"Dying is a Delicate Moment"
A fanfic by Agara
"Kill me. Kill me if you ever loved me."
And he kills her.
Thougts are written in Italics
Big line : New POV
"OoOoOo" : Same POV / Time lapse
CHAPTER THREE : YOU ARE A MEMORY
Song : You are a memory by Message To Bears
02.09.1942 :
"Mister Mulciber, funny seeing you here. I thought you would have not taken Divination again, after what happened last year". Professor Stalling said.
The entire room chuckled while Milton dropped in the sit next to Hermione, his face red from embarrassment.
"I checked the wrong box on the application". He murmured to Hermione.
A real laugh escaped her lips and Milton smiled at her proudly, realising it was the first time he saw her laughing. He was quite short for his age and had broad shoulders, which gave him an odd look. His brown hair was falling in his eyes, once again, and Hermione could see sympathy in them. He seemed normal. Too normal.
Students were fetching for their summer homework to give to the professor. As the teacher approached Hermione's desk, Milton handed over his parchment. Hermione felt uncomfortable not being able to submit anything.
"Don't worry dear". Stalling smiled. "Welcome to Hogwarts, I hope the Slytherin house gave you a warm welcome last night".
If by warm welcome you mean a first encounter with the man who will try to kill all of my friends in 50 years, yes sure.
"I headed to bed early, I was tired". She replied honestly.
The professor gave her a nod and went back to her desk. "Open your book to page 23. We will begin this year with dream analysis".
02.09.1942 :
Tom was behind his cauldron, alone as usual, as the number of students was odd. Grace arrived in the classroom and looked briefly around her, searching for a place to sit.
"Grace, my dear !" Slughorn said to her. "I have set up a spot for you here".
He showed her to a small desk at the front of the class, in front of all the students. She followed him. Tom stared at the two, out of reach to hear what they were saying.
"She had already passed her OWLS in potions". He heard Thorus say behind him.
He turned around and faced him.
I have almost forgotten about that.
"Sit down please. I am really happy to see some of you today" Slughorn winked at Tom. "Let's begin, shall we ? Open your book to page 54. You will brew a blood-replenishing potion. Really useful in case of a blood loss."
Everyone started moving around to fetch for their ingredients. Tom was already bored. He stood up and went over to Slughorn's desk.
"Excuse me sir…" Tom started.
"Tom ! How marvellous to see you ! Have you had a great summer ?" Slughorn cut him.
"Yes sir, I hope you had a great one too. Actually, I did not have the time to pick up my ingredients this summer…"
"Don't worry Tom, I have enough for you in the backroom. Go help yourself."
Tom faked a smile and went through a little door behind his potions professor. He gathered many ingredients, among them fairy wings, valerian roots and rose petals and headed back to his potion desk.
Why giving us such a boring potion to make ?
Behind him, Abraxas and Thorus were struggling to make the potion turn red.
"Have you put the silverweed yet" ? He heard Thorus ask.
"Yes I did" The blond one answered.
"Then why is it purple ?"
"Because apparently you don't know how to stir properly."
Idiots. You only have to pour three branches of silverweed then stir 4 times clockwise and let it simmers.
"Well done Miss Black". Slughorn said at the back of the room.
Walburga had always been a great competitor in potions. But it is too easy to do it in duet. Try doing it alone Black, and we will see.
After an hour and a half Tom finished his potion. Slughorn approached him and checked his work.
"Marvellous Tom ! Perfect potion as always !" The large professor said loudly for everyone to hear. "And in just an hour and a half !"
Tom faked another smile.
"It is easy to make a good potion when you have a great professor".
"You are going to make me blush Tom !"
Slughorn kept laughing while going around the room. Tom started gathering his belongings ready to exit the room, but an intriguing comment from his professor stopped him in his track.
"What a strange colour !"
Tom rose his head and saw Slughorn bent over Grace's cauldron. He smirked.
Not so great after all it seems.
Tom's gaze was now stuck on Grace, watching her every move.
"Do not worry professor, give me ten minutes." She smiled knowingly.
This smile. I have already seen it last night at dinner when I told her. She looked me in the eyes, as if she knew it. As if she knew my name.
The next second, it disappeared. The smile was gone. And she introduced herself.
Tom still kept his eyes on her and wondered what she was doing.
You should cut the wings, not slice them. Don't you know how to follow instructions ? You are going to ruin the potion. Are not you supposed to have passed your OWLS already ? Look at that, the mighty Grace Hortense messing up the easiest potion of the year.
Tom was eager to see the disappointment on Slughorn's face.
Let's sum up your mistakes Hortense. You have put the rose petals too early, you have turned to potion counterclockwise, you have added a black swan feather and you have poured a blue liquid. What was it ? Does not matter, it was not on the ingredient list. Even Slughorn said that the colour did not match and…
"How marvellous ! Marvellous..."
The loud compliments brought him back from his thoughts.
"... Everyone ! Approach please."
Slughorn had never said that before. Tom stood up and took a few steps. The colour was perfect. The texture seemed even better than any blood-replenishing potions he had ever seen.
How is it possible ? She did not follow the instructions.
Tom stared at her desk. It was messy, contrasting with the young witch sitting behind it. Tom really looked at her for the first time. She could have been pretty if she was not so skinny, her eyes seemed too big for her face, and their colour, once surely warm, had now faded. Her cheeks were hollow even after three months in England with an unlimited supply of food.
Her Slytherin robe was clearly too big for her and Tom wondered why she did not conjure it to fit her perfectly. Then, he saw one scar. The one on her neck, long, thin and silvery. From afar, it almost looked like a choker, but from where he was standing now, there was no doubt about what it was.
In a war, you can get scarred.
Her potion book was open and caught his attention. She had crossed-out half of the instructions and replaced it with her own writing.
Did she change the potion ? That is not OWLS level. You can be good, but not that good.
And I know for sure you are not that good.
"You really are outstanding". Slughorn giggled. "I'll bring it to Leonara !".
The class was dismissed, but the professor called Tom and Grace to the front of the room.
"Grace, my dear, this is the student I was talking about. You agreed to teach him a few tricks in potion…"
A knock on the door interrupted him. A young student, timidly told the professor that Headmaster Dippet wanted to see him.
"Excuse me. And congratulations Grace on your first potions, you were really impressive !" Slughorn said before exiting the classroom, leaving Grace and Tom alone.
02.09.1942 :
"Excuse me. And congratulations Grace on your first potion, you were really impressive !" Slughorn said before exiting the classroom, leaving Grace and Tom alone.
Step 3 : In process
Hermione was standing in front of Tom.
Come on Hermione, breathe. You can do it. It's just Riddle… For the moment. Wait… Is it what you agreed to in the tearoom ?
She just opened her mouth to begin talking that Tom cut her.
"You will quickly learn that I do not need any tips. But thank you anyway". He said, keeping himself from being condescending.
Hermione knew better. She knew he was putting an act. He was jealous, she had beaten him in potions and he had not liked it.
Checkmate.
OoOoOo
Hermione left the room a couple of minutes later after him, a grin on her face. She walked in the hallway towards the Great Hall for lunch. She caught a glimpse of the boys, sitting together at the Slytherin table.
In front of Hermione was Abraxas. Hermione knew that the Malfoy family was blood purist, even in this timeline. The resentment Draco's grandfather had towards her was clear on his features right now. His jaw was tense as he looked at her, and disdain was evident in his pale eyes.
Tom was sat in the middle of his cronies, like a king overseeing his servitors. Since the last time she really looked at him in the infirmary, he had grown up a few inches, broader shoulders but he still had the same patronizing look on his face. Hermione realised that if Tom was to ask anything, from passing him the water pitcher to killing someone, his "court" would rush to fulfill his demands.
The food suddenly appeared on the table. Hermione took a good look at it. She had not seen that much food in months. She was aware of her condition : the undernutrition from months without eating properly. Seeing that much food made something twitch inside of her. It was not right, having that much considering the era she was living in.
The war was devastating the muggle world, people were dying on the street, and here she was. In front of her a feast she knew would not be entirely consumed. A silver plate fell behind her and made her turn around. She stared at the Gryffindor table.
And here he was, choking on his own his blood. His grey cardigan was tainted, his hair was dishevelled and his scars seemed new. She could see on his mouth the words "help me". But she did not move. She wanted to scream, shake everyone around her to help her late professor, her friend, Remus.
She felt someone grab her arm. She jumped in surprise, took her wand from her left arm holster and put it underneath Thorus throat. As her wand was pushing through his skin, an unforgivable almost escaped her mouth. Then, the white noise in her head disappeared and the great hall noise came back.
"The fuck Hortense ? Lower your wand". She heard Dolohov spit.
She withdrew her wand and hastily put in back in her holster.
"I.. I.. Sorry… I'm sorry…" She whispered.
She quickly stood up and felt light-headed. She swayed a little and saw Thorus touch her arm carefully.
"I've never seen you this pale Grace and that's saying a lot. Sit down." He gently told her.
She executed without thinking and stared at her plate. She saw a hand put an apple in front of her.
"Eat."
02.09.1942 :
Tom saw Clearwater drop a silver plate on the ground, causing a loud noise. Grace turned, startled. As she stared at the Gryffindor table, the blood drained from her already pale face. She was petrified, like she saw a ghost. She opened lightly her mouth ready to scream. It seemed like her eyes had been under a veil from remembrance.
Thorus, grabbed her arm and asked her how her first day was so far. Without even thinking, she drew her wand and placed it on his neck. She was so quick he didn't have the time to think "Quidditch". All the boys tensed. She was ready to curse him. Dolohov spoke up and she realised what she was doing. She was shaking.
After mumbling incoherent words, she stood up but Thorus made her sit. It seemed like she was about to faint. Tom realised she had not eaten anything since she arrived at Hogwarts. He had watched her, she had not touched anything last night, and this morning she did not show up for breakfast. He knew she would not handle a copious meal, so he grabbed a fruit, put in on her plate and told her to eat.
She looked at him. Tom saw pure anger and hatred. She stood up.
"Don't tell me what to do."
02.09.1942 :
Hermione saw a drop of water splash on her desk. She wiped the liquid from her chin. After the incident in the Great Hall, she rushed to the bathroom to splatter her face with cold water to cool down. While she stood in front of the mirror, her right side started burning again.
Professor Merrythought was explaining the syllabus. She could only see Remus' face and his blood on the table. She shivered.
No he is not dead, he is not dead. He is not dead yet. But you've seen him, you've seen him on this table, choking on his own blood, dying, looking right at you and asking for your help. You've already seen it, it had already happened. But it had not happened yet !
She was gripping the edge of the desk so hard that her knuckles became white.
Don't let it get to your head. Don't let it get to your head. Don't let it get to your head…
"Miss Hortense ?" The professor interrupted her.
She glared at Merrythought. Her grey hair betrayed her young face. Even though she did look a little bit like professor Sprout, the spark in her eyes reminded Hermione of McGonagall.
"If you do not want to participate in this class, you know after what had happened…"
How come she already knows ? It happened 15 minutes ago.
"Back in France". She finished.
"I'm totally fine professor."
"Well I don't know your duel skills yet, would you consider yourself experimented ?" The professor asked almost casually.
A silence settled in the room, and all eyes were on Hermione. She silently chuckled.
"Maybe quite experimented…? " Hermione said.
"Well, who can I put you with ?" Merrythought asker for herself at loud.
"I volunteer." Dolohov said while standing up.
Hermione turned around, and smiled at him.
It's just a class. You only need to disarm him.
Merrythought flicked her wand, and the room reorganised itself to welcome duels. She saw from the corner of her eyes Milton smiling at her and welcoming her to sit next to him. But she couldn't. She was too embarrassed by what happened in the Great Hall. So she took the seat next to a Gryffindor. The first duel began. Hermione spaced out.
Do you remember your second year ? With Lockhart. Oh God ! The crush you've had on him. You've drawn hearts on your timetable right next to his name. Harry and Ron were making fun of you. Of course they were, it was pathetic.
She smiled.
And from the moment you've discovered Lockhart was a scam, Ron would not stop teasing you, and Harry would… No. Stop it right now. You can't do that. Don't you dare think about them Hermione. It's been four months, you can't break now.
She focused on the duels, trying to get rid of the memories in her head. As the spells were cast, she made observations. None of them were outstanding. As soon as Hermione started realising she was playing, again, with her signet ring, she stopped.
In a battle, they wouldn't last 10 seconds.
She was waiting for Tom to duel. She tried to ignore that little voice in her head telling her that Tom's duel would be impressive. But once his name was called out, her entire attention was focused on him. He bowed to his opponent.
You didn't know he could bow to someone other than a mirror, didn't you Hermione ?
Red and blue were mixing in front of her. The duel just lasted for a couple of minutes, but she saw him duel. She saw his speed, his attentiveness, his cunning but some things were missing. First, he could not use what he was so desperate to use. Secondly, his lack of creativity.
Not that impressive finally.
"Good job Longbottom !" Merrythought said to the other boy, a shy smile on her face.
Longbottom ? Neville's grandfather ?
The professor turned her head to Tom and nodded respectfully.
Tom sat back, a fake humble smiled spread on his face.
"Who's next ?" The professor asked.
Dolohov looked right at Hermione, nodded at her and stood up.
Hermione, go easy on him.
She was in front of him. Merrythought reminded, as usual, the rules to follow during a duel :
"No unforgivables and no dark spells."
She bowed, like she was supposed to. He bowed back.
He is only fifteen Hermione, don't be scared. He is not the one who scarred you. Not yet.
She cast the first spell.
"Stupefy"
He replied with a protego. Hermione knew he would not bend at the first spell, so she kept going on.
"Expelliarmus, Impedimenta, Confringo"
He shielded the two first one, and ducked the last. She wanted to know if he was strong. If he could beat her, even though she knew deep of her inside it was not possible. So she stopped attacking him. She stood, straight, defying him.
And he took the opportunity. He cast curses, and she only had to move her left shoulder slightly to the left to avoid them. It was too easy, and he knew it. He was frustrated, but she was delighted. If delighted was the right term, she did not know, but just seeing him getting angrier by the weak impact he had on her, was enough for now.
"Petrificus Totalus" he shouted, panting.
She started laughing. She knew this laugh. It was Bellatrix'. If she was in her right mind, she would have stopped, but she was not.
She thought he was creative. She knew for a fact he would become innovative and Slughorn had said it. But at this moment, he was only casting third-year spells. When would he become dangerous ? Would he ?
And then he did.
"Stupefy."
He almost screamed it. And she had enjoyed it. She could see it on his face. This anger, this will to beat her. And she had liked it. She did not want to stop now, she was having too much fun, even though she was not supposed to.
But who cares ?
We aren't on a battlefield, no one is going to die, so why not enjoy yourself ?
His gaze changed. His eyes became black. His anger was now at his utmost.
"Wingardium Leviosa"
It seemed simple, and it was. But casting that to throw a desk at her face was creative. And at this moment, she smiled. He was there, standing in front of her, the man who would haunt her dreams. The one who would use simple spells and transform them into nightmares. A desk ? Yes it seemed like it was laughable, but she knew better.
"Expelliarmus"
The spell was messy. Her wand flew to the other side of the room. Even if she knew the expelliarmus charm was red, she saw purple. This spell was supposed to be red, but how come she saw purple ? Then she became somebody else.
She was somebody else. She was not Hermione Granger nor Grace Hortense, she was someone she would not have thought one day she would become. And she didn't care.
Dolohov started smiling, like he knew he had just won. So she summoned her wand, wandlessly. He gasped.
She caught it with her right hand. From this moment she knew. And it began. She cast wordless spells on wordless spells. She couldn't stop. Then, it was her turn to be creative.
Avis
Birds began flying around her head. She remembered her sixth year. He lacked understanding what she was trying to do.
Oppugno
The birds steered to his face. He tried to get rid of them by moving his arms.
Gemini
She cloned herself once. Then cast a "Notice me not" spell on herself. She moved quickly to stand behind him while he was too focused on the birds attacking him. Thanks to a "Petrificus Totalus" he stopped the birds from bothering him and faced the fake Hermione.
He cast a "Reducto". The spell went through the silhouette and she saw his body tense. She took a quick look around the class and they also wondered where she had disappeared.
Finite Incantatem
She appeared behind him. She cast a small spell on his right shoulder. He turned around, and his eyes opened wide. She was playing with him, like a tiger playing with its food.
"Expecto patronum !"
Her usual silver otter escaped from her wand. Dolohov took a step back and fell on the ground.
Antonin stood up.
Stupefy
He fell back again, and got up quickly.
Expelliarmus
She caught his wand
She liked this duel. She liked dueling with him. She liked knowing she could destroy him. She liked playing with him. Every spell she threw at him, she remembered the pain in her chest. Her scars started burning from the hatred inside of her.
She hated him. He hurt her, he messed with her brain, he made her feel weak, and she hated him for that. He was now standing in front of her, as the world belonged to him, and she hated him more.
The smile he had on his face, the way he laughed with his friends, the innocence he still had, she wanted to take all of that away from him as he had taken hers. Like he had scarred her, like he had made her feel like she was nothing. She hated him.
"Ok, Stop !" Merrythought interrupted the duel.
"Cru…" She started.
02.09.1942 :
...cio ?
Was she going to cast it if she had not been stopped ? Was she willing to ? Has she done it before ?
Tom, for the first time since Grace had arrived, had no doubt. She had been in a war. She had dueled. And she had won. He knew, from Abraxas, that a little circle of students had created a resistance. Had she been a part of it ?
She had.
Tom was not easily impressed. But after what he had just witnessed he could not hide his surprise. She was good, he knew it, and he was jealous. He looked at Dolohov. He was white as chalk. Tom had always found Dolohov interesting, he had potential, but after this duel he was disappointed in him.
Hortense, at first you had my curiosity, but now you have my attention.
Tom heard the whispers, the class was gossiping. Merrythought was talking to Dolohov, making sure he was alright. Grace, was standing, her wand in her right hand, her gaze focused on Dolohov, filled with anger. She was breathing heavily.
"Go to the infirmary, right now". Merrythought told her.
Tom stood up.
"I am prefect. I will take her." He said instinctively.
He was the first to leave the classroom. She joined him a couple of seconds later. They started walking in the corridors. He wanted to ask her so many questions, but he knew it was not the moment. The arrived at the infirmary. Miss Asphodela approached them.
"Professor Merrythought told me to come here". Grace said.
Her voice was so different from the one she had during the duel. It was emotionless. She glared at the matron, a quick defying look on her face. She sat on the bed on the left.
"Do you have any injuries dear ?"
"No spells hit her." Tom declared.
The nurse nodded and got closer to Grace.
"Is it your right side ? Is it still not healed ?" She asked her.
Grace did not answer, she just gave the nurse a knowing look.
"Listen," Grace started after a few silent seconds "I am totally fine. Just got a little too enthusiastic during a duel."
"So no old injuries hurting then ?" Miss Asphodela responded.
"She broke her left ankle when she was eight years old." He answered for her.
Grace rose her head and looked at him, with a mix of confusion and wariness.
"I am not sure it is relevant, but thank you Mr. Riddle." Miss Asphodela said, uncomfortable.
Tom was asked to leave. He waited in front of the infirmary door.
Dolohov disappointed me. I would have thought better of him.
That was not what I asked him to do.
Fifteen minutes later Grace stepped out of the infirmary, a paper in her hand.
"You shouldn't be here Riddle, you should have gone to class." Grace told him. He took the note from her hand and smiled at her.
"Do not worry about that, we have here our pass." He smirked, raising the white sheet in front of her. She did not waste time, and headed towards their next class : Transfiguration.
She knocked on the door thrice and stepped in. Dumbledore looked at the paper Tom had in his hand, raised an eyebrow, and then nodded, allowing them to take a sit. The only spots left were at the back, on the left, next to the window.
She sat first, then he followed. He knew, from experience, that Dumbledore's first class always was the most spectacular. The old man transfigured a gold coin into a niffler. The girls were marvelling over the small animal. Except for her. She did not care. He saw from the corner of his eye that she was focused on something else.
He turned slightly his head to the left and saw here staring at Dumbledore. It was not the typical stare, the one filled with admiration and fondness. It was cold, calculating, despising and full of disappointment. He wondered why. She was the first student who did not idolize the professor.
Well except him.
Who are you Grace ?
It was the first time he thought of her using her first name.
OoOoOo
Abraxas left the room just before him. Tom stopped him to go further by grabbing his right shoulder.
"Malfoy, I need you to do something." He said.
Let's find out what you are hiding Hortense.
Author's note : Hi everyone, this is the third chapter of DDM. Hope you guys like it !
You can follow our Tumblr : agarariddle-andhernachos
Btw each chapter title is a song, you can check them out if you want
-DDM's Managers