Chapter 4: Trelawney's
23 December
Hermione sighed in frustration, allowing her forehead to thump against her desk in her home office. She had been up for nearly twenty-four hours straight working on her petition; Harry and Ron knew better than to disturb her when she was working. She knew that convincing the city to preserve the forest and instead allot a part of it for use as a park would be challenging. What city would want to give up the revenue from a mall that would lure in more visitors from out of town, not to mention the property taxes it would gain from such a large-scale building. The economic benefits could not be ignored. Hermione's plan was to pull on their heartstrings. Hogsmeade, as great as it was, did not currently have a public park big enough to suit its number of residents. A park would promote a healthier lifestyle, encourage community events, provide a free place for families to spend the day with their children, and, well, help save the environment. Hermione's faith in humanity always took a hit whenever she thought about the way people would rather improve their own personal bank statements over their community.
"I need to take a break," Hermione muttered to herself. It was never a good sign when her thoughts started to turn into full scale tirades. She stood up quickly, realizing too late that she hadn't eaten or drunk anything since the previous day. "Woah there," she said, taking a moment for her vision to stop swimming and her sense of balance to return. "I really need to eat something." Hermione frowned. She stretched her arms above her head, feeling the satisfying pops and clicks as her joints relaxed. She also caught a whiff of something burning.
In a second, she had barged through her office door and ran down the hall to the kitchen to the air cloudy with smoke. Hermione raised the front of her shirt over her nose instinctively as she looked for the source.
"Ron! I told you to set the timer for fifteen minutes, not fifty!" Harry's voice called as he stumbled into the kitchen and opened the oven. A new cloud of smoke was released, and Harry had to step back, coughing into his elbow.
"You could have set it yourself, mate. I heard fifty!" Ron came dashing down the hallway, just managing not to crash into Harry.
"Why would you reheat a pizza for fifty minutes?!" Harry curled his fingers like he was mentally strangling his best friend. Ron noticed this and wisely backed away.
Hermione quickly crossed the room, grabbed the dish towel and grabbed the two plates with the burnt pizza remains out of the oven. She dumped them in the sink and hosed them down with water. Then she turned toward her two flatmates and placed one hand on her hip. The two stopped bickering immediately.
"Listen 'Mione-"
"We're really sorry-"
Hermione cut them off with a single hand. "I don't even want to hear it. I leave you two to yourselves for one day and this is what happens? How do you forget about something for nearly an hour? Not one of you stopped to think 'Gee, I'm kind of hungry. I should get something to eat, oh wait'? Her voice was dripping with sarcasm, causing both Harry and Ron to wince. "Not to mention it's" she checked her watch, "nine o'clock in the morning? You were planning on having pizza for breakfast?"
"We're sorry, Hermione," Harry said, "We just didn't want to disturb you since we know how hard you've been working on your case. We thought pizza would be safe." He half-smiled and shrugged in a what-can-you-do way.
"Foolproof," Hermione agreed dryly, looking through the smokey air at the oven gaping open and the water running over lumps that more closely resembled coal than pizza.
"Why don't Harry and I clean this all up while you go out and get some fresh air?" Ron quickly suggested. "You look like you could use it," he added before quickly recoiling in anticipation of Hermione's response.
Hermione merely glared at him, but was too tired to do anything more. She really could use some fresh air. And a big cup of coffee. "Fine," she replied. "I'll be back in an hour. Please try not to succeed in actually burning the place down while I'm gone." She put on a scarf, pair of gloves and hat that she had knitted herself, grabbed her purse and a thick coat, and let herself out of the flat.
The chilly December air was refreshing. Hermione took a deep breath in, filling her lungs with smoke-free air before exhaling in a puff of vapor from the cold. She felt instantly alert and brighter. She took off down the street, slowed by the surprisingly thick layer of snow, to Trelawney's Coffee and Tea Leaves. It had been her go-to spot for many years now whenever she needed a caffeine boost. Plus, walking there had always provided her a way to get her mind off of her work, which she desperately needed right now. With the court case only a day away-
No. She would not allow herself to think of that right now. And she would especially not allow herself to think of Riddle, evil incarnate. She hadn't gotten any type of response to the shoes she had sent, but that was expected. She couldn't stop thinking about that smug expression of his whenever she brought up the shoes she owed him, so she had done it just to clear the guilt from her conscience. Besides, she was sincere in supporting eco-friendly clothes. The thought of Riddle-
No. She had to stop thinking about him. Gods, why was it so hard to keep her mind away? Something about the name had been nagging at the back of her mind since she had decided to do a little research on her opponent. He had grown up in Little Hangleton and had attended Hogwarts University about five years before she had gone there. He was accepted into the prestigious Durmstrang Law School and graduated top of his class. From there, he was quickly hired by Borgin and Burke, which was practically unheard of for someone his age. He was responsible for clearing all of the legal obstacles for two of the three malls and shopping strips they had built in the last ten years. It was no doubt that he had it down to almost an exact science.
What was it about him, though? Hermione thought back to the conversation she had been having with her friends that night. What had they discussed? Harry had started talking about some of his cases… the Gaunt murders. But there was something about them that itched at Hermione's brain.
She finally reached her destination and swiftly stepped inside, glad to be sheltered from the increasing winds outside. What had started as a light snow was quickly turning into a flurry. She was immediately enveloped in the thick aroma of incense, herbs and heavy perfume that was the signature scent of Trelawney's. The space was very cozy, with a large fireplace roaring on the far side of the room while low bean bag chairs and poufs were spread haphazardly around circular tables. Hermione walked up to the counter and was greeted by Madame Trelawney.
"Good afternoon, m'dear," she said in her sing-song voice.
"Good afternoon, Sybill. How are you today?" Hermione greeted her with less than stellar enthusiasm. Sybill had a way of getting under her nerves.
"Very well, thank you, dear. Of course, I sense that isn't the case for you," Trelawney peered at her over the top of her large, thick-rimmed glasses, an irritating knowing gleam in her eye. "I sense that a certain someone has been keeping you preoccupied as of late."
Hermione barely restrained herself from rolling her eyes. "Yes, my work does tend to do that. Could I just get a-"
"Lavender honey latte?" At Hermione's short nod, she said "I always know what my customers want. And I don't think a latte is all you want.
"I always get the same drink, Sybill. But I could always leave and go to Madam Puddifut's instead." Hermione snapped. She really needed that caffeine.
Trelawney gave her an annoyingly knowing look. "Well, we can't have that. I sense a chance encounter, an important meeting is about to happen."
"It's called a court case, which I have tomorrow." Hermione sighed and gave her best withering glare, the effects of which were slightly lost as her tired eyes were barely open. "Could I just get my drink?"
Trelawney looked her up and down, frowning slightly. "Yes, I suppose you could use it. Coming right up... And, my dear, there's perfume in the ladies' room"
Muttering under her breath about meddling old hags, Hermione wandered off to the bathroom to freshen up a little. Trelawney had been right - she could use some help. Her clothes were rumpled from working all night, her hair looked like a bird's nest, and the bags under her eyes had bags. Hermione splashed some water on her face in the hopes of looking at least less dead. Well, I'm not here to impress anyone. Least of all Sybill.
Hermione retrieved her coffee from the pickup counter when it was done and found a vacant beanbag to settle in by the fireplace. Yes, this was nice. There was nothing better than a nice, hot drink next to a crackling fireplace in the middle of snowfall. Hermione took a long sip of her latte, enjoying the sweet blend of flavors. It wasn't hard for her to relax, except for that one nagging little itch that continually bugged her.
She took out her phone and searched up "The Gaunt murders". Many articles popped up: "Three Dead in Little Hangleton Mansion", "Gaunt Family's Gaunt Deaths", "Little Hangleton Family Found Dead in House". They all reported the same story of the Gaunt family, who was found dead in their house, supposedly a burglary gone wrong. As Hermione scrolled through the articles, that itch in her mind got stronger, but still remained elusive.
In frustration, Hermione opened a new tab and instead searched "Tom Riddle". His professional profile popped up along with a few interviews and statements he had released for his work. Hermione scrolled until she found the same interview from his university days when he had graduated top of his class, which she had previously skimmed briefly.
Tom Riddle, the top ranked student at Hogwarts University, has been accepted into Durmstrang Law School for the fall. During his time here, Riddle has become known for his charismatic personality and breath-taking debates, winning the National debates for four years in a row. As is customary for the top student each year, Riddle has agreed to a short Q&A about his personal and academic record.
Tell us about your story and what led you to Hogwarts University.
"I grew up in Little Hangleton…
Hermione's lips moved as she read, and as she mouthed the words "grew up in Little Hangleton", she froze. That was what had been bothering her. He was from the same small town that the murders had taken place. She wondered whether he knew the family that had been murdered. She quickly continued to read
… a very small town about 150 kilometers from here. My family was very poor, and I always imagined what it would be like to live a different life. I glimpsed a moment of what it might be like when I was a teenager. You see, I was going through my parent's files in order to apply for financial aid for uni, and I came across my birth certificate. Imagine my surprise when I discovered I was adopted. That surprise grew into hope when, through some research, I found that my birth parents were also living in Little Hangleton. Of course, I visited them as soon as I could. They lived in the only mansion in town. It had me wonder what my life might have looked like had I grown up there instead of my small, one story flat. While that visit proved promising, unfortunate events transpired that prevented me from making further connections with my birth family. What I did find out, however, was that both my parents were attorneys. I guess you could say arguing runs in my blood. I also discovered that I had a younger brother, who was planning on eventually coming here to Hogwarts to study law. That led me to apply here, and the rest is history.
To what do you attribute your academic success?
.
.
Hermione's eyes stayed glued to the screen, but she was no longer reading. Instead, phrases, facts, pieces of information were flying around in her head and being connected like a puzzle. Riddle's birth parents had lived in the only mansion in Little Hangleton. The Gaunts had been found dead in their mansion. Riddle was prevented by "unfortunate events" from keeping in touch with his birth family. Her eyes widened.
A gust of cold wind that caused the fireplace to severely flicker blew through the shop. Hermione looked up in time to see Tom Riddle's tall form step into Trelawney's and sweep snow off his jacket. He was accompanied by a flurry of ice blowing in at an inordinately high rate, making it difficult to close the door again. Hermione turned around quickly, hoping he hadn't noticed her yet. She couldn't face him now and act normally, not after what she had just discovered about his past.
A/N: This chapter's a bit on the shorter side, but I have lots more to come. I know it's been a while since I last posted - life's been pretty hectic. Thank you all for reading this far! Hope you enjoyed :)
