1945, December the 24th

Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire - England


It felt like her whole body was crying in pain.

A hundred of daggers mangling her insides with a savagery she had never thought possible.

She wanted to stop screaming, but she couldn't.

It hurt too much.

Her body didn't respond her anymore, she felt light-headed. Lila knew she was about to faint. She couldn't bear the dull pain running through her. It was all too much.

Too painful to endure. Seconds felt like centuries. She wanted to die.

Actually, she was pleading for death to release her. Because if death didn't come any soon, than insanity would.

" Please make it stop, " she cried. " Kill me Riddle, please, please, please... "

Her cries lessened, her throat was on fire and the desperate yelling became whispers.


Satisfaction cursed through him in waves of absolute control.

She was nothing.

He could make her suffer, make her scream, make her die. In a flick of his wand, Irène Lanvin was at his entire mercy.

As everyone was.

And yet, it was somehow different with her. With his Knights, punishments weren't that fun. Obediently accepted, never questioned nor challenged. Easy.

But with her, he felt like he was back at the orphanage, when he had all powers over them. And still they looked defiantly at him, calling him monster.

Now it was her turn and the wizard secretly hoped she would act the same way. Brave him, until it broke her.

However, Tom ended the curse quicker than he'd have liked to. Lanvin stayed still on the floor, only her jerky breath could tell she wasn't dead.

A rag doll of which he could dispose as he saw appropriate.

This feeling of complete dominance over someone else was more than satisfaying. It was addictive.

And Tom felt that he would soon become addicted to her cries.

Cries that sounded like victories to his ears.

She would surrender her pride to accept him as her superior, eventually. And sooner the better... For her, anyway.


The Birdcage - Muggle London


" Flint, on Christmas night ? I am honored, " Mark slurred as she came to face him. He looked at her face attentively, somewhat mesmerized, " I must say you look awful. "

Lila rolled her eyes, a drunken Mark was subtlety at its finest. Yet, oddly was he less unbearable than his usual self. " Thank you Mark. "

The bartender sniffed, " Am sorry sweetheart, if you looking fo' your mother... " his voice was clipped. Vodka, she guessed. " is spending this magical evening elsewhere. " He sniffed again and refocused his attention on his drink.

The bar was calm, as usual ; a girl passing out in what seemed to be her own vomit, and a few guys just as wasted but still having the strength to wolf-whistle her. What a holy night.

" I'm not here for her, not tonight. " She gave him a look. " I've called the others. "

" Have you ? " Mark smiled knowingly.


They arrived a few minutes later, as punctual as ever. A young woman was leading the rest of them. Her laugh was as clear as a bell.

Two boys, two girls.

With Mark and Lila, it made six of them. Years ago, they had been very close... Too close, sometimes.

Her laugh rang once again throughout the place, drawing all attention to the newcomers.

Ah, that bitch hadn't changed an inch.

The same night blue eyes, devilish smile and infamous laugh, nothing had changed. Five years that Lila hadn't seen them.

She had almost missed them, sometimes.

" Oi sweetheart, missed us ? " And she laughed once again, her dark locks sliding down to her waist as she tilted her head to the side.

Lila turned completely to face them all. " Hi Kitty, " she greeted her, and acknowledged the others as well, " Spencer, Tom, Kennet. "

" Kiiitty... What a pleasurable sight, " Mark slurred immediately in his flirtatious tone, dirty blond hair falling in his eyes as he sipped from his glass. Never losing time that one...

The brunette laughed and took place besides Lila. " Give me the same, Mark. "

Then, she motioned for the others to sit down.

Tom, the athletic one, adored by girls when they were at college, sat next to Lila. He gave her the same knowing smile Mark had had moments earlier. " Hi sweetheart, how have you been ? "

" Doing fine, thanks. "

Lila didn't like Tom to be so close to her. Because of his confidence, and mostly because of their shared past.

" We haven't seen you much lately. " That statement wasn't meant as a statement. It meant several questions, and the first one being " What have you done for the last five years ? ".

" I know- "

Kitty interrupted them as she loudly cheered with seemingly everyone in the bar. The wolf-whistlers replied as loudly before quaffing their beers.

Urgh.

Each one of them had a drink before themselves. Tom nodded to Kitty with a wink, before he downed the content of his glass. He then turned to Lila and eyed her dubiously, " aren't you going to drink yours ? "

" I have the entire night to, " Lila replied quietly, " I appreciate you concern though, some things never change huh ? "

The boy moved closer, " Oh no, some never do. "

" Aren't you behaving worse than Mark ? " She smirked.

It amused her how easily things could become again like they were before. Between the two of them, at least.

How ironic was it that, after that much of a lousy day, she would call them, have a drink and do all the things she hadn't done for five years.

On Christmas Eve, at that.


The first tequila was always the hardest to swallow.

It was almost midnight, and that first tequila was now a vague souvenir. Forgotten with the next five or so, she couldn't tell exactly. None of them could.

Spencer and Kennet had left after the third, claiming that they had things to do. Well, that's probably truth – if they consider themselves to be things. Lila sniggered at her inner attempt at a joke.

Anyway, it left her with Kitty – who was currently sitting on the counter, doing the thing she was best at : drawing males attention to her – and said boys, crowded around their Queen.

That was pathetic, she needed fresh air.

Struggling to step off the stool and find her way out, Lila swore she would not touch any alcoholics ever, ever again. Bad stuff.

As she stepped out, the crisp wind assaulted her immediately. It felt like clearing her mind, but she wasn't so sure.

Lila leaned against the grimy window and lit a cigarette.

It felt good, she had missed that too. As the witch dragged on it, she realized how many things she had missed all the while.

" Merry Christmas sweetheart. "

It was Tom, even with her eyes closed she could have guessed it.

" Merry Christ- "

The end of her sentence was lost in the kiss he gave her.

She could have said it took her by surprise, but it hadn't. She could have pushed him away, but she didn't. In a way, her day had been so infernal, so full of storm... that all she needed right now was comfort.

Of course, their embrace was kind of clumsy due to their drunken state. It wasn't romantic or tender, yet not brutal either.

During their past years, they had always gotten along very well. And no one ever understood why they'd never dated each other.

Too intemperate on their own, together it would have been a blast. Surely.


When she woke up, her blurry vision couldn't quite make out her surroundings.

Her head hurt, actually every inch of her body did. Darm Riddle.

Two strong arms were wrapped around her waist, so she rectified her thoughts : darm Toms.

She quickly got out of the bed, well as quickly as her hangover would let her, and left the sordid room of The Birdcage.


December the 25th, 54 Vauxhall Road - Muggle London


Late, yes she was very much late. Still not completely recovered from the previous night, Lila hurriedly looked for an outfit and left her home, ditching breakfast once again.

Rookwood would so kill her.

First because, well, she'd be late. And more so because she hadn't slept at Diamond Street, still hadn't taken the potion this morning, and smelt of stale cigarettes.

Did she even know a spell to get rid of scents ? Urgh.

Instead of dwelling on it any further, Lila took out one of her last cigarettes and threw the packet away.

The last one.

That promise left a bittersweet taste in her mouth, for that it wasn't the first time she made one of the kind.

Stop smoking.

Stop drinking.

She had done it all, years ago. And now here she was, feeling like her fourteen year old self all over again. Yay, not cool.

And saying that none of her supposed old friends had pointed out her new looks.

She was blond for God's sakes ! How couldn't they have noticed ?


Ministry of Magic - Diagon Alley


- I know I'm late, sorry.

His face was reddening by the second. " Sorry ? " the Auror gasped, " who do you think you're kidding Flint ?! "

Right, dear old Rookwood.

" Sorry, " she muttered again.

Rookwood glared at her but didn't add anything. What for ? She would never learn.

" Your report, " he asked, " there was nothing much written when I last checked the record. "

" It was Christmas, " Lila apologised, " and thus I haven't seen any of them for days. "

Ah yes, and five years ago, she had promised herself something else, too.

Stop lying.

That, was again a promise she never held.

But how could she tell them ? He had used the Cruciatus curse on her, which meant a one-way ticket for Azkaban. No less.

And he deserved it, maybe. But, what good would it do to her career ? No one cared that she made a nameless young man get imprisoned for once using an Unforgivable. It occurred almost every day.

However, if she, Lila Flint, was able to dismantle an elaborate network of soon-to-be dark wizards, that would do a lot more. All she needed was time and evidence.

As long as she lied, it secured the first one. Reasonably, the second would follow sooner or later.

Or maybe, she was completely wrong about everything. They weren't dark wizards en devenir. The only purpose of their little clan was to serve a maniac, albeit charismatic, power-addicted wizard. And there was no credit to gain by spying on them. A complete waste of time.

The witch couldn't decide which of her hypothesis was more likely. Thus, she decided she would figure it out.


Diamond Street, Diagon Alley - London


What, an, awful, day ! Lila scrunched her nose in distaste. She so needed a shower, was the first thought that came up to her mind as she Apparated in her flat. However, her plans changed drastically when the witch discovered a bored-looking Riddle lounging on her couch. What the-

" Lanvin, " Riddle said sternly as he straightened up from his all too at ease previous position. " It was about time you showed up. "

Right now, she wanted to curse him into the next century. Her fingers were itching for her wand on their own accord, every part of her body seemingly detesting the wizard in front of her. Even her magic was pulling at her, angrily demanding permission to lash out at him.

If Riddle sensed any of her reactions, he didn't say a word about it. He just kept looking intently at her. Why was he here anyway ? was the first rational thought to dare enter her mind since Lila had noticed his presence. The nerve he had showing up here after ev-

" Aren't you going to ask me as to why I'm here ? " Riddle inquired, slightly infuriated by her lack of talkativeness.

Lila decided she would play as nonchalant as he usually was. " Why are you here ? " she asked in a bored tone.

Something flickered in his eyes, but before she could identify it, it was gone. Replaced by his usual impassive wall that some girls called to be the most handsome face to ever grace the Earth. Please, she sneered to herself.

How would those ignorant witches like him if he casted the Cruciatus curse on them ?

" Well, I was curious to know how you spent your day off, " Riddle stood, which made Lila feel immediately a tad less comfortable. " Family dinner, maybe ? "

He was trying to trick her, that much was obvious. " Please, " the witch condescendingly looked at him, " we don't do family dinners, we do receptions. "

The undertone was clear as to whom the we referred to. The witch knew it wasn't the best move to raise blood matters against him of all people. However she felt it better to upset him than to let him doubt her sayings. " What did you do then ? " his voice turning to an ice-cold hiss.

" Why do you care ? " She dared respond, although quickly regretting it as his gaze darkened to a shade of black far from reassuring.

In a matter of seconds, his hand was at her throat and she was pined against the wall, again. " Answer me. "

The whole scene felt bitterly like déjà-vu to Lila and she did not necessarily want to go through it all over again.

" I- I was... here and... there, " she stammered breathlessly.

The black-haired wizard narrowed his eyes at that. " Black said you only passed at your apartment once, comme une furie according to his own words. "

What- Were they- Lila could not think straight given the small amount of oxygen that reached her lungs. " I can- I can't breathe, Riddle " was the only thing that her body allowed her to say. How lame, even her own body was failing her.

He seemed to study her for a second before he loosened his grip around her neck. " Well ? "

Lila choked as air had now full access to her lungs again. " Well what ? " she spat, " what are you now, stalking me ? "

" Shall I ? "

Riddle quirked an eyebrow at how rebellious she could act even after being almost strangled to swoon.

"What would you care if you shouldn't ? " she continued in an irritated tone, even if her voice sounded somehow broken.

Maybe he should have had her go faint, after all ?

" Then why do you ask in the first place ? " He drawled, lazily letting his gaze wander upon her face. It was odd, he knew he had never seen the girl before. Her amber, albeit gold-like eyes were far too distinctive to go unnoticed, even for someone who did not particularly pay attention to looks. And Tom Riddle did pay attention to everything. Details were never insignificant.

So how was it that every time he was together with this Irène Lanvin, he felt like something was off ?

Of course, Riddle did not accord his trust to anyone. So maybe he was being a bit paranoid about this, after all how much of a threat could one single witch be on her own ? None. Not to him, the great Heir of Salazar Slytherin, anyway.

His eyes came back to focus on her face again. She had kept awfully quiet during his whole internal debate. Why would she become that quiet all of a sudden ?

Tom considered the witch in front of him for a moment. Was it nervousness that made her chew on her lower lip ? What on Earth had made that cheeky witch become nervous ? The way her mood could swing in such a short amount of time was quite unsettling.

Something even eerier caught his attention though. " Why are your hair turning brown now ? " He asked cryptically.

Panic flooded her at his last sentence. Of course the Polymorph effects just had to wear off now... What could she say that would distract him enough to drop the whole hair-changing matter ?

" I hooked with a muggle last night. " Riddle's eyes widened slightly at the news. Apparently, that would do.

" What- "

Lila shushed him while putting her finger on his chest, in a rather seductive manner. Merlin, I am so going to die... Either from Riddle's hand, or out of embarrassment. But right now, she had no choice.

She smirked. " You heard me. "

Gobsmacked, Riddle took a step back unconsciously. What was she playing at ?

Lila looked pointedly at him. Was the great Tom Riddle unsettled by her behaviour ? Did that mean... No, no way. Riddle wouldn't be embarrassed because of her flirting with him, as sudden as it came, would he ?

Her smirk grew bigger at that thought. Anyway, she was about to find out, wasn't she ? " Well, aren't you going to punish me for my intolerable behaviour ? " She looked at him expectantly.


Whatever she was playing at, Tom would not let her get away with it. He instantly schooled his features to be an impassive mask again and smirked back at her.

No one played games better than he did.

He cupped her cheek and began to stroke it gently, which made her flinch instantly. Now was the time for his smirk to widen wickedly," My, my, aren't you begging for it, Miss Lanvin ? ".

Tables were turned.


- Mademoiselle du Lac -