Hello once more! Here's the third chapter of the story. I hope you will like it. This is a dialogue based chapter with some new characters. There is still not much interaction between Tom and Hermione, but I can promise you that there will be, I just need him to get the bait and then I'll get the whole story rolling. This happens partially in the next chapter which I already started writing!
I really want to thank all those who reviewed from the bottom of my heart! Also to those who followed or favorite-d the story. You're the best! It means a lot to me to see people reading this. The next chapter will be up by during the weekend! Till then R&R!
-Caerina
This Is Not A Fairytale
This Is Not A Friendship
September 4th 1944. Hogwarts 10:12PM
The only thing that was heard through the long, empty hallways of Hogwarts were her black Mary-Jane shoes. The more time she spent in her new uniform, the more she felt uncomfortable in it. The white shirt was the same as in her time, with the green Slytherin sigil over her heart, the skirt was black and a bit longer than she was used to with dark socks beneath it. She didn't feel comfortable in those clothes in the slightest. The uniform she used to wear to school in the 90s was like her second skin, and the things she was wearing now, although very similar, were just not the same.
Her hand was still in Ivan's as they walked two steps behind Riddle. Ivan seemed as if he spent his whole life in these hallways. His posture was confident, his eyes gleaming with hidden curiosity as he kept his gaze straight ahead of him. If she hadn't met him as good as she did in the past four days, Hermione would've thought he was completely uninterested with his new school. But, she knew better. Ivan was just waiting for a moment to fly away and sniff around the school. His hand was still firmly grasping hers as they walked. Hermione liked the reassuring feeling, like everything was going to be okay. Both of them knew it wasn't.
Riddle seemed unperturbed by them. His steely eyes were kept calm – polite but uninterested in them. It was a good thing, after all, they could do much more with their plans without a Dark Lord sniffing around and trying to find out about them. Thankfully, McGonagall and her foreign associates took care of most things he could sniff about. Their pasts, along with their fake family names were quite nicely fitted together, the real truths blurry enough for their existence to be possible. Besides, Ivan and Hermione were now halfbloods, the worst danger they could attract was mean housemates and biased idiots trying to make their lives miserable. It would take a whole lot more than those to take her down, besides, Hermione spent most of her schooling days being bullied by Malfoy junior and his squad, so she had a lot of experience with that. Also, she was sure that if any other person could deal with this too, it was Ivan. The boy was an incredible actor.
For a few brief moments, Hermione's thoughts were directed towards Alexander and Astra who were in Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, respectively. Although the two of them won't have anyone in their new Houses, they also had no young Dark Lords on their hands. It was a good thing too, since Hermione could stop thinking about them being targets. While Alexander could probably deal with most troubles sent his way as a seventh year Gryffindor, she wasn't sure that Astra as a sixth year Ravenclaw would be just as capable. She was smart, but she was vulnerable, and Hermione would've hated for her to become a sitting duck waiting to be killed. It was best to keep her as far away from Slytherin and Riddle as possible. The only thing that was somewhat worrisome were their meetings. It would be suspicious to see four so different people as them sitting together in the Great Hall, but how else were they supposed to swap information? She was sure that she and Astra could talk among each other, and saying that she was taking care of her younger friend with whom she spent her years at Beauxbaton's wasn't that far-fetched. The same could be said for Ivan and Alexander, the alleged Durmstrang transfers, although that would be quite suspicious considering that they were now in two rivaling Houses.
Hermione kept frowning and thinking. She needed a solution for their meetings, she needed to deal with her new housemates and she needed to take care of the young Dark Lord and his minions. Life never seemed as busy like in that very moment. A hand on her shoulder made the line of her thoughts snap and made her return to reality.
"Ms. Pierce, you're daydreaming again?" Ivan smiled "I believe Mr. Riddle asked you something."
Hermione was slightly surprised as her gaze switched from Ivan's amicable smile to Riddle's cold, dark green eyes. He was smiling politely, but it just didn't seem right on his face. He was so handsome that it made it hard for Hermione to believe what he was to become in a few decades from now.
"I am sorry, Monsieur Riddle," she said, slipping a word in French to prove her point "The journey was so exhausting, I probably fell asleep while walking. Please do repeat your question and I will give my best to answer it." Hermione smiled politely.
"Understandable, Ms. Pierce," he nodded, keeping his eyes on hers "I was wondering whether you find Beauxbaton's Academy is very different from Hogwarts."
"Quite different," she nodded, but didn't elaborate further "Though I think I'll find my way through fast enough." Hermione gave him a tight smile, her knuckles white from squeezing Ivan's hand in hers.
"Of course you will, Ms. Pierce, you're brilliant!" Ivan nudged her slightly and she beamed at him.
"The two of you know each other before Hogwarts?" Riddle threw them a calculating look.
"Yes, our families go far back," Ivan easily said "We practically know each other ever since we were kids. When I heard that she'll be enrolling here I couldn't pass up the opportunity."
"Was Hogwarts not your first choice?" Riddle asked simply as he watched Ivan.
"Well I was kind of in the middle of deciding where to go. I was actually invited to Merlin's High Academy in America, but Hermione's enrollment here was what decided, really." Ivan slipped a charming smile directed towards Hermione.
"And what about you, Ms. Pierce? Why have you decided to enroll here, at Hogwarts?" Riddle asked, turning his attention towards her. This started to remind Hermione of an interrogation, and she didn't like it.
"Well, I was always a bit taken by all the stories and history that surrounded this place. It's exhilarating being here, and actually being sorted into one of the four Houses." Hermione said happily, trying to mask the fact that her heart was starting to break her ribs. Riddle assessed her for few seconds before Ivan attracted his attention once more.
"True. I remember you used to carry that blasted book with you all the time. I swear you knew every single word that was written in it," Ivan chuckled "You were quite disappointed when your parents got you enrolled in Beauxbaton's Academy."
Hermione nodded and slowly lowered her gaze towards the floor. Her parents, the Pierce family, were apparently both dead in the war, so she needed to play the part of the emotionally hurt daughter. Considering that her real parents were dead too, Hermione didn't need to act so much as just remember their faces. Ivan rubbed her shoulder slightly and smiled gently, his face apologetic for mentioning her dead parents. He was such a great actor.
From the corner of her eye, Hermione could see Riddle observing them with a calculating glint in his dark green eyes. They already reached the dungeons, and the atmosphere here was considerably colder and wetter. Hermione couldn't say she was looking forward to see her new dorms, or meet her new dorm mates. She couldn't help but have some prejudiced thoughts about her pureblood lady friends.
"Superbia." Riddle said and they entered the Slytherin Commons. Hermione found it rather ironic to see that their password was Pride, of all things.
Just like Hermione was expecting, the words she would use to describe the Slytherin Commons were luxurious, rich and cold. There was a lot of green, no surprise there, and a lot of stone. Although there was a fire burning in front of the main area of the room, the temperature was chilly, not unpleasant, but not as hot as it used to be in the Gryffindor Commons at this time of year. Luxurious pieces of furniture were tastefully scattered all over the place; they were made of deep, dark wood and dark green. It didn't look like a place to run around, joke and play tag. It looked like a place for fancy parties and elegant people. So much for that.
"The girl's dorms are on the left staircase, the boys' dorms are to the right," Riddle explained "Ms. Pierce, you and will be sharing the dorms with just one more seventh-year. I believe she will be here in a few moments to show you around. Meanwhile, I will show Mr. Dieter around."
It felt a few notches colder once Ivan's hand left mine. He smiled encouragingly and left after Riddle towards the right staircase. Well, at least she wasn't in the same dorm as the future Darkest Wizard of all times, and that was a plus. Hermione took a few steps forward and looked around the massive Common Room. It was as if there were at least dozens of half-separated mini-common rooms around. There were few younger students chatting around, but none of them seemed to be older than fifth-years.
"Miss Hermione Pierce?" a female voice inquired and Hermione turned around to face a girl. She was pretty, around her age, with straight strawberry blonde hair pulled up in a simple ponytail. The girl was smiling and the skin around her dark, almost black eyes was slightly wrinkled. Hermione decided instinctively that she liked her and smiled back.
"Yes, that's me," Hermione offered her hand and the girl smiled even wider before accepting it and shaking it.
"It's great to meet you, Hermione. You don't mind me calling you that?" she asked and Hermione just shook her head and smiled "My name is Morgana Rosier, and until you came I was the only female in seventh year."
"A great pleasure, Morgana," Hermione smiled slightly, trying not to flinch when she heard her last name "Mr. Riddle said you were going to show me around the girls' dorm."
"Oh, of course, you must be tired. I'll show you right away," Morgana smiled before moving towards the left staircase. She opened the door to reveal a large room with two big beds, engulfed in green. There was a large mirror on the wall, two wardrobes and two tables two work. Hermione smiled and threw her beaded bag onto the bed on the right side. Her suitcase was already there and so were her school books and other necessities.
"Do you mind if I see your schedule?" Morgana asked.
"Of course, here," Hermione gave the girl the slightly wrinkled paper.
"You're… You're practically taking everything?" she asked as she eyed Hermione's schedule "How many OWLs did you get?"
"I got eleven OWLs in my fifth year," she said proudly "In Astronomy, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, History of Magic, Potions, Transfiguration, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies."
"No Divination? Surprising, considering most girls tend to take the subject to find their one true love," Morgana said, her voice mockingly dreamy "But then again, you don't look like most girls to me."
"Let's just say my inner eye is a bit blind," Hermione answered "Do we have any classes together?"
"Definitely," Morgana smiled "We've got Potions, Charms and Defense together tomorrow. Too bad I actually got only six OWLs, and dropped a subject. I thought my seventh year was going to be so boring, but then you came along and I feel like the two of us are going to go along well."
"Trust me, I have no intentions of making my last year anything short of unforgettable." Hermione said with a smile.
Morgana had no idea how true that was for Hermione. It wasn't every year that you travel five decades through time only to destroy a Dark Wizard. That feat can hardly ever become anything she was going to forget anytime soon.
The next morning, Hermione was slowly walking with Morgana to the Great Hall. It was still quite early, so Morgana warned Hermione that the others from their House probably won't be up for another half an hour or so. Hermione didn't mind.
The great hall looked just the same as it did in her own time. Large and covered in sunlight, with the ceiling beautifully charmed to be a blue sky. The Gryffindor table was just as empty as the Slytherin table was, just a few younger student excitingly talking to each other. On the other hand, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were full of many more students. Hermione searched through the blue crowd for a familiar face, but Astra was nowhere to be seen. Many of the Ravenclaws were staring at their open books, while the Hufflepuffs were chatting happily among themselves. It always seemed like rainbows and unicorns and sunshine with them, Hermione thought wistfully.
"The Hufflepuffs are always like that. I kind of admire their ability to stay happy at any given moment," Morgana chuckled "But they tend to be a bit wary of us, so they usually stick around Gryffindors. Ravenclaws aren't the friendliest bunch, but we have this mutual arrangement to politely ignore each other."
"What about Gryffindors?" Hermione asked with interest.
"It would be an understatement to say we dislike each other," she smirked "Still, some of them seem okay. The McGonagall girl is very smart, the Head Girl this year, and she got nine OWLs which is more than any other girl, before you came at least."
"Yes, I've met her. But she didn't really pay any attention to me," Hermione admitted sheepishly "She doesn't seem to like Slytherins very much."
"No, she isn't very open to the House Unity ideas and all that, but at least she is quite fair when it comes to point deduction and punishments," Morgana said and took a sip of her pumpkin juice "But there are some who are more open in their dislike. We get more pranks on our doorstep than any other House."
Hermione just smiled to her and continued scanning the Great Hall. As more and more Gryffindors poured into the place, the more melancholy she felt. She watched as they joked, laughed and talked loudly with one another, causing the nearby Ravenclaws to send them nasty glares for being interrupted from their readings. The Gryffindors didn't even notice them, and even if they did, they ignored them and continued with their loud chattering. Hermione missed that. She could already imagine herself sitting between Harry and Ron and reading something important for the next class while the two of them chatter about Quidditch or some other nonsense over her. She missed it all so much. She missed the two of them so much.
When she accepted this mission, Hermione thought about saving the Wizarding World, saving all those lives that were lost in the past, but she never really thought how long that would make her feel, how isolated and even a bit afraid. Everything they sacrificed to get four brilliant but still only students here and now all depended on them. That was what scared her more than anything else so far.
"Hermione?" a voice interrupted "Are you listening to me?"
"Sorry, I drifted off a bit," Hermione shrugged and smiled apologetically "I was thinking about Potions and what will we work on today. I'm a bit worried."
"Don't worry, Slughorn is the Head of our House, we always get high grades," Morgana winked "But for any other issue beyond the classroom, I can't say he's very… Capable of solving any problems, except getting us out of detention."
Hermione took a piece of toast and started eating it as she thought about the Potions professor. It sounded as if he hadn't changed much. He was practically the same in her time.
"Oh, here are the boys," Morgana waved to someone in the crowd and Hermione raised her head just in time to see Riddle, Ivan and three more boys casually taking places around the two of them. Ivan sat next to Hermione and smiled. Hermione returned the smile. The other three boys, along with Riddle sat across the table.
"And how is our favorite seventh year girl this morning?" one of the boys asked with a smirk.
"Oh, you always make me feel so loved, dear Orion," Morgana mocking smile "But, I believe I will now have to share that position. I trust you've all heard that we have a new transfer. Boys, this is Miss Hermione Pierce."
Hermione raised her gaze from her plate only to meet three pairs of eyes staring at her. She smiled slightly, trying to make the awkward moment go away. Suddenly, she felt very self-conscious. Was her hair worse than usual? Perhaps she was supposed to listen to Morgana and take care of it differently. A lazy-looking bun wasn't the most elegant of things to wear on your first day of school. Or did she have leftover food on her face?
"Boys, stop staring, that's very rude," Morgana said seriously "And will you close your mouths, it's disgusting. Now, introduce yourselves before you scare Hermione away."
"Abraxas Malfoy, at your service," a silver-haired boy stood up and bowed with an easy smile. She should've guessed him for a Malfoy, because their appearance was quite… Unique. He looked quite like Draco Malfoy from her time, but he was a bit taller with wider shoulders, and bigger, more muscular constitution. Hermione could assume he was a Quidditch player too. She smiled and nodded.
"I am Orion Black and can I just say I am completely charmed, Miss Pierce," he said and kissed her hand, making Hermione blush just slightly. He was a bit smaller than Malfoy, but still very attractive. His hair was dark and slightly curly, and his eyes were light blue, almost like ice. She could clearly hear Morgana snorting from her side. Apparently this happened quite frequently.
"Oh get off your high horse, Black," she said "You are apparently charmed with anything that wears a skirt. No offense to you, Hermione," Morgana added.
"Jealous, love?" he asked her as he sat back into his seat and raised a dark eyebrow.
"Hardly," she said nonchalantly "And don't call me that." Orion smirked.
"Miss Pierce, please pay no attention to the two of them," the last boy said, his brown hair slightly falling into his dark eyes "This happens quite often. My name is Atreus Lestrange and it's a pleasure." He smiled and nodded. Hermione found herself feeling very uneasy when she found out what his last name was. Shifting her weight slightly in her seat she nodded and gave him a tight smile.
"It's a pleasure," Hermione said finally "Oh, and Ivan this is Morgana Rosier, Morgana this is Ivan Dieter. He transferred from Durmstrang." They nodded towards each other and Hermione let herself slip out of their conversation. It seemed like Orion Black and Abraxas Malfoy were both very talkative, if a bit arrogant, which wasn't too unusual considering their heritage. The Lestrange boy was very polite and didn't say much, but apparently he was quite clever. The three of them along with Ivan talked like they knew each other for years. Riddle was just sitting on the side, observing their movements and words. Hermione watched him. It was obvious he wasn't the part of their little friendly group, it seemed as if he was above it. But, whenever he asked a question or said anything all of the boys listened carefully, taking in his every word. It was still hard for Hermione to imagine any of the people around her as the first Death Eaters.
"Hermione, you're daydreaming again," Hermione's head snapped towards Ivan who watched her with an amused smirk "Ready for your first day?"
"I don't know, I haven't had the time to get through the books yet. I was so tired last night." She said.
"Come on," he snorted "They have yet to invent something you don't know. I bet you already have the whole curriculum for this year stuck in your head."
"That's right, we heard from Ivan you're very smart for a witch," Abraxas said with a smile. Hermione returned the smile, but inside she was erupting. For a witch? Just because she was biologically born as a woman, doesn't mean she's stupid. What was with the people in the forties and their weird ideas about girls?
"She's very smart compared to anyone. I can't remember when was the last time she didn't know an answer to a question," Ivan boasted and Hermione felt like punching him. She knew this was a part of their initial plan, attracting attention with her knowledge, but it made her very self-conscious. Although Ivan couldn't remember when was the last time she didn't know something, she could. Third year, Arithmancy class, she just couldn't remember that damn formula.
"So, you're good with theory then?" Atreus popped in with a question. Before she could answer, Ivan started talking.
"Not good, she's damn near brilliant with theory. And if my memory serves me right, you were quite handy with spells. You very well blew me away when we dueled that summer, some three years back." He turned to her and grinned.
"That's just because you wouldn't put up your shields, so you ended up jumping around the place like an idiot," she said indignantly.
"Felt like a waste of time to raise shields." he admitted sheepishly.
"And that's why I won and you lost." She said simply before smirking.
Hermione turned her head away from him only to see that everyone has been listening in on their conversation. Orion and Abraxas both seemed amused and Atreus just smiled encouragingly to her. Morgana kept looking at Hermione as if she was something of a divinity. Riddle's interest was piqued too.
"Well, Defense is our first class today, so we'll get an opportunity to see you both," Orion piped in.
"You can't mean seriously?" Morgana frowned "I doubt Hermione would want to duel. All other girls are allowed to read theory in the library while you are trying to hurt yourselves."
"Not all. McGonagall always stays," he said "And she's quite good too."
"I truly doubt that. Besides, Mrs. Cecil says girls shouldn't duel or use their magic for anything else but household spells," Morgana said hotly.
"Who's Mrs. Cecil?" Hermione asked with a disgusted face. Any woman with such an attitude doesn't even deserve a wand in the first place, in her opinion.
"Mrs. Eloisa Cecil teaches ALC. It stands for Advanced Ladies Course," Morgana stated proudly "She is very talented and smart and she teaches us everything from kitchen and household charms to how to behave and what to wear for any occasion."
"She is also the biggest bore in the whole school," Orion piped in.
"No, she is not," Morgana said indignantly "I can't wait for me to show Hermione how wonderful her classes are. We are going to have so much fun!"
"What do you mean we? I never applied for that subject." Hermione said. She couldn't really imagine having fun baking, cooking or cleaning. She would actually rather spend that time learning about dueling spells or actually dueling with the rest of the class.
"It's mandatory for all girls," Morgana said "But don't worry, I am sure that someone like you will catch up to everything immediately. And I also can't remember anyone ever getting a grade lower than an Acceptable."
They were grading this nonsense of a class? Ridiculous.
"Looks like someone is failing a subject this year." Ivan mocked in a singing voice, pointedly looking at Hermione.
"That's so stupid. I just can't believe it," she said, exasperated "Can't I just drop that subject. I already have eleven other to work on, and I'll just say that being a lady isn't really first on my priority list."
"You can't mean that, Hermione," Morgana's eyes went wide "I promise you these classes are fun and easy and you won't regret them."
"I really doubt that," Hermione said and sighed in defeat.
"Afraid, Hermione?" Ivan challenged "Never saw you as the cowardly type."
"No, I must've gotten that one from you," she could hear the boys snickering, before she stood up from her place "Shouldn't we get going? I mean, unless we want to be late for Defense on our first day."
"Nope… We will have a lot of time for that later on," Abraxas winked and stood up too.
"If you have any plans of dragging her from classes, you are going to be very disappointed," Ivan smirked and stood up. Once the rest of the group was up, they all went out of the Great Hall. The only person she couldn't really find was Riddle, who seemed to have disappeared. The others obviously either didn't see anything, or they were pretending.
"Hey… Wasn't there something we forgot for the Defense?" Morgana froze mid-step.
"Wasn't there summer homework?" Abraxas slapped his forehead.
"Oops." Orion said with a smirk.
As they continued walking, Hermione felt another presence. Turning her head back, she saw Riddle. He was carrying a few scrolls in his left hand and his wand in his right.
Well of course the future Darkest Wizard of all times did his summer homework.
Hermione rolled her eyes and continued walking towards her classroom.
