As Delilah turned on the spot, Kings Cross warped away from her, as well as the girl. Before she could process, everything went black. Delilah was being pressed from all directions, she couldn't breathe. It felt like iron bands were tightening around her ribs, constricting her lungs. Her eyes were being pressed into the back her head as her ear drums were being pushed deeper into her skull.

The feeling came and went in the blink of an eye.

Falling to the ground, her hands and knees pressed into a plush rug with a fanciful embroidered design.

A hand was suddenly on her back and she flinched, but when a wave of cigarettes hit her she went still. Tom pulled her into a sitting position on her knees, brushing the hair out of her face and placing his hands on her cheeks, willing Delilah to look at him.

"Hey, what's wrong?" The concern of something went poorly during her apparation occurred to mind, but there didn't appear to be any signs of splinching. Thank Merlin.

Taking deep breaths, Delilah focused on the warmness of his eyes, they appeared to be more open in that moment.

Then she remembered the girl, that bloody red headed Hufflepuff with the Sight.

She desperately wanted to tell someone. Badly. Desperately. Why was this urgency hitting her now? After months. She felt like she was going to explode.

Part of her yearned to tell Tom, get his unique perspective, however she knew she couldn't.

"Nothing. Sorry, just dizzy."

He gave her the look indicating he didn't believe her, but with the narrowing of her eyes, he dropped it.

Since Tom didn't appear to be helping her up any time soon, Elio made his way over and offered his hand.

Smiling at him, he tugged her up lightly and held onto her arms as she caught her balance. "Let's get you a cup of tea."

"Whiskey would be better," she muttered. Her mind was reeling, what the hell was that girl doing at Kings Cross? Had she been following Delilah this whole time without her knowing?

"None of that," Tom chided, "we both know alcohol isn't your friend."

Slapping his arm, Delilah didn't need nor want to remember that dreadfully embarrassing night she showed up to his dormitory. "Shut up."

Having been so preoccupied since she arrived, Delilah had failed to notice the beauty of the foyer they were in. Cain opened large glass doors with gold encrusting that lead out onto a balcony. It was fashioned white marble, intricately carved and flowers seemed to envelope any empty space.

Stepping out, a breeze shifted through her hair and the smell of salt surrounded her. "Where are we exactly?"

"Étretat, it's a small commune, we're on the north coast of France." Lolita let her fingers drift over the flowers, the pedals feeling soft against her palm. "It's beautiful here, you'll love it."

The girls shared a smile and Lolita looped her arm with Delilah, "c'mon, I'll show you around the manor."

Everyone split up when they left the foyer, wanting to pick their favorite room for themselves. Delilah was in awe in each hall she was led down. Everything was so bright yet warm here, a stark contrast to both Avery's Manor and the Malfoy Manor.

The walls were a soft creme white with gold crusting, paintings hung every ten feet, all beautiful portraits or landscapes. The floors were a dark hard wood, and running throughout the middle was a light gray, almost purple carpet with gold weavings.

By the time they got to the third floor, which is where all the rooms resided, Lolita broke off to join Cain to do who knows what. Though the cheeky glint in his eyes left little to the imagination as his fiancé pranced into their shared room.

Shaking her head, she started to walk down the opposite way to find a room of her liking. Before she could make it five feet, someone took hold of her arm and pulled her into a dark space, shortly followed by the sound of a door closing.

"The hell-"

Suddenly candles came alight, casting the room in a warm orange glow and she was met with the amused expression of Tom looking down at her. Pursing her lips, Delilah smacked him on the chest, "stop doing that."

He simply looked at her, expectant.

Sighing through her nose, Delilah's eyes danced around the room in order to avoid his piercing gaze. It was gorgeous in here.

The light walls soaked in the orange hue of the many flames. The flooring was the same dark hardwood, but an elegant tapestry was spread out in front of the fireplace, which had a massive mirror hanging above it. Pushed against the center of the back wall was a massive bed draped in fine, red silk. It was strikingly vibrant against the white walls. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, which was also encrusted with corinthian like leaves.

A bookshelf was split in two on either side of the bed, filled to the brim with novels and magical books. Next to the large windows, which had heavy white-golden drapery blocking out the sun, was a dark wooden desk that already had scrolls and more of Tom's research spread out.

On the left wall were massive French doors that opened to the bathroom and closet. From what she could see, white marble ran throughout it and there was a large tub fashioned from the same material but with golden lining.

Willing herself to look at him, his expression hadn't wavered. There were so many things she wanted to tell Tom, but she never could.

"I told you, I got dizzy."

"Of course."

The door then swung open and they were met with Aleksander, Olive, and Pyrrhus. Olive whistled as she peaked her head in, "of course you two would get the best room."

Delilah's brows furrowed at the suggestion her and Tom would be sharing a room. Before she could open her mouth, Pyrrhus was already speaking, "never thought I'd see the day when Riddle is finally with a girl, let alone sharing a room like this. I mean look at that bed."

Delilah flushed at his comment, her cheeks nearly felt on fire. Tom's eyes hadn't wavered from her and that made it much worse. Aleksander patted Pyrrhus on the back, "it's about time, though. Honestly, it's been getting a little old watching you two."

Seeing the girls obvious discomfort, Olive hid a smile as she began to tug the two boys out of the doorway. "Right, sorry. We'll leave you to it."

"There's nothing-" Delilah's sentence didn't have a chance to finish as the door clicked shut. Rubbing at her eyes, she could nearly feel the heat radiating off her cheeks. "That was down right embarrassing."

"What was?"

Looking up, Delilah was nearly surprised at the obliviousness on his face. "They- never mind Mr. Spock."

"Who?"

Delilah pressed her lips together and her hands rested on her hips as she stared at him, "oh, it's so fitting." She sighed slightly and began to make her way towards the door.

"Gather everyone in the drawing room," he called and Delilah spun on her heel. "Why?"

"Business needs to be attended to," he made his way over to the desk, beginning to rifle through his papers as he muttered a few things to himself quietly.

Delilah opened her mouth to protest but stopped short. He was right, no time should be wasted.

However he noticed her silence and pinched the bridge of his nose before resting his hands on his desk, the room already smelt like peppermint and the painful reminder of potions class hit him. "What is it?"

"Nothing."

Rolling his shoulders slightly, Tom turned and leaned against the desk, shoving his hands in his pockets as he looked at her. The way she seemed to glow in the candlelight was a fascinating sight. "We've known each other long enough to tell when the other is being untruthful."

Pushing off the desk, his long legs carried him across the room swiftly and he stopped half a foot in front of her. "What do you want to say?"

"No, it's stupid."

"Delilah."

Damn him. "I wanted a bit of freelance time before we dove straight in. I want some time to enjoy myself before, y'know." She cleared her throat, not allowing herself to say it out loud. Soon she'd be gone, back in her own time, never seeing any of them again. Never seeing Tom again.

She might see Voldemort, in fact it appears inevitable. Would knowing him now, in this time, make facing him more difficult or easy? Delilah was sure she knew him more than anyone in the whole world, but on the other hand Voldemort is a complete different person, a creature.

That also gave her an even greater incentive to take him down, he's destroyed everything beautiful about himself.

"You're right though we should," she stopped speaking when she noted he was biting his cheek and he looked like he was struggling to say something. Which was a bit disconcerting, he always knew what to say.

After a lengthly pause, Tom having a full on mental debate with himself, he pulled one hand out of his pockets and ran it through his hair. "Alright."

"What?"

"Alright. We can get started tomorrow morning."

Delilah raised a brow at him, her eyes searching his for an explanation. "But you said-"

"I changed my mind."

"You never change your mind."

"Lately, that appears to be all I've been doing." Most of it was her fault, too.

Delilah eyed him for a moment before nodding, "alright."

"Alright."

She began to back away towards the door, he was acting weird, the air felt tense. "I'll just fetch the others then."

He waved her off and turned his back to go back to his desk, "do what you like."

Biting her own cheek, Delilah couldn't stop thinking about how she's going to deal with losing Tom Riddle when she gets back to her own time. She wanted to kill Voldemort, she wanted to make him bleed to remind him of the human he had decimated. The wonderful and charming, yet infuriating Tom Riddle.

She opened the door but paused, closing her eyes tightly, she turned and cleared her throat. Tom rolled his eyes and looked over his shoulder with a brow raised in impatience.

"What about you? What're you going to do?"

Tom shrugged and gestured to his mess of a desk, "I have studying to-" he stopped when she groaned rather dramatically.

"Tom we've literally just graduated, put your damn books down just this once and have some fun." There's a brief pause and she didn't know if she liked the way he had looked her up and down.

"What? With you?"

Not allowing that to offend her, Delilah raised her chin and let a smile spread across her lips, "yes, with me."

"No."

Scrunching her nose, her shoulders fell in disappointment. "Why not?"

Tom opened his mouth to retort but quickly reached the conclusion he didn't have a justifiable reason. His silence was met with Delilah's grin and he huffed slightly before closing his journal.

Damn her.

He rolled his neck, a sight she was not prepared for, and he began to walk towards the bathroom. "What do you have in mind, Pontmercy?"

Absentmindedly following him through the bathroom and into the massive closet, she held up her index finger. "First, no more calling me Pontmercy, it's Delilah you piece of shit."

He raised his brows at her while he was rifling through his shirts, her swearing was always an amusement. "Second, I don't know. Exploring. Have you ever even been to France?"

"Twice."

Raising an arm, her fingers danced over all his shirts, the fabric was so soft. "Did you ever even leave the manor grounds?"

With his lack of a reply she dropped her arm and turned towards him, "thought so. Get dressed, meet me at the main staircase in fifteen minutes."

She began to walk out, elated she was getting to have a bit of free time for once.

"Ten minutes," Tom called and she turned around and felt her eyes go slightly wide. He was halfway done undoing the buttons of his shirt, his lightly toned chest peaking through.

A blush lit her cheeks on fire and she scolded herself, this isn't the first time she's seen him shirtless. Rocking on her feet for a second, she muttered a "fine" before whirling around and leaving out the door.

Unaware of the cocky grin he was sporting.

However as he heard his door shut, his lips fell into a near frown and his movements paused. She'd be leaving soon, for good according to her.

Tom hadn't been allowing himself to think about it, whenever he did it made his chest feel tight to the point of it being nearly painful. He didn't understand.

Shaking his head, he shrugged off his shirt and carelessly tossed it behind him. Even if she did return home, why would that make her incapable of ever seeing him- no.

Why would that make her incapable of ever seeing any of her friends again? Surely she'd want to visit Elio. Despite them breaking up, they remained rather good friends.

He undid his pants and they fell to the floor in a heap, causing Tom to kick them off to the side as he searched for a decent outfit.

Although at the thought of Elio never being able to see her again didn't cause Tom too much strain. However, he knew the boy meant something to Delilah, and having that being taken away from her felt wrong.

Yet there she was, severing herself from them all by her own choice. Did she really care for them so little?

Her parents resided in France, her home she kept rambling about.

Were they perhaps controlling? He shook his head again, for one Delilah was legally an adult, she could leave home and use whatever magic she pleased. Plus, controlling Delilah didn't seem remotely possible. If he couldn't do it, surely no mediocre wizards could.

Tom didn't think she'd mind him insulting her parents, she even said her relationship with them wasn't the best. At that thought he froze as he began to button up a new shirt.

If she had such a poor relationship with her parents, why on earth was she so keen to get back to them?

"Delilah Pontmercy," He said to himself as he walked into the bathroom, fixing his hair a bit in the mirror.

"You are the only mystery worth solving."

_________________________________

Tom was leaning against the railing, looking at his pocket watch as it ticked down the seconds. There was a thump followed by a hushed curse. Looking up, he was restraining a smirk at the sight of Delilah hopping on one foot and she tried to get her shoe on.

"How lady-like."

"Shut the fuck up."

Finally getting her blasted shoe on, Delilah blew the hair out of her face only for it to fall back in her eyes. Giving up as she made her way towards him, she put it up in a messy knot of golden hair.

Snapping his watch shut he began down the stairs, Delilah right behind him.

It was odd seeing Tom in more casual wear. He wore a thin white shirt, the top three buttons undone due to the summer heat, and they were tucked into his dark grey trousers.

She could get used to the sight.

"Well don't you two look fetching."

They stopped just as they reached the foot of the stairs. Looking to their left, Aleksander and Olive were looking at them with a suggestive gleam in their eyes.

"Olive, hey." Delilah herself was looking between the two, they were standing rather close and though it was hard to make it out from her perspective, she was sure Aleksander had a hand on her back. She knew he fancied Olive, but she didn't know if any progress had been made.

Other than that observation, Delilah didn't know what to do with herself and her friend got the hint. Olive gave her a wink, "I like your summer dress, trés chic."

Delilah found herself blushing for the millionth time that day at the glint in Aleksander's eyes. Clearing her throat, she twirled her necklace and muttered a thank you.

A barely audible sigh left Tom's lips, he was tired of being interrupted. "We don't have all day."

Olive gave them a smirk before looping her arm with Aleksander and disappearing down some corridor.

"Where to?" He asked as the massive oak doors shut behind them.

"Lolita said the main part of town is down that way, as well as the beach." He nodded and began to turn on his heel but her arm shot out to stop him from apparating. "No, I want to walk." Her tone suggested no room for argument and he halfheartedly gestured for her to lead the way.

The walk was short, only about fifteen minutes, the cobblestone road making an easy path. The main part of town was busting with tall and narrow buildings, people weaving throughout the crowd with a destination in mind. Along the boardwalk families and couples could be seen enjoying the beach.

Delilah pointed out a small bakery that she wanted to visit and Tom begrudgingly bought some bread and cheese for an early and makeshift dinner. They ate as they walked along the boardwalk, Delilah wanted to go down to the beach but Tom refused, saying how much of a nuisance sand was.

However as they walked, he noticed the ocean air somewhat smelt like her, even how the breeze felt.

They weren't paying too much attention to where they were walking, taking blind turns down streets and cutting between buildings. Delilah was rambling about how her brother once choked on a crepe when she suddenly stopped walking. Tom looked at her for an explanation, following her gaze his eyes landed on an old house.

It was incredibly old. That wasn't all however, he himself suddenly felt enraptured. There was a pull to it, an aura that made one yearn and want to come closer. It felt like magic.

Delilah craned her neck up and down the street, but it was empty. The only two things that seemed to exist in the world in that moment was the house and them.

They look at each other then, both being able to realize the insatiable curiosity felt deep in their bones. "What do you suppose this place is?" She asked, hurrying after Tom since he was already making his way up the steps. His mannerisms appeared to be that of an excited child.

"I haven't the faintest clue," he mumbled while his wand pointed in multiple directions, checking for wards and any other forms of security that may be hiding.

Despite his curiosity, he was still cautious. This place felt different, more, dangerous. With Delilah at his side, Merlin knows something could go disastrously wrong.

Oddly enough, the old house appeared to be harmless. So what was it's source? Tom tried the doorknob and it creaked open, the movement causing dust to waft up into the air inside.

Delilah followed him in shortly after, her eyes dancing around the dark and damp home. It had obviously been abandoned for a long time. There was a build up of grime on the windows and the furniture had a thick layer of dust making everything appear grey.

That ache in her chest felt like a punch when she passed the entrance of a narrow hallway. Backing up, the dark hall looked daunting yet inviting all at once, calling her to walk forward, to come look at see.

"What are you?" She whispered, her voice bounced between the cracks in the floor, the boards wailing with each step forward.

Was this the source of magic that drew her attention in the first place? It had to be, but what was it? She knew she should probably call out to Tom, have him accompany her, but Delilah felt intoxicated.

When she reached the end of the hall, there were two doors, one on each side of her. Both were also opened, but what was inside was a mystery, it was pitch black. Delilah made to grab for her wand, but a bright blue light lit up on her left.

There was something alluring about the light, something nearly seductive. Like the gentle touch of a lover with a hand on her waist, Delilah felt herself being guided, drawn, dragged towards it.

She felt no fear.

The deeper she went into the room, the more she was able to take in. However the room was strange, the floor seemed to be like damp rock, and looking forward- though she had to squint her eyes due to the light- she realized the walls were stone too, but directly across from her there seemed to be an opening that led somewhere yet nowhere.

As she continued to stare into the black void in front of her, a chill ran up her spine.

"Tom!"

What appeared to only be second later, he came running through the door with his wand at the ready, worried something had happened to her. His eyes quickly raked over Delilah, making sure she was alright. Once he realized she was fine, he then finally paid note to his peculiar surroundings.

It looked like they were in a cave.

Standing next to her, he too felt drawn to the empty expanse in front of them, in fact it was almost like he couldn't look away.

Delilah narrowed her eyes, the longer she looked the more she could've sworn she saw something move. "What?-" her eyes then widened and she felt so dizzy she nearly fell over, Tom quickly caught her so she wouldn't hit her head on the rock. "What's wrong-"

"How are you here?" Her voice sounded so terribly troubled and Tom furrowed his brows, wondering what she meant. But the longer the looked at her, he came to realize she wasn't speaking to him.

Following her gaze, she was looking at the black expanse in front of them. "Who're talking to?"

Delilah was suddenly sweating and she turned her head towards Tom too quickly, her vision swam, but she couldn't find her words. Looking back towards the wall, she gaped at the sight of her brother.

He looked... wrong. It was like someone tried to define a permanently blurred image.

"How are you here?" She gasped out, stumbling up to her feet and tearing herself away from Tom.

"I came looking for you, everywhere, for months." Harrison gave her a smile, it looked pained and only then did she notice his teeth were stained with blood. He also had two black eyes, a deep gash in his lip and on his cheek, and he was clutching his arm.

"Oh my god what happened to you?" She wanted to move forward but she was in shock, she felt frozen.

"I searched. And I searched. The closer I seemed to get you'd suddenly be yanked away. Where were you? Why were you hiding from me? From us? Why would do that?" His tone seemed to grow a slight bite and she involuntarily flinched.

"I wasn't hiding," at the doubtful look in Harrison's eyes, she felt her throat tighten. "I wasn't! I would never do that."

Harrison shrugged but then winced due to his apparent broken arm. "It doesn't matter now. Not now that's he's involved. You've no idea what he's planning he's-" Harrison suddenly looked to his left but Delilah couldn't see anything.

"Oh god no I wasn't- Delilah you have to help me! Please! The things he puts me through please!" Her brother began to cry out, she's never seen him look so broken.

She took a step forward but Tom had grabbed onto her arm. Delilah had forgotten he was even there. "Let go of me."

"I don't think-"

"Delilah please, don't let him take you away from us, from me again. Please! He's the one who did this to me!"

Anger flared in her heart, "who?"

He shook his head and gulped, "I can't tell you that. If I did he'd do the same to you. He can't. Please help me."

She nodded her head and began to step forward but Tom yanked her back. "Let go of me!"

"He's done he same to mum and dad, and Blaise, Merlin what he'll do to Harry! Delilah please, it hurts so much."

At the mere thought of her family and friends being beaten and tortured she tried to rip herself out of Tom's hold. Why was he trying to hold her back?

"Delilah stop," Tom's voice echoed and bounced off the walls to loud it made her ears ring, but she had formed tunnel vision on her broken brother and there wasn't a thing on earth that would stop her from getting to him.

She hasn't seen him in months, she doesn't even remember the last time she hugged him.

Delilah broke free from Tom's hold and felt elated at the sight of her brother opening his arms to her, even after all these months he forgave her. He searched for her, endlessly, he never gave up.

Her world spun however when Tom lifted her up from behind by her waist, attempting to drag her back towards the door but she began to kick and thrash, screaming violently for him to let her go.

"No, I need to go to him!"

Tom's mind was reeling, he's never seen Delilah in such a state. Her face was contorted into fury and worry, she was sweating and with each blow to his body there was a profound ache.

"I need him! Let me go!" When she nailed him painfully hard in the ribs, knocking the wind out of him, his grip loosened slightly but he made sure to hold on. He had to.

How her body was thrashing it would appear she was under the cruciatus curse, her body was jerking so terribly. "My family, did you not hear him, look at him for fucks sake! Let me go! He needs me to take him home! I need this to happen, he needs my help!"

Tom was panicking, which was never a good thing because it caused his mind to go all foggy. He didn't know what he could possibly say to calm her down, he felt like apologizing but didn't know what for. Watching her like this was painful.

"Harrison I'm so sorry!" Her voice cracked and Tom was sure all this screaming made her throat feel on fire. His ears were ringing, due to the structure of the curved walls, it sounded as if a banshee was being murdered.

"Let me go!" She punctuated the last word as she threw her head back, her skull smashing into Tom's nose with a crack and he dropped her to the ground. Delilah didn't pay any mind as the ragged stone cut into the palms of her hands and her knees.

She staggered up but only managed to take a single step forward before Tom hand grabbed onto her arm again. A bloody, and possibly broken nose, was the least of his worries at the moment.

"Stop-" The word barely passed his lips when she punched him in the cheek, hard. She struggled out of his grasp but Tom managed to tackle her to the ground.

Delilah turned, with the added pressure of Tom on top of her the stone tore through her dress and ripped into her skin, she didn't care, all she could think about was her brother who had been calling for her incessantly.

Tom spit the blood out of his mouth and pinned her to the ground, the stone cutting into his own knees.

With one hand he managed to pin her wrist down, and with the other he grabbed onto her chin to tear her eyes away and look at him.

"He isn't real," she yanked her head back, causing it to hit the floor and he winced for her but pushed on, gripping her chin again. "He isn't real. Delilah, he isn't here."

"Why would you say that? Yes he is, he's," she tore her chin out of his grasp again and looked at her brother, he had tears welling in his eyes and he began to scream out in pain. "Look at him! How could you see that and tell me he's not real," she began to struggle against Tom again and he clinched his jaw.

"Why are you trying to keep me away?" His head was ringing with her yelling.

"There's no body there, look. Really look, out of the corner of your eye do you see anyone?"

"Stop trying to-"

"Look!" His voice tore through his throat, bouncing off the walls in a painfully loud and terrifying recession.

Delilah went still against him when she realized what tone in his voice was.

He was begging.

Tom Riddle doesn't beg, he wouldn't even beg for his life.

Delilah was shaking, she didn't want to believe Harrison wasn't actually there. After all the months he was finally within her grasp. Wherever he was, he was alive, hurt, but alive.

However she couldn't ignore the doubt starting to prick at the back of her skull.

She swallowed, the action was painful as her throat felt like sand paper. "How do I know you're real?"

Tom bit at his cheek for a moment before taking the hand that held her wrist and grabbing one of her hands, raising it to rest on his now bruised cheek. He held it there despite the sting and gave her hand a light squeeze. "I'm here."

Her eyebrows furrowed and she leaned her head back to look at the cave, it was empty, her brother was gone. She choked out a pained moan and squeezed her eyes shut, beginning to violently shake her head and mutter 'no' over and over again.

She just lost her brother all over again.

"I'm here," Tom urged, taking her hand and tugging her up into a sitting position. It was a bit difficult considering his legs were straddled over her but he made do and cupped her cheeks, willing her to open her eyes.

"Stay with me, Delilah. I'm real."

She felt so heavy in that moment. Letting her head fall forward, her face was buried in his chest and she sighed shakily as Tom wrapped his arms around her, it wasn't a hug. He was holding her, making her she didn't fall.

His chin rested on top of her as the black void stared at him, empty yet guilty of the torment it just caused Delilah. "Trust me."

She took a shaking breath, the warmness of it tickling his exposed skin. What was this place, this thing?

As Tom continued to stare into the void, rocking Delilah slightly until her breathing calmed down, the darkness seemed to slowly vanish.

His eyes narrowed in curiosity as a stone wall started to appear, and eventually it filled up the entire space. However that wasn't all, there was something engraved.

Looking down at her, he realized she'd stopped shaking. "Lilah, can you stand up?" He felt like asking her if she was alright would've been pointless, it looked like she'd just gone through hell.

She pressed her forehead against him for a moment, she liked it when he called her that. Delilah could feel his heart beat and she let the rhythm sink into her, an effort to calm herself and truly believe that he was real. "I think so," her voice was rough and he slowly helped her stand up, never letting go of her.

Once she got balanced, he gestured to look behind her. Delilah shook her head quickly, staring at him wide eyed, "I don't want to. I can't. What if I see my brother-"

"You won't. That's gone now, it's over. It's just a wall now with a door, but look." He turned her around and he watched as her features changed when she processed the words engraved into the stone.

"Bloodied hands may unlock the door, know the weight of your sins, and enter."

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Please VOTE & COMMENT if you enjoyed!!

So much for their first day of summer, lol.