Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story save for Tuyet Tran and the plotline.
Continuation of the madness.
Chapter Two:
Hermione felt her body continue the backwards trajectory and prayed that their landing isn't going to be like the last one.
Tuyet felt like someone just punched her in the gut for her to arch in such a way from the force, and with her luck, she had a feeling this isn't going to end well.
From the blur of the pull, Hermione saw the image of the castle, the grounds, and finally the lake; she saw the lake most clearly though, and knew that they're in for a wet landing.
Fuck, Tuyet stupidly gasped as she felt the cold water engulfing her.
After letting her body sink from the drop, Hermione quickly moved her legs and arms and resurfaced, panting as her head broke through the water. The water is freezing – chilling her to the bone – and she shivered as she whipped her head frantically about. Where's Tuyet?
Tuyet felt the cold water passing over to her very core. She struggled, gasping as oxygen escaped her and water filled its place. She was sinking fast and her flailing arms and legs did nothing for her.
After several seconds of silence, Hermione took a large breath of air, pinched her nose, and dived. Blinking wildly as she adapted to her vision under water, Hermione saw a dark body about ten feet away from her. Unfortunately, the time to traverse ten feet in water is not the same as ten feet on land.
Tuyet held what little breath she had and stripped. She knew that her vest and body weapons are what were weighing her down, and she needed to buy herself as much time as possible. Unzipping her vest, she struggled in the water to take the blasted thing off along with her trousers and boots. She could feel the dizzying effects from lack of oxygen and she gave herself five seconds before blacking out.
"Are you a witch or not?"
No, I'm not a stupid witch, Tuyet retorted in her mind before letting all her senses go.
Hermione shook her head and performed a Bubble Head Charm on the girl and herself. That was silly of her, Hermione thought, as she grabbed one arm and swam towards the surface. It is a bloody good thing that the girl stripped herself of her weight because even without the stuff, Hermione knew that she lacked the physical strength to swim the girl up on her own. Whoever it is, Hermione thought, is quick.
Hermione and the boy (or deep voiced girl) easily swam to the surface with Tuyet between them; Hermione barely felt Tuyet's weight as he took on most of it. Upon breaking the surface, the boy didn't stop at all and swam towards the shore with Tuyet, leaving Hermione slightly behind before she swam quickly to catch up. Glancing over at Tuyet, Hermione bit her bottom lip in worry – she's still unconscious.
Hermione felt another pair of arms around her waist as they neared the shore and immediately stiffened and struggled against the firm arms before whipping her head to see who it was.
"I don't enjoy dallying in the water, and if you would prefer to stay in the lake, then by all means, do continue," the haughty, resonating voice said eloquently as he kept his grip on her arms' underside.
Hermione saw the platinum blonde hair and unconsciously flinched. Unbeknownst to her, it didn't go unnoticed by the two men who exchanged expressionless glances. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the refined face – manly and handsome, almost classical. His hair, impossibly straight and looked as soft and silky as it felt against her shoulder, is tied down at the nape of his neck, flowing past his shoulders.
"Thank you," she muttered.
The blonde shot her a stoic, polite nod.
Still apprehensive, Hermione didn't notice that Tuyet was already carried to a grass clearing, and she followed the blonde male mutely who rushed to the other man. The other man had the blackest of brown hair – a true contrast to his platinum blonde companion – and dark calculating eyes.
Hermione quickly kneeled beside Tuyet's body and rested her head on her chest. Before Hermione could do anything however, the dark boy standing above her whipped out his wand, and she in turn pointed her wand at him. "What do you think you're doing?"
He ignored her and flicked his wand at Tuyet, earning a scream from Hermione who was just about to stun him when Tuyet gasped loudly and coughed water.
"Fuck," Tuyet muttered as she sat up and started coughing violently.
Hermione patted her back in comfort as she glared at the dark haired man before saying, "Thank you."
He shrugged and the two men regarded the two girls on the ground curiously.
"Who are you?" the blonde finally said.
"None of your fucking business," Tuyet muttered in reply as she grabbed Hermione's arm gently and pulled her up, still coughing.
The dark haired boy raised an eyebrow at her and replied evenly, "I just saved your life."
"And that requires me to answer whatever you decide to ask?" Tuyet retorted, still coughing as she leaned on Hermione slightly.
Hermione pulled her wand and pointed at Tuyet's throat who smiled in gratitude as her coughing stopped.
The blonde narrowed his eyes on Tuyet and said coldly, "Impudent girl, you have no right to speak so rudely –" he stopped when the dark boy put a hand on his shoulder, his gaze never once leaving Tuyet.
"It would be courteous to introduce yourself at least," he smirked.
Tuyet folded her arms across her chest and looked between the two men before replying, "As it would be, yes, but I don't see why we should be courteous when two supposed gentlemen disregarded introductions as well."
Hermione bit back a grin at Tuyet's retort.
With an outstretched hand, the darker one replied with a rather charming smile. "Tom Riddle."
The blonde said with a slight huff, "Abraxas Malfoy."
Fuck, Hermione thought as her blood ran cold.
Tuyet saw the girl's reactions to their names and decided that their company is not welcomed. Grabbing Hermione by her elbow, Tuyet turned her around and pulled her in the direction of a … goodness, is that a castle?
Hermione's face froze as a million questions raced through her mind. Tom Riddle? Tom Marvolo Riddle? As in, Lord Voldemort?
Hermione glanced back at the shocked boys to check.
Yes, no deathly white pale skin, still has a nose, and hair. If she were to look at things objectively, she would even say that he's a rather handsome, charming looking guy.
That man cannot be Lord Voldemort, can he?
She turned her head back and allowed Tuyet to guide her away from the two.
But if she look at the evidence now – the name, the dark hair, his company a Malfoy – it is obvious that he is Lord Voldemort; the one and the same who will murder her best friend and parents. Gripping her wand tightly, Hermione's eyes glazed over in thought. She could end it all now – kill the bloody bastard and change it all. There would be no war – the first and the second – many people's lives would be changed, and only for the better.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Tuyet muttered under her breath. "Isn't that the same old man, Dumbledore, only younger?" she nudged Hermione as the two boys suddenly caught up with them.
Hermione looked up to see a tall, young, auburn haired Dumbledore walking briskly towards them, wand out, beside another man who although stouter is just as impressive looking. "Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione called, resisting the urge to hex the dark haired man beside her.
Professor Dumbledore looked at her puzzled before regaining his composure and nodded to the old, white haired wizard beside him. "If you will follow me, Misses." He looked at them expectantly before turning on his heel.
Hermione glanced to Tuyet and slightly nudged her after the man. Tuyet begrudgingly followed, and noted that the white haired wizard brought up the rear – obviously making sure that Hermione and Tuyet followed Dumbledore.
"Mr. Riddle," the white haired man said over his shoulder, "Mr. Malfoy, the two of you are excused. We will be escorting the two girls now." He said severely, as Tom slightly nods once and Abraxas did nothing in acknowledgement.
Following Dumbledore, Hermione realized that what the dead Dumbledore and Connor meant for her and Tuyet to do is to purposefully change things in the past. This is the only explanation for a young Tom Riddle, Draco Malfoy's grandfather, and a young Dumbledore.
A million thoughts raced through her mind at the possibility.
Tuyet frowned and tugged on her black shorts, fully aware of the stern, stout old man's disapproving looks.
"I am not amused," the white haired, stout man immediately announced upon seating behind the tall, ridiculously large mahogany desk. Dumbledore stood beside him as they faced the two young girls seated before them. Tuyet had frozen for a second when the gargoyles came to life and opened the staircase earlier while Hermione had impatiently walked ahead of everyone upon realizing that the two professors mean to head towards the Headmaster office. (In her mind, she scolded herself for not thinking of the only too obvious destination. It wasn't like the two would ship her off to the Ministry simply because she was one of two unexplained beings who dropped out from who knows where.)
Tuyet raised an eyebrow at the statement as she looked at an affronted Hermione.
"Neither are we, sir," Hermione replied heatedly, "but you don't see us be rude about it."
Dumbledore regarded the two calculatingly. "If I am not mistaken, then you ladies seem to be from a different time."
The older man scoffed, "Obviously." He still stared at Tuyet with clear disdain.
"Look," Tuyet's eyes flashed in annoyance, "if you're that upset, then do one of your magic tricks and lengthen my shorts!"
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow as he slightly gaped and looked at the two in awe. "Are you two not witches?"
"Yes/No." Hermione and Tuyet answered at the same time.
Right, Hermione thought, magic bloody dies in Tuyet's time.
"Perhaps you are a descendent of a magical being?" Dumbledore persisted.
Tuyet rolled her eyes. "There is no magic whatsoever where I come from. The only magic is how we survive."
Before Dumbledore can say another word, the older man raised a hand. "That is impossible because only magical beings can see this castle. You are merely unaware of your heritage and power."
Tuyet blinked. "What am I supposed to see then?"
"A run down, broken castle."
Tuyet looked about her. "I see a might as well be a run, down broken office," she smirked before winking, "Ever considered redecorating to this supposed magical office from this only magical beings can see castle?"
Dippet frowned as he leaned forward with cold eyes – staring the girls (mainly Tuyet at this point) down. "I would be more pleasant, seeing as we are the only beings who can possibly help you at this point in time."
Tuyet returned his stare and sighed smiling tiredly. "I apologize, however, it is a bit overwhelming, you understand."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at the now demure girl. That was fast.
The white haired man smirked. "Now, you will answer all my questions. Do you understand?"
"No," Tuyet answered immediately.
The smirk slid off the white haired man's face. "What?"
"We can't answer all your questions if we don't know the answer ourselves, and if we don't know what these questions are." She smirked, "We also might not want to answer them, of course."
Hermione hid a snort behind her hand. "I will answer to the best of my ability."
"What year are you from?" Dumbledore asked before the older man can.
"Aren't there ramifications if too much of the future is given?" Hermione stated more than asked. "Perhaps it's best to work on a need to know basis."
"Who says?" Tuyet turned to Hermione in honest inquiry.
She shrugged, "All the books, rules; it's the laws of time travel."
"And you want to follow the laws at this point in time?" Tuyet asked exasperated.
"I might not want to do what I have to do, but I know what I have to do, and since we're here, I might as well do it."
Tuyet shook her head as she turned back to the confused faces of the old men. "Why don't we start with what ya'll know first? Starting with names, please."
Looking between the unmoving young ladies, the older white man leaned back on his chair and nodded.
"I am Headmaster Dippet."
"Transfiguration Professor Albus Dumbledore."
The two older men regarded the two girls expectantly.
"Hermione Granger."
"Tuyet Tran."
"We first noticed a particular surge of powerful magic out on the lake, and immediately went out to investigate." Dumbledore explained.
"The two of you were together when you felt this happen?" Tuyet skeptically asked.
"We sought out one another before investigating," Dumbledore nodded with a slight smile.
"What did you suspected?" Hermione asked.
"Time travel, of course." Dippet folded his arms, "The magical energy output is quite distinct. We were merely unaware what time traveled, and who could have invoked such a mass amount of magic."
Hermione and Tuyet exchanged glances.
"Now, it is our turn." Dippet grinned as he clasped his hands and leaned forward. "Who sent you here?"
"Need to know basis." Tuyet smirked.
Dippet frowned. "We are here to help you, and it is best if you give us all the information so we can best help you. Now is not the time to be withholding. It is obvious you are here to accomplish something, and I can recognize Albus's magic anywhere. So, you will answer our questions."
Tuyet narrowed her eyes. "You're not completely forthcoming as well are you?"
He shrugged.
"I'm here to kill Tom Riddle." Hermione answered bluntly as she looked defiantly at the two.
Dumbledore's eyebrows shot up to his receding hairline as Dippet slightly jumped in his chair.
Tuyet whistled. "Now that's forthcoming."
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