A/N: Thanks to the following folks for their assistance in helping this story along: brownlark42, ladyofsilverdawn, SassenachStarbuck, and MrsBennettFrazier.
Sandra-Sempra made amazing cover art for this story. See it on my Tumblr crochetawayhpff. And let me know what you think of this chapter!
Chapter 7: The Aftermath
September 27, 1944
Tom couldn't think as he watched Granger tip over the stair rail. His eyes widened in horror as he watched her tumble. She was dead. He'd just been talking to her, he still had her bag slung across her shoulder, and just like that, she was dead. The person who pushed her, tried to get away. They turned and began running back up the stairs, but quicker than he thought he could move, he'd grabbed their wrist. He turned to face the top of the stairs and tugged and the person fell into his chest.
"T-Tom," Calanthe Burke said. She looked scared, even as she attempted to flutter her eyelashes at him. He lifted his lip in a snarl but decided it would be better to try and get to Granger first.
He dragged Burke behind him as he rushed down the stairs, shouting as he went, "MOVE! OUT OF MY WAY!"
When he came across a seventh year Ravenclaw prefect, Agatha Boot, on the fifth-floor landing he shoved Burke at her.
"She pushed Granger. Take her to Dippet," Tom snapped.
Boot didn't move for a moment, and Tom turned and roared at her, "NOW!"
Then he flew down the stairs, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. He missed a connection on the third floor and hopped onto the rail and over it. By the time he reached the Entrance Hall he didn't even have to tell people to get out of his way, they were already moving of their own accord.
Dead, dead, dead, repeated itself over and over again inside his head. Granger was dead. Tom's future was dead. It was all dead. Because of some stupid, jealous sixth year. She would be dead he decided. Burke wouldn't live to see her seventh year. He skidded to his knees as he found Granger lying on the floor of the dungeon. He was dimly aware of a few scared second year Slytherins in the corner.
He looked at Granger, expecting to see gore and blood and was shocked to see that not only was she not dead, she was breathing. Her eyes moved rapidly behind her eyelids like she was dreaming.
"Avens? Hermione?" he asked as he felt for a pulse in her neck. It was strong and steady.
He pushed a lock of hair from her eyes and stroked her face. He didn't understand what happened. She should be dead. Her skull should be crushed and she should be bleeding from the impact against the stone floor. But she wasn't. She was breathing evenly and had a steady pulse. She appeared to be asleep. He lifted her head and felt the back of it, it was perfectly normal, she didn't even have a knot.
"What happened?" he hissed to the second years.
"I - I was practicing my cushion charms, sir," one of the boys admitted.
A cushioning charm? A cushioning charm had protected Granger from an eight-story fall? It seemed insane, and yet… here she was. Alive and whole, if not awake.
"Your name?" Tom demanded.
"M-Marius Flint," the boy squeaked.
"You saved her life," Tom told the boy. "Come and find me when you graduate Hogwarts."
The boy nodded and Tom turned his attention back to Granger.
Her eyes fluttered open and Tom felt himself drowning in their dark brown pool. Thankful to every god, goddess, and wizard before him that she was alive.
"Are you alright, Avens?" He brushed the stubborn lock of hair behind her ear once more and cupped her cheek, still searching her eyes. She took a moment to answer him and he watched as a momentary look of confusion passed over her face.
"I-I think so," she started struggling like she was going to stand. But Tom put a hand on her shoulder, pressing her into the ground. She'd just fallen at least thirty meters. No way was he allowing her to attempt standing on her own.
"We should go to the Hospital Wing to be sure."
He put an arm around her shoulders and under her knees, pulling her into his arms. She felt light in his arms, but right. More right that he wanted to think about at the moment, so he shoved that thought to the back of his head. A crowd was beginning to form around them as students trickled down after Tom's mad flight to the dungeon.
"I'm sure I'm fine, Tom," Granger murmured, even as she snaked her hands around his neck. He really, really liked how that felt. A wave of possessiveness and want swept through him so quickly he almost stumbled, although his burden was light.
"I'm not even sure I know how you survived," Tom replied. It really didn't make sense that a second year's cushioning charm saved her. Either Marius Flint was extraordinarily powerful, or there was something else going on.
"I don't know either."
"Hospital Wing it is then," Tom replied as he stepped through the crowds and began climbing the stairs to the second floor.
He wasn't even winded when he backed through the doors of the Hospital Wing, carrying Granger for the second time since he'd met her. He hoped this wasn't going to become a habit.
"What on earth happened here, Mr Riddle?" Madam Davies demanded as she bustled out of her office.
She gestured to the closest bed and Tom set Granger atop it, gently, carefully, even brushing her hair out of her eyes again.
"I fell —" Granger started.
"She was pushed," Tom said coldly. "I need to inform Headmaster Dippet."
"Go, go," Madam Davies waved him away.
"Don't leave without me, Hermione," Tom told her, squeezing her hand before he left the Infirmary in search of Headmaster Dippet.
As he ascended the stairs to the headmaster's office, he could hear shouting. At least Boot had listened and brought Burke to the headmaster, Tom thought as he slowly rose above the floor.
Headmaster Dippet, Professor Slughorn, Agatha Boot, and Calanthe Burke were all in the headmaster's office. Boot was quiet, but still had a grip on Burke's arm. Burke was ranting at the headmaster and Slughorn was shaking his head.
"Ah, Tom. I'm so glad you could join us. How is Miss Granger?" Headmaster Dippet asked.
"Alive, thankfully," Tom replied shortly. The headmaster didn't seem too concerned, so the gossip mill was alive and well and he'd already heard the news.
"Miss Boot says you know what happened? I can't quite tell what Miss Burke is on about," Headmaster Dippet said drolly.
"Headmaster! I said —" Dippet silenced her with a flick of his wand.
"Now Miss Burke, you've had plenty of time to talk. Let's hear Tom's side of things, shall we?" the headmaster suggested in a tone that made it clear it wasn't a suggestion at all.
Tom had never seen this side of Headmaster Dippet before. He always had this act of a doddering fool. But here there was steel under his voice and Tom was a little glad it wasn't directed at him.
"Thank you, Headmaster. Miss Granger and I were leaving Charms, we were on the moving staircase between the seventh and sixth floors. Just as I had turned to ask her a question, she was pushed, violently, from behind and fell off the staircase entirely. Before the person who pushed her could get away, I grabbed their wrist. It was Miss Burke. I pulled her along after me, as I ran down the stairs to Miss Granger. The first prefect I came across was Miss Boot, and I handed Miss Burke off in order to get to Miss Granger and ensure she was alright. Miraculously a second year Slytherin was practicing cushioning charms and saved Miss Granger's life."
"She's not dead?" Burke spat. "Figures."
"Miss Burke! I think at least a suspension will be required for your behavior. Pending the Board of Governor's review. I will push for expulsion," Headmaster Dippet growled at the student.
"Now, see here, Armando," Slughorn began. "Miss Burke is from Sacred Twenty-Eight! We can't just —"
"Horace, she tried to kill a fellow student. She's a danger to others. She cannot stay here. I won't have it. Not in my school." Dippet's voice was quiet but terrifying, even to Tom.
Tom smirked at Burke, she wouldn't be a danger to anyone soon. He would make it so she would disappear entirely. And he would enjoy every moment of it. Nobody took what was his. And Granger was very much his.
Slughorn looked chastened and Burke was sobbing.
"Pl-Please, P-Professor," Burke began.
"Enough!" Headmaster Dippet thumped his hand on his desk. Burke squeaked and shut her mouth. Even Boot jumped.
"Miss Boot, thank you for your valuable assistance today. Twenty points to Ravenclaw. Forty points to Slytherin, Mr. Riddle for your quick actions. Another twenty for the second year who save Miss Granger's life. Now, I must go see my ward for myself."
The headmaster stood from his desk and gestured everyone out of the office. Slughorn took Burke's arm and escorted her away as Boot scuttled past them all and descended the staircase first. Tom waited for the headmaster, knowing they were going in the same direction.
"How is she really, Tom?" They had been taking weekly lessons for years, the headmaster tended to be quite familiar with Tom when they were alone. And for all the headmaster's bumbling, and easy manipulation, Tom rather liked the man.
"Really, she's fine. I don't think a second year's cushioning charm saved her from that fall though," Tom frowned. A second year couldn't really have done that, could he? Even if Flint developed into a powerful wizard, his magical core was still growing and maturing. Tom thought it was possible. Another reason to keep an eye on Marius Flint.
"I agree," the headmaster said, but he didn't offer any theories. "Which second year was it?"
"Marius Flint," Tom replied.
"A Flint? Really? They aren't generally known for their magical prowess," Dippet commented.
One of the reasons Tom cultivated his relationship was the headmaster was for tidbits like the one he just dropped. Being raised in the Muggle world, Tom had no idea which families were considered powerful. Tom always listened closely so he could greedily gobble morsels like this up and store them away for future use.
"Will you really expel Burke?" Tom asked, changing the subject.
"Any student who causes another student death or almost death must be expelled. It's in the by-laws. And I've come to like Miss Granger since she fell into our laps last spring," the headmaster winked at Tom, startling a laugh out of him.
Tom rather liked Granger too.
"Why would she have done it is what I don't understand."
"Calanthe Burke has been romantically interested in me for years," Tom responded. "I may have initiated the Acts of Courtship with Hermione," Tom said slyly as he glanced at Dippet out of the corner of his eye.
Technically, if Tom were going to formally court Granger, he should ask Dippet's permission. But Acts of Courtship were usually initiated at school before any formal courtship could take place.
"Good for you, my boy," Dippet said with a broad smile and slapped him on the back.
Tom grinned back at him, "I'm not sure she's aware though."
Dippet nodded, "I can see she may not have the knowledge of British courting rituals. I'll discuss with her when I can."
"If it's alright with you — I'd rather tell her."
Tom wasn't planning to tell her at all. He was doing it more for appearance sake than anything else. To keep others away from her. The boys had figured it out quickly, it appeared the girls needed a lesson.
"Of course! I wouldn't want to mess up any grand courtship plans you have laid," Dippet winked at him.
As they entered the Hospital Wing, Tom smiled at their shared secret. Madam Davies was still fussing over Granger, and she sat sullenly in bed with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Tom, tell her I'm fine!" Granger frowned.
"You need to let her look you over. You could have died," Tom told her emphatically. He approached the bed and gripped Granger's hand tightly in his own. This was a new overture for him and he was relieved that she didn't fight it as she seemed to fight everything else. Half of his plan was just wearing her down until she was so accustomed to him, she wouldn't know what to do without him.
"Mr Riddle is correct, my dear," Dippet said as he crossed to the other side of the bed. He patted Granger's arm.
"Seriously, I'm fine," Granger said, even as she squeezed Tom's hand. Tom squeezed hers back, hiding a smirk.
"Well, I can't find anything wrong with you," Madam Davies responded. "How far did you say she fell, Mr. Riddle?"
"Eight stories, from the stairwell between the seventh and sixth floors to the first floor of the dungeon. A second year was practicing cushioning charms, but —"
"Well there you go," Granger said brightly as she swung her legs off the bed and set her feet on the floor.
Tom didn't let go of her hand.
"Saved by a lucky cushioning charm. Which second year was it, Tom?"
Granger stood, she swayed slightly and Tom placed his other hand on her hip to steady her. She caught herself at the same moment by placing her palm on his shoulder. Tom rather liked the feel of her hip under his hand and her hand on his shoulder. His brows furrowed as he tried to process what that meant, before deciding it was another thing he really, really didn't want to examine.
"Marius Flint," Tom responded, releasing Granger's hip.
"Really? Well, I'll thank him when I see him next."
"Thank you for coming to look in on me, Armando," Granger turned to the headmaster and smiled warmly.
"Of course, my dear, of course! I'm glad Tom was there to save the day. Although, maybe he should have had a tighter hold on you," Dippet winked and Tom watched as Granger rolled her eyes.
Tom smirked in amusement. That wasn't a bad idea. He would step up his courtship to help protect Granger. And maybe a word or two after he made Calanthe Burke disappear in the right ears would warn off anyone else who thought the best way to get to Tom was to hurt Granger.
"Well, it looks like you've missed most of lunch," Dippet said with a glance down at his watch. He flicked his wand and a piece of parchment flew out the end and went flapping down the corridor. "I sent Professor Slughorn and excusal for your afternoon lesson. You've had quite enough today, I fear. Off with you both back to your common room," Dippet flapped his hands at them.
"I don't want to see you back here for some time, Miss Granger," Madam Davies scolded.
Granger nodded to Madam Davies and smiled to the headmaster. Still gripping Tom's hand, she led them out of the Hospital Wing and into the hallway beyond.
"You really think a second year's cushioning charm saved you?" Tom asked her once they were far enough away from the Hospital Wing to not be overheard.
"Maybe," Granger murmured and bit her lip.
A thought flashed through his brain, wondering what Granger's lips tasted like, and then it was gone. Tom shook himself, he had to stop having these thoughts about her.
He fully planned to court her and use her for his gains, but he didn't do love or lust or anything of the sort. When he had needs he either took care of them on his own or for some variety visited select locations in Knockturn Alley or Hogsmeade. He had no dalliances with any witch in school, much to their disappointment. And he was glad he hadn't tasted the wares at school. Look at what Calanthe Burke did to the first witch Tom had ever shown interest in. He couldn't imagine having to deal with that sort of attention and drama throughout his school years.
"I'm not so sure that's saved you," Tom told Granger as he guided her down the stairs with a firm grip on her hand. She allowed the hold, even squeezing his hand back. Tom wondered what was going through her head but had vowed to stay out of it. Until she invited him in. The whole goal was to get her to trust him.
"I don't want to think about it right now," Granger said, she looked up at him with pleading eyes. Tom decided he would drop the subject. For now.
They made it back to the Slytherin common room without incident and Tom installed Granger in her favorite settee in front one of the large fireplaces. There were several other housemates in the room at the time, all eyes were on her until Tom sent them a glare, and then they looked anywhere but Granger.
"Why did you call me Avens?" she asked nestling into the settee.
"Hmm?" Tom asked. He still thought of her as Avens in his head. Her hair was so like the root of the Wood Avens he had been collecting the night he found her, that the name just fit.
"Avens. You called me Avens when I first woke after the fall," Granger replied.
Tom frowned. He hadn't realized. He'd been in such a blind panic at the moment. Should he tell her? Would it endear her to him to know he had a private nickname for her? He thought maybe it might.
"It's your hair," he commented as he reached a hand out and fingered a curl. He pulled it and it sprung back into place. "The night I found you, I was collecting Wood Avens root. And your hair reminded me so much of it, that Avens just kind of stuck in my head. And we didn't know your name for several weeks until you woke up."
Granger frowned and looked away. She crossed her arms over her chest in a pout.
"I like your hair," Tom admitted. "Do you mind the nickname so much?"
"Nobody likes my hair," Granger huffed, still not looking at him.
Tom sighed. So that's where her insecurity lay.
He slid his right arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, "Well, I do," he whispered into her hair and planted a kiss on her head. She stiffened at first, and slowly began to relax into him, Her head on his shoulder and he grasped hand with his left. They sat for a long time staring into the fireplace, not speaking.
When Granger finally rose to go back to her room for a bit before dinner, Tom flicked his finger at Orion Black, and he headed toward his own room. He needed a word alone with the fourth year.
He unwarded the door and gestured Black to enter before him. Tom shut the door softly behind him.
"Calanthe Burke," Tom said by way of greeting.
Black swallowed hard, "My first cousin, sir."
"That's what I thought. I need to know how to get to her."
"Wh-What do you mean?"
"She's to be expelled. I'd like to have… a conversation with her. How will I find her to have this conversation once she's been expelled," Tom explained.
"Oh, right, well, her family lives in Suffolk, near Stowmarket. Burke Hall. I've only been once, sir."
"Good enough, thanks Black," Tom dismissed the boy with a wave of his hand.
It was Wednesday and the next Hogsmeade weekend wasn't for two more weeks. Plenty of time for her to be suspended, for Tom to argue for her expulsion and her return home for good. Then he'd take a few of his most trusted Knights to teach Burke a lesson. He couldn't wait to hear her scream.
