"Speak to me, Slytherin, Greatest of Hogwarts Four,"
-Tom Marvolo Riddle
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Blimey," said Ron, as Harry performed his fifth charm on the black book. As usual, nothing happened. "I didn't know that you knew so many curses, Harry," he said, scratching his head. Harry's scar throbbed faintly, but he furrowed his brow, and narrowed his green eyes pensively. How did Hermione disappear?
"Those are not curses, Ron,' he muttered idly. "Curses are the sort of things that we use on Draco," he explained, adjusting his glasses. Ron's ears turned red, and so did his freckled face. "Yeah, well, I didn't get nine OWLS, like you did," he mumbled. Harry shut his eyes and mentally kicked himself in the shin. "Hermione's got fifteen," he said. Ron's ears became a deeper shade of scarlet. Damn, thought Harry. Put my foot in my mouth, as usual. "Besides," he said kindly, "Seven OWLS is pretty good...for someone who spends almost all his free time practising quidditch," he said.
Ron shrugged, but he turned slightly less crimson. "Mum's satisfied," he said offhandedly. "It's better than Fred and George's,". Harry took the hint, and decided that the subject on OWLS was closed. Right now, Hermione was their main focus.
Ron winked playfully. "I still can't believe that you continued Potions," he laughed. "How's Snape?"
Harry gave a scowl. "Worse than ever. He's mad because Dumbledore persuaded him to allow me to continue Potions, even though I didn't obtained an 'Outstanding'. But it's a necessity. It's essential study for Aurors," he said, quoting Professor McGonagall.
Ron sighed. "But Potion's useless now. Where DID she go? Maybe," he said, wide-eyed. "Maybe she Apparated!"
Harry rolled his eyes. He didn't felt like taking over Hermione's role, and telling Ron that she couldn't have Apparated on school grounds. Maybe Dumbledore can, he thought, thinking about last year. But not Hermione, however smart she is.
Harry smiled grimly. "Then, I guess it's time to pay Dumbledore a visit,"
****************************************************
It was getting dark, and Hermione, feeling lonely, stranded and hungry, decided to head back to the castle. Hortense had already left an hour ago, while she was busy plotting to change history. Out of her many ridiculous plans, one stuck. It was the most dangerous plan, but it would be the only way, thought Hermione miserably. She trudged to the Great Hall, where the students were chatting, awaiting their food.
Hermione noticed Hortense sitting at the Hufflepuff table, staring longingly at Tom. As she tore her eyes away from the charismatic Slytherin, she found the Bloody Baron gliding towards her. It's okay, she told herself. he'll just pass you, like he always does. But instead of floating pass her, the silvery blood-drenched ghost came to a stop in front of Hermione. His hollow, empty eyes stared blankly at her, as though the fearsome ghost was trying to remember something.
Finally, a low voice was heard. "You were seen, in a different timeline," came the voice. Hermione was confused beyond words. The ghost's mouth never moved. But he was definitely talking to her. It couldn't have been anyone else.
"Yes," she whispered, half frightened. "How do you know?" But a cold, strong hand was suddenly resting on her shoulder. The Bloody Baron left wordlessly, and Hermione turned angrily, intending to tell her interrupter off. But it was Tom. She shut her mouth with a snap, as he gazed at her with - could it be- admiration? "He talked to you," he said, looking at her with his absorbing blue eyes. Those eyes always seemed to know what she was thinking about. With a jolt, Hermione remembered that Harry had once told her that Voldemort was a skilled Legilimens, and always knew when his Death Eaters were not being completely honest. Could Tom have acquired the skill when he was in school? It was possible.
"You must sit with me....Beside me," he breathed. Hermione closed her eyes. She had nothing to lose. Tom pulled out a chair for her, and settled himself in his own chair, as though it was his throne, and she was his queen. They were surrounded by empty seats. It was almost as if the seats were......exclusive.
Tom chatted lightly, talking in hushed but proud tones about his secret hide-out. "You see, Hermione," he said, a thin smile adorning this handsome face. "There happened to be a little Easter Egg waiting for me there. You might say that it is my...pet," he laughed. It's the basilisk, thought Hermione. I'm dead.
"I had to gain its trust," he continued after a sip of pumpkin juice. "The books wrote that one has to be able to speak its language, and offer it some flesh. Flesh of a witch," he said. Hermione tried not to shudder. Hortense had said that with her help, Tom's more powerful now. She gave the basilisk a piece of herself?
"Of, course, the language isn't a problem. But as for the meat...." he trailed off darkly. "Now," he said. "You must be wondering why I'm telling you all these,". Hermione said nothing. "I knew that you were special," he said, simply. "It's one of those things that even I cannot explain," Hermione gritted her teeth. That's not true, she told herself. Voldemort knows that you're from the future, and wants your knowledge. That's why he didn't need a Seer anymore. But....he sounded so sincere. As though, he really loves me.
Tom laid his hand on hers. She noticed that it was warm, not cold, like his usual touch. "But enough about that. Tonight, you will meet my....pet, and then, there's no turning back," he finished. His eyes sparkled. Hermione couldn't contain her anxiety any longer. It had been building up in her from the moment he said 'Easter Egg', and when he told her that they were going to meet the basilisk, it exploded.
She stood up, and pointed her fork at him. He seemed surprise, but his hand never ventured to his wand. "You wanted to meet me in your dorm," she hissed, "so that we can go to the girls' bathroom later?"
Tom's smile vanished, and he grabbed her hand, his face dangerously close to hers. "How do you know that the entrance in the girls' bathroom?" he demanded. Oops.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: How do you like this chapter? Tell me!
Dear Mrs.Shigwa.Cobain: Glad to know that. Now you know why she gave him her finger? *belchs*
Dear Maraudertimes: Me too! I'm finally allowed to take my driving lessons...Dunno if that'll keep me busy..
Dear Sonya Katz: *Laughs* hope you love this Mary Sue!
Dear Miss Mina Murray: It's getting darker.....
Dear HPfan: Are you sure you aren't my conscience? We're having the same thoughts! Find someone to back you up, and I'll stop writing for good, okay?
-Tom Marvolo Riddle
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Blimey," said Ron, as Harry performed his fifth charm on the black book. As usual, nothing happened. "I didn't know that you knew so many curses, Harry," he said, scratching his head. Harry's scar throbbed faintly, but he furrowed his brow, and narrowed his green eyes pensively. How did Hermione disappear?
"Those are not curses, Ron,' he muttered idly. "Curses are the sort of things that we use on Draco," he explained, adjusting his glasses. Ron's ears turned red, and so did his freckled face. "Yeah, well, I didn't get nine OWLS, like you did," he mumbled. Harry shut his eyes and mentally kicked himself in the shin. "Hermione's got fifteen," he said. Ron's ears became a deeper shade of scarlet. Damn, thought Harry. Put my foot in my mouth, as usual. "Besides," he said kindly, "Seven OWLS is pretty good...for someone who spends almost all his free time practising quidditch," he said.
Ron shrugged, but he turned slightly less crimson. "Mum's satisfied," he said offhandedly. "It's better than Fred and George's,". Harry took the hint, and decided that the subject on OWLS was closed. Right now, Hermione was their main focus.
Ron winked playfully. "I still can't believe that you continued Potions," he laughed. "How's Snape?"
Harry gave a scowl. "Worse than ever. He's mad because Dumbledore persuaded him to allow me to continue Potions, even though I didn't obtained an 'Outstanding'. But it's a necessity. It's essential study for Aurors," he said, quoting Professor McGonagall.
Ron sighed. "But Potion's useless now. Where DID she go? Maybe," he said, wide-eyed. "Maybe she Apparated!"
Harry rolled his eyes. He didn't felt like taking over Hermione's role, and telling Ron that she couldn't have Apparated on school grounds. Maybe Dumbledore can, he thought, thinking about last year. But not Hermione, however smart she is.
Harry smiled grimly. "Then, I guess it's time to pay Dumbledore a visit,"
****************************************************
It was getting dark, and Hermione, feeling lonely, stranded and hungry, decided to head back to the castle. Hortense had already left an hour ago, while she was busy plotting to change history. Out of her many ridiculous plans, one stuck. It was the most dangerous plan, but it would be the only way, thought Hermione miserably. She trudged to the Great Hall, where the students were chatting, awaiting their food.
Hermione noticed Hortense sitting at the Hufflepuff table, staring longingly at Tom. As she tore her eyes away from the charismatic Slytherin, she found the Bloody Baron gliding towards her. It's okay, she told herself. he'll just pass you, like he always does. But instead of floating pass her, the silvery blood-drenched ghost came to a stop in front of Hermione. His hollow, empty eyes stared blankly at her, as though the fearsome ghost was trying to remember something.
Finally, a low voice was heard. "You were seen, in a different timeline," came the voice. Hermione was confused beyond words. The ghost's mouth never moved. But he was definitely talking to her. It couldn't have been anyone else.
"Yes," she whispered, half frightened. "How do you know?" But a cold, strong hand was suddenly resting on her shoulder. The Bloody Baron left wordlessly, and Hermione turned angrily, intending to tell her interrupter off. But it was Tom. She shut her mouth with a snap, as he gazed at her with - could it be- admiration? "He talked to you," he said, looking at her with his absorbing blue eyes. Those eyes always seemed to know what she was thinking about. With a jolt, Hermione remembered that Harry had once told her that Voldemort was a skilled Legilimens, and always knew when his Death Eaters were not being completely honest. Could Tom have acquired the skill when he was in school? It was possible.
"You must sit with me....Beside me," he breathed. Hermione closed her eyes. She had nothing to lose. Tom pulled out a chair for her, and settled himself in his own chair, as though it was his throne, and she was his queen. They were surrounded by empty seats. It was almost as if the seats were......exclusive.
Tom chatted lightly, talking in hushed but proud tones about his secret hide-out. "You see, Hermione," he said, a thin smile adorning this handsome face. "There happened to be a little Easter Egg waiting for me there. You might say that it is my...pet," he laughed. It's the basilisk, thought Hermione. I'm dead.
"I had to gain its trust," he continued after a sip of pumpkin juice. "The books wrote that one has to be able to speak its language, and offer it some flesh. Flesh of a witch," he said. Hermione tried not to shudder. Hortense had said that with her help, Tom's more powerful now. She gave the basilisk a piece of herself?
"Of, course, the language isn't a problem. But as for the meat...." he trailed off darkly. "Now," he said. "You must be wondering why I'm telling you all these,". Hermione said nothing. "I knew that you were special," he said, simply. "It's one of those things that even I cannot explain," Hermione gritted her teeth. That's not true, she told herself. Voldemort knows that you're from the future, and wants your knowledge. That's why he didn't need a Seer anymore. But....he sounded so sincere. As though, he really loves me.
Tom laid his hand on hers. She noticed that it was warm, not cold, like his usual touch. "But enough about that. Tonight, you will meet my....pet, and then, there's no turning back," he finished. His eyes sparkled. Hermione couldn't contain her anxiety any longer. It had been building up in her from the moment he said 'Easter Egg', and when he told her that they were going to meet the basilisk, it exploded.
She stood up, and pointed her fork at him. He seemed surprise, but his hand never ventured to his wand. "You wanted to meet me in your dorm," she hissed, "so that we can go to the girls' bathroom later?"
Tom's smile vanished, and he grabbed her hand, his face dangerously close to hers. "How do you know that the entrance in the girls' bathroom?" he demanded. Oops.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: How do you like this chapter? Tell me!
Dear Mrs.Shigwa.Cobain: Glad to know that. Now you know why she gave him her finger? *belchs*
Dear Maraudertimes: Me too! I'm finally allowed to take my driving lessons...Dunno if that'll keep me busy..
Dear Sonya Katz: *Laughs* hope you love this Mary Sue!
Dear Miss Mina Murray: It's getting darker.....
Dear HPfan: Are you sure you aren't my conscience? We're having the same thoughts! Find someone to back you up, and I'll stop writing for good, okay?