Chapter Nine: Power Games
Acacia finds out later that Dumbledore and Snape got identical messages saying they must go to the Ministry of Magic immediately. The messages must have had some sort of enchantment over them; only that could have made them leave Hogwarts at a time like this.
Acacia is quite conscious, but is taken to the hospital wing for a checkup anyway. The school Healer, Madam Pomfrey, a brisk and snappish woman, looks her over, scolding her for being so reckless - her magic has been laid quite low, and even Tom has retreated, silent and exhausted, to a corner of her mind.
Speaking of Tom... Madam Pomfrey looks worried during her magical examination, and takes Professor Dumbledore aside. When he comes back, it's just him and Acacia, and he sits down next to Acacia on her hospital bed.
"I have a confession to make," he admits, looking over at her with veiled eyes. "I've known for years why you survived that Halloween night. Your mother sacrificed herself trying to save you, and in that she marked you with a kind of ancient magical protection that will defend you from all contact with Voldemort. Hence, why his magic originally bounced off of you. That magic protected you again tonight.
"But what fascinates me is that there was another kind of magic, living inside your skin, that also defended you - at great personal risk, I might add - and it is also quite exhausted. Would you care to tell me about that, Acacia?" His tone is quiet, but Acacia looks down in shame.
And then, while Tom is mostly unconscious and can't know, she tells Dumbledore. The whole story. She tells him about the evolution of her friendship with Tom, their fight when she found out who he was, how he risked his life at no gain of his own to try to save her that day in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, how he's an orphan too, and how she'd had to explain to him what love was. How she'd found out that he wished for his parents, that he was a Slytherin, that he liked Hogwarts, that he'd once wanted to be a combat teacher, and that he was very fond of her.
"And, Professor, he wants me to help him get stronger, and I know that's what he wanted from the Stone, and I just don't know what to do. I feel so conflicted. A part of me wants to help him, because he's my friend and he loves me, and wants to forgive him. Another part of me wants to hate him and distrust him for all the terrible things he's done." Acacia looks up, upset. "Professor... what do I do?"
Dumbledore has sat back in thought, and for once she thinks she has managed to surprise him.
"... Never stop keeping a close eye on him, Acacia," says Dumbledore at last. "I was his Transfiguration professor while he was here at Hogwarts, and he needs close supervision, because he has a natural tendency toward darkness. With that said... If he really did try to sacrifice himself for you, and he allows you to call him by his real name... That is more than Tom Riddle has ever done for anyone before. I can guarantee it.
"Don't do anything to ruin his trust in you, Acacia. Help him, but never become blind to him. Show him things, like you showed him love. Try to show him morals, and the better side to people, particularly to Muggles and Muggleborns. I can't tell if it will work, but... For God's sake, don't lose him.
"He could very well prove to be the power that saves your life one day."
Dumbledore tells Acacia other things. He tells her they'd collected the Stone fragments to destroy them, at the behest of the Stone's creator, a 665-year-old man named Nicolas Flamel, who agreed to die so no one could try to drink the Elixir of Life again. Dumbledore tells her that Voldemort is not truly gone; he is still a spirit, out there somewhere.
He also tells her about the Stone and the mirror.
"Only the person who wanted to find the Stone," says Dumbledore, "find it, but not use it - would be able to get it. In other words, in order for the Mirror of Erised to have given the Stone to you, Acacia, you must have wanted to keep it without intending to give it to anyone. Even to yourself. Even, perhaps, to Tom Riddle.
"And for that, I commend you."
Snape visits Acacia while she's in the hospital wing.
"You were a complete idiot," he begins coldly. She looks down. Then he says, "... But I'd have done the same. You did admirably. You even managed to get through all of it without nearly killing yourself."
Acacia looks up and smiles. It's the closest he'll get to a compliment. In a small way, Severus Snape - of all people - smiles back.
Blaise and Daphne visit too. Daphne reaches forward and hugs her. "Rumors are flying all over the school," says Blaise dryly. "Everyone's talking about a puny Slytherin first year girl facing up to the Dark Lord and winning. Most of the Slytherins are either horrified by your stupidity or terrified of your power. Gemma's bragging about you everywhere."
Acacia smiles at that.
"There's more, though..." says Daphne uneasily. "People keep saying," and here, her face darkens, "that the only way a girl could have defeated You Know Who is if he had some sort of attachment to her. Isn't that ridiculous?"
"That's stupid," Acacia agrees, most pointedly not thinking of Tom.
She gets loads of cards and flowers from her fans while in the infirmary, and a story written about her in the Daily Prophet. (She declines all requests to be interviewed this time.)
Less pleasant is when Mary, her face thunderous, storms the school in a fury. She yells at Acacia for getting herself involved in something so stupid, hugs her fiercely and says paradoxically that she's proud of her, and then rumor has it she even storms Dumbledore's office and yells at him for a while. It becomes almost as legendary as Acacia's exploits.
Even the ever-strict Madam Pomfrey cannot keep Acacia long, because after her exhaustion wears off there is nothing much wrong with her. She's just putting her robes back on when something falls out of her pocket.
She stops, curious, and picks it up - her eyes widen.
It's a remaining shard of the blood red Philosopher's Stone.
We can still use it, Tom, who's recovered, tells her quickly in her mind. I can return.
Tom... It's not that I don't want that... It's just... Acacia's uncomfortable.
What? Tom asks her sharply after a moment. You're not reneging on your promise?
No! But... What will happen when you come back? Mary's a Muggleborn. Will you try to kill Mary? What about the safety of my world and my friends? I don't want the violence of another war to be on my head.
You're trying to do "the right thing," Tom realizes in distaste.
Of course I am! Acacia frowns.
Tom snorts. The right thing is a myth, he says pessimistically. Morals are made up rules of conduct.
But that doesn't mean they're not important. Society was built around those codes of conduct.
There is strong and there is weak. That's all I see.
So what about your saving me? Was that a sign of your weakness? And don't you dare try to say you thought you could get something out of it.
Tom bristles, but remains silent. She has to be careful, Acacia warns herself.
And then he makes the incredible promise: ... On my word, I will not kill anyone you don't want me to.
Acacia realizes that's a lot of power he's just placed in her hands. Tom sees honor as paramount. She sits back, stunned, for a moment.
Can she handle that kind of power? The Mirror thought she could. Can she?
And, because Dumbledore has advised her so, she feels no guilt when she says: Alright. I'll help you.
Then she adds: But what if you gain a body and you can't touch me anymore?
... Your body doesn't block my contact with you. Just your contact with my other self. Tom's tone is thoughtful. I think it is because I am a part of you - to hurt you would irrevocably damage myself.
Listen to your mother's magic, Acacia. I mean you no harm.
Heady words, soft as silk. Acacia wants to believe them.
When she walks back into her common room, the entire room goes silent. Everyone looks around at her, staring. Draco's eyes are wide.
Acacia smiles. "I lived," she says simply, triumphantly.
Gemma steps up for her house - and hugs her. "You're incredible," she says simply in her ear, and Acacia realizes that people are not angry. She is getting nods of respect.
Her house is getting behind her as someone who is superior.
Even Pansy shows her more cautious respect afterward. Older students begin treating her deferentially, deferring decisions to her. Without realizing it, Acacia has made a power play, and the Slytherins - ever supportive of a powerful one of their own house - have responded.
It doesn't hurt that Slytherins are presented the house cup at the final feast. Acacia and her friends' exploits have earned them so many house points that Slytherin wins easily, the emerald hourglass in the Great Hall outstripping the others by a mile. The Great Hall is decked out in Slytherin colors and snake emblems at the final feast, and Acacia can't help cheering with the rest of her house.
One of her older house mates even nudges her and points at the hanging snake. "Look," he says, smirking, trying to get into her good graces, "it's your symbol."
Acacia laughs and nods.
Their final grades are also posted. Of course, Acacia did well - in fact, the only person who did better than her is a Gryffindor Muggleborn named Hermione Granger.
"Good job," says Acacia fairly to a surprised Hermione Granger. Then she lifts her chin, smirking. "But I'm beating you next time."
"Oh, it's not a competition!" says Hermione in alarm.
"Ha." Acacia punches her shoulder playfully on the way by. "Gryffindor." They were so cute, pretending it wasn't a competition and all.
Ron, Seamus, and Dean watch in amusement as Hermione doesn't seem to know what to do.
Then it's time for them to pack their trunks. Forms are given out reminding them not to use magic over the holidays. Acacia goes up to the Owlery and shuts Hedwig up in her cage again. The first years take the boats back across the lake to the trees, a pleasant summer mist settling over everything in the early morning. Acacia sits with Draco, Blaise, and Daphne.
They pull their things up to the platform, pack themselves into a compartment, and play games of Exploding Snap and eat snacks from the trolley on their way back. (Blaise insists wizard's chess has been ruined to him forever.) Other students filter back and forth through their compartment during the journey - of all houses and all ages.
"... Why didn't you invite me?" Draco asks Acacia after a while. "To come along with you that night?" They all know what he means. Blaise and Daphne fall silent.
"... I know your father's leanings, Draco," says Acacia. "And I know you share them. I didn't want you to have to make that decision."
Draco looks down, unsure of what to say.
Aside from this brief, tense moment, though, the trip back to London goes well. When they get close, they change into their Muggle clothes - Acacia into an ivory summer dress, a pumpkin colored sweater, and the yellow gold and opal necklace Daphne gave her for Christmas. Then the train pulls to a stop, and they swarm the platform en masse.
Acacia searches through the crowds - there is Mary, smiling. Acacia comes up to her and Mary rubs her shoulder, looking her over. "Are you alright?" she asks in concern.
Acacia rolls her eyes, but smiles. "I'm fine, Godmum," she says. "It's been..." she says with feel, "... an interesting year."
Acacia wonders if all her years will be as interesting during her time at Hogwarts.
