A Sequel to Lenora's Lament. Spoilers below:
If you like a softer Tom Riddle this is for you. I think it's definitely a lighter story overall. You can read as a stand alone novel. If you need a summary of the first message me!
Lenora was Tom Riddles...
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She avoided Cygnus. Truthfully she didn't want to hear what he had to say. The owl sat on her desk.
Meet me at my parents house Saturday morning -Cygnus
Incendio. She watched it turn to ash and she sunk her head down into her hands.
Tom woke her up Friday morning, a rose dragged across her face and down her chest. When her eyes opened he kissed her lightly.
"Hello my darling,"he nuzzled her cheek.
"Good morning," she whispered back as he pulled her into his arms.
"I have a surprise for you tomorrow night".
Her arms wrapped around his neck and she grinned, "well what is it?"
He raised his brow at her,"you'll have to find out then" he teased, "I hope it makes you happy"
She wanted to cry she felt so lucky.
"You know I love you right?" She whispered in his ear.
He was perfect. Nothing Cygnus could tell her would change that. She loved Tom Riddle. No matter what.
"Hello lovely" Black opened the door looking sheepish.
"Don't start Cygnus"she smirked as she walked in.
"Tea?" She looked around at the Black family home. It was dark and moody. How appropriate. She thought.
"Please" she took a nervous breath.
Kreacher appeared scowling. She liked to think that she was more polite elves than most people. Kreacher however scared her.
He scowled at her as he handed her a teacup. This was not helping her nerves.
"Well..."she said," whatever it is you have to tell me". Nora turned her teacup on the table, "hurry up".
"Nora..."he took a drink.
"I'm meeting him after this," she spoke over him,"he has a surprise for me... he's so romantic".
Cygnus sighed as he watched her try to steamroll him.
"I'm so happy Cygnus" she huffed,"is what you're telling me more important than that-"
"Yes Lenora it-"
"I love him!"she smacked the table,"just remember-"
"Last year!" Black swallowed after interrupting, "Tom obliviated you."
She stared at him dully, "you called me here for a joke?"
"Nora." He took a breath," last year you and I sat in front of the mirror or Ersid and you told me you needed my help. You don't remember it.... You don't remember any of it!"
"You're not scared of Tom either" she said at last, "are you?" Black smiled down at his hands, "No, I don't supposed I am". Earnestly he put his hand in hers, "are you?" She blinked her tears back,"no..." she shuddered, "I'm scared of myself", He looked confused, "Nora?". "I just can't do it anymore" she cried her chest was heaving as she tried to suppress her tears. Blacks arms encircled her, his hug was tight "you don't have to hold it in, you can cry". She clung to him and he let her cry and scream. "I can't be strong anymore, I just can't" she had to breathe between sobs to make her words distinguishable, "I'm - so- ashamed". He dropped his head down on her shoulder, "You are strong Lenora, you are the strongest person I know". Her body shivered as her tears died down. "I can't carry it anymore Cygnus." he smiled as she whispered, she had never called him his first name before. "You don't have to" he said, "you can give some of it to me". She shook her head, "you don't want my secrets, The things I've done. The things that have been done to me". His head fell to the side as he looked at her, "I'll take whatever parts of you, you'll give me". Another tear fell down her cheek and he caught it. She took her wand and put it to her temple. Her eyes closed as she recalled the last year of her life. All of it, every painful moment. A long silvery thread pulled from her mind. Black held out his wand and she touched it to his, their eyes on each other as it absorbed into his wand.
Black led her to the pensieve, her hands were shaking, he dipped his wand in and released the memories she had given to him that night. Then he put in a memory of his as well.
It's a joke. She's going to put her head in, ruin her hair and it's going to be wrong.
Nora tried to steady her breathing before she went in. This couldn't be real. She looked at Cygnus, his eyes were so sad. So beseeching. She held her breath and plunged.
Everything.
The attack.
Tom healing her.
The depression.
Learning dark magic.
The bird.
Her with Tom. In the library. At the creek. Malfoy Ball. New Years.
She had already been a death eater.
The Chamber of Secrets.
She killed those boys, and then they.... There?
Her slowly slipping into madness
The night she told Cygnus everything
It went dark.
Then she was watching herself from Black's point of view.
Dueling Tom.
She was near unstoppable.
Theo. She almost killed him.
Tom and Abraxas telling the rest of the deatheaters she was obliviated.
Her hands gripped the side of the pensieve as she pulled herself up.
Pain pummeled through her, they all knew. Tom knew.
I want you to be my first time.
She had told him. Their date. Their love.
Everything. A fucking lie.
Her heart cracked open in her chest and was replaced by something else.
Rage.
Cygnus put his hand on her.
"Nora?"
She turned to him with a deadened expression. "Thank you Black. For showing me the truth.."
