"So, how did it go, Elder Lothbrok, Wyrm Slayer?" The usually dower Goblin gave her a toothy smile as he sat down behind his office's desk. "Quite well, Frau von Schwarzwald. As expected, my presence in the Wizengamot caused quite the stir with the wand wavers." Lilith hummed. "And the DMLE? How did Director Crouch and the Minister take it?" The goblin laughed. "Old Caspar Crouch didn't know what hit him. No to mention Lord Travers and his allies. The latter, of course, tried to have me removed from the chamber, but as your official solicitor and representative for the Trial, they had no choice but to accept me. When I submitted the memory crystals, they tried everything to invalidate them, but the treaty between our nations is quite clear. Caspar himself looked both impressed and terrified at the implications this case will have on all future investigations. Gringotts is certainly looking forward to seeing if our memory crystals gain greater demand in the coming days." Lilith chuckled as she sat back. While she wasn't a fan of the price tag that came with Lotbrok, the cousin of the Goblin King and Director of Gringotts, he definitely knew how to play politics and read the letter of the law. As criminal investigations sometimes required the DMLE and the Ministry to acquire evidence from the Goblins for corruption and embezzlement crimes, a treaty needed to guarantee that evidence submitted by the Goblins was to be admissible to the Wizengamot, though it would still be reviewed.
While memories weren't entirely admissible in the Wizengamot, though Minister Moon did push for his niece's memories to be submitted as evidence, the same could not be said for Gringotts. As the Bank wasn't always able to transcribe everything into a written account in a timely manner, the Goblins had made it so that memory crystals could serve as viable evidence both within the bank and with those who were bound in treaties to it, especially after they developed the crystals to differentiate between first hand unaltered memories and magically modified ones. Lilith had been more than happy to exploit the loophole of the Treaties for the Trial being carried out against Peter Rowle and Heir Travers, as the memories she supplied definitely confirmed that the former was responsible for casting the Cruciatus. While not yet recognized as an Unforgivable, though the legislation for it and the other two Curses to be known as such was circulating in Light family circles, the curse still came with a heavy prison sentence if used against another person. Though Travers had managed to only get a lighter sentence for aiding and abetting the incapacitation of two underage witches, Rowle's solicitor did everything in his power to prevent the DMLE from sentencing the teenager, who had become of age prior to the attack, to Azkaban. At least that's as far as the Trial had managed to go before they called a recess and Lothbrok was allowed to depart. Said Goblin took out a glass bottle of some bright yellow liquid and held it out to Lilith. "Interested in celebrating? In a few days, that would-be rapist wand waver should be finding himself in Azkaban, getting nightly visits from the Dementors."
Lilith shuddered at both the thought of Dementors, as Lillian's third year had been quite dismal with their presence at the school, and the offered substance. "I would rather not. Besides, I doubt I am old enough." The Goblin chuckled. "We both know that isn't true." Lilith shook her head. "Pretty sure a human needs to be over a hundred years old and on their deathbed to drink that." The Goblin laughed. "Well, it would be a fine way to go! To vanquished foes and full coffers! " After he took a shot of his drink, he pulled open a large tome and a quill and lifted up his glasses to his face. "Now then, on to business. Your suggestions on investing in American corporations that work with steel, aluminium, not to mention medications, uniforms and munitions has born quite the large nest egg. Though most of the profits are in bonds, we expect to see quite the financial return on your investments in the coming years and even decades. As expected, Gringotts is happy to buy a few of these off your hands for quite the percentage over your initial investment. Interested?" Lilith sighed, knowing that her use of Lothbrok and the crystals was going to cost more than simply employing him for the task. "Read out the ones that your cousin, the exalted Goblin King, is interested in, and I will see if I am willing to part with them." After hearing a few, Lilith did concede a few pertaining to medical supplies. "You might want to keep those close to your chest. You will see a massive spike in need for them in Asia and the Americas for the next two decades." The Goblin's quill paused for a second. "You mentioned the war would end within a few years." Lilith shrugged. "And the next few wars won't be far behind."
Lothbrok shook his head. "And you humans call us warmongering." Lilith looked at the Goblin and waved her hand. "Well, you are. The only difference is that we claim to be otherwise. As much as humans exalt the virtues of peace, war is unfortunately too profitable for the wealthy to renounce. Though at least in this war, the enemy is more cut and dry. Speaking of the war, how are the Goblins clans in Europe doing? Has Grindelwald acted against them?" Lothbrok growled softly, though it wasn't directed at Lilith. "They are as well as our kin could hope for. Though the Germans have control over much of the European territories, our people have been able to keep Grindelwald's forces on the surface. Those Goblins unable to hide in our now barricaded underground cities retreated to their Bank Branches in Switzerland, though there is quite a lot of infighting there with the Dwarves and the Humans. With the Germans and Italians surrounding the nation, there is little they can do about allowing trade to continue with those bastards." Lilith grumbled. "At least what's left in the von Schwarzwald account is safe there. Just make sure they all at least agree to keep the most detailed accounts on any German investments and transactions as possible, regardless of their species. The fugitives after the war funneled stolen gold and art through Switzerland. If you can track the gold, the Allies can hunt the bastards down when the war is over far more easily. Last thing. The Slytherin accounts?"
The Goblin pulled off his glasses and proceeded to clean them. "As standard Gringotts policy, all dormant accounts with a certain threshold of funds are the purview of the Director, our King Ragnok. If your Slytherin Heir passes the blood test and wishes to claim the Heir Ring, then he is welcomed to open his ancestor's account and access a reduced amount of the funds, until he claims the Lordship and Ring. Once that is done, he will have full access to the Slytherin Vaults." Lilith grew silent, wondering to herself why the Voldemort of Lillian's time didn't do the same. Though she had become Salazar's Heir, she had found that she couldn't access the full account in her time either, as she couldn't actively hold two Family names. The magics that governed the rings wouldn't allow it. She had gone for the Peverell account to avoid drawing unwanted attention to herself, though that failed miserably after those pricks in the Order singled her out at the end for having an unknown Horecrux in her left hand. Sighing, Lilith nodded. "Very well. If all goes as planned then I will bring the Heir of Slytherin to you for verification, before he deals with the Director. Though please help me make sure he doesn't make a fool of himself. He wasn't raised by wandwavers, but he was forced to survive on the streets of the human capital during the Depression." Lothbrok winced. "Ah, then a remedial lesson book in etiquette will be required. Bring him to me first so that I can evaluate his performance and give him some last minute pointers. I will put the charge for the text and all later services on your account, of course." Lilith left her Account Manager soon after, praying that her liquid assets didn't continue to shrink further. The Goblins were efficient and effective partners, but they were still greedy little blighters.
-✦-
The moment Headmaster Dippet opened the door to his Staff's Meeting Chamber, he knew the meeting would quickly be derailed. His Healer and Deputy Headmaster were glaring daggers at each other, while the rest were simply ignoring the elephant in the room. Though it did surprise him to see Melia Greengrass and Horace Slughorn sitting together and chatting amicably. The incident between their students didn't seem to be as damaging to their relationship as Dippet had initially expected. Then again, that all probably had to do with Lilith von Schwarzwald being the principal force behind the resolution of said incident, with her involvement sparing the two Ravenclaws any further suffering and ensuring that the perpetrators were brought before the Wizengamot to stand trial. While Slytherin's weren't known to argue with each other in earshot of other Houses, they were expected to keep each other in line. Lilith's brazen but effective intervention spared the two Ravenclaws from a far worse fate and proved that the old rules governing Slytherin were still viable, if only just. Taking a seat, Armando waited for Hogsby to silently place his cup of tea in front of him, before taking a sip. His friend seemed quite aware of what was to come, as the elf added just a touch of brandy to his coffee. Feeling a bit more relaxed, Armando looked around at his staff members. "Very well, we can begin the first Faculty meeting of March. Do keep in mind that the Easter Break will be in early April this year."
Theseus spoke up. "Oh good, it means I can get started on testing the students outside of the classroom again as soon as spring sets in fully. On that note, I have submitted a request to the DRMCNC for them to begin the transport of the XXX and XXXX creatures I will need for the practical examinations. They should be calm enough with their new surroundings by the time the OWLs and NEWTs roll around to provide the students ample time to learn how to handle them properly." Horace brightened at that. "I do look forward to the resupply of the less taxing creature ingredients that you will be collecting for the Potions Supply closet. My stores have been getting quite low recently." Armando noticed the wince on Teresa's face, a few seconds before Horace saw it. "My apologies, Madam Prewett, I understand that they are going to a good cause but we do still need the supplies for the upcoming examinations." Armando cleared his throat. "A donation has been made to the Potions budget by an involved party that includes funds allocated to reimburse the lost supplies. You should be able to resupply even your most obscure, and legal, resources." Horace looked thoughtful, probably trying to determine what potion supplies he could acquire. "Of course. I will write up a list soon enough. Though I am pleased to say the practice of making so many advanced potions has been good for my fifth year students and those taking the advanced course. We should see a decent crop of Potioneers in the coming years."
Melia Greengrass, the Head of Ravenclaw House, lowered her cup of tea. "Theseus, do you think you can speak with the Centaurs about clearing out a section of the Forest within a few weeks? I would like to take my fifth years and NEWT students to document and collect samples for Herbology. It should help those less interested in spending their lives in a greenhouse." Theseus took a swig from his flask and was silent for a moment. "We will see. The Centaurs have been a bit restless these last few years. The DRMCNC has been overstepping their bounds a few times when it comes to Centaur territories and the incident from the last Samhain has them overly cautious of the grounds near Hogwarts. If I can get them to agree, the students will be free to scour the Forest under their supervision and mine." Dumbledore sighed, before looking towards the Head of Ravenclaw House. "Is this really necessary, Melia? The Forest is quite dangerous. We have been getting reports of Trolls and Bargests, not to mention whispers of that wolf pack growing ever more dangerous." Theseus grunted. "Trust me, Albus. If there was something abnormally dangerous in those woods, I would hunt it down myself. I am not that out of practice. The Forest is perfectly fine for the well practiced and supervised." Melia nodded. "And regardless, students need to be better prepared for the role of a Herbologist beyond those of us who grow our own supplies. There are also magical plants that can't be raised in a controlled environment currently and are only found in the wilds in proximity to leyline. The Forest is one of our best sources for these rare yet essential ingredients."
Dumbledore frowned before Dippet started checking with the Professors about the coming examinations in late May. Galatea looked over her papers. "Director Crouch wants to know when the Dueling Examinations will take place. He is concerned about the war drawing too many of the experienced Aurors as soon as the Ministry declares war and would like to have an Academy Instructor on site to observe the examinations." Dumbledore leaned back. "First we allow the DMLE to arrest two students and now you want to invite them into the school to scout for soldiers? What happened to the Ministry staying out of Hogwarts matters?" Teresa bristled. "Two students were assaulted, one of which was intended as a victim of rape, while another was subjected to the Torture Curse. The DMLE had to be involved." Dumbledore waved the comment away. "Regardless, it should have been handled by the school. The parents will lose faith in our ability to keep their children safe if they keep hearing about such incidents involving the Aurors at Hogwarts." Armando sighed. "Albus, both students were of age and the girls were not. The matter had to be brought to the DMLE. Any mishandling of the situation could have had drastic consequences to the school's ability to operate as it always has, not to mention that their crimes were serious enough, especially considering how many of those involved were from prominent families. "
He looked towards Professor Greengrass before adding. "Not that the crimes against Miss Warren were any less serious because she happened to be a Muggleborn." Melia nodded after her glare softened. "Of course not. I would hate to be the one to inform Mr Warren that his daughter was being treated as less important than the rest of the students. It's not like I got a letter warning me that if the DMLE and the Wizengamot failed to bring the matter to an adequate conclusion, he would seek the help of Parliament in ensuring that those wizards and witches born of Muggle parents weren't discriminated against by our Ministry." Dumbledore looked at Melia. "Muggles should not be dictating anything to us. The Ministry of Magic is independent from their government." Elphias shrugged from beside the Herbology Instructor. "Right, it's not like the Wizengamot weren't authorized to govern us by the British Monarch of the time and that we are all technically subjects of the Crown. In some ways, the Monarchs have greater powers over us than the rest of the population, at least until the Ministry and the Prime Minister renegotiate the treaties that govern us." Armando cleared his throat. "I believe that is enough political discussion. The Wizengamot has found the young men guilty and neither will return to Hogwarts for what would have been their final months of magical education. Teresa will monitor the health of those assaulted and it's our job to make sure that this doesn't happen again. Understood?" The staff nodded and they addressed the final matters as Dumbledore remained silent. Armando had been warned to keep an eye on his old protege. So far, the warning seemed to have had some merit, more so than what the Headmaster would have liked.
-✦-
Tom found it quite odd how… silent Valerio Rosier's fall was as the King of Slytherin. There was no formal challenge before the entire house in the Slytherin Common Room or the room set aside for matters of the Court, no grand claim of authority by Walburga or Cygnus Black, nor even a temper tantrum from the clearly angry former king. Yet the power had indeed passed from his hands to the Blacks as was seen by how almost all of the remaining Slytherins went to the Blacks now to gain favor with them and not him. The only holdouts seemed to be those whose families were in formal alliances with the Rosiers, with the exception of Anton Bryce, whose friend Raphael Lestrange had tried to lure the young Halfblood to the Blacks but eventually gave up against his friend's stubborn refusal. Even Abraxas and Theodore, who had kept themselves out of the power struggle, were far more comfortable engaging with the Blacks, with Abraxas giving Walburga far more attention than Tom thought necessary, meaning that the Lord Malfoy had probably messaged his Heir to integrate himself with the Black family, as the Rosiers' fall from grace hadn't been limited to just the school. Of course, seeing Abraxas being flustered by Alphard's advances before his inevitable retreat was a satisfying change of pace for Tom.
Marcus Rosier, the current Head of House Rosier, had been removed from his position as Speaker for the Dark after the Trials of Rowle and Travers were concluded. The former's sentencing and imprisonment were mostly due to how the recorded memories of Cassandra Moon and Lilith von Schwarzwald had all but destroyed any attempts to paint the young Rowle as a teen who allowed his interests in a girl who spurned him get out of hand, with his follow up use of the Cruciatus Curse essentially destroying any possible claims of coercion. That he was capable of using the curse at the school after having been found attempting to rape a girl galvanized the Light and Neutral families, with several of the Dark joining them, most notably the Head of House Black. While Myrtle wasn't from a prominent Magical family, Cassandra Moon was and her involvement had probably made many prominent families anxious regarding their own children's security at the school. Wishing to prevent any similar attacks on the children, Peter Rowle was made an example of and had his wand snapped before he was shipped off to Azkaban, while Travers would simply be expelled from Hogwarts, his family forced to pay a fine as he was to spend a shorter time at Azkaban, as a warning of what may come later should he continue to break the laws. Rosier's inability to prevent this fate destroyed his alliance with the Rowles and many others soon turned their backs on him. Whispers from the older students were now spreading throughout the school; the Ministry would declare war on Grindelwald and his forces soon enough.
As Tom sat in the Slytherin Common Room, a book on advanced charm spells open in his hands, he heard the door open and watched as Lilith entered from outside. The Common Room's mood shifted almost instantly as several students looked at the redhead warily. Lilith had essentially broken several of the unwritten rules of Slytherin House. Disagreements were to be kept in house, the students had to show a united front at all times and any conflicts had to be resolved either with the mediation of the King or Queen or via duels. Yet, the female students of Slytherin supported Lilith's decision to act against the boys of her House without many detractors, with the exception of Druella Rosier silent contemplation, since she had just watched her cousin lose his political influence and was in no position to claim it for herself. Even Walburga and Lucretia seemed to agree in their support for her, which was a rare sight for the often bickering cousins. Tom watched as Lucretia went up to Lilith and the two chatted quietly before they both sat down at one of the tables, the latter passing a piece of parchment to her. As the two seemingly settled into a discussion on Lucretia's Rune assignment, the Common Room's atmosphere settled down and everyone returned to their own assignments. Well, almost everyone. Those who still held some allegiance to Rosier were giving Lilith some unpleasant looks, which seemed to fuel a cold rage within Tom's chest.
Tom looked down at his book and found his attention wandering as the feeling lingered. It felt akin to the few times he managed to acquire some nice clothes or toys at the orphanage. He knew that possessing these objects demonstrated his superiority to the other orphans, which meant many of them would stop at nothing to either obtain his hard won possessions, or destroy them. He had lost many of his favorite toys, many of them being model cars, trains and planes made of wood or a few rare ones made of metal. It was only after he had better control of his magic that he felt secure enough that no one would try it again, with Tom taking revenge on a few kids by taking their toys as well. After starting classes at Hogwarts, however, that part of his nature had gone dormant and Tom could see why. Unlike with Muggles, the Magical population could pretty much obtain anything it wanted without much effort. Conjuration made the whole point of keeping items for specific purposes worthless. Not to say that the Magicals didn't have toys of their own, as he had seen several stores advertising enchanted merchandise for kids to play with, but for Tom, none of these felt as appealing to him. They could all be easily replaced. Which was why he found the sudden possessiveness he felt around Lilith so odd.
Thinking back, he could remember the sensation starting after he had spent Halloween night with her. The feeling had been building steadily until after the Yuletide Break, when it had built up immensely. After Alphard's approach and cryptic discussion, Tom had taken more time to look after Lilith from afar, as he knew that Rosier was likely to retaliate. When he had spied on Rosier attacking Moaning Myrtle and Cassandra Moon, he had managed to find a Ravenclaw first year and sent him to Lilith, using a Confundus Charm to conceal his identity. He had Disillusioned himself as best as he could and followed after Rosier, certain that Lilith would go after her friends. Rosier, as expected, returned to the Great Hall, creating a less than perfect alibi but one that would hold up under scrutiny, unless Tom himself came forward, though the latter felt it wasn't needed as Valerio was never charged with anything. Still, his plan had worked and Lilith's friends were recovering, without exposing his own part in the events. Well, at least not widely. He hadn't anticipated that Lilith had been able to guess as to the part he had played in the rescue of her friends or that she would thank him for it. The moment those words of her registered had made his skin grow warm. It was after that moment Tom had made up his mind. Closing the book in his hands, Tom looked towards Lilith, his mind going over his plans for making her his ally. She was a gamble, of course, one that was surprisingly spontaneous and chaotic, but one he was certain was well worth the risk. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
-✦-
Lilith pulled her messy curls back and tied them into a ponytail before closing her eyes and sinking into one of the couches of the chamber that would one day be the Divination's classroom under Trelawney. Though if Lilith was honest with herself, that was one future occurrence she had no problem interfering with. Unlike Luna and Cassandra, that Witch had no control over her gift nor was she privy to what her predictions were, making her less of a Seer and more of a pawn of those around her. Lillian had only bothered to read the textbook on Divination to better understand Luna, and had only suffered through a single year of study with the bespeckled instructor, before it became clear that her understanding of true Divination and Sight were pale imitations of the real burden that her dear friend lived with every day of her life. Babbling had been kind enough to let her take Runes throughout her third year as a side course while Lillian studied Divination, before she dropped the course in favor of Runes for her fourth year, with Babbling's assistance preventing her from having to take the class with the third year students. What she discovered about the most difficult to justify class at Hogwarts was that the class and position should be exclusive to those who possess the sight, like Cassandra and her future granddaughter, as Trewlaney's poor instruction did nothing for her dear friend's control of the gift.
Of course, that didn't mean that trained Seers were any better at divining the future accurately, at least not all of the time. Lilith had been extremely cross with Cassandra when her friend had admitted to seeing fragments of the interaction that would become the attack on her and Myrtle in her visions. Because of both Lilith's and Cassandra's interactions with the dark-haired girl, Myrtle had been drawn into the event, despite Cassandra's attempts to keep her out of it and would surely have endured a far worse fate had Lilith not arrived in time. Raising her left hand up and staring at the four pointed star shaped scar, Lilith sighed, before pulling her glove over it again. Cassandra did apologize to Lilith about the whole thing, admitting that while her gift was usually more accurate, the ability to see clearly the things that would happen in the next few years had been rendered mute. Apparently, Cassandra believed that Lilith's presence was acting as a catalyst that kept disrupting the events within Hogwarts to the point that Cassandra could barely see events a few days in advance. Her initial vision of the attack had been of her getting dragged away on her own, being threatened and potentially tortured with the Cruciatus curse, before Lilith would have intervened. Myrtle's presence had made the Pureblood boys more brazen with their intentions, as they were certain that even with Cassandra as a witness, their families would be able to shield them. Lilith was glad that her intervention was fast enough to keep Myrtle safe, even if the experience itself was still going to leave some traumatic memories, all thanks to Tom looking out for her friends.
Interestingly enough, Cassandra had caught glimpses of Tom in both visions, which made Lilith feel warm inside. As she placed her hand over her heart, Lilith closed her eyes and focused on the moment. The training that the von Schwarzwald family put Lilith through was something the personality of Lillian had some trouble understanding. In some cases, the actions bordered on mistreatment and even abuse, with Lilith's acceptance of said treatment being difficult to stomach. Yet, Lillian couldn't deny the results of said training, as her enhanced senses detected the slow movement of several snakes approaching her from the floor, all of them doing their best to be quiet. Lilith had planned to allow the charade to go unimpeded and to let Tom do whatever it was that he was planning, but if it was a test of some sort, she decided that being truthful was more important than getting caught in a lie by the paranoid boy, as allowing him to go through with his actions knowing that it was ultimately meaningless would likely only damage their relationship. If Tom could spot her change in behaviour after killing Morfin, Lilith didn't want to take any chances that she could keep the truth from her face, choosing to only hide the fact that she was technically a Parselmouth, though unlike Tom it had nothing to do with a family lineage and everything to do with some bleedthrough from Lillian's essence. At least that's how Alexander explained it. "Herr Riddle, I have no problem letting the snakes move about the chamber freely but I must inform you that I am aware that they are there."
A far more advanced Disillusionment spell than the one Lilith had spotted almost a month back in February dropped as the figure of Tom moved forward, showing a somewhat frustrated expression. Lilith smiled at him as she sat up, placing her feet on the ground. "Guten abend, Herr Riddle." Tom pinched the bridge of his nose, before Lilith heard him whisper in Parseltongue. ~" Wrap yourselves around her feet and be prepared to bite. "~ Lilith tensed for a second as she watched two black mambas wrapping around her legs. She stared at Tom, not having to hide her irritation. "Riddle." Tom moved closer to her and his piercing blue eyes stared back at her, the friendly façade that he normally kept on his face missing. The two remained that way, neither daring to move an inch as Lilith's magic kept building up inside of her. Eventually Tom knelt down and spoke Parseltongue clear enough for her to hear, calling the snakes to him, vanishing one with his wand as the other wrapped itself around his arm. "Do you know what this talent is called?" Lilith nodded, lowering her build up of magic. "You're a Parselmouth, yes? A rare enough talent out here in Britain." Tom sat down on the opposite sofa, his mood becoming more relaxed at her lack of concern.
Rubbing the snake's black scales affectionately, Tom looked at Lilith. "I have been able to do this since I was a little boy, left behind at an Orphanage in London after my mother died giving birth to me. The snakes were my first true companions, as they couldn't betray me as the other kids could. When I arrived here, at Hogwarts, I discovered that the talent was quite unique, tracing back to two families, both of which are extinct. The Serpens and the Slytherins. I have reason to believe I am descended from one or both of them, but… my attempts to find any trace of Slytherin's true legacy in the castle has been hampered. I was hoping to test you, to see if you weren't concerned about a talent many frown upon and if you were capable of trusting me not to harm you. Unfortunately, my plan didn't quite go as I had hoped, as you somehow were aware of my presence." Lilith closed her eyes and rubbed them. "Right. My apologies but, like I said, I didn't like the idea of leading you on in believing that I was oblivious to the sankes' presence if I wasn't. I was certain you would not have responded well to my having concealed my awareness and egged you on to continue as if everything was going according to plan." Tom did blush a little as he took a deep breath, the snake comfortably licking his fingers in a show of comfort. "I… Thank you. For being considerate to me while I clearly wasn't to you."
Lilith sighed but leaned back into the couch, her hands resting on her lap. "I take it you want my aid in helping you discover the truth behind your parentage? And that you have chosen me as possibly the only Slytherin not likely to try and make use of you and your influence if you do happen to be the Heir of a Hogwarts Founder?" Tom nodded. "I had considered possibly allying myself with a strong upper year, in the hopes that they could aid me in gaining a proper foothold in the House if my legacy proved true." Tom looked somewhat bashful. "I had considered Rosier, actually, prior to the whole situation with his family." Lilith clamped her mouth shut and thought about what that would have meant for the future Lillian experienced. It would certainly explain a few things if the Tom she met in the Diary had been adapting himself to be more suitable for the Blood Purist and Anti-Muggle crowd that Rosier favored. That he would uncover the truth of his lineage in the interim between the fourth and fifth year, especially after making Prefect, would fit in well enough. Though Lilith doubted Tom would have been made King of Slytherin, Rosier's influence would have left Tom as the likely successor in his sixth year. Right after the creation of what Alexander believed was Tom's first Horcrux.
Looking over him now, Lilith could still see the man he could have become, but now… there was the chance to make sure that never happened. That he could be something more. "First of all, your talent is a gift. Never doubt that. While certain regions of the world like the Indian Subcontinent enjoy a heavy concentration of Parselmouths, Europe does not. A shame really." Lilith stood up and walked around the coffee table, before sitting by Tom's side. After gesturing at the snake and getting his approving nod, she reached out and caressed the pleased serpent. "Had you asked me directly, I would have happily said that you had my aid in this matter. Though your upbringing does explain your decision to test me. I will be quite clear to you, Riddle. I have plans that involve me avenging my family. That is my main priority outside of getting ICW accreditation. However, I am not above aiding a friend in the time it takes me to prepare for my return to Austria." Lilith looked up from the snake into those blue eyes. He really did resemble his grandfather quite well. Blushing slightly at the less than expected thought about what his lips would taste like, Lilith pushing that odd thought away, and carried on. "I will assist you, Tom Riddle, in discovering your heritage, in exchange for your assistance in the next few years due to a complication of mine. Though I will be clear. I am not some tool for you to use and discard. If you ever endanger my duty to my family, I will fight back. Understand? This is an offer of partnership, nothing more and nothing less."
Tom blinked at her, caught off guard by her tone and choice of words. He had hoped that Lilith would have agreed to his request but after the debacle and her irritation, he was certain she would have asked for something in return. The fact that she was asking for a partnership surprised him though. He had considered it as a possibility and, if he was honest with himself, he had desired it over anything else. Her threat against him was perfectly justified as if he had ordered the snakes to strike her, her plans for revenge would have ended here. He thought about what those plans would mean to him. He had already dismissed working with Grindelwald as the man was drawing too much negative publicity to himself and Rosier had lost the value that Tom had seen in him in the previous year. The Rosiers were now a pariah of the Wizengamot, so that was no real loss to him. That meant that the only thing he was sacrificing by allying himself with Lilith was some level of control if this was to be a proper partnership. "You say you wish to be partners. Would that include placing my own life in danger to fulfill your revenge?" Lilith shook her head. "My revenge against Grindelwald and his schwine is mine alone. If any of that endangers your life then you are free to act separately from me, as it would be your choice. You have a responsibility to yourself and your family, just as I do."
Lilith looked down and reached out, taking Tom's free hand into her own. It felt quite warm. She looked back at him. "As someone who lost my family, I can understand the need to find a place to belong. I will help you find your place. All I ask is that you think carefully on what you find. You say that you are an orphan? Finding a legacy could mean discovering a less than pleasant history. Just remember that you aren't tethered to it. You are free to shape the way that your family's legacy will influence your life." Lilith gave him a bitter smile. "Not all of us are as lucky. My duty to the von Schwarzwald family requires me to seek vengeance. So be careful with what you find, lest your freedom be lost. Remember that. So, what do you say? Partners?" Tom searched her eyes, seeing nothing amiss. For the first time in a long time he smiled as he squeezed her hand in a handshake. "Partners." Lilith shook his hand and looked thoughtful. She smiled. "And as our first thing as partners, would you be willing to spend the day with me on the 20th with me? Of course, you don't necessarily have to join me but I would like it if you could be by my side on the Equinox. We can discuss the details of what we can do for each other and how we go on from here." Tom thought about it and found nothing wrong about the request. In fact, he liked the idea of spending a day with her. "Sure."
-✦-
Tom could honestly say that he enjoyed his time with Lilith on the 20th. Unlike most of the other students, Lilith was far more interested in the most obscure facts about magic. The few moments that weren't dedicated to class where they could step aside and discuss matters proved to him that he had perhaps made the best possible choice. When he asked Lilith about the Dark Arts, he had watched as she took her time to answer him. "The Dark Arts are, unfortunately, defined differently by many people. The most arrogant and idealistic of the Light view the Dark Arts as the corruption and disruption of nature through magical means and that those who practice them are nothing more than fools who do not understand how their actions destroy the world around them. There are those in the Dark faction that view the Dark Arts… as the ultimate release. The mastery of the Dark Arts as the means of freeing oneself from everything that nature intended to bind the human race into subservience; a physical body that withers and dies, a social system that restricts a being into adhering to seemingly arbitrary rules. They wield that Dark Arts as an act of rebellion, no better than a child using a loaded gun while on a tantrum about his parents denying him a toy."
Lilith had sat on the edge of one of the upper balconies overlooking the vast forest that stretched out at the side of the castle, looking towards Tom briefly. She rubbed a ring on her hand, which Tom suspected was the one that denoted her position as Head of House. "Those who live at the fringes of the world, of the very society that condemns the Dark Arts, see them as something else. My family has wielded them for millennia, yet we have not sought to conquer the world nor eradicate the Light. The Dark Arts is but a fraction of the whole of Magic, a part of the tapestry of the world, which needs every aspect of magic to function. A forest with no predators grows wild with the population of foragers skyrocketing. The rivers lose their stability as the grassless banks are weathered away, the ground itself left barren of nutrients and the trees grow withered. In time, a fire will consume the forest, burning it all to the ground. In the absence of this rampant ecosystem, the fields regrow, into a new environment, but much of what once was is lost. And so the cycle is repeated for all eternity; life, death and renewal. The true Masters of the Dark Arts understands that their magic isn't a toy to be used or an aberration of the natural order, but the violent aspects of the world that acts as the limiter on life. The fire for the trees, the predators for the foragers… death to abarent life."
Frowning as he tried to understand her explanation, Tom rubbed his chin. "Would that not mean that Grindelwald is acting as the Dark believe? Culling the lives of the weak and vulnerable in order to open the path to a new balance?" Lilith had looked at Tom and gave him a soft smile. "To some, ja, that is true. Perspective is, after all, the ultimate decider of morality. Grindelwald's actions can, at times, be seen to be those of a proper Dark Lord." Lilith's smile, however, turned into a serious look. "Except that he misunderstands the dangers of what he has unleashed." Lilith handed Tom a photo and he felt his heart run cold. The picture showed women and children standing before the corpses of men as officers of the German Army aimed rifles at them. While the photos had been distributed to the Wizengamot, the Daily Prophet had opted not to publish them, which left Lilith wondering whose side the owners were on. "Grindelwald's machinations have unleashed a violence that cares not for life nor renewal. There is no honor, no respect and no understanding. It is mindless violence repeated all across the Continent. The Dark is meant to be an instrument that holds and restores balance, yet this is a war that threatens to leave the world ravaged of all life, with the survivors reduced to nothing more than mindless beasts driven by base instincts, if there are any survivors at all." Lilith stared into Tom's eyes. "That's what happens when the Dark Arts are warped and used incorrectly. One loses touch with their true purpose and becomes the very thing they claim to despise. Grindelwald called muggles the scourge of the Earth. Now he is no better than any of them."
Lilith looked out over the trees. "An ecosystem, even one as artificial as a city, needs order as much as chaos, with life and death needing to occur simultaneously, but in a way that ensures growth and continuation, not extinction. The Dark Arts are meant to ensure that continuation, by fighting back against the true horrors of the world, without losing oneself to them." Lilith gestured at the forests. "According to Professor Ross, the only wild predators in the Forest here are barghests, wolves and centaurs. A delicate balance is maintained between them and the birds, deer, rabbits and the myriad of insects and other creatures. Add one more predator and you risk turning a somewhat safe forest into a deadly one. The Schwarzwald has dozens of dangerous beasts, all man eaters that could breed and spread across the land, leaving the villages baren of life. My family once tended the forest, keeping it safe for all its inhabitants, before we left for the Bregenzerwald. Yet the forest we left behind was still guarded by those who understood the dangers hiding deep in the darkest corners." Tom thought for a second and realized something. "Your family acted as the balance that kept the forests safer for both sides." As Lilith nodded, Tom asked the question that seemed relevant to him. "Then why not kill all the Dark Creatures and be rid of the danger?" Lilith chuckled and looked him in the eyes. "Because we are not gods. We do not decide what deserves to exist and what doesn't. These creatures are dangerous but they live. They care for their young as we do, they raise them to hunt and to grow, to pass on their legacy. They are a part of this world and therefore must be respected. Only when the creatures become aberrant, disruptive of the natural order, are they designated for death."
Lilith pulled out her pocket watch and opened it, revealing a photo on the opposite side. Tom looked at the image and saw what she was pointing at. A little girl holding a small cub as the older couples talked away, the youngest woman being reassured by the others. "That is a Schattenwolf cub. They are similar to your country's Barghest but are capable of operating in packs. They once inhabited many regions of the European Continent, laying waste to villages that grew too complacent. The need for the Night Watchers, for which Vampires were the most often chosen as the guards, was because of them. In time, they were hunted down and driven close to extinction. My family, however, refused to end them and sought another path. We started to care for them, treat them as equals. Whenever they approached villages, the wards would keep them out and we always imported deer to the forest to stabilize the populations. In time, they became the new protectors, keeping Irklings and other far more dangerous creatures contained deeper within the Forest. They became more than magical creatures that could vanish in the night and rip your throat out in the blink of an eye." Tom nodded softly. "They served a purpose in keeping the balance." Lilith smiled at him. "Exactly. The Dark Creatures of the world crave nothing but destruction, but that doesn't have to be the fate of them and the practitioners of the Dark Arts. We can keep our humanity intact, but only if we understand the worst of our nature and control it."
As the day turned to night, Lilith's words resonated deep within Tom. While he remained interested in studying the Dark Arts and Lilith encouraged him to do so, her warning of control and restraint made all the more sense. It also explained her approach to Rosier. Where others would have humiliated him to take his place, she merely hoped to contain him, her own actions demonstrating just how different her approach was, one that definitely seemed more efficient in gaining support and respect from the younger children and from the students of the other houses. Eventually the pair approached the Hospital Wing and Lilith turned to him. "I do still feel sorry for upending your test of me the other day. So I hope this makes up for it." As they stepped inside, Madam Prewett and her apprentice came up to her as Tom looked at Lilith in confusion. They both looked at Tom but at Lilith's insistence, they proceeded to check her over and give her a potion. As the moments passed Tom watched as arcs of light traveled across her body before eventually Lilith was doubled over fighting against the pain. Madam Prewett cursed. "Damn it. The potion doesn't seem any better than the last. Poppy, get the Dreamless Sleep potion ready. She's going to need her sleep." For the next few hours before Curfew, Tom watched as Lilith struggled with whatever it was that was eating away at her. He knew that eventually she would tell him more as to what he had witnessed in the infirmary that evening.
What he did know was the reason that Lilith had asked him to be with her today. She wanted him to see her at her most vulnerable. Tom had revealed a secret that Lilith could use against him. Now… now he had a secret of hers too. Tom smiled softly as he turned over on his bed, looking at the record player sitting on his bedside table. That was just like her. He had seen it when she interacted with the Ravenclaw girls. He had watched as the girls consoled her in a moment of weakness, before the next morning she arrived with some confection that the three enjoyed together. A gift for a gift, a secret for a secret. Balance maintained in a way that ensured coexistence, not subservience or control over others. As Tom closed his eyes, odd images began to appear before his eyes as his thoughts lost themselves into unconsciousness. Images of an old man standing before him defiantly with a dark haired boy at his side, a table full of people who looked upon him with fear and reverence… and the sight of a black haired Slytherin girl staring at him defiantly, beautiful green eyes making his heart ache. He remembered watching that face turning into a familiar looking smile, before the girl bowed and walked away, returning to the Great Hall. Tom wondered for a second who it was that was feeling their heart beating wildly; this vision of another life… or his own.