Blood Roses and Forget-Me-Nots
By: JAI
THANK YOU TO OUR LOYAL REVIEWER!!! YOU ALONE KEEP US WRITING!! It's so hard with college staring and stupid jobs!!! (that are worth it though XD)
Ishizu loves her job!!!
What about Jujubie!!!!?? LMAO!!!!!!!
…SORRY!! On with the fic!!
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SUMMARY: Hermione's fool-proof plan to travel into the past to save the Wizarding World didn't include Loony Lovegood. Now they are in a race against time and fighting against falling in love and the risk of altering the future.
Disclaimer: We can wish…but sadly…we do not own Harry Potter, but who wants him anyways?…BUT TOM RIDDLE!!!
"Dialogue"
'Quoting'
Thinking/Monologue::FLASHBACK::
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PreviouslyLuna ran out of the bathroom as fast as her weak legs could carry her. She would never let the boy know that he had scared her. The smirk on his handsome face let her know that she couldn't fool him…
Somehow Luna knew that she would be seeing more of him in the future…or would it be the past?
I'm so confused! I can't even think straight anymore…In her hurry to escape the boy, Luna missed the plaque on the door she ran out. It was a stick figure, standing at attention. It appeared naked…it was clearly…a he…
Luna ran right into a girl with long pigtails and a small round face covered by her now crooked glasses. She gasped, it was Myrtle!
Before Luna could speak another voice cried "Myrtle." Luna was as confused as her target. The two looked up into the shocked face of Hermione Granger.
There was a silent agreement as Myrtle took off and ran, both of them giving chase.
None of the girls noticed the shadow with narrowed eyes glaring at them in disgust. Or the way it licked it's teeth before slipping away even deeper in the shadows. He could always get them tomorrow. Besides isn't it easier to take them out one by one?
Chapter 3: He who I fell in love with
Hermione and Luna glanced at each other from opposite sides of the narrow hallway they now sat in. For being such a scrawny girl, Myrtle was awfully fast. Hermione smiled to herself, for being a little eccentric Luna was actually a lot of fun to be around.
After tripping over each other and colliding into a professor. The two girls had collapsed into a heap of giggles in the middle of the hallway. Myrtle was no where in sight. If the two weren't laughing so hard and so obviously, oblivious, then they would have noticed that the hallway had suddenly grown quiet. Too quiet, as if someone had cast a Muffliato or a Silencio in the now dark hallway.
Hermione looked up into Luna's wide cerulean eyes. "Did it get quiet in here or what?" she asked, while squinting to examine the gloomy hallway. Upon not receiving an answer she glanced back at her blonde companion. The girl was staring at her as if she went insane.
"What's wrong Luna?" she asked. Luna mouthed something back that Hermione couldn't hear, it was as she had expected someone had cast a spell, but she didn't know which one.
Luna mouthed something back, it looked like what she had mouthed before, but she couldn't hear any of it. She couldn't see any of it either because her gaze had landed on a brown book next to Luna's ankle. It looked like Tom's diary.
She quickly maneuvered over to the lifeless book. It had a gold engraving that encased the whole book, it resembled a snake. Suddenly the letters twisted They moved around in a graceful although grotesque formation. Something like the dead circus.
Together they now formed the words 'I am Lord Voldemort.' Then just as suddenly as if it had been a figment of her imagination, the letters rearranged themselves into the innocent name of it's owner. TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE.
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Luna watched as the brunette scribbled something down using her wand to write. Since they obviously couldn't hear each other, there was no choice. Besides what Tom didn't know couldn't hurt him.
The blonde glanced around at their surroundings. Considering that they were sitting in a hallway with no visitors and no light, it was actually quite peaceful. Luna preferred to be alone. The silence was comforting at times. Especially times like these.
She never wanted to hear another person cry out in agony like she had heard those times when Harry's own assembled Dumbledore's Army had helped fight. She'd never forget the look on Harry's face as his beloved Godfather slumped over and collapsed into the eager mouth of the ghoulish veil.
She would never forget Neville's cries as Bellatrix used the Cruciatus on him as she once did his parents. Luckily he hadn't gone insane like his poor parents. When Harry had chased her, Luna followed in case he needed help. People always ignored her so naturally nobody would notice her slip away.
She came up to find Harry cursing Bellatrix. Luna's ears didn't stop ringing for another hour after listening to the Lestrange woman cackle in glee at Harry's turmoil over using the death curse on her. She dashed away as did Luna. If Harry needed help he would call. There was no need to intrude on his privacy.
What would the Wizarding World think if newspapers got out about that? "The Boy Who Lived" reduced to "The Boy Let Us All Down" or "Crybaby: The Great Harry Potter Collapses in Tears."
The agony…it was heartbreaking.
To suffer things like that.
To be called Loony…Insane.
To be considered different because of a past you couldn't remember.
People rejoicing you for another's mistake.
To see things that nobody else could see.
To lose your youth.
To lose everything…
…to lose a parent…
…To lose both parents…
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Hermione glanced up after she had finished writing to see a single tear run down Luna's porcelain doll-like face. For a moment her shell cracked and the brunette was able to see through all the makeup, the glass, that trademark painted on smile…
As quickly as she had cracked, Luna recovered when she felt Hermione's gaze on her. Hermione didn't push her and she could see the relief on the blonde's face for that. Hermione passed over the journal.
SINCE WE CAN'T TALK WE HAVE TO WRITE.
But before Luna could respond letters began to appear on the wrinkled page.
TOM!! YOU WROTE BACK!!!!
Hermione and Luna glanced at each other in shock. Just who was Tom able to communicate with in his journal?
Gold letters forming again on the page startled both girls as they glanced down at the cursed item. Just who could this person be? How was Tom able to talk to somebody using his diary? Was that allowed at Hogwarts? What if it was a death eater? Hermione couldn't stop thinking of possibilities. Just what they had to show Dumbledore…DUMBLEDORE!
Both girls squinted at the page. Breath held in antici[ation as the letters swirled majestically formulationg new arrangements in a sort of wild dance just to form letters and words. Tom was a odd fellow.
TOM IT'S ME GINNY WHY HAVEN'T YOU WRITTEN BACK? IS IT BECAUSE OF THAT GIRL YOU MENTIONED LUNA? OH I KNOW A LUNA TOO!! SHE'S A RAVENCLAW!! SHE'S DIFFERENT…SO SHE DOESN"T HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS…I TALK TO HER SOMETIMES BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO CALL ME LOONY FOR TALKING TO HER BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE MEAN TO HER SO WHAT SHOULD I DO? WRITE BACK SOON!!!
LOVE, GINNY
It was Ginny!! How did she have the other end?
"OH!" suddenly Hermione remembered, that was the book that her face was always buried in. That journal. Luna's soft voice struck Hermione out of her reveries.
"How does he know my name?" Luna inquired. Hermione pondered over this for a moment before remembering Professor Dumbleodore's urgency to ensure that Harry get a good occulmency teacher. Something about…Voldemort…being a mind reader, or a Legilimens.
She proceeded to explain it to Luna who looked confused the whole time. Hermione would explain it more when they had more time.
Hermione ignored Ginny and mumbled something in frustration about concealing their identities and still communicating. Luna giggled and Hermione gritted her teeth once more.
She had heard Luna giggle! "It's gone!" she exclaimed in glee. Luna smiled at her statement.
"I suppose it is."
"We need to find Dumbledore." Hermione pushed a few thick curls behind her ear. She then proceeded to stand up. Then she heard it. It sounded like a troll dragging it's heavy metal club…
Then she heard the bloodcurling scream and the sobs that soon followed afterwards. Both girls cringed in agony over the sound. They had heard the ghost wailing in tye bathroom enough to know that it was her.
"Luna!" she cried, "We need to find that sound!"
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Luna hopped to her feet and dashed through the halls following her brown-haired companion. The source was a stone wall, to the untrained or blind eye it would appear as if it were simply a mere stone wall. Luna supposed that when it was closed she wouldn't be able to find the entrance again.
The further in they went, the darker it got, the mustier the air felt and the louder the wails grew. How come nobody could hear her screams? How come nobody came to her aid?
She glanced up when she heard Hermione gasp and spotted Myrtle in a pathetic heap of flesh and clothes propped sprawled on the floor sobbing her heart out. A deep chuckle reverberated on the slimy looking stone walls.
Luna glanced around and found the source to be none other than that boy she had encountered earlier in the bathroom. What was he doing here? Did he want Tom to find him here?
"You need to leave." she cried out, "Before Tom Riddle gets here!" There! That was warning enough, but to her surprise and to her dismay he only laughed again.
She glanced over at Hermione and was surprised to see the brunette looking at her with a look of incredulity.
"Luna!" she hissed, "He IS Tom!" Luna shook her head. What had she done? She glanced over to Myrtle who was still sprawled out, then back to Hermione who wasn't looking at her like that anymore.
"Luna." she whispered, "He still has the Basilisk so keep your eyes low." Luna nodded. Tom was no longer looking at the girls when she glanced at him. She could catch him off guard!
"Expelliarmus!" With a flick of his wrist that was evaded. Darn!
He spoke softly. "Imperio."
"No!" Hermione cried out and rushed towards her, only to feel her limbs lock up as he turned his wand to her. "Petrificus Totalus."
The dark-haired male turned his gaze back to the smaller blonde girl. "Come to me, my dear."
Luna felt her body moving towards him. There was even a seductive sway added to her hips as she sauntered over to him. How embarrassing!
Myrtle's sobs were now silent as she began to notice how dire the situation was. How dangerous her long-time crush was. He would dare use an unforgivable? Surely she would forgive him, after all she loved Tom. But that girl, that blonde sashaying over to her Tom how dare she!
In her peripheral vision Luna saw Myrtle's jaw stuck out in defiance and her thin pink lips forming a pout. She was angry about something. Luna couldn't imaging what, it was her own fault, she had clearly followed him here. He wouldn't invite her down here, she would ruin all his plans.
"Come to me, my pet." he whispered to her. Luna could only obey as much as she fought it. Poor Hermione! What could she possibly be feeling?
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Hermione was angry that she couldn't move, but at least she was stuck in an angle where she could see what was happening. So she would be at least be able to know when to brace herself…for her soon impending death.
Hopefully, he wouldn't go too hard on the other two. Make it short and simple. Myrtle was too much of a crybaby to handle the pain and Luna was too innocent, hey didn't deserve that. Of course, Hermione didn't either, but she wasn't as child-like.
She could see the look of pure hatred in Myrtle's eyes as she stood up and folded her arms over her chest. She was clearly jealous of the way that Tom was caressing Luna's cheek. She could practically feel the heat emanating from Myrtle's body as he captured Luna's small rose lips in a kiss. Hermione supposed if they weren't in this dire of a situation it would have been quite cute.
If only he wasn't…Voldemort…
Myrtle took a step forward and huffed as she exaggerated her anger with placing her hands lower onto her hips. "Tom Riddle!" she cried.
He ignored her and only proceeded to kiss Luna once more and mutter sweet little nothings with his lips brushing against her ivory-colored cheek. Hermione supposed that if Luna had been more coherent she would have the decency to blush.
She focused on Myrtle again and watched as the girl moved even closer.
NO! What is she doing?
This time Tom didn't ignore her. He turned his now hatred-filled gaze upon the raven-haired girl.
There was no escaping it now. She was trapped, in rapture, it was quite a thrill to gaze so daringly…so lovingly into his dark-blue eyes. "I love you." she whispered. "Avada Kedavra." he whispered back as Hermione could only watch as he raised Luna's arm.
She heard a shatter and dropped as her body felt weak. She glanced up to see Luna running towards her and Myrtle sitting on the floor wide-eyed. There was a hiss fro the left, Hermione snatched Luna's arm before she could glance in that direction.
The two looked up to see Myrtle's body slumped over. She was dead. Tom's hearty laugh startled them both and together they dashed out of the dungeon. It was a mistake coming to the past. There was nothing that they could do, but to tell Dumbledore of what had happened and what would happen.
Hermione had been to the professor's office many times, she had the way memorized. Fifty years ago or not, the Headmaster's office had to be in the same place.
When they approached the portrait a prefect was coming out. The two girls barreled past him and into the professor's office.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione cried out. "We need your help!"
There was another man in the room with the professor, he was shorter and had a round belly. His pig-like face was twisted into a look of disgust. Considering how he looked he really shouldn't make that face, but Hermione had no time to ponder that.
She glanced over at the other man. He was clearly older than the other man. His tawny beard ended just above his belly button. There were traces of gray in it, but he still had the same twinkling eyes. Although they were gazing at her with an unreadable expression.
"It's about Tom Riddle!" she cried out, but before she could finish she was interrupted by both the men.
The shorter one was yelling something, but with a hand Dumbledore had him silenced. He proceeded to have the girls sit down and he gave them both lemon drops. There was no offer, they were simply given. Hermione felt herself calming down at once.
"Now." he smiled, "What did you have to tell me about Mr. Riddle?"
Hermione took a deep breath before sputtering out, "HekilledMyrtleInTheDungeonsWithABasilisk!"
He gazed at her in confusion, "Come again child?" he coaxed. Hermione looked down at her hands. Then she heard Luna's soft voice.
"Tom Riddle, killed a girl, her name was Myrtle!" She glanced over at her blonde companion, she was reaching for another lemon-drop, that the professor kindly handed her.
The shorter man had turned red with rage. Hermione couldn't understand why? Then she noticed he colors he was wearing, he was from Slytherin. Dumbledore told the man to calm down, it would all get sorted out. A prefect was summoned for, it was a boy with short red hair, similar to the Weasley's except he wore a trademark Slytherin smirk.
He returned promptly with Tom Riddle in hand, who looked shocked at being summoned to Dumbledore's office. After all, he was Head Boy, he couldn't be getting in trouble.
Dumbledore cut right to the chase, his eyes now dark and his brow furrowed in some unknown emotion. He took Riddle's wand, aimed it at the wall and cast Priori Incantato. If he had last cast the killing curse it would show, the boy couldn't know what Dumbledore was going to do. Surprisingly enough a bouquet of roses appeared in the headmaster's hand.
The Slytherin head of house began to chuckle, "Ever the romantic, Tom, eh?" Tom joined him in a laugh before turning back to Dumbledore and politely asking for it back. Dumbledore was hesitant, but he wasn't afraid, he handed it back.
"I think it's only fair that their wands are checked too." Tom stated.
"I agree." The Slytherin man added in. Dumbledore had no doubt that these girl's were innocent so there was no problem with checking their wands. Tom smirked at Luna and Hermione got a bad feeling in her gut. She hadn't sat anything after that, she had even been scared to hold it.
Dumbledore reached for Hermione's first because she was closer. A small beam of light appeared around the tip of her wand as he cast the spell. "Lumos." he simply stated.
He handed it back then reached for Luna's, he could see the hesitancy in her actions, but said nothing. Tom must have used another person's wand. He must have used hers! That explained the smug grin on his face. Dumbledore didn't have to say anything to cast a spell. He simply imagined the Protego spell and hoped that it would work.
He glanced up and saw the look of shock on the boy's face and knew right then, why the girls were right to be so hesitant. Tom hadn't used his own wand, just as Dumbledore had predicted.
He was just about to cast the spell he had used on the other two wands, but it was snatched from his hands by the Slytherin head. "I saw what you did he muttered."
"Priori Incantato." He wasn't as careful as Dumbledore and a beam shot from the wand and struck a portrait. With a snap it broke into two only after the image of a proud woman slumped over, dead.
He pointed the wand at the two girls, but Dumbledore wrestled it from him and begged him to stay calm. Hermione pulled out her Time Traveler and handed an end to Luna.
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Luna glanced up to see Tom's curious gaze landing on the object in the girl's hands. He glanced up and met Luna's gaze. "Those roses were for you."
She smiled weakly, "Give them to Myrtle, she'll be around longer than we will." Before he could respond light shot out around the girls and Luna felt that same pulling feeling on her body.
She didn't know that Hermione's hands had fumbled as she rushed to get them out of there. She didn't know that the brunette couldn't remember how many to turn it to get home. Or that the Time Traveler would be crushed as soon as they arrived.
End of Chapter Three
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AN: Well, what did you guys think? We think that this was the best chapter so far!! Sorry it took so long!! College is starting!!! STUPID JOBS!!! 40 hours a week?!
Next Chapter Title: Of Marvolo's and Marauder's
Drumroll please……….. ………………………………………………………………ratatatatatattatatatatta…………………………………………………ratatatatattatattatatata
Sample: An unknown force knocked the time Traveler out of Hermione's hands almost as soon as the pulling sensation stopped. She looked up to see the chain snap as the ornament hit the ground with a sickening crack. She glanced up to see a fiery-headed girl gazing at the two in shock, before turning to the dark-haired male she had been arguing with, slapping him and storming out.