Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter!
AN: Hi all! Not a super long chapter, but it ended at a breaking point that seemed right – the next chapter will be the start of the Christmas Holiday at Hogwarts! I hope you are all still reading and liking this story, I know it's "slow" in terms of their relationship progressing, but I don't want to rush this…I feel like the coming of age, and the development of their relationship will make that moment when it actually happens all the more exciting. Thanks in advance for your reviews and favorites! xo
The passing days brought with it a flurry of rumors of what or whom may have been behind the attacks on the four Slytherin students; Hermione had heard theories ranging from Grindelwald to the monster that resides in the Chamber of Secrets.
No one suspected that it could have been another student; no one that is, except for Hermione.
"It had to have been the monster, I mean, why would Grindelwald attack the children of his own supporters? It's the only thing that makes sense." Charlus said as he reached for a muffin.
"Actually, Potter, that makes even less sense. Everyone knows that the monster is controlled by the Heir of Slytherin, and besides, they were all purebloods." Minerva argued, glancing at Hermione out of the corner of her eye.
"What does the legend say resides in the Chamber?" Hermione asked as she chewed thoughtfully on a strip of bacon.
"It is said to be home to a monster, but no one's ever seen it. In fact, I'd wager the whole thing's a load of dung. No one's ever found such a Chamber." She waved dismissively, "Grindelwald on the other hand, is real, and he's a mad man."
Hermione excused herself, not wanting to hear any more, and made her way back to Gryffindor tower. She hadn't spoken to Tom since that morning in the library, the knowledge that he had used dark magic to injure another student heavy on her conscience, though guilt still twisted her gut every time she caught the pleading looks he sent her way.
Hadn't they tried to kill him? Was what he did really so different?
Hermione sighed. Why was everything always so complicated when Tom Riddle was involved? He had almost killed Billy Stubbs back at the orphanage, yet he claimed to have done it to protect her. This was different; he could have reported them, and they likely would've been expelled, but instead he took the opportunity for revenge. It was wrong.
"Hermione?"
Shaken from her thoughts, she looked up to see Minerva standing beside her bed and looked up at her with a wide eyed expression.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, I just wanted to see if you were alright; you've been acting a bit…odd."
Hermione shook her head and was about to brush of her concern until Minerva spoke again.
"Actually, come to think of it, you've been acting strange since the night before the attack…the night you said you were out with Riddle."
Hermione blanched, she couldn't mean…
"You know something, don't you."
"It's not what you think-" Hermione began before Minerva held up her hand.
"Well I certainly don't think it was Grindelwald, and I know it's not some mythical monster, but if Riddle did something-"
Hermione felt the blood freeze in her veins, and a surge of hot anger rise up inside of her.
"They could have killed him, Minerva, and no one would have cared!" Hermione yelled as she shot to her feet with her hands balled into fists at her side.
"What are you talking about, Hermione?" Minerva asked in confusion.
"They've been tormenting him for months, did you know? You yourself said that he was an outcast in his own house; they tried to kill him."
"Nonsense; Abraxas and the lot may be many things but they aren't murderers, Hermione." Minerva said crossing her arms.
Hermione raised an eyebrow in indignation, "They used an unforgivable on him, Minerva, I saw them!"
Minerva covered her mouth in shock. She knew the Slytherins weren't too happy about having a Muggleborn in their house, but she didn't think they'd ever resort to physical violence.
"Besides, Tom was with me that night, as you well remember." Hermione added sheepishly, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment.
Minerva's lips twitched as she bit back a smile, "I do"
"Could you…could you keep what I said to yourself? Things are already hard enough on Tom as it is…" Hermione asked giving Minerva a small grateful smile.
"Absolutely. My lips are sealed."
ooOo0oOoo
He was at their table in the library when she found him.
"Tom?"
Tom looked up sharply from the parchment he had been writing on with an unreadable expression.
"I wanted to talk to you…" she said quietly as she pulled out the chair opposite him and slid into the seat.
"About what?" he said flatly as he narrowed his eyes at her slightly. Was he angry?
"I just wanted to say-" she began before he cut her off
"What, that you're sorry? Sorry that you left me after I dared to defend myself? Spare me." He scoffed.
Not angry then; he was hurt.
"Tom, I didn't leave you, I just needed some time to think!" she shot back.
"Think about what, Hermione? About the fact that those bastards had it coming? About the fact that I finally did something about it? That they got what they deserved?" he spat as he picked up his quill to resume his writing.
An echo of his words from the day Billy Stubbs was attacked flashed through her mind:
What happened out there, I did that for you. For us. That kid is scum, Hermione, and he deserved everything he got. Is that how you repay me? By helping him?
"I lied to Minerva." She said quietly.
His quill stilled on the parchment, but he didn't look up.
"She knew you weren't exactly on good terms with the other Slytherins, and she asked if you'd done something to them." Hermione admitted, biting her lip nervously.
"What did you say?" he asked as he met her gaze evenly.
"I told her that it was impossible, because…" Hermione trailed off, her cheeks reddening once again in embarrassment.
"Because?" he prompted, the corner of his lips twisting into a knowing smirk.
"Because you were with me." She said in a rush, covering her face with her hands.
Tom chuckled, "Better for her to think that I was too busy snogging you to attack my housemates. Clever."
Hermione shot him a glare.
"I'm still angry with you." She said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Tom lifted an eyebrow at her expectantly, waiting for her to say what was on her mind.
"Dark magic is dangerous, Tom, promise me you won't use it again."
Tom ran his hand through his dark wavy hair as a look of annoyance crossed his face.
"Hermione, magic is just magic. It's neither dark nor light; there is only intent. My intent was not to murder innocents, unlike Grindelwald; my intent was to give them a taste of their own medicine…to teach them a lesson."
"But you-"
"Do you trust me, Hermione?" he asked suddenly, cutting off whatever she was about to say.
She stilled. Did she?
She remembered there was a time not so long ago in the cave when he had trusted her enough to share his secret.
"Yes." She answered, and she meant it.
"Good. Then let's not speak of this again."
ooOo0oOoo
As the holiday season approached, Headmaster Dippet made an announcement at the leaving feast that the investigation into the attacks had reached its conclusion. Testing of the victim's wands revealed that they had perpetrated the attacks upon themselves, preceded by one of the unforgivable curses; the Imperius curse. It came as no surprise when the students were only given a month's detention for what was considered a prank that got out of hand, rather than expulsion, seeing as that their parents sat on the Board of Governors. Additionally, access to the library's restricted section would be very tightly controlled, and protected by wards rather than the usual repelling charms.
Despite knowing what actually took place, Hermione was grateful that there was no longer talk of Grindelwald or some fictious monster roaming the castle's halls. She was equally relieved to note that Minerva had kept her word.
"I hear your staying at Hogwarts for Christmas? Lucky, that." Charlus sighed beside her as he tucked into his dinner. He had made it very clear that he had no desire to go to France with his parents for the Holiday break, and she begun to feel sorry for him until she remembered that she no longer had parents to take her on vacations, whether or not she wanted to go.
"Honestly, Charlus, the quidditch pitch will still be here when you get back." Minerva rolled her eyes.
Hermione's eyes drifted to Tom's, and she felt her stomach flip at the thought that they would have two whole weeks to themselves, without having to worry about who might see them together. She knew there would be a handful of other students staying behind as well, but she knew none of them would be from Slytherin House.
As the feast drew to a close, the prefects gathered up their housemates, and shepherded them off to their respective dorms. In the morning, the majority of the student body would be boarding the Hogwarts Express to spend the holidays with their families.