SIXETEEN

Saturday, 10 November 1945

The forest they landed in was so thick with trees, Hermione wasn't sure if it was night or day. There was barely any light shining between the trees, making it nearly impossible to see. The darkness engulfed her, stealing her breath. For a moment she was transported back to the recesses of Riddle's mind. Of the time he let her in and nearly let her succumb to the darkness swirling there. To keep from falling once more, she tightened her grip on his hand and willed her magic to bring forth some light.

When she opened her eyes, the forest around them was bathed in a soft blue glow. Almost the same color as a Patronus. For a moment let herself revel in the warmth and security the sight caused, but when Riddle pried his fingers from hers, it brought her back to reality. It reminded her where they were and what it was they were doing.

"So this is Albania," she murmured, mentally putting herself back together.

"I suppose."

Hermione nodded as her eyes darted around, taking in all that she could see while refusing to look his way. "She didn't happen to tell you the exact coordinates, did she?" she asked, knowing full well the answer would be no.

"She said she stashed the diadem in a hollow tree."

Hermione balked at the dense bit of forest that surrounded them. "Even with our magic, it could take us years to search every tree," she grumbled. "You sure she didn't give you anything else?"

Even in her refusal to look at him she could feel the heat of his gaze upon her from where he stood at her side. "If I had the exact location, do you not think I would have Apparated straight there?" he returned, irritation in his tone. "You're the one who knows the future," he added. "Perhaps you know how I came to acquire the diadem?"

"I told you everything I knew already," she huffed, as she moved away from him. The sound of cold, dead leaves crunched under her foot as she walked up to the nearest tree and lay her hand upon its narrow trunk. "Besides, even if I did know, everything's different now that Dumbledore's dead."

He had seen enough of her memories over their few months at Hogwarts to know that already. There was no reason to try and hide that from him now.

"For all I know, you checked every single tree until you got lucky and found the right one."

"Then I suggest you call upon the Grey however you can to help speed this along."

She whirled on him then, narrowing her eyes as she stalked towards him. "You know Albania has huge forests and yet, you're the one that didn't bother asking for an exact location." She snorted and rolled her eyes. "For someone so smart, you-"

The rest of her words came out in a strangled yelp as Riddle surged forward, pinning her to the same tree she had placed her hand upon a moment before. "Careful, Hermione."

"Or what?" she taunted, her own anger matching his. "You can't do anything to me or you'll never see your precious ring again." Her chin lifted in defiance. "Besides, we've been in this position before and you never go through with it."

But just as quickly as her bravado had risen, it began to subside. The moment the words left her lips, an image of Draco's body at her feet sprang to her mind. His lifeless eyes staring at her as her magic began to spiral out of control. Even now, desperate to shove that particular memory to the back of her mind, she could feel it happening again. Could feel the charge in the air as her breathing turned ragged. She closed her eyes against the tears that blurred her vision as she tried to will it all away.

And for the first time since being reunited with Riddle in this new timeline, when his presence demanded entry to her mind, she let him in.

The change within her was almost immediate. The warmth of him overloaded her senses, pushing everything else from her mind. All except for him. She could feel him everywhere, both inside and out. Slowly, her breathing returned to normal as she clung to him, completely afraid to let go. And when she opened her eyes again, his were full of the same emotions currently wreaking havoc on her system.

It was the Astronomy Tower all over again.

"Sorry," she whispered, her voice shaking.

"I wish I had asked for a more precise location, but unless we want to risk a trip back to Hogwarts, we-"

Hermione's eyes widened as he spoke and the moment another memory rose to the surface, she interrupted him, saying, "What if we could ask her here?"

His eyes narrowed slightly as his mental presence retreated to the fringes of her mind. "That is not how ghosts work."

"It is when Grey magic comes into play," she said, shooting him a grin before sliding free of his grasp. She moved back to the place they had landed and tipped her face up towards the tree-covered sky. She closed her eyes and concentrated on The Grey Lady's ghost. Had she not been so successful when recalling Dumbledore's ghost not too long ago, she would have been far more surprised when she opened her eyes to see the shimmering form before her.

The woman turned in every direction, startled by an abrupt change of scenery. She did a double take at the sight of Hermione, but went still at the sight of Riddle coming up to Hermione's side. Recognition flashed in her eyes as she straightened her stance, her hands clasped together in front of her waist.

"You're going after my mother's diadem."

"We're trying to keep it out of Grindelwald's hands," Hermione said, drawing the ghost's gaze for a second. "We'll keep it safe."

She gave a dignified huff and returned her gaze to Riddle. "I shouldn't have told you about it. Had I known you meant to go after it, I-"

"I was curious about all the special items from the Founders," he said as he stepped forward. "Whether or not I meant to actually hunt it down was never set in stone. Miss Granger is right though, Grindelwald seeks its power of knowledge. Should he find it, our world will crumble."

She stared at him for a long time as if considering his words. She was weary to help them, but in the end, gave a slight nod. "I died because I couldn't resist its power," she said after some time. "To do so requires a strong mind. It is more addictive than the strongest of potions. If I tell you where to find it, how do I know you won't just use its power for yourselves?"

"Because we don't need it," Hermione answered. "Knowledge is power, yes, but so is Grey magic."

The ghost's eyes flashed again and beside her, Riddle narrowed his eyes.

"It's why you're here right now," Hermione said. "It's why you're in the middle of the Albanian forest instead of Hogwarts. The place you chose as your final resting place."

"My mother couldn't even control the Grey," Helena whispered.

"It's not easy," Hermione replied with a light smirk on her lips. "But it's possible. And as driven as Grindelwald is, I believe he might be able to figure it out too if the diadem falls into his possession."

It was a lie; Grindelwald may be many things, but Hermione was sure he wouldn't even have the slightest clue as to what Grey magic was. He was obsessed with gaining power fast and through fear. To acquire the Grey he would have to slow things down and take the time to learn.

But saying it to Helena did exactly what Hermione thought it would. After letting the words sink in, she nodded in acceptance. Without a word, she turned and began to drift, leading them to the object they came there to find.

The trek through the forest was silent save for the crunch of leaves beneath their feet. The blue light Hermione's magic had conjured moved with them, a bubble of silvery blue light. For a moment, Hermione's thoughts drifted to her first year when her group detention took place in the Forbidden Forest. It was strange to think that back then she had been so afraid of the dark, of the trees that seemed to barricade her in. And yet, the reason for her fear then was walking beside her now.

And for whatever reason, she knew she was the safest she had ever been.

Hermione wasn't sure how long they had walked for. Only that it was long enough for the cold winter air to begin to permeate the warming charm that came with the light. And that her feet were already demanding to be freed from her shoes; to be soaked in a tub and stayed off of for a length of time.

But finally they stopped.

The tree before them was three times as thick as the others surrounding it and it towered over them. Its branches were also thick and heavy, the leaves green and clinging to them instead of on the ground with the others that had died from the season.

"Thank you," Hermione said as Helena turned back to them.

She nodded at both of them, her gaze flickering back and forth. "All I wanted was to be like her," she said softly. "This feels like the wisest thing I've done yet." She drew a deep breath and smoothed a hand down her shimmering skirts. "Both of you should heed my warnings. Consider all that has come to pass in regards to this trinket. May you do what I could not."

With a last lingering look at Riddle, she faded away.

Neither of them moved for what felt like an eternity. Both seemed rooted to the spot as the magic from the diadem pulsed through the air around them.

"At least we know we can resist the temptation of untapped knowledge," Hermione said, breaking the silence.

"We do?" Riddle questioned, turning to look at her, a brow arched.

"You were so afraid to let go of the one place you'd ever called home that you sought out pieces of its founding members to conceal a piece of yourself. A piece you could only get by tearing yourself open and carving it out."

Hermione swallowed hard as she recalled the memory he let her in to see. How he had stood over his father's body while pulling out a piece of his soul to house inside his family ring.

She shook herself out of her reverie and stood a step towards the tree. "Anyway, the sooner we get this out of the tree, the sooner we can get home."

Hermione only meant to put a hand on the trunk, to close her eyes and feel around for how to get the diadem out. But her hands sank right though an illusion charm and into the hollowed out center of the tree. She hissed as the diamond casings sliced her skin a moment before her fingers wrapped around the item. When she pulled it out the jewels were tinged with her blood; a splash of red beside the sapphire.

The world around them began to slow. The blood in her veins turned to sludge as her breathing became nearly non existent. Her focus was honed in on the item within her grasp. Everything else faded into the background.

From as early as she could remember, Hermione was always learning. The kids at school before she learned she was a witch always made fun of her. Her teeth were too big. Her hair was too untamable. She was the weird kid that no one wanted near them. Books were her friends. Books never cared how she looked. They were always there when she needed them and they taught her everything she knew. The entire world could be discovered in a book, one page after another.

And when she learned she was a witch, she thought that was her answer. That was what would make her accepted; why she never fit in with the Muggle kids. But it she was behind. Most children grew up knowing of magic since they were born. She had nearly a year to learn as much as she could to fit right in. To learn as much as she could so she would finally felt as though she belonged.

But it still wasn't enough. She had to keep going. Keep learning. But she could read a thousand books and it would never been enough. She would never learn it all.

With the diadem…

"Say there was a world in which that fear would be removed, would you shy away from it? Or would you give in and absorb every morsel of knowledge that crossed your path?"

"I would choose to learn."

She could learn it all.

A/N: Happy Holidays!