Hierarchy of Need [t.r]

Chapter Twenty Six

Turning slightly in her seat, Delilah's eyes glanced over all the students he had framed, all in varying degrees of succession. She also didn't fail to miss how Tom already had his frame up, front and center; Slughorn's current prized pupil. Delilah couldn't help but snicker.

"That boy would make a fine Minister," he muttered while he rummaged in his desk for a moment. Slughorn pulled out a decent sized stack of parchment before handing it over the desk. "That should have all the information you need, come to me if you have any questions."

With a tight lipped smile and nod, Delilah hurriedly got up and bid her Head of house ado. Just as she shut the door, she heard him shouting something about the Slug Club dinners she's 'accidentally' missed.

Shaking her head, Delilah leafed through the papers half interested. Admittedly, a job in the Department of Mysteries would be exciting. However, she wasn't going to get her hopes up seeing as the Ministry was basically obsolete in her own time, over run by Death Eaters and the like.

Nearing the entrance to the Slytherin common room, Delilah rounded the corner with her eyes still trained on the papers and ran right into someone. Falling on her ass and dropping everything in the process.

"Jesus fuck," she winced.

"Language."

Of course it was him. Delilah didn't even bother to look up as she got on her knees and started to collect the papers, half expecting him to help. With the seconds ticking by however, she finally glanced upwards only to find Tom leaning against the wall watching her in amusement. His hands unhelpfully shoved in his pockets.

"Fat load of good you are," She grumbled as she got to her feet, blowing the hair out of her face since it was tussled with her clumsiness.

He didn't care to respond and glanced at one of the pieces of parchment, "Ministry worker? I don't think they could handle you."

Rolling her eyes, Delilah smacked him lightly on the chest with said papers, "says the soon to be school teacher." Continuing her walk to the common room, Tom fell in step beside her, though he had to slow his pace slightly due to her significantly shorter legs.

He was slightly surprised she even remembered, the day they fell into the Great Lake seemed like ages ago.

"Children adore me."

Delilah snorted before saying the password and making her way into the common room. It was relatively empty, mostly consisting of fourth to fifth year students, all of which were cramming for exams.

"What subject?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts."

He was met with her laughter, laughter to the point where her shoulders bounced and her cheeks turned red. Tom analyzed and catalogued her expression and the sound of it before raising an eyebrow.

Delilah took in his questioning glance and tried to stifle her laughter with a hand, but it was rather difficult. She couldn't help herself. Lord Voldemort, defending the youth from the Dark Arts? The irony was nearly painful. She also couldn't help but think about how everyone was miserable when Snape took over DADA.

"Poor kids."

There was a brief pause as they came to stop near the fireplace. Her nails lightly grazed over the snake carved into the marble before she blurted out, "I think you'd make a wonderful teacher." Because he would, he had the passion and skills needed.

However, Delilah knew he never would become a professor. Part of her wondered how different he would've been if he did end up teaching at Hogwarts.