Biting the inside of her thumb, Delilah's foot shook incessantly as she leaned against the far wall in the common room. Her mind reeled at the outrageous 'plan' Dumbledore suggested. Hell, it wasn't even a plan. The man wasn't an idiot, but just walking into the Ministry?

Snapping out of her thoughts, Delilah focused on the large crowd in the common room. It was fairly late and storming outside, though they couldn't really hear it due to them being in the dungeons. All was quiet, except for the crack of the fire, the white noise of the lake, and one girl's heavenly voice.

Lolita was sat on the armrest of Cain's chair, he had an arm wrapped around her waist as she sang St. James Infirmary Blues. Her voice was almost like honey, everyone quiet and watching as her fingers played with her fiancés hair.

Something shifted next to Delilah and she involuntarily flinched at the closeness of Tom. When did he get there? He was leaned against the wall next to her, hands in his pockets and head slightly tilted. His dark eyes seem to glow an almost auburn due to the fire reflecting in the pools. The smell of cigarettes was a bit more prominent, suggesting he just got done with having a smoke.

"Folks, I'm goin' down to St. James Infirmary
See my baby there;
She's stretched out on a long, white table
She's so sweet, so cold, so fair."

Delilah was partly surprised Lolita even knew the song, considering it's muggle. As her eyes danced around the room, the rest seemed unaware of the fact. She wondered if they knew, would they listen? Now that she thought about it, Delilah barely knew anyone in Slytherin, besides her friend group.

No one ever really tried to talk to her, albeit she didn't try to socialize either. Perhaps they saw her as unapproachable? Her friends were considered the more 'popular' and Tom is a bit intimidating, though for some reason he was loved by the whole school.

"Let her go, let her go, god bless her
Wherever she may be
She will search this wide world over
But she'll never find another sweet man like me."

Her eyes then trailed to the boy next to her, he was biting at his cheek again, an indication he was thinking. A thought suddenly occurred to her. Was Tom clever enough to break into the Ministry? And if so, how would he go about doing it? Part of her wanted to ask, and say it was all theoretical of course. The idea seemed so daft, Delilah was sure he would think she was kidding.

"When I die, bury me in my straight-leg britches
Put on a box-back coat and a Stetson hat
Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain
So you can let all the boys know I died standing pat."

Come to think of it, why couldn't Dumbledore just go get the time-turner himself? Surely he had connections, he was Albus Dumbledore for fucks sake. He couldn't just walk in, she knew that, the Ministry was already hesitant with him considering his relations with Grindelwald.

Delilah huffed slightly at the thought, but still, surely he had to know someone who could go get it. Why send a teen girl? If Delilah got caught, that'd be the end. She had no records in this timeline, she doesn't exist. And Merlin knows what the Ministry would do to her.

"An' give me six crap shooting pallbearers
Let a chorus girl sing me a song
Put a red hot jazz band at the top of my head
So we can raise Hallelujah as we go along."

A soft breath suddenly fanned her cheek, it was warm and made her spine give a slight tingle. Tom had leaned over, his gaze still trained on Lolita, but his words aimed at Delilah. "Why would he be singing to his dead girlfriend?" Lolita's voice was mesmerizing, but Tom's slightly rasped voice completely invaded Delilah's mind.

"She's not actually dead, she's just dead to him." Delilah whispered back, turning her head to face him. Neither of them paid much thought to lack of distance between their bodies. Their noses were nearly touching. At the blank look on his face, she sighed a bit. A waft of peppermint and the smell of dust after rain hit him and he shifted a bit on his feet, absentmindedly leaning a bit more towards her. "Their love is dead, and in a way, it's killed him too." She was met with an eyebrow raised and she chuckled, "you're hopeless, Riddle."

"Folks, now that you have heard my story
Say, boy, hand me another shot of that booze;
If anyone should ask you
You just tell 'em I've got those St. James Infirmary blues"

As soon as Lolita finished, the room rang out with applause and whistles, effectively severing whatever bubble Tom and Delilah had created around themselves.

The urge to call out to him bubbled in her chest as she watched him walk away towards Pyrrhus, she wanted to ask him about the Ministry. But perhaps it was for the best she missed her opportunity.

________________________________________

Delilah was about to turn down an isle in the library when someone grabbed hold of her elbow, whirling her around into some corner. "Hey," she blinked and barely registered the two people in front of her. "What?" She said dumbly, yanking her arm out of Xan's hold.

He shared a glance with Katerina before settling his steely eyes on the blonde. "Why are you still hanging around with that lot? With him?" His voice was filled with disdain and she raised a brow, but with one look at Katerina, she paled.

Shaking her head, Delilah crossed her arms and cleared her throat. "That was never confirmed."

"Never confirmed?" Katerina hissed slightly, trying to keep her voice down. She was looking at Delilah as if she had two heads. "Did you not see my back? Did you not see Xan's?"

"Look, anyone-"

"No, not anyone. Not just anyone is capable of fucking branding someone, Pontmercy. We heard them, clear as day, and you continue to deny the blatant truth." Xan poked her harshly in the shoulder and she collided with the bookshelf behind her. "Why defend them?"

"I'm not defending them!" A few students sent glares their way and Delilah clenched her jaw and rubbed at her eyes, a headache was starting to form in the back of her skull. "I'm just saying, you've no proof-"

"Proof? Are you joking? Would you like to see the words carved into my back, or have you forgotten?" Katerina stared at her incredulously. Delilah was a kind girl, but utterly blind to the facts surrounding her. Just then the library door opened and Xan peered around the corner, a sudden fire to his eyes.

"What has he ever done for you to earn your defense, hm?"

Delilah followed where he was looking and spotted Tom speaking to the librarian. Shutting her eyes tightly again, she shook her head and looked back at Xan, not having the faintest clue what to say. She didn't want to answer that question, because she knew the answer. Tom's done nothing to earn her sticking up for him.

"Go on and ask him," Katerina waved her hand but Delilah shook her head again. "I already did."

"And let me guess, he denied it? Well then, ask him about this," she leaned in towards Delilah, her breath sending nervous shivers down her spine. "Ask him who the Knights of Walpurgis are. I dare you. Ask any one of those boys you call your friends. See how they try to scramble for an excuse, then."

And with that, Xan grabbed Katerina's hand and they left Delilah standing there, completely aghast with the sudden shift in the air.

Delilah lost control of her shaking legs and slumped to the floor, burying her head in her knees, trying to steady her breath.

They couldn't have done this. They couldn't.

Because if they did, she'd kill them.

With a groan she threw her head back, the hit sending a book toppling, knocking her on the head. "Shit," she gasped out and a fifth year Gryffindor glared at her. "Could you be any louder?" The boy said, staring down his nose at Delilah in disgust. "Fuck off," she wasn't in the mood, so to prove her point even further, she flipped him off.

"Oh, very classy."

"Hey you little twat, listen-"

"Pontmercy."

Delilah whirled around at the sound of Tom's voice. He stood with a book held under one arm and a hand in his pocket, looking at her as if she was five. She paled slightly at the sight of him. Running her eyes over Tom's form, she really did wonder what all he was capable of.

_________________________________________

Tapping her foot, the desk kept thudding every few seconds. Earning annoyed glances from not only her classmates but her professor. Delilah had also been gnawing on her lips so much she ended up making them bleed.

Her eyes were stuck on the back of a platinum blonde haired boy. Whom had turned around a few times, feeling her obvious gaze burning the back of his skull.

After the fifth time turning around, Abraxas eventually whirled around with two eyebrows raised, "what?" Delilah gestured for him to come closer with a wave of her hand, and begrudgingly, he did just that.

Leaning on her desk with one arm, he lowered his face to be near hers. "Do you know Xan and Katerina? The two Ravenclaws?" Abraxas raised a brow and shrugged.

Setting her jaw, Delilah honestly wasn't even sure she wanted to ask. Confronting Tom was one thing, he's nearly thrown her off a tower. But Abraxas?

"Did you do that to them?" Her voice was a whisper and she spoke slowly, but only earned a blink from the boy. "Do what?"

Groaning, Delilah slumped forward and hit her forehead against the desk a few times. "Easy there," Abraxas muttered, rushing his hand to block her from doing it again. Sighing, Delilah rested her cheek against the cold wood and peered up at him.

"Are you a part of the Knights of Walpurgis?"

Abraxas stiffened and his knuckles turned white due to his tight grip on the back of her chair. How the fuck did she know that name? He didn't let his expression waver, he couldn't, Tom would kill him if he let anything slip. Did this mean Delilah knew what happened that night? That dreaded night with Xan and Katerina? Why else would she be asking?

Panic bubbled in his chest, Aurora would hate him if she knew. Probably never talk to him again, would Delilah tell her? No. He couldn't have that. That would be worse than being murdered by Tom.

"I beg your pardon?" Abraxas tilted his head to the side in feigned confusion, rolling his shoulders slightly because his muscles had gone taut. "They said they heard you, and the markings-" her sentence was cut off when Abraxas took hold of her arm and lightly tugged her up. He led her to a corner in the charms room, looking around for a moment to make sure there were no prying eyes.

"Del, I don't know what to tell you, honestly." He made a point to look her directly in the eye, he couldn't give away any signs of guilt. Even though it was currently eating away at his gut. Delilah bit the inside of her thumb, taking in his gray eyes and the rest of his features. She didn't want to believe he did it. She really didn't. But why on earth would Xan and Katerina lie about something like this.

"But if the group or society or whatever it is,  is marking people, I need you to be careful, alright? I know you can handle yourself, but nonetheless. I'll talk to Aurora, too." Every word spoken felt like a dagger twisting inside Abraxas. And at that moment he hated Tom. He hated him for luring Abraxas into his little group with big aspirations. He hated him for making Abraxas feel like he has to do these awful things.

But really, Abraxas hated himself.

He could've said no at the beginning, before anything ever happened. But he was too deep in Tom's plans now, they all were. And his current predicament was no one's fault but his own.

Delilah buried her face in her hands and let out a long breath. "I know, I'm sorry. I knew you had nothing to do with it, I just... sorry." She gave him a soft smile and Abraxas tried his best to return it. "No need to apologize, you wanted to know, I can't blame you for that. But again, be cautious who you talk to."

She should be cautious of him.

"If Professor Ellis asks, I'm in the bathroom." Abraxas felt like he was about to explode and he turned on his heel the moment Delilah nodded. As soon as he was out the classroom door, he took off in a sprint. He was planning on going to the bathroom, but he was on the verge of falling off a knife.

Turning into a cut off which was covered by thick drapery, Abraxas stumbled through the fabric and could feel his chest rising and falling, straining against the fabric of his robes. Merlin what did he get himself into? Lying to Delilah like that, it made his brain feel dizzy. It's not like he hasn't lied before, but this was something else entirely. And what if he had to lie to Aurora? Hell, he already was. The shame of that felt like it was burning him alive.

With his brain moving a mile a minute, Abraxas didn't even register how he raised a fist and slammed it into the wall. There was a dull crack of pain that shot up his arm and he hissed, "fuck." Looking down at his now split knuckles and trembling hand, he sighed through his nose and clenched his jaw.

If he was being honest with himself, he deserved far worse than a broken hand for what he did to Xan's back. Leaning against the wall, he made himself focus on the pain as much as he could for a few moments, making sure it burned, before quickly healing it. Righting his robes, Abraxas sniffed as he ran a hand through his hair. He had to get back to class.

_________________________________________

"There he is, go." Olive gave her shoulder a shove but Delilah shook her head. "No I'm not ready yet." The brunette rolled her eyes and shoved her more harshly, making her stumble a bit and earning a few glances from the other students in the common room. "Go. Now."

"Fine, mum."

Olive gave her a satiric smile and flipped her off before giving Delilah a pointed look. With a sigh, she rolled her shoulders and made her way over to a certain pale green eyed boy sitting near the fireplace. Absentmindedly, she reached a hand up and fumbled with the necklace he gave her. Would he want it back?

She didn't know why, but she felt like it was a part of her, the cool metal felt natural against her skin. So, just before she reached him, she tucked the necklace under her shirt.

Clearing her throat, Delilah shifted on her feet for a second, "Elio?"

His head shot up from his book, his eyes wide for a second before a small smile reached his lips. That definitely threw her off, but it made her relax a bit. At least he wasn't angry.

"Hi."

His voice brought a strange sense of comfort over her like a blanket and she mustered up her own lopsided smile. "Can I sit?" Delilah gestured to the spot next to him and he nodded, closing his book to give her his full attention.

"How are you, I know we haven't really had a chance to speak since we got back," choosing her wording carefully felt vital. "I'm good, yeah. Mainly I've been studying for finals. I never got to ask you about how you were after the whole... air raid thing."

Elio felt his chest contract as he looked at her, she always looked so beautiful in the firelight. And part of him didn't really want to ask about the air raid. He felt selfish for thinking it, but he felt he should've been the one with her. Not Tom.

But of course he was with her when she needed someone. It was always Tom. And it pained Elio to realize it would never be him.

"Oh I'm okay, mostly." Delilah bit at her thumb. Something about Elio was off, he was usually a decently opened person, but something seemed to shut off. The air around him felt heavy, a complete contrast to the typical lightness of him.

"So, I've um, been invited to that trip you're all taking over the summer." The environment around them felt awkward and she loathed it, Elio was usually so easy to deal with. "Is that okay?"

He raised a brow and picked at the book he was holding, running a finger down the worn spine. "What do you mean?" His heart had picked up its pace at an annoyingly quick rate. He didn't know if he could survive a summer with her in France. Delilah already drove him insane, but a summer in France? Merlin, he'd be even more of a goner.

"I mean... are you're okay with that? If you don't want me to come I completely understand."

"Well why wouldn't I want you to come?"

Delilah felt like tearing her hair out right about then.

He looked at her for a long moment, watching the way her mess of golden hair shifted as she moved and the way her nose always did that small twitch that reminded him of a bunny, it was adorable. Elio still loved her, and he enjoyed the time he spent with her. And he'd enjoy France with her no doubt, even though it would hurt knowing she was no longer his.

Then again, she never really was.

Running a hand through her hair, Delilah shook her head and stood up. "Never mind, just thought I should ask."

_______________________________________

The next evening, Olive had rested her feet in Pyrrhus' lap, lazily flipping through her transfigurations text book, the words mushing together incomprehensibly in her head. There was muffled arguing coming from across the main study section of the library, though she didn't pay it much mind.

Pyrrhus however, had his head tilted as he watched the two, throwing a few Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans into his mouth. "How do you eat those?" Olive huffed, her lips tugged down in disdain. He shook the box at her, popping another bean into his mouth, thankfully this one was cinnamon. "It's a surprise in every bite, I like to be kept on my toes." Pyrrhus shot Olive a wink and she rolled her eyes before trying to have a crack at studying again.

Turning his head, he continued to watch Delilah and Tom bicker. It's been going on for about ten minutes, probably arguing over their potions essay they were assigned. They always seem to be at each other's throats. He didn't pull his eyes away from them, but leaned over towards Olive to whisper, "they're quite an interesting match, no?"

Looking at them over her book, Olive worried at her lips as she analyzed how they acted towards each other.

She knew how painful it was to love Tom, or at least think she was in love him with him. But Delilah was different, Tom actually gave her his undivided attention. But perhaps that was worse, Olive knew the dangerous things he was into, things no eighteen year old should even know about. But was Delilah aware of his nasty habits? Or did she just choose to remain blind to the facts swarming around her like incessant bee's.

Ignorance was blissful, she mused.

Pyrrhus messed with the lace hem of Olive's socks and she felt goosebumps rise on the back of her neck as his fingers tickled her skin. "Have you ever heard of Folie à Deux?" she asked.

A pang of worry drove into his own stomach as he looked back at Delilah. There was a blush in her pale cheeks, which seemed a bit more sunken in than usual. His gaze shifted to Tom, who's dark eyes were alight with something Pyrrhus had only seen once before, the night of the Yule Ball when he watched them dance together. Sighing through his nose, he turned back to Olive and began to fumble with the laces on her shoes.

"A bond that exists between two people who bring out the worst in each other."

They both turned just in time to see Delilah wack Tom on the arm with a text book. If it were anyone else, he would undoubtedly want to hex them, but would take away house points and give a detention slip. But Tom simply glared halfheartedly at Delilah and grabbed the book from her hands.

"Is there a term for those who bring out the best in each other?" Pyrrhus muttered, but she shrugged and opened her book again. She'd been on the same page for nearly half an hour, "I don't think so."

_______________________________________

The next Friday, the conversation she had with Xan and Katerina was like a constant siren going off in her head. She'd been tossing and turning in her bed for nearly an hour, even getting a pillow thrown at her by Lolita. The darkness in the dormitory seemed oddly bright and Delilah couldn't get to sleep for the life of her. Groaning, she threw the covers off herself and slipped on her shoes before heading out the door.

"What am I doing? What the fuck is wrong with me? This is stupid."

Her voice echoed off the stone walls of the empty halls of the castle, each rebound telling her to just turn around and go back to bed. What if he wasn't even up? It was late, nearing one in the morning. Then again she didn't even know if Tom slept, he probably just napped sporadically.

But the head boy's and girl's dormitory entrance was now in her sights, the door standing tall and intimidating, urging her to go away. Her feet carried her forward nonetheless and her fist raised. As she knocked on the wood, part of her hoped Tom wouldn't answer and he was asleep, or maybe the head girl would open the door and tell her off for being out after curfew.

Nearly a minute passed and Delilah tried to suppress whatever disappointment she felt with the relief hiding in the back of her chest. Just as she turned, the sound of a door opening met her ears and a dim light flooded into the hall. "Damn," she muttered, spinning around to find a half dressed Tom who looked slightly annoyed and surprised.

"What are you doing here?" His voice carried over the cool night air easily, almost like a ripple in a still pond. Delilah wrapped her arms around herself, she should've put on pants and the night's draft made goosebumps rise along her skin. Walking forward, she gestured to the common room over his shoulder, "can I come in?"

Raising a brow, he looked her over quickly. Her hair was a mess, her nightie was slightly askew, and her socks were mix matched. Then after what seemed like forever, he nodded and stepped away from the door. He didn't exactly give her much room however, and Delilah had to squeeze her way past him, doing her best not to touch him.

The common room was more open than Slytherin, it had dark wood floors and the wind slightly rattled the large windows. She stood awkwardly for a moment, her eyes flickering around the room and pausing on Tom for only a second. Delilah felt oddly exposed, her nightwear making her feel slightly vulnerable with the thin fabric. Spotting an armchair, she made haste to go sit down next to the fire.

That was Tom's chair, but of course she didn't know that. He looked at her for a moment as he made his way to the mantle, leaning an arm on the carved stone as he stared at Delilah. Why was she here? What could be so important? His mind went back to the day in the forest, but no that couldn't be it. If it was, there was no way in hell she'd be this calm.

"I have a question." Her voice rang around the room, severing the silence around them. Her heart was beating at an annoyingly quick rate. She shouldn't be this nervous to ask a simple question. And perhaps she wasn't. Delilah was more nervous to hear the answer, she didn't think she wanted to.

Lighting a cigarette, it dangled between his teeth as he let out a puff of smoke, "go on." His curiosity was peaked, he couldn't ignore that, but honestly what was so important? Why couldn't she have waited till morning? He watched as her foot tapped and she twirled that bloody necklace between her fingers. He hated that necklace, every time Tom saw the blasted piece of jewelry, it felt as if it was taunting him.

All she had to do was say it, simple as that. Ask him who the Knights of Walpurgis are. But the longer she looked at him, with the fire light casting half of him in shadow, she just couldn't. Not yet.

"I might not... be around by the time summer gets here. So I was just wondering when you needed a final answer about France." She rubbed her eyes in annoyance at herself, but feigned it as being tired. God, why was she such an idiot?

He blinked at her before tapping the cigarette on an ashtray, watching the way the ashes crumbled into a pile. "Might not be around, meaning what? Have you already got a job offer?" His surprised tone irked her slightly but she shrugged it off with a wave of her hand.

"No no, nothing like that. Just, family business." Delilah said slowly, inwardly cringing at her own wording and lack of reasoning. She should've practiced a back up plan.

He raised a brow, "family business?" Tom's probably only heard her talk about her family a handful of times. Delilah nodded and leaned back in the chair, trying her best to come off as casual, even though she was mentally freaking out, "Yeah, because of the war." Chewing the inside of her thumb, she was sure she sounded ridiculous.

He sighed slightly through his nose before stubbing out his cigarette, "I don't know why you came to me, it's not my place we're staying at." For some reason, she felt a jab of disappointment at his lack of a reaction to her leaving. "How long will you be gone? The poor boys will be heartbroken." He didn't let himself snicker at the image of Elio having to watch his ex girlfriend leave him.

Again.

Delilah glared at him for his seemingly apathetic attitude towards the situation. But really, what was she expecting? Tears? That was laughable.

"No, well I uh... I won't be coming back. Ever. So, just wondering." She cleared her throat and scratched at the back of her neck, her eyes looking anywhere else but at him.

Tom grew rigid almost instantly, as if someone had put a body binding jinx on him. His eyes bore into the side of her face, seeing as she turned away from him. His mind felt like it was moving a mile a minute as he tried to process what she'd just said. Not ever coming back? The mere thought of not seeing Delilah's stupid face ever again set an uncomfortable nerve off in his chest.

"Where are you going, may I ask?"

She barely missed a beat as she looked back at his coffee brown eyes, "home."

"Home," Tom muttered to himself. If she was going home, why would that make her incapable of ever coming back? He wanted to ask, but she seemed to have blocked herself off. She wasn't giving him anything, he loathed it when she did that. He could feel his temper rising slightly and bit at his cheek, his jaw straining as he turned to the fire.

It was never good when his control slipped. Especially if Delilah was alone with him, Merlin knows what he'd do. Delilah could hold her ground, he knew that. But with no restraints, who knows what could happen? Last time he nearly threw her off a tower. But if he was being honest with himself, would he have let her fall?

And at some point in time, he would've.

Delilah watched him carefully, something changed. His aura seemed heavier than usual and the fire was casting shadows on his face, making him seem like a completely different person. She had to ask, if she couldn't do it now, then when?

"Can I ask something else?"

Rolling his shoulders slightly, he walked over to a cabinet in the far corner and brought out two glasses and a thing of fire whiskey. "Even if I say no, you'll still ask," he then waved the bottle at her in question. She glared at him but nodded.

She watched as he poured two glasses, the amber liquid flooding the cups, shining like tree sap. He walked over and sat on the couch adjacent to her, offering Delilah the glass. The alcohol wafted towards her and made her nose tingle.

After a moment, Tom staring at her as if she was some rare art piece an archeologist dug up, she cleared her throat and downed the glass. She needed some liquid courage for what she was about to say.

Welcoming the burn, she set the glass down and grabbed the bottle of fire whiskey, pouring herself a generous amount. Tom raised a brow but didn't comment on the matter.

She twitched her nose before willing herself to look at him. "What's the Knights of Walpurgis?"

An odd feeling shot it's way up his spine but he didn't let his expression waver. How the hell did she even know that name? She's asked about Xan and Katerina before, but never brought up the name of his little group. But as soon as he opened his mouth, she pointed at him with the hand holding her glass.

"And don't you dare lie to me or I swear to god I'll smash that fucking bottle over your head."

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I take ages to update and I apologize, lol. This one was relatively short but I'm excited for y'all to read the next one!! The SPICE it'll have

VOTE & COMMENT if you enjoyed, I love to hear feedback!!