Veil of Grey
A/N: I always thought it'd be interesting to read a story where Hermione is revealed to be a Riddle, or dark in some way except she's grown up canonically, so her characterization/morals are still kind of the same. At the same time there's darker take on the Order and Dumbledore, forcing her to be kind of a grey character.
This fic will be a multi-chaptered work starting from basically the beginning, with obviously a twist on canon. The first few chapters will be dedicated to the first couple Hogwarts years until the story diverges completely around fifth year. Feedback is greatly appreciated. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Harry Potter, its characters, or world nor do I make any profit from this. They are all property of J.K Rowling and her associates.
Rain had been pouring for days, in the countryside of Wiltshire. Even in the cover of night, grey clouds covered the stars, the rain pitter-pattering at the windows of the large cottage, followed by the rare cacophony of lightning and thunder.
Lillian Riddle sat at her desk, her surroundings illuminated by only the glow of a lit candle. Ink dripped from the tip of her quill, as she sat still, only her eyes running down the length of her parchments. She knew the importance her letters would hold and hoped they would be enough when the time came her daughter would need them.
The clap of thunder prompted her to finish, and she hurried to collect the rest of her preparations and place them into a beaded bag. Her hand went to the slim silver chain that hung around her neck. It was the last thing she put in, before waving her wand and adding the necessary enchantments to the bag.
Though she did not hear the familiar sound of apparition, she felt the presence of someone passing through the wards and realized with a kind of accepted trepidation that her husband had arrived home.
Still, Lillian continued to work, and she did not turn even as footsteps quietly approached and came to a stop in the doorway of the bedroom.
"Lillian." It was spoken in a quiet hiss, and she wondered if he realized how drastically his voice had come to change.
"Tom." She turned and met his eyes unflinchingly. "How did it go with Karkaroff?"
He was quiet for a long moment, his gaze sliding around the room. She knew he held suspicions, of her love, of her loyalty. It was no secret that their relationship had grown strained in the past months ever since the war had fully begun.
She had first met Tom Riddle at Hogwarts and had easily been swept by his words and looks. They were both sorted into Slytherin and shared the same values and passions.
He talked of great ideas. The limitless expanse of magic at their fingertips, the untapped potential that their world took for granted. She was fascinated by his determination to understand and use magic to its extent, both light and dark. And soon, his quest for power, whether over the Ministry or death itself, had become as much a goal of his as hers too.
She had agreed with him even at times when he was most harsh. His distaste for Muggles, particularly the idea that the wizarding world was forced to be afraid of discovery by them. And his abhorrence for Dumbledore and the light's hypocritical ways.
However, she did not favor cruelty.
He had not either, until very recently.
After Hogwarts, they worked together to further his goals. The rift in the magical world they reignited, the campaign for blood purity, all nothing but a tool. A way to divide the wizarding community and bring followers to their cause. She was a half-blood herself, like Tom, more adept at magic than any of their pureblood followers.
She pitied them, just like she pitied the other side. The Order. A group of people, who deemed themselves superior in another way. As if as the saviors, everything they did was good and righteous and therefore everything else was incorrect. A world of black and white.
It was a world that she did not want her daughter growing up in.
The quest for power was one thing, but as their numbers grew Tom began to indulge in something Lillian, could only describe as bloodlust. He would encourage his maniacal followers to commit atrocities, incite senseless acts of terror, none of it having anything to do with furthering their plans.
She had blamed it on his obsession with immortality. By splitting his soul, he had given a piece of his humanity with it every time.
She had told him in no uncertain terms. They would not bring a child into the world if it continued on like this, but he had wanted an heir and so had she. And she foolishly believed his promises to change.
Lillian should have known that he was not the man she once knew and loved. The horcruxes and the company he kept had turned him more monster than man. Devoid of reason and mercy, greedy for only power.
But it was too late. Jean had come into the world and Lillian knew then and there as she had held her daughter for the first time, that this world her husband was creating, would not do.
She did not want her daughter to be brought up among the likes of Bellatrix Lestrange and the Carrow's, instilled with a penchant for cruelty and superiority.
Tom would want his daughter to be like him, he would teach his heir their ways whether Jean wanted to or not. But there was nowhere Lillian could go on her own, where he wouldn't be able to find them.
She was desperate, which was why, only nights ago, she had reluctantly met with Albus Dumbledore. He had offered to protect Jean, send her away from the war, where she would be able to grow and learn magic without interference from either side.
Her daughter would be able to think for herself, decide what was wrong and right on her own, and that was all Lillian wanted.
She sensed her husband knew something was wrong. They had always been able to understand one another without spoken words. And she thought it was no coincidence that he had visited his family after so many weeks, the very night Lillian was planning on leaving with Jean.
Still, she made an attempt at normalcy. "Jean is sleeping in the nursery, you haven't seen her in days. Shall we check on her?" Without waiting for a response, she began to head towards the door.
"She will not be there, Lillian."
"I see." She was not surprised that he had somehow learned of her plans, still her eyes hardened. "Where have you taken her?"
"The Lestrange's home."
"You know how Bellatrix is, she'll hurt her!"
"She won't. Bellatrix is loyal to me, which is more than I can say for you." Pain and anger blazed in his eyes and though she felt a stab of guilt, her heart remained unchanged.
"You have betrayed me, Lillian."
"I'm only doing what's best for our daughter, you have to know that."
"By taking her from her father? Giving her to our enemy, the Order, Dumbledore?" He stalked back and forth, a restless dark energy emanating from him.
"No. She is going to grow up separate from all of this. Away from the war, away from you and them."
"She is my heir. She deserves the glory and power of her blood."
"Power is one thing, but you will teach her to be heartless. To enjoy the act of bringing pain and taking someone's life. I don't want her to be that person. I don't want you to be that person. What happened Tom? What happened to the man I loved? Please come back. Stop this and—"
"You and I both wanted this!" He shouted in anger, and she shook her head vehemently.
"You and I wanted the power to change the wizarding world. I did not want the torture of innocents, I did not want murder without any mercy."
"Then you are foolish, Lillian. Power comes through fear, and fear alone."
"Then I don't want it. Is all of this more important to you than our family? Will you to stop this, for me, for Jean?"
"I am doing this for our family! Everything I have gained is for you two."
"You're blind." She spat. "You've gained nothing. Look at you Tom, you are more serpent than man and you're only going to poison our daughter."
His face contorted. He had never admitted it, but she knew he had grown self-conscious about the physical changes the horcruxes had done to him. Suddenly he was in front of her, and she tightened her hold on the wand by her side.
"I loved you." His voice was a broken whisper.
"And I love you. And I'm sorry I stood by as you destroyed yourself. I should have stopped it, I—" She took a shuddering breath and raised her wand. "But I can't let you ruin her too."
She sent the first spell. An expelliarmus, which he blocked quickly with a wave of his wand. Lillian was not planning to harm him or kill him, she did not think herself capable enough to hurt the man she loved. But she knew he would not let her leave and carry out her plan.
They were matched in intellect and power, spells shot out and rebounded destroying the home they had built for their family. She could sense Tom was getting angrier, his curses held more potency and in return she strengthened her shields. Up till then, she had been defensive so when she cast a confringo at the bed causing it to splinter and knock him back with the force, he grew furious.
Lillian was not prepared for the barrage of curses he threw at her, but she managed to block most of them until he made a slicing motion with his wand and a purple flame flew at her. She knew it well, she had seen Dolohov use his carefully concocted spell on several innocents before. There was no time to block it and she accepted what would happen with the close of her eyes.
The curse hit her stomach knocking her to the floor. She felt a burning in her skin, blood seeped into her clothes. He had not meant to kill, but with a strange calmness she realized the wound was fatal.
It dawned on Tom as well, leaving him unguarded as a look of horror crossed his face at what he'd done.
"Petrificus totalus."
A moment passed as she caught her breath and shakily stood among the destruction, Tom frozen in place a few feet from her. Lillian knew she could not afford time nursing her injury. She grabbed the beaded bag and turned to her husband still paralyzed in place.
Unbidden tears rose to her eyes as she realized this would be their last time together. She did not blame him. She had realized a long time ago that their actions and lives guaranteed a bitter end.
"Forgive me, love." She whispered. "Like I forgive you. I only hope one day you will understand why I did what I did. You are not worthy to be her father, but perhaps one day, you will be."
Lillian spun and disapparated, straight to the Lestrange's home.
"Bellatrix." She screamed stumbling until she reached the grand staircase. "Come out now."
A cackle echoed from floors above her, and Lillian looked up to find Bellatrix poking her head from the banister, smiling down at her.
"Jean," Bellatrix cooed, and to Lillian's horror suspended the infant over the railing for Lillian to see. "Say hello to mummy."
Lillian disapparated up quickly, but Bellatrix was prepared and waiting, wand at the ready in one hand, Jean in the other. Lillian knew Bellatrix well, aside from the torch that the woman carried for her husband, her derangement knew no bounds.
"Give me my daughter, Bellatrix."
The woman cocked her head as she appraised Lillian's state. "Lover's tiff?"
Lillian's hands tightened on her injury. "I said give me my daughter!"
"I admit I am disappointed. When he found out of your betrayal, I thought he would at least kill you. Unless…" Bellatrix eyed her, and Lillian deliberately moved her hand to make her wound visible, causing Bellatrix to beam. "You are dying. Aw, then I suppose it's a goodbye to mummy, Jean."
Lillian raised her wand. "He has sentenced me to death, at least let me live my last moments with my daughter."
"Or maybe, I'll kill you instead. Get it over with faster."
"You don't want to do that."
"Why?"
"He does not deserve to get what he wants. He aims to ruin our daughter by teaching her his ways, attending to her, and spoiling her. He'll give her everything he gains, the power, the esteem—"
Bellatrix's face twisted in jealousy. "His only weakness. What of it?"
Lillian made her eyes gleam. "I will not let him have our child even if I have to..."
"—you want to kill her?" Bellatrix's eyes lit up at the thought, but Lillian could sense the woman was still slightly suspicious.
"Yes." She whispered. "It is the only way to rid us of his presence forever. Jean will die and I will succumb to my wounds. Then nothing will be in the way. You will have him all to yourself Bellatrix."
The dark haired woman licked her cracked lips, lowered her wand, and then shoved Jean into Lillian's arms. "Take her. You two were always a hindrance to him anyway, this way I will be doing him a favor."
Lillian did not waste her breath for a rebuttal. Midnight was soon approaching, and she could feel herself growing weaker, her magic waning and her body succumbing to the curse, as she apparated from Bellatrix's home to Godric's Hollow where she was to meet with Dumbledore and arrange for Jean's escape.
They landed by a church, large and desolate. Jean had begun to cry from the jostling of their movements and Lillian cradled and shushed her daughter soothingly. There was a sound behind them, Lillian turned and was not prepared to find of all people, Severus Snape emerging from the shadows.
"Lillian."
"Stand back, Severus. I have to do this."
"Have you gone mad?" He eyed the wand trained on him, and uncaring, took another step forward.
"I've never been saner in my life. Tom is dangerous for our daughter, and for all of the wizarding world. I thought of all people, you would understand why I have to keep her safe from it."
"I don't mean Tom. I mean placing your trust in Dumbledore of all people."
Her eyes narrowed. "And what about you?" His fists clenched and it only confirmed her suspicions. She and Severus had been friends for a long time. She had known of his wavering loyalty, and the woman responsible for it. It only seemed logical he would have gone to Dumbledore.
"I suspected as soon as the prophecy had been told."
"I don't trust Dumbledore." Severus drawled quietly. "But Lily does, therefore I have to work with him to ensure her protection. But you and Jean." He took out a vial from his robe. "I came here tonight to warn you. They've discussed using her, harming her, even threatening to kill her, all to blackmail him. I collected the memory in case you didn't believe me. But the fact of the matter is, you can't trust them. She's safest with you and Tom—he's looking for you, he'll understand if you just come back."
She took the vial from Snape but shook her head. "You don't understand. Tom may not hurt her, but she will grow up to be like him. Unhappy, coldhearted, misguided. I can't let that happen. I can't go back. Especially now. It's…too late for me."
His eyes finally caught onto the blood on her clothes and the pain in her expression. He was in front of her immediately, robes billowing behind him, removing her hand from where it clutched her stomach, and waving his wand to spell several healing charms.
She swallowed thickly. "It won't do, Severus. You and I both know the magic in the curse makes healing the wound close to impossible."
Severus eyes usually impassive, were wide open in shock. "Was it him—"
"He didn't mean to. But it is all the more reason why I have to do this."
"You wish for her to remain away from both sides, but Dumbledore has no intention of letting that happen. You're afraid of Tom using her, but Dumbledore will do just the same. Use her like pawn in this war."
Lillian swallowed thickly, a mixture of betrayal and guilt was clouded her mind. It was not hard to believe Severus's words especially with the weight of the vial he had given her, but foolishly, she had hoped to believe that the light side would stay true to their word, that Dumbledore would put aside their grudges for the sake of a child. So caught up in the desperation to get her daughter away from Tom, she had been sending her away in the hands of someone exactly the same.
"Lillian we'll figure it out—"
It was clear that if she wanted to save her daughter and give her the life she deserved, Lillian would need to do it herself. She shook her head and stepped away in preparation to apparate once more, but before she did, she looked at him. "After tonight, Tom will be worse. Make sure Lily is safe."
Slowly, Severus nodded. He opened his mouth to say something else but stopped himself. She knew very well, words didn't come naturally to him. She smiled softly at her friend.
"Goodbye, Severus."
Lillian apparated once more and landed on a quiet street in the suburbs of Muggle London. She walked down the rows of symmetrical houses, trimmed green lawns, and well-lit street lamps until she arrived at a home she had been at only once before.
It had been another devised plan of hers, a last resort if all her others failed.
Thomas and Martha Granger were a well off couple, both Muggle dentists. They were not able to conceive children, and they did not have close familial relations. Lillian had concluded after learning much about them that they would be good parents for Jean without arising too much suspicion.
But as she stepped onto their porch and rang the doorbell, Jean swathed in a blanket in her arms she could not deny even after her all her planning, how terrifying it was.
The idea of leaving her daughter to be cared for by these strangers, but it was her only option, the best option. Lillian would not survive her wound and soon she would not be there to watch over her daughter. Though she could not trust the people in the magical world, she could at least trust her own magic to ensure that Jean would be safe and well protected with this new family.
They opened the door, and with a discreet swish of her wand, Lillian casted a quick confundo. Midnight passed, and she began by placing protective wards around the home. Next she focused on the Muggles, putting all her concentration and focus on her memory charms, she instilled false memories of a baby girl that was their own. Pictures on the mantles morphed to add Jean, but when it came to the name, Lillian paused.
Tom had picked the name 'Jean', and though she had liked it, her first choice had been 'Hermione', not that he had asked, nor had she suggested.
Hermione. She decided. Hermione Jean Granger.
The spare room in the upper floor of the house became a makeshift nursery, and Lillian laid her sleeping daughter into a transfigured cot. She emptied all of the belongings she had brought of Hermione's from her beaded bag, into a makeshift trunk. The last thing she did was gently slip the charmed necklace around her daughter.
The magic in it would not last forever, but for years at least it would keep Hermione undetected from Tom or anyone who attempted to search for her. And when the time became right, when Hermione was of an age where she could understand these things, the Muggle's would find themselves compelled to reveal all that Lillian was leaving behind for Hermione.
With everything done, Lillian let out a relieved breath and finally relaxed. She became aware of the weakness in her limbs, the difficulty she had keeping her eyes open. She had overused her magic and her injury had worsened, but as she looked down at her Hermione, Lillian could not find the will to leave.
Too little time had she been able to spend with her daughter, and it was a fact that broke Lillian's heart.
"Hermione," She let her fingers trail her daughters cheek as she imagined a young girl, with Tom's dark unruly hair and thirst for knowledge, and her own warm brown eyes, a stubborn determination in them. She would be strong, intelligent, kind, someone Lillian had never truly been able to be.
"I only wish I could be there to see it." Tears slipped from her eyes, and she managed a smile. "I suppose your father will do."
The image of her grown daughter faded into smoke as quickly as it had materialized, and she knew it was time to go.
"It's up to you, Hermione." She whispered, as she stood and straightened. "I know you will not let your father get away with it. Whether he face the consequences or be offered a chance to fix his mistakes, either way give him hell for me."
And then Lillian Riddle was gone.
It would be the morning after, when Tom Riddle would return home, after a night of commanding his followers in search for his wife and daughter. Severus Snape would apparate by his side, both men confronted with the ashes of a home that had stood proudly only a couple hours ago.
Tendrils of smoke still rising from the wreckage, they would search and ultimately find the remains of a mother, clutching the remnants of her daughter, the charred clothes they had been wearing, the blankets the baby had been swathed in, and Lillian's wand. They would find her last spell had been incendio.
Tom Riddle would succumb completely to darkness. Nights later, he would murder James and Lily Potter, and then turn his wand to their infant before somehow perishing himself.
And the line of Tom Riddle would seemingly have ended.
But not really.
