Truly Yours (TomxLilith)

34

Third POV:

Days had passed since the tense encounter with Tom's father and everything had settled back to normality. Mattheo was healing well, his energy slowly returning, and Lilith had safely recovered the prophecy. For a brief moment, things felt normal again.

But she knew there was still one thing left to do. Dumbledore needed to be informed—he was the one person who could make sense of everything. He would know what to do.

Gathering her resolve, Lilith made her way through the bustling corridors. The castle felt reassuringly familiar, the chatter of students and the soft creak of the ancient floors steadying her nerves. With the prophecy tucked securely in her bag, she climbed the staircase to Dumbledore's office, her steps confident.

As she reached the door, she exhaled. Lilith stepped into the warmly lit office, the soft scent of old parchment and lemon drops filling the air. Dumbledore sat behind his desk, his twinkling eyes lifting from a book as she entered.

"Ah, Miss Lilith," he greeted with a gentle smile, setting the book aside. "What a pleasant surprise."

"Good afternoon, Professor," she said, her nerves easing slightly in his calming presence.

"Good afternoon indeed," Dumbledore replied, gesturing to the chair in front of him. "I trust you've been well?"

She nodded as she took a seat, the weight on her shoulders feeling a little lighter in his company. "Yes, things have been... settling."

"Good to hear," he said, eyes sparkling behind his half-moon glasses. "Now, what brings you here today, my dear?"

Taking a deep breath, Lilith finally began.

"Professor, there's... something I need to tell you," she said, her tone more serious now. Dumbledore's expression softened, encouraging her to continue.

"You know how the prophecy went missing? Well, it turned out Pansy was the one who took it. She didn't know what it was of course and tried to find it out with Mattheo." she explained, her voice steady as she recounted the events. "And somehow the prophecy ended up at his house."

Dumbledore leaned back slightly, listening intently, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Mattheo invited me over, and that's when I realized something was wrong," Lilith continued, her fingers unconsciously twisting together in her lap. "While I was waiting for him outside... I met him—his father." Her voice dropped a little, remembering the dark figure that had loomed over her.

Dumbledore's expression grew more serious, though he remained calm. "And what happened then?"

"He... toyed with us, like it was all some kind of game," she said, frustration flickering in her eyes. "Mattheo tried to get me out, but his father wouldn't let us leave. It... escalated quickly. He even used the Cruciatus Curse on Mattheo."

A flicker of something—anger, perhaps—crossed Dumbledore's face, but he remained composed. "And the prophecy?" he prompted gently.

"I managed to get it back," she said, exhaling in relief. "But it was Tom who stepped in and stopped... whatever his father had planned."

Lilith shifted uncomfortably in her chair, her brows furrowed as she tried to make sense of everything that had happened. She looked up at Dumbledore, her voice uncertain. "Who... who was that man? And what was his deal? The way he treated Mattheo, his own son... it was beyond cruel."

Dumbledore's expression darkened slightly, his blue eyes reflecting a weight far older than his years. "He is no ordinary wizard, Lilith."

Lilith's heart skipped a beat, but she pressed on. "What's his name?"