Sorry for any confusion thus far, I really hope this ties up all of those loose ends. Godric gives Hermione a new look at Tom and she discovers perhaps her mission isn't as impossible as she first thought. I greatly enjoyed writing this chapter. Please give me your thoughts on it.
It had been three days since I had last heard him. I could tell he was mad, whether it was from his absence in my head or from the constricting grip of the bracelet around my wrist I really couldn't tell, but with Godric's apparent withdrawal Salazar spoke to me much more often. I sat through my classes, but I didn't raise my hand or even do the work. I sat staring out of the window tapping my quill mindlessly against my desk. Alexander and Mathew tried talking to me, but his absence had left a bitter taste in my mouth so soon enough they left me alone. Even Tom would occasionally glance at me as if to ask why I wasn't acting like myself, but I waved him off and continued to watch out of the window. At the end of class my professor stopped me. I was the last one to leave and as I was gathering my books in my bag I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Hermione, are you feeling alright?" I turned and glanced at my divination professor, as I grabbed my bag and threw it over my shoulder.
"I am fine, just a little bit tired is all, madam. Thank you for your concern." I smiled and turned to leave, but once more she stopped me.
"There was something else I wanted to tell you. I am well aware that you have no love for divination, and that is fine with me, but I have heard many discouraging whispers about the upcoming future." She looked past me as a dreamy look came over her face and her grip on my shoulder tightened.
"As you said I do not believe in divination, the future is what we make it." With that I left her to wallow in her theories, but not before I heard her mutter.
"And that is what I am afraid of." I gave her no inclination that I had heard her; only a slight pause could be seen as I stalked through the class and walked to my room. It was true that I had been tired, I hadn't gotten much sleep in the past several nights, I was still trying to understand how I could change a future that I still believed to be set in stone. I collapsed in my bed ignoring the looks from the other girls as they got ready for dinner. Sleep, my pet, he has much to discuss with you. A familiar tightening in my chest arose when I didn't hear Godric's gentle roar. So needless to say I wasn't expecting to see him in my dream that night.
It was winter here freshly laid snow made a quiet crunch as I walked along the cracked sidewalk. The cold bit at my skin and the wind whipped wildly around me, but I kept along the trail. It was a mundane world with no sign of color, even the sky was an ashy shade of gray. Muggles past me each extravagantly dressed, no doubt too absorbed in themselves to see a woman on the sidewalk dressed in rags, perhaps they thought her to be a beggar, but I knew better. Even from here I could feel the magic roll off of her, and in some odd way it seemed familiar, but the robe she wore covered her face. I followed her as she made her way through this lifeless place; she kept at a quick pace until she came to a large, rundown building. Another woman greeted her and invited her in, after they had gone; I carefully approached the building as I looked at a plaque plastered on one of the many stone columns that aligned the building it read: Wool's Orphanage.
I didn't even have to turn around as I felt Godric behind me. He stood next to me still as stone, the only colorful thing in this otherwise, colorless world. His skin still held its luminance golden glow and his eyes still reminded me of melting honey, but I found I couldn't look at them for very long. The look of disappointment and anger were too apparent in his features.
"Why did you bring me here, Godric?" I asked my voice was shaking as I turned back to him, keeping my eyes on the ground. Without saying a word he took his hand and waved it through the air, as my surroundings quickly changed. "Look, cub." His voice was harsh and the name he often called me sounded as more of an insult. Regardless I did as he asked and turned to view the scene in front of me. We were in a room, small and dirty, but surprisingly warm.
The woman from earlier laid on a bed, as I looked to her face, I found that I didn't recognize her. She was skeletally thin, except for the large bump of her stomach, the other woman was older grey speckled in her hair. She ran around the room grabbing blankets as the other woman screamed, it appeared as though she was giving birth. I sat there for several hours as the screams continued, more people came in and out, but none stayed for long. Godric had left me quite a while ago. It wasn't until a child's cry rang out throughout the room that I picked myself up and walked over to the bed.
"It's a boy ,Merope." A smile spread out on the new mothers face as the baby was wiped off and laid in her arms. The boy cried, but became silent as he was placed with his mother as he burrowed into her chest.
"He's so perfect. Just like his father, so beautiful." I sat there quietly it had become apparent that they couldn't see me so I found no fear in standing over Merope's shoulder to look at her new son. He was quite cute with several dark tuffs of hair on his head, "He will have his father's name Tom, but his last name will be Riddle." I froze as his eyes opened and they were the same emerald green that I had hated for so long, but now they were full of innocence and wonder and I found that I couldn't tear my eyes from them. The spell was broken as the older woman yelled as someone rushed in to take the baby, as I heard Merope whisper one last thing to her son in parseltongue as she drew in her last breath. I backed away slowly from the scene as people swarmed in and tried desperately to save her, but I knew it was too late.
I left the room, not wanting to see anymore, when all of a sudden I heard a child cry. I followed the sound as I came across and old wooden door; I gently pushed it open and found Tom lying alone in his crib. I wandered over to him and cautiously pressed my hand against his head as he quieted down, his eyes flitted open to look at mine. I smiled and gently picked him up and rocked him in my arms. He wrapped his tiny hands in my clothes and allowed his eyes to close once more.
"How can you be Voldemort, it doesn't seem possible." I whispered more to myself than anyone else.
"You would be surprised at what people are capable of doing, Hermione," Godric appeared from behind me, as he laid a hand on my shoulder as eyes went from my face to Tom's. "My Hermione, where has your hate gone? Where is that hatred that you have for him that you hold so dear to your heart?" His voice was taunting. The truth of his words hit me as I gently placed Tom back in his crib. I inhaled deeply before turning to Godric.
"He is innocent as of now, Godric, but it doesn't last forever." I withdrew slightly as his eyes seemed to flicker with anger once more, as his magic seemed to make it impossible to breathe. In a sudden whirl of grey and black I was thrown into grass. I carefully picked myself up and looked around. I was outside of the orphanage once more, but this time I was inside of the tall fence that wrapped itself around the length of the building. I was making my way back inside when I came upon a group of children laughing. I wandered over to them and my stomach turned. A young Tom stood with his back pressed against a tree while another boy nearly twice his age and size taunted him mercilessly. I tried to stop him, but found that my hands went right through him.
"Stop this Godric, now." I sunk to my knees as the children huddled around the fight laughed and threw insults at Tom. When all of a sudden the boy hit Tom, he fell to the ground.
"Why? As I said before do you not hate him?" I couldn't see him, but his voice rung out through my head, as I was left to watch unable to move and unable to speak. The boy finally stopped, but Tom it appeared was trying to get back up. I tried to tell him to stop, to lie down, but he didn't hear me. The bully turned amazed as Tom got to his feet, but I recognized the look in Tom's eyes, I had that look too when I accidently blew up my mom's favorite vase. Faster than I could blink the boy was thrown back against a rock, a sickening crunch rung out as a heavy silence fell, but soon the boy began crying saying that his arm was broken. Tom was shaking, but shortly thereafter collapsed as he looked down at his hands, confusion plastered on his face. I had just witnessed Tom Morvolo Riddle's first encounter with the magic that would soon become his curse.
Just then a round, woman came bounding down the path, and ran over to the boy with the broken arm. The children were so busy calling Tom a freak that they didn't even notice her arrival.
"What happened here?" Her voice was shrill and the children instantly quieted at the sound of it. I was amazed to see the woman that stood before me was the same person that had delivered Tom all those years ago. A girl who couldn't have been over the age of five spoke first.
"Tom did it, Ms. Cole, he threw Billy against the rock. He's a freak." She said her tone full of accusation as Ms. Cole turned her venom filled gaze to Tom who just stood there taking the abuse quietly.
"I should have known, you have been nothing but trouble since your mother abandoned you here. You're lucky that he isn't seriously injured. Get out of my sight now." Tom scrambled to get up, but his wounds made it difficult. Eventually he managed to limp behind the orphanage which overlooked the town. I was able to see his forest green eyes fill with unshed tears, which soon turned to hate, as he stared intently at the blood on his hand. I reached out for him, but the entire scene around me dissolved leaving me back in Tom's bedroom. He was older now as he sat at his desk staring out of the window, perhaps eight or nine, as the rain rolled down the window.
"You have someone here to see you, Tom." A young, woman called to him, she must have been new, because I had never seen her before. He didn't even acknowledge her as he continued watching the rain fall down the window. I sharply inhaled as I saw a dark haired Albus Dumbledore walk through the door and sit on Tom's bed.
"You're a doctor aren't you? They always send doctors." I felt a pang in my chest at his words, but kept silent once more as I saw understanding flicker through Dumbledore's face.
"No, Tom, I am not a doctor. In fact, I believe I am a lot like you. Have you ever done anything tom, anything that you can't explain?" Tom turned his head to Dumbledore and quickly took in his appearance; perhaps believing him not to be a doctor Tom nodded his head.
"I can't control when they happen, but I can make things happen and people hurt without even having to be around them. Can you do that to?" Tom cocked his head to the side as Dumbledore looked to the closet as he set it on fire, Tom jumped back as Dumbledore smiled before putting it out.
"There is a place for people like us, Tom, people who understand us. It is a school for special children, I also happen to be a professor there, and I am offering you a choice. Come with me and be able to control your magical outbursts or stay here. The choice is yours." I laughed to myself I knew anyone would take that deal in a heartbeat as Dumbledore rose from the bed and made his way out of the door.
"Can you speak to snakes?" Dumbledore paused as he turned to look at the young boy, even I could see he was not expecting that question.
"No, Tom only several people have that power. And those that do have found a home at Hogwarts." With that the room around me changed once more as I found myself sitting at a table in an empty Muggle café with Godric sitting across from me.
"You must forgive me, Hermione, for being so harsh, but you had to understand." I nodded my head in understanding, relieved that Godric was calm. "It was in some ways my fault as well, I told you to look at him as Tom Riddle, not Voldemort, but how could you? You didn't know anything about Tom's past only his future. Regardless though now, my lioness, it is imperative that you show Tom what he has been denied before it is too late. Take what I have taught you about him and use it to your advantage. His pride and arrogance are masks nothing more, my child." He rose from his chair and turned to leave.
"Godric, wait. I still need you." He left the door as the bell above the door rung. I will never leave, you cub, even when I was quiet I was still watching over you. I smiled to myself as I sat there still processing what I had seen when suddenly music filled the room. I turned to see Salazar standing there looking quite dashing in silver trimmed dress robes. I rose to join him without thinking as I took his hand, his arm slid around my waist pulling me tight against him, as we sway gently to the haunting rhythm.
"Salazar, I have to go." I mutter into his neck. He chuckles lightly as he nods his head.
"Yes, my love, you have much to do, but just this once allow me to have this moment." I nod my head as I let myself get lost in the beautiful melody.
"Hermione," my name was being called over and over, "Hermione." Ignore it, precious, ignore them all. I looked to Salazar who looked unaffected so I chose to ignore the voice that was until I shot up in bed. I rubbed my eyes and stretched only to find Myrtle standing next to me.
"What's the matter?" I ask my voice still groggy with sleep. She was breathing heavily and her glasses were sliding off of her face.
"Theodore, one of Tom's friends, just asked me to the winter ball. Can you believe it? I can't wait." I swung my legs over the side of the bed and made my way over to my trunk, as she sat down on the windowsill.
"Winter ball?" I asked still confused, as I searched through my trunk until I found my hair brush. Myrtle had a dreamy look on her face. I sighed and went over there and snapped my fingers. A perfect opportunity, use it to you advantage, lioness.
"Oh sorry, um it's like a big school dance, but at the same time it's so much better than that. The entire castle is decorated from left to right; there is no class, and best of all no curfew." I nodded my head understandingly as I ripped the brush through my tangled mess of hair.
"Well, then, why aren't you going to go with Tom?" I questioned as I finally through my brush down muttered a charm under my breath and my hair fell in perfect ringlets deciding that would have to do for today.
"Since Tom is the head boy he has to go with the head girl. Oh, I almost forgot I came up here to tell you that Dippet wanted to see you in his office. I have to be going now, Toms expecting me but come find me later and let me know how it goes. I do believe Abraxas has something to ask you." It would appear as though you made quite an impression, pet. She hopped down and turned to leave, but not before giving me one of those knowing looks as she closed the door. I smiled back, but as soon as she had left I rummaged through my trunk until finally I found a piece of parchment and a quill as I quickly wrote down a sloppy note. I went to my window and soon enough Strength showed up, I latched the note to his leg and with that he was gone.
I got dressed and straightened out my clothes, before leaving the dormitory. I stalked my way through the common room which was rather crowded. I looked for Alexander and Mathew, but they seemed rather distracted as I heard them telling their friends about the quiditch game the night before. I rolled my eyes before making my way to Dippet's office. When I arrived Tom was already there and deep in discussion with Dippet. I gently cleared my throat and Tom stopped midsentence.
"Excuse the interruption, monsieur, but I was told that you wanted to see me right away." I walked up to his desk and turned to look at Tom, but as I looked at him I found that I couldn't picture him as I always had before. I couldn't look at him as the murdering psychopath with the haunting red eyes, but rather the scared eight year old boy with the beautiful innocent forest green eyes. See him as he truly is, not as what he will become, my child.
"No harm, no foul, my dear girl. I was just discussing with Tom here about the ball next week, I trust you have already been told." His voice cut off as Dumbledore entered the room; his eyes twinkled at me as he passed by. He gave Dippet a note before leaving once more.
"Of course, it is nearly impossible to walk down these halls and not hear about the ball." I joked as I tried to understand exactly what I was doing here.
"Yes, true, very true. I just wanted to talk to you about after the ball; many of the students go home for two weeks for winter break. Seeing as though your current situation doesn't allow you to do so, I was wondering if you would accept our invitation to spend the winter holidays in this castle. Tom, here, is also spending the break here as are several other students." I looked between Dippet and Tom.
"I will gladly accept your invitation you have all been far to kind here. Surely there must be something I can do to pay you back?" It would be the first time I had spent the holidays at this castle, and I would need something to do over the break, other than of course spending time with Riddle. Which I can assure you I am looking forward to, oh so much.
"Well, if you insist you and Tom can do a project, which will grant you extra credit in any class that you wish," both of our ears instantly perked up, "it will be a potion that the two of you must brew to counter act the effects of lycanthropy." I knew for a fact that in the future no such cure was said to exist, surely he wouldn't send us on a wild goose chase. I opened my mouth to speak, but Tom beat me to it.
"But, sir, no such cure has ever been found." I let out a breath at least I wasn't the only one who was confused.
"You would be wrong, Tom, a cure exists it is the most rare potion in the world, mainly because the ingredients are nearly extinct. Now do you two accept this challenge?" Tom knew as well as I that neither of us would ever back down from a challenge. We both accepted as Dippet clasped his hands together.
"Wonderful, I have all the faith in the world in you two. Now back to the dance for the past several years it has been tradition for the head boy to escort the head girl to the ball. However this year unfortunately our head girl Olive Hornby has fallen ill and had to be taken to St. Mungo's Hospital, as you can imagine we have not yet told the student body. It has been brought to my attention; Hermione that you have would be a perfect replacement. This would also mean that you and Tom would be going to the dance together." A smile sprawled its way onto my face, as I turned to Tom. Well done, cub, you make me proud.
"I am very humbled by the request of course I will accept. I am looking forward to going to the dance with you Tom." Surprise was written on Tom's face as I calmly accepted the invitation, but he quickly masked over it with indifference as his eyes ran the length of my body. He brought my hand to his lips.
"I can assure you, Ms. Belle, I am looking forward to going with you as well." I smiled once more before excusing myself. It had appeared that Dumbledore had gotten my letter in time; from now on out I was going to have to teach Tom Morvolo Riddle how to love, and what better start then a ball. I chuckled as I turned the corner only to run into Abraxas. Tsk. Tsk. Pet what have you gotten yourself into.