Title: Sometimes we'll cry.
Summary: Harry, Ron and Hermione follow Draco to Borgin and Burkes where they fall through time. How will Ron react to the Young Dark Lord taking an interest in his girl friend? TMR x HG
Genre(s): Romance.
Rated: M
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K Rowling.
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Chapter two: The Sorting Hats game.
Tom Marvolo Riddle, the boy that had gotten Hagrid expelled and Myrtile killed, the young man who had tortured innocent men and women to insanity and killed children and puppies was standing before Harry Potter, the boy who had killed him, Ron Weasley, the blood traitor and Hermione Granger, the Muggle-born, AKA Mudblood, looking politely surprised.
"Have we met?" he asked, his eyes showing innocent curiosity.
Hermiones hand shot out and grabbed Rons, the red head jumped, he yelped in surprise and the sound turned Riddles attention from Harry to the Weasley.
Rons mouth opened. "Oh, s-sorry." He laughed but it was choked, and his eyes were wide. When Riddle continued to stare with his piercing eyes at Ron, the boy broke. "We heard you were smart." He said simply and Harry laughed slightly, Hermione stared at her boyfriend, once again, in awe of his stupidity.
Riddle was staring but he managed to snap himself out of his daze. "Well, that is… flattering." He said carefully. "Shouldn't you be getting to school? I'll lead the way while you tell me how you appeared from nowhere and why I haven't seen you in any classes when we're obviously in the same year. Also, I'm afraid I'm going to have to take five points each from your Houses to compensate for your skipping cla--"
"We're exchange students." Hermione said suddenly. "From Durmstrang."
Tom surveyed her, his eyes narrowing when she refused to meet his gaze and kept her eyes on her sneakers. "I see. Let's get you to Professor Dippet then." He turned around swiftly, taking great strides to distance himself a little from them.
The boys stared at Hermione and she gazed back at them, placing a hand on her mouth. "I'm sorry. It's my fault." tears brightened her eyes and Harry grinned at her reassuringly but his eyes showed worry.
"Don't worry, 'Mione." He said, using the small name to calm her down. "Dumbledore's alive here, he won't try anything."
"Yeah, besides, Harry'll just kill him again if he does, won't you Harry?" Ron added, trying to make his girlfriend feel better, even if he did think it was her fault.
Harry laughed bitterly, pulling out his wand and twirling it in his fingers. "Absolutely." The circumstances had been different in their time, even with the twin cores of the brother wands, Harry may not win against this Dark Lord. "He's still just a kid here," Harry said, more for his friends then for himself. "We've been through tons more then he has, we've fought older Wizards and our magic's stronger then ever."
"That's right," whispered Hermione, her eyes fixated on Harry with praise. "We'll be fine if we stick together."
"Let's hurry already before he gets suspicious." Ron grumbled.
"And prepare for our play." Hermione said warily.
"Why, that's a surprise." Armando Dippet exclaimed, his spectacles sliding slightly down his nose while he surveyed the three youngsters. Riddle had been sent to class, much to his ado. "Exchange students from Durmstrang? Well, I really didn't get any letters…"
.
"But we've already left Durmstrang." Said Harry, staring helplessly. "It's our last year, Sir, if we miss it…"
"We won't be able to get into any decent Wizarding College!" said Ron indignantly.
"Yes," Headmaster Dippet said, hopelessly. "But I'm afraid I cannot –"
"We can owl our families to send the paperwork again if you would like," Hermione said. She could easily forge them if she could spend an hour or two in the library.
"That won't be necessary,"
It was a jolt to all three of them, shaking them to their bones and filling their hearts with hope. They got up at the same time, turning around, their hearts in their throats.
Before them stood a tall man, his corn coloured hair beginning to frost, but the pale colour only added to the effect of his piercingly ice blue eyes that gave off an impression that he were x-raying them and from the smile on his lips, he liked what he saw.
"Professor," Harry breathed.
Dumbledore continued, waving a few pages of paper in the air. "I received these a few weeks ago, I immediately owled you on this matter if you recall so, Professor Dippet?"
Dippet was watching Dumbledore, puzzled. "Oh? You did? That is to say—"
Dumbledore looked innocently surprised, only Harry could see he didn't mean it. "It was after the letter you sent, if you remember, early July on your question about the Ministers pref-"
"Yes, yes," said Dippet hastily, looking at the tops of the childrens heads quickly. Desperate to regain some of his dignity he carried on "Now Albus, if you'll just give me those admission forms, I expect that's what they are –"
"I'm afraid I can't do that just yet Armando." Said Albus, his eyes sincere and apologetic.
Hermione caught on first.
Dippets glasses drooped along with his jaw. "Ex-excuse me, Albus?"
"Professor Dumbledore would like our names to make sure we are who we say we are." Said Hermione, earning a small, gratified smile from the soon to be head master. "I'm Hermione Gr—" she paused for a half moment. "Green. Hermione Green. This is Harry Featherstone and Ronald Angelo."
Dumbledore nodded his approval and the papers glowed blue. "A slight protection charm." He said to Dippet. "A truth charm. One can never be too careful with Beauboxs' competitive streak."
"Darn French," agreed Dippet as the papers flew to them.
Harry and Ron grinned, but Hermiones eyebrows knitted together.
"While you look through those, Armando. I'll show the young children to their Dorms." Said Dumbledore.
"Yes, yes." Dipped waved his wand dismissively, frowning at the fake admission forms.
"Follow me, children."
"And?" Dumbledore urged, his eyes wide as he listened to their story.
Harry stopped and looked at him. He had been the one doing the explaining and Hermione and Ron had sat silently at his side, every now and then piping up to add a long, forgotten detail. First they had explained their arrival and then they'd told of Riddles beginning to the learning the location of the Hocrux.
"And then we went there." Said Harry lamely, his eyes on Dumbledores. Questioning.
Hermiones hand found his. "We're not here to change the future." She said softly.
Dumbledore nodded, frowning. "Yes, you have already told me enough." He agreed, grudgingly. "I think it would be wise to keep away from Tom." He sighed, fixing his gaze on them. "I always did know he was different, just never would have thought he'd…"
"No one did." Said Harry. "But you have to not interfere with it, because –" he stopped, his eyes closing.
Hermiones grip on his hand tightened and Ron grabbed his shoulder, squeezing it.
"Harry," said Hermione quietly. "Somethings might be okay to change."
They were talking about his parents and Peter.
"No," said Harry, his voice raspy. "I've already made my decision, I made it in our Seventh Year. I've got a family, even with Sirius and my parents dead. I've got you guys." He laughed. "And it's some consolation and that they're safe and not born yet too."
Hermione wiped her eyes through his speech and Ron turned a little pink.
But Dumbledore watched him keenly. "Harry, you have made a decision that many Wizards –Older and stronger then you, would never have the will to bring themselves to make. You have shown courage far beyond your years."
Harry smiled faintly at the familiar words. "It's good to see you again Professor."
"It's good to meet you Harry, I expect I'll be far more impressed in future." His eyes twinkled behind his glasses and all three of their stomachs turned warm with the thought of him alive and well.
"Professor, if I may," said Hermione. "We've told you how we know you and explained how we got here, we've given you information about the future but you haven't explained how you knew we arrived, or that we were, well, trustworthy!"
"Now Miss Granger," he beamed. "Dinner is going to start in half an hour, and I'll need to know which classes you'll be taking before I introduce you and you're going to ofcourse be sorted—"
"What?" the three said together.
"But Professor." Harry said. "We were in Griffindor."
Hurra! He had managed to detour them! ….For now.
"Yeah, I know it was a long story, but it was the bit at the start where me and Hermione got sorted and then Harry—"
"It's protocol." Said Hermione. "It was written by Jenkins Firebreath who studied under Helga Hufflepuff, Foundations and Necessary Rules With Introductions To An Amateurs Guide On Teaching At Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry it was published and there were two hundred copies which makes it exceptionally—"
"We get the picture," snapped Ron, feeling like the dummy of the group while Dumbledore watched Hermione and Harry brightly.
"It is a pleasure to welcome Harry Featherstone, Hermione Green and Ronald Angelo of Durmstrang. They will be continuing their Seventh and final Year of schooling at Hogwarts!"
Harry, Ron and Hermione stood dressed in Hogwarts robes, standing uneasily in between the Hyfflepuff and Ravenclaw tables while people whispered and pointed. Girls were leaning towards Harry, taken by his resemblance to the Slytherin Prince, Tom Riddle. And Riddle himself watched them from afar, his eyes fixed on them as though they were specimens at a zoo.
There was awkward clapping; it was the first time they had gotten students from any school.
"Let the Sorting begin!"
There was surprise and some laughter, but it died down after a few seconds.
"Angelo, Ronald!" Dumbledore called and Ron made his way upto the stool.
"Trust her to give me the lousiest last name." he said, glowering at his amused girlfriend when the Sorting Hat was placed on his head.
It's better the Weasley by far. A voice hissed in his ear and he almost jumped. The Sorting hat had not spoken to his on his first year. Of course not, it cooed. What were you then? Just another Weasley. Hmmm, this is interesting….
'I'd like to be put in Griffindor if you don't mind then.' Ron thought, annoyed.
Oh, I don't think so…
'What? Hey, my family's been in Griff—"
"SLYTHERIN!" shouted the Sorting Hat. Hermione and Harrys jaws dropped.
Dumbledore frowned but pushed Ron towards the table. The red head sent his friends a dumb-founded expression to match theirs, before heading towards the applauding Slytherins. He was petrified when a boy who resembled Draco Malfoy made room for him to sit next to him and patted him on the back, congratulating him.
"What the hell?" hissed Harry to Hermione, utterly perplexed.
Hermione opened her mouth but Dumbledore called Harrys name. Harry got on the stool, a look of foreboding etched onto his face.
Oh my! This is something else, after your friends thoughts on you I knew you were going to be something else… Definitely Griffindor material, you remind me of Godric himself.
'You sent Ron to Slytherin.'
Quick aren't we?
'Ron hates Slytherin, so don't tell me he's Slytherin material because he definitely isn't.'
Well he showed some real Slytherin spirit when he left you and Miss Granger.
'Everyone's had those moments—'
You're right.
'Don't den –Wha'?"
"SLYTHERIN!" yelled the hat.
Hermiones knees shook. This could not be happening!! She looked at Dumbledore, but he was shooing Harry to the Slytherin table.
"Green, Hermione!" said Dumbledore, his eyes meeting hers. It gave her the courage to make the first move and seat herself.
My, my, you and Mr Potter really are mind candy.
'You're upto something.' she thought fiercely.
There's gratitude for you!
'Gratitude? For putting us in the same House as the most evil person who has ever lived? We're trying to keep away from him until Professor Dumbledore finds a way for us to get home!'
You seem to be very scared of someone who you've already killed.
'Of course I'm scared! He's Lord Voldemort!'
Stop shouting, little girl, for now he's just a boy.
'You do understand that there is already a very good chance that this 'boy' has placed torture curses and ripped a fraction of his soul out, don't you?'
Nothing is going to change my decision. I would have thought you would be pleased.
'…Pleased?'
A great mind he has, much like your own, someone who can finally challenge you.
'Pardon, but are you suggesting you're doing this to keep me from boredom?'
The voice turned mocking. Afraid of a little competition? Miss Granger, you helped to kill this boy. Try for some remorse.
'Competition? Remorse? With all due respect—'
"SLYTHERIN!" Shouted the Hat and she saw Harry and Ron slide away from each other to make room for her when Dumbledore lifted the hat from her head.
She looked at him and he met her eye and patted her back to assure her, at the same time pushing her towards the table where historys most notorious killer sat.
A/N: O-o; Woah, I had no IDEA this story would get so much responses. XD Thank you to everyone for your reviews and appreciation and suggestions! -n-n- I
