Riddle watched as everyone prepared for the Samhain ritual that would be carried out in the Slytherin Dorm Rooms later in the evening, with most students in the Common Room carrying around baskets full of fruits and vegetables to set up on their personal altars within their rooms. Nott had been kind enough to invite him to his and Malfoy's last year and the experience had been both enlightening and disheartening.
Samhain was the celebration of those who had died and welcomed amongst the dead, the time of year where the dead were treated as living once more, as the veil that separated the worlds was at its thinnest. At the feast at sundown, a plate would be served by the elves in between each student, to allow them to invite and mourn the spirits of the deceased. After that, the children would either return to their dorms or gather at the chimneys of the Common Rooms, to stare into the flames and to burn up a bit of parchment with the name of the deceased on it along with a written message of love, followed by a prayer that the well wishes are received and that the deceased can find peace. A few brave souls from among the older students would even venture into the Forest at night, supposedly under the careful watch of the Centaurs, to traverse the wilderness and connect with nature, if not experience a vision outright. These excursions were often overseen by Professor Sybil Croaker, who taught the Divination elective, and Professor Ross, whose job it was to keep everyone safe.
Halloween always held a mixed bag for Tom. He loved the idea of putting on a mask and becoming someone else, something else. Something terrifying, something powerful. The anonymity and the chance to be the person he always envisioned himself as was one of his most pleasant dreams. Yet Wizarding Britain didn't follow that particular tradition. The festival of Samhain didn't give him the feeling of freedom that Halloween always seemed to hint at. Instead, it was another reminder that he was an outsider. While everyone was excited about connecting with the spirits of the past, Tom couldn't feel anything but disconnected. He didn't know the name of the woman who died giving birth to him. He didn't know if his father was alive or dead as well. There were no records of the Riddle family in the Ministry of Magic. He checked. Which meant they were muggles. The Ministry didn't bother to have any databases about muggles, unless it was a record of repeated threats against wizards or the parents of a muggleborn. They barely kept any records of Squibs as well. He knew about the Heritage Tests that he could take at Gringotts, but his allocated funds from the Board of Governors as an orphan had stipulations. He couldn't use any of it for anything non-Hogwarts related, with the exception of purchases at Hogsmeade. Everywhere else his hands were tied. If Dumbledore and Dippet had given him the chance to spend the previous summer at Hogwarts, he would have used his extra funds on that test. Sadly, his peace of mind and physical safety were more important than whatever a piece of paper might tell him about his heritage.
As he finished his last remaining assignment for the weekend, he looked up and checked on the others, noticing someone else who didn't seem to be preparing for any Samhain Rituals. Lilith von Schwarzwald seemed utterly oblivious to the world around her as she made notes on her notebook. The Austrian redhead was an oddity he had no way to explain. On the one hand she was from a prestigious European Magical Family, one almost as Ancient as the region they inhabited. Yet she used fountain pens, notebooks and had no trouble being around Muggleborns. The looks she received from Rosier and a few other Purebloods whenever she would sit with Ravenclaw Muggleborns, including some upper year students, and discuss some complicated and obscure forms of enchantments was a source of amusement to him. She was certainly as fearless and as noble as a Gryffindor at times, but one could see why the Hat allowed her to be Sorted into Slytherin. Her mind was always active, constantly working out some problem he wasn't fully aware of. She was also a constant thorn in Rosier's side, spending time getting to know the younger years, teaching them how to make basic but effective wards for their rooms. Even the youngest member of the Black family wasn't afraid to ask for her help and she would gladly give it to them, without asking for anything in return. It did bother him at first that she seemed to be avoiding the usuals rules for exchanges of services until he saw what the benefits of her actions were. The kids trusted her above Rosier and his fellow Prefects.
Still… for someone who had recently lost her entire family, it seemed odd to him that she wasn't preparing for any Samhain preparations. Did she not practice the custom as the rest of Britain did or was there another reason why she was hesitant to call out to them as the rest of the students were? Then again… perhaps the reason was there for all to see. The people of Magical Britain had kept out of most if not all of the conflicts that their muggle country men participated in in the last century and a half. The last time they went to war was to stop Napoleon and his Magical supporters from crossing the Channel, before sending forces to various regions of Europe, sowing chaos that the French Emperor had to personally put down. The aid the magical population of Spain had provided to the Spanish guerilla fighters had enabled them to survive against several of Napoleon's forces, only failing to stop the brilliant tactician himself and his immediate allies. After the French Emperor's second and final exile, the British Magical community had essentially lived in a state of peace. Every relative the students would be calling on would have lived quiet lives, dying only from disease, maybe some murder, but definitely not from an attack by an enemy force. Lilith's family would mostly have died a few months prior, all murdered. Calling them back in some way would only force her to relieve that traumatic moment once more.
Two months of classes together and Tom couldn't exactly put into words why Lilith seemed to draw his attention. She was pretty, of course, physically fit and intelligent. Like him she had an eye for seeing the political implications of her actions, yet she wasn't afraid to make decisions that seemed rash but were clearly calculated, at least to some degree. While Rosier retained his position as King of Slytherin, it was with fewer supporters, with most of the older students turning to the Blacks, Walburga, though older, delegating some of the attention to her younger brother, Cygnus. The younger years simply went to Lilith, creating a three way split, though anyone paying attention knew that Lilith backed the Blacks, she was just not interested in being overt about it. Most of the Professors seemed to like her about as much as they liked him. She was always detailed with her explanations, making sure to provide enough new information to draw in the attention of the students, but never to the point of gloating that she seemed to know more about the subject, which she certainly did. She never bragged about anything, she was just content in her certainty and confidence.
Yet… there was clearly something off about her. Her magic was slow in its implementation. She hardly ever took part in the practical exercises, focusing more on demonstrating she could do the spells, but nothing more. Professor Merrythought never pushed her to use more of her magic and neither did Professor Doge in Charms. It was only Professor Dumbledore who seemed to have it out for her, as she refused to use her wand for any of her Transfiguration exercises. It was clear that the Professors were aware of the way Dumbledore was behaving as they always made sure to give her enough points to negate the points loss from his lessons. This usually fell to Professor Slughorn, who, to the surprise of the Blacks, Rosier and to Tom, had taken Lilith under his wing. In fact, the man seemed to insist that she sit with Tom all the time as his Potions partner. Not that Tom minded. She was clearly a gifted student of Potions, giving him hints about how to get better results from the ingredients, but never overtly doing it. He had complained at first about her babying him but she simply continued doing it, though she would only do it when his method and her previous suggestion were both ineffective. After seeing his grades in Potions improve, Tom wisely kept his mouth shut. Their time together in Potions became moments of silent work. He couldn't put into words how… comfortable those moments were.
Hearing the bell signal it was time for the Samhain Feast, Tom stood up and stretched, watching as Lilith dried her notes before marking her place in her books, storing them all into a bag that was clearly enchanted to be small and light. He pushed down the feelings of jealousy that arose as he pulled his much heavier bag, before heading towards his room to leave it there for the night. After taking a moment to check the strength of the wards of his room, he stepped back out into the Slytherin Common Room, before heading towards the Great Hall. He took a seat towards the end of the table as he couldn't stomach sitting next to Nott and Malfoy tonight. Their help was always invaluable, but today was a day when their presence was a reminder of what he didn't have. A few minutes later, with the majority of the staff and students seated, Lilith arrived and, eyeing the choices of seating, decided to join him at the end of the table just in front of him. The two remained silent as they watched Dippet stand up to make his usual address on Samhain, with Dumbledore looking none the more pleasant. He never seemed comfortable on Samhain, which made Tom wonder if he too had lost someone important to him. Tom decided to pay attention to Headmaster Dippet's speech, though he did notice the bit of parchment Lilith placed beneath the plate nearest him.
-✦-
"We gather here tonight as we do every night of October 31st. As we prepare to eat our evening meals, we do so remembering the lives of those who have moved on from the realm of the living. We rejoice that they have found peace in the realms beyond, while on this day we pray that they share some of their peace and love to those who have been left behind. As soon as the meal ends, those who have signed up to experience a walk in the Dark Forest may gather within the courtyard with Professors Ross and Croaker. The rest are to return to their dorms to enjoy a peaceful night of rituals or contemplation. All muggleborns are welcomed to ask their Prefects and Head of Hogwarts House about tonight's importance, especially if you were unable to get Professor Binns to explain the matter adequately. Until then, please, tuck in and enjoy your meal." Lilith turned to the plates of food, serving adequate spoonfuls to the empty plates to her sides, before serving herself and focusing on her meal, feeling conflicted about the day.
As a Slytherin in the 1990's, Lillian was hard pressed to find any information about these practices. The students of Slytherin House performed these activities within the privacy of their own rooms, with the exception of the meal offering. Albus Dumbledore, as a way to appease the growing distance between the general population and the traditions of the Magical World, had ceased to refer to Samhain by its proper name. Excursions into the then renamed Forbidden Forest and the duties of the Heads of Houses to educate the first generation magicals had been banned under the pretense of "integration and safety." Lillian herself had no problem integrating the various practices. The idea of watching little kids running around the school wearing costumes and trick or treating was actually one that she found wholesome. What Dumbledore did, however, wasn't integration. It was the oppression of a tradition that stretched back almost a thousand years. A tradition that emphasized remembrance of the deceased and the connections that bound people to their families, magical or otherwise. There was nothing wrong with the celebration. The decision to ban it along with other practices was nothing more than Dumbledore imposing his politics and ethics on others. Even here he was no different, chastising her constantly for using wandless magic. Lilith was only happy the other professors supported her in standing up to the prick.
Still, this year's Samhain wasn't one Lilith was looking forward to. In fact, she had decided to skip it. Lilith didn't want to ponder what her current "state" could trigger with a magical ritual, no matter how simplified and "magicless" it was. As she was essentially possessing the body of the previous soul and using its name, bloodline and prestige to achieve her own selfish goals, Lilith was unsure how the realm of the dead would react to her. She was especially unsure… how the deceased Lilith would react to her. In some ways they were very much the same. Lilith and Lillian always tried to look at the bigger picture and both were enamored with researching and understanding the most obscure texts on magic. Yet they were different enough that their magics constantly fought each other. The moment she had sat under the Sorting Hat, the enchanted piece of cloth had detected the split and was having issues deciding who to place where, never mind the fact there was only one body. It took everything Lilith had to offer to get the Hat to focus on the task at hand, eventually being forced to use his name.
" Deorwine ." The Sorting Hat had frozen the moment she uttered that name in her mind. Now where would you have gotten that name, my dear? Lilith had sighed. " If you weren't jumping from one set of personality traits to the other, you would know. I know what name I was called by. I know who you are expected to sort. But I am not just Lilith von Schwarzwald. Look carefully at the memories of the other girl. In the memories of Lillian Potter. " Deorwine took her suggestion to heart and focused on those memories. Oh. Oh dear. So we have met before. Slytherin, ehh? And Salazar's last chosen heir. Oh dear, oh dear. You have done a grave thing to have made your way here, young lady. Lilith had deflated after hearing that but Deorwine spoke up. But I can't be the one to judge you. What the future holds for the coming decades is certainly bleak. Blood, innocent and guilty, spilled so senselessly. A world torn apart in more ways than one. Perhaps it is right that someone comes by to lead us all down a different path. Especially him. Though I normally don't speak of others, I remember young Riddle. He will need you a great deal if he is to be freed from the fate I see in your memories. Now, where to put you. What you did was certainly very brave of you, you know. Perhaps Gryffindor… It took Lilith threatening to serve the Hat to the Basilisk as a snack for Deorwine to finally say Slytherin. Salazar would never hear the end of this as she had never wanted to be considered for Gryffindor, all because she followed through with the plan they both agreed to. Though even she could admit that it was Lillian who was better suited for Slytherin and that Lilith was better suited for Gryffindor, though that didn't matter now. She was needed in the Snake Pit.
Strengthening her resolve to ignore the Samhain rituals, she dug into her meal slowly, her eyes sweeping the Great Hall in its unusually silent state. Then again, she could only see the Slytherin and Ravenclaw tables as Tom had taken the more strategic position. Still, sitting opposite him was better than beside him. There were already rumours floating around about them being a bit close. Though to be fair, they were mostly true, as Tom didn't seem all that close to anyone else. His closer companions were currently the Malfoy and Nott heirs, the former from an Old and Noble family exiled from France and the latter a member of an Old and Noble family that wasn't as politically powerful as it wanted to be. She knew that it was in the next few years that the two Houses were due to flourish, with Tom growing his base alongside them and the others. For now, however, he was still too ignorant of his bloodline to use it as an effective bartering tool. While being a Parselmouth made him a likely successor to Salazar Slytherin, it wasn't a guarantee. He needed the proof to make the claim and use it politically. So, for the moment, Tom Riddle was simply the polite, intelligent but socially awkward member of Slytherin House. Her close proximity had certainly made everyone else take more notice of both of them, which was somewhat annoying. Tonight, however, she hoped for a more private time. Something better suited to both of them.
As the feast ended and the students started making their way out, a soft hand reached out to her. "Lily." Burying any discomfort that came with that nickname when Snape and Luna had used it, Lilith turned towards Cassandra and gave her a questioning look. Luna's Grandmother was certainly more composed than her granddaughter ever was, which might have come from having a family member that understood her. The Dowager Moon had apparently been a powerful orator within the Wizengamot but had kept away from politics the moment her first born son came of age, allowing Leonard to develop further as his own person, even taking his father's name to distance himself from the former Chief Witch. The young Cassandra, born to the Dowager's second son, had no problem relating to her Grandmother and apparently the two had a strong bond that only grew as Cassie's Seer heritage awoke within her. Seeing the way Cassandra talked about her Grandmother strengthened Lilith's resolve that Cassandra would live to see her granddaughter's youth. Luna deserved to have both her mother and grandmother in her life, to help guide her through the hardships that being a Seer entailed. Her best friend had gone too many years without help and what little Lillian could do for her was not anywhere near enough.
Cassandra searched Lilith's eyes, probably seeing what might be coming tonight of all nights. "You need to be at the Hospital Wing before midnight. Please, promise me you will." Lilith nodded and gently squeezed her friend's hands. A time traveler and a Seer talking had been an interesting experience for Lilith, but she could see how it seemed to ease Cassandra's tension. Having someone taking your predictions seriously was probably something new to her, outside of her family. "I will, Cassandra. I promise." Cassandra nodded but lowered her eyes. "I don't like seeing you hurt. You always feel like you are hurting. You don't deserve it." Lilith pulled Cassandra into a soft hug. "Danke, for caring. It means alot to me. You should go to bed soon. If the Veil grows too thin, you might not like what you see slipping through. The Void on the other side is home to other things beyond just the dead. At least, that is what I have been led to believe." Cassandra nodded as they pulled apart. "I will and thank you. See you in History again, if you can keep your eyes open." Lilith giggled as she waved goodbye to the friend she never knew she would find here but was more than happy to have. Why anyone found the Seers so hard to be nice to she could never understand.
-✦-
Tom entered what appeared to be an attic in the North Tower of Hogwarts Castle, climbing up a ladder and entering the dusty and abandoned room through a trapped door. He watched as Lilith's eyes took in the chamber, confused as to why she looked like it was both new and … familiar. "What is this place?" Lilith turned to him and shrugged. "Hard to say. So many rooms in the castle are abandoned and forgotten. I heard about this place from Cassandra." Tom thought for a second. "Cassandra Moon of Ravenclaw?" Lilith nodded as she drew out her wand. He watched as red and green sparks seemed to intersect the wood before she started doing the same ritual as when she used wandless magic. Soon enough the room was left dust free, leaving Lilith panting for air. She gave him a look of curiosity. "Are you able to conjure or transfigure furniture?" Tom looked towards the discarded tables and moldy sofas. "Transfigure. One moment." He closed his eyes as he drew his wand and focused on a pair of comfortable sofas and a coffee table. He waved his wand silently and the Transfiguration took effect, leaving behind two sofas with forest green cushions and the table he envisioned.
Lilith hummed in appreciation though Tom frowned when she pulled out a knife and started carving the wood of his creations. "What are you doing?" Lilith looked up at him as she finished carving the last sigil before charging the small array. "Transfigurations and Conjurations are temporary and vulnerable to some forms of magic. These sigils act as ward schemes, tying the magic down and reinforcing it. Your work could now, theoretically, last indefinitely under the wards of the Castle." Tom blinked at her in deep thought, even though the idea of his creations enduring eternity as part of the castle made him feel… fulfilled. How odd. "Is that something you are willing to teach me?" Lilith took a seat and leaned back. "Sure. It's not a family secret." As Tom took a position on the opposite sofa, with both sharing a side looking out the nearest window, Lilith pulled out a small box and placed it on the coffee table. "I hope I wasn't too presumptuous about inviting you here. If you would rather carry out a Samhain ritual, you are more than welcome to return to the Dungeons." Tom shook his head. "No, I am afraid I am not much of a fan of Samhain. You?" Lilith shook her head. "Halloween has never been a pleasant experience for me. There are enough reminders of death in my life. I don't need a whole day to celebrate the passing of everything I held dear."
Tom kept his jaw closed, his theory being proven true, though her use of the muggle term made his mind swirl with possibilities. He watched as she slowly opened the small box and frowned at what he saw within. "Is that a gramophone? It looks small." Lilith smiled at him. "It ought to be. I made it to be this size on purpose." He watched her attach the horn and lift up the needle, before placing a record on the turntable. As soon as the needle touched the record, the sound of a soft symphony filled the room. Tom instinctively closed his eyes and allowed the music to fill his thoughts, the style familiar. "More Chopin?" He opened his eyes and watched as she nodded. "This should have about thirty minutes of his work as performed by some of his closest students and their heirs." Tom frowned. "I thought those discs could only hold about ten minutes of sound." Lilith smiled at him. "Sure, the original ones have such limits. Music helped keep me sane over the summer and I started messing around with the way gramophones and recording discs worked. I managed to replicate and enhance them using enlarged pieces. As soon as they were all restored to their original size, the pieces still worked, though I needed to adjust the player's needle." Tom looked at the box in front of him. "You made this?" Lilith nodded. "Like I said, I was bored and I personally enjoy tinkering with cogs and gears. Though if I am honest…" Lilith leaned back onto the sofa and looked out the window.
"I just didn't want to be left with my own thoughts for too long. Having a problem that can be easily fixed with the right placement of a gear, a bit of electrum and some Runic arrays, not to mention the very music itself, was my way of letting my mind wander away from less pleasant thoughts." Tom sat back and listened to the soft music, finding himself in agreement with her sentiment. The long and awful silences of the Orphanage were the moments when he would often feel his mind wander. Thoughts of violence were among some of his most common in those dreadful moments, as were thoughts of pain and despair. Looking over at Lilith, he could see now more than the academic mind and the kind person she revealed to others. There was a fragility to her, a part that seemed to him like an open wound. For a brief second he wondered what he could make use of this vulnerability but he squashed that thought instantly. This moment of peace and relaxation was something that she had engineered and invited him to. This was a part of Lilith von Schwarzwald that no other student might get to see. He could see why she picked him. He didn't have the political need to hold her vulnerability against him. It angered him a little to feel so… insignificant. But that feeling too passed. This girl of fourteen had no desire to use him. That much seemed clear so far. Until that changed… he would indulge in these private moments. Moments that were for him and him alone to enjoy.
-✦-
Headmaster Armando Dippet stepped into the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts Castle, closing the doors behind him, before warding them against being opened or heard through. He walked gently as he approached the far wall, hearing screams of pain that tugged even at his old heart. He stood silently as Teresa Prewett attended the young girl, her aid and trainee, Poppy Pomfrey, writing down her teacher's observations. He watched as the Madam sighed and stepped back even as Lilith von Schwarzwald released another ear piercing scream of pain as the girl slammed her fists into the medical bed. "Valerian Infusion at twice the normal dosage did nothing. Her pain is still through the roof. Any more and the medication will be toxic to her. Poppy, make sure you add a request for any other pain relieving potion varieties. I don't care how obscure or rare the materials are. We will approach her patron to assist us in acquiring the ingredients if it becomes necessary." Poppy nodded, her face covered in tears as she added the notes. "Should I fetch some Dreamless Sleep?" Teresa sighed but nodded. "Get it ready for as soon as the pain abaits, she is going to need it tonight after all this."
Seeing the Headmaster, Madam Prewett checked with Poppy if she was willing to stand watch, before the two stepped away. Armando looked back at the girl. "What happened?" Teresa looked back as another scream of pain filled the air, followed by some sobbing. "She arrived here just before midnight, feeling the onset of the attack. She barely reached the bed before her magics uncoiled and went rampant. I tried to stabilize it with every spell I know St. Mungos Healers use to reduce magical discharges from their more… unstable patients, but nothing would dampen the effects on her. Her body is literally a battle zone and she is just getting torn apart. There were some physical tears across her skin but nothing severe… for now." Armando sighed, rubbing his beard in thought. "I had hoped the magic of the Castle would have helped stabilize her. It seems I was wrong. Do we know if it's having a detrimental effect on her? If she would be safer elsewhere?" Teresa shook her head. "Based on her own observations and mine, it's the combination of sudden changes in magic that have a chance at triggering the effect. Her arrival at Hogwarts, the September Equinox, highly intense casting of spells on certain days and now Samhain. Yule is going to do a number on her, I am sure of it, no matter where she is." Teresa turned to the Headmaster. "Also, what the hell is Albus doing, treating her the way he is? The few times she lets her pride get the best of her in his class are the times she ends up here under my care."
Armando closed his eyes and rubbed his face. "I am afraid Albus sees much of Grindelwald in her. Her charm and ease of speech, not to mention her clear intelligence. The fact she is unabashed about being either a Dark Witch or a potential Black Witch does nothing to ease his concerns, even if her physical condition hardly makes her a threat to anyone." Teresa growled. "I don't care if she is demonspawn, Armand! If he ends up triggering another episode I am going to be dropping him to the ground myself. I didn't train to be a Healer to watch a girl suffer as she is anymore than what the world is already forcing so many to go through. Poppy had to take Dreamless Sleep on the bloody Equinox with how much watching Lilith harmed her. I couldn't bring myself to tell her not to. I might need to get her some more tonight." Armando nodded. "Very well, I will issue Albus a warning. If he does it again, I will have Miss von Schwarzwald study Transfiguration on her own and be evaluated by the Ministry's Examiners." Teresa sighed but nodded. "I suppose that is all we can do." The two turned as they heard the screams lower in volume until all they heard were whimpers. Teresa returned to the girl's side, measured a proper dose of Dreamless Sleep and administered it as Dippet's thoughts grew heavy.
Allowing the girl to attend Hogwarts had never been in question. She was intelligent and diligent, as proven by her entrance exams and all of her written assignments. He didn't care that her family was as infamous in the Continent and beyond as Grindelwald had become. The von Schwarzwalds were feared, yes, but they never acted out of violence or petiness. The family had been guarding secrets within their Estate in Austria for millennia, keeping the locals from experiencing the worst that Dark Creatures could unleash. Even now, as the war grew worse, rumours out of the Bregenz region tell of the Shadow Wolves growing bold and violent, the Hags and Erlkings brazingly testing the limits of the old magics guarding the villages. The locals' relationship with the von Schwarzwald family was the only reason lives hadn't been lost since their absence. The Dark Creatures needed to be contained by their most powerful masters and now… now that fate fell on the shoulders of a little girl going through a most harrowing state. When his old friend told him about the girl he was acting as patron for, he knew Lilith von Schwarzwald was important. That she needed to be cared for by the school's healer was never in doubt when her condition was revealed to Madam Prewett. Still, seeing it, hearing it and even feeling it through his magic… made the task all the more pressing to Armando Dippet. This was a student who needed their help. They would do what they could to provide it.
-✦-
"Riddle. Do you have a moment to go over my work for Dumbledore's next class?" Tom looked towards Nott and nodded, taking a seat beside him at one of the few available tables in Slytherin's common room. "How was your evening?" Theodore shrugged. "Same as every other year, though Abraxas and I both felt a chill in the air. We asked around and some of the other Slytherin's did feel it as well." Tom looked at Nott and raised an eyebrow. "We are in an old Castle. There is such a thing as drafts." Nott shook his head. "Not like this. Not on Samhain. I sent a letter home to my father to ask him about it, just in case. The prevailing theory among the older students and even Professor Croaker is that something is happening. Something that will lead to a great loss of life." Tom tried his best, he really did, but he had to rub his eyes slightly. "You are aware that Europe is at war, right? With Russians and the Germans fighting, it's almost guaranteed to get bloody quickly. Not to mention all the ships that are being sunk out in open water, taking hundreds, if not thousands of people to their deaths in a few hours." Nott took a moment to think but shook his head. "It could be the war but this felt more… Hogwarts related. As if death itself had walked through the Castle's corridors."
Tom felt his body shudder at the thought. "Thank you for that… less than pleasant thought, Nott." Theodore did look a little bit guilty. "Sorry about that." The two remained silent as Tom checked over Nott's assignments, making alterations, annotations and corrections. As he was close to finishing, he heard someone approach the Common Room while talking. "Nothing. No trace of her at all. How the hell does she do that? One moment she is seated in the library talking to Moon and Myrtle, of all people, and the next she's just gone. No one has seen her at all since last night. It's like we're following a bloody ghost." The person with them, an older student by the sound of their voice, spoke up. "Maybe she is. Everyone thought that the Schwarzwald family were dead, even though she was still alive. Maybe she is some Dark Magic construct. A dead soul possessing its own body." The two Slytherins appeared, Tom recognizing one as Anton Bryce and the other as Raphael Lestrange. The sight of them together was slowly becoming more common. The two fifth years were among the group of students still gravitating towards Rosier, despite his failing support among the House. Tom could see the reasons as to why both were being so loyal. As future sixth year students, they would be poised to take over Rosier's position as King in a year or two. Getting Rosier's support and that of his allies would improve their standing, especially with Bryce.
The older boy with brown hair and green eyes was apparently not all that dissimilar from Tom. A Halfblood who only knew the identity of his mother's family and had been sorted into Slytherin. He was studious but was known to be a lot more politically minded, always trying to suck up to Rosier as a way to avoid becoming a target for him. Tom lowered his gaze back to Nott's paper, dismissing the two from his thoughts for a second. He hated looking at Bryce as it always seemed like looking into a broken mirror, a view of what Tom might have become if he had stooped so low as to grovel at the feet of Purebloods. That would never be him. He refused to place himself in the mercy of others ever again. Nott nudged his shoulder and gestured behind him, making Tom look around. He watched as the two boys were talking in hushed whispers at an irritated Rosier, who only seemed to grow more furious. The young man turned and looked in Tom's direction, growling. "The hell you're looking at, Halfblood?" Tom sighed in his head, frustrated with how dreadfully predictable the Pureblood ponze could be as he strutted towards him, clearly interested in redirecting his ire. Except he never reached Tom.
The moment he stepped over the central gap between the sofas, the young man was suddenly pulled to the ground. Arcs of red magic seemed to cover his clothes which, in hindsight to anyone with a brain, should have been taken as an indicator to keep away. Travers, ever the loyal dog, failed to heed the clear warning and reached out to help Rosier up. The seventh year got launched back and away, hitting the sofa and tipping it over. Those gathered who weren't afraid of Rosier started to laugh as he struggled to get up from the floor, before he seemed to get a moment of clarity. After the ponze drew his wand and aimed it at the floor, everyone heard him say "Finite". Except nothing happened. It was on his third try at freeing himself that whatever ward had been holding down launched him out. The ward did end up launching him into a grouping of his allies, tumbling them all down like a house of cards. Tom had to resist smiling, especially as Professor Slughorn walked into the common room, Bryce just beside him. "What is going on here?" All the students stayed clear of the center of the room as they explained what had occurred to the professor. The man took out his wand and checked the carpet before checking the floor underneath it, finding nothing.
Slughorn sighed and looked towards the students. "Why don't you all go outside for a moment. It's not too chilly to enjoy the fresh air just yet." The student took the hint as the professor rubbed his chin pensively, his eyes checking the roof of the chamber. Abraxas walked up to Tom and Theodore, the young boy struggling not to laugh out loud. "That… was absolutely priceless." Nott nodded before looking at Tom. "Was that your work?" Tom shook his head as Abraxas smiled. "No offence to Riddle, but that felt more like our vindictive Austrian having more fun at Rosier's expense." Theodore nodded as they reached the inner courtyard, the three of them enjoying the crisp and cool morning air of early November. The two purebloods sat down on the bench as Tom reclined on the tree behind them. "Do you think it was targeted?" Tom hummed to himself. "Doubt it. Best guess it's a motivation based ward scheme. Rosier intended to hurt or humiliate me. That must have triggered the ward… wherever it was." Abraxas nodded. "Sounds about right. Still an exceptional piece of magic. By the way, has anyone seen her this morning?" Tom tensed a little as both didn't see her, with Nott being as much of an early riser as Tom and Lilith.
His eyes sweeped the growing number of Slytherins in the Courtyard, not seeing her. Was she being held back by Slughorn to clean out the ward? "She isn't in the Slytherin Dorms." Tom froze and turned to the source of the voice. Cassandra Moon looked Tom right in the eyes, with Tom noticing that her eyes were a bit red as if the girl had been crying. "Did something happen to her?" The Ravenclaw looked away, with Tom looking in the direction but not seeing anything. "She's ok now. She will tell you when she is comfortable enough to discuss it with you. She will be happy, though, to hear about your concern." Tom frowned. This girl was either reading him wrong or off her rocker. He wasn't worried about Lilith… wasn't he? Those light grey eyes focused on him again. "It's hard to change what has already been in motion but it's not impossible. So long as the soul remains whole… no path will be lost to you." The Ravenclaw smiled at him as she walked away, leaving the three confused. "What… is her deal?" Abraxas shrugged. "No clue… she's always been a bit of an odd girl, talking nonsense. Everyone just says that she is crazy." Tom frowned, his eyes looking in the direction she had looked at when he asked about Lilith. Wasn't that the direction of the Hospital Wing? "Maybe… maybe not."