CHAPTER 4- First Acts of Kindness
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The next month and a half passed rather uneventfully. Hermione's life basically revolved around her studies and trying to figure out the conundrum that was Tom Riddle. She had reviewed every single snippet of information about Tom Riddle she had ever absorbed in her conversations with Dumbledore and Harry and still had gotten absolutely nowhere with her mission. Why did I even think I could do this? He's Voldemort for Merlin's sake.
Hermione woke up extremely early to sunlight streaming through her window on a cold Saturday morning. Hermione stared up at the ceiling. It was useless trying to go back to sleep now. She was really quite disgusted with herself by her lack of progress. This really wasn't like her. Usually, she does whatever it takes to get to her goal. Quite Slytherin of her now that she thought about it. Hermione shuddered and pushed aside that disturbing thought.
Right, Hermione. You just need to grit your teeth and face Tom Riddle. No matter how horrible or uncomfortable it might be. It's not like he can murder you without anyone noticing.
With this thought, Hermione began to get ready for the day, a plan quickly forming in her head. She dressed in a forties style skirt, blouse, and stockings and walked down to the common room. She stationed herself in an armchair facing the stairs leading of the Head Dormitories to wait for the Head Boy to make his appearance. Hermione tapped her ink-stained fingertips on the plush armrest while mentally rehearsing her plan. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Hermione heard quiet footsteps descending the stairs.
Riddle stopped in his progress down the stairs when he saw Hermione sitting impatiently by the fireplace.
"Was there something you needed?" he said apathetically.
"Actually, yes. Do you want to do go Hogsmeade today? Not like a date of course. More like… Head business"
"Head Business?" Riddle looked down at her from his lofty position on the stairs. Hermione felt distinctly uncomfortable. She should have thought out her position more thoroughly. She did not like him looming over her like this. He was already tall enough.
"I thought it could be a way for us to actually acknowledge each others existence"
"As enjoyable at that sounds, I'm going to have to decline," he said dryly and began to make his way to the portrait hole.
"Too afraid?" Hermione said. Riddle stiffened and pivoted around.
"Or are you just too stiff to actually have any fun?" she added. He gaze hardened.
"Listen, Evans. Even if I wanted to, I can't. My guardian didn't see fit to sign the permission slip," Tom snapped
Of course, Hermione had expected this and that's why she decided to enact one of her first acts of kindness.
"Ah, but that's where you're wrong Riddle. Meet me back down here in ten minutes" Hermione prayed he trusted her enough or was at least was curious enough to do what she asked.
"Why should I trust you, Evans?" Riddle looked skeptical.
"Because I might the only way for you to go to Hogsmeade. And you have to admit you're at least a tiny bit curious about what its like." She stood up and poked him in the chest with her pointer finger. Hermione took a page from Riddle's book and raised her eyebrows in expectation for good measure. She stared at him expectantly.
"Fine," he spat and turned on his heel to stalk back upstairs.
"Hallelujah! It worked!" Hermione silently celebrated before dashing upstairs to put on a coat, scarf, and gloves. Hermione added an extra scarf to her bag just in case. The morning was proving to be quite chilly. She was about to leave to go downstairs when a sudden idea struck her like bludger to the face. She dashed to her trunk and began rifling around. Hermione thanked her lucky stars she had thought to stuff Harry's invisibility cloak in her pocket before coming to the past. It just might come in handy; after all, they weren't technically allowed to go to Hogsmeade.
Back downstairs, Hermione found Tom already waiting for her wearing his uniform cloak, looking as perfect as ever albeit slightly annoyed.
"Well?" he said
"All in good time, Riddle," she said mysteriously and walked past him without checking if he was following
Once in the corridor, she slowed down for him to catch up. He matched her stride easily as they wound their way toward the third floor. All the while she could feel him watching her. They abruptly stopped in front of the statue of the one-eyed witch. Upon arriving, Riddle looked unimpressed. Hermione put up a hand for him to wait. Oh, this is going to be good!
Hermione tapped the statue's hump and whispered, "Dissendium." Immediately, the hump opened and revealed the secret passageway to Hogsmeade.
Tom looked momentarily surprised but quickly reverted back into his mask of indifference.
"How did you discover this? You've only been here for two months"
"What, Riddle, are you angry the newbie might know more about your precious castle than you do?" Hermione grinned cheekily and climbed into the tunnel to slide a few feet into the passage below. After a few moments, Riddle joined her and they started their journey through the dank tunnel.
"No, merely curious as how someone as unfamiliar with castle as yourself has managed someone I have been unable to do for years"
"I have my ways, Riddle," Hermione said loftily and walked a little faster. She wasn't keen on staying in this passageway for very long. Alone. With the Heir of Slytherin. With no witnesses within screaming distance. Hermione sighed and steeled herself for the journey ahead.
After about an hour of awkward silence, Hermione bumped her head on the trapdoor that led into the basement of Honeydukes.
"Ok, Riddle. This leads straight into the basement of Honeydukes. I don't think the owners would be very pleased to find two stray students in their candy stash so we need to plan this carefully." Hermione had decided to use Harry's cloak only as a last resort. She didn't think Harry would appreciate giving away one of his biggest secrets to his future archenemy. And honestly, she didn't think it would actually cover both of them completely. Tom Riddle was rather tall.
Hermione glanced at him and had to stifle a giggle. It was rather comical. The future Dark Lord was forced to hunch over to prevent his perfect hair from brushing the ceiling of the tunnel. He had an impatient look on his face that made him look not at all menacing. There was something else, far behind his eyes. It was almost anticipation, excitement.
At that moment, Hermione realized that maybe he wasn't just an emotionless git after all. She looked closer into his eyes. As much as it pained her, Hermione had to admit that she might have been wrong about him. There, behind his cold wall, she could glimpse the real Tom Riddle.
"Ahem," Riddle coughed to get her attention.
Hermione was jolted out of her epiphany and realized she had been staring.
"Um…er…right, well…when I open the door we can make a distraction to get back into the main store," Hermione said "One…two…three"
They climbed out of the trapdoor and up the basement steps. Hermione could a plump woman behind the counter surround by various sweets.
Hermione pointed her wand at a jar of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum and whispered "Wingardium Leviosa" The jar slowly levitated in the air and smashed to the floor with a jarring BANG!
The woman bustled over to find the cause of the disturbance, leaving her station behind the counter. Seizing their chance, Hermione quickly grabbed Tom's hand and pulled him out of the shop and into the biting air. Hermione chuckled at the look in Tom's eyes. Now she was definitely sure, there was excitement. Deep, deep down. You just have to look behind all of his masks. Maybe, Dumbledore was right after all. Tom looked down at their hands. Hermione quickly broke contact, her hand tingling where they had touch, checks blazing. Why does she keep blushing around him?
"So…where shall we go first?" Hermione asked. 1943 Hogsmeade looked exactly the same as in 1998. It was almost like being back home. Across the street, stood Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop and Potage's Cauldron Shop. Further down the main road was the Three Broomsticks, Tomes and Scrolls, Zonko's, and Gladrag's Wizardwear.
Hermione walked purposefully to Tomes and Scrolls when he didn't answer and glanced back to make sure he was following. As she entered the shop, a little bell over the door announced her arrival. She breathed in the wonderful scent of hundreds of books, full of information, which permeated the air. Hermione had a feeling, from what Dumbledore told her about Tom, that he would enjoy this establishment as much as she. Sure enough, as he entered the shop behind her she could feel him relax as he took in his surroundings.
"I think I'm going to be a while." Hermione said and he nodded. She was known for spending hours in any bookshop, for some reason she didn't think Tom would mind if she did. For the next 45 minutes, they contented themselves with perusing the shelves of various books. When Hermione was content with her selection of books, she began to search the store for Tom. Finally, she found him reading a new edition of The Ancestry of the Hogwarts Founders.
Hermione approached him levitating her miniature library behind her.
"Ready?" Hermione asked and Tom made to put the book back on the shelf, but Hermione plucked it out of his hands and stacked it on top of her selection. Tom followed her motion with his apathetic eyes.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm buying the book you wanted," she said matter of factly. Hermione walked purposely toward the front desk to purchase her selection. His gaze hardened as she finished her transaction.
"What do you want?"
Hermione was confused. "Nothing. It's a gift. I don't expect anything in return. That's usually what one calls a gift." He's never gotten a gift before?
Hermione was still focusing on this new revelation when something, that is to say someone, passed the frosty window on the way into the store. Headmaster Dippet. Hermione froze. This is going to make things a lot more complicated.
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