Dedicated to all the people who are as addicted to writing and Harry Potter as I am. Never change, we rock!
"I don't understand." He watched her as she stood up from his bed, and began pacing smoothly. "Aren't you supposed to be in a wheelchair?"
"I intended to use you, Draco. Tell you nothing, and use you like a toy. But I realise you're too clever for that. You are. So…I will tell you the truth. But only if you do one thing…" Ash held up the truth potion, not unlike the one Hermione and himself had just tested on Law.
"No." His answer was resolute and without hesitation. He knew too much was at stake.
"I'll tell Hermione you fancy her."
"I don't care." In truth he did, but it wouldn't resolve in his sudden death, and he considered that a plus. Anyway, he could always deny it.
"I'm worried, Draco. Worried about Hermione! She's ruining everything!" Ash exclaimed suddenly and did a little turn, gesturing heavily with her arms – Draco had never seen her so passionate about a subject in his time here, she always seemed so indifferent. "I need your help, I'll admit that. Don't you see it? How close Hermione and Tom are getting? We have to stop them, you want to stop them, don't you, Draco Malfoy?"
Draco was suddenly caught in the image of her like a snake, the snake that taunted Adam with the forbidden fruit. She was indeed slithering in her movements, and the eyes that met his had an inhumane glint about them.
"Why do you even care? And why are you able to walk?" He was beyond confused – he seemed to have spent the last couple of days in an inconsistent state of bewilderment, and he didn't like it very much.
Ash took a deep breath, and began to explain, eyes flat and shining, watching his every nerve twitch, ready to pounce if he made any sudden movements. He'd never sat so still before in his life.
Hermione felt calm again. The sudden fluctuations in her moods were tiring but somehow reassuring. She felt better now, and could think and breathe normally again. She picked herself up, brushed herself down, and felt a sudden urge to do something productive. Do something fierce and brave. She felt disappointed in herself – she wanted to find that core of strength again, the core she knew was inside herself.
She knew what she had to do.
She had to stop Tom opening the Chamber of Secrets.
Somehow, crying had cleansed her, cleared her mind and body and soul. The thought of Tom having feelings for her and her developing feelings for him was not so sickening as it had been only minutes before. Before, she'd felt tainted, dirty and disgusting. That had been silly. It was a natural development. Hadn't that been one of the reasons why she'd come back to the past, anyway? Hadn't she felt that click, that connection between them on a deeper connection that drew them together and made them see things in each other they'd only ever seen in themselves? She'd known there was something special about herself ever since she received that letter from Hogwarts when she was barely eleven years old, and she'd known there was something special about him when she was twelve and had looked into his eyes.
She began to walk to her destination, where she heard two voices, one was McGonagall's, and the other was Law's.
"How could you do that to me?" McGonagall was shrieking. "After everything we've shared, I thought you cared about me! But you're just another stupid Slytherin, thinking only for yourself, and I shouldn't have even bothered to think otherwise!"
"Minerva, please! I had to! That new girl – we had a bet – and – you know how I feel about you! Please – don't do this – it's not that big of a deal!"
"You completely mortified me!" she cried. "And…you don't get it! I thought you were different, Law, but you're not…" Her voice lowered. "I don't think this is going to work. I'm sorry. I think we should just end it now."
"You've changed me so much," he said softly. "Please…without you, everything seems pointless. Without you, what's the point?"
"The point is, you'll grow up and you won't be in Slytherin your whole life. Don't stay in Tom's shadow, Law. Please don't be afraid of him…show the Weasleys what you're made off, and maybe you can change everything…"
"I dunno, I don't think I can do that," he whined.
"You'll do it." Her voice sounded definite and certain, and strong. "Goodbye Lawrence."
And then there was the sound of footsteps walking away.
"Zabini, you can come out now," Law said after two minutes of silence. "I saw you the minute Minerva was gone." His voice was grim and tired.
Hermione was too surprised to feel anything but astonishment.
"I know," he smiled grimly, taking in her expression, "who would have thought, eh?"
"Certainly not me," she responded and together they laughed. It was a nervous laughter, uncomfortable and uncertain. Both didn't know what to do.
"McGonagall is Muggleborn," Hermione prompted quietly to him.
"I know." Law looked down where she'd walked away from him. "It was so brief, barely a month, and came out of nowhere. We didn't even do anything, really. Only the odd kiss or cuddle. Mostly we just talked. Talked about everything, everything you can think of. Things you could never even mention in Slytherin. It's weird, how even the smallest things can change everything, isn't it, Hermione?" He swallowed. "We're going to have to stop him, aren't we? We have to stop Tom."
"Yes." Her voice was as certain as McGonagall's.
"He cares about you, you know." Law's voice sounded strange, sort of vague. "Not a whole lot, you might think, but he's never cared about anyone in his life and…I think it's rather bothering him. I think he might try open the…"
"The Chamber of Secrets?" she supplied, and he continued on without questioning how she knew.
"…might open the Chamber of Secrets you know, to prove to himself that he's still strong. Still alone. That is, if he's realised how much he does like you."
"Because I knew you were here. You were here, and I just wanted to be with you."
He's realised it, Hermione thought darkly.
"Do you think he could open it tonight, Law?"
"No," Law replied. "I don't think he's ready. But he's going to begin letting the – the Basilisk out for a little while sometimes before he opens it fully. He has to prepare, he told us this. Build up the pressure, he said. That means Minerva's in trouble, all the Muggleborn are in trouble, and…I don't think there should be any more trouble, Hermione!"
"There won't be," she said. She felt strong still, and couldn't help thinking of Harry. She felt this was her time to prove herself as a hero at last. "I'm going to stop him."
Law nodded, and believed in her. And she believed in herself. And she was ready.
Man, what a short chapter. The last one was short too. Sorry. Basically, I'm only sticking this up because it seemed to the most convenient way to as somebody to beta for me? Anyone up for the job? I warn you now – I might be an annoying person to work with it. And I'll need a little more help than just grammar, might need to idea bounce or you know, play with wording. And honesty rocks – I love critiques (if they're fair, and nice too)!
Anyway, next few chapters should be long and exciting. The next one will have lots of Tom/Hermione action, where a lot of stuff comes out.
Oh yeah, this chapter isn't properly finished, and I'll probably change a lot of stuff in it. I'll notify you in the next chappie if I do. I think it's a little rushed and all over the shop.
In my personal life, things have gotten better. My friend's grand and I apologise for my emotional outburst, but it helped me and I felt better. I've quit my job and am finished (left with a bang – lots of arguments) and will start writing the next chapter tomorrow morning. So excited to not be working, and school should be okay, Normality, at least. Back with my friends, and getting all the news. I'm starting to feel a little isolated. Things aren't brilliant, but they're fine. Boys are bothering me – I want one, and it's just not happening with either of the two lads I fancy (so close, though!). So I've decided to just give up on them for a while. They aren't worth the pain! Honestly, they're worse than period pangs, and more frequent!
Thanks to all reviewers. Especially to Unspeakable May. For a while there, I really thought I was going to pack it in. But with that one little phrase, I feel encouraged and it's really stuck with me. To all writers out there, in her wise words: (even those only beginning or think you're rubbish or are only messing with it to waste time): Dont you ever stop writing because writing is part of who you are, no matter what bad things happened in your life.
Be aware of that.
That's my new quote for a while. It's so pretty and happy. So Thank you Unspeakable May. Thank you to everyone that cheered me up with reviews or just by reading, and I must be greedy and ask you to please keep it up!