The morning of October the third dawned cool and crisp, though the sun peeked out from behind the clouds.
Danielle Bailey stood in front of a large mirror in her dormitory, trying to decide what to wear for her "date" with Tom Riddle later that morning. She now wished more than ever that she hadn't been so stupid and asked him out in the first place. It had been more to see whether he'd say yes than anything else.
And he had. Danielle sighed and tried to pull her brush through her wild curls. After she had heard the conversation between Riddle and his friends the previous week, she had been constantly berating herself for being so childish. Riddle obviously had a problem, and she should stay away from him.
Too bad that wasn't likely to happen anytime soon. He was wherever she went. In classes, Prefect duty…everywhere. Sometimes, it was all Danielle could do to not scream, "I know what you're up to!" as loud as she could.
"Cla-ra!" Alyssa sang, skipping into the room. "I have the perfect outfit for you!"
"Alyssa," Danielle began, "It's not a date. I don't need to dress up, honestly—"
"Tut, tut," said Alyssa, wagging her finger at Danielle. "You asked Tom out, and he said yes. You're going to Hogsmeade. It's a date."
Danielle opened her mouth to argue but then closed it. Nothing she could say would change Alyssa's mind.
The red-headed girl opened her suitcase and began throwing clothes out haphazardly. Danielle dodged pieces of flying clothes, finally having to hide behind the dresser in fear of getting bombarded.
Eventually Alyssa straightened, triumphantly holding out something red and velvet.
"No," said Danielle, turning away from the cocktail dress. "I'm going to Hogsmeade, not a ball."
Alyssa gazed at it longingly. "Are you sure? You'd look so cute in it."
"I don't care. Get it out of my sight." Danielle huffed and crossed her arms.
Alyssa rolled her eyes but did as she was told. "Fine. How about…this one?" She held out a piece of beige fabric.
Danielle squinted at it. It was a strapless fawn-colored dress that looked as though it belonged at the beach. She sighed. "I suppose. But isn't it a little…revealing?"
Alyssa frowned. "Not in my opinion."
"I think it's terrible," a snooty voice said from the doorway.
"Thanks for that, Olive," Danielle said through gritted teeth.
The second that Olive Hornby had discovered Riddle and Danielle were going to Hogsmeade together, she had instantly turned on her. Danielle had had to avoid Olive's curses more than once. She was almost unbearable to live with now. But, keeping in character, Danielle was still nice to Olive. However, her patience was wearing short and Danielle wasn't sure how much longer she could keep her temper under control.
And of course, big-mouth Alyssa had yelled it out in the hall, and now the entire school knew Tom Riddle and Clara Ashford were going to Hogsmeade together.
Dylan had changed, too. He barely spoke to Danielle anymore and she noticed he walked around with a miserable expression most of the time. She'd asked him about this, but he refused to answer.
Riddle wasn't acting any different, however. He just smirked and nodded every time someone commented on this. For the thousandth time, Danielle wondered why he had even said yes in the first place.
"Go away, Hornby," Alyssa snapped. Now that Olive was no longer pretending to be friends with Danielle, she'd had a ready-made excuse to insult her longtime enemy.
"This is my dormitory," Olive replied, strutting over to her bed and sitting down primly on the edge. "In case you'd forgotten, MacDougal. I wouldn't be surprised."
Alyssa's face turned as red as her hair and she made to go over to Olive, but Danielle held her back. "I'll put on the dress now, Alyssa."
"Good. Take it." Alyssa shoved it at Danielle. "I have something I'd like to say to dear Olive."
"No, don't!" Danielle grabbed her friend's arm. "It's not worth it!"
Olive smirked. "Smart move, Ashford. Now, go tell Tom that you're not going to Hogsmeade with him."
"Fat chance," Danielle said angrily. Now, instead of regretting her decision to go out with Tom Riddle, she embraced it. It made Olive mad, after all. That had to be worth it.
"Whatever you say." Olive crossed her long, tanned legs primly. "But Tom will be going out with me by the end of this term. You don't stand a chance against me."
"Sure, sure," Danielle mumbled. She stepped into the dress, which fit like a glove. "How do I look?"
"Stunning," Alyssa said. Olive simply smirked.
You know, Olive and Riddle really do belong together, Danielle thought derisively as she inspected her reflection in the mirror. They both have that exasperating smirk down.
"You'll never look as good as I will today," Olive said, standing up and reaching into her drawer for something. "Wait and see."
"Gee, I can't wait," Alyssa said sarcastically. "In fact, I'd be willing to wait for the rest of my life."
"Touché, MacDougal. But I'm serious. Tom will be so in love with me, he'll leave Ashford in an instant. Brace yourself, Clara." Olive didn't look up.
"No—brace yourself, Olive. Tom asked me out first, after all. I'm his first choice. But I guess being second isn't so bad." Danielle smiled sweetly.
Alyssa laughed and gave her friend a high-five.
Danielle slipped into her heels and tossed her hair in her best imitation of Olive before strutting out of the room, Alyssa giggling behind her.
"That was amazing, Clara!" she whispered gleefully. "Did you see Hornby's face?"
"Yes, I'm sorry to say." Danielle smiled.
Alyssa sniggered, then instantly sobered. "Tom's over there!" She pointed over at the couches beside the fire.
Danielle's eyes followed her finger to where a figure stood with his back to them, staring into the crackling flames. She noticed his neatly parted black hair and elegant suit immediately.
Alyssa cleared her throat loudly, and Riddle turned to face Danielle. An expression of pleasant surprise passed over his face, though she wasn't sure whether it was authentic or not. At any rate, she smiled amiably and made her way down to him.
"Miss Ashford." Riddle ghosted over to her, the light of the fire still reflected in his eyes.
"Mr Riddle." Danielle repeated his name in the same tone. He smiled, revealing perfect white teeth.
"You look lovely," he murmured, examining her dress. "Lovelier than usual, I mean."
He was obviously lying—she'd barely brushed her hair and she had never seen any boy glance at her twice, but she forced herself to smile. "And you look handsomer than usual," she told him, taking his extended arm. "Let's go down to Hogsmeade."
"As you wish," he said, and they swept out of the common room.
The walk down to the village was pleasant for the most part, if one didn't count a possible murderer walking beside you as unpleasant. Danielle tried to ignore Riddle and concentrate on the beautifully colored trees and the crisp autumn air. The other couples that were there all stared at them as they walked past.
Danielle couldn't help but feel gratified at the other students' looks. Clara Ashford, new girl, was going out with Tom Riddle, the most popular boy in the entire school! Take a look at me now, Olive Hornby, she thought. For the first time, she realized the appeal that attention held: for most of her life, she had been content to disappear in a crowd, not wanting to be noticed. But now…well, she supposed the majority of it was Clara Ashford talking. There was still a part of Danielle that couldn't believe what she had done.
"Do you want to go to the Three Broomsticks first?" Riddle asked. "It will be less crowded this time of day."
"Sure," Danielle agreed. She adjusted her grip on Riddle's arm so she was half-leaning on him. This had much to do with the fact that she had just spotted Augusta Longbottom, a Gryffindor and one of Riddle's admirers, glaring at her.
"Beautiful day, isn't it?" she commented, basking in the glow of her newfound popularity. It might be shallow, but it did feel good. Again, Danielle wondered what had happened to her. Where was the meek, timid Ravenclaw she had used to be? And why was she being so damn casual around someone she knew to be plotting murder?
Riddle glanced sideways at her. "Yes, I suppose it is."
"Autumn is my favorite season," Danielle said, inhaling the crisp air and feeling giddy. "What's yours?"
"I would have to say autumn as well," Riddle remarked.
"Don't you like summer?" Danielle asked. Really, she didn't care whether he liked summer or not, but she had to stay in character.
"No," Riddle said, with perhaps a bit more conviction than was necessary.
"Why not?"
"I prefer being at school." There was a note of finality in his tone that even Danielle decided not to press.
When they reached the Three Broomsticks, quite a crowd had already gathered at the entrance. But as soon as they spotted Riddle, they all began whispering and moved aside for him and Danielle to pass.
The Three Broomsticks was almost exactly the same as it was in 2011, which made Danielle feel more at ease. The only difference was instead of Madam Rosmerta, an older man stood behind the bar. He smiled warmly at the sight of them.
"Ah, Mr Riddle!" he exclaimed. "How was your summer?"
"Very well, thank you, Mr Fletcher," Riddle replied smoothly. "Two Butterbeers, please." He led Danielle over to a table by the window.
While Mr Fletcher got their drinks, Riddle and Danielle sat down across from each other. Riddle gazed out the window, appearing to be deep in thought. Danielle watched him, trying not to appear scornful. He was probably daydreaming of ways to kill the Muggle-borns. Twisted git, she thought.
Mr Fletcher brought them their Butterbeers and Danielle sipped hers slowly, enjoying the familiar warmth in the pit of her stomach. She examined Riddle closely. He did not speak for a very long time, so Danielle eventually looked away. But when she turned back he was staring at her curiously.
"So, Clara," he began. "I have always wanted to know what Holland is like. Can you tell me about it?"
Danielle's heart beat faster. He was testing her.
"Tom, I haven't been there since I was two," she said, trying not to let her tone waver. "How would I remember what it looks like?"
His eyebrows creased together. "But surely you must have gone sometime during the summers—to visit your parents' brothers and sisters?"
Danielle shrugged. "I dunno why. Maybe they thought the war with Grindelwald was getting too dangerous. But at any rate, we didn't have any family there. My father's older sister, my aunt Helga, lives in London. My mum was an only child, and my grandparents—Muggles, you know—didn't live very long." She hoped the lie would be convincing enough for him.
"I see," said Riddle. He took a drink of his Butterbeer. "And your aunt never married?"
Danielle shook her head. "She keeps hinting at some long-lost lover, though."
Riddle rested his chin in his hand. "You seem to have a very intriguing life story."
"I suppose I do, yeah." Danielle pretended to agree, but her mind wasn't on their conversation anymore. Riddle's eyes were burning right into hers; however, she made no effort to look away. They were spellbinding somehow, bottomless. Danielle instinctively felt herself being drawn into them.
She was relaxing physically as well; her hand had slackened on her glass and she felt oddly sleepy. The feeling was so pleasant, she just wanted to float in it forever…
Until the sound of a door slamming jolted her back to her senses. Slightly disoriented, she turned around to see Alyssa and Olive come into the pub, arguing at the top of their voices.
Across from her, Riddle was looking murderous. Danielle slunk down in her seat.
"…stuck-up, snobby, cheating, attention-seeking prat!" Alyssa was yelling.
Olive, clad in a blue floor-length gown, was yelling right back. "Annoying, hyper, idiotic, short—"
"You call being short an insult?" Alyssa spat.
"No, but when you're both short and fat, you—"
Alyssa went for her. The entire pub gasped. Danielle was sure nothing had happened like this in Hogsmeade…ever.
"Someone get one of the teachers!" a voice yelled as Mr Fletcher, trying to break up the fight, got sucked into the brawl.
Danielle couldn't take it any longer. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Riddle jump up, but she was faster. "Protego!" she shrieked, pointing her wand at Alyssa and Olive. The two were instantly separated by an invisible shield.
Alyssa was holding her arm at an awkward angle and Olive's nose was bleeding onto the front of her cocktail dress. They both stared in disbelief at Danielle, who stood with her wand pointing at the pair of them.
"Oh, just stop it!" Danielle shrieked, feeling her temper boil up and bubble over. "I'm not going to lie anymore—I'm sick of the two of you always fighting. Alyssa, you need to calm down. And Olive, I was never your friend. I'm sorry. Clara Ashford is not who you thought she was. And I don't want to be your girlfriend, Riddle," she growled, whirling to face him and jabbing her wand in his face. "I'd rather hang myself."
Everyone stared in disbelief as the curly-haired girl stormed to the front of the pub. Just before she left, she said, "And Olive, you can have Riddle. You two deserve each other."
With a jangle of not-so-merry bells, she was gone, leaving the pub in a state of utter shock.
As she stalked down High Street, still not quite over her fit of temper, Danielle couldn't help but feel slightly smug at her speech. She had never screamed like that in public before.
Whaddya think of me now, Riddle? Danielle stuck her hands in her pockets and ducked her head as a cold wind blew down the street, sending leaves scattering in every direction.
After about five minutes of walking, she found a lone rock, sheltered from the wind by a small grove of trees. Perching on it, she closed her eyes and began to feel the first bit of regret—she was supposed to be acting inconspicuous! What if she had accidentally changed the future somehow, just by that once incident?
She didn't notice the sky growing steadily darker and the temperature getting colder, so deeply buried in her thoughts was she. It was only when the first few drops of rain began to fall that she realized a storm was coming.
Wrapping her arms tightly around her, Danielle let a tear fall, hovering on the frozen ground for a split second before melting.
It wasn't fair. She didn't ask for any of this. She didn't ask to get stuck in the past. Why her?
She was timesick, plain and simple. She wanted to get back to 2011 and see her family again. And, as much as she liked Alyssa, Dylan and Myrtle, she wanted her old friends back.
Feeling more tears build up in her eyes, Danielle quickly wiped them away. It would do her no good to cry.
A low, distant rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. Danielle's head instantly snapped up. Uh-oh. She didn't want to be stuck out here in the middle of a thunderstorm. She had better head back to the village if she wanted to stay dry.
Taking one last shuddering breath, Danielle stood up and began to walk away, only stopping when she heard the crack of a branch snapping behind her. She whirled around, brandishing her wand.
Olive Hornby stood just inside the tree line with a truly evil smile on her face. "Aw," she mocked. "Brave Clara Ashford, crying!"
Danielle's eyes narrowed. "You snoop," she hissed.
Olive's smirk grew wider and she stepped out to face the other girl, pointing her wand straight at her heart. "I wouldn't call myself a snoop—more like an eavesdropper."
Another crack of thunder, this time much closer…and the first drop of rain hit.
"Impedimenta!" Danielle shrieked. Taken off guard, Olive was blasted backwards. Her wand flew out of her hand.
"Accio Olive's wand!" Danielle cried. The wand shot towards her.
Olive's eyes flashed. "Give that back!" she screeched. "Or, Ashford, I swear I will—"
Hmm. So Olive, like Danielle, was smarter than she let on. What a strange world.
Olive muttered something unintelligible under her breath and her wand jerked right of Danielle's hand.
Before the Prefect could react, Olive pointed her wand straight at her. "Expell—"
"Stupefy!" Danielle yelled, waving her wand wildly.
A jet of red light shot out of Danielle's wand, aiming for Olive, but she simply flicked her wand and the Stunning Spell was deflected back onto Danielle, who narrowly managed to dodge it.
The rain was beginning to fall harder now. Danielle felt it soak into her hair, sending her curls into a wave of frizz.
"Spunky little thing, aren't you, Ashford?" Olive called maliciously as she warded off another of Danielle's jinxes. "But I suppose I shouldn't be too hard on you…you let me have Tom, after all." She abruptly lowered her wand.
Danielle was so surprised, she stopped trying to jinx Olive and just stared openmouthed at her. The other girl muttered something under her breath.
"What was that?" Danielle asked.
"Oh, nothing." Olive sounded far-off. "I think you little friend MacDougal is looking for you. I'd go see her…or maybe I wouldn't." Se sneered. "See you, Ashford."
Danielle mutely stood aside as Olive pushed roughly past her and disappeared again into the woods.
What in the name of Merlin was that all about? she thought, still dazed, as she stumbled back onto the main road. She barely noticed she was soaking wet and her dress clung to her body.
"Clara!" Danielle looked up as she spotted Alyssa sprinting towards her.
"Where were you?" her red-headed friend demanded, shaking the rain out of her eyes. "I've been looking for you for the past hour!"
"I was gone that long?" Danielle asked. "Wow."
Alyssa peered closely at her. "Are you okay, Clara?" she asked. "You look…dead."
Danielle frowned. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not. You're not even looking at me and you're staring off into space." Alyssa snapped her fingers in front of Danielle's face.
Danielle blinked twice slowly and turned to face Alyssa. "What did you say?" Alyssa's voice seemed to be coming from far off. It was like she was hearing her through a long tunnel.
Now Alyssa looked scared. "Clara? What were you doing in the woods?"
"Dueling with Olive Hornby. She followed me." Danielle struggled to remember as her vision blurred for a second and she felt unsteady on her feet. An odd ringing filled her ears.
"So that's where Hornby went," Alyssa muttered. "She—Clara!"
Danielle was bent over, clutching her head as a violent wave of dizziness shot through her. She could barely think straight for the colors and shapes whirling around her.
"Help!" she faintly heard Alyssa yell. "Riddle—Tom—I don't know what's wrong with Clara!"
Muffled voices, shouting, yelling, multiple roars of thunder…Danielle felt as if she was slipping off the edge of a precipice.
And then she let go.
Dimly, she felt herself fall backward, someone barely managing to catch her at the last second, before the blackness took over.