That creature…That thing leant over her precious baby boy, laughing shrilly. He changed suddenly, becoming the handsome young Tom Riddle. He moved towards her with his cat-like grace, whispering condolences under his breath. "All I need is you," he whispered, and she could feel his breath on her ear…
Lily awoke with a start. She was alone in the room, but judging by the door that was only just closing, she really had felt Tom's breath on her ear, as she had in the dream. Since when do I think of any nightmare that involves Tom as a dream, she thought to herself, and shook herself when she realized that she was falling for a kind stranger just because he was personable and handsome, and tall. But it was clear to her that Tom possessed such a concentrated form of sex appeal that it was dangerous. She could imagine what many prostitutes would give to sleep with him. Their life, she realized wryly. He could easily become a Dark Wizard, because he could have loyalty from most women just because of his looks. She sat up gingerly, because her bones still hurt. Lily jumped quickly to the bathroom, and took a short shower. She wondered why she was hurrying so. Because I want to spend time with Tom Riddle, she thought before shaking her head and trying to clear it of any thoughts that betrayed her newly formed attachment to her kind host. She descended the stairs wearing the princess-like formal robes he had given her, ones that floated out around her legs after the tight strapless bodice. She stopped suddenly as she heard the same voice that haunted her in her nightmares, the voice of Voldemort. "Leave, Wormtail." Wormtail. Wasn't that the nickname James had given his adoring shadow Peter Pettigrew? She ran down the remaining stairs, almost tripping over her robes in her excitement to see this man, and to see Peter. To her utter disappointment, there was only Tom, staring pensively into the fire.
"Those voices…"
"Ahhh, so you heard them? I was hoping you had not heard them. It is the only conversation ever heard in which Voldemort was a participant. I heard it when I rescued you from rape, and I kept it in my wand. I was just using the Priori Incantatem spell on my wand and decided to listen to it. I understand Wormtail was one of your friends, or so you thought. He is actually one of the most devoted of the Dark Lord's servants. It must come as a shock to you that anyone is capable of such treachery, especially after you made him your secret keeper."
"It was Sirius who suggested it. Is he also working for Voldemort?" Lily felt as if she was about to burst into tears.
"No. He is completely loyal. He didn't know about Wormtail's betrayal. I'm sure he is very sorry." He finally turned from the fire to face her. He was dressed in glittering silver robes, ready for dinner. A look of amazement diffused on his expressive face. "You look exquisite!" he breathed.
"Thank you," she murmured shyly. "I wasn't sure if I could pull it off, since it's so tight, and after having Harry…"
"Your figure is beautiful. You are an incredibly beautiful woman, one who doesn't deserve all this pain so early in life." He moved toward her, so close she could feel his breath on her forehead. She turned to hide the inevitable blush, and felt a soft hand caressing the turn of her neck. "Voldemort's loss is my gain." Lily blushed again at her own perverseness in allowing this man to touch her and speak to her about sex. She pulled away, nervous.
"Not yet," she murmured to him. "I have yet to get over the death of James. But after that…"
"You will admit to the obvious? You will surrender to your feelings that are pulling you toward me?"
"It is not yet obvious to me. Until then, we shall be friends, and you will make no more moves on me, agreed?"
"Absolutely. It would be suicide to get onto your bad side. But tell me one thing. How long must I wait?"
"Not too long, I promise." She regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth. She felt like she was throwing herself at him, telling him to love her in the way she already did him. Lily Evans never threw herself at men. It was always the other way around. "No! I didn't mean that. I only mean that…"
"Don't worry," he whispered into her ear. "I already know what you mean." He straightened briskly, and bowed respectfully to her. "May I?" He offered his arm to her.
Lily giggled. "Of course, sir." She rested her slim palm on his muscular forearm, and they walked to dinner together. He led her to a room she had never seen before. It was beautiful. She gasped upon entering it. It was done in dark panels, decorated with snakes of gold that moved realistically, due to a spell that was known by only a select few. A gorgeous gold and diamond chandelier hung from the ceiling, making the whole room glow with unreal light. The table itself was a dog, with a head and tail, which also moved, with the entire dinner on its flat back. Surrounding tapestries depicted snakes in green and silver. "Incredible," she whispered. "I assume you were a Slytherin?"
"That I was. I've always wondered why. I was told from birth that I was pre-destined for Ravenclaw."
"Really? I was a Ravenclaw."
"Wow. That's really wonderful. Yes. You seem like you could be the heir of Rowena Ravenclaw."
"But I'm Muggle-born. Surely the descendant of a house founder would be a pureblood."
"You don't know?" he saw her blank, questioning face, and sighed. "I can't believe your parents never told you that you were adopted."
"What?" she whispered, a sudden knot forming in her stomach. Lily felt betrayed. "You mean they weren't really my parents? They never loved me?"
"They must have loved you, but you were not your mother's biological child. Your mother was a pureblood, but your father was a muggle. Your mother, a direct descendant of Ravenclaw, was having an unacknowledged bastard, since your father had left your mother when he found out she was pregnant. She was having you in a muggle hospital in order to attract little attention from the wizarding world about the shame she had brought on her family, who had in turn disowned her. Your mother died in childbirth, because she hadn't expected the dangers that went with muggle childbearing. Her bed was next to that of your adoptive mother, whose real child was stillborn. Your current mother took you to live with her, and loved you as her own child, even more than your sister Petunia. Did you ever wonder why they weren't surprised when you reeived the letter from Hogwarts? They knew Dumbledore before you did, because he was the one who told them that you were a witch, when they took you home that first day."
Lily had been listening to this recital with a pale face, and was shaking by the time he stopped. "So there is no one who loves me in this world? Am I so alone in the world?" She was clearly on the verge of tears.
"I love you."