Unexpected Encounters | Tom Riddle

VI: Shattering the Illusion

Lilia didn't want to talk about how depressing her time had been. She loved Dumbledore but knew that he still viewed people as pawns with feelings. Her own parents had barely been 18 when they had joined the Order of the Phoenix and had died at 21. Harry died at such a young age too, when he fought at the Battle of Hogwarts. They never got to celebrate their last birthday together during the year when they would have finished their education and graduated. She was the last remaining Potter and she wasn't even there anymore.

Dumbledore was a strategist and he knew that death would always be on the table. Whatever was needed for the greater good .

"I won't ask you more about this war. You look sick, Lilia. Have some tea." He handed her a cup of steaming tea, which she took with a grateful smile. The sweet liquid soothed her from the inside and she sighed. "I don't have good memories associated with the war." "I know. I apologise. Why don't you tell me more about your friends? Your roommates are nice to you, I assume?" "Oh yes, they are very kind to me. It's nice, Celeste likes to do my hair every other day and Evangeline is the sweetest girl." When they are not busy harming others .

She never mentioned that she had heard their group meeting and she didn't act differently. They still took care of her in their own ways.

"Your friends all come from pureblood families," he noted, "Their families are strict with that." "I know." "You are also friends with Tom Riddle." "Friends might be far fetched, we just see each other every other day."

Albus didn't miss the slight blush on Lilia's cheek and he sighed. "Be careful with them, Lilia. You don't really know about their inclinations." (Good old Albus and his prejudices)

She knew exactly who they were and what they would become. They started out the wizarding wars in Britain. She didn't say anything as she nodded.

"As for your situation, I don't really know what to suggest. Research on time travelling is pretty limited, and the instances I have read up on go back to a few hours only," Dumbledore sighed again. "I haven't found anything in the library either," she added and bit her lower lip.

Time turners were strictly illegal and if the Ministry knew about her, she would be in Azkaban, regardless of her circumstances. Dumbledore had taken care of all her documentation, making her job easier. "For now, I suggest you take some much needed rest and finish up your schooling here. Be careful with your friends too, Lilia."

"I will, Professor."

She left his office, feeling slightly down.

How were Ron and Hermione? Ginny, Padma, Draco?

Theo?

The last time they had seen each other, they had promised to stay alive until the end. She broke her end of the promise, dying at the hands of Voldemort himself. What sort of things was he being forced to do?

Draco had wanted to help her at the Malfoy manor, and he had intervened but it had only ended up in him getting dragged away while her mother reprimanded him about the consequences he would face. At the time, she thought her mother was angry that he would even try helping a Potter .

But later on, she remembered the frown on her face and the quiver of her lips, and she realised that the woman had been afraid herself. Afraid of what Voldemort would do to her son. Other than Bellatrix and Antonin, everyone in the manor that day was terrified of the events that were unfolding.

Theo brought back bittersweet memories for Lilia. They had dated all the way until their sixth year until she had to leave to find the horcruxes. She had already known that things wouldn't end well, especially with his father being a known death eater and her brother being the boy who lived.