Sonata
Exposition- continued
With a start Hermione started uncomfortably twisting and turning in her sheets. Feeling slightly hot from the pressing bed sheets, she sat up and pushed the blankets away from her. Yawning loudly and raising her hands in the air, she looked at the alarm clock beside her.
5:25.
"Argh!" Hermione said loudly, before pushing herself out of bed. Confident that she wasn't going to be able to fall back asleep, she unsteadily walked towards her new dresser. Opening all of the drawers, however, she found a lack of pants or shorts of any kind.
"Some serious sexism is happening here" Hermione muttered quietly to herself as she picked out a green dress that was tight fitting on top, but began to flow outwards after the section in the waist. Looking in the bottom drawer Hermione also found a pair of heeled sandals, raised slightly and the leather cut in a fashionable way. Taking these with her, Hermione left her room in search of the bathroom.
Closing her door quietly behind her, Hermione was met with Tom's closed door. Looking to the right Hermione saw another door and headed for it.
"Sleep in long enough?" a voice said from behind her in a somewhat ironic tone.
Quickly turning around, Hermione was met with Tom, who had his arms folded and was wearing nothing but a pair of long pants.
"You could say I'm used to odd hours" Hermione said as she reminisced back to all those nights of wandering around the castle with Ron and Harry, to researching late in the library, and to helping to save the world. The Order didn't really take your sleep into consideration when they were battling against evil. Neither did Harry.
"So you often go wandering about the school in the middle of the night?" Tom continued sarcastically, smirking slightly.
"Just as often as you visit a library under reconstruction after hours" Hermione responded, also slightly smirking.
"Touché" Tom said, unfolding his arms, "Just hurry up." And with that Tom turned back around, darted into his bedroom, and closed the door.
"Weird" Hermione muttered to herself as she pushed open the bathroom door.
"Wow" she muttered again to herself as she toke in the bathroom. It was definitely much larger than the individual bathrooms that she and Draco possessed, and much more grandly built. Indeed it looked like either some serious magic was used on it, or no expanses were spared, as it contained gold-trimmed walls, enclosed shower stalls to the left, enclosed bathroom stalls to the right, and straight in front of her a bath large enough to be a swimming pool.
"Lovely" Hermione said softly, before closing the door behind her, taking off her current wardrobe, and slipping into the bath. Sighing deeply in content at the steamy water, Hermione thought back to a few seconds ago.
'Really, it's a shame for someone that good-looking to turn out so rotten' Hermione thought floating on her back as she remembered Tom's oddly defined muscles despite his wiry frame. Blushing lightly, she scolded herself, 'Foolish girl. This person turns out incredibly evil. You have to admit, now is not the time for your hormones to kick in, not including your fling with Ron. You have battled evil, you are much smarter than this; get a grip.'
"Right!" Hermione said loudly, holding a fist in the air as if to gesture to her proclamation. "Ow!" she proclaimed a moment afterwards as the gash below her knee opened again. Finished bathing, Hermione dried herself off before putting on her dress and the matching sandals. Sighing, she also muttered, "Ferula" causing small bandages to appear where they were needed. Feeling oddly feminine in a dress, Hermione collected her old clothes and made for the door.
Walking out and opening her own bedroom door, Tom once again entered the small hallway.
"Right? I think half the building heard that" Tom said tartly, but with a curious expression on his face.
"Right" Hermione repeated, before leaving Tom in the hallway and entering her own room. Throwing the clothes in the hamper, she stretched and left the room. Hearing a shower turn on in the bathroom, Hermione left the small hallway and walking into the common room.
"What to do, what to do" Hermione sung to herself in sing-song way. Suddenly she recalled her hair. Rushing back into her bedroom, she found a brush on top of her dresser. Sighing deeply to herself, she considered her long, wild, tangled, and somewhat bushy hair.
"Hm" Hermione said to herself, before muttering a spell she had been recommended to use. Suddenly her hair, drying instantly, became long and gracefully curvy, gliding down her back. Looking in the mirror she smiled widely at what she saw. 'Thank you, Malfoy' Hermione thought to herself, before coming out of the room and sitting on the couch.
"Argh, don't tell me you were waiting for me" Tom stated from the bathroom door. Looking up, Hermione could see Tom wearing nothing but a towel. 'Evil man-boy' Hermione thought to herself as she glanced at him from the top to the bottom.
Resisting the urge to look more, Hermione turned back around and announced, "And if I was?"
"Well then, you'll have to wait a little longer" Tom proclaimed, before striding into his bedroom and closing the door.
"Cursed man-boy" Hermione muttered out loud this time, crossing her arms and pouting at the air in front of her. Waiting impatiently, Hermione tried with all her being not to remember what Tom just looked like. Tapping her foot on the floor impatiently, she thought back to her troubles with counting sheep.
"It really shouldn't be that difficult" she said to herself in a self-assuring way.
"What shouldn't be that difficult?" Tom asked from behind her, freshly dressed in a nice-looking dark green sweater, slacks, and a pair of oxfords.
"Counting sheep, have you ever tried?" Hermione asked curiously, turning around in the couch to ask him.
Looking slightly taken aback, Tom said, "No" a little skeptically before continuing with a perplexed, "Why would you want to?"
"It's supposed to help you fall asleep" Hermione said, sitting up from the couch and walking towards the portrait. Clearance stared at her with a melancholy expression.
"So where are we going?" Hermione asked Tom, still looking at Clearance.
"Humph" Tom said, before walking up to Clearance and watching the portrait open. "We need to visit Dumbledore again, to make sure you were registered and to get your schedule." Turning around and walking down the hallway, Tom toke off and Hermione followed after him.
Knocking on Dumbledore's room, Tom looked around impatiently and somewhat warily.
"I believe everyone is asleep" Hermione said in a reassuring way, before turning her attention to the newly arrived Dumbledore. Tom responded with a snort.
"What early risers" Dumbledore said before yawning and rubbing his eyes. Shuffling back into his office, he came back out with a stack full of papers.
"Here is your schedule, although you won't need it until Monday. I highly suggest you meet all of the teachers beforehand, however" Dumbledore informed her with a smile, before abruptly yawning largely and closing the door.
"Well" Hermione said unexpectedly, before being roughly turned around and pushed in the direction of the Great Hall by Tom.
"I can walk by myself, thank you" Hermione said rudely, before shaking herself of Tom's grasp.
"Slowly" Tom said sarcastically, gesturing towards her height and the gash on her leg.
"Fast enough" Hermione said stubbornly, before picking up the pace towards the Great Hall despite the throbbing in her leg. Reaching it, she pushed the door open and walked in.
Even this early in the morning, the room held all of its usual grandeur with platters and dishes of steaming breakfast food stacked onto four individual long tables that separated the houses. Standing there rather stupidly, Hermione found herself once again being pushed from her back by Tom.
"Honestly, if you say you are going to walk, than walk. Standing their dumbly helps no one" Tom said, before sitting down at the Slytherin table in all its green and silver glory. Sitting down across from him, Hermione was faced with a rush of awkwardness and home sickness. Fighting to keep expressionless, Hermione grabbed a plate and started placing food onto it.
Walking in, there was no one there, but as time started to pass, and as Hermione and Tom progressed with their meal, people started to arrive. And with people came the whispers.
"I curse these people and their whispered mutterings to hell" Hermione muttered, feeling more despondent and cynical than she normally felt, alienated at a foreign table with foreign people.
"That's rather mean for you, wouldn't you say? Gryffindor's and their self-instated morals of courage and kindness" Tom said casually.
"There's evil in everyone" Hermione said through narrow eyes. With this thought came the rush of painful memories. Ron's cheating ways. Snape's crude and hurtful remarks. Harry's careless words. General discrepancies.
"Really" Tom said taking a moment to glance at her while still containing a casual manner about him. "Do go on."
"Everyone has evil thoughts, says evil things, and performs evil acts occasionally. Some people more than others. Properly motivated, for aspirations such as power and control, things get out of hand and the mind plays tricks. Do this, and you will get glory. Do this, and there will be fame. Kill this person and you will obtain power" Hermione said wistfully, gazing off into the distance over the top of her goblet.
Nodding slightly, Tom gestured at Hermione to continue.
"These people are foolish. Committing evil acts only makes one evil. It is a truly good person who is able to overcome his evil ways in the path of justice" Hermione said still gazing passionately.
"And how" Tom continued bitterly, his movements a little bit more forced as he unwound from his relaxed state, "are we supposed to overcome those acts? What defines good and bad?"
"Are you thinking about stupid morals? Created by a conceited and selfish society?" Hermione asked rhetorically before continuing. "There are some things that are just wrong. Stealing, lying, killing" here Hermione paused for a second while turning to look at Tom, "give a bad feeling somewhere in you. Your very essence burns from the sin."
"There is no defined good and evil" Hermione continued, still looking directly at Tom. "Everyone has some good and some evil in them. There is no way to dispel either of them. Actions may speak louder than words to the public, but inside their own heads nobody is completely one way or the other. Everyone hurts and everyone is in pain."
With this Hermione dropped her stare on Tom and continued eating quietly, glancing every so often to the other side of the table where Slytherin's were gathering together to eat in groups.
"Tom?"
Looking up Hermione was slightly surprised to see someone who could pass as Malfoy's twin, right down to the part in their platinum hair, carefully slackened back with a bit of gel.
Groaning loudly, Hermione muttered, "Go away Malfoy" due to reflex, before picking up an English muffin and gnawing on it daintily.
"And who are you?" the Malfoy-look-alike asked rudely, before seating himself next to Tom. Putting down her English muffin, Hermione looked at the boy dispassionately before reaching out a hand across the table.
"Hermione Granger, pleasure to make your acquaintance" Hermione said roughly, smiling through thin lips as the boy toke her hand and shook it awkwardly.
"Abraxas Malfoy" the boy said snobbily, before rapidly taking back his hand and looking at her warily. Ignoring him completely and once again adapting an expressionless face, Hermione picked up her English muffin. Inside, however, Hermione was snorting. 'This would be my fate' she thought, 'that I would have to put up with Malfoy's everywhere.'
'Although' Hermione continued to think, 'if Malfoy's precedents are here maybe Ron's and Harry's are too. They would probably be in Gryffindor…"
Continuing to eat her English muffin quietly, Hermione watched with some amusement as Abraxas attempted to question Tom.
"So where did you pick her up at?" Abraxas asked, completely turned towards Tom in hopes of preventing Hermione from listening.
"Dumbledore" Tom said in a slightly annoyed way.
"Right" Abraxas nodded like that explained everything. "So how long do you have her for?"
Sighing loudly, Tom just said, "Awhile" before biting off a piece of toast.
"Well she's kind of" Abraxas started to say before he was cut off by Hermione.
"Idiot. The least you could do is talk about me when I'm not here. That kind of defeats the purpose of talking behind my back, don't you think?" Hermione asked, her eyes narrowing and her head tilted slightly in Abraxas direction.
"Like I knew you could hear me" Abraxas responded sarcastically and bitterly, turning to face Hermione.
"Just as a head's up, females physically have better senses than males do. I would be careful before you make a mistake like that again" Hermione said in a sarcastic and spiteful voice as she stood up.
"Well, this has been fun. I'm going to meet my teachers. Want to come, Tom?" Hermione asked Tom dispassionately while ignoring the look of outrage on Abraxas' face.
"Isn't it required?" Tom asked rhetorically, before standing up and pushing in his chair. "Later Abraxas, Head duties" Tom continued to say, before turning around and following after Hermione. Catching up to her quickly, Tom proceeded to smirk widely.
"'Go away Malfoy?'" Tom quoted rather happily. "Did someone have a bad experience with a Malfoy in the future?" he asked mockingly.
"They are everywhere, mass populating like the bloody blond rats that they are" Hermione said bitterly, before continuing with, "And, yes, I would include seven years of being called a Mudblood a bad experience."
"You are a muggle-born?" Tom asked somewhat coldly.
Snorting loudly, Hermione continued to walk. "Not that I think it matters. So my parents are dentists; nobody's perfect. In any case I have been running at the top of my class, so I really don't understand what it proves."
"Well, that you're naturally inferior" Tom said in an asserted manner, looking straight ahead of him and still bearing a rather cold expression.
"Inferior, how Tom?" Hermione asked, stopping in the middle of the hallway to look at him.
"Your very being is worth next to dirt" Tom responded, giving Hermione a cool gaze.
Snorting again, Hermione turned around and headed off. "Well, I feel self confident now" she said sarcastically from ahead of Tom.
"It wasn't meant to give you any sort of confidence" Tom said, quickly catching up to Hermione.
Sighing deeply, Hermione abruptly changed directions and instead led Tom into a broom closet. Shuffling through the supplies, Hermione found what she was looking for. A switchblade.
Opening the blade, Tom warily stepped back and Hermione stared at it curiously. "Such a pretty metal" she said, gazing at the silver before quickly slashing the knife down across her forearm several times. Immediately a crimson-red color appeared as blood stared to pool and fall.
"How disgusting" Hermione said in an extremely mocking way, "all this mud, just getting all over the place. It really should be cleaned up right away."
Launching the blade into a corner and turning around, Hermione left the closet and walked out into the hallway. Tom followed silently behind her. "The Hospital Wing?" Hermione asked while grasping her forearm with asserted pressure. Blood still fell at a steady pace from her ruptured veins and she could already start to feel lightheaded.
Heading down the hall, Tom trailed after her still not saying a word. Walking a little wobbly from blood loss, Hermione forced herself to keep walking straight, pacing herself with a practiced movement. Reaching the stairs, however, her vision started to dance. Clenching her fists and her teeth tightly, however, she shook her head slightly and continued on her way.
"Hermione" Tom said softly, following her up the stairs.
"My fibrinogen is already working to clot my blood" Hermione stated unsteadily and she willed herself up a few more steps.
"Really" Tom stated sarcastically as he watched the blood fall from the end of Hermione's wrist.
"Blood is the same in everyone" Hermione announced slightly hysterically as she toke another step up. "Made of plasma and platelets, and red blood cells, and white blood cells" she said, before she blacked out and fell. Expecting this, Tom caught her and picked her up bridal style.
"Oh, Merlin" Tom said to himself as he looked at the girl in his arms, blood still slightly spouting from her arm. Grunting awkwardly, he walked up the remaining steps and toke her to the Hospital Wing, which was located directly to their right. 'Almost made it' he thought to Hermione as he was rushed inside. Laying her down, the nurse, Daisy, questioned him with a worried expression.
"Oh, what happened?" she asked as she whipped out her wand and muttered a spell that stopped the blood flow.
"There was a terrible accident" Tom said with the sincerest of faces. "I'm afraid she was harassed in broom closet. No worries, however, she is here now and will be better soon" he continued assuredly, giving a sad, but hopefully optimistic expression in Hermione's direction.
"And you found her? How heroic, I'm sure she will be most grateful!" Daisy remarked with a high-pitched voice before leaving to get bandages. The sincere expression leaving his face the second the door closed, Tom pulled up a chair next to Hermione's bed and stared at her comatose state.
'Grateful, ha! She will probably be angry' Tom thought to himself. Collecting his thoughts, he put on a convincing expression as he heard the door opening. Daisy walked in and rapidly began applying anesthetics and disinfectants before wrapping the angry looking long streaks of red in bandages.
"Now, would you mind giving this to her in about fifteen minutes? She has lost a lot of blood and needs to get more rapidly" Daisy asked Tom, smiling widely while handing him a bottle of syrup and a small measuring cup.
"Of course, Daisy" Tom said, taking the medicine appreciatively and giving the nurse a smile that radiated with assurance.
Shaking her head softly, she said, "Such a nice boy…" while turning around and heading out of the door. Once again dropping his expression, he gave Hermione a disgusted look.
"And now I have to wait on you, a muggle-born and all" Tom said bitterly before setting the medicine on the table beside the bed and checking the time on the clock.
"You know" Tom said, talking to the unresponsive Hermione, "what you did back there was really rather stupid."
"Hurting yourself just to prove a point, which really turned out to be pointless" he continued to say, "Just like a Gryffindor, I suppose. Reckless, thoughtless, brave" at this he snorted, "to a fault." Grunting lightly, the boy leaned forward on the side of the bed with his arms crossed.
"I suppose Mudblood is a rather stupid name, though. Much too figurative, you never know when some idiot is going to take it literally" he said, giving the unmoving Hermione a pointed glance and a twisted expression. "I suppose we would have to imply the significance of heritage. You did manage, however, to steal my wand so you must have had some experience in the field." At this Tom glanced at Hermione curiously.
"Dumbledore is right, of course. If I really had wanted to hurt you it would not have been in the slightest bit difficult. If I hadn't been pre-occupied…" Tom told himself assuredly, before continuing with, "And even then I should have been able to do something. To let you steal my wand!" At this Tom gave an incredulous look at the room around him.
Looking back at Hermione Tom's expression grew thoughtful. "You do have oddly refined reflexes for being a student, however. I wonder what happened to you" he said loudly, before checking himself and looking at the clock. "Fifteen minutes" Tom repeated in a disgusted tone, before collecting the bottle and turning towards Hermione abrasively.
Gazing down at her unhappily, the Slytherin poured the liquid in the measuring cup and approached Hermione's mouth with it. Pouring it between her lips, however, Hermione sat upright quickly and sputtered loudly as Tom abruptly pulled away from her and sat back down in his seat.
Experiencing coughing fits, Hermione looking accusingly at Tom. "What *cough* the hell *cough cough* did you put in my mouth?" she asked him through almost comically narrowed eyes, her entire frame rocking forward with the force of her coughs.
"Healing agents that were supposed to help replenish your blood after you stupidly let it out" Tom said tartly, crossing his arms stubbornly at Hermione's lack of appreciation.
Realizing her mistake, she said, "Sorry, but do you have any idea what that tastes like?" A horrified expression settling itself on her face, Hermione gave a wistful look at the air in front of her before slowly laying herself back down. "And I was making sure things weren't getting off on the wrong foot" Hermione added in an after thought in response to her latest act of stupidity.
"No, I'm sorry, it's odorless" Tom said in a cold tone, still appearing offended. Pursing his lips, he laid back in his chair in a slouch, staring at Hermione with an unfathomable expression on his face while repeating, "…on the wrong foot." Shaking his head, he continued to gaze at Hermione purposely.
Taking a large breath of air that sounded like a gulp, Hermione stared at the ceiling thoughtfully. "You carried me up the stairs" she stated.
"Yes" Tom replied in a soft and somewhat hesitant tone.
"Into the Hospital Wing" Hermione continued to state, staring at the ceiling passionately to avoid looking at Tom.
"Yes" Tom repeated, still through pursed lips.
"And you stayed here to give me medicine" Hermione said, before sighing softly.
Tom debated for a second whether he should tell her that he was forced to stay by the nurse against his will, but figured the story too complicated and too easily contradicted. "Yes" he answered instead, moving his head ever so slightly.
"Even though I'm Muggle-born" Hermione prompted.
"Obviously" the boy responded sarcastically.
Appearing to be gathering her wits, Hermione turned towards Tom in one swift motion. "Thank you" she said sincerely, gratefulness practically glowing off from her.
Taking a few seconds to process this, Tom replied with, "Of course a Head of the school would administer help to a student in need of it." Upon hearing this, Hermione just smiled.
"I think I might go back to sleep" she said almost to herself as she pulled the covers of the bedspread up her torso. "First however" she said abruptly, appearing to have just thought of something, "my classes." Looking towards Tom imploringly, she held out her hands.
Tom sighed in reaction to her expectancy, before reaching in his robes and giving Hermione her schedule. Looking through it deftly, Hermione made a note of her classes. Out loud she repeated them to herself. "Arithmancy, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, Divination" at this Hermione gave the sheet a look of disgust, "and Ancient Runes." Looking disgruntled, she looked up at Tom.
"No History of Magic? No Care of Magical Creatures?" Hermione asked him curiously, before turning back to the schedule.
"I've had six years of History. Nothing too significantly interesting about it, and taught by the most boring teacher alive. Care of Magical Creatures? I could just read a book rather than listen to facts being repeated by a half-wit. Besides, most creatures are not useful in the least, and caring for them would be a waste of my time" Tom stated, an arrogant expression once again dominating his features.
"And you are okay with taking care of plants" Hermione stated, pursing her own lips in frustration at Tom's stupidity.
"Plants are useful. Plants can be deadly in such subtle ways" Tom replied with a wide smirk.
Shaking her head sadly at Tom's ignorance, her attention drifted back to her least favorite class. "Divination" Hermione sputtered the word like it was something profane. "Rubbish bits of hocus pocus taught by a disillusioned bat. I'm afraid dear" Hermione said dramatically, repeating Treweny's tone impressively, "that you do not possess the inner eye!" "Load of crap" Hermione finished significantly, before setting her schedule down on top of her covers with unnecessary force.
"Well, perhaps your teacher doesn't have the proper references, but I assure you, Divination has its advantages" Tom said solemnly, watching Hermione amusedly.
"Humph" Hermione snorted disagreeably, crossing her arms in a stubborn manner. Sitting like that for a few moments Hermione gradually calmed down, her eyes growing wider and her expression becoming more innocent as she turned towards Tom and asked him sadly, "Do I have to come?"
Smirking widely, Tom's expression turned comically grave as he informed her, "I'm afraid so." He couldn't hold his expression in for very long, however, as his face broke out in a smirk again quite quickly.
Sighing theatrically, Hermione spread her arms out on the bed in front of her. "Cruel, cruel world" she muttered to herself solemnly. Turning once again towards Tom, she asked him, "Will you do me a favor, though?"
"Like what?" Tom replied warily. He did not need to be in the position to be indebted.
"Tell Slughorn I'm stupid, or something. I would rather avoid joining his little fan club, if you don't mind" Hermione asked him wistfully, reminiscing back to sixth year. It was not a pleasant experience.
Smirking slightly, Tom said, "And ruin all the fun? I will inform him that you are a genius in the making."
Pouting, Hermione thought aloud to herself. "I have actually considered acting stupid to avoid it, but I'm not sure I would be willing to risk my grades like that. I want to avoid detection, however, and anybody curious enough to look up my nonexistent record."
Looking at her with a sort of bewildered expression, Tom told her assuredly, "Don't pretend to be stupid. It makes me look idiotic for being around you and it wouldn't be very fun at all. Aren't you a little excited for noteworthy competition?"
Pondering this quickly, Hermione quickly grinned and said, "Yes." Giving out a large yawn, however, she closed her eyes for a few minutes before opening them again. "I think I will sleep now. Thank you again for helping me, but you don't have to stay here. Enjoy your Saturday. I might skip lunch but I'll sit next to you for dinner" Hermione said brightly, snuggling into her blankets.
"Okay" Tom said in response, abruptly standing up and heading for the door. "Good night" he said without turning around, sweeping from the door somewhat majestically. Following him was the content look on Hermione's face, which was dropped for one much more concerned.
'What have I gotten myself into now…?' Hermione scolded to herself, considering the likelihood that she was getting too involved into this era. 'It would just be best to disconnect' she told herself sternly, before considering Tom. He was bound to be around all the time considering that they were sort of living together, so attempting to avoid him would be pointless.
'So what can I do?' she asked herself worriedly. 'At the very least where Tom Riddle is concerned, I should try to remain as antagonistic as possible. Which means no smiley thank you moments like the one that just happened' she reminded herself. She didn't mean to be that friendly and nice to someone as evil as Tom, but she couldn't help it. He did help her, and she was thankful. It almost felt for a moment that it didn't matter to him whether she was muggle-born or not.
'Foolish' Hermione reminded herself. Tom couldn't just change all of a sudden due to her little act back there. It would take a lot of time and influence. She didn't think she had the time for that.
'Weren't you just saying Tom should be avoided? Now you want to help him?' Hermione contradicted herself. What good would saving Tom do? Could it even possibly be done? More than likely it would end as a waste of her time and her patience.
'Should I try?' she asked herself. Her mind was telling her to forget it, but her trusting, Gryffindor will of steel told her to try. 'The boys are always doing reckless things, and I tell them off for it. Would it do, for once, to be reckless too?' Exhausted physically and emotionally, Hermione started to drift off.
'Maybe not' she thought to herself, before blanking out completely.
I do not own Harry Potter or its characters. Swear it. *too bad though… the money…*
