AN: Sorry for the long wait for this one. The past few months have been fairly busy, and I'm pretty lucky to be able to post this one now. I have a midterm this Friday, and decided to post this while taking a break from studying.
With this era comes some moments in history, both muggle and wizarding, that I think would have affected both Tom and Hermione's psyche. Anyhow, please read and review as much as you can. The reviews can really keep me going!
The shock, disappointment, and anger that invaded Tom's emotions still dwelt in his mind by the time he and Hermione returned to the orphanage at the end of their first year. He still could not understand why a woman like Merope Gaunt, who virtually had the most distinct lineage and the purest of blood, would fall into the unwilling hands of a muggle.
If Tom had learnt anything from his observations in the wizarding world that past year, it was that the wizarding society was given the gift of magic for a reason. The magic that was handed to a witch or wizard by birthright gave one the power to heal, kill, mend, or destroy. No weapon of the past or the future of muggle society could match the power of a wizard's tool.
Understanding the power of magic, Tom also understood why only a fraction of the world's population was given this gift. Those people were the only ones who can withstand and control the powers granted to them.
"Are you alright, Tom? You've been acting strangely ever since coming back from school," Hermione asked with worry in her eyes.
"It's just been hard readjusting to this lifestyle," Tom replied with a reassuring smile. "These books seem less interesting after the past year, don't you think?"
Looking at the stack of books beside them, Hermione shook her head with a large smile on her face. "Not at all, Tom. This life and that life each hold a special and separate place in my heart. Although I've loved this past year, I also love this library and my books and Mr. Harrison. Don't you feel the same?"
Thinking about Hermione's question, Tom realised that he did not feel the same way as her. Although he did enjoy some things about this life, there was nothing there that would make him want to stay. Other than Hermione's friendship, there was nothing he cherished that came from the orphanage.
Although he tried, Tom could not concentrate on the novel he was currently reading. Looking around, he found a newspaper lying on the table beside them. Tom stood up and skimmed through it, finding many of the titles displayed drawing him in: Japanese Forces Invade China; British Attempt to Negotiate Commissions Between Arab and Jewish States; Earhart and Noonan Still Missing; Battle of Brunete Continues.
It seemed that every article proved Tom's previous conclusions. The muggle world was filled with conflict and chaos even without the power of magic. Tom could not even imagine what upheaval would arise in the hands of muggles if given said power. He was sure that they were not given that power for a reason.
The next few years greatly increased Tom's beliefs about the muggle world. In the first week of Hermione and Tom's third year of Hogwarts, the world was informed that Germany had invaded Poland, which was followed by France, Britain, and various Commonwealth countries declaring war on Germany.
Although the war did not physically affect the wizarding world, due to various charms and wards placed around all key areas, it had struck Tom's psyche greatly. During the summer break, Tom had seen drastic change occur in the muggle world, and could not help but compare that to the relative harmony in their wizarding world.
With the London Blitz occurring for most of the summer break before their fourth year, Tom heard the sound of blasts and the rumbling of the ground sprouting from the nightly air strikes throughout London. It had been pure luck that the orphanage had not been struck directly. Large amounts of debris had caused one wall of the orphanage to crumble almost completely. Deeming it unsafe to live in those quarters, most of the children were forced to share rooms until the wall could be rebuilt.
It was well into the night, but Tom could still hear the sirens outside. He could still feel Hermione clutched tightly around him, shaking like a small leaf caught by the wind. Even though they had not been hurt by the air strikes, the two children were greatly affected by them for another reason completely.
Halfway through the summer break, when the air strikes had only just begun, Hermione and Tom were making their now rare visits to the library. Mrs. Cole had deemed it unsafe to walk every day to the library as they had been doing in past years, and they could now only visit once every week or two.
Tom and Hermione made their way through the streets, dodging stones and wood splayed around them. Everyday the children would wake to find the streets outside of their orphanage slightly different from the day before- more debris, more smoke, and more death.
Hermione walked ahead, desperately trying to avoid the eyes of the men and women who had just lost their homes and lives. To see the despair in their forms made Hermione feel so helpless and insignificant. She could not help but feel greatly privileged in comparison to others around her- a feeling she had never felt before.
The grief she had for them could not compare to the rush of emotions she felt when seeing the library- their library, owned by the loving Mr. Harrison- demolished. The tall, old building that was once filled with a multitude of tragedies and romances lied on the ground in heaps of soot and burning wood.
Hermione stood where the entrance used to stand, speechless. The majority of the joyful memories she cherished took place in that library. To her, it was as if all the characters she had come to hold dear were lost with the library. All the lords, ladies, detectives, pirates, kings, queens, and jesters were burned alive.
But what of Mr. Harrison, she thought to herself. Is there any chance he was in the building when the air strikes occurred?
Hermione was shaking uncontrollably and soon fell to her knees, losing control of her legs. She felt Tom's warm hands holding her by the shoulders, trying to convey a sense of comfort and stability.
"Hermione, we should go back. You should not look at this."
Tom's presence began to bring Hermione's senses forth. "No, not yet. There's something we need to do first." Hermione gathered enough strength to push herself off the ground. When she began to walk towards the ruins, Tom snatched her hand, trying to gain her attention.
Tom gave her a look of concern. Understanding that she felt emotional, he did not want her to do anything rash that could be dangerous. With a quick nod, Hermione let go of Tom's hand and made her way through the piles of destroyed wood. She tried to find anything that was still intact. Anything that could be retrieved was considered a miracle in her mind. She continuously had to stop retrieving books to clear her eyes from the tears that kept falling.
Tom looked at Hermione trotting in and out of the library ruins. Every time she came out with a handful of books, her face looked wetter and dirtier. Tom couldn't help but wonder why he wasn't crying or searching desperately for any books he could rescue. He had spent just as much time in the library as Hermione, if not more. However, the only thing he cared about, and the only thing that caused him to enter the library's ruins, was Hermione's safety.
By the time they returned to the orphanage, they had collected about fifteen books in total. Hermione and Tom quickly ran up the stairs with the stacks of books, making sure that no one saw them so dirty. They did not want any word of this to reach Mrs. Cole's ears, who would assume that they had stolen the books, or force them to distribute them to all the children. They quickly stacked the books against a wall in Tom's room and made their way into the washroom.
Now that their task was complete, Hermione had nothing to distract herself from the fear and despair she felt. The steady onslaught of tears that flowed since they had seen the library flowed even heavier. Her worry for Mr. Harrison's life was more than her young heart can manage. She quickly sat on the toilet, fearing that she would not be able to hold herself up any longer.
Tom allowed her a moment to show her emotions, and then quickly set to work on cleaning her up. Grabbing a rag next to the sink and dampening it, he began to wipe off the dirt and tears from Hermione's face.
"Come now, Hermione. You'll spoil my work if you keep crying like that," He said gently, trying to sound humourous.
"I'm sorry, Tom. I can't help but fear for Mr. Harrison. What if he had been in the library?"
"The strikes have all happened late at night. It's highly unlikely that he would have still been in the library that late. You have no reason to worry."
"If he is alive, what will he do now? His life's work and passion has just crumbled to the ground as if it was something of no importance. I just don't understand how anyone could do this, or allow this to happen."
Tom replied in a quiet, cold tone, "This is what muggles do, Hermione. All they know is to destroy and bring chaos. We'll be better off once this summer is over and we are back in Hogwarts. I can ask Dippet to let us stay in the castle next summer."
Tom pulled Hermione up to the sink so she can wash her hands and dry her face. After quickly cleaning himself up, the pair returned to Tom's room, where they quickly found an area in Tom's wardrobe to hide the books.
Well into the night, Tom could still occasionally feel new patches of dampness on his shirt due to Hermione crying in her sleep. He had felt shock when he had seen his and Hermione's library in a crumbled heap, but nothing more. He had not the felt the earth-shattering grief and worry that Hermione had still clearly felt for the building and its owner. He had, however, felt worry and grief for Hermione. To see her like this only reminded Tom of how little he can protect her from the chaos of this world.
But I will always try, he thought to himself. I will always protect you from your evils, Hermione, and from now on, I will succeed.
AN: Again, please review and tell me what you thought!
P.S. I've been thinking of writing a oneshot, but I don't know what pairing to do. If anyone has any ideas let me know! I think I'd be willing to write any pairing other than Hermione/Ron... because... it doesn't seem right to me.
~MAH
