furrowed her brows. She didn't like to see them getting along, even if it was for a second, it was weird. "What?" She asked again, not liking being out of the loop either.

"Sorry to tell you this love, but, you now also smell like piss and shit." Aleksander couldn't help but laugh lightly again and she groaned, quickly fishing out her wand to clean herself. Tom simply appeared amused and she decided not to chastise him for it. At least not at this moment.

"Anyway, we need a code. That's how we get in, a code for the rotary dial."

Aleksander nodded his head once, "I'll get into contact with my brother, you head back to the others."

"And how are you going to do that?" Tom asked, causing both Delilah and Aleksander to halt in their steps. The latter of which raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"This is happening tomorrow, I don't want you sending a letter. Do it face to face." Tom paused after a moment and clicked his tongue. "Better yet bring your brother to the Inn tonight, six o'clock. I want to meet him."

The sudden tension between the boys was obvious. Delilah watched as they shot daggers at one another, though she couldn't help but admit Tom had a point. Aleksander hasn't told them much about his brother, they has a right to meet him if he was going to help with such a task. She just wished Tom wasn't so dramatic about it.

"What did you say his name was again?"

Aleksander bit the inside of his cheek and sighed, "I didn't." An ingenious smile breached Tom's lips, tugging more at one side to give it a smug undertone. "Right, do enlighten me."

"Nikolai."

"Splendid, I look forward to meeting him." Tom turned on his heel and began to walk towards Delilah, who had been watching the whole exchange half way down the alley. "Really?" She asked, and he simply raised his eyebrows in faux innocence.

"You could be nicer to him, he didn't have to help us."

Tom hummed slightly as they walked down the street, his stomach tugging slightly when she looped her arm through his. "That's the thing, why is he helping in the first place."

Delilah knew why, but she didn't feel it was her place to tell him. She shrugged slightly, "out of the goodness of his heart?" A deep chuckle left his lips and she looked up at him with a brow raised, though she had to admit she rather liked the sound. "What?"

"I know Eques, he doesn't do anything unless it's for his benefit."

Rolling her eyes, Delilah pulled her arm away from his and walked ahead. "That sounds familiar," she muttered.

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"Hey," was followed by a light tap on the door and Delilah turned in her seat. Elio was leaning in the doorway, hands in his pockets and offering her a soft smile. "Want to grab lunch?"

She scrunched her nose, "not here, can we go to a cafe?" He laughed lightly at her expression and nodded his head, "of course." Watching her as she ran around the room to get her things, his smile slowly fell as he realized that was it. That moment will be one of the last they have together, or one of the last he'll just be sitting there, observing her. He did it often.

She never noticed.

_________________________________

"Should we bring something back for the rest? I don't think they like the Inn's food too much either." Delilah pondered as they finished their food. Elio shrugged, "they've never complained."

Scoffing slightly, she flagged down the waiter and shook her head. "Clearly you've learned how to tune out Olive."

"It's a skill of mine."

"Really? You'll have to teach it to me sometime."

A sudden stillness fell over them like a heavy blanket. Their eyes met and a sad smile tugged at her lips. She didn't know if it was the lighting or just her emotions messing with her, but his eyes had gone a bit glossy. Sighing through her nose, Delilah laid her hand out on the table, palm up and expectant. Elio's eyes pulled away from hers, looking at her pale skin before resting his warm hand in her cold one.

Biting at his lip, he closed his eyes as he clasped his fingers, running his thumb along her knuckles.

"I hate this," he admitted.

"Me too," her voice was barely above a whisper as she looked at him. He was hurting and it was her fault. Then again, wasn't it always? Every time Elio was beaten down it usually had something to do with her.

The waiter came by and she quickly ordered something for take out. A few moments later she sniffed and squeezed his hand, willing him to look at her. When his pale green eyes glanced upwards she felt her heart tug painfully.

Why couldn't she love him properly?

"You're gonna be alright. I'll be gone, but not really." Her chest was constricting and it felt like she couldn't breathe. Elio furrowed his brows, "what do you mean?" Shrugging slightly, her eyes wandered towards the window, at 1940s muggle London, such a strange yet familiar place.

"The ones who love us never really leave. They're always there. Whether it's by thought or in the heart."

"But it's not you," he gripped her hand for a moment before letting go. The waiter brought them their food for the group and reluctantly Delilah stood up.

As they walked down the streets, she longed to say something to make it better. What was there even left to say? Could anything even make it better? She felt hopeless and she hated it.

"Del listen, I-"

His voice was cut off by the sound of sirens. Fear and panic gripped at every nerve as she slowly craned her neck back. "Please no," she gasped out, blindly trying to grab at Elio's arm since she couldn't pull her eyes away from the approaching planes.

"Oh god."

Elio's voice sounded different. If she didn't already know who was standing next to her, she would've thought it was a stranger. After a moment Delilah quickly realized the cause; he was afraid.

The deadly whistle rung in her ears, the familiarity of it unsettling. "Shelter." Her words were muddled as she spun in circles, looking for some place to go when a person slammed into her shoulder, sending her to the ground.

Elio called out her name as others seemed to run over her. She knew she'd have bruises, but at the moment a stampede was the least of her problems. Elio helped her up, though he too was getting slightly knocked off balance.

After she got her footing, she realized everyone was running towards the same place. "It must be a bomb shelter, c'mon." They dropped the food and looped arms, in hope of not losing each other in the crowd. Where she got stepped on ached, but Delilah continued to remind herself she's gone through worse and pushed on.

When the first bomb dropped, screams and curses rang out from everyone at once, amplifying everything. Elio felt overwhelmed, too much was happening at once. Sounds were so loud and the ground shook beneath his feet, but he couldn't do anything as the crowd pushed him along.

Eventually they reached a crevice and started to descend down old stairs, the air getting colder and damper. There were already so many people inside, of all ages and backgrounds, though equally frightened.

Delilah stared at all the glowing eyes. The room was dark, the only light source from a single light bulb and whatever sunlight was able to get through down the staircase. She thanked Merlin she wasn't claustrophobic as they got pushed into a mosh of people, more and more piling in.

Another bomb fell, this time closer and the room shook slightly. As the light flickered people screamed and she squeezed her eyes shut. Delilah flinched when she felt someone's arms wrap around her but realized it was Elio when he rested his chin atop her head. "We're alright," he said loud enough for her to hear and she mutely nodded her head.

This raid wasn't nearly as bad as last time, but flashes of the event were going off like mad inside her head. It was so much louder and so much closer. Glass shattered and wood splintering. The mother and her fallen child.

It was a much more intimate brush with death.

Elio closed his eyes as well when another wave of bombs began to rain down above them, involuntarily holding onto to Delilah tighter. Part of him couldn't help but wonder as the world trembled around them, if they only had five more minutes left, would she be happy to be with him.

Or would she spend her time wishing she was with Tom instead?

It was selfish to think of such a thing, especially during a trying and traumatic time. But he couldn't keep his mind from wandering. Elio didn't mind. No, he didn't want to die. But if he was with her, Delilah in his arms... he could think of worse ways to go.

Eventually the world stopped shaking, though Delilah didn't. Elio might've been too, though she couldn't focus clearly in the dim light. "Are you alright?" Her mouth felt dry and she looked over Elio, trying to detect if he got hurt at all. She couldn't see and couldn't use her wand in a room full of muggles.

Elio pulled her searching hands away, "I'm okay." Apparently she didn't hear him, or didn't believe him, and he pulled her searching hands away. "Really, Del I'm fine. Let's go find the others"

When they got up to the main streets, smoke greeted them and they raised their sleeves to their mouths. Though their eyes started to water. Glass crunched beneath their feet as they made their way down, the crack of fire and delayed miniature explosions echoing in the distance. They pushed away other debris and Delilah tried to distract herself from the chaos around them.

Finally they felt like they could take a breath of fresh air when they got into Diagon Alley. Though it was slightly off putting, always it went untouched by the bombs. The magical world had an advantage, they had proper security against such weapons. The rest of the city however wasn't so lucky. Part of her yearned to do something, if people put their minds to it London could be untouchable if only the wizarding world intervened.

"Delilah!"

She spun around.

Tom was shoving between people in the street, the worry quickly melting from his face as he realized she was still standing and alive.

"Tom, are you okay-" he wrapped her in a hug that knocked the wind out of her. "Oh, hello. We're hugging now." Her brows furrowed but she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him as well, squeezing as hard as she could. She didn't really know what this was about, but the hug was nice.

He pulled back, pushing the hair away from her face, his eyes searching her for any cuts or bruises.

"You alright?" Tom was glad to see her in one piece, still though, with Delilah one could never be too sure. She nodded, a small smile on her lips. He raised a slight eyebrow at her, memories of last time they were in London flashing behind his eyes. She gripped his hand, "it wasn't as bad this time, promise."

Their eyes couldn't pull away from each other and Delilah found herself wanting to kiss him, almost desperately. Tom sighed after a moment, his own gaze drifting to her lips but he knew it wasn't the time or place. Looking behind her, he caught sight of Elio. Who looked equally as shaken.

They boys made eye contact and Elio wasn't quite sure what to expect, but a nod as a silent 'thank you' from Tom definitely wasn't what he had in mind.

Tom didn't do anything more as he placed a hand on Delilah's back and began to lead her to the Inn. Leaning his head down so she could tell him something, Elio watched as Delilah whispered something in his ear before kissing him on the cheek. A barely noticeable flush rose under Tom's skin and Elio pinched the bridge of his nose.

It felt wrong but, for the first time, Elio worried for Tom Riddle. He was going to fall apart when she left.

Pyrrhus came up beside him then, his hands on his hips, "so you didn't get us lunch then?"

"Shove off," Elio chuckled and ruffled his friends hair affectionately. "Shame the bomb didn't hit you," he muttered sarcastically. Pyrrhus rolled his eyes as he patted down his hair, only to ruffle it again himself.

"Please, I'm too beautiful to die."

__________________________________

Nikolai was rather charming, even more so than Aleksander which was saying something. But even then a tall, dark, and handsome man couldn't fully grasp her attention. Delilah sat in the window ledge as the final meeting commenced. Everyone already knew what the plan was from memory, but Tom didn't want to leave anything to chance.

Finding the meeting boring, she'd pulled out parchment but couldn't muster the courage. So instead she just stared at the paper, observing how if one looks long enough, it starts to warp. In hindsight, Delilah was attempting to muster up the courage to write goodbye letters. She knew she had to, it would be wrong if she left without saying anything. True, she could do it in person. But the idea itself was overwhelming.

Who to start with?

Her eyes trailed to everyone in the group. They'd all became a part of her, so much more than she could've ever anticipated. Yes, she'd be getting everyone else back, including her brother. But there was still a cost to pay.

Delilah's gaze shifted to land on Tom.

It almost didn't feel real.

She almost didn't feel real.

These past months went by quicker than she could've ever imagined. At first she longed to go home, she was impatient. Now however, she hated the part of her that wanted to stay. Either way, she lost something.

As she looked at him, discussing plans with Aleksander, she felt like she couldn't breathe as the weight of his fate settled on her. Tom was ruined, and all by his own hand. Delilah wondered if she'd played a part at all in his downfall. If somehow her leaving turned him. She knew she shouldn't pin the blame on herself but she couldn't help it. Though at the same time the thought cemented her choice. If Delilah really did play a part in him becoming a dark lord, that meant she did leave, and time would take its course.

After all, history wasn't kind to men who played god.

"Delilah."

"Hm?" She blinked, everyone was looking at her and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. They all looked so sad. Not at first glance, but in the eyes she could see it plain as day.

"You alright?" Lolita asked and she nodded, avoiding Tom's gaze. Looking down, Delilah saw who she subconsciously chose to write a letter to first. Of course it'd be him.

Dear, Elio

__________________________________

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Delilah asked as she fumbled with a pillow. The fabric was cool and it helped calm her, slightly.

Tom was at the desk, his hair a mess since he'd been tugging at it while he poured over notes. He hadn't moved in almost an hour and she wasn't sure if she should bother him. Like always though, the silence was getting to her. She used to not have a problem with it, but with him it was always so much more intense.

No, he thought. Though for some reason that's not what came out of his mouth. "Yes."

She nodded to herself, "that's good." Delilah squeezed her eyes shut at her stupid reply. This was it, their last night together. Were they supposed to say anything? Do anything?

The silence that settled itself in the room yet again made her skin itch. "If tomorrow doesn't go to plan-"

"It will."

She bit her lip. Delilah couldn't read him and it was stressing her out. Sighing, she fell back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. Unaware Tom had turned his gaze to her. Truth was, he felt panic dig at his sides. His ribs felt like claws that kept tearing at his lungs as well as his heart. It didn't seem real that this was one of their last moments. He wasn't in denial, was he? He kept trying to imagine what it will be like this time tomorrow, her being gone. But his brain wouldn't allow him to.

"So many many people risk so little, but when they do decide to fight, something goes wrong." Her voice snapped him out of it and he furrowed his brows, digging into his pocket for a cigarette. The crave for one hit him like a train. Snapping his fingers, the smoke warmed his mouth as he inhaled. The nicotine was calming, but it wasn't enough. "I'd risk everything to get what I want."

Her mouth went dry and she turned to look at him, meeting his heated gaze. "And what do you want?"

"Everything."

She nodded mutely and sat up, pulling her knees to her chest. Delilah felt like she was on fire as he continued to look at her.

Deep down, did he care? He had to. She didn't know why these doubts kept popping up. They'd both gone through so much for each other, he wouldn't put up with her if he didn't care.

Not hearing him stand up, she flinched when he lightly tapped a finger under her chin. He let out a slow breath, the cigarette hanging between his lips. "I'm not good at this."

Smiling slightly, she took his hand and rested it against her cheek, feeling the roughened skin. "That's okay."

Tugging on his hand, she pulled Tom onto the bed and he simply watched her, wondering what she'd do next. Slowly, she raised a hand and pulled the cigarette from his mouth before setting it down on an ashtray on the night stand. Watching the ash crumble, his breath hitched and his eyes snapped to her when she threw a leg over him and sat on his lap.

"Thank you," her voice was quiet as she buried her head beneath his chin. "Being with you... these past few months have been some of the best. Thank you for that."

Tom shut his eyes and rested his forehead against hers, too much was happening yet it felt like the world was on pause at the same time. He felt like he couldn't process anything like he usually could and it frightened him. Nearly as much as the fear that gripped him earlier during the air raid. When he realized Delilah wasn't in their room and no one else had seen her, he felt like he went mad. Every time he heard a bomb drop, his stomach would sink a little lower in fear she was in one of those unlucky buildings.

"Thank you for exactly the same," he whispered.

They pulled back and looked at each other, eyes darting between lips and each other's gazes. Carefully, he lightly took hold of her chin and bent down to press his lips to hers. Without hesitation, no second thoughts, she pushed lightly back, a kiss seemingly so forbidden that sent heat spiraling down their spines

This was it.

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please VOTE & COMMENT if you enjoyed!!!

Merry (late) Christmas. Or Happy Holidays!!! And yes I apologize for the super long wait. I was going through some stuff but I things are going better now. I was hoping to have this out by Christmas Eve but hey, things don't always go to plan.

Also I saw The Rise of Skywalker and ISNSNMDS IM SO UPSET!!! But then I also saw Little Women today and WOWOWOW that movie was beautiful and ugh.