Part 6
"So Dumbledore left that for me to tell," Hermione sighed.
With tired resolution, Hermione massaged her temples. The intricacies of human to inanimate matter transfigurations had not given her any peace the previous day. Instead, her better judgment proceeded to reprimand her soundly for her hasty behavior. Sleep had been out of the question. When she did manage to drift off, her disappointment and the lingering remnants of anger had seen to it that her sleep had been shallow. Then Hermione was once again woken by McGonagall who hastily escorted her to her office where Harry, Ginny and Ron stood with worried expressions.
They had enveloped her in hugs and for a moment, Hermione had felt the burden of what had happened weigh less heavily on her shoulders. Then they had peppered her with questions about just how Dumbledore had created. That she was expected to tell her friends she'd just shagged the teenage Dark Lord was the cherry on her sundae.
Hermione had mixed feelings about Dumbledore's omission. In some ways, she was glad that Dumbledore has left her to explain the more personal aspect of the binding between herself and Riddle. Coming from the Headmaster, it would seem at best clinical and at worst callous. It was also rather embarrassing to think of Dumbledore talking about her loss of virginity. Even if he had officiated.
"What do you mean, Hermione?" Ginny asked.
"Let me put it this way, I wish I'd taken up Terry Boot's offer in sixth year."
Immediately, Ginny's eyes widened in comprehension. She had been the one that Hermione had exploded to when Terry Boot had inelegantly propositioned her with the clichéd line 'it would be a pity to die a virgin'. As rule abiding as Hermione was, she had hexed him with weeping sores in a most uncomfortable place. Had he been at least a little more original, Ginny suspected that Hermione might have settled for simply hexing his buttocks. As amusing as the recollection was, it took greater meaning now. She and Hermione were close and Ginny knew that the older girl had resolved to die a virgin rather than settle for a hasty but ultimately meaningless tumble the night before the battle. Ginny might have understood the reference but Harry was clearly puzzled.
"Riddle didn't h-hurt you did he?" Ginny asked in a horrified tone.
"Hurt-? Oh, no, it wasn't like that!" Hermione reassured awkwardly.
Relief flooded Ginny and prickled her cheeks with color. The momentary horror she had felt still chilled her insides. All too well she was acquainted with Tom Riddle's vicious side. He wasn't just ruthless; he enjoyed the pain his actions caused. Immediately, her mind had assumed the worse. Visions of Tom raping Hermione had sprung up into her head. Hermione's swift reply had sent those thoughts flying out of her head. If she wasn't raped, what was Hermione going on about? Ginny bit her lip as she wondered. Oh, she knew Tom was very handsome. He'd bragged several times that he'd used that to manipulate others. Surely Hermione wouldn't have been so easily and so quickly swayed by simple attractiveness? Then again, she knew how magnetic Tom could be.
"Wait, what are you two going on about? Did Riddle do something?" Harry asked, looking like he was just itching for a reason to hex Hermione's bond mate.
"No, I said he didn't. Please relax, Harry. You too Ron. Don't think I can't see your ears going red! I'll explain but this is difficult and... really embarrassing," Hermione said with a growing blush. "First I want you to swear you won't do anything until you hear everything I have to say."
"Careful Hermione, if we swear that we might be here all day," Harry suddenly grinned, referring to Hermione's sometimes longwinded explanations.
"Harry, I mean it," Hermione replied not swayed by his attempt at humor.
"Alright, we swear. You can tell us anything, you know that," Harry assured and the others nodded their assent.
The queasiness in her stomach only seemed to magnify. Hermione knew that they would be true to their word. It was just they already were concerned. Sharing the details would only make it worse and she'd had her fill of conflict lately. The irony would be that she'd be fighting for Riddle instead of against him. It didn't take a genius to guess that her friends' first impulse would be to find Riddle and hex him across the Channel. As amusing as that would be, Hermione knew it would only make her life more difficult.
"Dumbledore told you that he bound us together so that I could stop Tom from using magic if it was necessary. To create and solidify the bond, there had to be two forms of sacrifice," Hermione said as calmly as she could.
"Sacrifices...? What kinds of sacrifices?" Harry asked.
"You're not talking Dark Arts are you?" Ron asked. "I thought Dumbledore wouldn't use that stuff."
"No, it's not Dark Arts. The Headmaster used an ancient binding spell," Hermione replied and wondered if Dumbledore wouldn't be their target of choice.
"Okay, then what sacrifices were they?" Ginny questioned.
"Blood and virginity."
"What!"
The combined exclamations of the three echoed through the chamber. The resulting wince from Hermione was enough to divert most of the first irrational response in her friends. They shared a look and as one they did their best to contain themselves. Hermione couldn't help but feel proud. Once upon a time they would have exploded without thinking. They had all grown up.
Hermione appreciated their efforts. It was absurd but she felt even more ashamed now she had told them. It was as if her actions, as unknowing as they'd been, had made her into one of Mrs Weasley's 'scarlet women'. So, it was with great discomfort that Hermione watched Ron's face grew redder and redder with the effort of restraining his temper. Harry's eyes were shadowed and slowly growing hard with anger. Of the three, Ginny was hiding her emotions the best. Her lips were thinned but she otherwise held herself together. With a detached mind, Hermione watched them struggle with the information. Unsurprisingly, it was Ginny who spoke first.
"Are you alright, Hermione? You said he didn't hurt you... but are you alright?" Ginny asked gently.
Hermione went to open her mouth to reply that of course she was alright but instead her mouth remained stubbornly closed. Indeed, her bottom lip began to tremble. Hermione struggled to control herself but talking about what happened had brought back the horrible feeling of being used. Seeing her reaction, Ginny threw her arms about Hermione. A small sob threatened to erupt but it was quickly stifled. Hermione was tired of crying. What had happened wasn't alright but she could live with it. Now she needed to focus and deal with this latest challenge.
From long experience, Hermione knew that Harry would be the most difficult. Even without taking his history with Voldemort into consideration, he had a tendency to brood. It was also easy to see that her news was troubling him greatly. His jaw was clenched and his expression pleaded with her to tell him what he'd heard was not true.
"Dumbledore gave us experimental love potions. We didn't really know what we were doing. It just happened," Hermione replied as evenly as she could.
"Snape. Snape made the potions," Harry barked, his anger finding a target.
"No, Harry! Don't go blaming this on Professor Snape," Hermione snapped.
She had grown more than tired of the continued hostilities between Harry and the professor. Their potions professor wasn't her favorite person but Hermione had grown to respect him. Besides that, Harry had no reason to be angry at Snape. Dumbledore had orchestrated the plan. Everyone else had just played a part, knowing or not. Not that she would encourage Harry to focus his ire on Dumbledore. There would be no cursing of any sort if she could help it.
"Then what should I do, Hermione? Who should I blame?" Harry pleaded. "This is a nightmare. How dare he do that to you? The prophecy was supposed to have been fulfilled when I killed Voldemort!"
"I'm sorry, Harry but I don't know what we're supposed to do. As for the prophecy... maybe it was fulfilled. Technically, you did rid the world of the Dark Lord when you killed Voldemort. Tom Riddle is evil but he doesn't qualify as a Dark Lord."
"Still our Hermione; your brain works even during the worst," Ron chuckled despondently.
"No, I think I'm just getting better at this conversation," Hermione said grimly.
"Better at it?" Ginny asked.
"First I confronted Dumbledore and then I had to tell my parents."
"You did!" Ginny exclaimed. "Why- oh. I suppose you would have to. Oh no! Hermione what about your plans! Are you even going to be able to go home? Or to Twin Oaks?"
Hermione smiled in reassurance and hastened to explain the arrangements that Dumbledore had made. Ginny and Ron seemed relieved but Harry seemed uneasy. That didn't sit well with Hermione. Besides not wanting her friend to be troubled for her, she didn't want Harry to interfere. As well meaning as he'd undoubtedly be, there wasn't anything he could do. Most of all, she didn't want Harry taking the responsibility for Voldemort back on his shoulders. He'd earned the right to a life that wasn't filled with death and heartbreak.
"Harry, what are you thinking?"
"I'm... it's-. You're going to Twin Oaks alone, Hermione," Harry said awkwardly, struggling with what he wanted to say.
"Well-" Hermione began to correct.
"I'm not talking about Riddle, Hermione. I mean you're going off without anyone to watch your back."
"He's got a point," Ron agreed. "I don't like that Dumbledore has you shuffling off with that git so quick."
"Oh, you two," Hermione sighed. "I'll be fine. Dumbledore has arranged for me to check in with people and I'm sure if I have any problems he'll be willing to help."
"This is Voldemort, not your average dark wizard. Look, I've never traded on my fame before but I'm sure if I pull some strings-" Harry began.
"No! Forget it! I love you, Harry. You're one of my best friends but you are not going to give up your life to be my watchdog! You finally have the chance to have a semi-normal life and I'm not letting you ruin that on my account," Hermione argued.
"What else can I do! He is dangerous, no matter how bloody old he seems to be. We swore none of us would go off alone. We agreed it was too dangerous!" Harry growled.
"He's right and you know it," Ginny sighed. "You'll need us, Hermione. Not the way Harry thinks, though. Tom... he's good at messing with your head. He gets in and twists everything around. You'll need us."
An uncomfortable silence fell. Ginny's experiences with the diary were not something that she talked about often. The truth of what she'd said was impossible to refute. Hermione had already felt Tom's ability to influence her. She couldn't think of a time where she'd felt more on edge and confused. Not that he could take all the credit for her state of mind. The way the bond was created was partly to blame. Hermione was also beginning to suspect the connection was more complicated than what they'd been told.
"Thank you, Ginny," Hermione replied.
"But-" Harry started.
"Stop it, Harry! Don't you see you're making things worse? Besides, what could you do? Lurk around scowling at him?" Ginny groused and Harry backed down reluctantly.
"How are you, 'Mione? He's not being awful is he?" Ron asked gently.
Hermione couldn't help but sigh at that. It would be a lie to say that Riddle wasn't being awful but Hermione was beginning to suspect that it was permanent state of being. If that was so, she was going to have to learn to live with it, without getting into arguments.
"Not really," Hermione began and then noticed Harry's skeptical expression. "No more than is to be expected, anyway. Sometimes I almost think things are going well but then one of us says something and we're on the verge of hexing each other."
"So he's not turning the charm on?" Ginny asked.
"He's tried once or twice but my knowing what is behind it, makes it pointless," Hermione replied.
"Guess so..."
"Wait, you almost started dueling?" Harry asked with concern.
"Almost but you know what Dumbledore said about the bond," Hermione replied, hoping Harry wouldn't remember she had yet to learn how to repress Riddle's magic. "Besides, we both know that we have to get along at least a little. If we don't then life will be very uncomfortable, indeed."
"Just don't let him bully you," Ginny added. "He could use that to force you into taking his lead."
"You're right but it's hard. I'm not going to live my life arguing with him every five minutes but I don't want to walk on eggshells either. He's so prickly! Half the time I don't know what will set him off."
"Well, what set it off the last time?" Ginny asked.
"It was a stupid discussion about the Order. I had to give him some background information and... well, we started arguing about Dumbledore. Riddle kept going on about how much of a hypocrite Dumbledore was and I made a comment about how it seemed as if he was the one with unrealistic expectations."
"Oh, 'Mione," Harry groaned with a pained look.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.
"You really stepped in it that time. Let's just say that Dumbledore and Riddle don't have a pleasant history."
"How do you know this, Harry?"
Harry grimaced and then blushed a little. Suspicion began to grow and Hermione pinned Harry with a glare. In sixth year, Dumbledore had pulled Harry aside several times but Harry had never told them what for. Since they were all being taken aside by different Order members for training, they hadn't thought much of it. Now Hermione suspected Dumbledore had been teaching Harry more than Defense techniques.
"Remember in sixth year?" Harry mumbled.
"Sixth year? When Dumbledore..." Ron said and then trailed off in realization.
"Yeah, kinda. Dumbledore showed me some of his memories about Tom Riddle. He... he wanted me to understand Voldemort better."
"Why didn't you tell us, Harry!" Hermione burst out.
"Most of it you knew. I swear!" Harry protested. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you but it just seemed personal."
Frustrated, Hermione flopped into one of McGonagall's chairs. It hurt to think that Harry had been keeping secrets from them but to some degree or another they all had secrets. The war had necessitated it. Harry shifted uncomfortably for a while but Hermione didn't know what to say. She almost didn't want to know about any more about Riddle. That wasn't something she could allow herself, though. Ignoring the problem, even temporarily might prove dangerous.
"Well, what did you see?" Ginny growled, asking the question on all of their minds.
"Not all that much. Dumbledore showed me only three memories. He said there wasn't much point showing me seven years worth of transfiguration classes. He only showed me significant events. The first was when Dumbledore delivered Tom's Hogwart's letter."
"Dumbledore delivered it?" Ron exclaimed.
"He wasn't the Headmaster then," Harry replied. "He took it to the orphanage and told Tom about magic and that he was a wizard."
"What else did you see?" Hermione asked softly, sensing something Harry wasn't saying.
"Well, he- Tom, thought he was being carted off to an asylum," Harry said awkwardly. "He wasn't too pleasant even then. He'd been using his magic to bully the other orphans. Dumbledore found that out from the caretaker."
"What was he doing?" Ginny asked a little pale.
"The caretaker really didn't say. She only suspected and she didn't exactly know about magic. Anyway, Dumbledore did some kind of spell to prove magic did exist and then found out that Tom had been stealing stuff. Dumbledore said they were reminders of the things he'd done."
"You mean the bad things," Ginny said.
"Yeah."
"Then what?" Ron asked.
"Dumbledore was very stern and said that kind of thing wasn't allowed at Hogwarts and that he had to give the stuff back."
Hermione felt her stomach drop as Harry elaborated on what he saw. No wonder Riddle had reacted the way he had last night. She had also been right about there being more to the antagonism she'd seen between Tom and Dumbledore. Perhaps Dumbledore had hoped to curb Tom's misbehavior, but Hermione wondered if his reaction had been a little harsh. She had felt a pang of pity, for a child convinced he was being taken to a madhouse. As unpleasant as Tom might have been, he hadn't deserved that! If their first encounter set the tone for their later exchanges, no wonder Voldemort had hated Dumbledore.
"What about the other memories?" Hermione asked.
"Well, one was the confrontation between Dumbledore and Tom Riddle about the Chamber of Secrets," Harry replied, glancing at Ginny.
"Wasn't that the one that the Diary showed you?" Hermione questioned.
"It was and I have to say I was surprised that Tom hadn't manipulated it for his own benefit. Then again, he didn't have to," Harry frowned in memory.
"We already know about that one, so what's the other?" Ginny asked bravely.
"It was another meeting with Dumbledore. Apparently Riddle applied for the DADA job."
"He what?" Ron asked in amazement.
"He applied for the job- twice. The first time Dippet refused him because he was too young and inexperienced. The second time, the memory I saw, he'd already unveiled himself as Lord Voldemort."
"Why did he want to job, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"I'm not sure. Probably to recruit Death Eaters."
"Hogwarts would be perfect for that," Hermione admitted.
"Oh, and you know how everyone said the position was cursed?" Harry offered.
"You're kidding! You Know Who-" Ron burst out.
"Say that name, Ron," Hermione growled out of habit.
"Fine, Voldemort really cursed the DADA job? Why hasn't Dumbledore broken the curse?"
"According to Dumbledore only Voldemort could reverse it. Hey, Hermione, you should have Riddle break the curse," Harry spoke up.
"Somehow I don't think he'll be doing me any favors, Harry," Hermione admitted. "Our last argument was quite bad."
"You could always bribe or blackmail him," Ginny said matter-of-factly.
"Ginny!" Ron scolded. "You've been spending too much time around the twins!"
"I have one word for you, Ron- 'Lockhart'."
"Okay, twist the bugger's arm all you want, 'Mione."
"You're getting awfully cocky for someone who still calls Voldemort 'You Know Who'," Hermione teased.
"Yeah, well, he's our age now. I figure I have a fighting chance. If not, I'm sure I can get some jokes off the twins."
"Are pranks your answer to everything," Hermione grumbled.
"Come on, like you wouldn't enjoy seeing him sprout feathers," Ron grinned.
Her blush was the only answer Ron needed. It would be nice to see Riddle taken down a peg or two. Such thoughts would have to remain fantasies, though. Ridicule and persecution was not the answer. If the war had shown them anything, it was that hate only bred more hate. Perhaps she didn't know exactly how to deal with Tom, but Hermione knew that antagonizing him wasn't it.
She wasn't so naive as to think that she could redeem Tom Riddle. Hermione realized that she was thinking of him as if he was like one of Hagrid's dangerous beasts. You could treat him well and hope he would return the favor but you never dared turn your back. Thankfully, Tom Riddle was more intelligent than a manticore or a skrewt. Hermione knew that he could be reasoned with and could generally be trusted to act in his own best interest. That was a starting point, at least. It was also her hope that he could find things other than Dark Arts to absorb himself in.
"...and we need to work out how to best help Hermione," Harry said, the sound of Hermione's name breaking her out of her thoughts.
"What was that, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"I said we need to form a plan to help you."
"In what way? I'm not sure it would be a good idea for you to confront him. Things are difficult enough."
"We know that and I mean a plan for this summer. We all have the summer free. Auror training doesn't start until October and Ron's Quidditch tryouts start around then too. Of course Ginny has the holiday free," Harry explained.
"We should use something like the Galleons you made for the DA, Hermione," Ginny suggested.
"Like a check-in. It's not that I don't trust Dumbledore but it would be good to know you're okay," Ron said with sober eyes.
"Riddle wouldn't even have to know about it," Harry added.
Although she trusted Dumbledore, Hermione had to agree a secondary check-in, or at worst, an alternate system wouldn't be a bad idea. The bond gave her some measure of safety, but Hermione had seen too much in the war rest all her hopes on it. She wasn't going to underestimate Tom Riddle. The more precautions the better.
Giving her ascent they discussed various methods and codes for contacting each other. They finally settled on jewelry. This would make it less likely that the enchanted item would be misplaced or dropped. The Galleons had worked well with the DA but Hermione had to fashion new ones for several members because they had lost the originals. They were still discussing the details when McGonagall entered and hurried Ginny, Harry and Ron to classes. As Hermione watched her friends file out, Ginny quickly leaned in.
"I want to talk to you later about Tom. He's a shifty bastard but don't lose hope. He's very proud so use it to your advantage and challenge him," Ginny whispered.
Hermione nodded mutely as Ginny left. The memories of the previous night ran through Hermione's mind. Tom had been more than willing to display his knowledge and discuss magic. Maybe Ginny was right but it wouldn't be easy. Riddle could catch on if she wasn't careful about how she went about it. He would resent any manipulation on her part, although he'd certainly try manipulating her. To Hermione, what was good for the goose was good for the gander. Her heart lightened and even McGonagall telling her to go to the Headmasters office for lessons on the bond, didn't dampen her mood.
Sulking in his room was hardly the way he wished to spend his time, but Tom was finding it very hard to muster himself from bed. Even if he had managed to bestir himself, he was currently confined to the shared Heads suit. There seemed little point in rising until he had to. McGonagall had woken him a little over an hour ago with the news that after lessons began for the day, he would meet with Granger in the Headmaster's office. They would finally being told more about the bond. As much as Tom wanted to know more about the magic that kept him prisoner, he was disinclined to interact further with the mudblood. He was still seething over the events of the previous day.
The girl was intolerable. All of his carefully made plans and resolutions had flown out of the window as if he had no self-control at all. Tom was no stranger to taunts and insults. It just seemed that if she was dealing them out, he couldn't help but reciprocate. No wonder, though. She was the source of all his current problems. Tom sighed and amended himself. She wasn't quite so insidious. Indeed, she was often ridiculously easy to read. Dumbledore was the reason he found himself in the position he was in. Granger was simply ever present reminder of his bondage.
Displeased with the somewhat maudlin turn of his thoughts, Tom finally hauled himself from among his bed sheets. That harpy McGonagall would be back soon and he needed to get ready. Classes were due to start and he would have to make nice to both Granger and Dumbledore. If last night was any indication, things would end badly. His future contentment was riding on how well he could handle the Granger girl and he was failing miserably. That had to change.
It was just that she had managed to irritate his already rather abraded pride. Tom had to admit he'd underestimated her to a point. Showing him her work had been somewhat foolish. Tom now had a good idea of her level of skill which was, admittedly, exceptional. Oh, he knew that Dumbledore wouldn't assign a fool to watch him but Hermione Granger was another matter entirely. He'd come to the uncomfortable realization that they shared more in common than he liked.
Not only did she have a firm mastery over the basic fundamentals of magic, her ingenuity was astounding. If she applied that flexibility of mind to other things... she would be formidable indeed. For a moment he'd even enjoyed their discussion. Tom shook his head with disgust. Much to his dismay he'd felt the sickening taint of jealousy steal over him. He, Salazar's Heir, was jealous of a mudblood.
The promise he'd once shown and the opportunities he'd worked so hard for were gone. During his years at Hogwarts, Tom had built up quite the reputation as a powerful and intelligent wizard. People of power had begun to recognize him and he'd gained their ear. Now he was a penniless nobody, once again reduced to living on Dumbledore's charity.
While he once led, he was now foundering in another's wake.
Disgusted with how he'd let his emotions rule his better judgment, Tom took stock. The argument had been beneath him. He should not care what a foolish girl thought or said. From the moment of his birth he had been flung into adversity. He'd triumphed despite it all before. If he wanted his life back, then he had to take it. Duping a naive Gryffindor, no matter how intelligent she was, was not beyond his capabilities.