Thanks for the reviews! 8 reviews in two days! glows
Thanks, Caity for commenting and helping! LAWLS!
Thanks Iklepsis, maripas, and jjp91 for the encouragements and thanks hpfanf for commenting again!
Nerys: Score! I'm glad you think my fic is worthy! I hope she updates soon too! Do you mean the link between Jesus and Tom Riddle? Haha. I am such a catholic it's not even funny. But biblical references are part of literature. I say if I am to be flamed for that then those flamers need to read more. :)
Disclaimer: JK Rowling is God. (hey! Biblical reference!)
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Drink From My CupChapter four: Illusions
Everyone keeps talkin time
Talkin rhyme
Everyone keeps saying how time goes by
And the seconds keep slipping away, fly by
But every spring ice melts like it did before
Every winter the temperature drops
Every autumn the leaves fall
And every morning the sun rises just as the day beforeAnd the world ain't getting any older
As it's goes hurdling through space
To get back to where it was
Last year
Tom sat in the Great Hall, his arms crossed, staring at the double doors. All students besides the first years had already filed into the Great Hall and had taken a seat at their respective House tables. Artemis Morgen, however, was seated right beside him, pointedly looking in the opposite direction. He internally scoffed and continued to stare at the double doors. The remainder of the seats around Tom had been filled with either admirers or loyal Death Eaters. He smirked, knowing that Artemis had to at least be impressed by how they were treating him. He only had to nod or wave and they were by his side, excited and waiting for some instruction or sign of approval. He had given a group of fifth year girls a particularly charming wink when he had been sure Artemis had been looking. That was when she had taken to staring in his opposite direction. No matter… whatever House she landed in he was sure she would get nothing but sparkling reports on his reputation. It was for this reason, however, that he would have to watch her more carefully. He had let himself slip earlier today. Something about her… it was most likely because she was a stronger witch than any he had met. Most of his Death Eaters were male and the women he did deal with were only to keep up appearances. The girl sitting only across from him had been his choice for last year. She was a pretty girl with dark red hair and a very pure lineage… but he had ended it at the end of term… he couldn't appear as though he needed any woman could he? She was staring at him out of the corner of her eye, most likely hoping to resume where they had left off the previous year. Tom sighed. He had bigger plans for this year. He cast another glance at Artemis, who was now watching the Gryffindor table with interest. He frowned, following her gaze. He would not like this one to land there…. It was too dangerous for someone so skilled and already so close to him to take root in his forefather's enemy's House.
The double door's opened and the first years filed in, being led by Dumbledore down the gap between the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor Houses and to the front of the Great Hall.
"Good crop this year," the red-haired girl said across from Tom, still eyeing him intently. Tom ignored her.
Tom applauded politely for each student as they were sorted into their new houses, and gave the new Slytherin's an additional smile or wave, and every now and then a pat on the shoulder. He noticed Artemis throwing him nasty glances every time he did this, however, and leaned in to whisper into her ear as the last few of the first years were sorted.
"Is there a problem with me showing welcome to my House's new inductees?" he asked, keeping his voice low enough so that no one else could hear him. He took pleasure in the fact that she tensed when she felt his breath on her neck.
"No," she replied curtly. "None at all." And she resumed ignoring him.
He scowled at her before placing his usual visage of calm back on his face and giving his nearest Death Eater a smirk. Mulciber was always one for a good laugh.
"Want me to take care of that?" Mulciber offered eyeing Hermione with a look of amusement.
"No," Tom said almost as quickly and sharply as Hermione had just answered him moments before. Mulciber raised his eyebrows at his leader. Tom's demeanor seemed as cool and collected as ever, however, and Mulciber glanced back at the girl.
"Sorry, my Lord…" he said now eyeing Hermione with interest. "I was not aware… does she have potential or is she another Lucretia," he asked throwing the red head a glance.
"She certainly has potential. She may serve as both. We shall see," he said and nodded to Dumbledore who had now turned to look at their table.
"Morgen, Artemis," he called, looking kindly in the direction of Hermione. Hermione rose on slightly shaking legs. It was absurd that she would go through the sorting process again though this time around she understood how heavily choice weighed into the matter.
She walked to the stool, ignoring the whispers that followed her up the room. She sat down feeling a bit foolish… she was eighteen after all and this was a ritual for first years. But if she must…
The hat dropped onto her head and she immediately prompted, "Gryffindor, please."
It is a pleasure to see you once again, Miss Granger. I see you have become wiser since we last met, though I'm sorry to see you still do not approve of Slytherin. It really is a powerful house.
Hermione scoffed. "I would rather avoid Riddle than throw myself into his path, thank you."
I see… yes I see it here in your mind… a very dark future for our young Slytherin isn't it? What a pity for Salazar. I am sure he would not approve.
"But he created the Chamber of Secrets!"
Yes, he was certainly foolish there… there is no arguing that, but my dear we are here to talk about you. You wish to reenter the Gryffindor House? Well, you have certainly proven yourself worthy of it time and time again. I told you I am never wrong.
"Never," Hermione thought, glowing with pride.
So you are certain you want to avoid Riddle? I think in that you are not being entirely truthful.
"He's the most vial wizard of our time! It was him and his Slytherin selfishness that brought me back here in the first place."
That and a combination of Gryffindor curiosity.
Hermione groaned.
Well, if you are sure you have no desire to see him… the hat continued, still sounding skeptical.
"I'm sure," Hermione thought stubbornly. Suddenly, a thought came to her. "Wait… how do you remember me if I don't put you on for another fifty years?" Hermione asked, her mind suddenly filled with questions on time-travel.
My dear, I would have thought you would have known by now that time is nothing more than an illusion.
"But…"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Hermione reluctantly pulled the hat from her head and set it down on the stool, her mind still bursting with questions. Dumbledore gave her an encouraging smile before she turned toward her familiar table. As she made her way toward the Gryffindor table, she realized she must have taken quiet a long time under the hat. Everyone was staring at her oddly and the applause was weak and awkward. Everyone seemed too interested in who she was and where she had come from to trouble themselves with applause. Hermione settled herself in a vacant seat between Nearly-Headless-Nick and a nervous looking first year. She looked back towards the front of the Great Hall, where Dumbledore had removed the stool and hat. Armando Dippet was now on his feet, smiling across the hall. Hermione felt how bizarre it was to have this introverted little man welcoming them into the new school year rather than the white haired Albus Dumbledore.
"Welcome back," he said kindly, smiling at the crowd of students looking up at him. "It is my duty to remind you that the usual rules still apply. The forbidden forest is still forbidden and the list of banned objects can be found just outside the hall. Also, I have a special guest to welcome this year."
The students around the hall turned to look at Hermione again. Hermione felt her face flush. She really wasn't used to this kind of attention. Usually it was Harry who received all the stares. With a pang of grief Hermione thought of Harry Potter and how worried he must be for her… and after all he had already been through.
"Artemis Morgen has come from Durmstrang, escaping the Dark Lord Grindelwald." There was an excited murmur across the hall. Obviously the name "Grindelwald" did not inspire as much fear among the people of this time as the name "Voldemort" had during her own. Hermione's eyes flickered over toward the young Lord Voldemort and saw him staring at her with the rest of the Slytherins, though his expression was more calculating than inquisitive. Hermione tore her gaze away and looked back to Dippet.
"I will request that you not ask her too many questions about what she has been through. I ask for your sensitivity and respect towards her. Miss Morgen we welcome you," and he began to applaud lightly. Hermione suspected that Dumbledore had written that small speech for him as the rest of the Great Hall joined in the applause.
But her thoughts were drawn away from Dippet and Dumbledore and even Tom Riddle when the plates before her filled with delicious food. She had not eaten a thing for who knows how long. Hermione loaded her plate to rival Ron and dug in slowly so as not to make herself sick.
"You certainly have an appetite for a girl."
It was Nearly-Headless-Nick. "But I have always heard the Austrians eat more than the English. Even when I was alive." He nodded at her.
"Oh, have you?" she said after swallowing a large bite of treacle tart.
"Why, your accent is perfect!" Nick said blinking at her. "Tell me, how long have you been studying English?"
"Err-" Hermione was hoping that not everyone she met would be this inquisitive. "My whole life really. My mum's from here."
"Oh, a Briton at heart! Well, excellent! You seem like you'll make a fine addition to the Gryffindor house. The Sorting Hat as never been wrong you know! Why, I remember when I first came to haunt these halls…"
Hermione allowed Nick to continue in this manner as she finished her dish and treated herself to second helpings. It was quite nice to be back in the Great Hall enjoying a well-rounded meal. Even Nick's rambling was a welcome addition; she hadn't seen him for so long.
Hermione felt content for the first time since she had found herself sucked into the past. She had to remember not to get too comfortable, however… she was still in great danger from a certain Slytherin boy. But the warm food and the prospect of a warm bed waiting for her up in the Gryffindor tower made her forget momentarily how much danger she was in and allowed the intense stare of a dangerous foe to go unnoticed….
Tom watched Hermione make her way out of the Great Hall, toward the Gryffindor common room with the other members of her year. They seemed to be politely interested in her. He was sure they would get along just grand. Anger burned inside of him as he rose to do his first duties as Head Boy. He had hoped Artemis would prove to be a more cunning character than he had thought… she certainly had struck him as clever enough. She could have at least landed in Ravenclaw… those fool's were so busy sticking encyclopedia's up their arses they had no time to take notice of Tom's going-ons behind the scenes. But if Artemis proved as clever as she seemed and she mixed that with the courage and daring of a Gryffindor… not to mention the age-old prejudice that house bore for Slytherin… Tom may have found himself a worthy opponent. Tom's mind raced as he nodded to each of his gang in turn to let them know he would be with them shortly.
The only way to ensure that Artemis Morgen did not become his opponent was to make her his ally. But she had already seemed to bare a grudge against him… before she had even been sorted…. No, this situation was deeper than silly house grudges. He would have to become closer to the girl to figure out how to deal with her.
"Excuse me, Mr. Serious, but can we get started?"
Tom blinked and turned around. A girl with chestnut brown hair was staring up at him with a raised eyebrow and a grin on her face.
"Hello, Caity, and yes we can get started," he said in his usually charming voice. "I am glad to see you have been selected as Head Girl this year."
Caity Zupan was in Gryffindor and, like the majority of the Gryffindors, she found Tom to be a nice but mysterious figure of the Slytherin house.
"Same goes for you," she said kindly. "I'll handle the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors if you take the Ravenclaws and Slytherins. And I think we should both agree that neither one of us will try to take over all the duties of the Heads. We wouldn't want to repeat Minerva's Yuletide fiasco of last year." Caity laughed.
Tom smiled. "No. I think we are both in agreement with that." Caity was referring, of course, to the previous year when the then Head Girl Minerva McGonagall had tried to decorate the entire school for Christmas by herself with nothing but a wand and deadly determination. The result was unpleasant to say the least.
Caity looked to the spot where Tom had been staring moments before.
"So…" she said a grin spreading across her face. "Have your eye set on the new girl? She is really pretty. But a Gryffindor? Tom, how very unSlytherin of you."
Tom forced a laugh that sounded anything but fake.
They finished exchanging pleasantries and went on their separate ways to execute their duties. Tom worried that Caity may spread around the Gryffindor Tower that Tom was interested in Artemis… that could turn disastrous…. He really was not interested in another courtship. No one would find him funny or queer if he chose to not date his seventh year. He had already had a number of girlfriends, which he had kept happy enough. He didn't need any more and once he was out of this place… well they could just assume that Tom Riddle had found someone and happily married. By then he would be too far into his identity as Lord Voldemort to bother about Tom Riddle and that figure could fade into oblivion.
He had been planning on using this year to focus on his future and finish shaping his identity as Lord Voldemort. Artemis was proving to be a hindrance already… and it was only the first day back. He would get to the bottom of this girl. He could be sure of that...
Hermione entered the Gryffindor common room, surrounded by a group of four girls who were chatting excitedly and telling her everything she could possibly want to know about the other members of the Gryffindor house, who was cute, and who had hooked up with whom. Hermione, who was used to hanging out with boys all the time, was slightly repulsed but still highly amused at the girls chatter.
"You can have Caity's old bed," Elizabeth said pointing to the four-poster nearest the window. "She's Head Girl now so she has her own room… right next to Tom's," and Elizabeth deteriorated into giggles along with another girl as the one of the girls smirked knowingly and the other rolled her eyes.
"Oh please," Hermione began, not able to hide the disgust in her voice. "Don't tell me he's some sort of Slytherin sex-god," she finished with a bemused expression on her face. Elizabeth and the other girl resorted back to their laughing while the other two seemed impressed that Hermione would dare talk about the Head Boy this way.
"So you've met him then?" the smirking girl asked. "Well, he's not really a god but… he has got a reputation."
"The Gryffindor boys hate him," the other girl added. "But they have nothing to worry about. We would never date a Slytherin, no matter how attractive he was."
"Speak for yourself," Elizabeth said, finally over her fit of giggles.
Hermione didn't know whether to laugh or gag at these words. The idea of gossiping about Lord Voldemort's social life seemed too outrageous.
"I think- I think I'll take a shower," Hermione said, standing up and moving toward the girl's restroom. This was another luxury Hermione had been denied the past few days.
"Tom has that much of an effect on you, eh?" Elizabeth said, winking at her.
Hermione forced a laugh and made an exasperated face as she entered the familiar washroom.
Hermione sighed as she leaned over the sink, avoiding her own reflection. There was some truth in what Elizabeth had just said. She was reminded of the Sorting Hat's words and of what had happened earlier that day whenever Tom Riddle had moved too close. Hermione regretted more than anything now, drinking from that cup.
That night when Hermione settled into her familiar bed, her thoughts and dreams were mixed with images of snakes, lions, lost friends, and mornings that would prematurely turn to night.