Disclaimer: I think everyone knows by now, I do not own Harry Potter, only the plot and the OC's.
A/N: After one week of pure torture I finally finished this horrible chapter. It gave me headaches, and I'm not lying. I'm sorry for those who wish to see more of Draco or Tom's insights. Unfortunately, this chapter is more of Hermione's, but on the bright side, in next chapter we will see more of Tom's, Hermione's and Draco's. Draco will have a bigger part in chapter twelve.
I'm not really good in writing duels, and maybe that's why this chapter was my nightmare. I still hope you like it, though.
I would like to thank my beta, as usual. Thanks for editing this in time, you're amazing.
Also thanks to all my readers and reviewers.
wolflover1996, macymay201, hateme101, m0nt, andiescandieee, AlwaysthereforTaraxx, aringle42, Chamilia Lutien Tinuviel, HarryMaximumSamwise, Chamilia Lutien Tinuviel, bubz, Trelaney, EpicDarkness, smileylol, jujulicia, SamarKanda, TwinkleMae1991, earth-guide.
Also I'm sorry for worrying some of you for last chapter's cliffhanger. I certainly not want to kill Draco, especially since he has something important to do in this story.
Enjoy.
On Wednesday morning, she felt sluggish and prickly as she entered the Great Hall for breakfast. It was a thoroughly glum morning, with a low, bruised sky filling the top portion of the Hall and a fine mist speckling the windows. Selene and Mina were already seated at the end of the Ravenclaw table, Selene blowing on her traditional morning coffee and Mina attacking an orange with a butter knife, sawing through it, peel and all. They didn't appear to be talking much.
Neither Selene nor Mina looked up, and she was glad. She didn't want to engage in conversation as she was too tired to make such an effort, and the mood that morning clearly wasn't helping. She plopped into a seat and began to eat almost methodically, occasionally glancing over the Slytherin table.
It didn't take too long for her to spot Riddle, who was sitting alone in one corner not even touching his food. She would have thought he looked different, paler perhaps. But it didn't really matter how he looked; he was still a murderer, wasn't he?
She glanced away hastily and spotted Draco, sitting right next to Abraxas and Avery. Yesterday, after what happened in the library, Hermione had tried to get him to the Hospital Wing but he hadn't cooperated with her. She still remembered.
"Are you sure you're alright?" she asked for the umpteenth time. "A nosebleed, Draco, and not just that…you've been having headaches too, and sweating…This isn't normal behavior, Draco, perhaps you should go to the Hospital Wing…"
"I'm fine," he growled, annoyed.
Hermione pursued her lips. "For how long?"
"How long—what?"
"How long you've been having these headaches?—and the nosebleed…"she trailed off.
He shook his head annoyed. "I don't know. I don't keep it in a bloody calendar."
He buried his hands in his hair and closed his eyes. After a few moments, he took a deep breath and looked up at her, massaging his temples and trying to calm down. Hermione had her eyebrow raised, but he could see her eyes were filled with concern.
"Why?" he asked finally.
After a few moments she seemed to realize what he meant.
"I think this isn't just happening for any reason, Draco," she said, her voice dropping lower. He quirked a brow. "Remember what Dumbledore said back at the orphanage? Our minds are somehow damaged in some way."
She began to tell him about her meeting with Dumbledore, and after she was finished, he stared at her, looking puzzled.
"But why isn't it happening to you? The headaches, nosebleed…"
"I'm…not sure." She frowned. "Maybe, maybe it has affected us in different ways…"
"You don't feel any different…do you?"
"Well, no, I don't. Maybe it hasn't affected me physically, but that doesn't mean it hasn't affected me at all. I…" The truth was she didn't have an idea of why all of this happening to Draco and not her. "I don't know…I don't…" She trailed off and chewed on her lip nervously.
Draco shook his head. "Then that's just it, right? I'm the one who dies."
Hermione looked up, surprised. "No, don't say that. There has to be something we can do to stop all of this."
"Like what?" he said accusingly, his harsh tone making her flinch.
"We could tell Professor Dumbledore, he'll probably know something…"Her tone was optimistic, hopeful.
His responding laugh was high pitched and sarcastic. "That old man, what would he know?"
"Draco," she whispered. "Don't be like that. He told me that if something happened, we must tell him."
"No. Not yet."
"Not yet?" Hermione asked, incredulously. "Then when? Draco, if we let this pass, something may go wrong."
"Don't you get it? We're already doomed. What's he going to do? The damage is done, Hermione," he said. There was a note of resignation in his voice, something that she didn't like at all.
Hermione sighed. She only hoped nothing bad would happen to Draco or to her. She had dragged him into this and if something happened to him, or if he died, it would be her fault. And she didn't know how she would cope without Draco.
oOo
As the leaves in the Forbidden Forest began to settle into the browns and yellows of autumn, the dueling competition was nearing. Hermione had been going to the Room of Requirement every night after dinner to practice her wandless magic. She had tried with all her might to make several of the objects that the room provided hover in the air or sometimes she even tried to cast some spells on her books. At first, she kept having the same problems. The books and quills kept losing heart in mid air and dropping like stones onto the floor. But as time wore on, she had gained practice and had managed to shoot some spells and jinxes at a human-sized prototype. At her umpteenth try, the model exploded into million pieces and disintegrated as it touched ground.
On the other hand, Draco hadn't got any luck in nicking the book from Riddle's trunk. Apparently, even if he wasn't carrying it his bag or not, all of his belongings were left in his safely guarded trunk that was protected by an extensive locking charm. The evidence was clear; the book held some importance to him. The only good thing going for him these days was the fact that she and Draco spent almost all their free time in the library, or under the same tree she had used to sit with Ron and Harry. It was nice, they mostly discussed Riddle but they also talked about different things, like the upcoming Hogsmeade trip that was nearing.
She also spent time with Selene, Mina, and Robert. Robert, ever the replica of Ron, had become jealous of her spending so much time with Draco and mainly because he was a Slytherin. So at nights, she stayed in the common room playing Exploding Snap with him, with Selene and Mina watching. She also couldn't help noticing Mina acting a bit hostile when she was with Robert.
She thought she had made things clear to Mina. Make sure she didn't get the wrong impression. Robert however, Hermione feared, seemed to have grown certain affection for Hermione and not necessarily friendly like. She almost wished Mina wouldn't notice it.
Between all her worries, time seemed to pass even faster to Hermione so that one morning she woke up startled by such commotion downstairs that she realized that the dueling competition had finally arrived. She had breakfast as usual, classes had been suspended that day, and in the afternoon the Great Hall began to fill up slowly, until there were about enough people around the platform to form a military campaign.
"So, Hermione," Selene said, approaching her with Robert and Mina in tow. "Eager to duel anyone specifically?"
Hermione shrugged. "Not really. I guess whoever I'm chosen to duel with. I'm sure I won't disappoint."
This was a bit of an understatement. Hermione's magical talent had transformed into a whole other beast in the months that she had spent attempting to escape from the Death Eaters. Offensive magic had started to come as easily to her as a simple Expelliarmus. And she had been practicing Wandless magic these last few weeks, so she guessed she had a great amount of possibilities to duel anyone, except perhaps…Riddle. She feared he might use an Unforgivable Curse on her, but he wouldn't dare in front of the professors, right?
Robert grinned, and his keen green eyes fixed upon a Slytherin boy on the other side of the platform. "Oh, I hope I'm dueling Nathaniel. He keeps levitating dead frogs onto my desk when we're in Potions."
Mina laughed.
Hermione's nose wrinkled in disgust. "And who do you want to duel with, Mina?"
"Not sure. Anyone I guess," she responded.
Before they could say anything further, some of the professors in charge appeared. Dippet took out his wand, a simple blackthorn rod, and flicked it. The doors of the Great Hall slammed shut, the noise resounding powerfully off the curved stone walls. Everyone instantly fell as silent as if they had been charmed to do so.
"The Dueling Competition has finally arrived. As you may have already know, the rules were posted in each of your Houses common rooms, however, if by any chance some of you may have overlooked them, I shall remind you then, and pardon to those who already know them.
When you are called, you shall proceed towards the platform and on a count of three you will began to duel. There will be different rounds in which there will only be one winner; you will advance to different rounds until there is only one finalist of each house and finally there will be only one winner.
The rules, as you may logically know, ban the use of dark curses. One can use advanced spells as long as it does not cause painful physical damage to the other contestant. If one of the duelists is too hurt to proceed, they can choose to forfeit and, therefore, will be impeded to advance to next round. A round is considered finished once one of the duelists is: unarmed, gravelly physically hurt, or unconscious. As I guess that is all, Albus you may do the honors."
Albus Dumbledore smiled and took a step forward, his eyes glistening significantly. "We shall start with round one. Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. Harfang Longbottom vs. Selene Stuttgart. "
Selene took a deep breath as she climbed up onto the platform.
"Go Selene! Knock him unconscious, they can always have another Gryffindor beater anyway!" Robert was shouting encouragingly.
"Robert!" Mina shrilled.
"Mr. Brandon! Be quiet, if you please," Dippet shushed him.
Selene and Harfang bowed to each other slowly.
"He looks nervous," Hermione commented, noticing that Harfang's wand hand was shaking.
"I would too, if I was dueling Selene,' Robert commented.
They quiet down as Selene and Harfang began dueling. Now Hermione could see why he was afraid to duel Selene.
"Ouch!" Robert winced, as Selene sent a stinging hex Harfang's way.
"Oh no, don't tell me he's going to forfeit already!"Mina said distastefully as they watched Harfang, who was clutching at his eye which was hit by the stinging hex. "What a coward!"
Hermione laughed as she saw Selene's look of pure disappointment. They saw as Harfang was led away of the Great Hall.
"Well done," Hermione said as Selene came to join them.
"Although you didn't give us much of a show," Robert said in mock disappointment. Selene smiled and shrugged. "Ah well, I wonder who's next."
"Round two," Dumbledore announced. "Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Winston Patil vs. Antonin Dolohov."
Dolohov went on to win the duel after some minutes, and Hermione winced as she saw the deep cuts he had caused Winston. She gulped.
"Round three, Slytherin versus Slytherin. Amias Nott vs. Draco Laurent."
They all backed away as Nott climbed up onto the platform, looking singularly extra-confident. Draco didn't look the least nervous, and he had a cocky grin on his face.
Draco backed down to one end of the platform, looking confident and at ease. Nott stood at the other, taking out his spindly wand from his pocket and raising it slowly, a smirk plastered on his face, which Draco returned easily. Hermione watched with bated breath.
And then, with a wave of Nott's wand, the duel began.
A jet of purple sparks was issued from Nott's wand and was casually transformed by Draco into a shower of golden sparks. Draco gave his first attack, a complicated twist of the wand that issued a blinding ray of blue light. Nott ducked and shot a curse across the ground at Draco, making the sturdy stone crack and char underneath it. Draco thrust his wand downwards at the curse, and it exploded into a shower of brilliantly white snow.
Draco raised his hand and jabbed his wand at the snow. It swelled into a colossal wave of black, fuzzy mist which rolled across the platform towards Nott. Nott deflected the spell and send another. A jet of pale yellow sparks whizzed towards Draco but it missed him by an inch.
Draco kept throwing difficult spells in his opponent's direction and Hermione saw Nott's smirk had vanished and now seemed as if he regretted having been paired with Draco. She smiled at that. Draco whirled his wand and she saw that he was using non-verbal spells. Nott widened his eyes in fear, not sure of what was coming and he waved his wand, but nothing happened. Hermione recognized a failed Protego and shook her head. She cringed as the mist engulfed Nott.
When it cleared, he lay on the ground, seemingly unconscious. It was over now. Draco flashed a cocky grin at Mulciber, whom seemed to be debating whether to cry in anger or not. Hermione wondered why. The audience applauded dryly. Hermione saw Riddle, standing casually against one of the walls, a small, dark smile curving his lips.
She saw two of Nott's friends lifting his unconscious body off the platform and carrying him quickly out of the Great Hall.
The dueling continued with Robert versus the Slytherin boy he was pointing out earlier.
Robert flashed a cocky grin. "About time! Someone's gonna regret levitating frogs now."
Mina sighed patiently. Hermione smiled at him encouragingly, and his eyes lit up. He went on to win the match, and came up to her afterwards.
"I'm versus the winner of this match, so you'll have to duel Rosier and beat him, before we get to meeting each other up there." Mina said.
Robert shrugged.
"Well done, Robert," Hermione said encouragingly. Robert blushed. "That was quite a nicely placed disarming charm there, though I don't think that abscido hex was really necessary,"
Robert laughed. "Well, don't we know out hexes? And yes, it was necessary. If you kept watching dead frogs levitating in front of your nose every day, you would know why."
They kept on dueling. Hermione had won three rounds so far but she didn't want to get so confident, after all she still hadn't dueled Tom.
"Hermione!" Selene screeched excitedly. "You're on the finals!"
Hermione blanched. Robert patted her shoulder encouragingly and Mina's smile vanished. Hermione pulled him away politely and they all became silent as Tom walked up to duel Konstantin, who looked ready to keel over with fear.
This was the last duel of the semi-finals now. Hermione watched intently. She hadn't been paying much attention to the other duels but with Riddle's. She needed to watch him duel to see if she could find his weaknesses and strengths.
But Dumbledore had barely finished saying 'Duel!' before Konstantin was knocked out cold.
Hermione cringed as she saw how some friends took him out of the Great Hall. She continued watching everyone duel. Mina, who wasn't very good in protective charms, had been disarmed by a Hufflepuff. Robert had passed onto the semi-finals, but lost against Vaisey, a sixth year Gryffindor. Selene however passed into the finals as well along with Draco.
"Slytherin versus Ravenclaw. Hermione Austen vs. Tom Riddle."
Her heart gave a jolt and she held the hope she had not heard correctly. Her head whipped around to the platform, where Tom Riddle was standing calmly, his arms crossed loosely and a lazy smile playing on his mouth.
"Are they joking? He's going to kill her!" Robert exclaimed.
Selene folded her hands and cleared her throat smartly."Hermione will be just fine."
"I'm betting fifty galleons on Riddle," someone commented as they passed behind where they were sitting.
Mina scowled at them all, and stood up haughtily. "Don't listen to them, Hermione. You just need to have faith in yourself."
"Yeah, just forget Riddle practically stopped that last guy from having children."
Mina shot him a disapproving look. "You are no help at all, Robert."
Hermione ignored them and took one deep breath. "I'm alright, guys. Don't worry." Hermione shook her head. She had already fought against Lord Voldemort once, though not directly that is.
She felt her legs walk towards the platform unwillingly, every instinct begged her not to, pleaded with her to let anyone besides her do this—but before she could prevent it, she was standing opposite Tom Riddle, his eyes boring into her, and both their wands were up. There was a deathly hush.
She mentally listed what she had seen during his duels. He's overconfident, has weak defenses, but strong attack.
"On the count to three then. One… two… three! Duel!"
A jet of pale purple issued from Riddle's wand just as a jet of red blasted from Hermione's—they met in midair—and suddenly Hermione's wand was vibrating as though an electric charge were surging through it. Her hand seized up around it and suddenly she felt something stir within her, as if the electric charge surging through the wands had entered through her as well. It was so powerful; power was forced in and out their bodies. The only time she had felt something similar was when she and Draco had traveled back in time.
An orange blaze emitted from their entwined wands and Hermione, following the beam with astonished gaze, saw that Tom's long fingers too were gripping a wand that was shaking and vibrating. For a split moment she ever saw confusion in his eyes. She was conscious of everyone's stares and she knew that they too didn't know what was happening. Hermione caught a glimpse of Dumbledore, but she saw that he did not seem surprised at all, it was almost as if he had been expecting something like this to happen.
Before she knew it was over, the thread connecting their wands splintered and the magic radiating from her vanished.
Riddle raised his wand swiftly and said clearly, "Tarantallegra."
Hermione wasn't ready at all. The curse hit her and before she knew what happened her legs started to move on their own accord, dancing like crazy and making her nauseous. Shakily, Hermione managed to wave her wand and cried, "Finite!"
The uncontrolled dancing stopped. Hermione stood, breathing hard, and gazed over at Riddle. Smirk still in place, he again brandished his wand and said, "Incarcerous."
Instantly thick ropes sprang from his wand's tip and flew towards Hermione. Not wanting to get hit again, she quickly flourished her wand."Protego!"
A familiar blue shield protected Hermione and Riddle's ropes uselessly fell on the floor where they disappeared. She narrowed her eyes at him, scanning him suspiciously. Riddle held his wand loosely in his hand and smirked nonchalantly at her, as if nothing had happened before. Hermione huffed at his relaxed posture. He didn't expect any form of counter attack, did he? He knew he would win. Angrily, Hermione released the Protego shield and used the same wand movement to send a spell at Riddle.
Infenso! She flicked her wand. He deflected her hex before it had even gotten halfway to him; he wove his wand through the air, his face betraying no hint of emotion. Grey sparks flickered from his wand tip towards her. Hermione recognized quite a powerful curse and instantly conjured a counterjinx. Duro!
The grey sparks solidified into harmless stones and clattered to the ground. Hermione was satisfied as she saw his eyes widening in surprise for a split moment.
Hermione whirled her wand at the stone sparks, and they sprang up into a large marble lion, bounding across the platform towards Riddle. With a jab of his wand, the stone lion erupted into tiny fragments of rock which whizzed towards Hermione.
Protego! Hermione cringed as she felt a heavy impact on her shield. Riddle again attacked and she felt his power reverberating through her whole being. He was ripping her shield apart, that infuriating smirk still on his face. Hermione quickly scrambled up from the floor.
Transeo! Hermione was quite disappointed with how easily Riddle had warded her attack off. She couldn't dwell on it as suddenly he attacked again. A dangerously crackling curse sizzled towards her. Hermione had no idea what it could be, so she jumped out of the way and avoided it. Riddle sent another curse her way. Hermione gritted her teeth and peered at Riddle. He grinned at her smugly and even had the audacity to give her a mock bow.
Laevus! Riddle narrowed his eyes and deflected the spell with one simple wave of his wand. Before he could cast another spell, Hermione whirled her wand and a huge wave of water formed itself. Hermione threw that cocky grin right back at Riddle. The wave of water crashed over him with force. He managed to break most of the water's fury with a hastily erected shield. Still as Hermione's conjured wave disappeared, Riddle was soaking wet. A few strands of his dark hair were plastered to his forehead and Riddle wiped them angrily away. Hermione couldn't help but giggle at the sight of him.
Abicere!
Hermione ducked in time and shot another spell. Caecus!
The curse spun towards Riddle. Riddle's face finally showed the slightest hint of concentration—his jaw muscles tightened as he reflected the cutting curse with a Substringo jinx, which tied her own curse to a far more powerful one. Hermione didn't even recognize the wand movement, and she flung herself to the floor. She could smell part of her robes burning slightly as the spell rocketed over her.
Leaping back to her feet, she flicked her wand, her hands shaking.
Defleo! A jet of purple fire blasted from her wand. She watched how he slowly waved his wand and sucked the bright light into his wand-tip.
Then the light blasted itself out of his wand again, colored a deep gold. Hermione brought up her wand just in time to create a thick shield. The curse slammed into the shield, knocking Hermione back a couple steps, but she caught herself, disassembled the shield, and aimed her wand over her head at Riddle.
She sent a stinging hex across the dueling area but he ducked out of the way just in time before it hit him. He flourished his wand and a lavender disk flew out, aiming for her head. Hermione conjured a thick shield and the disk vanished in thin air. Waspishly, she whirled her wand before he could send another spell.
Stupefy! Effervo!
Riddle warded off the first jet of red light, looking a little amused at such a simple spell, the follow-up spell trailed behind the stunner and was sucked into Riddle's shield as well – and then it exploded, a tiny white pinpoint of light that erupted into bright yellow flames. Tom Riddle's face contorted in fury as he was flung to the ground. And he stood up with a snarl on his mouth.
Tom stopped holding back. He started firing spells so quickly that Hermione barely had time to conjure any shield at all. Her face met the stone floor with a rough thud, and she scrambled back to her feet and waved her wand desperately, sending different hexes across the dueling area.
Riddle warded it off with a flick. It smashed into one of the walls with a colossal bang. Riddle glanced back at it with half a grin on his face, lazily raising his wand to attention once more.
Hermione took in a deep breath.
Her wand danced through the air, sending spells in different directions. Obruo! Mutatio!
Riddle was blocking her every move and countering, but neither of them was making much headway. However, he wasn't using the things he was famous for – Unforgivables, illegal curses, Dark Magic. Hermione supposed that it was hindering his ability to duel, or else she surely would have lost by now.
He raised his wand and flicked it. He didn't say the incantation and soon an unknown curse rushed towards Hermione. She had no idea what it could be and quickly raised another Protego shield. In no time Riddle's curse had reached her and cut through her Protego as if it were paper. Hermione barely had a second before the curse would hit her. Quickly she hurled herself out of the way. Riddle's curse sliced her arm. She gasped as she could feel it leaving behind a deep cut in her upper arm. Hermione ended up lying on the floor and instinctively swirled her wand, conjuring another shield.
They were at an impasse. Riddle was frustrated by his inability to use Dark magic; Hermione was clearly outmatched, only barely managing to struggle her way through – but she stood tall and confident, as if nothing had fazed her at all. She placed a stray hair behind her ear and determinedly grabbed her wand with a stronger grip. If he thought she would just give up, he would have to think again.
Another of Riddle's attacks hit her shield and it yielded completely.
Everte Statum!
An orange light shot out from Hermione's hand and the spell hit Riddle—widening his eyes and clearly unprepared— so hard he felt as though he had been hit by a saucepan and he was sent backwards until he stumbled on the floor. Growling, he raised his wand, and sent different curses her way. She didn't have time to deflect them all, so when she felt as if something had punched her right on the stomach she landed painfully on the floor and closed her eyes for a moment, clutching she clutched at her abdomen. Before she could stand up her wand jerked itself from her hand.
After that entire struggle, she was defeated with a simple Expelliarmus. Incredible!
Riddle scrutinized her even as he twirled her wand in a pale hand.
There was a long pause, and the audience burst into applause. Riddle nodded once to her, his eyes inscrutable, and tossed her wand back at her before turning away and walking back to his Slytherins.
Hermione retrieved her wand from the ground and tucked it into her pocket. As she stepped off the platform, she could feel countless stares on her. She held her head high and walked determinedly, without caring of everyone' scrutiny.
Neither Selene, Mina, nor Robert said anything. She thanked they didn't question her about what had happened at the beginning of the duel, but she guessed it wouldn't take long until they finally did.
She tried to watch what was left of the duel but she immediately remembered that one of Riddle's hexes had cut her arm. Selene seemed to have noticed that as well because she immediately said,
"Hermione, are you okay?" she tried to see the depth of the cut but Hermione pulled her away.
"Yes, it's just a cut I guess." It wasn't as if she was lying, it was a cut. She would just have to go to the Hospital Wing and whoever was in charge would heal it. "I think I'll go to the Hospital Wing."
"Do you want us to accompany you?"Mina asked.
"No that's alright. Just stay with Selene and tell me how she does, alright? I'll just meet you in the common room."
"Alright then. First floor to the right. Madam Curry will heal you in a blink of an eye." Mina smiled.
Hermione frowned and then she remembered she wasn't supposed to know where the Hospital Wing was. She nodded gratefully and turned around, walking away from the Great Hall.
When she reached the Hospital Wing, she saw it was filled with earlier contestants from the Dueling Contest. They had friends surrounding their bedside. Suddenly she saw an elderly woman with hard features walk toward her.
"Why, oh, why am I not surprised? This Hospital Wing will be filled in no time. Dueling contest…" she fumed "What may I ask happened, Miss…"
"Austen," Hermione replied instantly. "I have a cut on my arm, because of the…"
"Dueling Contest," she finished for her tiredly and let out a sigh. "Very well. Have a seat on that bed." She nodded toward the final bed by the window, "And I will have you fixed up in a jiffy."
"Thanks."
Like the Matron had said, her arm was fixed in seconds. As she was about to exit the Hospital Wing, she saw two guys with broad shoulders carrying another limp form. It took her a while to realize it was Draco.
They carried him onto an empty bed and she quickly went to join them.
"What happened?"
The two guys seemed taken aback at first but then one of them answered with a hoarse voice. "Stunned."
"Is the dueling over?"
"Yes. Riddle won, they're just on the award ceremony."
She nodded and waited for them to go. At first they stood awkwardly, perhaps deciding whether to stay or not, in the end they decided not to and left. Hermione sat next to him for a while until Madam Curry finally slowed down and came to attend Draco.
"What happened to this one?" she asked concernedly.
"He's stunned."
"Very well, then. That's not too bad. One got hit with a Furnunculus curse." Madam Curry pulled out her wand and whispered, "Ennervate."
Draco opened his eyes. He looked dazed. When he saw Madam Curry and Hermione, he tried to sit up. But Madam Curry put a hand on his shoulder and made him lie still.
"Stay still. I'll be right back."
He turned to Hermione. "Great show you put on back there." he croaked, massaging his head.
She smiled at him and blushed. "Thanks. You too."
He grimaced. "Thanks. I still can't believe that after all that I simply got stunned. It was Riddle, my final pair. The Slytherin winner was going to be one of us and then Nott's group started to distract me sending hexes and moving the platform at my feet. And then I got stunned. Dippet gave them detention of course," he sniggered. "But Riddle sent the stunning curse my way and I couldn't deflect it."
"But, that is so unfair. Didn't anyone offer a rematch? They distracted you, that's not fair." She was disappointed, after all.
"Dippet gave them detention. Besides Riddle had sent the curse before they cast the hexes."
Hermione huffed. "He shouldn't have won."
He smiled but then the smile faded as soon as it came. "What happened back there?"
She knew what he meant but before she could speak Madam Curry, who had bustled off to her office, returned holding a small bottle of some blue potion and a goblet.
"You drink this," she said. "It will make you feel better. Any other injuries?" Draco shook his head. "Alright then. Drink this and you'll be free to go."
He drank and emptied the bottle in one go and then stood up. "Listen, I need to go. But we'll postpone this conversation to later alright?" he sighed tiredly. "And I want you to know that I'm still looking for ways to nick Riddle's book. I think I have a spell in mind, but I need to do it when Riddle's not there."
Hermione nodded. They left the Hospital Wing and soon they went in different directions. Hermione walked slowly in the halls, thinking of what happened to herself. She didn't have an answer, and that frustrated her. It had almost felt as if their wands have been connected, but not just their wands, they too had been connected. It was impossible, she knew that, but she had seen the surprised look on Riddle's face as well. He hadn't expected it, and deep down she knew that he had, somehow, felt the same as she had. As if their magic was…connected in some way. She shook her head waspishly, trying to get rid of such senseless thoughts.
She reached the Ravenclaw common room and knocked once. Suddenly, she heard the musical voice say, "What is something that is dreaded by everyone yet you cannot touch, see, smell, or hear it?"
Hermione sighed.
"Fear," she replied, and the door opened in front of her.
"Hermione, there you are!" Selene greeted warmly as she stepped into the common room. There were only a few people in there—Selene, Mina, Robert, Ivy, and only three more, neither of whom Hermione knew. She plopped into a seat next to Mina. "How's your arm?"
"Better. Madam Curry fixed it quick," Hermione smiled.
"Told you so," said Mina.
Hermione leaned back on the couch, closing her eyes for a few moments and then opened them again. Something caught her eye. In one corner, Ivy was sitting alone, a book cradled in her lap, but she wasn't reading it. In fact, Hermione thought she was only using it as an excuse for having her gaze down. When she looked up for a few seconds, her gaze fell upon Hermione and she saw they were swollen and red, as if she had been crying for hours. Ivy wiped her eyes and looked away hastily. Hermione frowned and debated whether she should ask what's wrong or not. And then she remembered Ivy hated her and didn't want anything to do with her, so she looked away as well.
As she had predicted earlier, the silence would not last too long until they decided to talk about her duel.
"Where on earth did you learn all that?" Robert asked, awed. "You looked like a little firecracker, and did you see Riddle's face? For a moment I thought I saw him scared. Can't blame him, though, you looked scary there. Remind me not to duel you, come to think."
Hermione laughed. "I enjoy reading," she replied honestly. "I can always learn more, though. Maybe that's why."
Robert let out a long, low whistle. "You know a lot, though. Brilliant!"
Hermione looked at him. "You were not that bad either."
Robert smiled back. "Thanks." Suddenly his smile vanished and his expression turned serious. "But, what do you reckon happened back there? At the beginning of your duel? It seemed weird, as if something had connected the two of you."
Hermione, too, had become serious. If only she knew the answer to that. Both Mina and Selene had gone quiet as well, and without looking up, Hermione knew they were staring at her. She could feel it.
"I…don't know," she replied simply; her shoulders slumped. "But I cannot think of something that would form a connection between us two. He's vile and cruel."
All three of them remained quiet, and she felt weird at Robert's scrutiny. She felt like one of those insects beneath a microscope, being examined.
"All right, then." Robert said finally, turning to face Mina accusingly. "At least someone has a clear perception of that Riddle guy."
Mina rolled her eyes. "Oh stop it. My perception of him is really clear, alright?"
If only you knew…
Hermione sighed and suddenly she was immersed in her own thoughts. Between her sudden appearance outside the orphanage, the incident by the lake, and the duel, Hermione was afraid that she had made herself far more interesting to Riddle than she could have imagined.
A/N: I know some of you expected this chapter to be better and I'm sorry but it really was a nightmare to write. I really tried to include Draco and Tom but I think this chapter would better be based on Hermione than the other two. However in next chapters these two boys would certainly have more appearance.
Thanks for reviewing; it truly means a lot to me. Happy holidays.