A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows! The next chapter will be an epilogue, from Hermione's POV, so you will get a little glimpse at her thoughts (finally!). I hope that you all enjoy this one. You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions.
Please let me know what you thought of chapter twelve and be on the lookout for chapter thirteen next week!
July 1945
Tom found time to sneak off and celebrate his NEWT successes with Hermione in the days after the exams were completed. Though he didn't have his official results yet, he was certain that he'd received an Outstanding in every subject he attempted.
"Do you know how I've done? From your time?" he asked, cheekily. Hermione seemed to know a lot about his life from researching her enemy.
"Sorry, I can't say that I've tracked down your marks before," she answered with a roll of her eyes. "But what I do know is that everyone said you were an exceptional student, so I am sure you did great."
He was a little appeased to hear that, even if he would have liked the early confirmation. And, if by some horrible twist of fate he hadn't received top marks, he knew that he'd at least passed the five NEWTs required to work at the Ministry of Magic. Not that it mattered when he had Brutus Malfoy willing to pull some strings for him.
Hermione bit her lip, perhaps worried that she'd hurt his feelings. "I also know you did great, because I know how hard you studied for the exams," she added shyly.
"I did study a lot, but I think my natural skill would have let me pass without even trying," he said smugly. Seeing Hermione's annoyed face, he couldn't help but smirk at her. "What? Hermione, you have natural talent, too. You shouldn't be afraid to admit it."
"It just sounds so conceited when you say it like that," she said, her eyes dropping down to her lap.
"Is that a surprise to you?" he asked, knowing it was not the first time that such a thought must have crossed her mind. They had not started out as friends, obviously, and he was sure she'd had even more uncharitable thoughts about him.
Hermione raised her hand to give him a light swat on the arm, only for Tom to catch her hand. "I wish I could have celebrated with you instead of my Knights," he said, bringing each fingertip up for a kiss. "Your company would have been infinitely preferable than listening to Evan and Edmund sniping at one another all night."
He noted her quick intake of breath when he kissed her. "Your Knights?" she asked, after a brief pause.
"Yes, the Knights of Walpurgis...just a group of like minded Slytherins," he explained. "Does the group not survive to your time? That would be disappointing."
"Not that I am aware of," Hermione said, with a scrunched up nose. "Your followers are called Death Eaters in my time."
Even Tom, who had a certain flair for the dramatic, thought that Death Eaters sounded terribly over the top and he couldn't imagine any grown wizard proudly calling himself that. He was glad to know that he had a group of people who supported him, though.
"You know, when I was with them, I started to think about something you told me not that long ago," he added, hoping it sounded off hand. "About how you jinxed a contract to curse a signer should they break the terms. I was wondering if you thought that could be incorporated into a physical mark. A brand, perhaps?"
Hermione gave him a horrified look. "Must you always remind me of my worst behaviors, Tom?" she asked, her cheeks turning pink.
"That can hardly be seen as your worst behavior," he said with a frown. He wanted to encourage this creative, devious side of her, not have her embarrassed by the way she acted. "They knew that there could be consequences should they break their promises."
"Yes, but I didn't tell them that's what was happening when they signed the parchment!" Hermione argued back.
Obviously, it was still a touchy subject for her, but Tom liked the idea even more if they didn't know about the curse until after the brand was given. But, he could tell Hermione that, not when she was clearly upset. He knew that he'd be able to get more details about how she'd achieved it later, if he posed it as a purely academic exercise.
"Let's not talk about it any more," Tom suggested. "I just want to enjoy a little time with you before I have to tell my Knights that plans have changed with regards to my future. Thanks to you." He pressed a kiss to her lips.
Hermione relaxed into the kiss, happy to be able to think about nothing for a while. But then she pulled back, blinking at him. "What's the rush? Surely it could wait until after you are settled," she asked.
"Because tonight is our last night in Hogwarts. Everyone will be on the train back to London tomorrow," he explained. He watched as Hermione began to hyperventilate, perhaps at the thought of being left alone once again. "Don't worry, I promise that I won't leave the castle without you, even if it means finally going to see Dippet about it."
"Please don't abandon me here, Tom," she begged, her fingers digging into his shoulders, holding onto him as tightly as she could.
"I would never," he swore, and knew that it was true. He would do whatever it took to get her out of the tower, even if it meant killing Dumbledore himself. He almost felt a little guilty knowing that he could have freed her months ago, but didn't. It wasn't enough to kill Dumbledore. He wanted her to do it. To finally free herself from her captor. To take her life back.
She gave him a little smile, but he could see the lingering doubt in her brown eyes. "I would never forgive you if you did," she answered.
"I believe you," he agreed, knowing that Hermione was as stubborn as he was, and she could undoubtedly hold a grudge. "But I have to go now, get a few last minute things in order. Just think, tomorrow, we will be toasting to our successes in London."
Hermione laughed a little bit, but held onto him a little tighter. Then after a beat, she let him go. Tom felt a surge of emotion at the realization that Hermione trusted him. He wasn't sure why it felt so important to him, but it did.
He didn't want to let her down.
It was painful to lock her away in the Dark Tower, for hopefully the last time, but he knew it needed to be done. It was only compounded by the fact that he did not want to go share the news with his friends, but he knew that he needed to. If he waited any longer, it would only make it more difficult for them to accept.
When he returned to the Slytherin dorms, he made a quick stop to the room the fifth years shared to collect Abraxas, Neville and Graeme. The rest of the seventh year boys were already gathered in their dorm room, working to pack their school trunks for the final time. It was going to be hard to say goodbye to Hogwarts after so much time together.
Tom spent some time making small talk with the guys before he could put off his task no longer. "I would like to talk about my plans after school," Tom said firmly.
"Finally," Edmund snapped, clearly unhappy to have been left in the dark for so long.
"I've spoken with Abraxas's father and he's offered to act as a patron for me," Tom said, being sure to hold his head high. He wouldn't let any of these sharks think for a second that he wasn't perfectly comfortable with the arrangement. "I'll be accepting a job as an Under Secretary to the Minister of Magical Cooperation."
"Good on you, Tom," Alfie said with a smirk. "I've always thought you were more a politician than a professor."
"I can see us toasting to Minister Riddle in a few years," Louis said with a grin.
"What?" Edmund asked, clearly annoyed. "Magical Cooperation? You are going to be working with the muggles?"
"Yes, I've had a change of thought on the mudbloods," Tom said, knowing that this would be the hardest pill to swallow. "Even if we shut them out of our world completely, it doesn't rid the world of mudbloods. That chances the muggles learning about us and even using them against us. Better to bring them into our world earlier so that they turn their back on the muggles."
Everyone looked a bit stunned, except for Abraxas who had heard this argument once before. "But what about blood purity?" Evan asked first, sounding a little bit dumbfounded. "Why would we let inferiors into our world?"
"It's because of this mystery witch of yours, isn't it, Riddle?" Edmund accused. "She's gotten into your head and mixed things around!"
"It has nothing to do with my witch," Tom answered crossly. "Even though the mudbloods might be inferior, that doesn't mean that they don't have a place in our society. And some exceptional mudbloods might be incredibly useful to us, despite their inferior beginnings."
Edmund, ever the purist, was not willing to let this go. "If it's not because of a witch, then it's because you are nothing more than a half-blood yourself," he sneered.
Tom felt rage bubbling up in his chest, having Edmund throw his blood purity in his face. "And you've always looked down on me for that, haven't you Lestrange?" Tom countered with a sneer of his own. "But even your blood purity wasn't enough to get people to like you more than me. Even here in Slytherin. Do you wonder why that is?"
He watched gleefully as Edmund sputtered, cheeks going red. The other wizard looked to the rest of the Knights, wondering if they would join in his teardown of Tom, only to find them firmly on the side lines.
"I'll tell you why," Tom continued, giving Edmund a big smile, relishing the thought of rubbing salt into the proud wizard's wound. "Because even though you might be pureblood, the fact that I have a muggle father doesn't erase the fact that I am the more powerful wizard. Everyone here knows it."
Lestrange made a few noises of disagreement.
But Tom wasn't finished. "And not only am I more powerful than you, Edmund, but I'm the only one here willing to go as far as it takes to seize power. You could have stood up to me countless times over the years, but you always fall in line," Tom added, furious. "Just like the follower you will always be."
Despite his best wishes, it was clear that Edmund had no kind of response to the truth that Tom was leveling at him.
Tom still needed to know that he was on his side, though. It was now or never for Edmund Lestrange. "So, are you going to go along with the plan or not?" Tom demanded, wanting nothing more than to be done with this conversation and return to his witch.
Edmund looked strickened at being so called out. Even though it was clear he still held resentment for Tom, it was also clear that he didn't have the guts to do anything about it. "Of course, Tom. Whatever you think is best," he choked out.
"Whatever I think is best," Tom said with a grin. "I like how that sounds. Now, does anyone else have any grievances to bring up?" he asked, peering into each of his friends faces, daring them to speak out against him.
Alfie was the first to speak. "No, Tom," he said with a grin. "I trust you. And even though things might have changed, I trust that we'll still be able to do whatever we want when you're Minister one day."
"Sure, I support you, too, Tom," Gus said, a hint of fear in his eyes.
One by one, the rest of the Slytherins all gave their allegiance to Tom Riddle, even though he was a half-blood orphan with a muggle father. They all saw something more in him that they wanted to get behind.
Evan broke the tension. "Salazar, Tom, you've got a witch now?" he teased. "When do we get to meet the witch that caught your eye?"
"Soon," Tom promised, with a smirk. He was ready to show Hermione off to the rest of the world. "Speaking of her, though, I need to go free her from an evil wizard's clutches. Abraxas, loan me some galleons. It can be an advance from what your father will pay me."
Abraxas didn't even bat an eye before reaching into the pocket of his robe and handing over more than enough galleons. Tom pocketed them himself, before bidding the rest of his friends good evening, wondering if he was about to leave total chaos behind. Was it wise to leave them alone to air grievances so soon after he'd told them his plans? He wasn't sure, but he knew that he'd made a promise to Hermione that he was going to keep.
The long walk up from the dungeons to the Transfiguration corridor seemed to take hours, sand slipping through the hourglass and passing him by. Of course, Tom knew it was only an illusion, as it was the last time he would have to make the journey. He bound up the stairs of the Dark Tower, pausing when he got to the door. Fishing the key out of his pocket, he put it in the lock and threw open the door, calling out to his witch.
"Hermione, are you-"
His words died on his lips when he saw that Hermione had company. Dumbledore stood next to her, looking at Tom with an eyebrow raised - not necessarily in surprise, but more like amusement.
"Oh, I see the two of you have met before," he said, a dangerous undercurrent in his jovial tone. "Hermione, you failed to mention this before."
"I-i-" Hermione stuttered, obviously unsure of what to do. Her face was deathly pale, and she was concerned - concerned for him.
"Why didn't you mention it, Hermione?" the professor repeated, his ire bleeding through.
Tears sprang to Hermione's eyes as she grew upset with being scolded. "You don't understand," she argued. "You left me in here for almost a year with no company and Tom visited me when I had no one else."
Dumbledore rounded to look at Tom, his face distorted by the moonlight streaming in from the window. "And you," he growled. "I told you not to go into the Dark Tower and here I learn that you've been visiting it all school year?"
Tom started laughing at the professor trying to scold him for visiting a poor witch that had spent the year trapped in Hogwarts. "What do you even have to say to me about it, Dumbledore?" he asked. "How can you live with yourself when you've trapped Hermione in here - a prisoner - for months and months on end. You are lucky I didn't report you to the Headmaster."
"And why didn't you, Tom?" Dumbledore asked, not batting an eyelash about the accusation. "Don't start acting like you are a saint when you could have let her free at any point."
Hermione looked confused for a moment at Dumbledore's suggestion, only to have her resolve harden. "It's not as if I didn't try to get out of here," she insisted. "But it was you that put blood wards up and prevented me from leaving the Tower!"
"Someday you will thank me for preventing you from destroying our world," Dumbledore insisted. "You couldn't be let free. Not with everything that you know. But I have a plan now." He reached out for Hermione's hand, wanting to pull her close.
But Tom was a bit faster. Drawing his wand, he leveled it at Dumbledore. "Step away from the witch, Dumbledore," he commanded, his voice deadly serious.
"Put your wand down," Dumbledore insisted, before drawing his own. "You don't want to start a duel that you can't finish."
That was enough to get Tom to act, casting the first curse Dumbledore's way, which was easily deflected. The two wizards circled around the room, mirroring one another, each trying to gain the upper hand. Tom wanted to get a better sense of his opponent and continued to throw spells Dumbledore's way, hoping to tire him or prompt him into going on the offensive.
But, Dumbledore was more principled than that. He merely blocked every curse and jinx, sending them spinning off in every which direction, destroying the Tower's extravagant decor piece by piece.
Hermione screamed as a slicing hex narrowly missed her and darted behind the overturned settee for cover. Her head peaked over the top, unable to take her eyes away from the duel, needing to know the outcome.
Because she wanted to be free of the tower.
But, also because she was worried about him. Because she cared about him.
Tom thought that their little duel might continue on as it was forever, until he finally managed to get a slicing hex past Dumbledore, catching him on the leg. Immediately, Tom could see the dark stain of blood seeping through the fabric, showing that Dumbledore was just as human as the rest of them.
Hermione gasped at the sight, her knuckles digging into the fabric of the settee as she leaned forward, wanting to see if Dumbledore was truly hurt.
Perhaps realizing how serious Tom really was, Dumbledore seemed to switch back on, finally pushed into being the attacker. Tom blocked a few of his spells, but he knew that he had to feign fatigue so that Hermione would step in. He knew that she would never feel truly free unless it was her that cast the killing blow to defeat her captor. She had to take her life back.
Seeing his opportunity Tom sidestepped a curse, letting his foot drag on the rug to trip himself. He went sprawling, groaning when he hit the ground, his wand flying out of his hand and rolling away from him.
Dumbledore was quicker to act that Tom expected, menacing towards him before Tom even had the chance to see where his wand went. "You always were trouble, weren't you, Tom?" Dumbledore asked with that condescending tone of his. "I knew it from the moment I met you."
"I was a boy," Tom answered, scrambling backwards, trying to get away from the other wizard.
"I tried to help you," Dumbledore continued, pointing his wand directly at Tom's face. "But you just kept making the wrong decisions."
Tom was unphased by the wand and openly sneered at the man. "I think I've done alright for myself," he sneered. "I've done outstanding on my NEWTs and even have a job waiting for me at the Ministry."
"Why is it that no one can see through you except for me?" he asked out loud, though clear that he did not expect a response. Dumbledore was in almost total disbelief that no one else had caught on to Tom Riddle's tricks over the years.
Dumbledore loomed over him, his wand still pointing down, and Tom could begin to feel that trickle of fear that he might actually kill him if he got the chance.
But he never would.
Because he had forgotten about the other occupant in the room.
Hermione.
"Expelliarmus!" her voice rang out clear in the Tower, making Dumbledore's wand fly from his hand in a great arc, landing in the witch's outstretched hand.
Both wizards turned to look at her. Tom imagined she looked like some sort of avenging valkyrie, with hate blazing in her brown eyes. And in her hand, she was holding Tom's wand firmly, pointing it at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore was not going to be bested with a simple disarming spell, though, and it seemed that his duel with Tom was not over. Grabbing him by the front of his shirt, Dumbledore hauled Tom up, pulling him face to face.
"Let him go," Hermione said, her voice wavering for the first time.
Dumbledore would not, and only gave her a bitter laugh. "Put that away, Hermione, we both know that you aren't going to use it," he taunted. "This is between me and Riddle."
"I said...put him down, Dumbledore," she repeated, sounding less and less confident by the minute as Dumbledore failed to react to his vulnerability.
Tom was growing annoyed, knowing that Hermione just needed to go for it. "Do it, Hermione," he insisted, pushing at Dumbledore's shoulders and hoping to get free from his grasp. "You know the spell, you know the movement, you just have to say the words."
She made a little noise of agony at the thought of it, but finally sent a stinging jinx strong enough for Dumbledore to drop to his knees and release Tom. When he recovered from the pain, it seemed like it was the first time that Dumbledore considered she might actually go through with it.
Turning to face her, Tom could see how Dumbledore's eyes widened when he recognized the look in her eyes - her primal need to be free, and him the only one standing in the way of it. Her wand hand was shaking as she fought with herself over what she knew she had to do.
"Please, Miss Granger, let's talk about this," Dumbledore said, an edge of fear evident in his voice. "I can help you."
Tom couldn't let Dumbledore's words sway her off course. Dumbledore was only trying because he knew what Hermione could do it him. "He didn't help you before, Hermione. He locked you up in here," Tom insisted. "You know that there is no other option."
"Don't listen to him, Miss Granger - Hermione," Dumbledore continued, growing more desperate as the look in her eyes hardened. "He's trying to sway you down a dangerous path, a path you cannot win."
Hermione shook her head. Tom could see the shimmer of tears in her eyes as she agonized over her next move. Her wand hand was shaking, but she kept her wand pointed at Dumbledore. "You made me do this," Hermione said, staring down at the wizard who had trapped her for so long. "You've pushed me to this fate. And I can't-"
Her voice cut off as she closed her eyes tightly.
For a brief moment, Tom was worried that she was losing her edge. "Do it, Hermione," he commanded, as sternly as he dared. If she didn't go through with it now it would be the end of him. He needed her to take the leap of faith and kill Dumbledore. "Do you want to walk out of this Tower or not?"
"I can let you out!" Dumbledore pleaded, realizing just how dire the situation had become.
But it was the wrong thing to say.
Hermione's eyes snapped open, giving Dumbledore the coldest look that Tom had seen. Dumbledore had obviously had many chances to let Hermione go over the year, but that he would only offer it to her when she held the wand was not a very convincing bargaining chip to Hermione. Her wand hand was moving in a flash, the movement familiar to him. "Avada Kedavra," she whispered, only to seem genuinely surprised when the telltale green flash was produced from her wand.
Dumbledore was dead.
She dropped to her knees and started sobbing. Tom shuffled across the floor to wrap her tightly in his arms, knowing that she needed comforting. Her body was shaking while he held her, the lingering hum of magic in her veins. Even though she was upset now, he was exceedingly proud of his witch. He knew that she'd had it in her.
"I had to do it," she repeated several times, convincing herself. "Right, Tom?"
"Yes," Tom confirmed, even though he knew it wasn't the truth. He almost felt a little badly about pushing her to do this when it could have just as easily been him. But he needed to push her to her full potential. He needed something that would tie them together forever. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You did so wonderful. But we can't stay here. We need to get you out of here."
Hermione weakly nodded and let him help her stand up, though she was still leaning on him for support, emotionally wrought. She pressed his wand back into his hands.
"Are you ready to walk out of the Tower?" he asked, hoping to lift her spirits a little bit. Even though she was upset about taking someone else's life, he knew that she had to be excited at the prospect of getting out after so many long months in the Tower.
She stilled, suddenly nervous at the idea of being free after so long in a cage. But then, that familiar look of pure determination came over her face and she nodded. Tom guided her towards the door, standing on her side so that she wouldn't have to look at Dumbledore's lifeless body.
Hermione paused again at the door, suddenly worried. "But Tom, how will I get out of Hogwarts?" she asked, nervous. "I'll get stopped and then they will realize what I've done!"
"Don't worry about that, Hermione," he cooed. "Dumbledore did us a favor by not telling anyone that you were here. No one else knows about you but me. And as for getting out of Hogwarts, well, I've got that figured out, too."
Then, they descended the stairs together, giving Hermione her first glimpse of Hogwarts after months trapped in the Dark Tower. He was sure that part of her wanted to look around the school for what may be the last time, but she was also practical enough that she knew they had to get going.
When they got to the bottom, Tom did not lead her in the direction of the Headmaster's office or even towards the front entrance of the school. Instead, he ushered her towards Dumbledore's office. It was an easy matter to unlock the wizard's door, shutting it behind them quietly.
Tom cast a quick incendio in the fireplace to get the flames going. "Dumbledore had a personal floo connection set up when he was off fighting Grindelwald," he explained. "So, you will be able to use it now. Go to the Leaky Cauldron in London. Do you know it?"
"Yes," Hermione nodded. "But Tom-"
"Here is some money," he said, fishing out the handful of galleons that Abraxas had given him. "Take this and go rent a room there. I will join you tomorrow after Brutus shows me the flat, and then I will bring you with me."
"But Tom-"
"I promise that it's only for one day," he insisted, knowing that she was probably frightened about being alone after what she'd been through but his absence would be noted, and her presence would be to. There was no other option. "I will come for you tomorrow. I've kept my promises to you so far, haven't I?"
She nodded. "Of course," she agreed. "I'll..I'll go."
"Good," he answered in relief, glad to know that she would be looked after for the night. He found the floo powder and handed her a large handful.
"But Tom, my wand...I can't leave without my wand," she said, sounding distressed.
"I'm sorry, but there is no time to look for it, Hermione," he told her regretfully. "I will buy you a hundred wands if you want. We can even commission your wand from Ollivander if you'd like. But for now, you will just have to settle for using Dumbledore's wand."
In the rising moonlight, Tom could see the nerves on Hermione's face beginning to fade as the realization that she was actually free began to set in. She nibbled on her lower lip as she thought over his words, convinced that she should go then to the Leaky Cauldron. With one hand full of floo powder and the other pressed against her stomach, she surged forward to press a kiss to his lips.
"You better show up tomorrow," she insisted. "Or I won't go."
"I'll be there," Tom promised once again.
Hermione turned then and threw the floo powder into the fire, her destination clearly on her lips. She stepped into the green flame - into her freedom.