They sat in amicable silence afterwards. Theodore and Abraxas had long brought their childish fight inside once they realised they had been caught (courtesy of Hermione's nearly perfected murderous glare). The boys had waddled in like a pair of guilt ridden penguins, staring holes into the ground as they apologised to Tom and Hermione.
Tom had been the one to offer the four of them dine together. If it were up to Hermione she would make them eat cold, bland food out in the snow. If only it were up to her. "So, er, what did you two buy?" Theodore began, cutting into his food as he made small talk to avoid the suffocating awkwardness that loomed over them.
Abraxas perked up, likely at the prospect of not having to shut up. "I needed a couple of books and then we got clothes for the Ball," Tom smiled charmingly, with Abraxas nodding along.
"Oh- oh yeah! Y'looked great in the dress, 'Mione-" Abraxas' words cut off cleanly with an oof as Hermione's foot made contact with his shin. "Oy!" He straightened, pulling his leg back as he snapped incredulously at Hermione, "wha' was tha' for?" Tears were brimming in the poor boys eyes. Theodore slowly turned away from the table, barely managing to stifle his laughter.
"Punishment," Hermione humphed, "and you turning away won't save you from it," she snapped, glaring at the direction of her black haired friend (not to be confused with the black haired psychopath on the other end of the table), stabbing a sausage on her plate with a fork. Theodore yelped, before turning back to face the trio.
"Sorry, 'Mione." Theodore mumbled guility.
Tom laughed, "'Mione? That's cute."
"Righ'! Y'should call her 'Mione too. 'S adorable!" Abraxas gushed. "A' first she hated it bu' I know she actually love's i' cause I know her, of course she knows ha'self bu' as her most adored confidant, I know her best," Abraxas nodded with absolute proud, before sticking a big piece of chicken into his mouth.
Hermione gaped at him, "do you ever think maybe what you're saying is too stupid, even for you?"
Abraxas shrugged, swallowing hard before he answered, "sometimes I do, Hermione."
Tom and Theodore laughed at the exchange, the former grinning at Hermione from ear to ear, "I just might take you up on that offer," he addressed Abraxas, "you do not mind, do you, 'Mione?" His eyes are literally laughing at me. They're looking at me and screaming har-har.
"Of course not," she bit out, "nicknames between friends are absolutely lovely," prompting a smile from the to-be-Dark-Lord.
"You two are plenty chummy, ey?" Abraxas scowled, "no matter how many friends you have, I will always be your best."
"Wow, Brax, we all know I am her best friend," Theodore stuck his tongue out, never quite having been one to back down from a potential argument.
"Well, Hermione has been of great help to my cause," wow. Way to be cryptic, Riddle. Be any more indiscreet and you might as well add "menacing Dark Lord" to your LinkedIn.
Theodore squirmed in his seat ever so slightly, "oh, I did not know you were involved in Tom's cause," he looked to Hermione as if asking, is this true? Were you forced? Hermione sighed, sitting up a bit straighter and offering the pair an apologetic smile, I'm sorry, Theodore. I am sorry if I am the one leading your familys to corruption. Yet, aside from the reason of her involvement, Hermione would be truthful in what she told her friends.
"I quite agree with Tom's perspective," she spoke nonchalantly, "he knows of my status yet offers me the highest level of respect a master may offer their vassal."
Abraxas watched Hermione closely, "wh-what have you guys been up to lately then?" He seemed nervously. Hermione did not ever think Tom would ever pass up an opportunity to recruit the heirs of such influential families, but she had not actually considered that the proposal would have been rejected.
Hermione slid to the edge of her seat, leaning forward to whisper without the possibility of anyone else listening in. "Currently we are investigating Grindelwald and his forces... in my experiences, I have gained much knowledge and insight of his... patterns," she looked towards the reactions of her friends, who looked quite baffled at her explanation.
"Grindelwald...? Do you have an informant, Hermione?" Theodore looked unconvinced, even Abraxas looked uncomfortable. Hermione's throat constricted.
"I do not. Just deduction ability and classified information I have... collected over the years. It is not known to the ministry currently and I do not wish to further entangle myself in this mess, so instead I am doing my best to be of help to Tom."
Before Theodore could protest to her involvement, Tom interjected himself into the conversation, "I understand this may seem dangerous to you two, but Grindelwald never planned on leaving the students alone in the first place. She helps me and in extension, the rest of the student body at Hogwarts. Besides, I would never let any harm befall Hermione, so rest assured. She works without any form of contact with the outside, just pure deduction ability as far as I am aware."
"What do you mean they never planned on leaving us alone?" Abraxas frowned, questioning the gravity behind Tom's words. Hermione understood his confusion, for as far as Hermione was aware, Hogwarts was the safest place to be. And Grindelwald most certainly did not infiltrate Hogwarts in the past. This came after the fact that as a time traveller, Hermione knew every major detail about the past. She should know every major detail. It would only be fair to assume that a break-in of the world's safest haven would have been one of those major details.
"Well, it seems that someone from Hogwarts is actively informing them of the ongoings here," Abraxas frowned, leaning back into his seat, "but it seems as if, for now, Grindelwald is solely focusing on Tom's Knights-"
"It may be due to the reason that you guys are already under a group, controlled by one. Grindelwald might be thinking that all he would have to do is overpower Tom," Theodore realised. Tom seemed please at the connection. Hermione bit her lips, only convenient that he omitted the fact that it was one of his Knights that leaked intel.
"Yes, but of course if it gets too dangerous I will fall back with my Knights. The last thing I shall resort to is submission, rather than violence," he shrugged. Of course the order of Knights are simply too weak as well...
Theodore and Abraxas looked between the pair, before Theodore slumped his shoulders in defeat.
"Tom, would it be alright if me and Theodore attended the next meeting?" Abraxas chimed in.
Hermione instantly cut in, unsure if she wanted her friends down this path, "if it is because you are worried for me, then don't bother. As far as Grindelwald goes even I know Tom would win against him. Unless you join to pledge to Tom, please do not burden yourselves for my sake," she spoke animatedly, wishing her friends would understand through gestures alone that Hermione really would be okay.
Theodore smiled softly at Hermione, "of course, 'Mione," he mumbled, before rising from his seat, "I have to go get a new suit for the Christmas Ball," he mumbled.
Abraxas eyes practically glittered, "you're coming then?" He asked joyously.
Theodore nodded, placing a loving hand over Hermione's head before walking away. Abraxas quickly ran after the boy, "okay wait for me!" He yelled as he caught up with the raven haired boy. Tom turned to look at Hermione, a smug smirk set on his face. Hermione swallowed at the unknown look.
"Is everything alright?" She questioned, wondering if she had gone too far just then.
Tom leaned in closer towards her, a glint in his eyes, "you continue to please me immensely," he whispered shortly.
Hermione's breath hitched as she processed his words, fighting down the blush that threatened to spread over her already rosy cheeks. If the redness in then had previously not been visible, the current effect Tom's words had on her would have worked like Christmas lights.
Tom got off his seat, offering his hand to Hermione. The pair walked side by side with their arms interlinked headed towards the Hogwarts castle.
The snow crunched under their shoes, sending pleasing goosebumps down Hermione's back. She pondered over Tom's words and their conversation in the pub, but could not quite bring herself to discuss it with him.
Immediately as the gates of Hogwarts came in sight, as if she could sense the bloodlust, she felt eyes staring holes into her back. She continued walking just as calmly. "Tom-"
"I know," Tom answered softly, looking just as unphased as he had a minute ago, "prepare to run, they might attack," Hermione did not answer, preparing to remove her wand from its holster should the occasion call for it.
As if the thought were an ominous eye, jinxing their plans, the first whisper of an incantation made its way to the pair. Tom pushed Hermione to the side, dodging to the other himself. Barely managing to hold herself upright, Hermione brought out her hand and directed it behind them, where the first spell had been cast from. She could sense the presence of others, hiding away. Tom was already engaged in a duel, with a wizard about twice their age. "Stupefy!" Tom cast.
But Hermione hardly had the chance to lay back and witness the greatest evil wizard duel, as another wizard stepped out from below the canopy of trees. Hermione raised her wand, she was ready for this. This is what I was on the run for, what I practiced with Remus for. "Bombarda!" Hermione yelled, sending her opponent off his feet despite his shield.
Though he had sustained no damage, as he got back up immediately, "a fiesty little minx, aren't ya," the old man winked, making Hermione spine tingle with disgust. "Diffindo!"
Hermione deflected the spell with a wave of her wand, "avis, oppugno!" She watched with a twisted smugness as the birds pecked at the mans skin, "glisseo," she mumbled as he raised his wand with the intention of killing her canaries. He fell over quite pitifully, growling.
"Ardeat!" He snapped finally, burning the birds to a crisp. "Ardere, secare!" Hermione cast a charm to deflect the first, but before she could cast another, the second spell his her on the thigh. Immediately, warm blood trickled down her fresh wound.
Hermione growled in response, "immobulus, obscuro!" Hermione yelled. The man stumbled redirected the first one, catching the second one to his chest directly. He stumbled over backwards, scratching at his face to remove the blindfolds. Hermione turned to the side to look at Tom. He had a small cut, right over his eyebrow. He seemed to be applying intense focus in the duel. "Episkey," Hermione whispered.
Tom nearly doubled back from surprise, eyes widening as the spell made contact with him. He reached up a hand to his forehead and swallowed, staring at Hermione. Hermione however did not have the leisure of returning his look. "Expelliarmus!" Grunted the man duelling Hermione.
"Protego totalus," Hermione muttered, the force of her shield making the mans curse bounce off and hit him square in the chest. Even so, before Hermione could soak in the her success before another wizard long with a witch stepped out into the clearing.
"Hermione, run!" Tom shot her a pointed glare.
Hermione swallowed nervously, "please, trust me." I am not sure if I can even trust myself, though.
"Incendio," the witch mumbled. Hermione hissed as the flames scorched her leg.
"Incarcerous!" Tom yelled, pointing at the witch with murder gleaming in his eyes. Hermione let her eyes travel behind him, surprised to find the man on the ground whimpering. "Rosset," Tom growled, charging directly at her. The witch raised her hands in mock surrender.
"My, my, Tom how wonderfully you've grown! Did we interrupt something?" She seemed to be teasing Tom. Hermione felt nauseated. Who is she, who is she, who is she. Her head spun with frustration.
"Cut the bullshit, Rosset. Tell me what you want and fuck off," Hermione blinked. That must have been the first time I have ever seen Tom swear.
"Won't you welcome us a little more kindly?" Rosset stomped her feet with her lips pouted petulantly. Tom growled in response.
"I will kill you with my bare hands, so do not tempt me," he snapped, walking over to Hermione with an odd sense of urgency in his step.
Hermione stumbled back in surprise as Tom took her hands into his, leaning in to ensure she was okay. "Are you alright? You can leave," he whispered.
Hermione gulped, fuck if I get punished for disobeying direct orders might as well disobey as many as I can, "please, don't worry," she whispered back.
"Rosset you better have a good explanation for this," Tom's voice was laced with poison, and despite knowing he wanted Hermione safe, she could not help but recoil when she heard him.
"We are way past formalities are we not, Tom? Besides, I am simply here to deliver a message," Rosset purred. The men behind her looked amused, laughing amongst themselves.
Hermione balled her fists in anger, anger at her inability to do anything at the moment, "tell me what it is you need to, then fuck off," Tom spat, tilting his head.
"My Lord would like you to know that your ranks have already been infiltrated. We know you might rebel, or will not take his proposals seriously, but he knows of your every move, Tom," she clicked her tongue sadly. Hermione wracked her brain, trying desperately to remember a Rosset, one that played any significant role whatsoever. Rosset was not a pureblood name, definately not sacred twenty-eight. What was Grindelwald up to? What had Grindelwald truly been up to in the past.
"And, pleasure to meet you, Hermione, I am Melissa Rosset, but you may call me Melissa," she offered Hermione a pleasant enough smile, but Hermione could not quite shake off the bittersweet taste it left in her mouth.
"I have no need to exchange formalities with an enemy of my Lord," Hermione avoided making direct eye contact with the girl, making her laugh. It was a shallow, high pitched noise.
"Quite the bitch you have there, Tom," before Tom could cut in to the conversation, Rosset raised a finger, as if asking for silence. To Hermione's shock, Tom complied, "let me reintroduce myself, I am Melissa Rosset, one of Tom's former seniors and former Knight," she bit her lips in excitement. "You aren't a pureblood, no?" She questioned, "neither am I, Tom accepted me as more of an equal during my time there. It was truly special. But Hermione I am saying this because I care for you, since we share such a precious memory," Rosset winked at Tom, who was fuming.
"Rosset," Tom raised his wand, instantly shutting her up. Hermione raised an eyebrow, but did not stop the boy. From the corner of her eyes, she could see Tom's eyes flashing yet. Rosset laughed mockingly.
"I do not care about what you have to say," Hermione answered shortly.
"Tom Riddle will ruin your fucking life," Rosset hissed. Hermione's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but before anything else happened Tom send a flaring blue light towards Rosset. One of the men behind her grabbed her instantly and with a pop apparated her away. Hermione watched as the exact position Rosset had been standing in, now had a deep crater like hole dug into the ground.
"You," Tom turned to face Hermione, "to the castle. We need to talk."