Hermione walked through the crowded corridor with brisk steps, clutching the worn out Potions textbook, some paper and a quill that she had managed to nab, between her arms. After waking up slightly disoriented this morning she had willed herself to immediately fit into the flow of things. She had a limited amount of time after all.
Find him.
Fuck with him.
Finish him.
Hermione repeated the mantra over and over in her head.
She came to a stop in front of the classroom and took in a deep breath. What if he was there? Should she look him the eyes and try to establish a connection or should she pay him no heed and walk towards a seat? Should she sit near him or far away? Every tiny detail mattered.
Tom Marvolo Riddle was alas, a beast of a complexity. A tiger who would either let her into his den or tear her to shreds in seconds. One wrong move with him and it could very well cost her her life. All their lives. Her heart lurched at the thought of her friends.
The cool air from chamber greeted her, providing some relief from the blistering heat outside. The room was dimly lit and from the quick scan of the class she was certain that he hadn't walked in yet.
You'd think the infamously perfect Head Boy would be in class already.
She picked a seat in the middle of the class and began to settle in when she received a quick tap on her shoulder.
"Excuse me, this is my seat"
Hermione jumped at the words and found herself to be face to face with a slender brunette. Her hair was primly set into a plait, not a single hair out of place. Uniform was regulation length, crisp and clean. Her mouth was twisted into a grimace like she had sucked on a lemon and she looked at the annoyance down the length of her sharp pointed nose.
"Apologies, I'm new and thought this seat was free", said Hermione
The girl's demeanor changed at once. Her quick brown eyes flitted to Hermione's plain black robes and lack of tie and pieced it together.
"You must be Hermione Blackwood, the student from Romania. Ahh yes yes, Professor Dippet filled me in on you last night…must've slipped my mind. I'm Minerva McGonagall, the Head Girl. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." She extended her hand in greeting.
Hermione knew she would come across young McGonagall at some point but she still wasn't prepared. She discreetly wiped her sweaty palm on her robe and shook her hand. In her heart she said a prayer to whoever was listening. Minerva would make a good friend and ally, if there was anyone who could sniff out what Riddle got up to and help her it was her.
"The seat next to me is free. Please, you can sit here." She signaled to the empty chair as began to set up her own books.
When they were seated, Minerva turned towards Hermione.
"Are you all settled in the guest chambers? Any problems?"
"None at all thank you. Every thing is fine." Hermione folded her hands in her lap.
Minerva plucked Hermione's class schedule from the desk and compared it with her's.
"We have the same classes. Perhaps you should stick by me for today." She twirled the quill in her hand. "Thats only if you haven't already made some friends already of course, I understand that the school can be confusing with for a newcomer"
Hermione deciphered the look on her face. Minerva was seeking her company as much as she was hers. She nodded.
"I'd love that."
Minerva gave a full toothed grin.
Hermione and Minerva continued chatting on about their classes and professors when she saw him. A flash of silver blonde hair and the smug smile. Her heart stopped a beat.
Minerva turned in the direction Hermione was looking in to see what had caused her to abruptly stop in the middle of their conversation. Her face took on the sour look again.
"That's Abraxas Malfoy. An absolute arse and pureblooded bigot. I'd stay out of his way, he's definitely not worth the headache you'll experience after interacting with him."
"Abraxas…" Hermione repeated under her breath.
Not Draco.
Not Draco.
Behind Abraxas Malfoy were three other boys decked out in Slytherin robes.
Hermione was fairly certain who this gang of gentlemen were.
"That's Tom Riddle's - the Headboy's - little posse by the way" said Minerva disdainfully. "The one on the right with the messy hair is Theodore Nott, thinks of himself as quite the charmer, personally I don't see the appeal. The one on the left is Antonin Dolohov he seems a bit…peculiar to me, never had a straight conversation with him to be quite honest. And the one in the back is the most civil and humane of the lot of them, Edmund Lestrange. No one really understands why he chooses to accompany the likes of them." Minerva gave her head a little shake.
The boys came down to the front of the classroom, laughing at something Malfoy had said. They chose the desks right behind Hermione and Minerva's.
And their attention soon turned towards them.
"And how are you this fine morning Minnie?" remarked Abraxas. His chin was rested on his hand, a lazy mischievous look in his signature Malfoy grey eyes. Upon closer examination Hermione could see how his appearance contrasted with Draco's. While Draco had his hair slicked back severely, Abraxas' looked soft and clean and fell into his eyes. His features were softer and open unlike the stoic, steely look that often graced Malfoys.
"Do not call me that Abraxas." gritted Minerva.
Theodore Nott was the first to notice Hermione.
"And who do we have here…" His eyes carried out a predatory scan: her hair, eyes, lips, lingering at her chest, where his lips curled into a wicked smile and his brown eyes glinted. Malfoy let out a low whistle. He raised his hand in greeting.
"Theodore Nott. Pleasure to meet you."
Wish I could say the same for you.
"Hermione Blackwood." He didn't let go of her hand.
"You're a new face around here. There's no way such beauty could have been hidden from me." Edmund sitting next to him rolled his eyes.
Oh he is a big flirt.
She let out a forced laugh.
"You're right, I'm a new student from Romania. Today is my first day."
Abraxas' eyebrows rose. "Joining Hogwarts in the last year, is that even possible?"
"It is if you're the Headmaster's niece." She gave a shrug.
At that moment the front classroom doors opened and came in Horace Slughorn. Dressed in over the top lavish dark green robes, his round pink face tight and wrinkle free. He stepped in front of his cluttered desk and addressed the class.
"Good morning ladies and gents. Welcome to your first class in your final year at Hogwarts." He clapped his hands. "This year is your last chance, your saving grace, to prepare yourself for the brutal and uncaring world that lies outside these school walls." A pause. "Use it to the very best of your ability."
With that message he snapped out of his serious demeanor and surveyed the classroom.
"Bertha, you've lost weight good good…John I heard about your grandmother, so sorry for your loss…Edmund, the new haircut suits you…Tom- where's Tom?" His eyes squinted.
Indeed, Where was Tom Riddle.
"Professor, Tom is with the Headmaster he got called in earlier this morning." provided Minerva.
"Ah yes yes, of course its the first day of the Academic Year he must have a lot to attend to."
Hermione wondered whether others saw how let down he looked. After finding out the backstory between the two she knew how much Horace had loved Riddle like a son. She wouldn't be surprised if he lost enthusiasm to teach halfway through the lesson.
But Slughorn proceeded with the rest of the class and Hermione participated enthusiastically, answering whatever question he threw at the class. If she wanted to play with Tom Riddle she had to stand out from the rest.
"Careful there Minnie, looks like your Supreme Nerd crown might be in danger." Abraxas whispered from the back.
Hermione was facing major Deja Vu. Horace looked at her exactly the way he did back in their sixth year, a look of awe on his face. He asked her her family name, she replied Blackwood. He face scrunched up for a moment and then connected her to the famous Romanian Blackwood's, inventors of the Firebolt and several other Quidditch gear pieces. Hermione managed a nervous smile as several of her classmates looked in her direction.
This is good, this is what you want.
With that, class concluded and everyone made their way out. Hermione and Minerva slung their bags over their shoulders and walked into the hallway. From the corner of her eye, Hermione caught Edmund staring at her, he immediately turned the other way.
"You were bloody brilliant in there" praised Minerva. "Where did you study before?"
"I was home schooled, I just like to read. A lot."
Minerva's eyes shone with glee "Me too."
They were headed towards one of the benches when a prefect named Clarence came to Minerva with a note. She thanked her and read it quickly.
"Its about your sorting ceremony." Her eyes lifted to Hermione's "Its going to take place in fifteen minutes in the Headmasters Office."
She folded up the note and tucked it in her pocket. "I have prefect's meeting in ten minutes just here." She twisted her hands. "I don't want to leave you alone-"
"Absolutely no worries, I've been there last night I know where it is I can go on my own." Hermione interjected.
Minerva gave a nod. "See you for Charms then."
"See you."
With that Hermione took off in the direction of the office
Where Tom Riddle would be.
