I have to say, I do not really like the direction I started with this story. However, I wrote it a few years ago so I feel like I should attempt to continue it for the people who want to see where it is going. Reviews would be helpful, especially if you feel I should keep going with the story or give up on it and start a new one. I'm noticing a lot of errors in my previous chapters and if I do continue with the story, I will update them (but not too drastically so you would have to re-read them).
Previously: "Draco, do you mind if you come to my dorm after so that we can talk?" She said it in more of a commanding voice because she wasn't going to accept no as an answer. She felt relieved as he took his arm off of her and nodded his head. They continued to eat, making a few short comments here and there, mainly Hermione telling him what she had learned from Hogwarts and where everything was (to keep up appearances). The students seated around them offered in their two cents every once and a while too, especially the females who seemed to be quite drawn to him as well. She was just preparing for tonight when she could yell at Draco "Mallory" freely and as much as she wanted.
After dinner, Hermione and Draco headed up to the heads' dormitories. They walked through the living area and to Hermione's private room, so that they wouldn't be overheard. Once inside the room, Hermione placed a silencing spell on the room just in case there were any eavesdroppers outside in the common area while they were in there. She couldn't risk anyone over-hearing what she had to say – scratch that – yell at Draco 'Mallory'.
"Listen here, Malfoy. I do not trust you. However, I do trust Dumbledore – which is the only reason I will respect his decision in sending you here. If you mess this up for me –" Hermione started to say but Draco cut her off.
"Mess what up, exactly? Did your precious Dumbledore even tell you what you had to do?" He questioned.
"Well – yes. Not specifically of course but I trust –"
"You trust that the vague instructions given to you will fix everything? Is that it?" Draco shot back at her. Hermione didn't say anything for a few seconds. He couldn't possibly understand, not in her eyes. She had so many questions about why Dumbledore would send someone who didn't even seem to believe in the cause that she was fighting for.
"The bottom line is that I trust Dumbledore and I have something worth fighting for. I don't want you to mess up my opportunity to change the future."
"And you don't think I want to change it either?"
"You're a death eater! Things were going swimmingly for your side, why would you want to change it?" A few different reasons floated through Hermione's head, each one ridiculous as the next. This whole situation reminded her of Harry and how he was the first one to realize that Draco was a death eater.
"Do you actually believe I had a choice in becoming a death eater?"
"There is always a choice, Malfoy."
"There was a choice and maybe I chose wrong but it was better than the alternative offered to me. My family is everything to me and I did what had to be done. And you'll do well to remember to stop calling me by my real surname lest someone over-hears."
Hermione walked over to the window and crossed her arms. She took a deep breath, knowing that she had to calm down and try to understand from his point of view. If they were rivals then the whole reason she was sent here might go astray and everything that Dumbledore, Harry, and Ron fought for would be lost. She had to trust that Dumbledore made the right decision in sending both herself and Draco here. She took another breath to calm down and then said, "Alright. We just have to figure out what we're going to do. What did Dumbledore tell you when he sent you here?"
"I was told not to reveal that, except that he did want me to give you this note. I don't understand what the old man thinks half the time so don't ask me why he didn't just give it to you in the first place," Draco said while taking a letter out of his pocket and passing it over to Hermione. She took the letter and set it down on her bed, feeling a little impatient to get him to leave so that she could open it up and read it by herself without interruptions.
"We have to trust that Dumbledore knows what he – or we are doing. He always liked people to figure some things out for themselves and I admired him for it. For now, I propose we maintain civil towards each other, especially with the fact that we are supposed to be family friends for many years now, Draco," she said, tasting his first name on her lips. It sounded weird and she didn't particularly like it but they had to keep up pretenses.
"Agreed, Hermione. I'll see you tomorrow then," he replied before opening the door and leaving the area, most likely heading down to the Slytherin common rooms. Hermione only hoped that he would ask for directions along the way to keep up pretenses, or perhaps a different Slytherin told him the password already. Either way, she didn't have a lot of faith in him to not mess up. She wanted everything to go perfectly but it seems that whenever she strives for perfect, something always goes wrong. She took the silence spell off her room and sat down on her bed. She took the letter and tore it open, reading as fast as her brain and eyes would allow her to.
Ms. Granger,
I am aware that you have many questions and not nearly enough answers. All will be revealed in good time, at its own pace. This letter will be short but to the point. First, I will address your concerns (assuming you have them, which, I am almost certain you do) regarding Draco Malfoy, now known as Draco Mallory. Just like any other individual, he has his own reasons for accepting my proposal to come back in time. Try not to pester him for answers, as I am sure things will be revealed in due time. In the past you two might have shared some differences but you have both grown now and I am sure you two can set aside your differences to do what is right. He is here to work with you and help you, allow him to. That is all I will say on that subject for now. I am sure you have many questions regarding a Mister Tom Riddle and how what you are to do regarding that subject. I am assuming that you do not already know as my portrait probably did not have enough time to discuss details with you. I do not want you to kill him, or do anything that would go against your better judgment. I simply want you to befriend him. I am not asking you to become best friends with him, as I am sure you would strongly oppose that. However, I believe one of the reasons that Tom turned out the way he did was because he did not create any stable relationships in his childhood or youth. He did have acquaintances of course, but none who he made a stable connection with. However, I am only speculating on this and if you have this letter, it means that time travelling was the last resort. If he refuses to become friends with you, just try to keep an eye on him even if you only become acquaintances. Remember that there is always a choice and if you wish now to turn back, simply go talk to my present self and he shall make arrangements. I am trusting in you to make the right decision. Eventually, you will have to come back to the present time in order to keep the timeline flowing smoothly. Time travel is a messy thing, not to be taken lightly.
Remember, it is of great importance that you and Draco keep the fact that you are from the future a secret. Do not release any information about the future, not even to my past self.
Sincerely,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Hermione lay back on her bed, processing everything that she just read in the letter that Dumbledore sent to her. It was a lot to take in but she had no doubts about her mission. Well, she perhaps had a few doubts but that wouldn't make her give up, she wasn't one to easily give up without a fight. She would do this for Harry, Ron and the countless others who died during the battle. She had great doubts that she could become friends with Tom Riddle but possibly acquaintances. With Draco assisting her in this task, it shouldn't be as difficult had she been alone. She had to admit she was glad for someone from her time to be here – she only wished it was someone who was her friend during that time. Then again, most of those people are dead. A few tears ran down her cheek and she whipped them away. She had to be strong for them.
She sat up and walked down to the common area and saw Tom Riddle lounging on a couch reading a book. She cleared her throat to get some attention but he did not look up. "Dumbledore wants us to hold a prefects meeting within the next few days," she said, waiting for him to acknowledge her. How anyone could actually like this person was beyond her.
"I am aware," he said while handing a letter to her that was addressed to both the head students. She took the letter and noticed that it was from Dumbledore, outlining the things that he had to discuss at the prefects meeting. "I have made the meeting for tomorrow night after dinner in this common room," Tom Riddle continued before retiring to his bedroom. She sat down on the couch he was at previously and sighed. As long as she was here, she would not fall behind on her head duties or her school work, no matter what.
Author's Note: Should I continue on with this story or just throw it out and create a new one? What would you like to see happen? Answer in the reviews!
August 29th, 2011
