Chapter 1
She saw the fright in his eyes. She didn't care what Harry and Ron said. They suspected Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater. She knew it. She felt it. When she saw Malfoy with his mother walking towards exit from Madame Malkin, she grabbed the blonde wizard by the collar of his robe. She pulled him back so powerfully that he fell to the ground.
She didn't pay attention to what was happening until approx. Not at the screams of Lady Malfoy, or at the voices of her friends. She had one goal. She had to see what was on this Slytherin's forearm.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" - she heard Harry's voice through the haze. She didn't answer him.
After a while she found what she was looking for. The Dark Mark. - "Dilly!" - She croaked and a house elf dressed in a miniature uniform with the emblem of the Malfoy family appeared at her side.
"Miss!" - The creature lunged at her to embrace her with its bony arms. - "I missed you."
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Harry Potter was looking at his friend. It felt as if Hermione had changed her personality in one moment. As if she has matured too much.
He noticed a small smile on Hermione's face before she said - "Tell that blasted usurper Miss Malfoy is coming home. He should have prepared everything for my return. I don't want the mansion to look like a horror cave."
At these words, both Lady Malfoy and her son looked stunned. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed that Ron turned pale.
-"The portrait of the miss' brother is also to be prepared?" - the elf looked happy.
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Draco Malfoy watched the girl, who still had his forearm in her hands.
"Mrs. Malfoy... Please help me pick up your son. We'll be apparating to the Manor soon. I wish I hadn't had to carry that moron."
He didn't think that his proud mother without a hesistation would help the girl she previously thought was nothing but dirt under her feet. He didn't even notice when he was Apparated back home.
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Tom Riddle and his faithful followers sat at the Malfoy Manor dining room table. Everyone was present except Narcissa and young Draco. He had a work to do, so he still had to go to Hogwarts. He went to Diagon Alley to replenish his supplies.
Suddenly he felt the immobilizing magic and a house elf appeared in front of his eyes. He knew this house elf even though he hadn't seen her for years. - "Dilly? I remember well?" - he asked softly, to the surprise of those who accompanied him.
"Yes, Master Riddle. I was going to tell you that Miss Malfoy is coming home and everything must to be prepared for her return."
The Dark Lord felt like he was running out of air. - "By Salazar, WHAT?"
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Severus Snape didn't know what to make of the strange exchange between the Dark Lord and an unknown house elf. The creature clearly had friend's family embroidered on its clothing. For as long as he could remember, the elves in Lucius' family weren't treated well.
"By Salazar, WHAT?"
"Miss Malfoy called Dilly. Miss was furious that Master Malfoy was wearing the Dark Mark."
Miss Malfoy? Miss Malfoy? Who the hell is that? He knew from the others faces that he wasn't the only one asking himself this question. Both Lucius and Bellatrix were too stunned to speak.
"Don't be upset. I think the portrait will be the most important." - Dilly sighed, adjusted her apron before adding - "Portrair of You-know-who."
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He couldn't believe his ears. Lucius Malfoy didn't thought... He was unaware that there was another woman in his family, an unmarried woman who bore his last name. He wasn't aware of it and the Dark Lord was? He wanted to know the answers, but he didn't dare to ask.
"I hope her anger at me has worn off. I was furious when I saw her last year." - Doholov's voice pierced his consciousness.
The Dark Lord chuckled. - "Remember that she was more brutal with you than you were with her. Dilly? Do you know where THIS portrait is? I suspect she may be referring to this particular one."
"I know. It hangs over your head." - to the surprise on the face of Voldemort the elf added. - "Oh little Tom. A bit of magic and you are still amazed like a little Muggle child. Why don't you have a nose anyway? I understand that you can lose hair with age, but lose your nose?"
"Leave him, darling, or he'll kill you. Tom has been extremely nervous these days." - Lucius didn't recognize the voice that rang out now in the room.
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Tom Riddle looked in the direction where his old friend's voice was coming. Her hair was sparkling with magic and spreading out in all directions. She looked exactly like the day he found her in Abraxas' room.
"Can you explain to me why THIS is here?" - she asked in a tone that could bear no objection. Before he could open his mouth, she raised a hand to stop him. - "I'm going to talk to someone. Use this time to come up with a decent excuse. You will explain yourself not only to me."
He couldn't help himself. He watched her every step. She walked as if the whole world belonged to her. She ignored the whispers and gazes. She walked steadily to the portrait of young Abraxas Malfoy.
"Did you miss me?" - She wiped a tear that dripped from her eye. She whispered a few words, the liquid on her fingers glowed and she rubbed it on Brax's painted cheek. - "You were thinking about me?" - She cut the skin on the same fingers and when blood appeared she smeared it on the other cheek of the portrait.
He watched as captivated by what this witch was doing. More than once she surprised him with her skills. She always said she had an excellent teacher.
"Of course I missed you." - the voice filling the silence was a little hoarse, as if rusted from disuse. - "Of course I thought about you. You are my miracle."
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Hermione Granger imagined she would release him under different circumstances. When the war is over and he will not be in danger of going to Azbakan. However, she didn't regret that she did it now, because until then his hand in hers was all she needed now.
"Again, you are my miracle." - he whispered, holding her in his arms. - "Why did you call me?"
"Our… friend committed an insult to our family. Besides... I need you."
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If he had known that his return was possible, he would NEVER hurt this family.
"You see, Tom." - Hermione stood with her hands clasped with the alive, VERY ALIVE, Abraxas Malfoy. - "There are ways other than Horcruxes to extend human life. You just need to have someone you can really trust. Have you really forgotten what I can do for THAT Malfoy and his family?"
"I will never forget it." - he was sure that the young witch saw a gleam in his eyes when he remembered what had happened years ago - "For the first time I was a witness of this kind of necromancy. You gave your life energy to bring his heart to life. He was dead. Even Dumbledore confirmed it. Your despair has brought him back to the world of the living. You did it again. Why do you care so much about him?"
"It should be logical for you. Abraxas Malfoy is my friend. Orion Black is my friend. You weren't just a friend for a while. However, the person who has been so close to me shouldn't hurt those whom I have come to regard as my own family."
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Harry Potter and Ron Weasley rushed to the headquarters of the Order of Fenix. They were afraid that no one would believe them if they told what they had witnessed. Fortunately, most members of the order sat at the kitchen table.
"Boys, what happened?" - It was the first thing Molly Weasley said when she saw them.
Ron turned red before he rushed to speak. - "Malfoy. Hermione. The Dark Mark. Elv. Angry. Death Eater."
"Harry, why don't you tell us what's going on?" - Sirius Black was still recovering from last year's events. - "Ron is probably too nervous."
"Hermione lunged at Draco Malfoy. She revealed his Dark Mark. She summoned the house elf who called her 'Miss Malfoy' and then they disappeared."
Arthur Weasley got up. A gentle smile appeared on his lips. - "Do you know that it doesn't make much more sense than what my son said a moment ago?"
At this point, Harry noticed Dumbledore looking down sadly. He ran his fingers down his long chin and said. - "On the contrary. It makes a lot of sense, but not to you."
"What is it, Headmaster?" - the boy-who-lived asked.
"Would you give your life for Miss Granger?" - Albus Dumbledore asked seriously.
"Of course." - the answer came almost immediately. From both the lips of Harry and Ron.
"I am asking about the literal situation. If Miss Granger had died, would you have given your life so that she could come back to life?"
This time no one answered. Harry wasn't sure if he would be capable of it. It is different to die for idea or to save someone's life and another to give your own life to someone who is already dead.
Remus impatiently asked. - "What are you getting at? What does this have to do with the present situation?"
"Hermione Granger is one of the spontaneous time travelers. There are so few of them that there was no one to teach her to control this power. This is why I met her in the 1940s, even though she wasn't officially alive yet. Once I realized what was happening, I tried to send her back to her time. However, when it failed, I made one of the biggest mistakes in my life. I tried to kill her to avoid significant changes in the timeline. But Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Black, with the help of Tom Riddle helped her. Abraxas stood on the spell line and died."
The members of the Order of the Phoenix were too stunned by Albus Dumblerore's confession. Harry couldn't understand how someone like him could be so soulless. It was that moment, he thought, that decided their present. - "Headmaster, go on."
"Miss Granger's magic reaction was overwhelming. She let out so much energy that it was difficult for us to breathe. Then something I had never seen before or ever after happened. She cut her and his hand and said, 'If I could give my life so that you could live, I would do it without hesitation, because my life is nothing without you.' After these words their blood united and Abraxas Malfoy began to breathe. He came back to life after being in the Land of the Dead for more than a hour. Between her, Abraxas and Orion, I saw a friendship that was stronger than what I had seen up to now. It was as if one soul lived in three bodies. That's why Miss Granger might have gotten upset. Draco Malfoy's veins run with the blood of both her friend."
"It's not everything." - at that moment they heard Severus Snape's voice. - "She just resurrected Lucius's father. Abraxas Malfoy is walking around the world again and Anton Dohołow is dead."
"What the hell are you talking about, Sniveleus?" - Sirius growled. He was too nervous about what they just found out.
"As soon as Lucius' father found out about your little escapade to the Department of Secrets, he cut Dohołow by a head. Literally. He want to hang it here, right next to the house elves' heads. How did he put it? 'This head will match the Walpurgis collection'."
"Professor, where is Hermione?" - Harry was becoming more and more concerned.
"How am I supposed to know? She quarreled with the Dark Lord. She slapped him in front of everyone so that he almost fell over. Then she apparated, taking the entire Malfoy family with her, saying that she would call me too and that I should not resist her, because she would be..."
Harry didn't know what his hated professor was trying to say. Slowly he was getting paler, transparent, as if watered down. Then he disappeared.
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Severus landed on the floor. Before his eyes was the smiling face of the all-knowing and obnoxious griffon. - "How are you, professor? I wasn't able to remove all spells from you, but I did with the Wizard Oath, the Dark Mark and compulsion spells. Spell of silence and targeting. Would you like to hear who is really responsible for the death of Lily Evans or do you really want to continue believing in the crap that Albus Dumbledore fed the public?"
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"Father, what's that supposed to mean?" - Lucius was still shocked when he remembered what he had learned about his family so far.
Abraxas shrugged. - "Come on? Or you dare to destroy my plan to include this girl in my family?"
"Does she know about this plan?" - Narcissa asked timidly.
"She knows. Besides, it is a kind of competition between us. Orion wanted to get her married to one of his nephews. Fortunately, it didn't work out. It is Malfoy who kissed her first and Malfoy will be the one who kiss her last." - Looking at the surprised son and daughter-in-law he added. - "This is a story for a different moment. Hermione might hold it against me. With that kiss, I almost ruined their date. Tom was so in love with her..."
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Draco Malfoy, distrustful of what he was seeing, continued to stare at his Dark Mark free forearm. - "Why did you do that?"
"How why? It should be simple. You are the descendant of my two best friends and my two roommates. I probably know more about your grandparents than you do."
"And why now?"
"I don't know why the pain in your eyes, which I saw when Harry accidentally touched your forearm, made me travel back in time. Magic took me right to your grandfather's bedroom. That's history... Anyway, he became my family and you are his grandson."
Draco combed his platinum blonde hair. It was amazing. He wanted to know many details, but knew it wasn't the right time. Now he was free to feel reliev. He didn't quite believe the argument even though he saw the conversation between Hermione Granger, Voldemort and his grandfather. They were so free next to each other even though they were arguing with each other. He had never seen Granger act like this next to the Weasel and the Potty. He really was in some goddamn alternate reality.
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"You know why Lily died? Someone has erased Tom's memory of the oath he had made to me during my school days. Breaking the oath resulted in death. It wasn't Lily Evans' sacrifice that saved her son. He swore to me that he would never try to kill Harry Potter's family. Only the Horxuxes he had saved him." - she sighed - "Who is skilled enough at memory spells to do something like this without being noticed? Who likes to get involved in the affairs of others? Who likes to put illegal spells on people?"
"Albus Dumbledore." - Severus growled.
"Exactly sweetie." - she patted the professor's cheek. Conductive and affectionate. - "Dumbledore. Albus-too-many-names -Dumbledore."
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The silence at Grimmuald Place 13 was still deafening. Molly stood with mugs of coffee in her hands. Sirius was playing with his food. Perhaps only Remus Lupin had some remaining common sense left.
"How did Hermione get close to Tom Riddle?"
"I don't know what you mean when you say 'she was close'. I know they've been together for a few celebrations. They spent time together in the library. In Hogsmeade. They sat together in one desk during class. They were really close in my eyes. And Tom began to change..."
Remus knew the headmaster was hiding something. Hermione might have changed, but one thing about her was the same. Seeing good in other people. She trusted him even though she knew he was a werewolf. There must have been something good about Voldemort to let him be so close to her.
"What was the status of her blood in those days that made Slytherins accept her so easily?" - Lupin asked another question. He suspected that it wasn't just him thinking about it.
"She immediately admitted being a Muggle-born. Paradoxically, she had more problems with Fleamont Potter, who was a seducer and liked to pick on the prettier girls. And with Lyall Lupin, because she reached the Golden Snitch faster in every match."
"Hermione can't fly. Everyone knows it." - Fred snorted. Ever since he met this brunette, he tried to teach her how to use a broom, but she was stubborn and refused to even try.
A sad smile appeared on Albus' face. - "She can. And how she can. I even dare to say that she is a much better seeker than Victor Krum. This is another proof of the intimacy between Tom and Hermione. It was he who taught her to fly. She was on one team with Tom Riddle, Albraxas Malfoy, Thorus Nott, Orion Black and Rad Lestrange. She played shoulder to shoulder with them. Hermione Granger was a terror greater than the original Knights of Walpurgis. As she walked down the corridor, everyone gave way to her."
Molly gasped in shock. - "It is impossible. This isn't the Hermione we know."
"Are you sure? Molly, what would you do in her place? Miss Granger summoned every ounce of strength she had. And she did it perfectly."
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She was slim. Tom was convinced he had never seen her before. She was wearing a sweater and pants that draped strangely over her legs.
"Who are you?" - He asked as gently as he could. She intrigued him. - "It's my friend's house."
She smiled shyly. - "I don't know where I am. I was just standing at Madame Malkin's tailor shop. Suddenly, I felt dizzy and found myself here."
He walked over to her. She watched his every step carefully. - "You're at Malfoy Manor. A house owned by my friend Abraxas' family. My name is Tom and you?" - He was almost within her arms, or so he thought.
"Hermione. Hermione Granger. Could you call your friend? Or preferably his father?" - she asked, her voice full of uncertainty.
He nodded his head in confirmation. He called for the elf that Lord Malfoy had assigned him after he started coming to their house more often.
"Tilly!" - The elf appeared almost immediately.
"Yes, young master. How can I help you?" - the creature appeared unaware of the unexpected visitor's presence. He wondered if she had really noticed this girl or was waiting for her introduction.
"We have an intruder who wants to see Lord Malfoy."
After a while the elf disappeared and he grabbed her hand. The moment he touched her skin, he knew he would never want to let her out of his hands. No way. Even if he was to be one, of many, not the only one.
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This is the second short story that was wrote while I was waiting for my son to come back from the surgery. How do you like it?
I had it posted once before. However, I deleted it because I thought it wasn't a good enough story. However, I thought I would continue writing this story. So is it better to continue the current events, show the past or intertwined chapters? Regards katie-krum