Lily awoke with a start. What was going on? Her dream had been so…weird. No more painful thoughts about James and Harry, no unpleasant thoughts at all, only Tom, haunting her. Suddenly, she realized that there was a dark shape over by the fire, and it looked like Tom. She cleared her throat politely as if she were at a cocktail party. He turned sharply at the noise, and ran toward the bad, and kneeling down by the side of it.
"Oh my god! How are you? I was so worried! What happened…" She shushed him with a finger on his lip.
"I'm fine. In fact, I am feeling better than I ever have. But tell me something. Was there any potion n the food, something that perhaps erases bad memories?"
"If the house elves added something, I'll kill them all. But I certainly have no idea about what happened."
"Oh. Because there is something strange happening to me. I no longer think about James and Harry with sadness. In fact, I have caught myself thinking about all the stress they gave me, and wondering if it wasn't really a happy event."
"Perhaps you are getting over the loss better than you thought you would."
"Maybe."
"You seem rather distracted. Is something the matter? If I can get you anything at all, don't hesitate to ask."
"No…I am fine. I was just thinking about my dream, the only pleasant one I have had since that dreadful night."
"What was the dream about? If you think about that more often, it might help you to get over the loss of your family." Tom's tone was soft and comforting, but Lily blushed.
"I'm not sure I want to tell you about this dream. Anyway, it's hard to describe…Never mind." Her blush became more apparent, even in the faint light. Lily threw off the covers and slipped off the edge of the bed, into the bathroom. When she finished freshening up, she came out to find robes, and was surprised to see Tom sitting thoughtfully on the bed. Lily blushed yet again; she was wearing only a tiny towel. Tom looked up in surprise, and started upon seeing her in that state. He looked over her body carefully, taking in her cleavage, and her long bare legs. He got up and walked toward her, but turned away suddenly before reaching her.
"I apologize for my presence. If I had known…I will see you later." He walked reluctantly to the door, but stopped as Lily's voice hailed him from behind.
"Where are you going?"
"I assumed you didn't want me here; I remember hearing you clearly say that you had no romantic interest in me, and if I remained, I will not be able to control myself, and I have no desire to be tried for sexual abuse at the ministry."
"I want you to stay." The words shocked him, warming him from head to toe. Tom turned slowly to face Lily.
"For no reason will you try to convict me for my actions?"
"Never." He grinned. "Remember that dream I had, the happy one? It was like this." She smiled suggestively, beckoning to him. "Except you were wearing less clothes." He gaped, and then pulled off his robe, smiling. He was wearing a pair of black trousers, and a tight black T-shirt. He pulled off his shoes and socks, and then his shirt, revealing a broad muscular chest, marked with thin white scars. Tom shed his trousers, and stood in front of her in a pair of black boxers. As he moved toward her, footsteps were heard in the hall outside.