Thoughts
Authors Note: Oh my God, I am amazed at all the awesome reviews I have been getting! Please forgive me for not reviewing for more then a month, I've been extremely busy, but I hope you guys still review! Any suggestions are truly welcomed! Once again, thanks! R&R
Opal Whisps of Fire
'People Say That Before You Die Your Whole Life Flashes Before Your Eyes. Make it
Worth Watching.'
So… my task is to change Tom Riddle's ways. The real question is, how? He has no sympathy in his heart, and no love. I for one should know that. Is it possible to change a person's whole life? Is it possible to make the heartless love? Is it possible that I am going INSANE?
Hermione shook her brown locks and put her hands to her head. For the last two hours since she had last spoken to Dumbledore, these thoughts had troubled her mind. The task seemed impossible, to great for the bookworm of recent Hogwarts. Yet the future and past Dumbledore believed that she could obtain it.
Hermione let go of her tangled locks and quickly wrote a few well thought of statements into her Defense Against the Dark Arts essay on a magical art of their choosing. The essay was to be two feet long, but Hermione had already found herself at the four and a half foot length. She sighed and rolled up the scribbled parchment. She needed to think. How was she going to look Tom Riddle in the eye without screaming her schemes?
It was impossible.
My dear Ms. Granger, nothing is impossible.
Dumbledore's philosophy rang clearly in her brain, heart, and soul. She would not give up; she would save the deaths of her parents and loved ones.
Yet in her heart there was someone else that Hermione wanted to save. Tom. She believed that if he could change is ways; all the past could be removed. He could be happy, get married to some perfect blond wizard.
No. Hermione grimaced at that thought and turned her attention away. Besides, Tom would never want that.
Bringgggg.
Hermione jumped at the sound of her alarm clock. It was eight o'clock and time for her hall duty with Tom Riddle. She turned off the alarm and pushed her thoughts behind her. She would rethink the whole plot later and think of some solution. With a quick ponytail for her tangled locks, Hermione hurried from her dorm, out the dormitory and into the halls.
I see – so is this what you told Dumbledore about? Are you planning on taking me down?
Tom's recent words rang inside Hermione's head as she rushed down a few empty corridors. She wanted to pound herself, just leave Tom Riddle be. But the very thought outraged her, and she quietly answered to herself. Yes…sorry Tom.
"What did you say?" Questioned Tom as Hermione came to a halt, nearly pushing Tom to the ground before her.
"Oh…sorry Tom. Just muttering to myself. Long day, you know." Replied Hermione sheepishly, remembering lessons of speaking inside her head and not aloud that her parents had spoke to her frequently about.
Tom glared at Hermione suspiciously then muttered "Okay, whatever you say."
Hermione nodded and forced herself to smile, feeling her cheeks move outwards. Tom's glare softened, but turned away quickly. Deciding to think about Tom's strange behavior later, Hermione ran to a pair of sixth years who were snogging in what would have been a romantic hideaway if they hadn't been making so much noise. After giving a weeks of detention, Hermione sent the couple away and turned back to Tom, who had just returned from taking a pair of Snot Rolls from a group of first years.
"I swear, they don't get any smarter." Hermione said cheerfully and watched as Tom nodded in agreement. There was something different about him, something that had not been visible in his features when Hermione had first arrived.
And then it hit her. It was such an obvious change that Hermione did not know why she had not noticed it before! Tom Riddle looked…content!
Bloody hell.
The image surprised Hermione greatly. She had always thought of Tom as a lonely depressed teenager but when she had learned to know him he had just seemed… distinguished at loss for a better word. But now…when had this started? She hadn't even noticed, for she had been to caught up in her own troubles.
"So… did you enjoy Hogsmeade yesterday?" Hermione questioned to Tom, praying for a good response.
"Yes, it was fun. It's a shame I did not go before."
But then what would be the meaning? It would have been unenjoyable, until a young witch comes from the future.
Tom shook his head, clearing the strange thoughts from his mind. This was Hermione he was thinking about! The smart allac witch with a short temper who may I add came from the future where he had murdered her family! My God!
Hermione saw Tom shake his head, and wondered what the wizard was thinking. Of course, she would never ask him. She knew it would probably be something more complex then Harry's thoughts of Ginny and Ronald's thoughts of snogging any pretty girl in the school.
"That's good. It's nice to not have to go to Zonko's all the time… I've actually only been to that cleared area that we went to once!"
"I see."
Hermione nodded, not knowing what to say next. Thinking of a way to answer, she quickly checked her watch. Ten more minutes until duty was over!
Was that a good thing?
"Ten more minutes." Hermione said sheepishly, noticing how lame the question seemed. Ah well, at least Ron was not around to be an annoying prat.
Tom nodded, and then headed to a couple of kids attempting to hide behind a statue of the first Headmaster of Hogwarts after the quartet her founded the school. While Tom was gone, random thoughts whirled in Hermione's thoughts, but before each thought she heard Tom's hurt and angry voice 'Are you planning on taking me down? Destroying me?' and the Hermione's own voice would cut in and say 'Oh Tom, I'm so sorry. OH Tom, why did you do this?'
"Hermione? Hermione!" A familiar voice pulled Hermione out of the darkness that had surrounded her. For a moment, she thought that the voice was Harry. Meekly, Hermione opened her eyes and found herself lying in a hospital wing bed, with Tom seated beside her.
"My God Hermione, you've been dead asleep for almost twenty hours! Do you remember what happened?" Tom's voice brought Hermione into reality, and out of the comfortable, no thought darkness. Hermione found herself gazing into Tom's eyes until the memory came back to her. Of course, she had fallen! Realizing that she was still staring into the stormy eyes, Hermione broke her glare.
"Oh yes… sorry about that. I suppose I just needed some sleep, it's been a long few weeks." Replied Hermione weekly, attempting to sit up. Immediately the tensions on her arms gave out and she fell back to the bed, choking a cry.
In a moment, Mêlée, the 1940s nurse, found herself to Hermione's side by a frightened Tom. After a few moments of tension the elderly lady muttered, " She's okay, she just hurt her arm when she fell. A few hours of this drink should repair the tendons, but the girl definitely needs a couple days of rest."
Tom seemed to relax, but Hermione wasn't sure. With a warning of ten more minutes for Tom, she hurried off to look after another patient. With a sigh, Hermione sipped the strong drink and smiled.
"I must have looked pretty stupid! Merlin, I can't believe that happened! I've never fainted of stress before, I feel so stupid!" Hermione complained, more to herself then the listening Tom.
"Yeah, you did look a little funny." Replied Tom, obviously trying to make Hermione feel better.
"You be careful Tom Riddle or when I get better I'll hex you until you beg for mercy!" Laughed Hermione, her eyes bright.
Tom smiled and responded, and until Mme. Mêlée screamed for Tom to leave, the two lived in a hearty conversation. Hermione wished desperately to leave with Tom but she knew Mme Mêlée would definitely not allow it. So with a halfhearted wave, Tom sighed and Hermione was about to drift into sleep when Dumbledore came to her side.
"I heard about your fall. I anticipate that you are feeling better?" Dumbledore questioned earnestly.
"Yes, I am better. I suppose I am just tired of lying down." Answered Hermione, stiffening a yawn.
"Ahh yes, I understand. I just came to apologize if what we spoke of a few nights ago has put you in this uncomfortable hospitality bed." Replied Dumbledore, his look earnest.
"Oh no, Professor. I have thought much about it and I do not suppose that it has caused me to be in this state?" Smiled Hermione, but Hermione knew that her talk with Dumbledore was truly the reason for her mishappan. Yet she knew that the elderly Professor would never do so to her on purpose, and she refused to put him under any guilt.
"I feel otherwise, but if you are well then I shall be well. Now, I have not much time but I want you to know that you don't HAVE to do this. I you do then all will be great, but it is a lot of pressure and although I know you are a strong witch, I do not wish to injure you again. Now, if you will excuse me." Dumbledore said quietly, and then stood to leave. Hermione waved good-bye and fell asleep right away, without a second thought.
Authors Note: So, what did you think of it? Not my favorite chapter but I think the next chapter will be good. Keep up the reviews!
Opal Whisps of Fire