Truly Yours (TomxLilith)

28

Third POV:

As the break came to a close, Lilith reflected on the past few days, surprised by how normal everything had felt. They'd spent hours in cozy cafés, sipping steaming cups of coffee while exchanging conversations. Their visits to the library became a ritual, filled with stolen glances. They played games and shared meals where she found herself enjoying his dry humor more than she expected.

The nights had been strange yet oddly comforting, a whirlwind of emotions as they found themselves sharing a bed. The sheets were soft and warm, but the space between them felt electric, charged with an unspoken tension that made her heart race. Every time she shifted slightly, she felt the heat radiating from him, as if he were a flame and she were a moth, instinctively drawn to but terrified of getting too close.

She had also come to learn that Mattheo was probably the only bright spot in Tom's family life. He had no mother and when she had innocently prodded about his father, Tom's immediate withdrawal spoke volumes—whatever his father was, it wasn't good.

This is good, she thought. The more she understood Tom's world, the more she felt the weight of her task pressing upon her. If she could find a way to reach the boy beneath the surface, maybe she could steer him away from the darkness that awaited him.

Time had slipped away from her, and with the lack of trains, she hadn't managed to return to her own home during the break and now was time to go back to school.

The familiar corridors of Hogwarts buzzed with the energy of returning students, and as Lilith stepped through the entrance hall, she spotted Pansy near the Great Hall, her expression a mix of annoyance and relief.

"Finally!" Pansy called out, rolling her eyes dramatically. "I thought you'd been eaten by trolls or something." She said as they hugged.

"Lilith! Pansy! Good to see yeh!" Hagrid bellowed, waving enthusiastically. He was holding a massive sack that appeared to be moving.

"Hey, Hagrid! What have you got there?" Lilith asked, eyeing the bag suspiciously.

"Oh, just a little surprise for the students," Hagrid replied, his eyes twinkling. "I've got some Blast-Ended Skrewts to show 'em! They're the best creatures ever!"

"Blast-Ended Skrewts? Isn't that a bit dangerous?" Pansy said, raising an eyebrow. "Do you want to scare the first years away?"

"Course not!" Hagrid replied, puffing out his chest. "They're perfectly safe... if ye know how to handle 'em."

"Perfectly safe?" Draco echoed skeptically from behind. "Is that what you said before you lost half your eyebrows last time?"

"Just a minor incident!" Hagrid waved it off. "They're more friendly than they look. Right, Skrewty?" He nudged the sack, and a loud screech echoed from within.

The group exchanged nervous glances, and Enzo muttered, "I think I'll pass on the 'friendly' creatures for now."

"Come on, they can't be that bad!" Theo chimed in, trying to sound brave. "I mean, what's the worst that could happen? Getting blasted halfway to Hogsmeade?"

Hagrid laughed heartily. "That's the spirit! Ye'll be fine! Just remember to stand back when they start to—"

Before he could finish, the sack burst open, and a Blast-Ended Skrewt leaped out, its stinger flaring menacingly. The creature skittered across the floor, causing students to shriek and scatter.

"Run!" Lilith shouted, barely stifling a laugh. Theo sprinted after the creature, trying to catch it while dodging the chaos around him.

"Wait, are we saving the Skrewt or trying to survive?" Mattheo yelled, dodging another frantic student.

"I'm saving the Skrewt! You lot can fend for yourselves!" Theo called back, his voice playful as he leaped to grab the creature.

"Good luck with that!" Pansy shouted, doubling over with laughter as she watched Theo chase after the squirming beast.

Hagrid roared with laughter, his eyes gleaming with pride. "Now that's the spirit! Just like my old days!"

Eventually, Theo managed to catch the Skrewt, holding it triumphantly as it wiggled in his grasp. "Got it! Now what?" He panted, grinning.

"Uh... maybe just put it back in the sack?" Enzo suggested, stifling a laugh.

"Right, good idea," he replied, carefully dropping it back into the bag, where it immediately began to thrash about.

Hagrid beamed. "That's the attitude! Ye've got a knack for creatures, Theo!"

~~~~

After the chaos with Hagrid and the Blast-Ended Skrewts, Lilith felt utterly drained. She barely made it to her room before she plopped onto her bed, the soft comforter welcoming her as sleep quickly took over.

Hours later, she stirred awake, disoriented. The clock on the wall ticked ominously, indicating it was past midnight. She sat up and  saw Pansy sleeping soundly, her hair a messy halo on the pillow. Lilith sighed softly, realizing that now she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep.

A nagging feeling in her chest reminded her of the warmth that was missing from her side. With a deep breath, she decided she needed to clear her mind. Throwing the covers aside, she slipped out of bed and made her way to the Astronomy Tower, the quiet hallways of Hogwarts echoing her footsteps.

As she stepped out, the cold air hit her like a wave. Snow was falling gently, blanketing everything in a layer of white. She shivered in her pajamas, wishing she'd thought to grab a warmer outfit.

Suddenly, she felt a coat being placed over her shoulders. Startled, she turned around to see Tom standing behind her. "Thought you might need this," he said, his voice calm despite the chilly air.

"Thanks," she replied, pulling the coat tighter around herself. "What are you doing here?" she asked, curiosity piquing her interest.

"Could ask you the same," Tom replied, leaning casually against the stone wall. His demeanor was relaxed, but she noticed the slight tension in his posture.

Lilith hesitated, contemplating her next words. "I just needed to get some air. It's peaceful up here."

"Peaceful?" He raised an eyebrow, glancing at the falling snow. "Looks like it's just cold. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were missing me by your side," he teased, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

Surprised by his teasing, Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? I missed you so much," she replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "I just couldn't sleep without your charming presence."

Tom shrugged, a slight smirk still on his face. "Glad to know I have such a profound effect on you."

Lilith let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "You're full of yourself, you know that?"

"Just stating the facts," he replied, feigning innocence.

As they sat together, watching the snowflakes drift down from the night sky, Lilith felt a strange mix of warmth and vulnerability. Hesitantly, she leaned her head against Tom's shoulder, half-expecting him to shrug her off or make a sarcastic remark. Instead, he stayed silent, allowing the moment.

A smile tugged at her lips as she felt the weight of his coat around her, the chill of the night softened by his presence. It was a small gesture, but it felt significant, a rare moment of comfort amidst the complexities of their lives.

"Looks like it's going to be a snowy night," she said softly, breaking the stillness but not wanting to move away from the warmth of his shoulder.

"Yeah," Tom replied, his tone neutral, but there was something in the way he didn't pull away that made her heart flutter.

They both remained quiet, taking in the beauty of the falling snow, each lost in their thoughts, but somehow connected in that serene moment.