A/N: Small chapter this time. It's Roderick, and he doesn't have much to say. Last we left him, he got busted coming out of Gryffindor Tower by Snape. Poor guy. Anyway, we now know that Hermione and Tom are both at Hogwarts, and this is the last time we see Roderick for a while. Hermione has her own mess to solve. But until then, remember the fact that Harry's a ghost, and that Tom's motives are still pretty unclear.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or Hermione Granger, or Tom Riddle. However, I do own Roderick, and I will smack you if you steal him from me.
0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0
Chapter 14: Recognition
In the end I received a month of detentions each weeknight with Professor Snape, doing assorted chores in his classroom, and a stern warning from Lucius Malfoy himself. He was a stunningly intimidating man, freakishly beautiful with long, elegant, blond hair that dripped over his shoulders to glide over the back of his chair. I couldn't say he was handsome, because he wasn't really. His sharp angular features would no longer entice a woman, especially because he was at least sixty, but he was definitely beautiful. His expression and tone were undeniably patronizing, and I had spent my ten minutes in his office in a mix of awe at his power and appearance, and scared beyond belief that he would unpredictably hex me.
When he had finally granted me exit from his office, it was late and I was dumbfounded. I was so screwed. He said he would be informing my mother of my infraction. As I curled up in bed I considered what this would mean for us. It was doubtful that they would attempt to inform her in person, and an owl was more likely. Our location would remain a secret, as an owl would find the person, not the address on the envelope, but what I feared was her reaction. I was no longer under the radar, never had been to be honest, and what she would do scared me, because I didn't know what she would do. Pull me out of school? Make us move? Disown me? Nothing? No, she would do something, how could she not? She would be furious, the ultimate Hermione Granger Mega Madness Meltdown as Terry used to teasingly call it. I was hardly ever on the receiving end of her temper, but when I had been, it wasn't pleasant. Bloody hell, she was going to kill me! I cringed at the possible howlers she could send.
Should I write her? Well, what could I say? That I'd met the ghost of her dead best friend, Harry Potter, who claimed she was dead as well? No. Then she'd definitely bring me home. I didn't want to go back. Well, I'd see what her reaction was first, and then respond accordingly.
Classes were awkward. No students knew of my little transgression, but the teachers did of course, and they all judged me for it. Slughorn gave me a saccharinely sympathetic smile during potions and moved to speak to me after class, but I forced the oblivious Megan to ask him for an explanation of an ingredient in the Engorging Solution. In Dark Arts, Snape was just as cruel and snarky as ever, and he lectured about basic dueling instead of a practical lesson, though he managed to glare at me at every opportunity. He was probably just annoyed by the fact that I hadn't been expelled, as he had most likely wanted. Charms was the worst though; Professor Malfoy wasn't mad at all, just disappointed. He avoided me, pretending that he didn't notice me in class. I hung back to talk to him on the first day of classes after I got caught, but he ducked out of the classroom and into his office. Disappointed, I didn't try again.
But soon I was no longer able to worry about my teacher's opinions of me, because I began to realize that their opinion was already made. Slughorn sucked up to me and treated me well because of my father and my talent. Snape hated me because of my mother and my lack of fear for him. Professor Malfoy watched me because he feared what I could do and still harbored feelings for my mother. Lucius Malfoy treated me the way someone would treat a hyper puppy, cuddle it and threaten it just a tad so that it behaved and wouldn't run away. Knowing this made it obvious that I wasn't exactly free at Hogwarts; I was just as watched as I was at home. I had gone from one fishbowl to another. However, this could only get worse.
I woke up early on the second Monday I was to have detention. The morning started out normally; I dressed in my robes and swept out of the boy's dorm before any of the other boys in my year had even woken up. As was custom, I walked down the spiral staircase to the common room and found Megan waiting for me as she had been since she'd learned I woke early. We walked down to the Great Hall together and I read the Daily Prophet as she received mail from her parents and commented on quidditch. The rest of Slytherin filled in the table around the two of us, and eventually the staff table did the same as teachers drifted in and out. Snape never ate breakfast in the Great Hall, and I was relieved to see that this hadn't changed. But in his customary chair next to Lucius Malfoy sat another man. From the distance between us I could not get a good look at him, though I could register that he had dark hair and donned a fancy pair of black wizarding robes with ornate silver clasps that caught he light.
I noted his sudden appearance in Hogwarts, but didn't think much of it. His presence was not announced by the Headmaster, and I forgot about the stranger because of a particularly dramatic and grueling Dark Arts lesson in which Snape managed to jinx me when I wasn't paying attention. I scowled deeply for the better part of the morning, recalling how I had tripped on air on my way out of the classroom. I ate lunch in the kitchen on my own, still mortified.
I was eating my dinner, avoiding looking at the Staff table in case Snape chose to gloat over his minor victory, when it happened. Megan was sitting closely at my side, not quite sure what was wrong but willing to help in any way she could. Megan was a loyal friend who followed me no questions asked, though I was careful to make sure I didn't confide anything valuable in her. She harbored a small crush on me, I could tell, but if a crisis occurred and she had to choose between her family or me, I knew I was second priority. For now I ignored her interest in me romantically, expecting it to fade quickly. For now I was grateful for her support and sent her a thankful smile. The blond blushed and knocked over her goblet.
"Students, may I have your attention," the Headmaster announced, and I twisted around on the bench to watch as he stood up, his long hair shimmering spectrally in the candlelight. Conversation ceased immediately at the three house tables, and I allowed myself to observe the other occupants of the staff table. Professor Snape was sitting in his usual chair, though seated between him and the Headmaster was the stranger from breakfast. The man was elegantly cutting his steak with his cutlery, his slender fingers gently clutching the silver. Once again I could not get a clear look at his face because he was looking down. Lucius resumed his speech.
"I am honored to announce that a friend of mine shall be staying at Hogwarts with us to observe your classes. Please treat Master Riddle-," my eyes snapped once again to the man looking down, whose eating had not halted. Riddle. I glanced at Professor Malfoy to find him studying me carefully. Our eyes met and he frowned apologetically before looking down at his meal. "As if he were a member of the staff, and I advise that you respect him, as he has the power to distribute punishments just like any staff member. If your behavior reflects poorly on myself or the school, I will have no qualms ordering you to pack your bags and board the Hogwarts Express." This man was my father, and he was here! I could deal with having my instructors aware of my parentage, but if the students figured it out as well, as they no doubt would, everything my mother and I had worked for would be destroyed. Thankfully father was using his birth name and not his actual title of Lord Voldemort, plus he was not the serpant-esque man I had been expecting. At least if people knew who my father was, they wouldn't realize he was the cruel ruler of Europe.
Once again I wished I knew more about the circumstance of my conception. If I were a rape child and my mother escaped, then my presence at Hogwarts would put her in danger. Not only her, I reminded myself, but also Denis, Blaise, Luna, Terry and the others. If my parents had had some type of fling, as unlikely as that was, then perhaps he wouldn't bother us. I would have to cling to that unlikely hope.
Lucius Malfoy sat back down and gradually students resumed their conversation. Megan asked me something but I paid her no mind, continuing to stare at 'Master Riddle.' She reluctantly turned away and struck up a conversation with Austin Flint, while I studied my father. As if feeling my eyes on his face, he looked up at me, his expression blank. The similarities between us were startling, and though no recognition could be seen on his face, I knew in that instant that he knew exactly who I was. The locket hummed under my shirt, warm and soothing, but it did nothing to calm my buzzing nerves. Shaken, I grabbed the strap of my book bag and leapt off the bench before turning my back on my father and bolting from the hall.
0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0
So he was here. So what? Didn't matter. He would leave eventually. He wouldn't bother me because he would never want the world to know that he had a son with a muggleborn witch. If he approached me I would threaten to expose him. If he revealed who I was I would expose him. I would get home somehow, fly for days across the Atlantic Ocean if I had to, sneak into Snape's office and use the floo network, blackmail Professor Malfoy into apparating me, anything. I would protect my family the way he hadn't protected us. Nothing would change that.
I spent that night in the library looking up hexes. The Restricted Section was unguarded as always, and I pilfered book after book, memorizing curse after curse. The Dark Arts poisoned people, mum warned me, but I knew this was worth it. I would be careful; I wouldn't be taken over. This was necessary. I committed a few potions from Moste Potente Potions to memory. It was necessary. I didn't sleep at all. It was necessary.
Sleep would have done me good, I knew that. I felt the effects of sleep deprivation, imagining shadows among the shelves. I could feel someone watching me but whenever I turned around there was no one there. It was all in my head.
0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0
A/N: Short chapter, I know. But I'm going back to Hermione next chapter. And she has a while.
Anyway, thoughts? I had to show that Tom was out and about around the castle, and that Roderick is far more in the loop than either Tom or Hermione realize. And as for the dark magic, I know you all will be freaked by Roderick's experimentation, but don't worry. Little Rick won't be completely possessed and freaked out, but he'll get himself into a little trouble down the line.
So as I said, we're going back to Hermione next chapter, and we'll stick with her for a while. You can look forward to: Narcissa being wise and funny, Draco being pathetic and depressing, Hermione getting drunk, Tom being snarky and emotional, and Myrtle being smug. So it's all fun. Teaser? I'll give you a few, since I gave you such a small chapter.
"Look, cheer up. You're back where you belong, with us, and everything's going to be fine."
And…
"Oh Merlin," he breathed, turning around to face me. His eyes were accusing and jealous. "You love him, don't you?" I gasped but he continued before I could deny it. "He's got you fooled, hasn't he?"
One more, because I'm so nice.
"Hermione," he started, his voice soft and loving. "I made you my responsibility. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Hehehe. This is my favorite fanfic ever. I love it more than Magnetic Attraction and Where White Meets Black and everything else. Review! I'd love to get to 500 one of these days.
Word Count: 2218