Since Hermione's first encounter with Tom Riddle, several days had gone by. Six, to be specific. She had run into Tom a couple of times while in the common room, but he had never addressed her presence.
Obviously, Hermione loved herself enough to ignore his presence as well.
The days had been going by in a blur, where she would wake up early, stay in the library for hours at a time researching with utmost devotion, have lunch at the Great Hall and resume her research until dinnertime rolled by. Often time skipping breakfast altogether. Hermione preferred throwing herself to work as she best as she could, determined to find a way back home.
She was also working on connecting timelines as best as she could by memory, so she could have reference to any future event. Although she rarely got the chance to do this, as there were too many unknown variables. Harry had never really given them more information than absolutely necessary. Frequently, though, she would study how to tune her personality to fit in. She could not afford to stick out, she could not afford to be found out.
Amidst her work load, two days ago Hermione made her first breakthrough in her work. She had found certain writing on time travel which may have been applicable to her situation.
According to a theoretical physicist called Everard Smith, time travel in its very essence is to change the past.
Hence, whether you time travel by 5 hours or 5 minutes, your action will have a consequence in the future.
But sometimes the consequences are just too subtle due to the rule of not being seen.
However, Everard Smith had produced this theory before the creation of a time turner, basing his work mostly around the logic that having travelled to the past means it has already happened.
In a different study, according to a theorist witch named Viola Shacklebolt, likely a relative of her friend Kingsley Shacklebolt, concluded that travelling too far back in time essentially creates a rip in the timeline.
This is specially the case when you time travel to a point before your birth, as it would lead to many complications; you are essentially erased from your old timeline, aka the future, as you travel to the past. Such long jumps in time erases the future, which in this case would be the time traveller's past.
According to this theory, Hermione would not be able to return to her rightful future, as it did not exist
Both the theories were somewhat interlinked, both concluding that due to the massive jump in time it was impossible that the traveller would be able to live without causing a massive rift in the timeline. The idea nauseated Hermione as it would essentially mean she would have no knowledge against Voldemort in case a certain incident triggered a new timeline.
Although both studies were completely theoretical with no proof whatsoever to back the claim up, it somewhat worried Hermione. Smith's theory was written even before the creation of the first time turner, whilst Shacklebolt's was theorised after the fact. While both of these theories somehow made the other one seem more valid, it did have that major difference where under Smith's claim the world would be split into different timelines that run together with small changes incorporating along the way against Shacklebolt's claim that the future had been completely paused, erased.
However, both theories were still viable. If Everard's theory turned out to have some merit it would mean Hermione had managed to accomplish nothing while living here.
Shacklebolt's theory gave her hope, though.
No matter how Hermione looked at it, the possible theories signified that Hermione had either been here in the past, but managed to accomplish nothing or this was Hermione's first time travelling through the loop. It was a possibly a new occurence, outside the timeloop. She had not failed Harry yet, she had not failed any of her friends yet.
Jotting the theories and reference books down on a piece of parchment, Hermione made a run towards her dormitory. This would be the first time she had an early night since arriving in Hogwarts, 1944. The first time she went to bed without having cried to herself at the lack of understanding on Time Travelling.
As the portrait pushed open, allowing Hermione entrance, she took notice of the attendance in the common room.
All six Slytherin students who had chosen to stay at Hogwarts over the holidays were present. Tom Riddle was sat on the silver seat just as he had been nearly a week prior. Phineas Black was currently engaged in a loud game of chess with another Slytherin male, perhaps a few years older than himself.
The remaining three students were gossiping by the loveseats, which were most likely transfigured couches as Hermione failed to recognise them. As soon as Hermione looked over to their direction, Alice Carrow turned to look at her and glared at her with disgust visible on her face. Hermione rolled her eyes, deciding to ignore the girl, she would just resign to her room for the night.
As she made way to cross the threshold, walking quietly, Tom Riddle's voice caught her attention, immediately silencing the gosspiers as they looked towards the two students. "Granger, it is a surprise seeing you in the common room this early," he said, his voice lighthearted. Shadows from the flames danced across his face, highlighting it attractively.
Hermione cleared her throat, "yes, I finished my research," she answered calmly. Riddle finally put his book down on a lap, a finger placed in between to bookmark the page. Riddle peered up at her with curious eyes.
"Studying already?" He asked, amused.
Hermione shrugged, "I did join after half the semester ended." If she answered halfheartedly perhaps he would lose interest in her.
"I will hope you pose some sort of academic rivalry this semester," he said with a small grin.
Hermione hummed, "I hope you can pose as an academic equal to me." She said snootily. Suck on that with your weird superiority complex.
Tom laughed, turning back to his book, without answering Hermione's obvious instigation. Hermione shrugged, clambering to her dorm room.
Tom Riddle was... weird. It wasn't that he was inherently interested in Hermione or even very curious about her life, he just enjoyed watching her in discomfort.
Some fucked up powerplay, Hermione scoffed as she banged her dorm room shut behind her.
She slid into bed, her legs sticking out while she struggled to kick her shoes off, she wondered what the coming days would entail.
Hermione did have an inkling that Voldemort had some sort of secret club, similar to Harry's DA. But she had no idea at what times they met, nor what they really did at school. She had heard of his many accomplishments afterwards though, from the time he worked at Borgin & Burkes til the time he retreated to Albania to search for Ravenclaw's diadem. He had retrieved from his search in Albania more learned in the Dark Arts than any other.
But what did he do at school? Perhaps build the inner Death Eater circle? The 14 original Death Eaters, was it? From the original 14 the only ones on the top of her head were Malfoy, Nott, Carrow, Lestrange, Crabbe, Goyle and Black. There may have been more but whether they were part of the original 14, Hermione did not know.
She wished she could be of more use in this time. If only she could understand this essence of time...
Hermione eventually fell asleep, trying to connect her past with her present, trying to link the two together, explain certain events and understand what may have triggered them.
•••
When Hermione awoke, she showered and dressed herself, ready to take on the day.
The other students would be returning from their Christmas vacations, the new school term would begin tomorrow.
Hermione was both excited and not. Excited to have something to focus on, rather than hyperfocusing on something that she may not ever find an answer to.
Hermione was however not excited in the slightest for Headmaster Dippet's second introduction of Hermione to the returning students. She wanted anything than to be put under the spotlight again, and she had full intention of asking Dippet to not tell anyone. If only the current crowd at Hogwarts would remain as quiet about the topic.
Hermione knew that none of the kids that had stayed were interested in her any longer, as no one would whisper nor stare in her presense any longer, which Hermione considered to be a great development. However amidst school gossip, it would only be natural that they would talk about Hermione's mysterious arrival, Dippet's speech of her 'hardship' and thus.
With the addition of Hermione's encounter with Alice Carrow, Carrow would likely tell all coming Slytherins of her heritage in order to estrange her. Though Hermione had a feeling it would not work. It had been a year since Tom Riddle opened the Chamber of Secrets, every Slytherin was sure to know of him as the true heir of Slytherin.
They would also know that Tom Riddle is a halfblood, as he has a last name that is unheard of in the higher pureblood societies. Even Granger was a distant pureblood family name. The Hugo-Granger's.
Huffing at her derailed train of thought, Hermione stepped foot into the Slytherin common room. In her time in the past, the common room was always so bare. But the longer she looked at it, the more enchanting it actually was.
The sea green light emitted from the Great Lake dancing across the walls. The green flames were somehow warmer than in other common rooms, likely enchanted to be so due to the low temperatures of the dungeons.
As Hermione stepped out the portrait hole, she came face to face with Phineas Black, curled up on the ground his face tear stricken and snotty.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked gently, kneeling down infront of the boy. Phineas shook his head no, heaving as he tried to stop the sobs. Hermione frowned, "what's wrong?"
Phineas turned around so Hermione could have a look of his back. The cloth on the back of his left shoulder were scorched, a big hole in the middle showing Phineas' scrawny arm, which was also burned, with little bruises showing up underneath, meaning it had been more than one spell. "Gryffindor s-seventh year," Phineas wailed.
Hermione saw red. Had house rivalry ever been this terrible? In the future had they ever taken house rivalry so seriously that they had hurt a student from a different house?
Aside from the time Hermione punched Draco Malfoy.
And the time Harry hexed Draco Malfoy.
And the time Ronald tried to make Draco Malfoy vomit slugs.
Okay perhaps they had, a little bit, but a seventh year picking on a first year was just wrong and so utterly cowardly for a 'Gryffindor' that prides themself on their courage. Hermione hugged Phineas, stroking his hair gently. "Do you know the name of the seventh year student?" She asked the boy sweetly.
Phineas was a good child, he was always running to the empty part of the Slytherin table and keeping Hermione company during meals. She adored him.
And Hermione knew for a fact that he was not a pureblood supremacist either, and neither would he grow up to become one. So what could have motivated burning a child this way?
Phineas shook his head softly, "I dunno her name, she's the Head Girl." He mumbled sheepishly, pulling away from Hermione with a reddened face.
Hermione sighed, "hold on for a minute, I'll do what I can and then take you to the Hospital Wing, alright?" She cooed softly at the sniffling boy, who nodded, trying to cease his tears. Hermione smiled.
The pair were sat on the floor, right in front of the Slytherin common room's portrait, talking to themselves as a pair of stormy grey eyes watched the scene unfold, a twisted smile set in face. "I wonder," the boy mumbled, eyes wide with sinister joy, "what will you do?"
•••
"-Miss Granger has been through much, having fought Grindelwald personally. I expect all of you to welcome her into Hogwarts to the best of your abilities." Dippet finished his little speech, removing his welcoming hand from Hermione's shoulder and gently nudging her towards the Slytherin table.
Hermione sighed. The Great Hall was filled to the brim. Ghosts were swooping through the tables, some conversing with older students. There was loud conversation reverberating through the walls, as speculation began amongst the students. It was lively.
She heard light clapping from the Slytherin table at the end of the announcement, which she responded to with a sheepish smile whilst she scurried off to the emptiest end of the table, not wanting to get into another argument.
To Hermione's delight, Phineas was currently engaged in a conversation with his friends, beaming. He no longer looked as if he were about to burst into tears. Tom Riddle was seated amongst a group of boys, ranging from the rowdy type to the sophisticated upper class students.
She could see the ridiculous number of girls swooning while looking at Tom Riddle, from various houses. She rolled her eyes, waiting for the food to appear.
"Hey, it's you! I thought I recognised you, Miss Granger." The silky voice of Abraxas Malfoy cut in, saying Hermione's name with more... emotion than anyone would have ever needed to. He slid into the seat opposite to Hermione.
Another guy, perhaps a couple of inches taller than Malfoy, accompanied him, sliding into the seat beside him. The boy had jet black hair, cut choppily. He had a rounder face than Malfoy, but in no means unattractive. His sparkling blue eyes added to his attractiveness. Hermione was intrigued by the jagged scar that ran down his eyebrows to his jaw
"Excuse him, he has no manners nor consideration of personal space whatsoever," the raven haired boy spoke, serving himself from the food that now appeared on the table.
Hermione laughed a little, "I deduced that the time I met him, which lasted five minutes," she jested. Malfoy pouted.
"Why are you two ganging up on me?" He whined, nudging the raven haired boy. "It's s'posed to be me and you against the world."
The boy rolled his eyes, ignoring him as he continued serving his food.
"I'm Hermione Granger, by the way-"
"We know, Dippet literally just announced it to the entire school," Malfoy smiled at her charmingly, though his words were anything but. Hermione sneered at him, turning to the other boy instead. Malfoy gasped (or perhaps that was a moan), "she's so hot when she ignores me," Malfoy whispered-yelled to the other boy, who gasped dramatically.
"How could you look at others when you have me, you dog?!" Theatrically cried the raven-head. Hermione's mouth went slack.
"Please, you know you're the only one for me you sexy little snake," Malfoy mock growled at the boy. Hermione cleared her throat.
The dark haired boy turned to look at Hermione, flashing a toothy grin at her, "I'm Theodore Nott," he held his hand out, winking at Malfoy as Hermione shook his hand as a greeting.
Malfoy faced Hermione, "and I, Lord Abraxas Malfoy." He said in a snooty voice. "It is pleasant seeing you, M'Lady." He winked, "but what brings a beautiful dame such as yourself to this part of the woods?"
Hermione scrunched her nose, "are you roleplaying in front of my food?" She asked, serving herself a slice of pie.
Nott laughed, smacking Malfoy on the back, "I agree with her on this one, 'Brax, my love. Please shut the fuck up while we eat, you're ruining my appetite."
Malfoy huffed, stubbornly shoving an entire chicken leg into his mouth. Hermione laughed, talking in between bites, "what year are you two in?"
Malfoy huffed, dramatically looking upwards, refusing to answer. Theodore just sniggered at his friend, looking at Hermione instead. "We're both sixth years too." He beamed. Hermione smiled, having a little company wouldn't hurt... plus if they were both Death Eaters then maybe?
"You're a sixth year too, we should all stick together like an amazing trio of friends!" Abraxas Malfoy chirped.
Hermione fake pondered over the blond's words, "that would be nice..." she admitted.
Abaraxas made a whooping noise, "we can have our own gang name and things like the three musketeers-"
"Seriously, 'Brax thats not necessa-"
"-or maybe Fabulous Three-"
"Abraxas Malfoy you really don-"
"- oh my God. The awesome threesome!"
Hermione shot a stupefy at the boy, glaring at him.
Theodore looked down at Abraxas Malfoy, who fell over his seat onto the ground with a loud thud. "Tried to tell you," Theodore stuck his tongue out, before turning back to his meal.