Resting his chin on his hand, Tom stared out the window and watched as a light snowfall covered the grounds of Hogwarts. Winter was always a double edged sword for him at the Castle. On the one hand it meant that a vast majority of the students would be heading home, leaving behind a peaceful and quiet castle for Tom to explore. On the other hand… it was just another reminder that he had nowhere to go back to. Though he considered Hogwarts more of a home than most people, he knew his time here would eventually end. Sure, one day he could return and live in the Castle as a Professor, or perhaps as something more. But it still meant he would have nowhere to go once he was outside. He could certainly go research Magic all on his own, but that would have to wait. So long as the continent was at war, Europe was the least safe place to travel to or even simply move through currently. He looked back at the other students in the classroom, all of them still working on the latest Runes exam, translating and organizing Futhark symbols into meaningful sentences. The last part of the exam was the first time in Runes that the students were asked to properly write a basic ward scheme.
Rather than going for a basic ward that blocked entry to whatever was warded, Tom reworked it to include a gap where the ward could be disabled if the proper symbols were utilized. He hoped that Professor Bierley, a former Ravenclaw student with short brown hair and wearing glasses that had adjustable lenses, found his design inspired enough to warrant a bit of extra credit. The woman, known to be descended from a Lacashire Witch Coven, was both the teacher for the Runes course as well as the Enchanting Elective, encouraged her students to take her lessons and expanded upon them. Looking to his side, Tom noticed that Lilith was reading her text intently, her fountain pen resting against her lower lip until she used it to write a note or two on her smaller notebook. Curious as to what she was reading, Tom nudged himself a bit closer to look at the books' pages, his eyes widening a little. The text was either encrypted to be illegible or written in a language he couldn't understand. Then again, she did come from a secretive house of supposed Dark Witches and Wizards. It could be both and he wouldn't know the difference. The few diagrams, however, were odd. They seemed to show stones and gems with runics sequences attached to them. Were they wardstones?
He knew she was ahead when it came to warding, especially after it became clear that whatever wards she had placed within the Slytherin Common Room would be there for a while None of the Professors were able to find the source, though oddly enough the Headmaster was able to interpret the intentions of the wards. According to the Headmaster, the ward, which seemed to extend to the entire Slytherin Common Room, was designed to prevent any student from acting on any violent intent towards another. The ward would restrain said students until the intent was gone or the student was released by the timer on the ward, which seemed to be a safety measure, just in case some poor soul got stuck long enough for it to become dangerous to their health. The ward would be allowed to remain as the Staff determined how it was introduced into the Dorms, though they planned to remove it eventually. Safe to say, the younger years and most of the girls seemed happy about the fact that the ward would stay in place for quite a while, while Rosier and his group were outraged. Not that they could voice it to the professors. If his suspicions, well everyone else's suspicions in Slytherin as well, were true, then it was Lilith's work. If she could effectively introduce a ward into the Slytherin Dorms, could she find wards elsewhere in the castle? Could she uncover any of the supposed secret chambers?
Tom returned his attention to the window, weighing the benefits of informing her of his search. Lilith would either recognize the truth of what he was asking for or would ask for it before rendering assistance. That meant trusting her with a secret he had kept from everyone but Dumbledore since he could remember. The bastard had initially shown a measure of intrigue about Tom's assertions about speaking to snakes. When he arrived at the school, was sorted into Slytherin and began to uncover the possibility that he was Salazar Slytherin's heir, he had to go and ask the Deputy Headmaster about it. The man showed his true colors then. "While it is true that Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth like you, Tom, the man became overly concerned with the need to preserve the bloodlines of the Witches and Wizards of the age. He began to delve into the Dark Arts, twisting his once brilliant mind into one that was abhorrent to the other Founders. He was cast out from the castle, never to be seen again. Believe me Tom, no good will come of searching for anything he left behind. Some things are best left buried."
Feeling the familiar rise of his anger, Tom took a few deep breaths, getting his emotions back under control, though for some odd reason… his anger felt as if it was greater than he seemed to remember. The very thought of Dumbledore interfering with his plans had almost overwhelmed him with a blind fury. Eventually, the feeling dissipated, as Tom returned his attention to his plans for searching the Castle while everyone else was gone. Dumbledore may have been happy to leave the secrets of the past buried, but for Tom that was all he had. Secrets, voids of information, knowledge that he needed to acquire. He looked to his side again and paused as Lilith seemed to be eying him with… concern? Tom frowned then remembered that he had taken a few deep breaths earlier to calm his unexpected surge of anger. He tried his best to give her a reassuring smile, which seemed to work. As soon as the warning bell sounded, he and Lilith, along with the rest of the students that finished their tests early, left the classroom. Walking just behind Lilith, Tom again thought about trusting her with his secret in the hopes of getting her expertise. He shook his head. Not yet. They had barely known each other for three months. She was intelligent, resourceful and oddly generous, but he needed to be sure of her loyalty to him before trusting her with his absolute truth. He wasn't ready to do that. Not yet.
-✦-
Lilith slowly opened her eyes, her body aching all over. Turning to her side, her eyes focused on a dark haired man sitting on a chair next to her bed, a book in his hands. Her movement apparently caught his attention as he closed the book and looked her in the eyes. "Hello again, young lady. Do you think you can answer a few questions for me?" Lilith managed to sit up and look around her, her loose red hair covering her eyes slightly. She frowned as the room looked familiar, while pulling the erant strands behind her ear. "Are we still in Peverell Manor?" The man nodded. "We are. Now the question is, how do you know about this place? Lothbrok was quite clear in our most recent correspondence that he hasn't informed anyone about this property. Certainly no teenage girls." Lilith bristled. "I am seventeen and of age!" The man raised an eyebrow, looking her over. "Right, let's try another approach. What was the year in which you were born?" Lilith frowned, her thoughts regarding the answer jumbled. "198… " Lilith caught herself but not fast enough. He inclined his head to the side. "Ahh, that makes a lot more sense now. You aren't from this time period, are you? Not entirely." Rubbing her face in exacerbation, Lilith shook her head. At this point, she felt that there was no point in trying to deny his deduction. "No, I am not."
The man moved the seat closer and turned on the light beside Lilith on the bedside table. His blue eyes stared into hers. "When you arrived, you said your name was Lillian. Is that the name of the soul or the body?" Lilith sighed. "The soul… I think. I am so confused. I… I can see, remember and feel memories of this age that aren't my own, yet I can remember the life I lived decades from now. The memories of Lillian feel fresh to my mind, but Lilith's are still there." The man leaned back. "Attempts at stepping back in time usually require the transfer of both a body and a mind. In this case your soul and your memories seemed to have travelled back in time, with no body of their own. Now, out of curiosity, which life did this belong to?" The man raised a familiar looking bundle of cloth. Lilith reached out and touched it, the man allowing her to take it and place it on her lap. "Lillian's. This was considered a Potter Family Heirloom in my time." The man leaned back as the Cloak seemed to shimmer in her grasp. "Interesting. It seems to recognize you as its owner. The fact that it followed your soul into the past seems to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are, or at least were, related to the Peverells. That you were here in the 1990's would suggest that I allowed the property to become available. Or…" the man turned pensive as he looked Lilith over. "What happened that forced you to take such a drastic action as time travel? You also mentioned the name Salazar."
Lilith rubbed her hair, feeling how curly it was compared to when she was in her previous body. "In my time.., there was another war. Two wars were fought between the Dark and the Light factions in a period of over thirty years. Over half the magical population of the Isles was made extinct, families as old as the Wizengamot were left lifeless and the two major forces were tearing each other apart in a final battle. I was in Slytherin's Chamber, staying out of the fighting, when I scried who had tried to open one of the entrances. I heard my god sibling and self appointed Champion of the Light talk about killing the Dark Lord and about the things said man created to survive death. Horcruxes." The man beside her took a deep breath. "Horcruxes…As in plural?" Lilith nodded. "They had apparently destroyed all but one, and they suspected there was another… buried within me." The man's wand shot out and Lilith's instincts had her reaching out and grabbing hold of his wrist. The two stared at each other, neither willing to move. "This Horcrux… is it gone?" Lilith stared at him, her grip on his wrist as strong as she could make it. "It is. It was part of the reason the stupid ritual worked in the first place. Though Salazar Slytherin neglected to mention what would happen to the soul if it traveled back to a time when its body didn't exist."
The man relaxed his grip and allowed his wand to fall onto the bed, which Lilith quickly grabbed. The moment her magic tried to connect with the wand she felt a sharp pain shoot down her arm. She bore through it, not wishing to show any more weakness. The man smirked at her, guessing at what occurred as he sat back. "Huh. So, what are your plans now, young lady?" Lilith frowned as she clenched her fists. "I hadn't planned that far ahead. I didn't even know when or where I would end up, let alone finding myself in a body that wasn't my own. Right now I just know that I need to help protect the future Dark Lord." Her eyes widened as her head snapped up as soon as the date, well at least the year that she arrived at, became clear. "Who is currently at Hogwarts as a student." The man beside her chuckled. "Well, it seems that your current physical condition is adequate for the task. Though we are going to need to get your documents settled." Lilith turned to look at the man, raising an eyebrow at him. "We?" The man smiled at her. "What, were you planning on doing this all on your own? You arrived in Wales without any documentation, money or any idea what to do. You are going to need some help and I am willing to lend a hand."
Lilith looked the man over. "Why? Why would you be willing to help me?" The man took a deep breath. "For quite a few reasons. If your future is indeed as screwed up as you say and the ritual sent you to this time, then it means that I may need to step up and do something about the situation. As a Peverell it is my duty to protect Albion's future, no matter what name it goes by now. As to why I will help you personally… you may be in someone else's body and will likely be going by its original name, but your soul is that of a Peverell." He gestured at the Cloak in her hands. "That Cloak is a Peverell Heirloom. That it followed you here is proof that you are worthy of my help." Lilith frowned. "Just who are you? According to the Goblins, no Peverell has been born with the family name in almost seven hundred years." The man chuckled. "Clever Goblins. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alexander Peverell, Head of the Most Ancient House of Peverell. While I might not be in the public eye, I can assure that I have some means to aid you in your task. That is, if you are willing to trust me with it." Alexander stood up and left his hand open for her. Lilith looked at the hand before staring at the man's eyes, seeing nothing but a genuine desire to help her. She returned the wand into its owner's possession. "Right. Where do we start?"
-✦-
Lilith stared at the notice board within the Slytherin Common Room, specifically at the list of names for everyone who would be staying. One particular name stood out to her. Tom would be staying in the Castle for the Yuletide Break. Lilith felt a little guilty. She wanted to stay at the Castle and get to know him better. To grow their relationship into one of trust. But she had responsibilities that needed to be addressed outside of Hogwarts, both to settle the sheer amount of chaos that the Schwarzwald family's situation had been thrown into, thanks to Grindelwald's cowardice, and to perhaps find some of Tom's family before he did. According to the version she found in the Diary, he knew his father's name was his own and Neville Longbottom had sworn that he had been portkeyed to a location that included said man's tomb. Alexander had been kind enough to find the location on the map. There was a part of her that was somewhat excited about visiting the area. Little Hangleton just happened to be within the infamous Dartmoor area of Devon, a region she knew was filled with stories of Fae and even the spectral hounds that inspired one of her favorite stories from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Lilith's connection to schattenwolves ran deep and, knowing that Barghests and spectral hounds shared a connection to the creatures of her home, made visiting a place they might inhabit of great personal interest to her.
Her excitement did dwindle as she walked away from the board and left the Common Room, her eyes lingering on the main hidden entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. As far as she knew, Tom wouldn't find it this year. But that was before she started meddling with time, though whether or not her meddling would have unforeseen consequences, she wasn't entirely sure. If there was one thing she was happy about running into Alexander, it was having someone to talk her out of making decisions that could affect millions of lives just on the whim of saving as many lives as possible. Though those choices weighed heavily on her. She had thought about contacting MACUSA as a possible Seer, letting them know that an attack on the Hawaii Naval Base of Pearl Harbor would drag America into the war. Even in the future there were discussions about Roosevelt knowing it was coming and letting it happen anyways. What would be the harm in giving them a clearer idea of the attack? Alexander had shut her down hard. "Believe me, if half of what you have told me about this time period is true, there is a lot that would make me want to alter history. However, making changes blindly will result in your information becoming worthless. Right now the war is being managed by Grindelwald and by his mundane puppets. The former is dedicating all his attention to Europe, especially Italy where some of the ancient Roman Families have decided against following in Musolini's footsteps. Drawing his attention away now, especially with Hitler's attention consumed by the Soviet Union, would be unwise."
So, after December 7th, the news from North America were as she expected them to be. The Japanese had successfully attacked Pearl Harbor and America had officially joined the War. It was now a true World War and there was nothing Lilith could do about the horrors that were yet to come. She would have to hear about them happening in real time, knowing exactly what Hitler was doing behind Germany's extended borders. Lilith clenched her fists. She hated it. She hated knowing the future and feeling powerless to stop it. But right now she had no choice but to let time run its course. As she entered the Great Hall for breakfast before the train would take the students back home, she looked over the tables. Not seeing Tom, Lilith nodded in Alphard's direction before sitting down beside Cassandra. Her and Myrtle seemed to be discussing the merits of certain holiday treats, which made Lilith's stomach ache. As she served herself breakfast, Cassandra looked at her and frowned. "What's wrong?" Lilith shrugged. "There was a part of me that wanted to stay at the Castle but responsibilities require me to leave Hogwarts for the Yuletide." Cassandra gave her a knowing look. "He will be ok." Myrtle, Cassandra's classmate brightened at that. "Ohh, have you found yourself a boyfriend?" Lilith blushed. "No, just a boy who I wish to be friends with. Nothing more."
Myrtle groaned about missing out on girl talk, before she and Cassandra reverted back to talking about sweets. "What about you, Lily? Any sweets you are looking forward to?" Lilith thought for a second. Lillian had been partial to apples, especially apple pie, which Sirius had taken to a ridiculous level in providing for her when they lived together. Lilith's palate was a lot more diverse with the sort of upbringing she had, having tasted pastries from all across Europe, though one particular dish stood out to her. "Stollen." Cassandra and Myrtle gave her a blank look and Lilith wracked her brain for the right translation. "I think you call it fruitcake? My father used to have it almost every day during the Yuletide. Mother… complained about him gaining weight from it… but she always indulged him." The thoughts of her recently deceased family smashed through Lilith's mind. Images of her father Nicholas getting berated for eating too much by wife, though Grazyna von Schwarzwald née Dominik always had a smile on her face as she served Lilith a bigger slice, much to her dad's overly dramatic complaints about favoritism. The warmth of their many Christmases together filled Lilith's heart, before a raging fire filled her mind, the screams of her parents dying as they tried to fight off the intruders being the last thing she remembered before Grindelwald's lackey killed her within her own bedroom.
Lillian had never known her family, only bonding with Sirius and, to some extent, Severus and Salazar, but Lilith had loved her parents. The pain that had lain buried since the moment that Lilith's body breathed new life again, carrying the soul of Lillian Potter, awoke violently inside of her, smashing through the Occlumency Lilith had spent weeks rebuilding. Tears started streaming from Lilith's eyes as she struggled to keep herself from wailing in pain. Cassandra sensed the change and pulled Lilith to her, stroking her friend's hair quietly. "It's ok. It's ok. It was insensitive of us to ask." Lilith was grateful for Cassandra, more than she could ever admit. In Slytherin such displays would be used against her, a weakness to be exploited at a later date. Cassandra had no such concerns. Lilith was really glad she had found a friend in Luna's grandmother, someone who could understand not only the pain of knowing what the future held, but also the fact that Lilith was more than just the persona that everyone saw. Luna had been able to see through Lillian just as easily and Lillian had loved her for it. As Cassandra helped calm Lilith down, the redhead swore once more that Luna would get to meet her grandmother. The two deserved to love and care for each other as a family for all they had done for her in both of her lives.
-✦-
Tom allowed his hands to wander over the Castle's walls as he walked through one of the Dungeons many corridors, searching for any clue to Slytherin's Chamber. He had already searched the first and second floors to the best of his abilities, but found nothing that would indicate a hidden passage. Of course, there were floors well above those, but Slytherin was known to prefer the lower floors of the Castle, hence why his house's Common Room was in the Dungeons. If there was ever a place where the Chamber and its entrance had to be, it was here. The fact that the dream he had in the summer indicated as much made him wonder what it would mean if he did indeed find the entrance. Would the dream be less of a flight of fancy and more of a sign of something more? His recent interactions with both Lilith and her friend Cassandra certainly made him question a lot about what could be seen through magic's keen eye. Taking a second to check that nobody was watching, Tom leaned against the wall and whispered in Parseltongue. ~" Reveal your secrets ."~ For the longest time no noise was heard.
"Still looking for things best left buried are we, Tom?" Taking a moment to control his first instinct, which was to curse with all his might, Tom turned around and looked at the Deputy Headmaster as stoically as possible. "Professor Dumbledore. Still wasting your time keeping children away from their birthrights, are we?" Albus Dumbledore walked up to him, Tom noticed the man's blue eyes trying to catch his own in direct line of sight, but the fourth year knew better than to look back at him and turned his gaze away, looking over the Deputy Headmaster's shoulder. Tom had poured every inch of the memory of their first encounter and realized that Dumbledore could only read his mind with eye contact. He was able to learn about Occlumency and Legilimency but had yet to find any books that dealt with the proper instruction of the two, only finding a fragment in another text that described the initial preparation for Occlumency. His mind had gained a great deal of focus and clarity since that day, but sealing away his thoughts was still something that he couldn't test without a trusted ally. Tom's thoughts seemed to give him a glimpse of Lilith, making him wonder why it felt so easy to trust her. Dumbledore, giving up on reading the boy's mind, sighed. "It is nearly curfew, Tom. Shall I escort you to the Slytherin Common Room?"
Knowing that the question was really a command, Tom bit down on his objection and walked in the direction of the Slytherin Dorms. As they walked, Albus spoke up. "I have noticed you seem to have a pleasant association with Miss Schwarzwald." Tom stayed silent as Dumbledore continued. "It's not unexpected, really. She is clearly well educated, diligent and quite the charming young woman. For a Black Witch." Tom dared to look at him out of the corner of his eye. "And that is supposed to mean something to me, Professor?" Dumbledore hummed to himself. "I do not make this comment lightly, but I would steer clear of Miss Schwarzwald, Tom. She has made many powerful enemies in the Continent and their influence can easily reach within Great Britain. Enemies that have every right to fear her and the Darkness within her." Tom scoffed. "She's a fourteen year old girl." Dumbledore nodded. "Indeed she is, yet she survived a raid carried out by Grindelwald's elite forces against a heavily fortified and isolated structure. She was the only survivor. There are many who wonder what magic she must have tapped in order to succeed where her immensely powerful and deadly parents failed. The Schwarzwald family are known practitioners of the Darkest Arts. They would have been put to death centuries ago had their wealth and power not delayed the inevitable."
Tom sighed. "I don't believe Miss von Schwarzwald would appreciate such talk. Whatever their predilection to magic was, family was still family." Dumbledore turned to look at him. "True… though there are cases where the fruits are just as deceased as the tree from which they are born. Regardless, fate has judged them poorly and they have paid the price. You would do well to heed my warnings. What you search for within these walls will bring you nothing but pain and suffering, just as she will if you continue to stand by her side. It is only a matter of time when her line is brought to an end. Do not let yours suffer the same fate. It is better to live peacefully in ignorance than to become burdened by the sins of the past." Reaching the Common Rooms entrance, Tom silently left the Deputy Headmaster behind. He sat at his desk, noting down the sections of the dungeons he had just searched, sighing as there was still much to search of the old Castle. He looked over the latest scores on his exams. If everything went as planned, he would be securing the position of Prefect within six months. When that happened, his ability to search the Castle would be greatly increased. The only concerns would be his fellow Prefects.
Of the current sixth year Prefects, Tom was certain it would still be Walburga and Gawain Fawley, as hecdoubted either of them would become the Head Boy or Head Girl and require a replacement. If he could secure their trust, his ability to search the Castle would be far improved. In the current fifth year Prefects, gaining Lucretia's favor would be a bit more difficult. Unlike Walburga, Lucretia exhibited a greater drive for excellence than cunning. She would rather do the assignments perfectly of her own effort than allow him to aid her, making her a tough person to work with. Cygnus, however, would be easier to convince as he was more fond of spending time with his friends and Druella Rosier. That just left the future female Prefect of his year. As of right now, the ones best suited for the role would be Druella herself, who was ambitious but not overly so when compared to her older cousin, and Lilith von Schwarzwald. Between the two, Lilith was certainly the favorite. Though her grades were limited by her apparent lack of practical prowess with magic, her academic record was spotless. Add to that the level of trust that she had built with the other students, especially the younger years, and the matter was practically settled. Was that why Dumbledore was trying to seperate them? Because he suspected that she might be nominated as a Prefect by Slughorn, or did his animosity run deeper than that? Tom wasn't certain.
Tom also wasn't sure what Lilith's goals were beyond her claims to wage war against Grindelwald and his allies. He suspected that she was interested in strengthening the positions of the Blacks within Hogwarts, potentially earning their favor beyond the Castle. If Tom were to get her to side with him, the combined strength of the Blacks, Notts, Malfoys and their own allies would be a force to be reckoned with. Lilith's own circle of friends extended further into the Ravenclaws, with the Moons. Which left the question as to whether or not she could be trusted. Prefects tended to be paired for patrols with their yearmates, with it being more common with housemates. If he wanted to search the Castle after curfew, she would be of greater help as a confidant. Was that something that she was engineering or was it a coincidence? Tom wasn't sure. What was certain is that he needed to spend more time with her, getting to know the person beneath the smile and the confidence. If they could build a relationship on trust, it would go a long way in securing his hopes and dreams. As Tom prepared for bed, he kept thinking about how to build that relationship, not realizing that he was no longer seeing it as an if but a when.
-✦-
Apparating to just outside the edge of town, Lilith navigated her way through the snow covered streets. She could see some of the people out and about, eyeing her and her more masculine choice of winter resistant clothes oddly, as an adolescent walking the cold and windswept streets in a town far removed from the more civilized sections of Britain. Getting the aid of both the local constabulary and the mayor, she was eventually driven up the long and unpaved roads leading up to a Manor, the drive passing by a small caretaker's house and a graveyard, its gravestones and the names of the deceased hidden from sight by a thin layer of snow. The owner of the car waited for her in the roundabout before the Manor's front door as Lilith made her way to the door and knocked on it calmly. The door opened and a young woman with light reddish brown hair and green eyes looked at her oddly. "May I help you?" Lilith nodded, her breath visible as she spoke. "Happy Holidays. I am here wishing to speak with Thomas Riddle, the owner? I had a chat with the mayor who informed me that the Manor was the best place to verify the current extent of the property lines in the area. He gave me copies of the one's held in town but warned me that it was better to check here, as the Manor's records go farther back and would help me avoid any unpleasant legal battles."
The woman gave her an appraising look, her frown making it clear she wasn't impressed, but her duties as one of the Manor's hands seemed to win out. "If that isn't your vehicle, then you can send them on their way. You may step inside and out of the cold." Waving the constable to be on his way, with Lilith remembering his name to add to her Christmas List for his wonderful hospitality, she stepped into the foyer of Riddle Manor. She had to say it was a surprisingly beautiful place. The walls were a comfortable mix of colors with cream and burgundy going well with the dark oak pillars and trimmings. The home felt warm and comfortable, which made her feel a bit sad. This could have been Tom's home, instead of the streets of London and an Orphanage. Though if the Riddles were the more religious type, then it was still a toss up. "Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live" was very much still part of the King James' Bible. Taking off her cloak and folding it around her arms, Lilith's eyes took in the rest of the foyer and the paintings down the corridors. It reminded her more of Grimmauld Place… after she and Sirius cleaned it up. That place still gave her nightmares with how unlivable it was for most of her first summer with her Godfather.
"It is rare to see visitors this far out of the way at this time of year." Lilith turned and looked at the aging figure descending down the stairs with the aid of a cane. He was clearly still quite young, probably in his sixties, with his hair still combed and slicked back. It made her feel odd as he looked like a much older Tom. He was certainly quite handsome. Bowing her head softly, Lilith responded to him. "My apologies for disturbing you, sir, in such a season, but my time free from my studies makes travel nearly impossible. As I informed your aide, I was curious to know if I could see your copy of the property lines for Little Hangleton. I have an interest in buying a plot of land or a decent property far removed from the noise of London or the other major cities and have been enquiring of the availability of land in these sparsely populated regions." The man reached the ground floor and held himself up well, with barely any weight on the cane, meaning it was more for balance's sake than difficulty walking. The man looked her over, noting her dress shirt and vest with some interest. "A bit young to be searching for a home, wouldn't you say my dear?"
Lilith gave him a sad look. "I am all that is left of my family, I am afraid. My name is Lily Dominik. My grandmother was from England and left my father an inheritance. My family is a bit continental, with my father being half Austrian and my mother Polish. With Hitler's forces all over the continent and my parents murdered…" Thomas gave her a sad look. "I see. I am deeply sorry for your loss. Why don't you leave your coat with Madeline here and we can go see the property maps in my study." Following the man up the stairs and through the corridors, they eventually entered an old but beautifully decorated study, with statues, photographs and even a painting of a horse covering the inner wall. "You do much riding in your youth, sir?" The man sat down and placed his cane against the desk. "I still do in the summers. Though it's harder now since my last horse and I had an accident. Now let's see…" The man dug into a drawer and pulled out a tall but thin book, which when opened revealed the property lines of the region drawn over parchment, marks indicating lines that were added or removed possibly going back centuries. "What are you looking for exactly, Miss Dominik?" Lilith hummed to herself as she searched the maps. "One large tract of land with some thinner strips that connect to the town. Utility and roads are a lot more important now and they need to be considered when procuring land."
Thomas chuckled. "That it is. We have our own troubles here with that. While the Manor has running water, electricity is still not available. We have been trying to get the necessary land to pass the cables through in a less unseemly way, but some holdouts have refused to sell." Lilith looked away from the map. "Are there plenty of families here with strong ties to the land that would oppose a purchase?" Thomas shrugged. "A few but most are further away from the town. Biggest headache we have here are the Gaunts." Lilith looked over the map, doing her best not to respond to the name Alexander had given her. "Are they the type to be a danger to others? I am looking for some peace and quiet, not for me and my future family to get mugged on their way to town." Thomas shook his head. "The Gaunts aren't as interested in bothering anyone so long as you stay clear of their current property… and any of the land they used to own before they were forced to sell due to debts." Lilith nodded. "And where would these lands be?" Thomas pointed at a thin strip of land that certainly was closer to town than the road her driver was forced to take. "Right here, though trouble will be less often now. Old man Marvolo passed on and no one has seen Merope since she and my son had a tryst. Only one left is Morfin, whose release from prison for attacking a government worker from London didn't seem all that effective in reforming him."
Lilith looked at the other sections of the maps. "If I wasn't able to get these connecting properties, where are some natural water sources in the area?" Thomas pointed to a few sections known to house wells and even an area where the larger water utility pipes ran through, where a request for the government to make an extension would be possible. Lilith noted all of these down, including the acres and the distance from the town, before Thomas invited her to sit for tea. The two walked down to a sitting room on the ground floor with a chimney and talked about the area and its history. When the subject turned to children, Lilith noticed that Thomas turned pensive. "I am sorry if I offended you. I can imagine the prospect of passing on this house and all its history weighs heavy on your mind." Thomas Riddle nodded. "It does. My son is my only heir, you see, and while he pursues the women of the town, none have found him appealing. He has taken to visiting nearby counties but he still struggles." Lilith tried to think how best to touch on the subject. "You mentioned he had a tryst with this Merope Gaunt. Could it be the source of his difficulties finding love?"
Thomas sighed. "Hard to say. Tom curses her name every once in a while, calling her a witch and other vile things. I met the girl myself a few times. She was certainly not the most beautiful but she was a shy and caring girl. She always made sure that our horses and men had water when we rode by the shack they called a home. Marvolo was not a kind father to her and I can't imagine Morfin was a good brother either. I would not have been opposed to Tom and her but whatever occurred between them has stained my son's view on women. He expects they will all be these monstrous and duplicitous sorts. I would say you would be a fine match, but you are far too young." Lilith blushed softly as she raised her cup of tea. "I am afraid I am indeed too young. I am not innocent enough to not know the minds of men but I am not interested in pursuing a man simply to provide them with a child." Thomas chuckled. "My wife would certainly have liked you. She was a spirited woman who loved to ride. A woman of the hills and the wind." Lilith chatted with him pleasantly and provided him with her mailing address. She left the Riddle Manor pensive, wondering what she might be able to do to help both Tom and Thomas. Maybe, just maybe, there was something here worth working towards.