Disclaimer: all recognizable people, places, and things belong to JK Rowling.
Chapter five.
Down the hallway
After 30 minutes of wandering, obviously lost, Hermione decided to try and find her way back to her room.
Turing a corner, she realized she was more lost than she thought, instead of doubling back into the hallway, she had found a balcony.
Looking down over the side she saw the strangest looking group of men and boys. They were lined up, facing a line of men Hermione assumed were professors, one of whom was angrily pacing up and down the rows of students.
"Someone stole food!" The tall dark haired one growled, his face distorting into an ugly mask. "During Initiations, no one eats, sleeps, or fucks anything!" The last bit was a roar, deep and disturbing.
He turned and the profile of his parody of a face struck a cord in Hermione. "I know him!" She whispered, grabbing the railing. "That's a version of Voldemort!"
"You!" Professor Riddle growled, staking up to a terrified 8 or 9 year old boy. "You did it, didn't you! You little shit eater!" Grabbing the boy by the scruff of the neck, Professor Riddle threw him across the room.
"Noo!" The small boy sobbed, holding up his tiny defenseless hands topped with miniature claws. "Sir, it wasn't—"
Professor Riddle kicked him so hard the boy spat blood.
"Stop it right there!" Enraged Hermione stormed down the balcony to where there was a white stone staircase. "You bastard, I'm the one who took the food!"
As one the entire group turned to Hermione (except for the boy who stayed huddled on the floor in pain), they stood eerily still, astonished at her presence there.
Stomping, she marched right up to Professor Riddle, who backed up as he approached. "You want to punish someone, you asshole, well, here I am!"
"You stole the food?" Professor Snape spoke from the shadows. Gliding over, he came to a smooth stop beside Hermione.
"Yes, I did!" Hermione jutted out her chin and crossed her arms. "And I was hungry so I ate it!"
"Then your family will pay!" Professor Riddles deformed nostrils flared.
"I'd like to see that!" Hermione glared at him. "Seeing how there in another dimension!"
"What?" Professor Dumbledore emerged from the shadows. "Young lady, explain yourself!"
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In Professor Dumbledore's office…
"That's some story!" Professor Dumbledore exclaimed, sitting back in his seat after Hermione had finished telling her bizarre tale.
"She's obviously lying!" Professor Riddle snorted.
Percy Weasley, taller and gaunter than before, flipped through the school records. "There's no record of a Hermione Granger anywhere, Professor Dumbledore. She seems to be telling the truth."
"There's no other way for her to get on campus." Professor Snape stood directly behind the chair that Hermione was seated in. "If someone brought her here, there would be a record of it."
"Well you're here now." Dumbledore smile, giving Hermione a start when she spied his teeth.
"Professor! Your teeth!" Hermione's hand clutched at her throat.
"Oh, yes, they come as a surprise the first time someone notices them." He laughed. "Everyone in my family seems to be cursed with them, though." He scratched his beard, "They have their uses…I have no trouble eating hard candy. Speaking of candy, lemon ball?" He held out a dish of the small round candy.
Shaking her head, Hermione felt silly and rude. He's the same old Dumbledore.
"Back to your predicament." He picked up a quill and begun scribbling on a roll of parchment. "Since your going to be here for a while, you might as well attend classes, until we get this mess sorted out." Handing her the parchment he stood. "You won't be able to stay awake through classes if you don't get some rest, so let's call it a night."
He walked her to the door, calmly laying a hand on her shoulder. "Please, consider Hogwarts your home for the time being, and come see me if there is anything I can do to make your stay easier, okay, Hermione?" He smiled a down at her.
"Okay, Professor Dumbledore," Hermione smile back. Same old Dumbledore! He hadn't changed as much as Harry and Ron did. She can still feel safe with him.
"Professor Snape, will you be so kind as to escort Hermione back to the girls dormitory.'
Nodding, Snape followed Hermione out the door.
"Professor Snape," Dumbledore called after them.
Looking over his shoulder, Snape paused.
"Come straight back to my office, there is something I need to discuss with you."
Snape nodded curtly and headed after Hermione.
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Half way down the hall, Snape paused and looked at Hermione. Saying nothing he continued on.
After a moment, he did it again.
"Is there something you want to ask me, Professor?" Hermione stopped and turned to him.
Pausing, he looked at her.
"Yes."
"Well ask."
"Where you're from, did you like me?" He looked down at the ground.
Hermione thought for a moment.
"Yes, I liked you a lot." She smiled at him and squeezed his arm. "I like you now, too."
"I don't scare you?" He held out his long lethal looking hands.
"Not anymore."
They continued the rest of the way in silence.
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Returning to Dumbledore's office, Snape knew what Dumbledore wanted to see him about, and he had already made up his mind.
"I think we should throw the little piece of garbage out on the street." Professor Riddle was angrily firing words at Professor Dumbledore, who was seated behind his desk.
"Severus, what do you think should be done with Miss Granger?" Professor Dumbledore leaned back in his chair. "It's your call."
"I'll pay for her to remain here." Professor Snape replied. "Write me down as her guardian."
"Well, god knows you can afford it," Riddle muttered.
"Would you like me to inform Miss Granger of this?" Professor Dumbledore scribbled down on Hermione's school record.
"No," Snape sat down. "I'll inform her when the time is right."
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TBC
A/n: Thanks to everyone who reviewed Gothic Butterfly! Please continue to Read and Review.