Draco and Hermione booked into separate rooms, and Hermione tossed and turned all night. She couldn't stop her mind from thinking. It buzzed all night. What had happened to Ginny? Was she okay? Was she...dead?
No. Hermione knew that she had to focus on her mission. She had to reach Tom Riddle and make him see how bad things were, and how they couldn't end up the way they did. She had to make him see things for her point of view. She had to.
She was intrigued to see what might happen when she met Tom. She let herself fantasise how it might happen. It was strange but, somewhere in her mind, the connection between Tom and Voldemort was lost. If not for the fact that she knew, she knew how he turned out, she would never believe it. He was too young and, well, good looking. But then, people said the devil was good looking too, and look at how bad he was!
That night, for the first time in ages, she didn't dream anything strange.
In the morning, both Hermione and Draco were subdued. They said little to each other, and walked with a large space between them. Hermione had never felt so far away from him. He wasn't even acting like her enemy anymore, he was just...nothing to her at that moment. She had nothing to say to him, even to argue. Last night, she'd felt some kind of support, reluctant or not, from him, but now there was nothing but indifference in his attitude towards her.
He didn't even mock or seem anyway amused when picking out clothes for her, Pure-Blood clothes. When she tried things on, he didn't laugh or tease. Instead he replied with either a nod or a shake of his head. It bugged her, but she didn't know how to make things better between them. This was better than constant bickering...wasn't it?
She wasn't so sure. With three full bags of clothes she didn't particularly like, she followed after him. He seemed to know his way around, or maybe he was just better at adapting to new places than her. He picked out lots of new clothes for himself - four bags full - but he didn't consult her on one.
They returned at two to their rooms. She lay down on her bed and picked up her new book, Hogwarts; a History, an unrevised version of her present day one, and read for a bit. At five to three, she packed up her new belongings and knocked on Malfoy's door. He answered, regarded her coolly than stepped back to let her in.
His room was practically identical to hers. She still examined it, because she didn't want to look at him and she had nothing better to do.
At three, he gestured towards the portkey and reached out his hand. Silently, she accepted his hand, it seemed cooler this time, and, with the other hand, touched the teapot. They waited together silently; not an uncomfortable silence. She threw him an uncertain look when nothing was happening but he didn't return her look, waiting patiently.
Finally, it seemed like such a long time to Hermione, she felt herself being transported.
She only realised she was in Dumbledore's office when she felt Malfoy drop her hand immediately. She opened her eyes to see Dumbledore blinking down at them.
"Good Afternoon," Dumbledore greeted.
Both Hermione and Draco only mumbled in reply.
"I have talked to your new Headmaster, and he is curious but pleased to accept you into Hogwarts, on my recommendation. Between you and me," he winked at them, "I think our dear old headmaster, Professor Dippet would eat his own shoe, if I ask him nicely enough."
Hermione had the decency to fake laughter. Draco didn't.
"Now," Dumbledore said. "How about we do a private sorting?"
Hermione looked uneasily at Draco. He seemed perfectly relaxed and returned her look calmly.
"Mr Malfoy, if you please." Dumbledore revealed the old dusty hat. It seemed the hat, like the rest of Hogwarts, had not changed much either. It was as dirty and unimpressive as ever, except for when it sprang to life.
Malfoy sat. This time, however, the sorting hat took much longer to decide, unlike before when it had been painfully clear that the hat had no quarrels sending him to Slytherin. Even Draco seemed a bit ruffled by the delay.
"Slytherin!" the hat yelled eventually.
Dumbledore nodded.
"Your turn, Miss... Zabini, isn't it? Sorry, you just look like more of a Granger to me." Hermione had filled Dumbledore in on her "real" name, apologising profusely for having "lied" before. Hermione reckoned Dumbledore didn't believe a word of it, but he didn't mention it, so neither did she.
Ah, the hat said inside her head, what a thirst for knowledge you have, Miss Zabini. Quite a sly nature too, when you need to use it. Lots of ambition. Very loyal, too, I see, you will always stand by people, once they have earned your trust. But where to put you?
"I need you," she told the hat, feeling determined, "to put me into Slytherin." Harry had told her that it was what you really wanted that affected the hat's final decision. Hermione hoped that Harry was right. Tom would never listen to her, if she were in Gryffindor.
Slytherin will help you with your destiny. Slytherin will aid you in what you need to do. There was an odd note in the hat's voice in her head; one she did not like.
"Slytherin!" the hat announced.
She met Malfoy's eyes and he showed his first bit of expression in that day; a smirk.
Dumbledore nodded again; one quick decisive nod.
Hermione remembered her sorting before, back when she had been only eleven years old. She had been so nervous. The hat had asked her then, "Any preferences then, Miss...oh...Granger now, is it?" She had thought it a bit odd before but now she found it odder. Had the... had the hat known her, recognised her, from fifty years before? The thought made her head spin... which came first, and which came after? But she had only been eleven then, and now she was sixteen... it was strange, like remembering a dream that she had thought made perfect sense at the time, but slowly realising later it hadn't made much sense at all.
"I have your books prepared for you. They will be transported to your new rooms shortly. I will introduce you at dinner time, where you will then settle yourself in to the Slytherin Common Room. The password is Time," he winked at Hermione and Draco again. "I will expect you to be in your classes tomorrow. Here are your time tables. Everybody is in class currently, but you are free to roam the school. It's rather chilly out, so I would recommend going to the library. However, I'm sure you already know that." He smiled knowingly. Hermione took that as a dismissal and, after thanking him, she left, with Draco close on her heels.
It was only when she was outside his quarters, that she realised she hadn't asked him what he had meant before, when he said he'd waited a long time for her to come. But, having known Dumbledore for longer than he even knew, she was well aware of the fact that he would probably not have answered her, or given her some vague answer that would only make sense to her in years to come.
She walked to the library, aware of Draco walking behind her. She only knew he was there by his strong presence. His steps were completely silent. Had he always walked that way, like a predator? Or was that a new feature, along with that pretty new tattoo on his arm?
She strolled through the library, another feature that hadn't changed, except that there were a few books missing. She took a random one of the shelf and sat herself down at a table. He stood by her for a few minutes and then, when she cast him an annoyed glance, he sat down. He didn't have a book with him.
She tried to read, but she could feel those grey eyes on her. After a while, she felt like she couldn't swallow and slowly put down the book, looking at him pointedly.
"I suppose we should talk," she said, when he still remained quiet.
"I don't want to."
This was said coldly.
"What's wrong with you today? Why are you being so...odd? Last night, you were okay, now you're acting like a sulky child!" She was never good at keeping things to herself.
"A sulky child, am I? I don't think you quite understand the situation I'm in, Granger. I have disgraced the Malfoy family, I lost everything the second I ran from my father. I am a Death Eater; your side will not accept me. I don't want to be on your side, I don't belong there. I hate you. I hate Potter. Merlin, I hated Dumbledore. And now, here I am, in the past with you, doing Merlin-knows-what! Your side doesn't even stand a chance with Dumbledore dead; I watched him die, Granger. I can see you are trying to deny that his death happened, but I watched him, I watched the Dark Lord make him scream. All I keep thinking over and over and over again, is why did I run? Why did I run... towards the Room of Requirement? Towards where I thought you, you, a Mudblood, might be? It doesn't make sense."
She watched him and then, when it appeared he had nothing else to say, she leaned over and took his hand in hers. "You ran," she told him, and he looked up at her, "because you knew that the Light Side didn't have a chance, with Voldemort and the Death Eaters in Hogwarts. You ran, because you knew the Dark Lord was going to kill Harry, and he's our last chance. You ran, because you knew that there was only one way that you could change things, and that was this, our plan. You ran, because you didn't have a choice."
He stared at her, seemingly without reply. They stayed like that for a long time, looking at each other.
"Can I see it?" she asked finally, through the silence.
He flinched, but rolled up his sleeve to his elbow and leaned forwards to show it to her.
It was red, not black or green like she had always imagined. It was like a tattoo. It was a skull, with a snake protruding from its mouth. It was quite small, but very, very ugly. She rubbed it with her two fingers, but it felt smooth, just like the rest of his skin. His arm looked white in comparison. She didn't like it. It was clear he didn't either.
"What actually happened at that meeting?" she asked. She wasn't sure why she was whispering, they were completely and utterly alone.
"I can't... I don't want to talk about that, Granger. You shouldn't have to listen to that anyway."
"But don't you see, Malfoy, we have to work together! We can't keep secrets from each other, not anymore."
"I'm not keeping secrets from you, Granger. I just don't want to think about that, just yet. It's just a bit soon, alright?" His tone was a bit harsh.
"Fine. Why did you want to see me that night? You sent me a note." She found that she was getting a little irritated. She folded her arms.
"Oh...that. Don't worry about that. That's not important, not now."
"Are you going to tell me anything?" Her voice was high pitched. She found that her face was hot.
"Why did you change your hair back?" he questioned her now. "It's dark and kind of straight again. Why did you do that? Were you - were you planning to go back to the past without me? Is that it?" His tone was accusing.
"No! I just felt like it!" she snarled back in reply. She didn't feel in the mood to explain to him, about the unknown visitor in her room.
Draco, who had seen how freaked out she had been by that particular hair design before, didn't believe her at all.
Both of them sat back into their chairs. She picked up her book again, her face still flushed. They both wanted to ask questions, but both were too stubborn to be the first to speak.
"Come on," she told him, standing up, at ten to six, "we'd better be off."
He smirked, and continued to sit.
"Come on, Malfoy!" she persisted.
"I wasn't aware this mark on my arm meant I had to follow your rule, Granger. Unless, of course, you are the Dark Lord in disguise, which would, of course, explain a couple of things."
"You shouldn't even be joking about that!" she hissed, but her voice was very low. A couple of students had appeared in the library once classes were over. Hermione didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention to them.
Draco continued to sit.
"You know what, Malfoy, fine. You stay there, and you be happy with yourself. Don't even bother coming to dinner, you can starve for all I care!" She turned and stormed off, leaving him to sit on his own, quite happy with himself and smirking.
Hermione felt very alone as she walked into the Great Hall. It was a feeling Hermione had experienced all through her Muggle life, and through most of her first year. She didn't feel like she belonged. Nobody was paying her the least bit of attention, but Hermione felt like they were all whispering at her. Uneasily, she made her way up to the teacher's table, where they looked at her curiously.
Dumbledore stood up and went to her. "Where is Mr Malfoy?"
She swallowed. Her lack of sleep the night before was catching up on her. "I don't know." This came out more defensive than she had meant it to, but Dumbledore only smiled and waited.
Malfoy came in the door five minutes after her. Dinner had started at this stage, and people were beginning to notice Hermione, standing beside Dumbledore, by the Head table. He strolled up easily to meet them, and students definitely noticed Malfoy. He appeared to be enjoying it. He greeted Dumbledore with a nod and Hermione with a smirk. She had to restrain herself not to hit him.
"Are you ready?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes on Hermione. Malfoy nodded in reply and she found herself nodding too, although she was not sure. She felt sick and anxious. This was it... this was it... she couldn't mess this up, she couldn't.
"Excuse me," Dumbledore clapped his hands, and received attention immediately. "We have two new students joining us today. I would like to introduce you to Miss Hermione Zabini and Mr Draco Malfoy. They have already been sorted and both will be joining the Slytherin House. Now, until now they have been home schooled, so joining a new school must be rather scary so I'm sure they would appreciate it if you co-operate with them to make the transfer as easy as possible. Welcome, Mr Malfoy, Miss Zabini, and I hope you have a pleasant time in your new school. Now, I'm sure the Headmaster has a few announcements to make, so if you'd like to join the Slytherin table..."
Hermione and Malfoy went to join their new house mates. They had to pass the other tables to do so, and Hermione was shocked by the hostile looks she was thrown. Were they all as rude to Slytherins in the present-day Hogwarts? She didn't like it. Malfoy, however, seemed unaffected.
She sat down in a seat next to a blonde girl. Malfoy's words from their few lessons crept into her head: "First opinions are everything, Granger. Don't seem too eager to say hello to anyone. Sit up straight, regard the person of your choice, look them in the eyes and smirk. Oh, yeah, you're not able to smirk. A nod, then. Nod, then keep looking them in the eye. If they nod back, look at them somewhat knowingly, then turn away, as if you've tired of them. Do not talk while eating. Fifty years ago, it would have been very inappropriate. Glance around the table and see who seems the most impressive. Stare at them until they look at you, and do the same pattern again; look them in the eye, nod, keep looking at them, receive their reply, then turn away. Do not change your pattern for different people. You have to treat every one the same. You do not want to make any enemies in the Slytherin House."
Hermione did as he had told her. The Blonde girl received her nod with one of her own and Hermione turned away first. She scanned the table and nodded at nearly every third person. She met Draco's eyes from across the table. She looked him in the eye and nodded. He smirked in reply, a meaningful smirk, and then turned to face the right. She followed his gaze and saw what he was looking at.
Tom Riddle sat at the top of the table, sitting straight and silent, dark and handsome.
He was looking right at Hermione.
Her heart beating, she looked right back at him and, trying hard to swallow, nodded.
He nodded back.
She was supposed to turn away now, it was her que.
But she couldn't get her eyes off of him.
He was Tom Riddle, Harry's parent's murderer, the Dark Lord with the red eyes who had attacked her parents, who had made Dumbledore scream. But she couldn't stop looking at those dark eyes and the matching dark hair and those lips, curved into a smirk now.
She was transfixed, caught in a spell even she, Hermione Granger, didn't know how to break.
Hermione's character will not be weak, this is just her first reaction. Hope you like it so far, and please review!