The first day of classes to mark the start of a new session loomed upon the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Hermione Granger spent her last free evening conversing with the heirs of the Malfoy and Nott families. Two of the most influential pureblood families, part of the sacred twenty-eight. The two boys had been exceptionally friendly and open-minded even.
From her seat with the two boys, Hermione could spot the cliques within the Slytherin students quite easily.
She assumed Theodore and Abraxas were on their own, seeing as how no one approached the pair. Glancing over to Tom Riddle's silver chair by the flames, she could see his own clique. They did nothing but hover around him, occasionally saying something he did not pay heed to.
"Bu' then Theo whacked me an-" Malfoy gushed, talking about his Quidditch experiences.
"For the last time, Malfoy, I did not whack you but if you don't shut up I can't promise I won't whack you," Theodore snapped, ears reddening.
Hermione smiled at the interaction, "the bludger was on the other side o'the court!" Abraxas argued heatedly.
"Now you're going to bully me for having bad eyesight? What are you, the sight keeper?" Theodore crossed his arms stubbornly.
"Alright boys you're both pretty now calm down," Hermione snapped. She had lost track of their argument long ago.
Abraxas pouted while Theodore smirked at the blond boy.
"Alright Hermione, enough about us, tell us more about yourself." Theodore spoke, looking suspiciously smug. Abraxas looked at the ground stubbornly, similar to a petulant child.
"I've led a boring life-" Hermione lied.
"Liar. Tell us about your run from Grindelwald or was it- oof." Theodore shut up quickly as Abraxas pinched him from the side. Abraxas widened his eyes, looking annoyed with the dark haired boy, who looked abashed, "sorry, I understand it would have been a traumatising experience." Hermione took in a sharp breath. She was greatful for Abraxas' interjection but she needed to talk about it for others to lose interest in her. Even if she were to befriend Abraxas and Theodore, the lurkers would leave.
"It's alright, Abraxas. I don't mind talking about it. I just don't think it would make much sense. Most of my time on the run I spent in such a fast pacing blur that even my memories are choppy." The two boys stared at her intently, their focus solely on Hermione. "We left in July, when a party was crashed by some of the Dark Lord's followers," stick closely to the truth, don't lie, "we spent months trying to find a weakness. And then we did. We got caught by some followers once-" Abraxas' jaw went taut.
"'Mione-" the blond boy began, concern etched on his face too sincerely for his friendship to be a lie. That one single look was the only consolation Hermione needed.
She shook her head, "it's alright. We got disciplined some but we eventually escaped. It's over now though." She flashed them a grin.
Theodore looked embarrassed, "I'm sorry, I should have been more understanding."
Hermione snorted in an unladylike manner, "it's quite alright. I would rather be asked directly than treated like a ticking bomb." She jested, her chest tightening at the genuineness in his voice.
Theodore nodded, still downcast, so Hermione continued, "I was tortured for being of a lower status by a pureblood, but other than that I got out without any serious injury."
"I'm sorry?" Abraxas spoke.
"I'm actually a half-blood." She said that word with distaste, "that makes me half a mud-blood I guess," she subconsciously itched her forearm, her vision losing focus.
Theodore grabbed her arm, pulling her robe up. The colour drained from his face as he saw the derogatory term etched onto her skin. The colour was still pink, never fully healing as Hermione kept itching it raw. Hermione swallowed, the moment of truth, I suppose.
"You're not any less for not being sacred twenty-eight or even a pureblood for that matter," Abraxas stroked her head. It was the first time Hermione heard him speak to clearly all evening, but she would be lying if she said she did not find his loopy accent cute. Theodore on the other hand looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
"Hermione," Theodore said in a small voice, "just know that blood purity is not even a real thing. It's just a nasty societal caste system."
Hermione nodded, thankful, but she excused herself soon after that, unwilling to attach herself to first generation Death Eaters as much as she could help it. She would not run from their friendship, but she would rather not make her departure more difficult than it need be.
It was around 9pm when she excused herself to bed, so naturally she had awoken before the rest too. Unnecessarily early, even.
By 5am Hermione was already showered and dressed, ready for the day.
She grabbed a book she had been reading and head to the common room, hoping to spend a couple of hours there until breakfast began. Imagine her surprise when, at 5am in the morning, Hermione walked into Tom Riddle staring at the flames in the common room.
"You are up early," he stated dryly, not bothering to look up at her. He was sat in the same silver seat as always. In fact, Hermione did not see anyone else ever seated there, even when the other seats were taken and the silver left empty.
"I could say the same for you," Hermione scoffed. "I just had an early night." She mumbled as she took one of the furthest seats from the fireplace, scowling to herself at the lack of lighting.
Tom shrugged, not looking up from the green flames. He seemed mesmerised by the way they danced.
Hence they found themselves in a comfortable silence. Or at least Hermione did as she cast a muffling charm around herself.
It was around 6:50, when Abraxas and Theodore came into the common room, arms interlinked while they walked with mock swagger, "morning, Tom." Abraxas greeted cheerfully.
Tom mumbled a half-hearted goodmorning back to Abraxas, now completely immersed within a book.
"G'morning, Hermione." Abraxas grinned, conjuring two chairs across Hermione for himself and Theodore.
"Goodmorning," Theodore mumbled as he sat in front of Hermione, dropping his head onto her lap.
Hermione fumbled with the book she had been reading, a little bashful, but allowed to Theodore rest his head, "this bloke gave me the biggest headache. Would not shut up. I might die from it." He complained, punching Abraxas' thigh for emphasis.
"He didn't know who Bethany Bishop is!" Malfoy pouted, "she's just the hottest witch alive 's hardly my fault for wanting to educate my best friend." He crossed his arms.
"All veela's are hot you stupid twat." Theodore snapped, "it's literally their thing." Hermione laughed.
"I think I might have a pepper-up potion that could help you Theo." She said as she fumbled around her robe pockets for her beaded bag. "Accio pepper-up potion," she muttered, waiting for the potion to fly to her outstretched palm.
"Whoa whas'at," Abraxas peered at her with doe eyes. Hermione waved her hand.
"Undetectable extension charm." She said, removing the stopper and handing the potion to Theodore, who straightened up and downed it in one gulp.
"I might fall in love with you," he said as he dropped his head back onto her lap. Hermione reddened, laughing it off awkwardly.
Tom Riddle just listened, smirking at his book.
•••
"What's on your routine first?" Hermione asked, frowning at her own.
"Transfiguration," the two boys spoke in unison.
"Oh, me too. Do you guys share the same subjects?" Hermione tried to get a glimpse of their routine as they walked towards the north tower. They was as packed as hers.
"'Cept Theo takes divination, says he's got a 'good inner eye'," Abraxas snorted.
"I do! I can predict when you'll die." Theodore said, grinning cheekily.
"Yeah? When would that be?" Abraxas asked.
"Eventually," he sniggered. "It's an easy grade. Not like Professor Craft can tell either."
Hermione groaned, "I respect all aspects of education, even those I do not have a penchant for. Except divination, it truly is a load of horseshit."
Abraxas nodded in agreement, just as they reached the doorstep of Albus Dumbledore's transfiguration class.
The class was already bustling, lively with happy Gryffindor students, most conversing with their head of house.
The Slytherins were pushed to the far back end of the room. Most were quietly chatting amongst themselves. "To the back," Abraxas instructed. Hermione followed behind the duo, who had linked their arms somewhere along the walk to the transfiguration classroom. As she passed between desks, she caught sight of Tom Riddle who was slouching in his seat, hands crossed across his chest with absolutely no material in front of him.
Hermione smirked, she'd show him exactly how competant she was. Abraxas slid into a seat, whilst Theodore tugged the end of her sleeve, "go on," he urged. The two sat on either side of Hermione. She couldn't help the redness in her face, honestly.
The noise only took a few minutes longer to neutralise completely.
"Okay children. Since it is the first day of the new term, let us begin with an interesting topic." The Gryffindors perked up in their seats, obviously keen to learn.
"So far, we have completed transformation and switching. I am hoping we may be able to complete vanishment and conjuration this session." He blabbed.
"Today, we will begin with vanishment. Who can tell me what vanishment is?" Hermione's hand shot up in the air, along with two other students.
Dumbledore looked at Hermione, "yes, Miss Spinner?" He smiled kindly at one of the girls a few tables away from Hermione.
"Vanishment," she gestured animatedly with her hands, "is a branch of transfiguration that focuses on the removal of an existing object." She finished with a smile.
"Thank you, five points to Gryffindor. Now, as Miss Spinner said, vanishment is indeed the complete removal of a physical object, wherein it will no longer remain tangible. We'll begin with the spell 'evanesco', just point your wand in a slashing motion and chant the required incantation. Who wants to demonstrate for the class?" He asked.
Hermione raised her hand again. This time, being the only one. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at her. "Yes Miss Granger." He said, levitating a lamp and sending it to her direction. Hermione raised her own wand, slashing it downwards as she pointed to the lamp.
"Evanesco," she muttered, she had already performed this spell before. She watched as the lamp shrivelled into cinders and disperse into nothingness with ease.
"Well done," Dumbledore said with a slack face, "one point to Slytherin." Hermione's mouth went slack in distaste.
Theodore patted her arm with a sigh, "it's alright, Hermione." He mumbled, pulling her back onto her seat as Dumbledore picked a Gryffindor student, Hermione didn't catch their name, to demonstrate the spell once more.
"Excellent! Five points to Gryffindor." Dumbledore laughed heartily as the last bit of the lamp faded into nonexistence.
"Son of a bitch." Hermione scowled. Abraxas sniggered from beside her.
"You should've seen how he treated Tom when we first started at Hogwarts. We jus' don't try anymore," Abraxas shrugged.
"Is that fair?" Hermione blubbered. Theodore sniggered from her side. Hermione disliked Albus Dumblefore for an arsenal of things, but she never assumed she would have to add pettiness to the list.
Abraxas winked at Hermione, "I could always let you answer questions in a private tutoring session."
"I will hex you so hard you will mever be able to procreate, Malfoy." Hermione snarled.
"We are literally soulmates," Theodore gushed.
Hermione turned to look at Theodore, peeved, "I don't have a soul actually." Abraxas cackled.
The trio completed transfiguration and potions for second period, which was covered by a substitute as Professor Slughorn had still not returned from his ingredient collection trip, before heading to the Great Hall for lunch.
The two boys sat side by side as Hermione took thr seat next to them, almost naturally. Theodore dropped his head onto Abraxas' shoulder, "I'm sleepy," he mumbled.
Abraxas rolled his eyes, "you keep a man awake for an entire night an' suddenly he can't function." Hermione chuckled, helping herself to some of the food placed in front of her.
Following lunchtime, the three friends finally went their separate ways for the day. Theodore had divination and Abraxas had a free period. Hermione on the other hand had ancient runes. So she went about on her own way after bidding her friends goodbye, stalking along the narrow corridor of Hogwarts.
"What class do you have?" Came Riddle's voice from behind Hermione. Hermione made a brisk turn, having noticed his cold presence but at the same time had been hoping he would ignore her.
"Ancient runes." She answered, best be curt and avoid stretching the conversation, she lectured herself.
"Would you care to join me then? I am headed in the same direction." Riddle had a charming smile set on his face. Hermione's left eye twitched in irritation, which did not pass Tom Riddle's keen gaze. His smile stretched further at the witches discomfort.
"Of course." She said, trying to sound chirpy. Tom took a stand next to Hermione, before prompting her.
"Shall we?" He smiled brightly, overjoyed at the obvious effort the witch put into behaving properly.
The pair walked side by side until they reached the doorway to the ancient runes classroom, "you first," a real charmer, Hermione thought dryly. She huffed, holding in her annoyance and instead walking in- nearly making a run for a table.
They were sharing this class with Hufflepuffs, so Hermione assumed they would be alright with sharing a seat.
Just as she went to sit beside a small mousy haired girl, Riddle spoke from behind her, "Hermione, you can come sit with me." Hermione could feel the eyes on her, most likely from the girls who admired Riddle.
Hermione suppressed a groan, along with her tears, as she begrudgingly trudged over to Tom Riddle's desk, placing her book bag down with more force than necessary.
"Woah there," Riddle chuckled as a loud thud resounded. He brought out parchment, a quill and ink from his own bookbag, placing them on the table as they waited for Professor Babbling to enter the classroom.
Hermione, not following Riddle's lead at all, brought out her own materials, including her copy of Spellman's Syllabary.
Professor Babbling cleared her throat, "alright kids..."
Hermione zoned out. Should I just let go of the incident with Phineas? She thought to herself, a bit distraught. As she half-heartedly scribbled notes down she could not help but wonder exactly how deep rooted inter house rivalry was.
She knew for a fact that it was supposed to be an all time low. Thanks to the rising star Tom Riddle, loved by all. But Brown's behavior was just as factual as it was that Tom Riddle was beloved by all. Hermione felt the anger bubble in her stomach.
"- Miss Granger could you tell us the difference between the Eihwaz and Ehwaz runes?" Professor Babbling called on, instantly breaking out of her reverie.
That particular question was a sore spot for Hermione, reminding her of the time she had lost a mark during her OWLs because of her switch up between the two runes. "Eihwaz means defence, whereas Ehwaz means partnership." She responded quickly, not wanting to babble on.
Professor Babbling cheerfully clapped her hands together, "wonderful, Miss Granger. Five points to Slytherin!"
•••
"Hermione!" Abraxas hugged her as a greeting.
"-'Brax can't breathe," she choked out, making Abraxas quickly drop her and move away bashfully. Hermione massaged her neck, "hey," she said weakly.
Theodore looked up from his book and grinned at her, "you want to head to dinner?" He asked the witch. Hermione shook her head.
"How about you two go ahead and I join you in a moment?" She pleaded.
Abraxas nodded, "alright, see you then 'Mione," he grabbed Theodore's wrist and pulled him off the couch despite Theodore's loud protesting. Hermione was glad that they weren't nosy.
She brandished her wand, looking over at the first year students huddled up in a corner of the Slytherin Common Room. Mumbling gibberish to herself, she turned around to exit the portrait hole.
Hermione walked far to the Ravenclaw Tower, wand in hand and a disillusionment charm cast over herself. She hoped to find Brown as soon as she left the Head Students' dormitory, just a bit farther from the Ravenclaw Tower.
As she turned a corner, she came face to face with Brown. Hermione waved ber wand to remove the disillusionment charm. "Hello," she greeted Brown with a frown.
Brown snarled, "what do you want?" She demanded. Hermione raised her wand.
"Don't worry, I'll be quick. Have you been bullying the first year Slytherins?" She asked politely. Although perhaps the show of wand may have come off as otherwise.
Brown scoffed, "it hardly matters. What will you do, cry to Slughorn about it?"
Hermione tightened her lips, raising her wand and pressing it into the side of Brown's neck. Hermione waited a few seconds, before letting her anger get the best of her and scorching the tip.
Brown hissed, pulling back and bringing out her own wand, "you bitch!" She yelled, raising her arm.
"Petrificus totalus," Hermione muttered.
Brown deflected the curse with ease, not thrown off by the direction of their confrontation, "stupefy!" She yelled. Hermione could see the small black burn mark on the side of her neck, satisfaction bubbled in her stomach.
"Protego. Avis, oppugno!" She let the canaries attack the girl, who swung her hands over her head in attempt to shoo them.
"Reducto!" She yelled desperately trying to protect her hair.
"Alarte ascendare!" In the split moment it took Brown to gather her bearings after the attack from the canaries, Hermione had already won. Brown floated up and hit the ceiling before Hermione let her fall down, with full force.
"How dare you." Hermione hissed, not bothering to hide her disgust for the witch who was now sprawled in front of Hermione's feet. "Go on, show me your wand arm. Let me see which hand you use to hurt children." She spat.
At Brown's stubborn quietness Hermione further angered, "what a fucking disgrace." She put her foot on her right shoulder, rubbing down. "To be a Gryffindor yet display such disgusting cowardice, to be so prideful yet so pathetic." Brown whimpered.
"Look at yourself, you don't even see what you did wrong-" Hermione spat.
"I won't touch them again," Brown promised, crying.
Hermione knelt down, grabbing a fistful of her hair to raise her head. She looked into the witches eyes. "Leave Phineas Black alone- in fact, leave all children alone. If i ever see you hurting another child I won't let you out this easy. You lousy bitch." Brown yelped, nodding aggressively. Hermione pressed the tip of her wand on Brown's forehead. "Obliviate."
And in the distance a grey-eyed boy laughed. He laughed so hard tears pooled in his eyes. He laughed until he slid onto the floor, before a passive look filtered onto his face.