So here is the Hogsmeade trip, FINALLY! I know it's been a really long time since my last update, but writer's block got to me But the good news is I finally figured out where I wanted to take this story so hopefully this doesn't happen again. Like I said this is the day and Hermione finally has another run in with Riddle. As always let me know of what you thought, I take each review to heart .
It was late into August; the wind silently crept through every shop carrying with it the soft unmistakable scent of freshly made pumpkin fizz and skeletal sweets. Leaves spun like ballerinas in the air as they gently fell from the trees above ranging from a beautiful shade of crimson to an enchanting golden aura that could make the sun hiss in jealousy. A smile crept onto my face as I saw children hang to their parent's arms begging to go inside the shops, but their parents simply waved them off as they walked past the brightly lit windows of honeydukes. Almost cruel isn't it, such temptation. I was barely able to hear the sound of breaking glass come from Olivander's wand shop as I silently laughed to myself, and wondered who hadn't broken a thing or two when they had tried to find their wand. I was brought back to my current situation when I heard Abraxas distinctive drawl.
"So, Hermione, what do you think of our little town here?" I couldn't quite tell if he was saying it to just to be polite, or if he was actually curious, I decided to indulge him.
"Well, since you asked Mr. Malfoy, I do find it very enchanting. It is quite homey I guess if I had to describe it in one word." I let my voice carry off into the wind as we continued walking in silence. I thought he had said something, but right then I saw Alexander and Mathew with dates of their own walk by us. Alexander brushed against Malfoy, but other than that he made no indication that he even saw us, I released a breath and decided to change the subject as I saw Abraxas turn to glare at the back of Alexander's head. It seems some hatred will never dissipate, huntress.
"Since you appear to know this town so well Mr. Malfoy, I am quite sure you would know the best shops to visit." I said tugging on his arm to get his attention focused back on me. His eyes took an undeniable look of pride as he pointed his chin upwards. I had learned long ago the only way to talk to a Malfoy is to give them complement after complement. I inwardly cringed, but I reminded myself that I had to do this. Some time ago Tom's group had split apart and Abraxas and I had decided to walk around the lake, which was quite a breathtaking scene, but soon after I realized I was left alone with Malfoy. I will protect you, my pet.
"Call me Abraxas, I insist. Of course, I would be more than happy to show you the finest shops around here. Is there anything that you needed in particular?" I could have sworn if only for a moment he was truly smiling, but as quickly as it had come it was gone. I tilted my head to the side and stroked my chin, with my free hand.
"Well, I suppose, I am going to need a familiar this year." I said rather absentmindedly. And with that he we sharply turned down the street to Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment. I looked at a store at the end of the street that seemed awfully familiar; it suddenly hit me that I was looking at Fred and George's future joke shop. It brought, yet another goofy smile to my face as I remembered when Ron meaninglessly tried to argue a price for the chocolate frogs with them. It is always wise to keep memories such as these close to your heart, cub.
"And why may I ask are you so happy, Hermione?" I shook my head as we stopped two stores down from the one building that could still bring a smile to my face. I turned back to Abraxas and tried my best to keep the smile on my face.
"Nothing, it just reminds me of a joke shop we used to have in France. I spent a lot of my childhood in there." The smile fell from my face as I remembered seeing it burn when the deatheaters destroyed diagon alley. He noticed the subtle change in my facial features.
"What happened to it?" I pushed the door open as I made my way into the shop ahead of him.
"It got burned down." I muttered as I heard him enter in behind me. To say the least it was packed with parent's trying to get their children supplies for next year, each parent needier than the last, I walked towards the back. The building was made entirely out of brick as were most stores in diagon alley, but this one seemed more aged than the rest. The bricks were chipped and the once prominent color faded to a dull grey, I walked over to the sound of animals as I surveyed the selection of familiars, the wooden floor boards creaked as I walked across them. Towards the corner were animals varying from owls, cats, frogs, etc. they were each in their corresponding cages.
I silently walked past a wooden box and shivered as I heard a familiar hissing sound. I quickly made my way past it, as I went towards the birds. When I was younger I had always thought of a familiar as though it was just another pet, but when I found Crookshanks I realized that wasn't the case at all. Each of them carry their own independence and personality that make them almost more human than animal. Not only that I once read in a book that they are willing to follow their human companion until the end, they are more loyal than any friend and smarter than any book. I severely doubted I would be able to find such an animal here, but I have always been a fan of chance. I find it fascinating because it is something unpredictable. No matter how strong someone may be they are always likely to be a victim of chance whether it is to their benefit or not.
So as I strolled through the store I heavily doubted my chances, but soon I came upon a bird. Its talons hung tightly against the bar as it stared at me, it eyes as black as I remember. I felt a familiar pull, just as I had with Crookshanks, as I scanned my eyes over his feathers that seemed to almost hang in tatters around him as he cocked his head to the side almost as if he was mocking me. I could have sworn that this was the bird that I had seen out on my roof, but then again ravens all look alike.
"How charming, an omen of death." I heard Abraxas approach, as he passed the Raven with a glare and made his way over to the wooden box I had passed earlier. I ignored him and edged my way to the cage.
"I suppose, there are many different folklores surrounding the ravens, I have always chosen to see them as guardians and signs of wisdom as opposed to omens of death." I slipped my fingers inside the cage and pet his back gently as he positioned himself closer to the bars. I once again heard a sickening hissing noise as I saw Malfoy with a baby snake that couldn't have been more than a foot long, wrapped around his arm. He turned his head to talk to me, but I saw the snake rear its head back and strike before I could even form words. In a sudden rush of emotion he flung the snake across the room and rubbed his arm insistently. I momentarily left the side of my bird as I approached the snake and picked it up cautiously. It moved its diamond shapes eyes across the span of my neck and it almost seemed to bow its head as it allowed me to put it back inside the box. A snake never bites the hand that feeds hatchling.
I heard groaning behind me and turned to see workers in the shop looking over Abraxas arm. I rolled my eyes I knew as well as anyone that a snake this young couldn't have been poisonous, it was perhaps just a little too young yet. Malfoy was yelling in protest as they tried to tell him nothing was wrong, he insisted he could feel the poison in his veins. I quietly chuckled and grabbed the bird making my way to the counter. A man was working there who couldn't have been over thirty smiled while looking at Malfoy throwing a fit behind the bookshelf. Is he always this childish?
"Excuse me monsieur." I called waving my hand in front of his face; he seemed to suddenly snap himself out of a trance. I heard in the distance Malfoy threaten to sue the shop as I saw the color drain from his face.
"Sorry, miss, it's just not every day you see a Malfoy made a fool of. It's such a shame we always have to pay a price when I do." I smiled and looked back to Abraxas.
"Maybe not this time," I sauntered over to Abraxas and pulled gently on his coat pocket. His face was red with either embarrassment or anger, I couldn't quite tell.
"Come along, it was an accident, they do happen Abraxas I assure you. Let's not allow this to ruin our day." I smiled seductively at him as I turned and made my way back to the register, I heard Abraxas utter one last threat as he turned to follow me. Who can resist you, my precious, but remember who you belong to. The worker had a look of amazement on his face and as I asked him how much I owed him he waved me off.
"You have down us a service, Miss. I have learned more than once never to cross a Malfoy, please accept this gift as our gratitude." H gestured for me to take the bird as he glanced over my shoulder once more.
"I thank you monsieur, but is it possible if I could collect him later today, I still have much more shopping to do this evening. I would hate to have to drag him through all that." He nodded his head in understanding as he promised to put him behind the counter until I would return. With that Abraxas and I left the store as I once again wrapped my arm around his. I snuggled closer to him, as a strong wind swept through the town that seemed to carry the distant smell of burning leaves. Such a soothing sent isn't it, my lioness?
"I take it snakes are not your specialty?" I asked in a mildly taunting voice hoping he was over his temper tantrum. I could fell his chest shake as he chuckled quietly, as we turned the corner and went back onto the main street.
"Ironically enough they never have been, then again it is nearly impossible for one snake to trust another I suppose. Could you imagine if that I snake was just a few weeks older and had venom? I surely wouldn't be standing in front of you now." I heavily sighed and rolled my eyes once more. As of late, I couldn't get that lucky.
"That is what makes life exciting, taking chances. It gives our usual mundane lives a spin of surprise so to speak. I never used to chance anything, but now I realize that if you don't take chances then you don't succeed in anything." I had learned shortly after coming here that no matter what I had done in my past the perfect O.W.L.S, the sparkling attendance, even all those nights spent in the library were useless now. This wasn't some test where I was stuck between letter a and c, because if that was the case I could pass with no problem. No, here everyone had a hidden side and nothing was as black and white as a test. Such as it is many times in life. I looked up and saw the sun slowly setting into the sky as we walked past the shrieking shack.
"It's said to be haunted, want to find out if it's true?" I asked Malfoy as he looked down at me amusement clearly etched on his features.
"Well if I didn't know better, Belle, then I would say you are a sucker for those old urban myths." He raised his eyebrows as his gaze flickered to the shack.
"And if I didn't know better, Malfoy, then I would say that you are scared by those old scary, myths." I countered raising my eyebrows just as he had done. He sighed heavily as we made our way up to the path of the shack, when all of a sudden I saw Malfoy grab an old pocket watch from his coat. It was intricately carved with a snake sinking its teeth into the flesh of a lion under the shade of an old oak tree. His brows furrowed as he calculated the time before he calmly put the watch back into his umpteen pockets.
"I am afraid, Hermione, that I agreed to meet Tom soon surely you do not mind if we come back another time, we must be on our way." He didn't wait for me to respond as he turned on his heel and made his way back the way we had come. Cursing under my breath I turned and followed him. I eventually caught up to him as he reached down to hold my hand, cool to the touch from his leather gloves.I didn't say a word as we ventured away from the everyone else; I simply tightened my hold on Malfoy's arm. We walked in complete silence as I followed him, into a small dark alleyway that led to the pub. I stiffened at the realization and I felt Abraxas throw me a questioning look.
"Don't be scared, Hermione, nothing will happen to you here, I promise." Needless to say I didn't feel comforted by his words, as I stared at the sign to the Hog's Head that swayed gently in the wind above us. I heard the sickening creak of the door as the smell of alcohol instantly hit me. It took all of my self control not to gag, as we made our way in. It was the most disgusting place that resided on the grounds of Hogwarts, both because of its appearance and the residence. The floor appeared as though it had never been mopped, with mud and dirt so thickly splayed on the floor it would take a knife to be able to scrape up all of the layers. The walls were quite literally falling apart with wall paper peeling off and cobwebs residing in the corners. I tried to ignore the stares I received from several wizards in the bar as I tugged slightly on the hem of my dress trying to make it longer. Let them look at you, precious; let them look, because they can never touch.
It seemed years until we reached a large table that appeared to be in the best shape. It was a padded booth than ran long enough so that it could sit ten or eleven comfortably. They seemed to all be in deep discussion as we arrived, my eyes glued to the ring on Tom's hand. He ran his hand over the rim of his drink almost in a taunting manner as his eyes clashed with mine.
"How kind of you two to show up, we have been waiting for quite a while we feared you might not make it in time." I glance to Abraxas to see him uselessly trying to cover up the fear in his eyes I slid my hand from his as I sat down next to Myrtle and across from Tom, Abraxas sat to my right. The table was surrounded with the same kids from the library, his followers I imagine. Be wary of your words, you are drastically outnumbered, huntress.
"Forgive us, we lost track of time, I assure you it will not happen again." I gave Abraxas a dumbfounded look and turned my piercing gaze to Tom who seemed to enjoy Malfoy's obedience.
"See to it, that it does not." The warning note was clear in his voice as Myrtle cleared her voice and tried to redirect the conversation.
"So, Hermione, tell me how does our little village stack up against the beautiful sights of France?" I could see myself reflected in her glasses. My hair was still curled to perfect and my make up was without flaw, somehow even to myself I felt fake and it made me sick. My musical laughter filled the room.
"You would be surprised. As I told Abraxas earlier I have never been in a place that feels as welcoming as this. In France everything seems so rushed, but here time seems to almost slow down." Myrtle and I talked for a while as Tom and the others excused themselves I wished to follow them, but Myrtle was insistently chattering in my ear. I followed them until they turned the corner out of sight. I sat there talking over school, life, and my old friends as Myrtle asked me every possible question about my old life. I knew deep down that it was actually Tom who had all of these questions, but I made no move to say as much. So I smiled and replied the usual it was nice or I really miss living there. It seemed to put her at bay, at least for now. After a while I finally decided I couldn't take anymore, I pretended to look at my watch and be surprised by the time.
"Oh my, I completely lost track of time, you are going to have to forgive me Myrtle. I have to go pick up my bird I have left at one of the shops before they close. Perhaps we can talk more during class tomorrow?" My voice carried with it a hopeful note that surprised me; I guess it was actually nice to be able to talk to someone here without having to watch what I said.
"No problem, Hermione, I will see you tomorrow." With that I got up from my seat, calmly pushed it in then tried to leave the pub as quickly as I could ignoring the stares that followed me. I was so distracted, as I left the building that I failed to notice the shadow waiting for me. He's always around to save the day.
"Going somewhere, Hermione?" Tom's rough voice washed over me as I froze in my tracks, and slightly turned my head.
"As a matter of fact I am, but I do not see what business it is of yours, Riddle." I tried to keep my voice level as I stalked off in the direction of my bird, but I soon saw Tom next to me casually whistling a haunting melody that seemed to echo endlessly off of the old cottages that surrounded us.
"What kind of person would I be if I let the best friend of my girlfriend wander aimlessly by herself?" I didn't even spare him a glance as I slowed my pace when we were nearing the store.
"Which is exactly the kind of thing you would do, so once again I ask what business is it of yours?" I spun to look at him; he was about three feet behind me with a half hidden smirk on his face. He claps his hands slowly in an unsettling manner as he draws closer to me.
"Bravo, Belle, bravo. I must admit that you intrigue me. Your brilliance is second only to mine, your strength unrivalled, and your beauty is unparalleled. As I said it captures my attention, but yet I am left to wonder why do you hate me so?" He tilts his head to the side as he lazily reclines against a nearby pillar. He may look relaxed, but his hand is holding his wand, lioness.
"Don't toy with me Riddle, but since we are having this heart to heart. I have two questions for you. Why are you dating Myrtle, and just how did you get that ring?" I stand poised my wand pressed tightly against my body. He chuckled darkly.
"You don't make the rules here, Belle, answer my question first then if I'm feeling merciful I will answer yours." I hiss out loud which greatly surprises me, but Riddle seems unfazed as he stares back with the same cold expression. Such arrogance, my pet, end it now would you?
"The first time we met you threatened me, you seem to have hated me first, you insult my friends, your arrogance truly is unrivalled even by Malfoy, and you stole my ring. Your turn." I taunt him as I purse my lips and stand with my hand on my hips waiting his words. He seems angered by my words and I wonder if I have said too much, but he soon calms down as he stares at the sky.
"Your two questions go hand in hand, I am afraid. Yet I will not tell you the answer to either because I'm not in a merciful mood, but you will find out soon enough. I could torture you now and no one would hear," he slowly draws closer to me and whispers in my ear as I felt something pushed into my hand "but that's not enough fun. See I have taken an interest in you and sometimes that's worse. By the way, princess, I just wanted to make a point." He brushes past me as I stand there frozen once more; he calls over his shoulder, as I look at my hand to see the ring shining dully in the light.
"Come along, Hermione, we want to get to back to the castle soon." I narrow my eyes and follow him from a distance as we enter the store business has died down significantly. There are only a few students left wandering around I immediately go to the desk and ask for the raven. Tom does the same, but he asks for his snake. I swallow loudly as I see Tom handed a baby Nagini. The raven caws loudly throughout the room. Let the games begin.
"Strength," the man from before says quietly to me.
"Pardon, monsieur?" I ask, slightly confused.
"His name is Strength, treat him well." With that he disappeared behind the counter, as the rune of strength disappears from my bracelet. I could faintly hear Riddle whispering parseltongue to his newly acquired snake as I saw Tom glance once more at me as he disappeared into the night. I was left alone with Strength as I laid my head in my heads and desperately tried to figure out how I was going to complete a mission I still didn't completely understand. I have faith, precious, I always have faith.