Chapter 2: Ice Cream with Mini-Mort
Sleep must have taken her very quickly, because the next thing she knew, she was being awoken by a poke on her face.
She swatted it away and rolled over. She heard a giggle and blinked open her eyes. Two, bright blue eyes stared at her from about 6 inches away. She gasped and jerked back, hitting her head on the wall. More giggles. Rubbing the back of her head, she glared at the small group of children that had accumulated in the tiny space of her room.
The child with the blue eyes had a guilty smile on his face, but he was probably no older than four or five so she couldn't really be mad. She scanned the rest of the faces in the room, and found Tom Riddle casually leaning against the door frame; arms crossed and a smirk on his face.
She could be mad at him though.
"Are you our new girl?" The little blue-eyed boy asked. Hermione refocused on him and gave him a gentle smile before stifling a yawn.
"I'm helping with the children and the cleaning, yes." She told him. There were about four other children behind him that were all giving her the same curious glances.
"Do your parents not want you too?" A little girl clutching a raggedy looking bear asked timidly. She was missing some of her front teeth, but chewed her lip with the remaining ones.
"My parents are…not around anymore. I'm on my own." She settled on telling them.
"Are you married?" Another little girl asked. An older looking girl who was holding the little girls hand shushed her before speaking to Hermione.
"My name is Annabelle, I'm 12. This is Eddie, he's five-" she gestured to the blue-eyed boy, "Gracie is the one with the teddie, she's seven, and this is Alice, she's three." The girl introduced. "Oh, and Tom." She noticed the young wizard by the doorframe. Hermione smiled at them before swinging her legs over the side of the bed and standing.
"Well, is it time for breakfast then?" she asked. Annabelle nodded. "Okay, lets get to it then." She decided for the group, and grinned at Eddie when he tucked his little, trusting hand into hers. She saw Tom roll his eyes before pushing off the door frame.
"I've got another hand if you want it, Tom." She teased him.
"Bugger off." Came his reply from the hallway. Hermione chuckled; she was actually enjoying tormenting him. She might as well, she was probably going to die by his hand anyways.
"You best not get on his bad side." Annabelle whispered to her as they walked towards the steps. Tom was already down at the bottom, not bothering to wait for the group.
"Tom?" Hermione questioned the girl. She nodded gravely.
"He's…different. Bad things happen around him. People get hurt." She warned. Hermione nodded and moved a little faster when Eddie tugged at her hand.
"Hurry! I'm hungry!" He whined. She let him pull her down the stairs and towards the little kitchen area where there were another half dozen children already sat waiting for their breakfast.
"Oh! Good, you're up!" Mrs. Cole bustled in, carrying a steaming tray of something that looked like some kind of porridge. "First is breakfast, and then we'll need some help cleaning the dishes. All the children have their morning chores to do, so you'll have some help with dishes. Afterwards I've got the babies to look after, and some clothes to mend, but I was hoping you could run to the market and pickup what I had on this list?" Mrs. Cole pressed a crumpled piece of paper and small change purse into her hand.
"I'm not sure where the market is." Hermione replied sheepishly.
"Take one of the older children, they'll show you." Mrs. Cole told her over her shoulder, already turning to head back through a door and into the main kitchen area. Hermione nodded at her retreating form and glanced around the room. The children had lined up to grab porridge from the tray. After waiting and putting a small portion of the gray-looking slop onto her own dish, she headed to a table that was completely empty save for one child: Tom. If she was going to die anyways, she might as well have a little fun.
He groaned when she sat opposite of him.
"Can't you wait until after morning chores to do your stalking?" He asked, uninterestedly pushing around the porridge.
"There are no breaks in stalking, Tom." She replied sassily. He glanced up at her and glared. She ignored him and took a bite of her food.
"This…tastes like nothing." She stated. He looked back down at his own and continued to move it around the plate.
"Welcome to Wool's." He replied. They sat in silence, both slowly eating. Hermione studied him while he wasn't looking at her.
He was thin…too thin for his age. His cheeks were slightly hollow and his skin was a pale shade that would have made him fit into the Malfoy family (besides his lack of fair hair and blood status). His dark hair was neatly combed and his simple clothing was pristine. He seemed to have a permanent scowl, at least around Hermione, and dark eyes with a slightly golden ring around the iris.
Most definitely not the blood-red gaze she knew.
He almost looked like a distraught orphan boy who just needed a few hot meals and a hug.
Almost.
She knew what that little orphan boy would grow up into. The things he would do. The people he would kill. The lives he would change forever. In that moment, Hermione had another thought: What if she was sent back for some purpose? Why else would the first person that she, literally, bumped into be the young Dark Lord? Was it fate? Was she supposed to change his mind some how? Change the future?
Dumbledore's cautionary words about messing with time echoed in her head. Or maybe, this was all pre-destined, and in her time, Tom Riddle had already known this Hermione. It had already happened. A sudden headache stabbed at her brain. She groaned and rubbed her forehead, drawing the attention of the evilest wizard she had ever know.
"What? It's only your first day; you have no right to complain yet." He told her. Hermione looked at him, debating a sudden idea she had. "Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked her, slightly leaning away from the table. She'd made up her mind: Fuck it.
"I have to run to the market to shop for Mrs. Cole later. The problem is, I don't know where it is. Will you come with me?" she asked. He eyed her, still unsure.
"Why, so you can kill me? Kidnap me? Get me alone?" He asked her. She couldn't help the laugh that slipped from her lips. He was afraid of her! Good. Maybe that would keep her alive a little longer.
"I have to warn you," he said in a suddenly low, and serious voice. "I'm not like the other children. You can't hurt me." He told her. She sobered immediately.
"I know, Tom." She answered gently, suddenly wondering how he had been hurt over his lifetime. "How about: you help me at the market, and I buy us a treat?" She bargained. He raised an eyebrow.
"You have money?" He asked. She nodded.
"A little. Enough to buy an ice cream or two." What she didn't know, was that his mouth started watering at the words 'ice cream'.
"Okay, I'll do it." He said after taking an, unnecessary, moment to think about it. He didn't want her to think him eager. Or easily bribed.
She gave him a small smile and they silently finished their meal before she headed into the kitchen to start the dishes. Annabelle and a quiet boy named Elliot helped her wash and dry the dishes assembly-line-style.
"How long have you been here?" Hermione quietly asked Annabelle as she handed her a bowl to dry.
"Since I was three. My Mum died and I don't know much about my Dad." Annabelle answered. "What about your parents, you said they weren't around. Are they dead?" she asked bluntly. Hermione bit the inside of her cheek. They might as well be; they didn't even know they had a daughter.
"Yes, they've been gone for a while now." She answered. Annabelle nodded solemnly.
"Most of the children here have dead parents, or worse, parents who didn't want them." She told Hermione.
"And not many get adopted I take it?" Hermione asked. Annabelle nodded, but Elliot spoke.
"The babes' usually go first. It's rare for anyone over four to go." Elliot added.
"Once you hit seven, there's no chance. You're here until 16, and then you leave." Annabelle said. "No one's ever been adopted after seven. Never."
They finished the rest of the dishes in silence and Hermione went up to her room to change before heading to the market with Tom. She didn't have to look far to find him; he was snooping in her room when she opened the door. He didn't even look guilty when he spotted her in the doorway, just turned casually and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Making yourself at home?" she asked him, also crossing her arms to mirror his stance. His eyes flashed down, taking in her movement, but quickly up again to meet her gaze.
"Well, if you're stalking me, then I have every right to stalk you." He reasoned. Hermione snorted and shook her head.
"Good luck, I own three dresses. Now out; you don't get a free show while you're snooping." She said. This seemed to do the trick, because at the insinuation of her changing, his cheeks tinged pink and he hastily retreated out of the room. She resisted a giggle and quickly changed into the simple blue dress she had purchased.
"I miss pants already." She spoke aloud to herself. She reached, shoulder deep, into her beaded bag and pulled out a fresh pair of knickers, very grateful to have them. She had several pairs and a few bras too in case of emergency or an unexpected trip. This definitely counted as an unexpected trip. She longingly stroked a pair of robes that she had stashed in the bag too, but controlled her flair of emotion.
Next, she pulled out some of her muggle money and had a thought to transfigured it slightly to have the correct look and year so it wouldn't be invalid. That would definitely cause for some attention. Then she froze and realized that she had already made a purchase with the original money: the dresses. She slapped a hand to her forehead and groaned. Shite. Already messing the future up.
"I really am a Cumberworld." She mumbled to herself. Her only hope was that the shopkeeper still had the money, and she'd have to work some spell to swap it out with the transfigured stuff. She tied the bag shut again and re-cast the charms she had on it that only allowed her to open it, and never lose it from her person. It couldn't travel more than a meter from her. She cast another quick charm to shrink it further and tucked it into her dress pocket. Her wand was safely up her sleeve and magically stuck to her arm; ready in the blink of an eye if she needed it.
She made her way to the hallway one more, where Tom was waiting against his own door across the hall. He nodded wordlessly to her and lead the way to the front door. They didn't speak until they had rounded the corner of the street and headed toward, what she assumed, was the market.
"So, how long have you lived at Wool's?" She already knew the answer, but he didn't know that.
"Why do you want to know?" He asked, eyeing her suspiciously. She sighed and decided not to push him. She'd get no info if he thought she was prying, or had an ulterior motive.
"Just curious. So, where is the best place to get ice cream?" she asked. He cracked small smile before hiding it quickly.
"Mason's Sweets. We should go to market first though, or else all the good stuff will be gone." He told her. She nodded and pulled the list out of her pocket.
"This seems like a small amount of food for almost a dozen children and a few adults." She stated looking over the small number of items.
"We don't get a lot fresh from the market…mostly raw things like flour, butter, eggs, occasionally sugar…I think Mrs. Cole has some kind of arrangement with the butcher, baker, and a few farmers. We take what they can't sell at market. Sometimes people donate things." He elaborated.
"What about fruits and vegetables? I don't see any on this list besides potatoes…and those are a starch." She asked him. He shrugged.
"Who will pay for all that?" He questioned her, not expecting an answer.
They walked silently again until they came across a busy street. Vendors lined the sidewalks and swarms of people milled and dodged each other. Hermione saw a few old, vintage looking (vintage to her) motorbikes that had crates stacked high.
There were many loud sounds, strong odors, and odd sights around her. As she was taking in her surroundings, she was suddenly yanked to her right. She looked in front of her in time to see an angry looking motorist wave a fist at her as he passed. She felt Tom's small hand fisted in the hip of her dress. He quickly let go when she looked down at him.
"Have you never seen a market before?!" he yelled angrily. She swallowed.
"Not like this." She answered, distracted by the shops that lined the street. He rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Come on, don't get lost. Or hit by a driver." He added. She followed him as he expertly weaved the street of muggles. It was very surreal to her in that moment; she was following Lord Voldemort down a busy, muggle London street. He had no idea what he was. He had no idea that he didn't belong here with these people. He belonged in the world of magic. It didn't give him a right to hate the muggle world…but he deserved to grow up knowing that it existed.
"The money, Hermione." She was brought back to reality when Tom got her attention.
"Oh! How much?" she asked, pulling the change purse that Mrs. Cole had given her and handing it to Tom. He counted out the coins he owed, and was handed a few loaves of bread. After, they headed to pick up butter and flour. Tom, ever the gentleman, carried it all in a bag that she hadn't noticed he had brought with them. Smart boy.
"Alright, that's everything. Now, to Mason's?" She asked him. He didn't repress a smile this time, and nodded eagerly. Within a few minutes walk they had arrived at the sweets shop. She ordered two chocolate cones, per Tom's choice, and discreetly reached into her beaded bag to grab her modified muggle money.
Her and Tom left the shop and she couldn't help the please smile when she noticed him savoring the ice cream. She quickly looked away, knowing that he would be embarrassed if he saw.
They strolled in a comfortable silence back towards the orphanage. Hermione noticed a book shop called 'Berdet's' and grabbed Tom's sleeve.
"Can we stop in?" She asked, but didn't wait for a reply before pulling him towards the shop.
"I thought you had enough money for ice cream, not a book." He said, bewildered. She didn't reply as she drug him through the door.
She inhaled the familiar smell as they entered.
"Afternoon Miss! And young Mr. Riddle! How are you?" The shop keeper greeted them.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Berdet." Tom greeted. Hermione shouldn't have been surprised that Tom knew the book shop owner.
"And who is this lovely lady you've brought to me?" Mr. Berdet asked. Tom's cheeks tinged again. Hermione smiled at the older man. He reminded her fondly of Olivander for some reason.
"Hermione Granger." She introduced herself to him, seeing no need to hide her name. He took her hand and kissed the back of it. Hermione was the one who blushed this time.
"Are you a fan of books too then, Ms. Granger?" He asked her. She nodded with no hesitation. "Ah, yes. Young Tom has been coming around for years now." He told her. Tom had already wandered off to look at a nearby shelf. Hermione smiled again at Mr. Berdet as he offered to help her if she needed anything before she joined Tom at a shelf.
"I love that one." She said to him, looking over his shoulder. He glanced behind him, looking sheepish.
"You like reading?" he asked. She grinned.
"Obviously." She teased, bumping his shoulder. She made her way down the isle and scanned some of the books. She didn't see how the young Dark Lord's eyes followed her. She picked two books from the shelves to bring back to the orphanage with her: Alice in Wonderland, and Pride and Prejudice. They were both familiar books that she had read, even before she went off to school at Hogwarts, and they gave her a comforting sense of familiarity. She found Tom again and he and scrambled up from the floor as she approached. He had slid down against a shelf and was reading.
"Find something?" she asked. He eyed the books in her hands as he went to slip the book back into its place.
"No." he said simply. Her brows furrowed.
"You don't want anything?" she questioned. He shifted uncomfortably.
"I don't have any money." He said. She resisted a sigh.
"I'll buy you one Tom, really. It's not too much." She tried.
He shook his head and backed towards the door.
"I'll just wait for you outside." And he was gone from her sight. She blinked away the sudden urge to cry for the little boy.
"He never guys a thing." Mr. Berdet told her at the counter.
"But he comes in often?" She clarified. He nodded.
"Every Saturday he comes in and cleans for me, and in exchange I let him relax and read for as long as he likes. Sometimes he'll borrow books; always brings them back in pristine condition too." Mr. Berdet told her. "He's stubborn but noble, that young man. Won't take any favors. Always needs a fair trade." Hermione realized that he thought she was doing him a favor if he let her buy him a book. She would have something to hold over his head. She wanted to cry again.
After thanking Mr. Berdet, she exited the store and found Tom waiting, one hand wrapped around the bag and one shoved in a pocket, and off they headed back to Wool's.
"You know Tom; I really wouldn't mind buying a book for you. You helped me a lot today. You deserve it." She spoke. He didn't respond for a minute.
"You bought ice cream." He said simply. Hermione could tell that was the end of that, and she wouldn't be able to sway him any more.
"Oh yes, you owe me a foot massage for that one." She responded. He looked at her, horrified. She couldn't help her chuckle.
"Just kidding." He let out a breath, and a tiny smile. "Unless you're offering."
AN: Thank you for reading! Reviews are very much appreciated; I can't tell what people really think of this story so far.