"Dying is a Delicate Moment"
A fanfic by Agara
"Kill me. Kill me if you ever loved me."
And he kills her.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN : WICKED GAME
Song : Wicked Game by Chris Isaak
PART I : THE PLAN
As she got closer to the end of the passageway, she put her hand in front of her eyes trying to shield herself. She came across the thin wood of the twin painting and pushed it. She stumbled out. Hermione gaze was on the ground, she recognized Hogwarts' stone floor, she rose her head and saw chaos.
She was back. She made it.
Screams were resonating through the devastated hallways. She could hear the cries of pain, smell flesh and blood. Flashes of colours were cast. Green, red, purple were mixing up for her to witness the most horrid shade she ever saw.
She was back. She made it.
She heard Harry's voice calling for her.
Her vision became blurry by the tears pooling in her eyes. A little chuckle escaped her mouth.
She cast a reducto towards the brick wall separating them. She finally cast the spell she should have cast a year ago. Once the smoke dissipated, she finally saw Harry's face. She ran in his arms and clutched at him.
She opened her hand and put the glasses back on his face. Hermione wanted to talk more, hug him more, but Harry interrupted her to go find Ron.
Harry grabbed her hand and they began running into the chaos. Hermione spotted Ron fighting alongside his brother George not far from them. She pointed at them for Harry to notice.
They got closer. Hermione took Ron in her arms. She heard the question George just asked her, yet she didn't know how to answer. She looked at him and opened her mouth. As the words escaped her lips, the remaining twin fell on the floor.
George went to Fred's body whereas the trio kept running towards the Great Hall. Harry pushed the thick french door open. As soon as she stepped inside, a green light illuminated the room and hit Harry right in the chest. He fell on the floor. Dead.
Her eyes looked for where the spell came from. Here he was, standing proud and tall. Tom Riddle. Not Voldemort, but Tom Riddle.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing. She must have changed something. She took her wand out of her holster - GH - and pointed it towards him. Behind Riddle, she recognized Antonin Dolohov, the only one not wearing a mask.
His eyes opened in surprise and he called her last name, the only one he knew : Hortense.
Another Death Eater turned around at the name and took off his mask.
"Kiddo ?!"
OoOoOo
13.06.1943 :
- 12 hours earlier -
She woke up startled.
"Wake up !" Belone shouted at her while throwing pillows at her face.
Hermione slowly opened her eyes, not completely aware yet of what today was. As she stared at the green canopy, she smiled.
Tonight, Hermione, you're going home.
She hopped on the ground, flipped Belone off with a smirk and went straight to the bathroom. For the last couple of weeks, every time she took a step inside this bathroom she felt a shiver running down her spine. But today she didn't care because tonight she was going home.
The Great Hall was fully packed with chatting students. She spotted her friend arguing with a fellow Slytherin. Hermione walked towards him. As she arrived at his level, she stole the toast he was holding and sat in the middle of them.
"Morning." She smiled.
"Are you alright Grace ?" Isodor asked her.
"Well, I'm not." Pollux pouted. "She stole my fucking toast. Since when do you even eat ? One thing kiddo, Pollux doesn't share food."
She laughed carefreely. The lads around her were all looking at her strangely and Tom was puzzled.
"Oh you know the bird I was telling you about last night ?" Pollux caught her attention. "Well, I sha…"
Cole shoved him in the ribs. "You're talking to a lady here Pollux."
Hermione laughed again. "Thanks Cole. But the real question here is : Was it better than… you know… the last time ?"
Cole burst into laughter, knowing exactly what she was referencing to.
"Shut up." Pollux replied. "You promised not to talk about it again."
"What happened the last time ?" Isodor interrupted.
"Well, let me tell you all about it." Cole smiled.
"Shut it." Pollux cut him.
As the three Slytherin started bickering, Hermione softly smiled.
You're going to miss them.
Especially this little prick.
OoOoOo
29.05.1943 :
"Here's to you Grace." She declared.
No one talked, no one moved. Except for Tom and his glass in the air. She drank her glass in one go, shoved it in Tom's hand.
"I hope you got what you wanted." She harshly whispered to him before passing past him towards her dorm.
She could hear her name coming from some of the lads' mouth. But one voice exceeded the others. "Grace !" Pollux was calling behind her. "Wait ! Let me explain. Grace !"
She arrived at the bottom of the girls' stairs and turned around to face him.
"Don't." She coldly said.
He was looking at her, not knowing what to do or say. She looked up and down. "You're just like them." She concluded before going up the stairs, leaving him alone.
OoOoOo
13.06.1943 :
- 10 hours earlier -
"Hurry up kiddo. You'll be late and you've got a class with Dumbledore." Pollux told her as they walked down the corridors.
"Aren't you going to be late Pollux ?" She smiled at him.
"I've got a class right next to you."
"Actually we don't." Cole interrupted. "We're in the dungeons and we're definitely going to be late."
Hermione could see from afar the students going inside the classroom and Dumbledore greeting them at the entrance.
"Yeah, we should probably go to the dungeons." Pollux concluded. "See you after ?"
You're going home tonight Hermione.
You don't know if you'll see him.
Smile at him and say yes.
"Sure Pollux." She smiled.
She walked past her transfiguration teacher.
"Miss Hortense." He greeted her. She stopped in her tracks to face him.
"Professor." She replied with a fake smile.
They were glaring at each other like nothing had happened but both aware of the lack of respect between them.
She walked past him and settle next to Belone. The professor stood behind his desk.
"I know it is the end of the year and you are all excited for holidays that is why today I have prepared you something a little different. Please keep an open mind."
As he said those last words, his gaze fell upon her.
As if...
The classes began, she took her quill and parchment and doodled. She got lost in her thoughts.
OoOoOo
29.05.1943 :
Her roommates had come back to the dorm an hour prior and the common room downstairs was surely empty.
She laid awake in her bed, the curtains drawn around her. She thought about what had just happened.
She had considered every possibility, and someone seeing this scar was one of them.
She had chosen a way to transform the scar into something else.
She had selected the day she would scarify her arm, once she knew she had to.
However, she had not planned Pollux. How she would become friends with him and his reaction.
Hermione heard glass shattering downstairs. She got up her bed, put some shoes on and went downstairs.
The common room was gloomy and a dark figure was sat in front of the chimney, his back against the couch. She put one foot first then the other and approached it slowly. She walked upon shattered glass.
"F-fuck off." She recognized Pollux drunk voice.
She continued and stood in front of the chimney facing him. He had his hair stuck to his forehead and his shirt torn. He rose his head. His left eye was swollen and purple and his right hand bloodied. He was sitting in the middle of empty bottles and broken glass.
"G-Grace ?"
"You're pathetic Pollux." She simply stated. Hermione turned around to go back to her dorm.
"Wait !" He called after her. He pushed on his hand to get up and hissed as the glass broke through his skin. She exhaled and helped him settle on the couch.
"You're a mess." She looked at him.
"I-I don't ev-even underst-stand why you're mad. I did nothing !" He mumbled laughing a little.
"That's the thing Pollux. You did nothing. You didn't stand up for me. You didn't even fucking say a word for me Pollux." She rose her voice.
"I did n-nothing ?!" Pollux pointed at his black eye. "Does it l-look like nothing to y-you ?"
"I can't do this." Hermione concluded. She turned around one more time and took a few steps towards the stairs.
"Don't leave. Don't leave me." His voice seemed to belong to a child, a scared and lonely child. She turned her head and saw his glassy eyes. "Not you too." He whispered.
"If everybody is leaving you Pollux, maybe you should question yourself." She spat then left.
OoOoOoO
13.06.1943 :
A flashing pain got her out of her thoughts. She felt as if her head was about to explode. She had never experienced that kind of headache before. She looked at Dumbledore. Her chair creaked as she stood up. The room went silent.
"Excuse me professor." She said. "May I go to the infirmary please ?"
"Miss Hortense, this class is important." Dumbledore answered.
"I have a headache professor."
He kept looking at her.
"I need to go." She took her bag and left the classroom.
She walked a couple of minutes and her headache faded away.
He hadn't tried since last time.
Why now ?
Hermione went outside and stood in front of the clock. It was almost twelve.
You should go see Abe.
Say your goodbyes.
13.06.1943 :
- 7 hours earlier -
Tom entered the Great Hall for lunch and sat in the middle of the lads. Antonin was about to sit at his right, like at every meal but Tom stopped him.
"Don't Dolohov." He told him.
"What ?" The boy asked confused.
Tom didn't bother answering. "Parkinson." He called instead. "Care to join us ?"
The latter nodded and took Dolohov's place.
"Has anyone seen Grace since Transfiguration ?" Thorus asked. No one answered.
"Any plans for the holidays Parkinson ?" Tom casually asked.
"There is the World Cup this summer and I'm doing an internship with my father."
Good to know.
The desserts disappeared and they all rose up. Tom nodded at Parkinson then left the room followed by the lads. Antonin grabbed his right arm. "Why did you do that ?"
"A Parkinson in our ranks wouldn't be so bad, wouldn't it Antonin ?" Tom answered.
"Are you sure you can trust him ?"
"If I offer him the right things, yes." Tom smirked.
OoOoOo
29.05.1943 :
"I hope you got what you wanted." She harshly whispered to him before passing past him towards her dorm.
Tom took a sip of his drink. The lads were all tensed and Pollux went after Grace.
"We fucked up guys." Thorus said.
"How ? Now we know the truth, we can all move on." Abraxas stated.
"It still doesn't add up." Antonin whispered in Tom's ears.
No it doesn't.
"Who would do that ?" Edmund seemed disgusted. "It's messed up."
"It was repulsing." Antonin added. "I understand why she hid it." He sneered.
"Stop it Antonin. It's not funny."
"Come one Avery, it's even funnier. The all scene ? Cheering to herself, showing all of her scars. A little dramatic don't you think ?"
"Shut up Dolohov." Cole warned him in a menacing voice.
Tom turned around to witness the altercation between Grace and Pollux. She stormed upstairs and Pollux turned around and joined them. He took Cole's drink and finished it.
"I fucked up." He stated.
"We all fucked up." Isodor completed.
"She is mad at me."
Cassandre, passing behind the group, snickered. Pollux turned around.
"Isn't she just mad ?" The youngest Parkinson joked.
"Shut up." His brother barked.
"Like you just did ? When she clearly needed someone to stand up for her ? What a good friend you are." He taunted
His big brother grabbed him by the collar and shoved him against the nearest wall. "I swear Cassandre, I'm going to hit you."
"At least you would do something."
His right fist moved from his own accord and connected with his brother's jaw. Cole stepped in between to prevent them from fighting but Cassandre shoved him aside and tackled his older brother to the ground, punching him in the left eye. A circle formed around them, Tom watched amused as he kept drinking his beverage. He witnessed Pollux getting the upper hand and losing all control. Tom wondered if it was due to the alcohol or the resentment he had for his brother.
Cole took Pollux by his shoulders and shoved him against a wall. "Stop !" He yelled. "Look at you Pollux ! Look at him !" He pointed towards Cassandre, resting on the floor, all bloodied. His nose was broken, one eye totally closed and bruised and a split lip.
Cassandre wiped the blood from his mouth. "Don't bother Cole. Not going to change anything. He just got what he wanted. Isn't it right Pol ? Always the attention seeker." He sneered and rose up. "Look at you Pol. I said bad words about her, you did nothing. I said bad words about you.." He chuckled. "Well, look at me. You don't care about anyone but yourself Pollux. Always the selfish bastard. So think about it Pollux, the only person who genuinely cares about you, except for Cole maybe, is probably crying in her bed at the moment. She finally realised who you really are. Just like I did. And she will end up leaving you. Just like I did. Just like everyone will."
13.06.1943 :
- 5 hours earlier -
Abe put a cup of tea on the counter in front of her.
"Are you going to stay here all afternoon ?" He asked her while cleaning glasses. "I know you've just took your OWLs, but don't you still have classes ? By the way, when it will be official that you passed them, I'm taking you out to celebrate."
"First, I'm paying to be here."
"No you're not" He cut her grinning.
"Well I could if you'd let me." Hermione chuckled. "Secondly, you can only take me out if there is a bottle of firewhiskey." She stayed silent for a bit. "Do you want me to leave Abe ?" She genuinely asked.
"Nah. I'd be bored if you weren't here. You're my saving Grace."
He had already told you that before.
But when ?
"And stop drinking for Merlin's sake or you're going to end up like me." Abe smirked.
"Would that really be a bad thing ?"
Abe rolled his eyes, but Hermione could see that he was touched by what she had just said.
You're going to miss him so much Hermione.
She kept looking at him. She wanted to thank him. Thank him for having been here for her, for accepting her since day one when she was nothing but a stranger to everyone, for being her anchor in this timeline.
"So, what are you up to this summer ?" He asked.
"Well, I was planning to spend time with my grandmother." She lied. "And the French Ministry gave me tickets for the World Cup. So I guess I'm going to see some Quidditch this summer."
"If you have some time between game, you could always stop by and grab a drink." He almost casually said.
"Of course I'd come Abe." Hermione tried to smile at him in the most honest way possible.
"But you will have to pay though. If I keep giving you free drinks, I'd go bankrupt. Bring Cole and Pollux with you. By the way, how is Parkinson ? I have seen him since the last time."
"He's fine. Still a little shit, but he's fine." She chuckled.
Abe stared a her.
"What ?" She asked.
"I'm just glad you're friends again..."
OoOoOo
08.06.1943 :
Hermione had sneaked out of the common room. She pulled the marauder's map out of her purse and whispered 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good'.
Since the attack in January, all students were forbidden to go to Hogsmeade. Going out at night was the only solution for Hermione to see Abe.
She arrived at the pub and sat down at her usual stool.
"Hiya Grace." Abe greeted her. "What can I get you ?"
"Do you really need to ask ?"
He smiled and poured her usual. He put the glass in front of her and seemed to hesitate to talk. He inhaled and finally spoke up. "So, how's Po.."
"Please Abe." She cut him.
"Alright." He dropped the subject. "Are you done with your OWLs ?"
"Took my last one this afternoon. Cheers to that."
He grabbed a shot glass, poured a limpid liquid and pushed it towards Hermione. She took it, winked and drank it.
"I'm sure you're going to pass them. You're way too smart." The youngest Dumbledore smiled.
"Afterall, I am the brightest witch of my age." Hermione said sarcastically.
The pub was not packed but some usual customers were sat at the back. While checking that everyone had their glasses filled, he kept talking to Hermione.
The door opened loudly and Hermione turned her head towards it to see who just entered. As she saw Pollux walking towards the bar and sitting two chairs away from her, she tensed.
"Evening Parkinson." Abe told him while giving him his usual firewhiskey.
"How are you doing Abe ?" The Slytherin asked.
"Good, good. Woodcroft's not with you tonight ?"
"Nah. He has a date. I hope he'll get stood up." He chuckled.
Hermione rolled her eyes. She was mad at herself for wanting to chuckle with him. She pursed her lips and began to play with her signet ring. Abe was going back and forth between the two, chatting and pouring alcohol.
Every time he spoke with Hermione, Pollux snorted.
Every time he spoke with Pollux, Hermione rolled her eyes.
Abruptly he stopped. The two students looked at him.
"This is ridiculous." Abe stated. "You are both being ridiculous. Talk to each other for Merlin's sake."
"I don't want to talk to him." She replied like a petulant child. "And stop giving him drinks Abe, he is going to end up wasted."
"Oh you're talking to me now ?" Pollux intervened.
She turned her head. "I'm talking to Abe."
Pollux cocked an eyebrow.
"Fuck you." She spat.
"So articulate Hortense." He sneered.
"Well Parkison, talk to me in two more drinks and we'll see who is articulate."
"Fuck you !"
"No, fuck you."
"Stop !" Abelforth almost yelled. "Out. Now."
She faced Pollux and gave him a winning smile.
"No no Grace. You too. The both of you. Out. Now."
"But I was there first." She complained.
"You're both acting like children, you can come back in once you've grown up."
On this, he pointed his finger towards the door. "Out. Now." He repeated one last time.
Hermione reluctantly stood up and went outside. Pollux joined her a couple of seconds later and instantly lit up a cigarette.
They both stood outside, feet away from each other, in complete silence.
"I can't believe you're talking to them." Pollux finally said.
Hermione turned her head, he was not looking at her. His gaze was focused on a bench not far from them.
"They did the exact same thing as I did. And yet you're talking to them." He kept going.
"That's where you're wrong Pollux." She snorted.
He turned around and took a step forward.
"Oh yes it is different." He snickered. "They stopped talking to you weeks before your birthday because of the rumours, they almost avoided you. I stayed."
"You stayed because you thought the rumours were fake Pollux, not because you didn't care about them."
"They were fake !"
"It doesn't matter Pollux ! And what if they were true ?"
"But they were not." He cut her.
She took a step forward too, took the cigarette he was holding in his right hand and threw it on the ground.
"What if they were true Pollux ?" She asked again.
He looked at her. His jaw was tensed and his eyes were cold. It was the first time she had seen him this serious.
"Answer the fucking question Pollux."
"I would have avoided you. At least in front of people. Maybe I would have talked to you a bit when we would have been alone. Once I would have graduated and taken the place as the official heir to Parkinson's family, I would have stopped talking to you. That's my fucking answer."
Hermione swallowed as she felt her heart breaking slowly in her chest. Even if she wanted to say something back, she couldn't. She had a lump in her throat.
"And your precious lads ?" Pollux spat. "They would have done the same. Because we are all raised the same. We are taught since the day we are born that we are above everyone else. The only people we see while growing up are other purebloods and their parents, teaching them the exact same thing. My father taught me that, and I instilled that to Cassandre. So what did you think Hortense ? Yes I fucked up. But once I knew for sure that the rumours were fake, I stood up for you. And your lads ? They watched me.
So, why are you talking to them but not to me ?"
"Because you were my friend Pollux !" She yelled, her voice breaking.
Pollux's eyes widened.
"It shouldn't have mattered. Mudblood, Half-Blood, Pureblood. It's all the fucking same ! I thought you cared about me for me not for my blood."
She covered her eyes with her hands. "I showed my scars that night. They are fucking haunting me, especially this one. And you just stood there, eager to see what really was written on my skin."
She put her hands down and looked right at him. She pulled her sleeves up and exposed it.
"Written on my skin. Do you even understand what it fucking means ? Do you realise that someone fucking carved my arm ? You shouldn't have even cared about what's written. You should have only cared about the fact that someone did that to me."
She swallowed. "So don't talk to me about your education. It is just an excuse for your behaviour. You are old enough to think for yourself Pollux. You can make your own mind, make your own decision."
He let out a humourless laugh. "I've come to realise that no I can't make my own decision ! You're reproaching me a thing I can't change anymore. Say that to my fucking parents Grace and the fucking society. Blame them for the things they taught me. This is my only truth. It is the only thing I know. Maybe your parents have given you the perfect education of tolerance and understanding, but I fucking didn't."
She looked at him one last time then turned around and left.
"Where you're going ? We're not done." He yelled behind her.
She turned around and kept walking backward. "I am done Pollux. With this nonsense, with this conversation, with this friendship, with you." She turned once again and flipped him off.
She heard him laugh. A real laugh this time. She spun around.
"Are you laughing at me ?" She asked offended.
This sentence just made him laugh more.
"That was so dramatic." He managed to say between two laughs.
"You're kidding me right ?"
"I'm done with this conversation, with this friendship, with you." He imitated her.
"I don't sound like that !"
"I don't sound like that !"
A laugh escaped her lips. She put her hand on her mouth.
"See ? You can't be mad at me." He said.
"I can and I am. And you know what ? Let's be a little bit more dramatic. I'm leaving. And fuck you."
She walked back towards the castle.
"You can't walk away from our friendship." He shouted as she got farther away.
"Watch me !" She yelled back.
"You can't because, because. Hm… I still owe you a bottle !"
She turned around and kept walking backward, just as she did before.
"Well you… what ?!" She stopped. He was the one walking towards her.
"The first time we met, in the bathroom, you paid for all the drinks."
"It wasn't my money. I made a bet with the lads during the quidditch tryouts. I bet on you, you made it, I won the money. So we're even."
"Then ... you can't walk from our friendship because … because you never showed up to one of my Quidditch games !" He arrived in front of her.
"It doesn't make sense !" She laughed, tears in her eyes.
"We don't make sense ! Since the beginning we don't make sense, we fucking met in the men's bathroom while I was taking a leak."
He was wrong. In this past, in this era, nothing made sense but this friendship.
Pollux put both of his hands on her shoulders. She didn't flinch.
"I am sorry Grace. I am arsehole, I use my education as an excuse for my shitty behaviour. I should have stood up for you from the beginning. I should have asked you how you were. By the way, how are you ?" He asked, chuckling. "Hey hey, don't cry." He wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I shouldn't have been jealous of you talking to the lads. I should have manned up and apologized. You're my best mate."
A silence settled between them. They were still in the same position, Pollux towering over her, his hands on her shoulders.
"Are you done then ?" He asked insecure "Are you done with me ?"
Hermione kept looking at him. She was taken aback by the vulnerability Pollux had just shown. She pursed her lips to fight back a small smile.
"You ruined my dramatic exit." She finally said.
He laughed.
And just like that, she had forgiven him. It was simple, almost too simple. Maybe if she had not planned to go back, maybe it wouldn't have been this simple.
But it was like that. She couldn't be mad at him any longer.
He put his arm around her and they walked back to the Hogshead.
"Well you know there can't be two drama queens in this friendship kiddo. You've had your moment, let me have mine."
She grinned at him.
"We got kicked out of Abe's bar." Pollux stated. "He fucking kicked us out !"
"Right ?" She exaggerated. "He went too far."
They arrived at the front of the door, laughing. Pollux pushed it and let Hermione enter first.
"Grace ?" He said in a small voice. She turned around a small smile on her face. "Are we okay ?"
"We're more than okay Pollux."
"You're not going to leave me, right ?"
Hermione looked at him, well aware that in less than a week she would indeed leave him.
"Never Pollux."
OoOoOo
13.06.1943 :
- 3 hours earlier -
They ended up chatting for hours. The conversation flowed easily.
Hermione looked at the clock behind Abelforth : 5PM. She had to go.
As she looked at him, she realised that maybe she didn't want to go.
"I don't want to go." She muttered.
You thought you wanted but it doesn't feel right.
"No one asked you to go." Abe remarked. "You can always stay for dinner if you want. We have shepherd pie tonight."
Hermione scoffed. "I have an errand to run." She got off her stool.
"If you feel like skipping another day, you know where to find me." He winked at her. "Anyway, see you on Saturday night. And remember you can't come tonight."
"Like every second Wednesday of the month Abe." She replied with a smirk.
She took a couple of galleons out of her purse and put them on the counter. Abelforth frowned.
"What do you think you're doing ?" He scolded.
"Just feeling like it's time to pay my tab."
The bartender went to give her back the money but Hermione took three steps backwards towards the door.
She put her hand on the doorknob and opened the latter. Before she went out, she turned around one last time.
"Abe ?" She called.
"Hm ?"
"Thank you."
He looked at her puzzled, not fully understanding what she meant by that.
"For the tea." She completed while gulping.
For everything.
13.06.1943 :
- 2 hours earlier -
Tom was sat in front of the chimney.
"Tom." He heard Edmund approaching. "We have a problem."
Tom didn't raise his eyes from The Prince by Machiavelli. "Not tonight."
"Tom." He pressed.
Tom finally looked at the Slytherin.
"We have a problem." Edmund repeated with clenched teeth.
"Tell me then." The prefect grunted.
"Not here."
Tom understood that it was something serious. He closed his books, put it on the table and got up.
"Call the lads." He ordered.
Edmund nodded then left to gather the others. Tom left the common room after checking the time. He got to the fifth floor and entered their usual classroom. He waited for the lads to join him.
They all sat around the table.
"What is it ?" Tom finally asked.
Edmund took a parchment out of his robes and handed towards him. Tom took it. He recognized Edmund's father signature at the bottom of it. He read it.
"So what ?" Tom scolded after finishing it.
"The last paragraph." Edmund explained.
Tom looked back, casually leaning on his chair :
"...
Our dear friend had decided to clean up her new house. I believe she will find some things she would want to get rid off. I heard from her neighbour that she is looking for a new map. She had already thrown away her scale, according to her, it was off-balance.
We are still waiting for the car boot sale's date. You and your friends might be interested in."
"You are inviting us to a fucking car boot sale Rosier ?" Tom rose his voice.
"Isn't obvious ?" Edmund genuinely asked. "My father is talking about the government !"
"Come again ?" Tom stood straight in his chair and Rosier went by his side.
"Here." The Quidditch player pointed at the letter. "Our dear friend is Tuft. »
As the words left his mouth all the lads tensed.
"Her neighbour is Rockwood." He pressed.
"Rockwood ? The undersecretary ? Isn't he on her side ?" Tom asked.
"Only when it suits him." Dolohov intervened.
"Tom, listen to me." Edmund insisted. "The map is the minister of International Magical Cooperation."
"She wants to do what now ?" Isodor rose from his seat as he heard his father' job title.
"Sit down Avery." Tom reprimanded. "Continue Rosier."
"The scale is Antonin's dad. The current minister of Law Enforcement." Rosier finally finished.
A loud silence settled. No one moved. No one talked.
"So her new house is…" Edgard started but stopped as he realised what it meant.
"Her new house is the government." Tom completed. "She is doing a cabinet reshuffle."
The silence came back but for only a couple of seconds. Then chaos followed.
Tom took his head in his hands and stared at the letter on the hardwood table.
I'm fucked.
13.06.1943 :
- 1 hour earlier -
Hermione arrived in the common room. She sat on the couch. She laid comfortably. She fixed the painting in front of her, the one just above the chimney. She closed her eyes and inhaled.
OoOoOo
13.06.1943 :
"Kiddo ?!"
Hermione woke up with a start and took a large inspiration as if she had been drowning for the past hours.
She looked around her and found the common room. The Slytherin common room. Her breath was ragged and her hands were slightly shaking.
"I was back there." She mumbled still drowsy. "He-he died in front of me."
She closed her eyes for a minute and remembered her vivid dream. That what was she was going back to, she was planning on going back to hurt and death. She wanted to go back, but not to this.
Hermione had been stuck for a year, far from the raging war of her own timeline. She had been so focused on her plan that she didn't quite understand what it meant to go back home. To go back there.
Pollux touched her shoulder and she flinched. She remembered her dream. Pollux had been there and he had been on the wrong side of the war. He had stood next to him.
"Calm down Grace. It was only a nightmare." He reassured her while delicately taking her hand in his. Hermione looked at his watch.
You're already late.
"You look pale Grace." He stared at her. "Haven't seen you at dinner, you should eat something."
Hermione took this opportunity to excuse herself and leave. "I'm fine. I'm just gonna grab something to eat."
"Do you want me to come with you ?"
"No." She answered too quickly. He looked at her puzzled. "Go to bed Pollux, I'm fine."
They both stood up. Pollux smiled at her and turned around to reach his dorm but Hermione hugged him from behind.
"Hey kiddo, I'm not going anywhere." He laughed.
But you are Hermione.
"I'll see you tomorrow right ?" He asked a smile still on his lips.
"Right."
He winked at her and left. She stood in the common room alone.
It's time Hermione.
You're finally going home.
Hermione looked one last time at the Slytherin common room. She took a deep breath, opened the door and left. The ink became alive. She inspected it and headed towards the Headmaster's office.
Hermione knew that tonight Dippet was not at Hogwarts. Once a month, Dippet went to Hogsmeade to take a drink, at Abe's.
In front of the Gargoyle leading to the office, she remembered the front line of last week's newspaper showing the British/Irish league Quidditch results.
In her own timeline, Hermione had searched about the previous headmasters of Hogwarts. Each of them had a special way of choosing passwords. Dumbledore had chosen sweets' names. Dippet, however, had the habit to change it every month depending on the winner of the British/Irish league Quidditch.
That was why Hermione was standing in front of the Gargoyle, a slight smirk on her face.
"Puddlemere United." She declared.
The gargoyle did not move an inch.
"Puddlemere United." She repeated anxiously. "The Puddlemere United ?"
Fuck.
She knew Puddlemere had won, she had read the paper. She knew it was Puddlemere. Her heart rate quickened and her hand became clammy.
You know it's Puddlemere. Why isn't Puddlemere working ?
She looked around her, checked the map to make sure no one was coming her way.
"Puddlemere United !" Hermione tried once again.
Why isn't Puddlemere working ?
Think Hermione. Think.
She felt the blood pulsing in her temples from the anxiety. She didn't have all the time in the world. She had limited, months prior, the time of each task. She had already begun late and she was currently wasting time.
Suddenly something lit in her brain and a nervous chuckle escaped her lips.
You're a fucking idiot Hermione.
"Puddlemere Union." She stated.
The gargoyle moved and she climbed the stairs.
They changed the name to Puddlemere United in 1968.
Hermione looked at her watch, she had a little less than five minutes to find out what she was looking for.
As she walked in the office, she reminded herself to be quiet and not to cast any light. The paintings were all asleep.
Accio Harry's glasses.
Nothing happened. She waited. Nothing happened.
Accio Harry's glasses.
She listened carefully for any sign that the glasses were locked somewhere and were trying to get to her. She heard nothing.
Accio Harry's glasses.
Still nothing.
They're not here. Hermione, they're not here.
And you can't go home without them.
PART II : THE DEFAULT IN THE PLAN
"Fuck !" She whispered. She heard the paintings waking up. She quickly left the office and found herself in the empty corridor.
She paced in front of the door, her hands in her hair. She tried taking deep breaths to calm her. She stopped as she heard footsteps getting closer.
Take it.
You don't have time anymore. Take it.
She sought the phial in her purse and looked at the 5ml container. This phial was not as full as Harry's one. She knew it wouldn't last long. It was too soon to take it, but she had no choice. She downed it in one go.
As she looked at the empty Felix Felicis vial, she knew that luck was on her side and felt the need to go to the bathroom.
She felt at ease walking around not caring if she made any noises. She felt bold. She felt drunk on luck.
She walked slowly as she descended the three floors separating Dippet's office from where the Felix Felicis had decided to take her.
Hermione arrived in front of the second-floor girl's bathroom. The door opened in a small creaking. She entered.
There was a reason for her to choose the 13th of June to go back home.
"Hortense ?!"
She stayed still as she stared at Tom, bent over the lifeless body of Myrtle Warren. He stood up and shoved her against the wall. Tom put his wand underneath his chin.
She had prepared herself to see the corpse, yet she felt her stomach in knots.
"The fuck you are doing here ?" He barked. Tom's eyes were flying from Hermione to the door. Hermione, on the other hand, was staring at Myrtle's body.
Tom put more pressure on his wand. "Look at me." He snapped. "What are you doing here ?"
"I'm-I'm looking for something." She replied breathlessly.
There was a reason for her to choose the 13th of June to go back home. It was the only day she knew the chamber would be opened.
Tom put a hand in his hair and disheveled it. She had never seen him this way, startled, panicked and unprepared. Out of control. He had planned everything, she thought, but not her.
A mad laughed escaped from his mouth. "You are looking for something." He burst out laughing. "Let's find it together, shall we ?"
If Hermione had not been drunk on luck, she would have been terrified at this moment. Tom looked insane, spoke insane. He pulled her from the door and put his wand on her back.
"It's downstairs." He guffawed.
It wasn't supposed to happen like that Hermione.
Tom hissed and stairs appeared from the hole in the middle of the bathroom.
"Come on then !" Tom almost yelled.
Hermione stiffened and put one foot on the first stairs. She felt Tom's wand in her back urging her to go faster. She took one last glance at Myrtle's body before it disappeared after the notice-me-not charm Tom cast on it.
"You made one." She stated.
"You do not know what you are talking about." He spat, rushing her downstairs.
"You just created a Horcrux."
"The first thing you think about is me making a Horcrux and not me killing a fellow student ?" He scoffed.
"You were too curious about death not to kill someone one day."
They arrived downstairs. Hermione looked around her, it seemed cleaner than what she remembered her seventh-year. Tom pushed her and she almost fell on the ground. The slight tingle sensation she felt from the Felix Felicis had almost disappeared. She was almost out of luck when she desperately needed it.
They both arrived in front of a steel door. She remembered it. They had arrived. Tom hissed once again, and the door opened. Hermione felt as if her heart would burst out of her chest any minute. She slightly moved her left arm and felt the holster and her wand. She almost took it out but the remaining of the Felix Felicis told her not to. He pushed her inside the chamber. Hermione kept her eyes stuck on the ground.
"Look around Hortense !" He chuckled. "This is my legacy, the proof of my superiority !"
She refused to look.
"Look around !" He shouted. Hermione tensed even more. Tom took her by her shoulders and spun her around. She kept her eyes on the ground. Tom took her chin and rose her head. Hermione closed her eyes instinctively.
She couldn't see his face, but she could hear the silence that followed.
"You know." He stated under shock. "How ?" He put his wand back under her chin and repeated the question, this time while yelling.
She didn't answer.
He took a deep breath in order to calm himself. He didn't talk for a couple of seconds. His face went from uncontrollable anger to plain smugness.
"How are you going to find the painting if you do not open your eyes ?" She heard the smirk in his voice.
That's why you needed to keep the Felix Felicis Hermione.
She gulped as she realised how fucked she was. Tom took her reaction as a victory for him.
"Of course I knew it Hortense. Since Christmas. You are not as subtle as you think you are. I know all about it. All about your plan."
You doubt that.
"You can talk Hortense. You can even open your eyes. I won't call it." He smirked.
She slowly obeyed and looked at him. He looked proud. He couldn't show it to anyone, so he gloated at this moment.
"What are you talking about Riddle ?"
"Oh ! She talks !" Tom walked around her, his wand still pointed towards her. "What am I talking about ? Isn't it obvious ? I know what you want to do. It is quite clever actually." He stopped in front of her. "I almost believed you."
Hermione was a little confused.
"You lost it Riddle." She simply said. "All that dark magic you just did. It messed you up."
"Oh no Hortense. You played it well. The poor orphan, the only survivor of a terrible attack with no witness. No one to testify. How lucky you are."
Tom looked at her, she didn't say anything.
"Nothing to say ? Fine, stop me if I am wrong then. I had my doubts at first, like everyone I believe. Then at Christmas, more precisely at Slughorn's party, I was almost certain. But once again, you played well. In January, fighting, killing and saving all of those students. I could almost say it was your coup de Grace. You had me there, you had everyone. For a couple of days. But it didn't match Hortense. Dumbledore was right. It didn't match."
Hermione's eyes widened at the mention of Dumbledore.
"Oh yes, that is the reaction I expected." He gloated.
He heard ? He couldn't have.
"I hear a lot of interesting conversations, at night, when I do my rounds. This one was particularly captivating. You see, Dumbledore was sure that you had killed the man in the village. Slughorn, on the other hand, defended you. But, where it became interesting was when Dumbledore testified that you were the only one down there at his moment. Because he saw you. And you saw him with Grindelwald."
She clenched her teeth. Tom laughed and kept going.
"And I wondered why you did nothing back there. You told me you hated Dumbledore because he was doing nothing. Yet, you did the same. You did nothing."
"It doesn't mean anything." She replied.
"It means everything. It means that you were on his side from the beginning. It means that you came to Hogwarts with a purpose. And tonight, you are here to fulfill this goal, aren't you ? Find the painting, let your little friend come into Hogwarts thanks to a twin painting I believe Grindelwald owns. I always knew you had an agenda and I always told myself that I would figure something to do about you later. Now that I have all the answers, thanks to your silence, I think it is time to finish our little game, Hortense."
Everything went fast from that moment. She took three steps backward and withdrew her wand from her holster.
"Expelliarmus." Tom cast. Her wand flew to the other side of the room. He cast another one, Hermione fell back on the wet ground. She turned slightly her head behind her and noticed the basilisk's entrance. She turned back to look at him, panic in her eyes. Tom was towering over her, pointing his wand at her.
"Because we were playing a game. A game where I could have my answers. A game where I set the rules." He sent a diffindo and Hermione felt a little blood falling from the cut on her cheek.
"Rule n°1 : I always choose the situation." Hermione tried to get up but he cast a new expelliarmus and she felt once again on the ground.
"Rule n°2 : There are only two players." Tom smirked. "So do not worry, I will not call it."
Hermione tried to crawl towards her wand.
"Rule n°3 : You do not get to run from the situation." He continued. He flicked his wand and Hermione felt something holding her ankle. "Rule n° 4 : You do not get to play me." She felt the grip on her ankle becoming tighter and pulling her backward towards him. "Once again Grace, you have played good. But not good enough. Rule n°5 : I always win."
She rose her head to look him in the eyes and she saw the pure madness within. She knew what it was about to do and she cut it short.
"C5." She whispered panicked.
"What ?" He asked entirely frantic.
"C5." She repeated, louder this time.
"We are not playing chess."
Tom looked crazy, out of his mind. He had just killed a student, summoned a basilisk and split soul in half. However, Hermione knew it was the time.
"We always are, aren't we ?" Hermione difficulty got up and showed him both of her hands in a sign of peace.
You are stronger than he is Hermione.
At this moment something changed. The fear, marking her face a couple of seconds before, got replaced by confidence. Her body, fragile underneath the wand of Tom, straightened. Her head, lowered from the moment she stepped inside the chamber, snapped up and Hermione looked at him in the eyes.
"Before Christmas, we played and I chose to shift my Bishop to C5. I am sure you thought at that moment that I have made the wrong choice. I did, on purpose. Because if I had moved my Rook to E8. Three movements later, I would have taken your King. Checkmate." She continued.
She stopped talking and they stayed like that, in silence, facing one another. A smirk appeared on her face.
"I chose to lose that night." She took a step forward and slowly lowered her right hand. "But tonight Tom, I choose to win." She flicked her hand and her wand went flying in her hand.
Expelliarmus.
She caught his wand with her left hand. She saw fear in his eyes.
Impedimenta.
Tom fell backward, tried to get up but she cast another one.
"You told me to stop you if you were wrong. Let me stop you right there Tom. You are wrong and you were wrong all along." Hermione proclaimed.
Diffindo.
Tom got a matching scar on his cheek.
"You should thank me Tom." Hermione bragged. "Nice legacy you've got there." She mocked wiping the blood off her cheek.
The chamber was dark, only illuminated by a skylight above the water a couple of meters away from them. She flicked her eyes towards the walls : they were bare. Actually, the chamber was completely empty except for the statues leading to the basilisk's entrance.
Hermione swallowed and tried to keep a straight face.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. It's not there.
You need to stall until you find a solution.
"Tell me, what was your reaction when you found out you were a Gaunt ?" She continued.
His eyes opened wide. "How did you… ?" He started.
"You're not the only one who knows things." She interrupted him. "Did you like my little gifts ? They turned out to be useful." Hermione showed the room with her hands. "The first one, I didn't even have to leave it somewhere for you to find. You stole it from me. Remember ? Architectural Timeline of the Oldest Castle in Great Britain. It caught my eye and I bought it just for you the day of the attack."
Tom got up quickly but Hermione made him fall back, once again.
"The second one was harder. First, because it was not the entire book that I wanted to show you but only a chapter. So I had to get creative. I used ink."
She saw something in Tom's eyes. He understood what she was talking about : the book he had found in the library at his favourite spot with an ink stain on it.
"Ah, you know what I am talking about." She lightly chuckled.
"Why ?" He asked. "Unless you needed me to open the chamber..." He realised
There was a reason for her to choose the 13th of June to go back home. Hermione needed him. But he wasn't supposed to see her.
Hermione smirked. "Did you know that in order to get into the Ravenclaw's common room, you need to answer a riddle ? Like…" She pretended to search for one. "What gets broken without being held ?"
"W-what ?" She saw pure confusion on his face.
"What gets broken without being held Tom ?" She repeated, smirking.
"A promise." He whispered as his eyes widened even more. "H-how d-di…"
"T-Tom" She changed her voice, mimicking the one of a now-dead girl.
"It was you !" He accused and stood up quickly.
She let him.
"Of course it was me ! Isn't it amazing what polyjuice potion can do ? I needed to show you the entrance. You needed help to find it and I provided. "
"You did all of that to lead me here. Why ? Was it part of your plan ?" Tom became angry as he realised he had been played.
"Yes." She replied. "But it is not the one you think about. I am no spy Tom. I have no plans about getting anyone inside."
You were trying to get out.
"Which one is it then ?"
Stall Hermione. Stall.
"You talked about subtlety earlier." She changed the subject. "You said that I was not as subtle as I thought I was. But the thing is that I can teach you a thing or two about it."
She liked using his first name, reminding him of his commonness.
"I knew about the article Tom." She started. "The one you tried to hide from me at the beginning of the year. Asking Thorus to stop me from going to breakfast to watch the Quidditch tryouts. It was clever but not subtle."
Tom got angrier by the seconds. He took another step forward but she cast a small curse to make him stumble back.
"Didn't you think about the possibility of someone warning me before ? Because Slughorn did. He showed me the article the night before just so I wouldn't be shocked the next morning. You wanted me to find out in front of everyone so you could test your little theory. Why ? Oh, it was a part of your game." She smiled at him.
Tom squinted clenching his jaw. "Just tell me where you getting at." He barked.
"Oh no. I listened to you when you were saying nonsense about my supposed plan. Now it's your turn to listen." She shut him up.
"I helped you at Christmas." She snorted. "Once again, you needed help. And once again, I provided." She paused then started again. "I am nothing but deliberate when I break things."
He furrowed his eyebrows. Hermione watched amazed as Tom really looked for the answer.
"You don't remember ?" She asked him. "I wasn't drunk. I broke a glass on purpose to get you out of a conversation. A conversation you didn't want to be involved in."
Tom understood. He said nothing.
"I thought I was not that subtle when I did that, but apparently it turned out that I was. You then threw me under the bus but it is another issue." She finished
"I knew all about the little mission you gave Abraxas, about finding every piece of information about me. That is why it came as a surprise when you took that much interest in my scar while knowing that I am a half-blood."
"So yes, I was that subtle." Hermione smiled at him. "And yes Tom, we were playing a game. But I created it."
A silence settled.
It was supposed to be easy. She knew that on this day, on the 13th of June 1943, Tom Marvolo Riddle would open for the first time the Chamber of Secret, release the Basilisk, kill Myrtle Warren and create a Horcrux out of this murder.
She just had to take the Felix Felicis just before getting inside, after retrieving Harry's glasses from Dippet's office. This liquid luck would have guided her towards the paintings without getting trouble from Tom or the Basilisk.
But she had not found the glasses and she wanted to get them back to Harry. So instead of letting go of the ideal of bringing them back to Harry, she fucked up.
Her plan was structured for a reason : for everything to happen in the right order. She had limited the time of each task so she would enter the chamber at the right moment. She arrived too early.
She had messed up.
Your plan, The Plan has failed.
So here she was. Standing in front of Tom fucking Riddle. No painting in sight, no glasses around, no plan left, still stuck in time and no way to get back.
What now Hermione ?
"And the painting ?" She added. "It was a lure. There is no painting."
There is no painting.
"Why did you do all of that ?" Tom finally asked.
And at this moment, Hermione faced a choice.
A choice she had never really let herself put more thoughts into.
A choice she was desperate to avoid.
A choice she didn't want to make but had to in order to stall time until she could find another plan.
So she said the only thing she could say.
"Isn't it obvious Tom ? I want to join you." She replied.
Authors' Notes :
Hi guys, here's chapter 13 (which was supposed to be chapter 15 at the beginning and Ara still has difficulities calling it chapter 13).
This chapter is full of references from previous chapters, so here's a little list if you didn't remember :
- The bet Hermione is referencing to while arguing with Pollux is in chapter 4 (during Quidditch Tryouts)
- Pollux talks about their meeting (you can re-read it if you want in chapter 6)
- The Felix Felicis Hermione drinks was stolen in chapter 5
- The reference to C5 is related to chapter 8 ( & in this chapter Tom reacts to the move in his thoughts by saying "why did she do that ?")
- Hermione bought the book Architectural Timeline of the Oldest Castles of Great Britain in chapter 10
- The ink stain is in chapter 12
- The scene with Hermione as Myrtle Warren is in chapter 12
- The article Tom tried to hide from Hermione is mentionned in chapter 4
- Hermione broke a glass during Slughorn's Christmas Party in chapter 9
- In chapter 7, we learn that Tom had asked Abraxas to monitor Hermione
I hope we didn't forget something in this list !
If you're quite lost after this chapter do not worry :) The next one should be useful to get everything *wink wink*
PS : Brace yourself Tomione is coming
Lots of love,
- DDM's Managers