Chapter 9
"People often believed they were safer in the light, thinking monsters only came out at night."
― . Roberts,Captive in the Dark
XxX
Harry was seething. His insides burned with a cold flame that left his skin itching with a false sweat. So he bit his tongue and glared into the distance of the conference room. The longer he stayed on this case the more familiar faces popped up. Old friends of Sirius'- of his parents- that worked on the force with them. They were the famous team for gaining all the appropriate evidence against Tom Riddle, they were the reason he got a triple life sentence.
He should be grateful for their help, but right now he wanted to snap. They were giving him credit for everything. They were certain that it was Harry and Harry alone who had figured out the killer's clue and put it into perspective. Him who figured out the riddle and what it meant.
They were wrong.
It was Hermione. She had discovered everything along the way. It was her who found out how to make Riddle talk, her who found out what the flowers meant. She was the one to figure out the bloody riddle and what its purpose was, yet- Harry bit back a scoff- here they were, everyone's eyes drifting to him for answers.
He was special, so obviously he was the only one who mattered.
Harry had finally picked Albus apart, like the haze of light had been stripped from his eyes. Perhaps it wasn't Harry's own eyes he was seeing the man through, there was a chance he was watching through Riddle or Hermione, as neither of them had grand opinions on Dumbledore, but Harry hated what he saw.
Dumbledore was manipulating them all, he was directing this investigation towards a specific outcome but Harry could not figure out what it was exactly. All Harry could agree with, was that Albus Dumbledore was making sure Harry stayed in the limelight.
His jaw clenched as he tried to force the cloud of rage inside his lungs to disappear. There was only one thing in this room that could calm him and he was unable to do much more than watch her from afar.
Green eyes dropped from the distant hole he was burning into the wall and fell on the bundle of, hardly contained, curls laying atop his friend's head. A smirk quirked the edge of his lips as another strand busted loose from the band holding them back.
Hermione had countless papers spread out in front of her and desperately she scanned through each. Answers had come to her but her mind was too occupied to inform the rest of them exactly what those answers were.
"Today, Miss Granger." Harry's eyes narrowed at the harsh drawl of Snape. He didn't understand why the damn man was even present, he had no business in this meeting. Snape dealt with bodies- not the actual case load.
The flash in Hermione's eyes was hard not to notice. Her scowl deepened and she forced herself into a straighter sitting position. "Forgive me, I was checking my notes." She stated stiffly. "The riddles changed once Harry joined the team. So, logically, it lead me to believe that is where we needed to start."
"Go on then, Hermione." Remus smiled gently at her, obviously trying to coax the tense posture out of her form. "Tell us what you have."
Slowly Hermione began pushing enlarged photographs of the riddles across the table for rest of the group to see. Harry eyed the first and judged the picture for the cleverness of the phrasing.
In darkness I live
I am both death and desire
But feel I do not
I will act twice on your demand
For I am in servitude
But not sacrifice
What am I?
Harry could not hold back the amused chuckle at the large metallic 'D' underlined at the bottom of the photo. Hermione had been working to answer the Riddles without them . She dropped photo after photo on them, some with answers and others without. It wasn't until she reached the most recent murder that she paused long enough to say something.
"The killer is signing the 'for' box in this imaginary gift." She dropped the final picture in front of her and threaded her fingers together.
"How do you know they are not signing their own name?" Snape bit out before anyone else could. The dark man stared down his beak-like-nose at her, judging each movement like she was untrustworthy.
Harry was seriously starting to dislike this man as much as Sirius did.
"Shut up, Snivellus." Sirius barked almost immediately after. Harry was thankful for his Godfather's hatred in this moment, while Sirius also had moments of doubt towards Hermione, he did his best to understand and follow her train of thought. It was a task very few could conquer, but the man at least tried. "Continue, Kitten."
"Sirius, Severus has every right to question Miss Granger if he doubts her ability." Albus hushed the man almost sternly, his voice contrasting the glimmer in his eyes. With a smile Dumbledore returned his attention to Hermione. "How is it you came to this conclusion?"
"It seems rather redundant to sign your own name on a murder." Harry murmured quietly, his eyes narrowed at the men at the end of the table as he bit out the words.
"Killer's can be arrogant, Harry." Albus stated softly. "They could believe they are too smart to be captured, so that theory cannot be immediately dismissed."
"Recheck my work if you must," She snipped tensely before continuing, "but, so far I believe we have three of the five remaining riddles." She turned her tired caramel eyes towards the two photos with nothing written on them and continued. "My work has lead me to believe these are a 'D' and an 'O'. Then, of course, we have the letter 'L' that lead us to this discovery in the first place. What we need to do is focus on the remaining two."
"Hermione," Harry caught the quiet whisper of Remus before his hand dropped to her shoulder. The man's brows were drawn with worry. "When was the last time you slept?"
Harry was disappointed when she did not bother to acknowledge their old professor and instead shrugged his hand from her shoulder. Harry realized quickly that Remus was right. She had heavy bags under her eyes and her skin seemed dull. His head quirked to the side before looking down at the remaining riddles.
I am what begins eternity
But resides at the end of time.
You find me in Death,
But it is life I follow.
What am I?
A stab of worry pulsed through Harry's chest. She should have been able to figure this out. Adrenaline coursed through his skin when he took in the remaining riddle. He could not have snatched it's photo from the table fast enough.
Look at me,
I'm the third horseman you'll meet
The first bringer of misery.
find me in damnation and you'll see,
I just might be,
your first taste of mortality
What am I?
This one too. These damn riddles seemed so simple now that they had the key, why had she not put them together like she had the last few?
A scoff fell from Snape's mouth when he gazed down at the pages. "Is that insufferable, know-it-all, brain of yours failing you, Miss Granger?" The words were bitter. Harry knew, better than the rest, how much damage that toxic sound could inflict on Hermione's current state. "Or are you just admitting that you need Potter to do all of the work for you?"
Harry did not believe silence could be so painful. Hermione's face had gone blank as she stared Snape down. The woman who defended herself against everything- who stood strong in the wake of the Riddle's intimidation- was not retaliating. A slow nod tipped her head before she came to a sluggish stand.
"If you would excuse me," There was nothing to her voice, like she had become lost in a single-minded tone. "It seems my services are no longer welcome. Good luck with the rest of your investigation, Gentlemen."
Harry's heart leapt into his throat when Hermione turned her back on them and began heading towards the door. "Hermione, wait!" He moved to stand with her but found himself stumbling when she caught him with a murderous glare.
"Why?" She snapped. "So I can be underappreciated and belittled more?"
"That's not true, Kitten." Sirius stood too, his eyes soft and his face fallen. "Of course we appreciat-"
"Really?" She interjected before his Godfather could finish. "Because I did not see a single one of you speak up when the two of them began to tear me down. You say you respect me but do you have enough respect to stand up to Albus Dumbledore- or Snape for anything more than your petty dislike of the man- when they do me wrong? "
Harry opened his mouth to speak but found the words caught in his throat. He had been angry at them yes, but why had he not stood up for her? The moment Dumbledore spoke against her no one stood against him. Guilt buried itself deep inside his gut when he averted her questioning gaze.
She waited, but he couldn't find the words. He only found shame. Hermione sucked in a breath at his dismissal and all Harry could do was watch as the guilt also began to sink into both Sirius' and Remus' faces. She didn't wait long after that, in fact, a darkness descended across her face before she snarked out one last remark.
"That's what I thought."
XxX
Water pelted off the edges of her skin as she stared blankly down at her feet. The shower drowned out the internal screaming and the steam was holding together the frayed edges of her emotions. She leaned heavier into her hand, allowing the water to fall directly across the back of her head. This way she could at least pretend the furious tears rushing down her cheeks were one with the stream.
That bastard.
She should have seen it sooner… Remus had been her replacement. Dumbledore finally got what he wanted. He got rid of her. Albus had been trying to be rid of her existence since he requested Harry's assistance. Hell, his persistent nature only doubled when she put herself on the case.
She should have seen it coming, honestly. He had already replaced five of the investigative team with members of his old team. She meant nothing to them. She had no sway in the thick of things. No, she was just Hermione Granger - the extra that came with Harry Potter.
A furious cry came tumbling from her lungs and her fist came thundering against her wall. She was so sick of their attitude and their discrimination, she just snapped. What the hell was she thinking? She'd just abandoned her best friend in a fit of rage, now he was alone with that…that… manipulative son of a bitch.
Hermione could feel the anger leak from her soul with each tear that trickled down her cheeks. She felt so pathetic crying over something like this, but it seemed like her temper couldn't be released in any other way. As it gently lifted from her bones it left behind something exhausted in its wake. Her muscles ached and her head throbbed. She released a baited breath as her silent despair finally washed free from her mind.
She wondered if she should be worried if Harry was equipped enough to handle this himself. Perhaps he could, he wasn't alone anymore, both Sirius and Remus were there to protect him. There was a chance she really wasn't needed anym-
Her thoughts tumbled to a stop when the curtain next to her swayed with movement. Her head snapped to the fabric and watched it wearily. With hesitance, she reached towards the tap and turned the water off. She found she couldn't take her eyes away from the white screen and searched for any signs or shapes of another presence.
With one quick snap Hermione snapped back the curtain but found nothing on the other side.
"Hello?" Hermione sunk her toes into the plush bath mat as she called out for confirmation. She was quick to wrap the towel around her body before stepping out into her hallway. "Harry?"
The pads of her feet hit the floor softly as she lowered her weight with a hesitant ease. She slowed her breathing until it paused deep in her chest to listen as closely as she could. There had been something, or someone. There is no way that movement had been nothing. "Hello, is an-"
A yelp forced itself free of her mouth as a small creature came bounding in from behind her. The orange cat brushed against her leg as it dashed down the hall. "Damn it, crookshanks," She hissed at the cat who gave her an uncaring stare. "you scared the ever living shite out of me."
The cat yowled in reply before it bounded down the stairs and far from her view.
"Honestly." A sigh followed her words and she yanked her bedroom door open with more exasperation than needed. Damn cat ruined her shower and scared her out of her wits.
Hermione ran her fingers through her curls in a poor attempt to salvage the mess they would become. She hated the frizz with a passion. Nothing could be achieved with the mess on her head, other than hope it would stay in a bun long enough to remain professional. She exhausted all resources and products she could find : the strongest, the most expensive and still achieved nothing.
She should just shave the horrid mass off, then maybe she would get some relief. Hermione held back a snort. Who was she kidding, there was no way in hell that she could cut it off, her hair probably would break the scissors.
The smile on her face slowly fell as she spotted a book resting on the edge of her bed. She didn't leave a book out- She never left books out. She handled them with care and put them away where they belonged.
Hermione found herself taking in the room with more attention than she had before, but found no other evidence of another presence. Nervously she approached the bound pages, her mind rearing with the possibilities. First it was something in her shower… now it was something in her room.
"Hermione?" She inhaled sharply at the sound of Harry yelling from downstairs. Her heart sounded like a hammer beating a drum. Her hand cupped her chest to ease the thrum of the blood pounding through her veins.
Sweet fucking hell, she swore everyone was out to kill her.
A heavy sigh fell from her lips as her shoulder slumped. Her eyes narrowed on the book as it the object was the bane of her existence. Harry was probably the one who put the book here and here she was thinking the worst. With one last huff Hermione snatched the book off her bed and flipped the cover to face her.
'The book of Urizen'.
Her body went slack at the sight. It wasn't possible. Her skin prickled with fright as the numbness finally caused her to loose grip on it's cover. The book plummeted from her fingers, but the cover still stared up at her mockingly.
"Hermione!" She could hear the panic in Harry's voice now. "Hermion-" He cut off when he rounded her bedroom door. She heard a sigh of relief leave his lungs when he saw her, but she could not feel that relief for herself. In fact, all she could feel was fear. "Thank god, you're alright"
No. She knew what he was going to say and she didn't want to hear it. She didn't want that fear confirmed.
"Riddle, he-" He bit the words back and distantly she could hear his hands shifting through his hair. He was on edge- nervous. Harry was scared to tell her. Not that he had too, she already knew. "He's escaped, Hermione."
She wanted to deny that possibility, but her eyes could not un-see the note attached to the cover of the book at her feet. It was written on her paper, with her pen.
'Lo, a shadow of horror is risen
In Eternity! Unknown, unprolific,
Self-clos'd, all-repelling: what demon
Hath form'd this abominable void,
This soul-shudd'ring vacuum? Some said
"It is Urizen." But unknown, abstracted,
Brooding, secret, the dark power hid.
Hermione, we will continue our little chat soon.
Best regards, Tom Marvolo Riddle
The breath shuttered from her lungs as she stared down at the haunting reality that note left behind. He had sat in her bed and wrote her a poem from the very book he had returned.
Harry was wrong, she wasn't alright at all.
JD SPARKS :
I am so glad that you are enjoying it so far. As for the lack of detail, there is a reason for it. Harry is the only one who is debriefed in the situation, as Hermione is just an 'extra'. She is really only there to keep an eye on Harry but her clever mind has a habit of pushing her opinions where no one wants it (except maybe Harry). Every time Harry was being told the situation Hermione had left the area to check things out for herself. :)
It makes me happy to hear that you are enjoying the AU, I needed something to play with where I could let things get dark and dark quickly. :P
I hope you liked the new chapter! Until next time!
W0rldofImaginations :
Ah, you flatter me so, dear reader! I hope this chapter lived up at all the love you have granted me! 3
I love, love, love writing riddles. I was so excited to incorporate them into my story. Even more excited now that I know that they flow well with the story!
Hehehe yeah, I had that song (one way or another -by- until the ribbon breaks) playing while I was writing and before I knew it... boom. Tom claimed it for himself. haha.
I hope you liked the new chapter dear.
whitbbae :
aweee, you are so sweet. It gladdens my heart to know that you enjoy my style of writing so much! I always worry that adding so much description would overwhelm people. I just... when I write I want to see it; I want to know what's happening, I want to know how they feel and how they think. lol. I can't help myself.3 I am so glad people are enjoying it, yay!
LOL! Im sorry you cant binge the story, but I am currently working on the next chapter... soooooo, hopefully you wont have to wait to long for the next one. :)
Until next time dear, thank you for reviewing!
Princesslytherin :
I am honored that you are enjoying my AU!
I am extremely fascinated by personality disorders, especially in those who become killers. I have never written a crime story before, but I just had this urge to use my knowledge on the matter to create something. Tom was THE perfect subject.
Thank you for reviewing, I hope you liked the newest chapter!
Guest (1) :
So, are you excited about this new devilment as I am? ;)
Oh, I can't wait either! That scene is so juicy, makes me grin like a mad man ever time I go reread it. You should have seen the teaser of an up-and-coming chapter I put up on my Tumbr… oh the smut is yummy. haha. I'm getting distracted, haha, were was I? Oh right,Tomione banter makes my day! 3
I hope you liked the next chapter! Until next time.
Robin Lynn Smith :
hahaha they should be easier to figure out now that the hint's have been given. Now the question is... can you guess who the killer is talking too now that they have some of the letters? ;)
I hope you liked the newest development! Until next time!
The Infallible Angel:
Yay, Sirius AND Remus! (also Tom, even more so now ;P )
hahah Don't worry, very few figured out the riddles. My testers even had trouble until I gave them a huge hint. (it being a letter not a word)
Oh Bella, Bella, Bella. We shall be seeing her reaaaaal soon. For obvious reasons of course, her husband was a bad boy... no way he's walking out of that escape. The cops are going to be all over that business. hahaha.
Oh, we love how wicked our Tom is. :P I absolutely adore writing from his POV, as well as Harry's. Each one of the see's the world differently and I want people to see what they see. Get a bird's eyes weird of their twisted little minds. hehe.
Ah, you make me so happy! I love that you like my story so much. 3
Guest 2 (Flame) :
I know this 'guest' may not read this reply but I felt the need to reply just in case this concerns any of my other readers.
I suppose you could call me a 'basher' but I in all honestly my dislike for the man comes from a phycological standpoint. In 'Defy and Define' I did point out Dumbledore's flaws, and I am sorry you dislike that, but I did not strayed from his character.
While Dumbledore was a man who did his best for the 'greater good' -in the end- he came about it in all the wrong ways. He decided his way was the only options when that was the furthest things from the truth. All in all, Dumbledore was human. He made mistakes but I also feel people 'hero-worship' him much like they do Snape.
Let me begin here, because I believe this was his greatest mistake and the one thing I find hard to look past: Dumbledore helped create Voldemort. ( You can read more of my explanation here: post/175581622041/to-whom-it-may-concern-i-know-this-guest-may-not )
As much as you do not like it, dear reader, Dumbledore was extremely manipulative during the book and that was one of his biggest character flaws. I'm sorry you associate my dislike for him as a 'lack of adulting', I assure you this is not the case. There was choices, Dumbledore just made a lot of wrong ones and yes, once again he was human… but in my opinion this was a situation he helped create himself and in the end it he was only trying to right his own wrongs.
Fizzybaby8 :
Hehe I am so glad I can make you shiver, I hope this chapter had the same effect. ;)
PhoenixDragon111 :
Thank you, sweet reader, your kind words move me! I hope you liked the newest chapter!
until next time! 3
sylith senjak :
haha me too, that darn Tom, his evil ways are just so loveable. XD
I hope you liked the update!
eepemma :
Eeeeeee, I glad you like the mystery of it all! I am having so much fun writing it. Hopefully the new chapter was as exciting as the rest! 3
YourVeryOwnRandomCatLady :
You are very welcome my dear! Thank you so much for reviewing!
luckydoggy:
Thank you so much for pointing these out to me, I defiantly need to go back and fix that. :)
Also thank you for your kind words! It is a honor to hear that you think so highly of my writing quality! 3
I truly hope you liked the new chapter.
leonix2009 :
Oh yay! It always warms my heart to know that you are enjoying the story so much. 3
hehe, whom indeed. Doesn't that fact that you don't know just eat away at you? lol not having anyone know eats at me hahah, its like having a secrets that I desperately want to talk about but cant. XD
jodibwithoutane :
You are so sweet to me. Thank you so much for all the support you have given me through this, your reviews always make me smile.
The riddles in this chapter were sooooo fun to write, hehe. Actually this chapter was fun all together, of the sweet and terrible promises of Dr. Riddle. How it makes me swoon. haha.
I hope you liked the next chapter and buckle up, because shites about to go doooooown! Woo.