Make It Right

Ch. 10 The Dragon Café


The Dragon café was a small and cosy café, the walls filled from floor to roof with books; both new, and some so old they could have been from another millennia. Then again the cape she was wearing was a thousand years old, so it would not surprise her the least.

Every head turned towards them as they entered, followed closely by whispers. ‘They look frightened’ Lilith thought. She turned to Tom and was put slightly off by the look on his face. The ever so pleasant smile was now replaced by a sneer…. “Keep your eyes and ears to your selves, or you’ll loose them. That goes for your hands as well.” He loudly declared, silently challenging anyone who dared to anyone who might object. ‘…And an acid tongue’ she added to her thoughts.

Before even turning around, the bartender Alexis, knew. No one could silence a crowd of nasty tempered, knowledge thirsty bastards like Tom Riddle.

“You all heard our Lord, mind your manners, as I try to keep this place open for you lot, and it won’t be easy if I have to chuck you all on the street for your insolence.” The bartender bellowed. “Tom, don’t see much of you anymore. What can I get you and Lady? If I may say, she’s a true beauty.

Lilith blushed at the attention. She was not used to have people give her compliments. Her husband Keith, was quite intimidating, though in a different manner that Tom, even when trying to suck up at the work related parties, it was more than enough to scare anyone who paid her any interest.

“Thank you, sir” Alexis’ eyebrows shot up under his grey hairline. His eyes narrowed in a very threatening manner. Lilith was about to apologise, thinking she had said something wrong, before he turned his scowl towards Tom.

“Tom Marvolo Riddle, if I do not find this delightful young beauty handfested to you within a year, an made the Lady of your many castles and manors, I will personally take it upon myself to hunt you, the most feared Lord since Salazar lost is temper, and make your death very slow and painful. You hear me boy?”

Tom, and the rest of the guests, were nothing short of stunned, staring at the old wizard who, aside from the bumblebee, was the only one who dared to speak to him an such a manner.

Tom had known the man since he was a small child. He got lost from his group in an orphanage-field trip, then he somehow managed to find his way to this little treasure. They had been friends ever since, Alexis feeding the boy when he dropped by, how could he not; he was so small and skinny. Then when he became of age, the firs thing Tom did was to by the café in Alexis’ name. He respected him deeply, and even saw upon him as a confider of sorts, he would always listen if he needed to get something off his chest.

Tom felt like he had just swallowed a lemon ball of doom, with the spikes sticking out of his skin.

“Um, yes sir, right away, sir.” He didn’t know what else to say.

Alexis chuckled at the Dark Lords stuttering. “Usual table, and the usual I presume?”

“Yeah I think so, we don’t have too much time, if I’m not mistaking” then Tom leaned in to whisper something (boasting about Lily) to the elder man, giving a pleasant smile.

“Congratulations Tom, my Lady”

Lilith smiled, nodded, and prayed that the shopping would stand ready at her doorstep when she arrived back ‘home’.

…………………………………………………….

Their food arrived a few minutes later.

‘Usual’ for Tom turned out to be a tasty steak, with vegetables, salad, mashed potatoes, a delicious sauce she hadn’t tasted before, and some crushed hazel nuts to top it all.

“Wow. So this is the usual eh?” Tom nodded.

“I bought him the café. He’d been working here since before I was born, plus he used to feed me when I roamed the streets as a kid. Guess I would be dead if it wasn’t for him.”

“You really didn’t have an easy life did you?” It wasn’t really a question. He chuckled.

“Still don’t, but it’s the curse of being a son of Slytherin,” he grinned, “but it’s looking up though.”

“What happened to gave you hope to get out of this mess then?” Tom nuzzled his arms around himself and gave his dark fringe a puff. Lilith laughed out loud, turning quite a few heads. They didn’t laugh tough, the men was a bit frightened, never having seen their Lord like this, the women all aaaaw’ed at the sight of the man. Tom scowled at them.

“You’re going to ruin my reputation. How can they respect me if they think I’m cute?”

“You ARE cute. There is nothing you can do about it really.” Lilith giggled, earning herself another scowl.

“She’s right you know Tommy-boy,” Alexis shouted from the other end of the café, laughing to himself “there isn’t anything you can do about it.”

Lilith turned her attention back to Tom. “Use it to your advantage.” She stated matter of factly. Tom was puzzled, how could being cute help him?

“Boyish cuteness is disarming,” continued, eying his still confused expression, “it is a token of innocence, making people more inclined to trust you. When they are not busy trying to figure out if you’re going to kill them or not, they’ll relax and listen.”

Is seemed to make sense to him, so she continued again, “if you do not trust them, don’t let them know” Tom jacked an eyebrow.
“As a mother I know methods of torture of the most effective kind. Make them feel and see you disappointment. Make them believe you had faith in them. Their failure will gnaw in their chest. They will feel they let you down, and will try harder to earn your faith, giving you loyalty and obedience. It’s called reversed psychology. Works like a charm every time.”

“Where did you learn all that?” Amazement clear in his voice.

“Maternity books on raising children.” She said, taking the last bite of her steak. Tom shook his head. All the things muggles did. Then it dawned on him. This was the exact technique Dumbledork used on, well, everyone.

“Thank you for the advice, but could we stop talking about my looks, I think it’s making me blush” Lilith giggled again.

“OK”

“Lily. Have you chosen a nursery school for her?”

“Yes, she attends a Kinder garden now, but I haven’t decided anything further from there.”

“Good, wouldn’t want to ruin your plans. I know I don’t have the right to be a part of her life but I want her to have the best education possible. If you don’t mind she will attend Hogwarts when she turns eleven. If you do, I’ll spend the next nine years persuading you.”

“I haven’t ever even heard of Hogwarts, tell me about it. Did you go to school there?”

“Yes, I did, so did every single relative on my mothers side, back to Salazar’s days”

“I’m not letting you choose our daughters school on the basis of tradition!”

“It’s not tradition. It’s simply the best school. Dumstrang is out of the question, as it is an all boys school, Beaubaux is a flimsy unethical education centre were they focus on ‘beauty’ ahead of academically competence. And I presume you don’t want her on the other side of the word, but even those schools don’t have the history or education system that Hogwarts does, they’re not even in the same league. Besides I own two quarter of the school (Slytherin and Ravenclaw). Malfoy owns another quarter (Gryffindor), Longbottom owns the last quarter (Hufflepuff).”

“But….” Lilith tried


“Not to even mention 8 out of the twelve in the school bord are in my Circles, and in my service, that’s not including Malfoy and Longbottom, so that makes ten out of twelve, excluding Dumbledore, ten out of eleven. I know the castle inside-out every dark corner, every hidden path, secret chambers. Even the kitchen, and that was the hardest to find. I can even replace the teachers with my own men, she will be safer there.”

“Tell me the real reason Tom” Tom locked eyes with the table, refusing to look at her.

“It is the only school which allow children with any other surname than their biological father. If she enlists any other school, she will have to do so in my name. If she is at Hogwarts I can come and go as I please without anyone knowing. If Dumbledore catches an interest, which I doubt because he’s mostly into boys, I can protect her. If she’s somewhere else, he will know, and I can’t do anything to stop him. I’m sorry Lilith, but I can’t risk it. My life is my own to put on the line, but not yours or our daughter’s.”


“You’ve only just met you daughter and you’re already willing to put your life on the line for her. Why?”

“A child is a blessing Lilith, no matter the circumstances, you said so you self.”

Lilith nodded nervously, “Alright, nothing to worry about right. Maybe Dumbledore won’t be headmaster in a decade, I mean, he was old, when you went there.”

“Do you want an ice cream before we go?” Tom asked to change the subject as quickly as possible.

“No thank you, I think I have to go home. I don’t want Keith to get there before me.”

Tom got their coats, and said his good byes to his acquaintances, trying out his newfound cute side.

They walked in a comfortable silence all the way to her door step.

“Oh, I forgot the food”

“No, don’t worry, it’s all in its rightful places in your kitchen. If you ever need anything, just call for Onyx, she’ll come.”

“How do I call her?”

“Just whistle or call her name. She knows you now. She’ll come. Just write a letter if you have time, but she understands oral ones too. Naturally, she can’t talk, but I’m a good guesser.”

He stomped his feet shyly, doing the cute thing again, turning to walk away when she grabbed his shoulder. He turned back towards her and suddenly found his arms full of a red mess. She held him tightly, breathing in the day. Unsure of what to do, he moved his arms around her waist and hugged her back. She lifted her hands and rested them on his shoulders, burying her face in the nape of his neck, and he in hers. They stood like this for a long while. Neither really wanting to let go, nor knowing what to do.

“Thank you” she whispered

“For what?”

“Lily. Wanting to be her father and take care of her. And dinner.” Tom held her tighter, her warmth seeping through his clothes.

“She is my baby, how could I not.” He paused, “I want to take care of you too, you know. It’s my pleasure and my honour.”

Lilith chuckled. “You’ll have to fill me in on the traditions of your world, because we are clearly not from the same one.” Tom grinned down at her. “I’ll do that, I have a feeling you’ll be a bit shocked” ‘Very shocked, am I really going to show her my world? Can she handle that?’ He grabbed her hand and placed a quick kiss upon it.

“I am afraid I must say my farewells, my fair Lady.” He made a courtly bow and backed a few steps away from her before heading onto the street.

Lilith stood at her doorstep, watching him walk away. She kicked off her boots, and hung her cloak carefully on the silent servant. Opening the door to the main area of the small house, she stiffened and sniffed the air; lemon, cinnamon, and food. Entering the kitchen she gasped. Never had it ever been so clean, it was literally sparking. Running to the refrigerator, ripping up the door, she was mesmerized. So much food, good quality, not like the squeeshy things she normally had to by because of Keith’s cheapness, and a finished dinner for two adults, and two for small children. Exited, she ran into the living room, finding it equally squeaky clean, with a letter made of fine parchment and written in deep green ink, on the table.

Dear Lady Lilith,
I will keep my word to you (I didn’t really give it, but you have it anyway). Even if you are not resident in my house, you will be treated as such. The cooking, cleaning, shopping will be taken care of. Do not ever worry about it. Know that Alexis would skin my back if I do not treat you as the Queen you are. I am here to make your life as comfortable as I can, and I do so gladly.

P.S. Please don’t reject my small attentions. I have so much to make up for, and I feel that making you life a little bit easier in this manner might be one end to start in.

xxx
Lord of Slytherin; Tom M. Riddle

She continued into the dining room, but promptly stopped, eying Keith hovering over a bunch of paper work.

It was past four, and he was home early. His face was red in anger, the heat reaching his ears. His sausage like fingers and sweaty hands, staining the otherwise spotless table.

His eyes met hers in pure fury.


“The shopping is done, the house is clean SO WHERE EXCATLY have you been all day?!!!”

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A/N; i promised a chapter and here it is. please review!!!