Chapter Seventeen: Evil on the Horizon
Bellatrix Black strolled into the Slytherin common room. "I'm bored," she said snobbishly.
Severus Snape peered up from the potions book he had been reading. "Where have you been all day?"
Bellatrix looked around cautiously and grabbed Snape, pulling him into a corner where no one could see. "Look," she said proudly, pulling back the sleeve of her robe.
Snape observed his arm. "What is it?"
"Well," began Bellatrix, looking from side to side again and lowering his voice. "Have you ever heard of Voldemort?" Snape shook his head. "What about Tom Riddle?"
"The name rings a bell," admitted Snape. "Didn't he get an award or something?"
She nodded. "But there is so much more to it than you know. Tom Riddle is one of the most powerful wizards in the world, and even better-he's dark." An evil grin spread on her face. "Something is going to happen-something big. But first we're raising support. Rodolphus took me to see him today. This..." she pointed to her arm, "this is a mark of loyalty."
"What do you mean 'something big?'" Snape's interest was peaked.
"All I can say for now is that muggles and mudbloods better watch their backs. In a few years, all hell will break loose. I'll introduce you to Voldemort sometime. I'm sure you two would get along just fine."
Snape beamed. Sure it seemed like there was something fishy about the whole thing, but that's the way it all worked. Never finding acceptance in his peers as a child, he had turned to the dark arts for solace. Power was like a drug, the more you had, the more you wanted.
The look of boredom returned to his female companion's face. "But nothing is going to happen for at least another year or two. What are we going to do until then?"
Snape thought for a moment, then dug into his pockets. He produced a small hourglass attached to a delicate gold chain. "There's some Gryffindors we've been itching to torture." Bellatrix returned his sinister sneer.
*****
James and Hermione walked hand in hand down the hallway; unable to tear their eyes from each other or wipe the blissful smiles off their faces. They stopped abruptly when two dark figures blocked their path.
"I see you've moved on from my cousin, Ranger," Bellatrix Black said smoothly. "I can't say I blame you, but I'd hardly say that this is an improvement."
"But now the question is," Snape stepped close to Hermione, way too close for comfort, "who will be next? Pettigrew or Lupin?"
"How dare you," growled James, stepping forward. But the two Slytherins ignored him, focusing every once of their disdain on Hermione. Bellatrix grinned evilly at her as she stepped beside Snape.
"Well, I guess that this means nothing to you anymore," she said mockingly, outstretching her hand.
Upon seeing what he held, Hermione gasped. "Give that to me!" she demanded, reaching for her Time Turner. She grasped it, but before she could draw her hand away, Bellatrix closed her fingers over Hermione's. Her grip was vise- like, and her long, sharp nails dug in deep. Hermione cried out in pain.
James's temper was boiling. "Let her go!" he ordered. He was still ignored.
"How bad do you want your little trinket?" Snape asked, bringing his hand to Hermione's hair. Seeing that pushed James over the edge. He couldn't believe this goon had the audacity to assault the woman he loved right in front of him. Without thinking twice, he drew his wand, pointed it straight at Snape, and yelled, "Stupefy!" Snape's body fell to the floor with a thud.
James quickly turned his wand on Bellatrix, who was gaping at the scene but still holding on to Hermione. "Let her go, unless you want to end up like your friend here," James's voice was spiteful and remorseless. She hesitantly dropped Hermione's hand, Time Turner and all, scowling at James. "Let's get out of here, Hera," said James.
They walked in relative silence until they reached the portrait hole. Hermione turned to James. "Thank you," she whispered.
James smiled, placing a hand affectionately on her cheek. "I would do anything for you," he said, leaning in to kiss her. She did the same, until they both became conscious of the Fat Lady watching them intently. Hermione blushed and James laughed, uttering the password. The Fat Lady swung open, looking a bit disappointed.
"After you," said James, stepping aside to let Hermione in first.
"Umm, James, could I have a moment to myself?" she asked, grasping the Time Turner in her hand.
James smiled with understanding. "Of course, Hera," he said. "Just stay out of trouble.
"Oh, I doubt those two will dare to come within ten feet of me for awhile," she laughed, pecking him on the cheek. "See you at dinner."
Hermione walked to the end of the corridor, and then started to run. She just ran, not concerned where she was going, her only goal to get as far away from the castle as possible. She reached a far corner of the forest, and content that no one else was around, she finally dared to open her fingers.
The time tuner shimmered in the sun. She held her breath as she examined it. Closing her eyes, Hermione moaned. It would all be so much easier if Bellatrix and Snape had simply destroyed it. Or even better yet, she thought, used it. A giggle escaped her lips at the thought of the two prats being transported back a few decades.
Thoughts of reality interrupted her daydreams. Unfortunately, they hadn't used the Time Turner. And now she would be held responsible for any decisions. She had the ability to fix it all- two turns would bring her to the present, and no one would have to know.
Hermione sighed, wishing that she had never taken that risk. It was supposed to be simple enough-go back to the past, have a little fun, then promptly return to the present. She buried her head in her hands. Why did she have to fall in love?
"Oh Harry," she whispered, starting to cry. "I'm so sorry." She loved Harry so much, but in a different way than James. He was her friend, and that was all. And even if she went back to the future, she could never love him like she loved James.
Fingering the Time Turner, she confirmed the decision she had made the other night. She didn't care about the future, about Harry, about Voldemort. All she cared about was being with James. Hermione knew it was selfish, and she would probably regret it later. But this was love.
She threw the Time Turner to the ground and brought her foot upon it. Stomping over and over, even after all the glass was shattered, tears rolled down her face. Looking at the remains of the only devise that could make things right again, she sunk to her knees and sobbed, wondering if it was worth it, if she just sealed the fate of the world for the sake of love.
*****
Bellatrix Black was beyond mad. Snape had never seen anyone so furious as he observed his friend digging through a trunk in her room. He glanced nervously around. Of course he was a Slytherin and considered himself above the rules, but all the same he felt a bit uncomfortable in the girl's dormitory. But there was no chance of him saying so, as Bellatrix's rage was evidenced by her throwing parchment and books in every direction. Finally, she found what she had been searching for.
Bellatrix stood, proudly holding an old book. "Potter is going to pay," she snarled, sitting at her desk.
Looking over her shoulder, Snape asked, "What were you planning?"
"Well, we could do whatever we wanted to him, but it would not have the same effect as if we did something to his little whore Ranger," she flipped through the books intently, her eyes racing across the page. She finally found it, stretching a long, white finger on the page. "Yes, my friend, Potter is going to pay."
Snape's eyes followed Bellatrix's finger, until they landed on the words "Imperius Curse."
Bellatrix Black strolled into the Slytherin common room. "I'm bored," she said snobbishly.
Severus Snape peered up from the potions book he had been reading. "Where have you been all day?"
Bellatrix looked around cautiously and grabbed Snape, pulling him into a corner where no one could see. "Look," she said proudly, pulling back the sleeve of her robe.
Snape observed his arm. "What is it?"
"Well," began Bellatrix, looking from side to side again and lowering his voice. "Have you ever heard of Voldemort?" Snape shook his head. "What about Tom Riddle?"
"The name rings a bell," admitted Snape. "Didn't he get an award or something?"
She nodded. "But there is so much more to it than you know. Tom Riddle is one of the most powerful wizards in the world, and even better-he's dark." An evil grin spread on her face. "Something is going to happen-something big. But first we're raising support. Rodolphus took me to see him today. This..." she pointed to her arm, "this is a mark of loyalty."
"What do you mean 'something big?'" Snape's interest was peaked.
"All I can say for now is that muggles and mudbloods better watch their backs. In a few years, all hell will break loose. I'll introduce you to Voldemort sometime. I'm sure you two would get along just fine."
Snape beamed. Sure it seemed like there was something fishy about the whole thing, but that's the way it all worked. Never finding acceptance in his peers as a child, he had turned to the dark arts for solace. Power was like a drug, the more you had, the more you wanted.
The look of boredom returned to his female companion's face. "But nothing is going to happen for at least another year or two. What are we going to do until then?"
Snape thought for a moment, then dug into his pockets. He produced a small hourglass attached to a delicate gold chain. "There's some Gryffindors we've been itching to torture." Bellatrix returned his sinister sneer.
*****
James and Hermione walked hand in hand down the hallway; unable to tear their eyes from each other or wipe the blissful smiles off their faces. They stopped abruptly when two dark figures blocked their path.
"I see you've moved on from my cousin, Ranger," Bellatrix Black said smoothly. "I can't say I blame you, but I'd hardly say that this is an improvement."
"But now the question is," Snape stepped close to Hermione, way too close for comfort, "who will be next? Pettigrew or Lupin?"
"How dare you," growled James, stepping forward. But the two Slytherins ignored him, focusing every once of their disdain on Hermione. Bellatrix grinned evilly at her as she stepped beside Snape.
"Well, I guess that this means nothing to you anymore," she said mockingly, outstretching her hand.
Upon seeing what he held, Hermione gasped. "Give that to me!" she demanded, reaching for her Time Turner. She grasped it, but before she could draw her hand away, Bellatrix closed her fingers over Hermione's. Her grip was vise- like, and her long, sharp nails dug in deep. Hermione cried out in pain.
James's temper was boiling. "Let her go!" he ordered. He was still ignored.
"How bad do you want your little trinket?" Snape asked, bringing his hand to Hermione's hair. Seeing that pushed James over the edge. He couldn't believe this goon had the audacity to assault the woman he loved right in front of him. Without thinking twice, he drew his wand, pointed it straight at Snape, and yelled, "Stupefy!" Snape's body fell to the floor with a thud.
James quickly turned his wand on Bellatrix, who was gaping at the scene but still holding on to Hermione. "Let her go, unless you want to end up like your friend here," James's voice was spiteful and remorseless. She hesitantly dropped Hermione's hand, Time Turner and all, scowling at James. "Let's get out of here, Hera," said James.
They walked in relative silence until they reached the portrait hole. Hermione turned to James. "Thank you," she whispered.
James smiled, placing a hand affectionately on her cheek. "I would do anything for you," he said, leaning in to kiss her. She did the same, until they both became conscious of the Fat Lady watching them intently. Hermione blushed and James laughed, uttering the password. The Fat Lady swung open, looking a bit disappointed.
"After you," said James, stepping aside to let Hermione in first.
"Umm, James, could I have a moment to myself?" she asked, grasping the Time Turner in her hand.
James smiled with understanding. "Of course, Hera," he said. "Just stay out of trouble.
"Oh, I doubt those two will dare to come within ten feet of me for awhile," she laughed, pecking him on the cheek. "See you at dinner."
Hermione walked to the end of the corridor, and then started to run. She just ran, not concerned where she was going, her only goal to get as far away from the castle as possible. She reached a far corner of the forest, and content that no one else was around, she finally dared to open her fingers.
The time tuner shimmered in the sun. She held her breath as she examined it. Closing her eyes, Hermione moaned. It would all be so much easier if Bellatrix and Snape had simply destroyed it. Or even better yet, she thought, used it. A giggle escaped her lips at the thought of the two prats being transported back a few decades.
Thoughts of reality interrupted her daydreams. Unfortunately, they hadn't used the Time Turner. And now she would be held responsible for any decisions. She had the ability to fix it all- two turns would bring her to the present, and no one would have to know.
Hermione sighed, wishing that she had never taken that risk. It was supposed to be simple enough-go back to the past, have a little fun, then promptly return to the present. She buried her head in her hands. Why did she have to fall in love?
"Oh Harry," she whispered, starting to cry. "I'm so sorry." She loved Harry so much, but in a different way than James. He was her friend, and that was all. And even if she went back to the future, she could never love him like she loved James.
Fingering the Time Turner, she confirmed the decision she had made the other night. She didn't care about the future, about Harry, about Voldemort. All she cared about was being with James. Hermione knew it was selfish, and she would probably regret it later. But this was love.
She threw the Time Turner to the ground and brought her foot upon it. Stomping over and over, even after all the glass was shattered, tears rolled down her face. Looking at the remains of the only devise that could make things right again, she sunk to her knees and sobbed, wondering if it was worth it, if she just sealed the fate of the world for the sake of love.
*****
Bellatrix Black was beyond mad. Snape had never seen anyone so furious as he observed his friend digging through a trunk in her room. He glanced nervously around. Of course he was a Slytherin and considered himself above the rules, but all the same he felt a bit uncomfortable in the girl's dormitory. But there was no chance of him saying so, as Bellatrix's rage was evidenced by her throwing parchment and books in every direction. Finally, she found what she had been searching for.
Bellatrix stood, proudly holding an old book. "Potter is going to pay," she snarled, sitting at her desk.
Looking over her shoulder, Snape asked, "What were you planning?"
"Well, we could do whatever we wanted to him, but it would not have the same effect as if we did something to his little whore Ranger," she flipped through the books intently, her eyes racing across the page. She finally found it, stretching a long, white finger on the page. "Yes, my friend, Potter is going to pay."
Snape's eyes followed Bellatrix's finger, until they landed on the words "Imperius Curse."