The high winds came up from the sea as the little cottage shuddered. The rain tapped loudly against the thin windows. It had been a few years since Tom had graduated from Hogwarts now, with this little home on a cliff being his temporary dwelling. Well, his and hers. He brought along an old schoolmate who had not only matched his intelligence, but beat him in Charms. Go figure. Charms was really more of a woman's craft, Tom justified. Beyond that she was smart; she had an air of wisdom that he appreciated. She didn't lie to make him feel better, and she didn't judge him either.
Tom had shown up in her life in London, and threatened her to follow him to Albania. It took a long while, persuasion, and threats before she finally agreed. Being the future Dark Lord, he would not have tolerated that from anybody else, but, she was good company. She was not happy about it, naturally, having been removed from her ailing parents, but Tom felt he was doing all that he could to make her happy.
He was lying in bed, listening to the rain come down, and to her moving about the house. Soon enough, the smoky woody smell of the fireplace pierced the room, like an old comfort, like it had at Hogwarts. He smiled to himself before he began to smell the coffee. That is what he was waiting for, and she knew it. He found his way out of bed, putting on his old slippers and putting a sweater on over his shirt. With a quick glance of the mirror, he ran his fingers through his hair and made his way down the creaky wooden stairs.
Lillian, the woman he now lived with, was standing over a pot on the stove, stirring. "Breakfast is almost done." Tom made his cup of coffee and waited for Lillian to bring his breakfast. He hadn't sat long before she carried out two plates with two bowls following behind her. Eggs, bacon and a sort of rice pilaf, it was one of his favorites now, except for the times she feels like making pancakes. "I trust you slept well last night?" He asked her as she sipped on her coffee. "I did thank you, and yourself?" He agreed. They always woke up with the formalities. She moved her long raven hair from her deep blue eyes. Tom took note of what she was wearing, the long loose sweatpants and a more formfitting long sleeved thin shirt. He enjoyed watching her now, that she wasn't always wearing the heavier robes from school that hid her figure.
As always, his breakfast was savory, and the warmth of the fireplace filled the house as the storm outside broke the silence. She ate, his eyes on her, and read a book, eyes darting across the pages. "So, what do you plan on doing today?" He asked, trying to make light conversation. "Well, I was planning on tending to the animals, and making a roasted chicken for lunch." She looked up at Tom. "Unless of course, there is something else you'd rather have me do today, I'd be happy to oblige." Her plump pink lips smiled at him. "No, that would be sufficient. I plan on taking things easy today. Perhaps I'll go across the water to Italy." He mused looking through her. "If you do go, do you mind picking up a few things for me?" She looked at him as if she were going to start begging him soon. He loved the look, it turned him on. He thought, many times, of ways he could make her beg.
It didn't matter though, he couldn't say no to her. He could never bring himself to say no to her. If he could, she wouldn't have any of the animals that she kept outside. She wouldn't have the luxuries in her room, such as her own bathroom, all of her clothes, and thick fluffy blankets. She was able to have her wand even, following the Tirana incident. He took away her wand, but allowed her to go to the capital city so she could shop for some groceries.
Being Tom, he followed. He watched as she interacted with the men and women selling their goods, strolling through the long streets. Tom had fallen so far behind, he barely saw her get accosted by three men. He pushed through the crowd as best he could to get to her. Turning into the ally, he saw the two smaller ones holding her, though her head rolled unconsciously. The largest sat between her open knees with his dick firm in his hand, rubbing her thighs. They never even saw Tom before they screamed in pain. Red eyes met them as they met a barrage of curses. Tom couldn't stop himself, cursing their bodies even after they had drawn their last breaths. A slight groan stopped him, however. Bloody and bruised from her brief attack, he apparated back to their shack.
He tended to her as she lay in bed, held her closely when she woke up, and gave her a shoulder to cry on when she realized what had transpired. He was taken aback by his own reaction to her. That was one of the rare times they had shared a bed. She was perfectly nestled against his body. During the night, while she was slept, he stroked her hair, and her curvaceous sides. He even found himself landing kisses on her shoulders. In that moment, things were great. Well, almost everything, as morning found him alone in bed and breakfast on the table. He had allowed for her to have her wand, but forbade her from venturing from the house alone.
"Is there anything else you need while I am away?" He looked over the small list she gave him, pocketing the muggle money. "No, that should be all I will need for now." She smiled before clearing the dishes. Tom left her to her chores, and cleaned himself up for his trip. Before he left, he watched as she walked away from the chicken coop with a headless chicken in one hand, and a basket of eggs in the other. "Now, Lillian, remember, don't let anybody in, should they stumble across this place, and please do not wander far from the house." "I won't Tom, besides; I am going to try to be in making this chicken." She smiled at him, making his heart skip a beat.
Catania, on the island of Sicily had one of Tom's favorite open air markets. The temperatures were usually warm, and it was often sunny. Markets here were easier to get lost in. He enjoyed this, even though he was surrounded by muggles. They just minded their business and he minded his as he got the things Lily had asked for, and other things he thought she would like, or things he wanted her to use. Three hours had passed by the time he was ready to go home.
There she was, scrubbing the now plucked chicken in a bucket of water. "Back so soon? I thought you'd have been back around noon." She smiled at him. He figured it was only around ten or so. "Have you been out here the whole time?" Tom looked over in slight shock. "Yeah, but it's alright, that's what magic is for, right?" She laughed softly, walking past him into the house. Before she could reach her wand, Tom had dried her off, leaving her warm and dry.
"I am pretty sure I got everything you requested." He turned over the contents of his pockets onto the counter as she began to spice the chicken. Sprigs of rosemary and whole cloves of garlic went into the pot before she put it into the oven. After she put everything away, Tom stood in the entry. "I found something else for you as well." His hands were placed behind his back. "What's that? It's not going to bite me, is it?" She laughed jokingly. "We shall hope not." Tom replied, straight faced. Lily's face turned serious, as she stepped back from Tom.
From his pocket, he withdrew a little ball. Before she could question, a little head popped up to reveal a tiny tan kitten. "Oh Tom, It's so adorable! How cute!" She rushed up to him, scooping the kitten from him and instantly melting into pools of 'oh how adorable', and 'isn't he so cute.' There were always stray cats around the markets, and Tom had picked up that, perhaps a feline friend would be good for Lillian. She enjoyed her other pets so much, but, none of them were suitable for cuddling with at night. She at least seemed a lot happier for now.
Tom and Lily cleaned up and organized their house as the kitten explored. There was moderate conversation between their tasks, as she talked about London, and they discussed school. They settled down to read as lunch cooked. She had really enjoyed Tom's company in school, but here, things were different, and she made it known to her diary. She wrote of how, though she enjoyed being with him, it saddened her. She lay down in front of the fireplace and began to write in her diary again. Tom watched the kitten play with tendrils of hair that fell to the floor. The smell of the chicken filled his nose, making his mouth water at her culinary skills. She always made sure he was well fed, luckily for him. But even luckier, was that she could cook without needing magic for everything.
He remained lost, until he heard her deep rhythmic breathing. A small smile played across his lips as he watched her quill hover over the page. He had always been curious about what she wrote in her diary, but it would never open for him no matter what spell he used. Now was prime opportunity while she slept and the kitten napped in a bed of hair. He gingerly picked up the book and began reading.
Today Tom went to Italy. It's nice to see him get away from his search, but, though I may sound selfish in this, I wish he would have taken me. I feel, I am many thing things to him, or that he wants me to be many things, but I can't be. He won't let me be.
I wish I could be home sometimes. There, I'd be able to find a husband. We would have everything Tom and I have now, but we would have a relationship to go with it. After all these years, I thought I would have gotten somewhere with Tom, but I supposed I'm meant just to clean house. Play the role of wife, only without the title, or the love. I've wanted him for so long; I've loved Tom for so long, of all the thoughts of mine that he can read I've suppressed those feelings. So deep, not even he can see them. But I almost lost it, those nights we share a bed. I lose it because that's what I've wanted for so long. That feeling of protection he provides, how he makes me feel safe.
Anyway, I suppose it could be worse. I could be in his attic right now being tortured, or I could be trapped in some horrible town without magic. At least I'm granted the luxuries and freedoms I have, and that he watched out for me. He even brought me home a kitten today! Perhaps he began to see how lonely I've been feeling lately. I'm happy for the kitten though, at least now I have a cuddle buddy every night! I don't know when I'll leave, or if I'll leave this place. I suppose it's at Tom's discretion. Not that I mind. He knows this area better than me. Well, I am making chicken for lunch today. It's been raining something fierce here, so I thought it would be a good idea, a nice cozy meal.'
Tom laid her journal back down before going back to his own book. She stirred at his motions. Tom pondered. This was useful information, no doubt. He was close to finishing this quest and what then would he do with her? Kill her? Quite possibly. Leave her to live here? Maybe he would return her to her home, though that was unlikely. She was too much of a threat away from him. She moaned softly before he got up to tend to lunch.