Hierarchy of Need [t.r]

Chapter Twenty Four

It wasn't the first time she started bleeding out, but it had never been that severe.

Then she remembered him cleaning off her blood, and stopping her from hyperventilating. And later on how he protected her during the bombing, and after how he made sure she was okay. How he actually asked.

That was the person she wanted to believe in. But was any of it real? Was it just a facade to make her trust him? Is Voldemort lingering under the surface right now, waiting to break free?

Nonetheless, he would be helpful, especially if they got into any trouble. He was a very persuasive person.

And perhaps this was a way she could use Tom's skill for her own gain, and in some complicated way, it was a means to get back at him for all the suffering he has yet to cause.

But in having such a thought, Delilah did a dangerous thing; lying to oneself never ends well. Maybe this was all just an elaborate scheme to convince herself that he wasn't Voldemort, not yet. That he was just a boy who made all the wrong choices.

And maybe, just maybe, she could help him choose right, at least once.

"Yeah, I'll talk to him."

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Later that evening, Delilah was sat against the bookshelf on the floor, her nose dug in a book when there was a rap on the wood. Looking up, her eyes widened slightly.

"Elio?"

He gave her a slight smile, "Ravenclaw has their own private library? I'm jealous." He gestured to the spot next to her and she nodded, closing her book and patting the ground. "What brings you here?"

"I wanted to see if you were okay, I haven't seen you all week," he felt the butterflies in his stomach go into a frenzy when she rested her head on his shoulder. A blush rose to his cheeks as he rested his cheek against her hair, staring straight ahead at the books in front of him.

Truth is, he was a bit more concerned than he should've been, because Tom was acting so odd the past few days. More abnormal than he already was. Elio wanted to ask what happened after he and the boys left, but thought best not to. Seeing as the two of them had gone a bit off the rails.

"I'm fine," she reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze, trying to reassure not only him, but herself. Elio dug in his pocket for a moment with his free hand and dropped a bag into her lap. "What's this?"

"Pepper imps," he knew those were her favorite, and his heart warmed at the smile she gave him. "Thank you," she offered him one but he shook his head. "Olive and Lita are asking about you."

Delilah sighed and rested her head back on Elio's shoulder, twisting his necklace around absentmindedly. "I should probably head back their soon." Her eyes trailed over the Ravenclaw common room, with its high windows and charmed ceiling that made it look like the cosmos were in her grasp. It felt like home there, her real home. And when she was alone, she could almost act like everything was normal again.

Alas, that just wasn't the case. There were more pressing matters. Such as an aspiring Dark Lord.

"How did this even start?" Delilah partly wondered if him growing up in an orphanage had anything to do with it. But loads of people grow up orphans, that doesn't mean they all turned out to be raging sociopaths.

"I don't know," Elio said truthfully, his voice but a whisper.

"Riddle is complicated, infuriatingly so. No one knows where he came from. He just popped up out of nowhere, bringing this storm of charm, intellect, and ambition in his wake. I think his curiosity is his weakness, no matter how destructive a thing is, if he finds it fascinating, he'll stop at nothing to figure it out. That darkness in him... I have no idea where that came from. But one day, it'll swallow him whole."

"You don't think it already has?"

He thought about it for a moment, mulling over the seven years he's known Tom. But as he looked at Delilah, he thought back to all the times he's seen the two together, despite how painful it always was. There was a new light in Tom, a light Delilah had seemed to ignite, trying to crack through the abyss of darkness.

"No, no I don't."

There was a brief pause before he raised a finger, "now don't get me wrong. He's dreadful, and complete shit. But he's not gone, not yet. God help us when that happens."

A dry laugh left her lips then as she recalled the future awaiting the wizarding world, "Yeah, god help us all."

"On a lighter note, one that doesn't involve Riddle," Elio began and offered her a grin. "Valentine's day is coming up. Do you want to do something? Something fun, take your mind off things." Before she could even open her mouth, a deep blush flooded his cheeks and his words tumbled from his lips, "just as friends of course."

Nudging him in the side, Delilah felt herself genuinely smile for the first time in awhile, "that would be lovely, thank you."

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Please VOTE & COMMENT if you enjoyed!!

I was listening to "Lily's Theme" from the score of the Deathly Hallows pt.2  while writing, and it's so stunningly beautiful, give it a listen!!

Also, I've posted my own character studies on a new Instagram account; vellxchor , and I'll be posting other Harry Potter characters down the line as well. Maybe even some other fandoms, such as Doctor Who or Marvel? I've posted all the "Hierarchy of Need" characters already, but my favorite post is a study I did of Regulus!!

I'm also officially moving houses in the next two days, so the next update might be awhile? We'll see! I'll keep you updated the best I can!

I'm thinking of even making my room Harry Potter themed? Mostly Ravenclaw, considering that's my house.

Again, THANK YOU to everyone who's been reading and who has invested into these characters, it means the world to me!!