AN: Oh my goodness, guys, I've got crazy news. My Christmas tree FELL ON TOP OF ME! I just put all the ornaments and fake snow back on (although some pine needles are still hiding in my bra), and hopefully the fam won't notice anything amiss when they come home. (Psh, they're so gonna notice.) P.S. Thanks for all the reviews! I do a little happy dance for each one. One reviewer mentioned some things in the Task that aren't parallel to the real 1943 of Potterverse (ie: Regulus Black), but this fic is non-canon so if you see any out-of-place events/characters they're here on purpose. As for Hermione, I guess you'll have to see whether she goes bad or not. ;) Anyway, while you read the latest update I'm going to think up a convincing cover story for that broken tree...
"Abraxas, stay," Regulus heard him say softly as they were dismissed from the latest meeting.
Abraxas stiffened beside Regulus. He looked frightened and no one blamed him. The other members shot him pitiful looks as they passed him, Regulus included, and then it was just Abraxas and Tom Riddle all alone in the empty classroom.
Tom smirked when he saw Abraxas trembling before him. "There's no need to be afraid, you know," he said, casually perching on a desk. "You haven't done anything wrong."
Abraxas lowered his eyes and nodded, although he wasn't convinced. "Yes, my Lord."
Tom fingered his yew wand absently and Abraxas watched that hand closely, that delicate hand which could cause so much pain so easily. "You do know who Hermione Granger is, do you not?" he said abruptly.
Abraxas didn't answer. That was one of the rules: don't speak unless specifically asked to.
"I need to keep a close eye on her," Tom continued, "but seeing as I can't watch her every move I will require you and your fellow Death Eaters to. Notify them that they are to survey her – not to harm her." He paused. "Unless requested. Understood?"
"Yes, my Lord," Abraxas murmured.
"And be sure no one else harms her either." He didn't like the way she'd looked after Meredith pulled that childish trick on her, it made him want to...break something. Or someone. "It would be most regrettable if any of you disappointed me," Tom added, fingering that yew wand again, and beads of sweat started on Abraxas' brow as he shuddered at the implicated threat. "Wouldn't it?"
"Yes, my Lord," he whispered.
Tom paused, relishing the fear Abraxas was positively reeking for a moment. He sighed.
"Get out."
Abraxas all but ran, bowing to Tom low and deep before he rushed out of the classroom. Once the door had shut behind him Tom raked his fingers through his dark hair absent-mindedly. They were so easy to scare, he thought, not at all like her. No, Hermione stood up to him. He knew she was afraid of him, although she tried to hide it, but that just made it all the more fun to mess with her.
Only he was allowed to mess with her.
When Hermione came around it wasn't on her own, but at the sound of violent coughing and a familiarly deep, booming voice.
"'ELLO! WHO'S 'ERE? Show yerself er I'll get Professor Dumbledore!"
Hermione blinked her eyes open to find herself still in the clearing and a much, much younger Hagrid standing right outside of it, trying to peer into the ring of hazy black smoke without success. Panic rang inside her but was soon replaced by swift nausea. Promptly, she doubled over and vomited.
She got to her feet and the Invisibility Cloak whisked around her shoulders gently - so she hadn't lost it. Good. So her mouth tasted like barf. Not good.
Hermione cast a Fresh Breath charm on herself, but while that fixed her mouth problem it made her feel ten times worse. Her stomach was churning, her head whirling, and all in all she felt like crap, but she picked up her bag and stumbled out of the clearing, which was vacant of all life and barren now. Hagrid kept shouting behind her (which made her head hurt even more) but she couldn't let him see her. That was not part of the plan.
The world swung around Hermione and she grabbed onto the trunk of a sturdy oak tree. Hot saliva pooled in her mouth, but she forced it down. What was wrong with her? She hobbled out of the forest and blinked at the sight of the moon in the black sky. Merlin, how late was it? How long had she been gone? She threw off her cloak and tried to tame her wild curls as she hurried to the castle.
Behind her, a pulsating cloud of inky black smoke gathered above the Forbidden Forest like a newly brewed storm.
Entering the castle, Hermione checked her watch and gasped. It was almost two AM! She had to get back to her dormitory fast. Soundlessly, Hermione crept through the shadows as she navigated the deserted castle. Prefects didn't even patrol this late, so she just had to make sure she didn't run into the caretaker of this time, Gregovich.
Ugh, she felt so, so sleepy... She clawed at her eyes, trying to dispel the feeling, and jumped in fright when a tall boy with dark hair loomed into view.
But not just any boy, of course.
She scuttled back into the outskirts of the corridor like a crab, watching with bated breath as Riddle's eyes flicked over the hall around him. Seeing nothing, he ran his hand through that thick raven black hair of his and turned sharply on his heel, disappearing down the hall. Hermione released the breath she'd been holding and ran the rest of the way to her dormitory. Once inside, she stumbled over to her bed and ripped open the curtains. One of the girls groaned at the sound and Hermione gritted her teeth and cast "Muffliato" before collapsing on her bed and yanking the hangings shut. She fell asleep instantly.
Hermione woke up to very bad news.
Classes had been cancelled for the day, and that wasn't bad news in the 'I'm-being-deprived-of-a-day-that-could-be-used-to-fill-me-with-useful-knowledge' kind of way – no, it was the reason behind iit. There was an 'ominous black fog hanging over the Forbidden Forest' and it was potentially dangerous, or so Slughorn had said in his announcement to the Slytherin common room earlier that morning, and until the teachers figured out what it was or how to get rid of it, every door and window in the castle was bolted shut. No one was going to leave - or enter - Hogwarts with that unhindered magic hanging around.
The magic she,somehow, had triggered.
She didn't understand it. All she knew was that something went wrong with the ritual. She remembered the fire, the black smoke attacking her, and then…nothing. She had to investigate and fix it however – lest the timeline suffer severe damage. She couldn't magick the entire student body to forget about the smoke, after all.
Although the idea was tempting.
"Hey Mudblood! Over here!" some Slytherin girl shouted at her as she made her way – late – to breakfast. Hermione ignored them and was about to open the doors to the Great Hall when someone else stepped into her path, blocking the way. Taking in her smooth dark skin and long braided hair, a rush of anger swept through Hermione as she met the gleaming eyes of Meredith Smith.
Great.
"Excuse me," Hermione said coolly, not acknowledging the two other girls surrounding her, Elfy and Fabia. Elfy's unicorn-haired wand was held loosely at her side; Fabia was giggling behind hers.
"I see Tom's not around," Meredith said casually, waltzing around Hermione in a slow circle. "That's good. I've been wanting to have a chat with you since you left dinner yesterday. You see, I was worried about you. We all were." She stopped her circling and picked up a piece of Hermione's hair, twirling it around her finger thoughtfully. "Isn't her hair pretty, girls? Looks at those long curls – oh! – and that color. Why your hair is such an intriguing shade of brown, Hermione. It reminds me of...hm..."
"Mud!" Fabia burst out, giggling harder. Elphy looked away, probably bored, and started to examine her nails.
"Fabia, that's very unkind of you," Meredith scolded. She was grinning though. "I was thinking it was the color of shit. Just like her eyes."
She reached up to touch them and Hermione slapped her hand away. "I'm warning you, Smith. Back off."
Meredith mock-pouted. "But I'm having so much fun. Besides, we're just getting to know each other-"
Hermione whipped her wand out so fast Fabia yelped and jumped a foot in the air. Meredith, however, merely smiled at her tightly. "I don't want to get to know you and I've had enough," Hermione said.
"We haven't," Fabia said from behind her and Hermione stiffened when she felt the tip of the girl's wand on the back of her neck. "In fact, I have a question for you, little Mudblood. Do you always bang the first guy you meet or is Tom a special occasion?"
Hermione balled her hands into fists. She mustn't attack them. She musn't-
"Why bother asking the whore?" Meredith sneered. "Of course she does. I bet at least fifteen men have rolled around in her mud in the past week-"
"You bitch," Hermione hissed and elbowed Fabia so hard in the ribs the girl dropped her wand and started wheezing. She shot a Stinging Hex at Meredith next before turning around to take on Elphy, who was staring at her in shock and fumbling with her wand. Hermione raised hers. "Im-"
Suddenly, a hand wrapped around hers and Hermione spun around, but the jinx died on her lips at the sight of a wide-eyed Regulus Black. He threw up his hands, stepping back. "Don't hurt me! I was just going to say Sluggy is headed this way. He'll be here any minute." He looked earnest, so she lowered her wand.
He doesn't look much like Sirius, she thought randomly as she stared him down, except for that curly black hair. "What are you doing here?" Hermione asked warily.
"I heard shouting so I ran over to see what was going on," he said, shrugging, and looked past her to see Elphy, a limping Fabia, and Meredith hurrying into the Great Hall. Elphy glanced back at them a second before the heavy oak doors swung shut, her slanted green eyes questioning. "I saw them surround you and I was about to help, but then you…uh…took care of that, so I guess you didn't need me after all." He grinned sheepishly. "That was impressive."
She stared at him, bewildered.
"Well then, I've gotta go study for my Divination exam tomorrow," he said awkwardly, moving away, and she nearly snorted. He took Divination? What a useless subject. "See you in Herbology, Hermione."
Regulus walked away, hands shoved in his pockets, and she was just wondering what the hell that was about when Augusta and Minerva suddenly arrived. Augusta whistled at Regulus' retreating back. "Onto the next one already, eh?" she said, impressed. "He's not as dashing as Tom, but he sure is cute. The strong and silent type. I can appreciate that."
"Strong and silent?" Minerva sniffed. "More like shifty. All those Slytherins are." She glanced at Hermione quickly. "Except, er, you..."
"He was just saying hi," Hermione said, rolling her eyes at the fiendish grin on Augusta's face. "Just because I talk to a guy doesn't mean he's hitting on me."
"Psh, yeah right!" Augusta snorted. "What century are you from?"
Funny you mention that...
"Anyway," Minerva said pointedly. "We came over to invite you to breakfast on the Astronomy Tower with us."
"Breakfast? But how-"
Augusta produced a delicious-smelling picnic basket from her robes, grinning mischievously. "Got it from the kitchens. The house elves can be very accommodating if you compliment the quality of their food and sock-folding." At this, Hermione had to remind herself not to start lecturing them on house elf rights and equality. S.P.E.W. wouldn't go down well in the '40s, unfortunately.
"You know, for Head Girl you sure do break a lot of rules," Minerva commented drily, smoothing a stray wisp of black hair back into her tight bun.
"'You know, for Head Girl you sure do break a lot of rules,' wah wah," Augusta mocked in a squeaky, high-pitched version of Minerva's voice. "It's just food, Minny. Live a little!"
"I don't see how eating breakfast is supposed to make my life more thrilling," Minerva grumbled.
"Wet blanket," Augusta retorted and grabbed both girls' arms, pulling them in the direction to the Astronomy Tower. "Don't you worry, ladies. Some fresh air will do us a load of good!"
Some hours later Minerva, Augusta, and Hermione were lounging around on the Astronomy Tower. The picnic basket was empty and Minerva was picking the bare grape vines into tiny brittle pieces while Augusta dreamily gazed across the grounds at the tiny figure of Richard Hornet doing laps around the Quidditch pitch. Hermione had taken off her stockings and sat on the ledge with a bare leg thrown recklessly over each side. At first, her friends had been appalled at her lack of modesty and a second-long glimpse of her polka-dot knickers, but she brushed them off and they signed it off as more of the new girl's oddness.
"What do you think that fog is?" Augusta eventually said, for Richard Hornet had gone back in by now and her eyes were on the Forbidden Forest, a tiny dot in the distance.
"I don't know," Hermione lied. "Slughorn said Dippet suspected it's Dark magic. Dumbledore is sure it is."
"Dumbledore is always right," Minerva said.
"Even the most brilliant of wizards make mistakes sometimes," Hermione said softly.
"Not Dumbledore."
"I think Professor Chanté is hot," Augusta interjected randomly and whirled around to face the both of them. She gnawed her lip worriedly. "Is that strange? I know he's like twelve years older than us, but I always imagine him asking me to stay after class and once the door is shut he takes me in his arms and confesses his love or something-"
"Yes, that is very strange," Hermione interrupted, laughing.
"Oh shut up," Augusta growled, but she was laughing too. "You know he's good-looking!"
"That blonde hair and his blue eyes," Minerva sighed and for the first time she didn't look strict and severe, but besotted.
"And that smile…blimey." Augusta fanned herself, pretending to faint into Minerva's lap.
"Oy, get off me!" Minerva huffed. "LONGBOTTOM!"
Hermione chuckled and glanced back out of the tower – just to catch another glimpse of the glimmering sunset – but her eyes locked on the Forbidden Forest instead. She saw a cluster of teachers before it, investigating and trying different spells. Dumbledore was probably among them. A wind blasted by, carrying the scent of that black smoke with it, and - involuntarily - she took a deep breath. The air smelled of cedar and dug-up earth and made the blood in her veins buzz, like she was experiencing an adrenaline rush in slow-motion. She sighed. Mm. So good…
"Hermione, don't fall off!"
Her eyes flew open, the delicious scents and sensation of pumping blood vanishing, and she found Augusta and a disheveled Minerva grinning at her amusedly. Well, Minerva wasn't grinning per se, but she did look partially amused. Hermione blushed. "Whoops, I guess I was daydreaming," she said, surprised.
"About Professor Chanté?" Augusta teased.
"Eh, no. He's not my type."
"Oh, that's right. Your type is tall, dark-haired, and sexy to the point of Unforgivableness," Augusta teased. Minerva cracked up beside her.
"Yeah yeah," Hermione said sarcastically. "I'm all for the suffering-in-silence types."
"I knew it!"
"It's getting dark," Minerva announced, glancing up at the sky. "And cold. I'm going to head back, are you two coming?"
"Sure," Augusta said. "It's about dinnertime anyway and I'm starving."
"Me too." Hermione jumped off the ledge, flexing her stiff back and cracking her knuckles. Minerva and Augusta stared at her with mixed expressions of disgust and shock as she yanked on her stockings. "What?"
"Er…nothing," Augusta said, plastering a smile on her face. She still looked kind of weirded out though. "Let's go!"
They walked down the tower, taking the moving staircases and striding past several portraits that raised their eyebrows and made stuck-up comments about the flushed state of the three girls. Minerva nervously petted her ruffled hair back into place. "Do I look alright?" she asked.
"Sure you do," Hermione said. "Are you worried Professor Chanté will see you so discomposed?"
Minerva blushed.
Hermione chuckled. "Don't worry, you look nice."
Minerva almost smiled at her.
AN: The next update will be quick and have more Tom (je le promet)! Please review, fellow Tomione addicts, and if you have any good TRHG fics to rec don't be selfish...share! I'm always looking for a good (and if I'm lucky, fuckhawt) fiction. Thanks for reading!