Lenora's Love; A Tom Riddle Story

Dowries and Dark Marks

Nora was dipped back so hard she nearly fell over.

"Mr. Avery, there is no dipping in the Lindy hop!" she squealed.

"Left foot, change" she laughed as he spun her quickly.

"Dip her again dad!" Avery cried over the record music playing and he did almost dropping her.

  "May I cut in?" Black stood behind her smiling. Mr. Avery pretended to hem and haw handing her hand Black.

Lenora grinned as Black took her hand gently. He was quite the graceful dancer, following her directions until they were doing the steps flawlessly.

"Who knew you were such a great dancer" she laughed

You did he wanted to say.

The music changed into a waltz.

He glided her gracefully in the limited area of the hall they were in.

"Show off!" She heard Abraxas say as they spun.

"I saw you talking to my mother" Lenora the corners of her mouth quirked upwards, "Are we engaged yet?"she asked sarcastically.

Cygnus laughed and held her a little tighter, "No, she was only willing to give me two goats" their eyes met playfully, "I wanted to hold out, I know my worth".

She giggled I do too, she wanted to say but she didn't.

"Looks like I've got some competition," he gestured with his chin to Tom dancing with her mother who was laughing and blushing.

"Seems so" Lenora said without thinking.

Tom caught Nora's eye and winked making her blush wildly. Since when is he so flirty?

  Cygnus and her finished their second dance, and she felt a little faint. She excused herself to go sit on a chaise that was against the wall. Tom's eyes clocked her as she laid, looking unsteady.

   "Are you trying to get out of dancing with me?" he held his hand out.

"I'm a bit dizzy" she said sheepishly.

"I'll hold you up" his voice was low and soft, a flutter in her stomach crept up.

  She took his hand their eyes were locked, his arm snaked around her waist and he dipped her keeping himself close.

  Even though it was a waltz their dance was almost sultry, he kept his cheek pressed on hers.

"Tom, my parents..." she said blushing as he kept his hand low on her back pushing her against him.

"What's wrong?" His voice was sardonic, "Don't like it as much as your little muggle jig?"

She shot him a haughty look, "what exactly are you trying to prove?" she said in a harsh whisper looking up at him.

   He looked down at her and said nothing. Their proximity wasn't helping how dizzy she felt, she remembered the lust potion. The heat between her thighs she was feeling it again.

"Calm down you two," Abraxas teased and that broke the spell, and he quickly moved away back in regular waltzing position.

   When the song was over he brought her to the side of the room, "You need to go to bed Miss Rosier".

"I'm fine I just-" he held up his hand cutting off her words with a single gesture. He towered over her and moved his lips of her ear.

"That was an order" he said softly.

Nora's lips parted as she looked up at him surprised. He raised his brows back at her waiting for her answer.

  She bit her lip for a moment, "yes my lord" she said, wishing she had control over the growing heat in her body.

Tom stroked the side of her hair, "good girl" he said and kissed her hand goodnight.

Mulciber watched this exchange with intrigue. He stood next to Tom as he watched her ascend the stairs.

    "I see you've reined her in, my lord" Mulciber said a tad bit bolder than usual.

     Tom decided to let it go, "she's the least of my problems right now". Tom pointed with his eyes to Cygnus, who sat looking forlorn on the side.

  "You want to-" Mulciber lifted his chin, "remove him?"

"No... " Tom took a moment to think, "no, he's very useful. I just want him out of my hair for a while"

  Mulciber nodded quietly for a moment, "I think I have something actually".

  "Theo, Vieni qui" Mulciber called and Theo looked up from his drink.

"Lasciami in pace guastafeste" he yelled back.
Tom beckoned Theo over. He jumped up and walked over to them.

"Oh Mulciber, you know I can't resist you when you speak my native tongue" he said pretending to cuddle up to him. Avery looked up from where he was standing and made a face.

"Knock it off" Mulciber said his tone no longer playful.

"Well, what do you want?" Theo crossed his arms over his chest.

"Tell Tom what you told me about that old curse you read about" Mulciber spoke low, the three of them shifted to form a circle, "tenebris marcam".

  "Oh yea the dark mark!" He said as Mulciber hushed him, "I read about it in an old magical library in Spain, similar to a tattoo".

  Tom scoffed, "A tattoo? How mudblood" he blanched.

  "It can be used to summon people"  Theo said.
"How?" Tom's eyes began to swim with possibility.

"I don't know, I was thinking about maybe studying it but I'd have to go back to Spain" Theo sighed, "Lilith's gonna kill me I told her we would go on a trip to Rome when I got back home and-"

Tom looked at Mulciber understanding perfectly.

"Take her on that trip Theo" Tom put a hand on his shoulder, "I can send someone else".