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Chapter 13

Ah, my daughter. Hermione Rhianna Thomasine Dumbledore-Riddle. I am your mother, Rhianna Marie Dumbledore-Riddle. Strange to see those two names in conjunction, is it not?

If you are reading this, then I suppose it is true. I am dead.

I loved your father, child, very dearly, and I still do. There really is a good man beneath all the layers. I truly believe that. I know it, even if the rest of the world never sees it.

There are many things I must tell you, things I must relate to you about my past—and therefore yours. But some of these are better shown, not told. I have therefore left these memories in my grandfather's penseive. There are actually many 'greats' in there, but I forget how many. Albus Dumbledore. He is the Headmaster at Hogwarts, at least he is now. I somehow cannot imagine the place without him. Even when he was only the Transfiguration professor, he somehow fit the place, and made it home.

Right now, I'm looking at you, lying there on the bed. So quiet and peaceful. It seems like the only time you've ever been that way; you really are a fussy baby. My mother used to tell me that babies like that were only looking for stimulation—it meant that they were very smart. I somehow believe her. I look into your eyes, and I see intelligence, and a thirst to learn more. Rather like your father, in that way. He was the best student Hogwarts had ever seen.

According to Grandfather Albus, I was the only one who came close.

You might think that different things drove us to learn more, study harder, and be the best. And perhaps there was a slight difference. But most of all, Tom and I were driven for the same reason: a thirst for knowledge. However his thirst led him to the Dark Arts. Mine… Well, I was led to the Dark Arts as well. But I wanted to work against them, to find a way to best them.

And I do believe I have found the answer: love. It worked with your father. He never actually told me that he loved me, but I could tell. He showed it in so many ways. For one, he never attacked Hogwarts. Never. He never went after Grandfather Albus. For two, he has always defended me and kept me safe.

I told Tom I loved him after we had been sleeping together for a month. I wish I could understand why I ever slept with him in the first place…but it seems that sometimes your mind decides some things for you, without allowing you to understand it. I know why it was that I began to see him in a different light. I did not put this memory I the pensieve, for it is something I do not wish you to see.

Let me begin by saying that the Malfoys are either your friends or your enemies; there is no in-between. And yet they are also the type of friends that people would generally say, "With friends like that, who needs enemies?" It's very true. The Malfoys have had an ongoing feud with the Dumbledores—back to the 1500s at least. Their feud with the Potters is the longest one imaginable (I'm relatively certain that it dates back to Merlin's time!), although the one with the Weasleys only began within the last century.

But I digress.

***

Rhianna set down the quill, rubbing her eyes. She was so tired… She was trying so hard to fight the disease, but it wasn't working very well. She was only grateful that the Grangers were willing to take her sweet child in after she…died, and even more grateful for letting her stay with them until… that happened.

She glanced over at Hermione, smiling softly. How she loved her child, and wished that she would never have to leave her!

Rhianna shook her head, her eyes filling with tears as she thought of Tom. Turning back to the paper, she lifted the quill, beginning to write again.

***

I love you, child, so much… And I hope that you never have to go through what I went through.

After a few weeks at Tom's estate, Lucius Malfoy and Crabbe and Goyle stopped by to have a chat with Voldemort. I chose that time to try and escape again… However, Lucius saw me. I remembered him from school, although only as a first year (I had graduated after that), and he was always a mean little bastard, no matter he'd only been eleven. He tried to rape me (at Tom's estate, not Hogwarts)… And your father saved me. He truly looked outraged that Lucius had attempted to hurt me. It was then that my view of him began to change.

After I month, I admitted it. I was in love with him. So I gave myself to him, and I never regretted it.

I truly hope that you find that kind of love, my child, for that is the best kind to have—everlasting, never-ending love.

***

Hermione set down the note, tears in her eyes. So her mother was dead. And her mother had really, truly… loved her…father. How strange it felt to say that. And yet, now, she could. She could call him her father and not feel strange about it, now knowing that her mother had loved and trusted him with all of her heart, and he had not betrayed it. He had even loved her back.

She lifted up the journal, and began to read.

***

September 7, 1980

Well, today is a day to remember, that is for sure. Today I got married. And not just to anyone… I was married to Tom Marvolo Riddle… Voldemort. I really think of him as two separate people, because I know that I could never love Voldemort as I love Tom.

I'm also pregnant—with his child. I can't wait… I am so incredibly happy.

***

April 26, 1981

Yesterday, my daughter, Hermione Rhianna Thomasine Dumbledore-Riddle was born. She is so adorable, sharing both mine and Tom's looks… But she has my eyes, I can tell. That light, light brown that has the slightest tint of red-gold sparkles… Although I believe the red might be from her father.

She is so cute, I cannot help but wonder how she will fend off the boys when she is older. Ah, well, at least Tom and I will always be around to help her…

***

July 1, 1982

I am in shock. I cannot believe what has just happened. Tom is dead. He's just… He's gone. I honestly didn't think that he would take Trelawney's prediction seriously. He tried to kill Harry Potter… And he died.

Oh, I am so mad at him! And yet, at the same time… I can barely write, I'm so upset…

***

August 24, 1982

I'm at Hogwarts. My grandfather, Albus, granted me temporary sanctuary there. I've told him everything. He understands how much I loved Tom, and doesn't judge me for loving the enemy. He's taken to little Hermione almost as much as I have, and plays with her often. She obviously enjoys his company, although I've found that she likes Professor McGonagall just as much. Minerva seems slightly unnerved by that fact.

He has offered to let me continue to live at Hogwarts, but I know that I can't… There is too much risk for exposure.

***

August 29, 1982

I fainted today. I went to Madam Pomfrey… It turns out that I have an incurable disease. It hasn't been identified as of yet, but it is extremely debilitating. I told Albus. He offered to take Hermione when I…died…but I can't do that to him. People will wonder who Hermione is, and she will be under too much scrutiny than could be good. I mentioned that to him, and he mentioned that perhaps placing her with a Muggle family would be best… Then she would be regarded as a Muggleborn—therefore, not a threat.

We will be visiting Lydia and Marshall Granger tomorrow. Albus knows them, apparently. They're dentists, and have been trying to have a child for some time with no luck.

***

December 25, 1982

Ahh. Christmas Day. It will probably be my last. I am living at the Grangers now; they've kindly taken me in until I die. Somehow it's getting easier to write that. I'm going to die, and I am slowly accepting it. Hermione is growing wonderfully, and the Grangers adore her as much as I do. I think they're looking forward to calling her their own, although they seem uncomfortable with the fact that they're only getting her because I am dying. I think they see it as being rude to be happy. I am trying to convince them otherwise.

They have agreed not to tell Hermione about her past until she graduates from Hogwarts. Albus has convinced me that she will definitely be going. I am grateful for that. Of course, with Tom as her father, and Albus as her grandfather, what else would one expect?

***

March 10, 1982

I'm going to die soon. I can tell. It's taking all of my strength to write this. I still love Tom, no matter what he may have done. I love Hermione, and I will miss her greatly. I hope that she finds love, and that perhaps her story has a happy ending…

***

And then there was a large black mark on the sheet, where the quill had probably been left. Hermione choked back a sob, reading the small, precise writing at the bottom of the page…

Rhianna Marie Dumbledore passed away at 5:18 PM on March 10, 1982.

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A/N: That was so sad! It brought tears to my eyes as I wrote it… Anyways, I think I might've gotten all A's! But I won't know for a bit… I know I at least have two. *breathes large sigh of relief*

Disclaimer: I don't own it, so please don't try to sue me. Trust me when I say that you won't get anything… I don't have anything.

dracohermioneshipper: *grin* Sorry. Though not really. And yeah, I guess I do love cliffhangers… They're fun, and then reviewers want a new chapter even more. :)

Crystalline Lily: Yes, I finally updated. ^^ And yes, Draco admitted he loved her, and Voldemort and Lucius are getting some ideas… Don't worry, won't be too long yet…

Dreaming One: Hello! Thanks for responding to my e-mail. :) Glad you weren't two disappointed with those last two chapters. *flinches* I wasn't very into the fic at the time I wrote them. I was much more into it while writing this chapter, though. Yeah, description was bad. Really embarrassing, actually.

cherryplum11: Thanks! I think I might've actually gotten all A's. :D I'm happy.

Hurdlingbaybe06: Yup. During my break I kinda started writing again, 'cause I really couldn't stop. So I had a chapter for almost every story ready. Well, not really for this one, but I had chapters 11 to 13 started, so that was half the battle.

HarryPotterWanter: Glad you're enjoying the whole thing. ^^ And did you get my e-mail?

MistressDeDraco: Wow. Very long review. Okay then… Gods yes, she was OOC. I wrote that a month and a half ago and didn't feel like changing it. (That's because I'm really lazy right now and at that time I was not feeling very good about this story.) Yes, she used wandless magic. Although the coma was caused by stress, the whole thing caused her to slip into an incredibly deep sleep that allowed her to really develop her powers. I don't know whether that will become clear in the story, so I'm telling you now. Yeah, uh, about that scene… That was where I stopped writing it a while back and, once again, I was feeling lazy and not very good about this story. As in, I thought it sucked and you know what? It couldn't get any worse. Luckily, that doesn't happen to me very often. As for not seeing Hermione make up with Harry… Uh, I think you can already guess the answer from my previous answers: laziness and thinking the story sucked. And they kinda had to get back together so that I can wrap this up by the fifteenth chapter. If you got my e-mail you probably know why. (And you did get it, right?) Hope you like the diary, glad I was able to clear SOMETHING up, and I LOVE your critique.

Demosa: Aww! Kitty? I like kitties. :) I think I'll have a picture of mine up on my site (the hasapi3 one) soon… You're on the updates list.

blurry: Thanks! And I'll try to get to your fic soon. I think I actually read the first two chapters a few days ago, actually. It was pretty good. :) And yeah, sometimes you really do need to rewrite a fic…

wicca-gurl: Glad you like it!

Snapes FEMALE Twin: Sorry. But now you got to read it. ^^

avri: Yup, I'm back. Shouldn't be leaving anytime soon.

Evenstar: Here's more. :)

tommygurl: You're welcome. And I think I did pretty well on the exams. I passed biology with 97% on the course! And on my final I got 195 out of 200. *grins* I'm just really happy. *giggles* Ah yes, what a wonderful dilemma… Be Draco and 'Mione's daughter and be a Parseltongue… Or be married to Draco. Hmm.

Jess: I'm glad I'm back too. ^^

Tru2me4evr: I'll try. :D

I-LOVE-DRACO: S'okay. I get it. :)

harrypotter4ever: Finals are over now, so I can do that write, write, write thing you're telling me to do. :D

Priestess Morgane: Thanks! Glad you like Just One Night, too. :)