Hogsmeade
Autors Note: Thanks again for all the reviews! I can't remember the last time I've gotton so many reviews in, what, five days or so? Sorry about the music mess, but my Mix says that Greenday things it! But whatever, maybe it's a remake. For your questions about the future, they will either be answered in this chapter or the next. It depends on how long I make the trip to Hogsmeade.
Opal Whisps of Fire
All my friends just keep dying
People around me always crying
In this place I can call my own
Not everybody knows that that everybody goes to a better plsce
Not everybody knows that everybody could be living their last days.
Moving On by Good Charlotte
Hermione stood, arms folded, on the outskirts of the giant crowd of students on their way to Hogsmeade, dressed in many different colours, different from the uniform of black robes. Hermione herself had made an attmept to dress nicely, but not to nicely that Tom might become suspicious. In a pair of black pants and a red sweater, Hermione had managed to throw her bushy hair into a ponytail.
After alot of last nights thinking, Hermione figured that she didn't like Riddle, but maybe felt closer to anyone before because he was the only student she really talked to in this time. She had pushed aside her silly thoughts, and was waiting somewhat impatiently for Tom to show.
After about ten minutes after eleven, Hermione began to wonder if Tom was going to show up at all. This was after all the Christmas trip, but as Hermione had no gifts to buy she figured that Tom would not mind showing up for fun.
Just as Hermione was about to give up, she glanced a tall, dark robed student standing at the other edge of the thinning crowd. It was obviously Tom, his black hair blending well with his robes. As she walked closer to him, Hermione thought she saw a glimmer of red in his eyes, but it disappeared almost as soon as the thought could enter her mind.
"Hey Tom!" Said Hermione casually as she approached the only student still in their school robes. She could not help but wonder if he wore his beloved robes to bed at night.
Tom stared at her oddly and the mumbled a quck "Hey."
"So, are you coming?" Questioned Hermione. She saw the confused expression starting to line on Tom's facial appearence and then added "To the carriages."
Tom did not answer but he followed Hermione to the carages silently. Together, the two climbed into a thestral pulled cariages.
"So, can you see them?" Questioned Hermione, indicating the gleaming thestrals that had only become visible to her the previouis year. She remembered wishing in her fifth grade that she could see the gleaming thestrals.
"Yeah." Replied Tom, staring at the blackness of his robes.
Hermione did not ask how, for by now Tom had seen his mother die as a newborn and had murdered his uncle. She relized for the first time the black ring placed on his middle finger of his left hand. She held back a shiver and then questioned "So, have you been to Hogsmeade before?"
"No. I didn't have permission."
"OH." Said Hermione, remembering the permission slip needed to leave the castle. The Heads of course could obtain permission from the teachers, so Tom was having his first trip today.
Hermione had been to a few other Hogsmeade trips so far this term, so she did not have to pretend to have never been to Hogsmeade before. She chattered endlessly, while Tom listened politely, whether or not he was bored or now his expressions did not show.
For a future murder, Tom is damn quiet - and polite! Thought Hermione to herself. It was then that the threstrals stopped and Tom and Hermione hopped from the carriage and into the crowd of coloured people. Hermione immediatly saw the annoyed expression on Tom's face and decided to pull him away from the shops and to a soft meadow that Hermione had found in fifth year.
Hermione's other excuse for walking the other way was that she knew Zonkos and The Three Broomsticks would remind her of Harry, Ron, Professor Lupin, her parents, and the Weasleys. And at the moment, this was the last thing she wanted to think about.
After a quiet and short walk Hermione lead Tom to a closed in meadow, covered in white fluffy snow. Tom immediatly dried the only bench with his wand and sat on it, as Hermione followed him, catching snowflakes on her tongue. She remembered her first trip to Hogsmeade with Ron, and a pain formed in her chest. She immediatly dismissed the thought and returned to modern time. Or whatever time period this was called.
"So - do you have any sibilings?" Questioned Tom, obviously trying to start a conversation. Hermione suspected that he may want to know more about his future self.
"No. It was just me, my mum, and my dad." Replied Hermione, saying 'was' just a lttle but louder then the rest of her statement. Tom nodded, knowing that Hermione probably knew all about his childhood.
"I suppose you miss them alot." Replied Tom quietly, almost as if he dreaded the answer. This was the first time he had relized the after effects on his murders, or future murders, on another person.
"Yeah, it gets really lonely sometimes, I don't know how my friend Ron is reacting, he is the sixth of seven children and his parents are the nicest, kindest people I've ever met. They accepted everybody, even the one person who was bound to endless worry. My other best friend." Hermione had already decided that the only things she was going to keep secret from Tom was the infomation about Harry, for although he could be a prat he WAS her best friend. She was not going to help Riddle murder him.
"Who's your other friend?" Asked Tom, settling more comfortably onto the bench. Hermione was not sure why he was asking all these questions, maybe wishing he could rechange all the events that have happened. But then she doubted that song. Lord Voldemort didn't have a heart.
But maybe Tom Riddle had a small one.
"Oh, his name is Harry and well..." Hermione did not know what to say, how could she tell the person who wants to murder him about her best friend.
Tom sensed her tension and brushed away the question. He wanted to ask who this person that was untouchable to him was but he decided against it, he needed to gain a large majority of trust before he could ask about Lord Voldemort. It was strange to him, this girl knew more about his future then he himself did.
"So, were you in Ravenclaw in your time?" Questioned Tom casually.
"No." Replied Hermione. "Gryffindor." She did not care what Tom would say, but she was not going to change her current life for him. She had lost too much already.
Tom's facial expressions changed to an almost unnoticeable scrowl and then back to his usual not caring face. "Nice."
Hermione pressed in a laugh, for she knew how much Tom detested Gryffindors. Well, he'll just have to put off with this Gryffindor! Thought Hermione cheerfully.
Tom was busily thinking over all the infomation Hermione had given him, but none was useful to Lord Voldemort, his hidden self. But Hermione was obviously treating her words with care. She was not stupid, and he did admire that. Half of himself wished to obtain more information, to force the infomation out of her. This was the Lord Voldemort half. But his other half wished for Hermione to be able to talk to him freely, like...friends? This was a part that Tom had never experienced before. He did not know what to name it. For wasn't Tom Riddle a non caring and non-loving teenager?
Unfortunately, there was a question that Tom had to ask. "Does anybody respect Lord Voldemort?" He knew it was stupid, but it would be good to know. If Hermione would tell him.
Hermione gave Tom an odd look but decided to answer truthfully. She was no longer scared of Tom Riddle anyways. "No, not really. The majority of people detest y- I mean Voldemort. Most of his death eaters are afraid of him, and only a few would say with ease that they completely respect you. Of course, others might, but I don't hang around with Death Eaters."
Tom nodded absentely, and with a glimpse at his watch, the two decided to head back to town.
Hermione knocked quietly at Dumbledore's office door, hoping he was still in at these late hours. She had a few matters to discuss with him. She was glad when she heard a soft "Come in Hermione." Hermione puzzled for a moment on why he knew who was knocking, but decided to let Dumbledore have his ways.
"Hello Miss. Granger. You may close the door behind you." Indicated Dumbledore as Hermione stepped inside his office. Dumbledore pushed his half moon glasses up onto hsi nose and cleared some paperwork from his desk.
Hermione sat down on a chair opposing Dumbledore's desk and said "Professor, I have something very important to ask you."
Dumbledore nodded and answered "I suspected so. You see, when your unfortunate letter arrived a letter from myself in the future arrived along with it. The letter explained the true state of things, and I have decided to cancel our plans unless Tom can somehow become good."
"Okay. But.. Professor... if Tom changes, will the future change also?" Questioned Hermione seriously.
"Aahhhh, I was expecting such a question. I was told by my future self that if you were feeling better, I was supposed to put you on a task. But first, I shall explain. If Tom can change the way he is going, all of the future would change. All Tom's murders would be erased, for he would not grow up to be a murderer. Everybody's life would change, including your friend Harry's and Neville's. There would be close to no parentless children."
"So... does that mean that everything would start over?" Questioned Hermione, confused.
"Oh no, this is where it gets confusing. If you went back everybody would be the same age, but the people that died at Voldemort's stake would also be alive, living a normal life."
Hermione then understood, and relized her task. "I have to change Tom, don't I." Replied Hermione quietly, already knowing the answer.
"Yes, that is your task. Are you up to it?"
"Yes. I'll try." Replied Hermione, wondering how she was going to change Tom Riddle.
Authors Note: So, how did you like it? Do you think Hermione will be able to change Tom? Or is it just a waste of time? Please R&R I love to hear from you guys!
Opal Whisps of Fire