Lenora's Love; A Tom Riddle Story

Pain is a Price

Lenora felt faint, embarrassed and confused. Tom was in bed holding her, she sat between his legs lying on his chest.

She didn't know what had happened to get her to this point. Her hand and foot stung terrible and she felt like her head and lungs were split open and bleeding.

His fingers traced over her forehead gingerly, "I'm glad you're okay" is all he said and her eyes fluttered closed as she fell asleep.

Tom had Avery call Mulciber back who came right away. Avery tried to find Abraxas but had no luck. They all returned to their rooms and fell asleep except Tom.

When Lenora awoke, Tom was asleep in the chair next to bed. The sun had cast a beam of light across her face, she blinked it away and turned on her side towards the chair. She saw his legs sitting in the chair and her eyes crawled up his body slowly. Her head still rang like someone had split it open.

"Tom?" She said softly and he jumped awake.

He gave her a look that she couldn't quite decipher. Before she could say anything else he was busy at her desk, pouring liquids, measuring. The quiet tapping and clinking made the pain radiate throughout her body, she stuck her head under the pillow.

"Drink this" his voice was low and gruff. She didn't even bother to sit up, only roll on her side and take the small vial without asking its contents.

The pain in her hand and foot lessened, the ache in her head was at bay. Her whole body felt like it was at sea, she felt a little dizzy.

Nora looked at him wishing she could manage a smile. He had held her. He had taken care of her.

"Are you stupid?" He finally said as she hazily met his eyes.

"Tom I-" she began to explain but he cut her off.

"Are you fucking stupid!?" he said louder this time, "you could have died!"

She frowned, "well if you hate me so much, why didn't you just let me!?" She managed to make her voice a sharp shout. Weak, she felt so dizzy and weak. Why was he yelling at her? She did it for him.

Tom shook his head incredulously, "now I know you're stupid" he scoffed.

She began to cry, the pain still trickling throughout her body. He sighed and sat on the bed next to her.

"Do you hate me?" Her voice was small. Tom felt weakness creeping up in him again, he touched her cheek softly, letting his hand find its way in her hair. He rubbed her head and she closed her eyes.

"No" he touched under her chin, tilting her head up, "I don't hate you Nora".

Abraxas was back mid morning, "I found it! I found a book with the potion".

Tom looked up impatiently when he pushed the door open, he had given Nora a sleeping draught.

Avery had found him and told him she was fine but he kept looking for the book.

"It could have lasting effects" he said, "if she would have finished making the potion it wouldn't have affected her. But the combination of inhaling the poison and touching it before it was done" Abraxas took a deep huff it was clear he had run up the stairs and down the hall.

"Usually you can't lift or scoop the drink of despair so it's hard to find out what happens if it makes contact with your skin. It's like a scar of poison" Abraxas swallowed, "there's an antidote but she'll have to take it regularly".

Tom motioned for him to bring the book over. He read it and had Abraxas bring Black. They reread it and then grabbed Mulciber. The three of them brewed it while Abraxas dictated. They made a month's supply putting it in small vials.

"May I take it to her my lord?" Black said, "I wanted to-"

"Very well Cygnus" Tom said waving him off. Riddle was exhausted, he left the room and laid on his own bed. He usually only slept a few hours a night usually but after this ordeal, almost losing her. Tom slept for nearly 12 hours.

Tom? she thought, someone brushed her hair out of her face. Lenora didn't open her eyes but caught the hand.

"Hi" she said meekly.

"Are you in pain?" Her eyes snapped open when she heard the voice, shyly she let go of his hand.

"A little," she said, he had two vials in the hand.

"This is for the pain" he said handing her one. She tipped her head back and drank it.

"And the other?" She was leaning back on her pillow, still feeling weak.

Black sighed. He was not Tom. He couldn't lie to protect her, even if it was from herself. I respect her too much for that, he watched her face as he explained what Abraxas told them. She sobbed in anguish, he held her hand stroking over the scar. When she calmed down; he knelt beside the bed looking up at her.

"Why did you do it?" He asked gently.

"I wanted to prove myself" she said glumly, "I want to be a death eater".

He shook his head and opened his mouth to speak.

"Please, don't say anything" she begged, so he didn't.