Chapter 4. Tom Riddle's mistake
May, 9th 1998
1 Week later at St. Mungo's
Draco's eyes fluttered open to find a bright white light hung overhead. It was a plain room, with no Windows, or color. It was quiet, so much quieter than he could remember the world ever being, it made him feel calm. He was in a railed bed, the steady hum of magic was nearby. Medi charms, and spells always left behind distinctive auras.
His back felt stiff, he was warm, and he pushed his blanket off. He had made it then. He had lived through the war. He pulled a tray next to his bed closer. On it was a silver platter dish, he used it to see his reflection. His mother's same eyes looked back at him. 2 silver orbs. His face and head was covered in bandages. As he set down the platter he noted that the rest of him was covered in them as well.
Although Draco thought the bandages looked odd. He was in no way a professional healer, but his bandages had hardly any blood on them and what little there was seemed to have dried. The blood was brown, and old. Moving aside the flimsy material of his hospital gown he peeled back the bandage at his thigh where his aunt had stabbed him with her shoe. There was no mark. Not even a scar. Like it had never happened. He didn't feel painful, just uncomfortable. The lack of any pain could be from the pain elixirs the healers had surely given him when he had been admitted, or he could be very well into his final stages of healing. How long had he been sleeping?
Draco began to take in the rest of the room, as he scratched his face. He needed a shave. It had been days at least since his father drugged him. Days since his aunt tried to kill him, and Molly Weasley saved his life on the battlefield at Hogwarts.
There was something Draco couldn't remember exactly, right before his father's spell took him, that he was desperately trying to tell Lucius and Molly. He just couldn't recall.
Draco grinned when he spied Hermione fast asleep on a cot across the room. Her hair was undone, and a book was partly open in her hands. She was in a fresh set of clothes, and right at home in the room. A duffle was shoved under her bed, and written on parchments lined the bed around her. She looked worlds apart from how he last saw her. Sobbing her eyes out. Her cheeks were pink, and she had a healthy glow, her face no longer gaunt.
From the posters on the walls he deduced he was at St.Mungo's. His room was rather large. His parents had spared no expense. At a table in the back there were vases filled with floral arrangements. Azalea's, lillys, daisies. They had cards on them. Then boxes of chocolate were neatly stacked on the same table. One box was open with the wrappers all scattered about. Making Draco think Ronald Weasley had probably been in his room at some point lately.
The son, Molly had lost hadn't been Ron. Draco was glad, but he was also sad because one of the Weasley children had still died.
"Draco?" Hermione rubbed sleep from her eyes and swiftly pushed off her bed ignoring the book and papers as they drifted down to the floor.
"Oof." Draco huffed out when she gripped him tightly in a hug. He let her snuggle into him, as she stood next to his bed. "Missed you, pet."
"I missed you to." Hermione told him and stroked his hair, like she couldn't believe he was real.
"You weren't scared were you, Granger? I told you i'd come back, didnt i?" He tried to make light of the situation.
"It was implied you'd be back a week ago, you nearly died when you left. You had your mother, and i both worried. She nearly hexed your father when he showed up without you." Her voice was low and tender.
"Sorry. I scared you." He breathed her in still intending to make light of his near death. Ink, parchment, good old Hermione Granger. Though there was another smell he didn't recognize. It was woodsy, earthy. "I am also very sorry for how i handled you. I wish i could have thought of another option. Forgive me? I didn't hurt you did i?" She had to be cross with him.
"Draco, i don't blame you. I'm not mad. I get it. We were both under immense stress. We both did whatever we thought would keep us alive. I want to apologize to you for what i said. I don't think you're a snake. I provoked you. It's my fault."
"I shouldn't have hurt you. I'll never hurt you again. I just couldn't risk you seeing- things." Draco had been very sure that Hermione could not handle watching her friend die. Watching Potter die might have been the one thing that could send her to the brink of insanity, and he was unsure if he could pull her back from it.
"I get it, really. Anyways you didn't hurt me i'm fine. You're the one who got hurt, let's worry about you."
Then it occurred to him. A week. An entire week he had been asleep.
"Hermione. Did the potion Lupin gave you at Bill's work? Did you- while i was out?"
Draco was afraid to ask, but he was more afraid not to ask.
She smiled grimly. "It really wasn't so bad."
"Oh, Hermione i should have been there." Draco said unsure of what else he could say. He had hoped she would be lucky like Bill had been, that they had caught it soon enough.
"I had it worked up to be worse in my head. They gave me potions, to make the change easier. I don't remember a lot of it. Lupin had told me before, the first time would be like that. Mcgongall took me to the shrieking shack. I stayed there while it happened. I was only gone for a day. The rest of the time I've been here, waiting for you to wake up."
Draco could tell that was all she wanted to say on the matter, so he decided a change of topic was necessary.
"And Potter, where is he? My father told me he made it out alright."
"I haven't actually seen Harry since the battle, right after it actually. He's been pretty busy, you can imagine. He's the savior of the world. All the papers want to speak to him, and the ministry has been insufferable. They've asked him to help them rebuild it, from the ground up they want the ministry to be better than ever, whatever that means. He'll be on the fast track for Minister for Magic in no time. Ron's been here though, to see you, and me."
Her comment on Potter being Minister for Magic was unsettling, but Draco couldn't put his finger on why.
"I gathered Weasley had made a visit or 2." Draco said looking at the sweets wrappers. "How did my parents react- to you? To your being here?"
"As well as can be expected. There wasn't any talk of disinheriting you yet, so i imagine that must be good."
Hermione had pulled a chair up to sit next to his bed, she took his hand and held it as they continued to speak.
"Really?" Draco was less than convinced that it had all gone over so smoothly. He had expected some screaming perhaps objects being thrown.
"Well i'm not expecting dinner invitations anytime soon. I heard your mother exchange some choice words to your father, and i believe i'm probably the reason they aren't sitting vigil at all times for you themselves."
"That sounds more like them." He laughed. "Surprised they didn't just try to throw you out."
She frowned. "They probably would have if they thought they could." She tightened the hold on his hand, like she was about to deliver something painful. Draco sat up to the best of his ability.
"What else, Hermione?"
"People are talking, Draco. People have talked. I was able to make a case for you, Harry and Ron corroborated everything you helped us with. The ministry isn't concerned with you. But your parents. It's not good. There are people who want them in Azkaban. It's probably best your parents are staying away most of the time. It could be dangerous for them here. There are alot of survivors and their families here. I'll do what i can, but their involvement, it was to widely known, i don't see any way around Azkaban."
"They made their bed with the dark lord. I know what they've done was wrong, but I love them still." Draco didn't want to picture his parents in cells, being watched over by dementors. He knew Hermione was right. The public would not so easily let go 2 of Voldemort's highest ranking death eater's. They would both see Azkaban whether Draco liked it or not.
"I know." She kissed the top of his head. "I'll go fetch one of the healers, they really should look you over."
The healer she gathered for him gave Draco a once over, and explained they still wished to keep him for observation for a few days at least. They owled Draco's parents to let them know he was awake. They responded they would be in before dinner time. The floo was closed currently due to some security measures, and they would have to fly in. The entire work up he was given by the healer had sent Hermione pacing around the room madly like she was expecting bad news.
The healer finally left them, and for a time they just got to enjoy each other's presence. Stealing a kiss or 2. They got to enjoy having lived to this day. Then right as Hermione was trying to convince him to take a nap, a knock at the door disturbed them.
The door opened suddenly, and Draco was briefly glad to see his face. He looked different, Draco scrunched up his nose trying to decide what it was. He looked over him. His clothes looked brand new, proper wizard robes like the ones Draco's father wore. When Draco thought of Potter he always thought of jeans and flannel, not pressed suits and cufflinks. The most striking thing Draco noted was that Harry Potter was not wearing glasses. Potter was stood in the doorway smiling at them both.
"Heard someone finally woke up from their coma."
Hermione flung herself into Potter's embrace. "Harry!" She said excitedly like the school girl she once was. Their embrace was rather stiff, Potter patted her back almost mechanically.
Draco gasped internally. The thing he had forgotten, what he had tried to tell his father and Molly Weasley before he fell asleep. He remembered it now. Instinctively he wanted to pull Hermione back to him, to keep her where she would be safe in his arms.
Then a head of ginger hair was at the door. "Ron!" Then the three of them were melted together in Hermione's embrace. Draco couldn't force himself to smile like he knew he should. He was at war with himself. He needed to simmer down. Because he wasn't even entirely sure if he had been right about it. When his mother had told him about the forbidden forest Draco could have easily jumped to the wrong conclusion. The battle had made them all making rash decisions.
It was a reunion full of victory, and triumph. Potter nodded at Draco in greeting, Hermione released the men and they unlatched themselves chuckling. Then Potter swaggered up and over to Draco. The three of them surrounding his bedside, like ants on honey.
Maybe it could all finally be over? It felt unreal to even consider that the war might be over. That they could stop fighting. The way that the three of them were though once the trio had reunited, so happy, hopeful. Potter looked genuine. He made a joke, and Draco forced himself to smile along even though he didn't want to.
"Good to see you again, Potter." Draco decided on, when he felt like everyone was waiting for him to speak.
Potter extended his hand to Draco, it made Draco think of that time weeks back when they finally decided to make peace while staying at Bill's.
"Thank you for the wand." Potter said, which was a fine and normal thing to say, but the next words Potter spoke sent chills down Draco's spine. "Couldn't have done it without you, Draco."
Draco saw every detail as if in slow motion, the way his lip curled as he enunciated Draco's given name, a chuckle falling out of his lips though it sounded more like a hiss. Potter's voice now held an air of arrogance to it like he was superior in every way, that was entirely out of his character.
Beside him, Draco felt Hermione go rigid. Her arms crossed of their own accord, defensively out in front of her. So he hadn't been rash after all. He had been right despite how much he hadn't wanted to be. Hermione had just come to the same conclusion, Draco made a week ago. Had she been around 'Potter' the last week she surely would have known sooner.
Draco recalled now why he had been so desperate to get back to Hermione when he was being healed. He had wanted her to confirm his fears. He wanted to make implicitly sure of his theory before anything else.
Luckily Tom Riddle had taken a mis step, it confirmed for Draco everything he needed to know. During the time he had known Harry Potter he had never once called him Draco. Harry Potter would never have called him Draco, not even now in these circumstances. That's how he knew with the utmost certainty he boy who lived, truly had died.
Bile rose in Draco's throat.
Draco did not extend his hand to shake the hand of the man occupying Harry Potter's body. He could not bear to touch him. He simply stated a fact, for Tom Riddle.
"You always call me, Malfoy." Harry Potter's eyes blinked back at Draco apprehensively, but they lacked any of the warmth they once held. His hand dropped down.
"All behind us now, Draco. Feel free to call me Harry, from here on out." Tom Riddle amended.
In his guise of Harry Potter he was convincing. Tom Riddle was wearing Potter's body like Nagini had Bathilda Bagshot. If Draco hadn't already figured it all out he might have noticed then, by the drastic differences in front of him. The clothes, his lack of glasses, and then the mannerisms. To Ron Weasley it certainly was convincing. But Ron didn't know what Narcissa had told Draco about what she saw. Ron wasn't looking for anything to be wrong with his best friend.
Draco took note of the way the imposter held his hands in his pockets. His wand no doubt itching to be pulled. The wand Draco had put right into his hands. The elder wand. Idiot. Draco cursed himself.
Did Riddle suspect they knew already? Or was he just on his guard? Draco had spent years being jealous of Harry Potter and obsessing over everything he did. Cataloging away small little details about him without even realizing it. The way he ran his hands through his hair, and adjusted his glasses when he was nervous. This person before them did neither.
From his side Hermione slid her own hand down into her pockets. "Your glasses Harry. Where are your glasses?"
Draco wanted to give her a reproachful look, to tell her to back off. It was dangerous to provoke him.
'Harry Potter's' brows knit together as the man inside sized Hermione up. "You really miss nothing. Brightest witch of her age they say." He smiled at her insincerely then added, "The glasses were cracked, but i don't think i need them anymore. My eyesight, it's perfect now, as if by magic." He was toying with her, taunting and gloating.
"Wow!" Ron said with his mouthful after having started to eat from a box of chocolates. "Do you think it had anything to do with the spell Voldemort hit you with?"
"Yeah. I think that's exactly what happened, Ron." He responded, with humor in his voice.
Tom Riddle had turned his eyes into slits, very snake like, staring Hermione down. Daring her to say anything, to tell Ron while he was standing there.
As Ron continued to devour his chocolates oblivious, Draco braced himself. The room was tense, tension swirled around them thickly. The air felt electric. Draco didn't even have a wand on him. He reminded himself to keep his calm. Remain in control of his emotions like a good Malfoy. Draco didn't allow his face to betray his thoughts.
Hermione reached for her wand, and Draco stopped her before a curse could even came to her mind. He pulled her into his chest, so it looked like they were hugging. He could see behind her head Riddle's pleased reaction, at Draco having stopped her.
"Not here." Draco shook his head and whispered to her. Tom Riddle held the elder wand. They were no match, Potter certainly had not been.
Tom Riddle knew now. That Draco and Hermione were in on his little secret. Draco knew that had been a grave mistake on their part, now they would not have the element of surprise on their side.
The door swung open to a young girl with platinum braids, and an orange windbreaker that was soaked to the bone. She held a broom in one hand, it must have been storming out as she flew.
"Mr. Potter," the girl said "they've asked for you at the ministry. Shacklebolt sent me to collect you."
Draco thought the girl looked familiar. A few years older than himself. Then it occurred to him. He did know her. Allison Nott. Theodore's sister. Their father had been a death eater. So Draco thought, Riddle was already working. He was already gathering his supporters around himself. The ones who weren't obvious connections to his old regime, but close enough. He was going to rebuild his army, one person at a time.
"Thank you Allison. I'll be right with you." Then Riddle turned back to the three of them. Ron had come over to say his goodbyes, even out an arm out to hug, but Riddle had already begun to back out of the room. A smile playing on his lips as he did so. "I'll be seeing you 3 around then. Oh and Draco, i would love to see your parents, to give them my thanks. Maybe we could all do lunch. Give them my best when you see them." He threatened.
Draco was still recovering. Like having ice pushed down his veins, it made him feel frozen. His arms around Hermione iron clad. Both of them were shaken.
"Well that was a bit rude." Ron Weasley said obviously put out by the rejection of a hug. Hermione and Draco both looked at him exasperated. Truly he was thick.
Tom Riddle had an entire week headstart on them, he had been schmoozing and entertaining all the right people, while Draco napped. He was a war hero in their eyes. The ministry would make him their poster boy, they were already working towards the end of being a Minister for Magic according to Hermione. He was only good, and honest Harry Potter to all of them. The world was more in danger than ever before, and no one outside of this room even knew it.
Harry Potter had died in the forbidden forest last week. When Vodlemort fired the killing curse at Potter in the forbidden forest, it had hit him, and it killed Potter's soul. Not the horcrux living inside of him, and now that Potter was dead, the horcrux was free to inhabit his body. To impersonate him. To continue his evil work, in the body of the boy who lived.
That's why Voldemort seemed to give up at the end. He had known he was dueling himself, the horcrux, and not Potter. He had been glad to die, to further a part of him that could infiltrate the other side. Voldemort died knowing he would live on in the body of Harry Potter. There was nothing that could stand in the way of him seizing power. People would gladly give it to Potter now, after the war. He would be an auror in a year, head auror in 3 years, and minister for magic someday.
Tom Riddle was be free to gather his supporters in the shadows, under his façade he was safe. He could eliminate any who opposed him, quietly. After all who was going to rise up and stop the boy who lived? Who was going to stop the man that had killed the darkest wizard the world had ever known? No one.
"He's-" Hermione choked on a sob. Her heart was breaking at the realization of her best friend's death. Tears were gathered in the corner of her eyes, but had not yet spilled over. "That's not Harry, Ron."
Ron looked at her like she had told him she had a tail. "Your crazy." He told her.
"Draco." She pleaded, "Tell him." her voice frantic.
"I know, it's true. Losing our heads won't bring him back. I'm sorry, Potter's gone. You have to keep it together. I need you to keep it together. He has the elder wand, and he'll kill us the moment he has the chance." Draco said as he gathered her the rest of the way into the bed with him, her head rested at his collar bone, and he felt her head nod. He kept a firm hold on her, he was afraid of what she might do if he let her go entirely.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Hermione asked him, with all the despair in the world on her shoulders.
"I was just about to ask you the same thing, Granger."
"You both need some rest. It's been a long few days. Hermione i know you have alot on your plate with everything and the erm wolf thing, but you have to take better care of yourself. Draco you to, especially since you just woke up. You both sound insane."
An uneasy look at the both of them from Ron, who still didn't get it. He still didn't believe what they were saying. He stormed out of the room leaving the 2 of them alone.
Draco heard the voice of Ginny Weasley calling out to her brother in the hallway. Asking where Harry Potter was. She was eager to see him, eager to speak to the love of her life.
Draco squeezed the hand of the girl he had fallen in love with. It was a feeble attempt at providing some form of encouragement, that he did not really feel.
Draco would gladly give up everything he had for Hermione, he decided when she squeezed his palm back. Her tears had stopped for the moment, and now her eyes blazed, with the bravery only a Gryffindor could conjure.
Draco would go into hiding with her if he had to. He would give up his status as the Malfoy heir, and use every last galleon, sickle, and knut to his name in order to keep her alive. Draco did not have much of a plan but, he just knew like Hermione they were not done fighting yet.
End of chapter