Truly Yours (TomxLilith)

27

Third POV:

The library was one of Tom Riddle's favorite places—mostly because it was full of books and it was quiet. But today, it was a battlefield. He was currently trying to impress Lilith with his vast knowledge of Muggle studies, but all he was doing was making a mess.

"Seriously, Tom, you've used magic on everything to the point you've forgotten how to behave like a normal human," Lilith said, stifling a laugh as he stretched to reach a book on a high shelf. "Just use your legs like a normal person."

"I can't help it if the laws of magic make Muggle methods seem so... primitive." He made one last leap, grasping the book triumphantly. "Got it!"

But as he landed, he misjudged his footing and slipped, crashing backward into a precarious stack of books. The resulting thud echoed through the library, causing Lilith to double over in laughter.

"Brilliant," she wheezed, trying to regain her composure. "Just brilliant."

He sat up, dusting himself off. "I meant to do that, you know. Muggle gymnastics."

"Right, because nothing says 'athletic prowess' like falling flat on your back," she quipped.

The librarian's voice boomed across the library, echoing off the high ceilings. "You two! Stop right there!"

Lilith's heart raced. "Run!" she shouted, grabbing Tom's hand. Without a second thought, she pulled him away from the shelves, sprinting down the narrow aisles.

"Wait! You can't just—" Tom protested, but the urgency in her grip silenced him.

They burst through the library doors, nearly colliding with a couple of startled people. Lilith and Tom raced across the streets, dodging people and benches, the librarian's shouts fading behind them.

"Why did I let you drag me into this?" Tom huffed, his annoyance evident. "I could have handled it."

"Sure you could, if 'handling it' means standing there looking like a lost puppy," she shot back, laughing breathlessly as they reached the edge of a serene lake.

She collapsed onto the soft grass beside the lake. She lay back, staring up at the clear blue sky, trying to catch her breath.

Tom plopped down beside her, his expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Next time, I'll just let you take the fall for both of us," he said.

Lilith chuckled, glancing at him. "You'd love that, wouldn't you? Just watching me get scolded while you sit back and enjoy the show?"

She turned her head to Tom, who was quietly tossing stones into the lake. "You know, I never thought I'd be here, just hanging out by a lake with you," she said, trying to keep it light.

Tom glanced at her, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "Why's that?"

"Just... I thought you'd be busy with more important things," she said with a playful smirk. "You always seem so serious."

Tom shrugged, his focus returning to the water. "Sometimes it's nice to take a break."

Lilith propped herself up on her elbows, taking a chance to open up. "Honestly, it's kind of nice to get away from everything. My dad expects a lot from me, and it's exhausting."

"Expects a lot?" Tom echoed, his voice flat. "How so?"

"He wants me to be perfect—top of my class, never make mistakes," she replied, letting out a breath. "The pressure can be overwhelming. But being at Hogwarts has been a relief. I can actually breathe without him hovering over me."

Tom glanced at her, his expression still unreadable. "Sounds convenient."

"It is," she said, her smile softening. "My mom is alright, but she doesn't really get it either. At least I have my little brother. He's the one bright spot in all of it."

"What's he like?" Tom asked, still seeming mildly interested.

"Just a kid, really. Full of energy and curiosity," she said, her voice warming. "I love spending time with him. But I feel like I should be a better example for him."

"Why?" Tom asked, brow slightly furrowed.

"Because I got expelled from my last school," she admitted, her voice quieter. "My friends turned me in for practicing dark magic. They probably thought it was funny to rat me out. It's frustrating because I was just trying to figure things out for myself."

Tom raised an eyebrow. "You practiced dark magic?"

Lilith felt a surge of tension at his question, and she could sense that he was genuinely intrigued now. "No," she replied quickly, shaking her head. "That was a one-time thing. I got caught up in it and... I don't know. I was tempted, I guess."

"Tempted?" Tom raised an eyebrow, his expression serious. "What does that even mean?"

She sat up, trying to choose her words carefully. "It was just... I was curious. I wanted to see what it felt like. But when I realized how far I'd gone, I got scared. I didn't want to be that person."

He looked at her for a moment longer before looking at the lake again, his interest fading.

Lilith glanced at him, and spoke. "So, what about you? What are your parents like?"

Tom's expression darkened, and she could almost feel the wall go up between them. "My father is... not someone I care to discuss," he said, his voice clipped.

"But what about your mother?" she pressed gently. "What is she like?"

"I don't have a mother," he said flatly. "Never had one."

"Doesn't that bother you?" she asked, tilting her head, searching his face for any sign of emotion.

"Not really," he replied, his tone almost dismissive. "It's just how it is."

Lilith studied him, her heart sinking a little. How can he be so indifferent? The realization hit her hard. This is going to be harder than she thought. He's completely emotionally devoid. She sighed quietly, knowing that getting through to him would be a challenge.

"Right. Well, that's... something," she said.

As Tom shifted slightly, a small, torn piece of paper slipped from his pocket and fluttered to the ground. Lilith furrowed her brows in confusion and picked it up, turning it over in her fingers. The word "love" was scrawled across it, shimmering with an otherworldly glow that seemed to pulse in her hand.

"What is this?" she asked, looking at Tom, her curiosity piqued.

He frowned, glancing at the paper with a mix of confusion and irritation. "I have no idea how that got there," he admitted, his voice flat. "It's not mine."

Lilith studied him, trying to read any emotion behind his detached demeanor. "You're serious? You've never seen this before?"

"Why would I carry around a random piece of paper with that on it?"

She couldn't shake the feeling that it was important. "I think I'll keep it," she decided, tucking it into her own pocket. "It feels... significant."

Tom watched her with a raised eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "You think a random piece of paper is important?"

Lilith shrugged, feeling a strange connection to it. "Maybe. You never know what might come in handy."

He turned, looking away. "You're strange, you know that?"