Through the Tears
I had no idea of what I should do. My initial plan was coming here to change the future, but how was I supposed to go about doing that? I was lost. I kept waiting for something to inspire me but nothing helped.
At the same time my mind was torn.
There was a part of me that wondered if I was on a useless mission. I questioned whether I could really change the future or if I was constructing what I already knew of my world by being in the past. One of the many theories surrounding time travel was that the future is set in stone, so how can you change it?
But there was another part of me, and this part desperately wanted to have hope.
Changing the past was the only chance. Everyone that believed in our cause fought but only one survived. The rest were dead, strewn about the Hogwarts castle.
I had to come up with a plan and soon.
Not knowing if I would be stuck in this time period forever, I didn't want to outright kill him and be sent to Azkaban. No, this operation would take stealth and intellect.
I had to analyze the situation and take everything into account.
If it was a straightforward duel, a fight of power, than I didn't know who would win. Without wands, Riddle would no doubt overpower me. With wands, I had no way of knowing and I couldn't take a risk that big.
If we fought an intellectual duel, a fight of minds, than the outcome was uncertain. We both overachieved in all our subjects, spending a good amount of free time with books instead of friends. Meaning that we both were well advanced in every aspect that you can learn.
As disturbing as the thought is, Tom Riddle and I had an uncanny amount of similarities.
I needed help.
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"Professor," I started. "Let's say that you had a job to do and it involved another person and … overpowering them, how would you do that? Hypothetically of course."
Dumbledore looked at me with his all-knowing gaze. "Well, there are many ways to fight battles. There's physically and mentally. Those are the usual ways of warfare. But in some cases, I would remember that fighting does not always triumph. Sometimes it will take something a little different."
Dumbledore was obviously hinting on the last advice and I was confused. What was the 'something different' he talked about?
Without elaborating, Dumbledore excused himself and walked out of the room.
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Professor Slughorn entered the room, more elated than usual.
"I have wonderful news students," he announced. "Today will be the start of a new project. With Grindelwald on the rise, there has been some tension in between the houses. We will be pairing you up with three other students, from at least three different houses and will test your ability to work together on various projects."
Slughorn went on to talk about some of the things we would be doing and I'm sure that no one was listening but everyone snapped back to attention when he started reading off the groups.
"Harry Weasley, Mao Chang, Penelope Lenelier, and Augusta Longbottom." I smiled when I heard the grandmother of Cho Chang and Neville's "Gran", now just a pretty seventh year girl.
"Daniel Crabbe, Lisa Potter, Charlie Weasley, and Sophia Patil." No one would ever believe it but the elder Crabbe was actually in Ravenclaw. Who would have though?
"Mike Sunnice, Will Annmer, Carrie Palonseti, and Emily Falcoone."
"Matteo Zabini, Liam Malfoy, Hermione Granger, and Tom Riddle."
Shit.
Not noticing my discomfort, Slughorn instructed us to sit with our partners and he started handing out the instructions for our potions project.
Saying a quick goodbye to Lisa, the other occupant of my table, I walked over to where my group was assembled.
I placed my bag next to Matteo's and he said, "Well, this is going to be an interesting class."
I sighed. "You think?"
Just then, Slughorn walked up to our group and gave each of us a list of instructions.
Smiling he said, "I had particular fun arranging this group. Two Slytherins, a Ravenclaw and a Gryffindor. But not just any students – Ms. Grendell and Mr. Riddle. I am most interested to see what you will come up with when your brilliant minds are combined. Just follow the instructions and you will be fine."
Slughorn beamed another time and started walking away, only to turn around and face us almost immediately after.
"Ms. Grendell, I almost forgot. I had hoped that you would be able to join this club I have. It's a collection of all the students with exceptionally high potential and it would be a crime to not include you."
I forced a smile and said, "I'd love to join."
"Wonderful," Slughorn exclaimed. "The Slug Club will be meeting two nights from now."
With that, Slughorn left for real.
"I see you'll be joining us," Malfoy said, sneering.
I turned to face him. "You mean that you're part of that club. I though Slughorn said it was a group of students with potential."
Malfoy glared at me and replied, "I'll make it farther in this world than you will, Mudblood."
I could hear Matteo gasp but I ignored the jibe he made. His descendent overused that insult.
"Don't you mean that your father's money will make it? That is the only way you'll even manage to get a job. Without money backing you up you're just a brainless, incompetent idiot."
Malfoy had no idea how to respond. He couldn't think of a way to justify himself, which was rather pitiful.
I heard a sigh from my right and I turned to look at Riddle. "Malfoy, you are a disgrace to Slytherins. I'm tempted to make sure that you'll never look this foolish again."
The fear in Malfoy's face was evident as Riddle said this. Knowing what to look for, it was not hard to hear the hidden threat beneath his words.
"As for you Mudblood," he said turning towards me. "You should learn your place in this world. You will always be at the bottom."
I glared. "I find it hard to believe that someone with a muggle father is insulting me. Hypocrite much?"
I could have sworn that Riddle's eyes flashed red and it scared the life out of me. I refused to let my fear show in front of Riddle. At this point, I was on a mission and once I was determined to get something there was no stopping me.
"What did you say?" Riddle asked, his voice dangerously low.
"You mean when I talked about your father being a muggle? You really are a complete idiot if you think that you're better than me in any way. Especially when, going by your beliefs, you have 'filthy blood' in you also."
By this time Riddle was seething. "How dare you talk as if you know my heritage!"
"You'd be surprised about how much I know about everyone here Riddle. I know the heritage and background of half this people in the room and I even know the future of some."
It was out before I could stop it but it was too late to take it back.
"What did you say?" Riddle asked.
"Riddle, you're pathetic you know that. Just because you've had a hard life, doesn't mean that you have to make other people's lives just as bad. How many of these people know your background, what you're really like?" At this point we were both full out shouting and had drawn the attention of the rest of the class.
Riddle snarled. "Please, like you would comprehend anything about me. Do not try to understand what you possibly couldn't."
I was enraged. "And what makes you think that I couldn't understand what you've been through? You're not the only one with a hard life."
"Right, of course your life has been hard. What with Mommy and Daddy ready to do whatever you want," Riddle yelled. "Your life has been nothing but sheltered. The hardest thing you've probably ever been through is not getting full marks on a paper."
I snapped. When Riddle brought up my parents, I lost it. My voice became quiet and deadly, visibly scaring most of the people around me with the pure venom in it. "Riddle. You're an idiot. I've lived through more than you. I've seen my parents' murdered bodies, seen people I loved being killed. All the while trying to stay alive. Do not try to understand what you possibly couldn't."
I stood up and walked out of the room.
A/N: whoa, intense.
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