"Miss Wells! How good to see you, young lady, very good indeed".
It was Slughorn and he was really overreacting, she thought with annoyance. It didn't help that this week she had a double lesson with him and that Riddle and some others attended the same class. She could feel his eyes on her even when she didn't look his way. She knew she went overboard with her comment and now she was facing the consequences. The consequences in a form of one psychopathic orphan feeling obliged to teach her her place and possibly make her pay for questioning his authority.
"Riddle's watching you", Joseph said in her ear, and by the sound of his voice, she could tell that he didn't like it one bit.
"Guess he wants to make sure I'm not attacked with a dark curse in front of him, again", she replied not even looking at Joseph.
"Not funny", he said patronizingly and glanced at Dolohov. Hermione did the same. Dolohov was sitting alone at the furthest table looking gloomy and angry. Riddle paid him no mind but Dolohov continued to stare at his backside and only occasionally would he look at her with hatred. And that's when Slughorn would interfere, his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sure, miss Wells, this unfortunate episode won't turn you against other fine Slytherins here and you can be sure to find support and assistance in every one of us".
The man was blind, she thought if the looks on the faces of other Slytherins were anything to judge by. If looks could kill she would be dead ten times over. If committing crimes and hexing other students was a common practice among Slytherins, being caught in the act wasn't, and they didn't take the offense lightly.
"But as I said, spells and curses are an intricate subject which one cannot fully control. On the other hand, potions…"
And he would go on and on about how potions were better than charms.
Even Joseph was sighing silently after the first 20 minutes and he was a great potioneer.
"So we need to prepare more blood replenishing potions, they are very useful", Slughorn said finally and the instructions appeared on the board.
Hermione could brew this potion even if she were to be awakened in midnight. She made many of these while there were still supplies and ingredients. It wasn't for too long, unfortunately. So she made it without consulting the instructions even once and only shook out of stupor when Slughorn clapped.
"Splendid, I must say!" he beamed at her examining the contents of the cauldron. "One of the best I've seen, why it's even better than yours, Tom, my boy", he added cheerfully and shook a finger at him, "Miss Wells here can give you a run for your money...20 points to Ravenclaw, miss Wells, I am highly impressed!"
Joseph looked at her with interest but just shrugged his shoulders, he received his 20 points just 5 minutes ago. She sighed and turned to look at Riddle at last. If only looks could kill…
After the class, Hermione felt an urgent need to be left alone so she excused herself and went to the library. She wasn't meaning to go there but it turned out her legs knew better what she was looking for. She stepped in tentatively inhaling the familiar smell of books and parchments. She browsed the books not even opening them but only touching their covers with feather-like touches. She felt powerful at the moment, even safe. This was her sanctuary in so many ways and she almost whimpered in pleasure when the books slightly vibrated when she touched them.
"I see you've found the library, miss Wells". Hermione's shoulders tensed and she turned around to face non-other than Tom Riddle. "Allow me to advise you something if you only tell me what subject picks your interest".
She turned away from him and turned her attention to the books.
"I thought about how you explained the meaning of Erhwaz next to Sumgort as life and sword. It's not a sword in this sentence", she said nonchalantly.
"It is", he replied confidently and moved to stand behind her, his hand grabbing a book from the highest shelf. "I recommend this book by Aaron Erst, he explains the intricacy of runs with great detail".
Hermione didn't take the book he offered. Instead, she looked at the shelf and picked up another tome, then opened it and sighed contentedly.
"The Sumgort is followed by another Erhwaz, so you have to see it as a cycle. Life and death", she read aloud and turned to Riddle. "It means that we all will die eventually," she said tossing him a book and he caught it by reflex. "I wonder if anyone ever questioned your knowledge, mister Riddle, or the mere idea is unfathomable? I think if a concept is wrong, someone should raise their voice and say so. It goes like: you may think you are right, but you are not, Riddle.
He slammed the book close and dropped it deliberately then looked at her with a sickening smile.
"I hate it myself that no one seems to be on the level… being right all the time is tiresome", he said with a fake sigh.
She bent and picked up the book from the floor wiping away non-existent dust.
"What do you think about muggleborns?" she asked him.
He arched an eyebrow as if he really couldn't believe they were having this conversation.
"I don't see eye to eye with Dolohov, miss Wells, I assure you", he answered avoiding the answer itself. Hermione smiled.
"I'm not questioning you, mister Riddle. I was just saying that it seems that your housemates don't think very highly of muggleborns. It's a wrong concept and so one has to raise their voice to say so.
"This prejudice has deep roots, miss Wells, and it's not one you can eradicate easily", he said lazily leaning on the shelf with the books with his arms crossed on his chest.
"Oh but I'll give it a try", she said and looked him square in the eyes. "If I happen to question your knowledge in the process…what can I say, I'm happy you don't mind competition because it's like professor Slughorn said: I can give you a run for your money".
They eyed each other deliberately slowly and with calculated civility. She could be a fighter and a Gryffindor but he was Tom Riddle more known as Voldemort and he has contemplated in his head the idea of killing her on the spot. Not because she was a threat, no, but because she dared to imply that she could be a threat to him.
Hermione didn't move an inch and hardly blinked. But then Tom Riddle extended his hand and forcefully grabbed the book in her hands, showing her into the hard bookshelf in the process.
"I'll take you up on that, miss Wells", he said leaning in and smirking, then he took the book from her and left her alone and panting heavily.
She was going to the war. Again.