Hierarchy of Need [t.r]

Chapter Twelve

  "Where did you learn that spell?" He asked. Delilah knew he'd succumb to his curiosity eventually. "I read about it." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. Tom was aware of this, but based on her current state, he didn't push. "You feel disgusted with yourself, do you not?" Delilah flinched at his blunt phrasing. Her eyes narrowed at him, she only just became aware of how close they were.

  She sat huddled up at the headboard and he sat poised at the foot of the bed. Perhaps they weren't that close, but being on the same bed made it feel that way. 

  Delilah nodded, not trusting her voice. "You shouldn't be." He was talking softly, his usual harsh conviction absent. Delilah shook her head and stretched her legs out, her legs just inches away from him. She stared at the blood coated socks, flashes of Tom twitching on the floor violated her mind. 

  "I could've killed you."

  Tom followed her gaze. Why was she still wearing those fifthly things? "You give yourself too much credit." He tsk-d. Delilah nearly snapped at him, but her breath caught in her throat as she felt his nimble fingers begin to tug the socks off her. He hooked a finger on the top lace trim at her knees, and pulled down so they rolled into a bunch. He took the left one off first, then the right.

  She didn't know what to do.

  "The moral is, strict adherence to a code is pointless." He waved his wand and the dirtied socks disappeared. Delilah felt strangely bare, he's seen too much of her mentally. And the soft, cool touch of his fingers through her ripped tights haunted her, it was revolting yet enticing all at once.

  "Rosier will be attending."

  "What?" 

  Right, Elio, her boyfriend. Guilt gnawed at her heart, they barely spent any time with each other. He devoted so much of himself yet Delilah found herself giving him nothing. He deserved someone who would grant him their undivided attention. Delilah was too scattered, and a relationship was honestly the last thing she needed. 

  Home. That was her goal. She needed to get home. She knew she couldn't stay here forever, and leading Elio on any further would just be cruel.

  "I have concerns about your hearing." Tom sighed, her attention span was annoyingly short today. He dismissed the glare she shot at him. "Avery Manor will be hosting the Yule Ball this holiday, and Avery has invited you." The lie slipped easily past his lips, rolling off his tongue as a second language. 

  Cain didn't invite her, nor did Elio. Now that he thought about it, why didn't Elio invite her? Cain asked Lolita. He almost snickered. The two thought they were being discrete, but anyone could tell they undressed each other with their eyes every time they were in the same room. Abraxas even asked a brunette Ravenclaw, Aurora.

  A Christmas Ball seemed fanciful to Delilah. Too good to be true.

  Getting dressed in an elegant gown, pinning up her hair, doing her makeup, dancing with a handsome boy, laughing with her new friends. Delilah couldn't have that even if she begged on her knees. No, she had to stay at Hogwarts. Research harder on why she arrived in 1943. Dumbledore's been doing all the work, really. If she had been trying harder, could she have already been back home?

  The task seemed impossible. Delilah was smart, but she wasn't insanely brilliant or clever, not like Hermione. Not like Tom. She wondered if he had any ideas, if Tom was in her place, there was no doubt he'd have figured out the solution within a week at most. But no, telling him would be too dangerous. Delilah made a promise to Dumbledore. Any knowledge about the future to the wrong ears could ruin everything. Perhaps even create a paradox where she gets wiped from existence.