Peculiar ~A T.R fanfiction~

Chapter 23 ~The Lethifold~

Julietta was sitting in her limousine with Tom next to her. To make the lie about finding the Lethifold more believable Tom decided to spend the holidays with her. People were rather shocked that they were actually spending the summer together. It did little to dispel the rumors that they were dating. At this point, the students didn't know if they were dating or just friends. It was impossible to tell as their interactions in front of people were quick and quiet. They spoke in low voices. Any interactions are when walking through the halls or in class. There is nothing bold or romantic between them unless it happening in the chamber.

Their plan was to take the flying limousine to one of Julietta's houses in London. Then they would apparate to Papua New Guinea. They would spend half of the summer holidays there and then the other half traveling from place to place. Julietta looked over to where Tom was sitting with a frown on his face. "Thomas put a smile on your face. We completed year 6. We have the whole summer holidays to spend together. Why are you so down?" asked Julietta, worried about her boyfriend. "I don't usually like the summer holidays. I hate going back there. Hogwarts is my home. I am just used to the dread I feel when returning there." he admitted.

"Thomas, I promise that you never have to go back to that place. I don't know what happened there, I hope one day you will tell me but it doesn't matter. Next year you are an adult and you can live where ever you want." Tom smiled at this and grabbed her hand. He thought Hogwarts would always be his home and in a way, it would always be his home, but over time Julietta became his home. A little part of him broke the day he destroyed Hogwarts. Without Hogwarts, he would have been nothing. Another part of him broke the day when he let Julietta go. He let her take off without ever saying goodbye. 

They arrived in London quickly and Julietta dismissed her chauffeur. She and Tom walked into the townhouse before Julietta grabbed his arm and quickly apparated them to Papa New Guinea. The house was large with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms. The library, like the house, was large and the villa had multiple home offices. It didn't have many decorations just large windows out to the stunning view. Tom took their things to the master bedroom while Julietta collected every book on the Lethifold. She had already seen one but she felt as though she owed it to Tom to show him one.

Clothes flew out of suitcases and into drawers when Julietta walked into the large master bedroom with a pile of books. "I've read this, this, and this," said Tom as he pulled books out of the pile and placed them on the bed. Julietta waved her hand and the books he pulled out flew back into their spots in the library. While Tom read the books in the lounge out of the corner of his eye he watched Julietta swim back and forth in the pool until all the books were read and Julietta was tired. That night the two went and sat outside. Since the animals had a taste for human flesh they figured they would see one soon enough but they didn't. After two sleepless nights later they saw a dark thing approaching them. The couple looked at each other both acknowledging that they had indeed seen the creature. Right before the animal got close enough to devour them Julietta preformed a patronus. The thestral chased away the Lethifold leaving two exhilarated teenagers. 

"Thank you, Julietta, I enjoyed that," said Tom and Julietta replied "Yes it was rather fun wasn't it. Now let's get some sleep, we haven't slept in three days." The two teenagers went to bed while they slept Tom's arm was wrapped around Julietta's waist in case she would slip away during the night. When Tom woke up Julietta wasn't there. Normally he would use magic or call for her but he was stressed and he panicked. He ran through the house searching manically for her until he ran into the library. There Julietta sat happily reading a book. Stopping he watched her happily read a book on Flavius Belby. "I was worried," commented Tom and Julietta looked up from her book. She had noticed Tom was staring earlier but she wasn't sure as to why. 

She noticed him still in his pajamas with a hoodie on. Julietta closed her book, stood up and made her way over to Tom. "I'm sorry. You did sleep until eight am. You do know that I'm not going away Thomas. I promise I'm not going anywhere. You have to learn that. Whether you hold me as tight as you can or not at all I'm not going to leave. Now go get dressed, I just read the most interesting thing I want to tell you." Instead of leaving like Julietta suggested, he hugged Julietta close to him. Slowly kissing her, Tom pulled her even closer to him. The two slowly separated and Tom had to drag himself away from Julietta to get ready.

Once Tom had gotten showered and dressed Julietta had written letters to both of her siblings and a few of her friends. The couple spent the rest of the week discussing the possibility of a cure to lycanthropy, reading, and the occasional swim.  Tom developed a habit of waking up earlier than Julietta then watching her until she too awoke. Never again did he let her wake up before he so he never had to go through the panic of seeing her gone in the morning. Tom let himself go, he got too relaxed, he got caught off guard. His vision was clouded with emotions and he wouldn't allow it to happen again. If Julietta ever did go missing in real life, next time he would be calculated and smart so he could get her back.