A/N: I had planned to post this last week, but as some of you might have heard, Internet was not accessible for ten days in Iran. Sorry for the wait.
A deadly encounter with Horace
Nothing in particular happened for the next three weeks. Harry almost became hopeful that nothing in particular would happen in winter until one Monday morning. He as always left the tower with Hermione and had a very pleasant morning chat with her. They sat between Dean Tomas and Neville Longbottom.
"Hermione, you should give us a few pointers on how to apparate. Seamus and I are really hopeless."
"Well I guess we could talk about it in our next DA session. We can set it up this evening. Our Monday evenings are free these days."
"Good idea." Neville said. "By the way, isn't Professor Moriarty coming back?"
"I don't think he'll come back before the third quarter of March." Harry said.
"Oh, no." Ginny moaned. "Snape has been a total prick to us lately. I wish Moriarty comes back soon."
"Trust me, Ginn. We're not excited about Snape teaching us either." Neville said. "Even Malfoy misses Moriarty."
"Here comes the post." said Harry.
An owl dropped Hermione's newspaper and it landed on her head. Hermione caught it before it could ruin her plate. She unwrapped the Prophet and began reading. After a few minutes Harry felt Hermione stiffen.
Seamus seemed to be reading something upsetting. So did the rest of the school. Slytherins seemed to be very angry and Hufflepuffs were incredulous.
The staff were pressuring Dumbledore to explain something.
"Hey, what just happened?" Ginny said as she was confused by all the noise.
"This thing says that Hermione's father wasn't Rodolphus Lestrange." Seamus says. "According to the magical records her father's surname must have been Riddle. Apparently, someone in the DMR found out that some documents had changed."
Ginny froze. She simply looked at Seamus and then at Hermione. She then put her fork down and took her bag.
"Where are you going?" Ron who had already known the secret asked his sister.
"I need some fresh air. This place is … getting a bit loud." she waved nervously at Hermione and left.
"I must go. Excuse me!" said Hermione.
"Hermione…" Harry called her but she was already gone.
Hermione found Ginny in their common room. She was crying silently. Hermione put her hand on Ginny's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Hermione." Ginny said as she wiped her tears. "I didn't want to upset you."
"I know."
"How long have you known?" Ginny asked.
"Since that night we went to save Sirius. Harry found out and told me." Hermione said honestly.
"It must have been hard."
She cried a bit more.
"It hasn't been easy." Hermione hugged the redhead fiercely.
Ginny didn't say anything and just cried for a few more minutes. Then she stood up and wiped her tears. She looked straight in Hermione's eyes.
"I still love you, Hermione." Ginny said, whimpering anxiously. "No matter what."
Ginny smiled sadly and left Hermione alone.
"What should I do now?" moaned Hermione as she left the common room as well.
*H*R*
It was Hermione's fifth year all over again. People kept looking at her oddly. Some stopped talking to her. Those who she cared about, didn't change much. Ron and Harry couldn't care less about the announcement. Ginny went back to her cheerful self after a couple of hours. Some of her friends were very happy that Hermione was no longer called Lestrange. One of which was Neville Longbottom.
"I always knew." he said two days later for the thousandth time. "Long live Riddle!"
"Look, her mom is still the same person." Ginny said, frustrated by him.
While Harry had not changed his behavior toward Hermione, he would seem slightly agitated whenever someone called her Riddle.
"You know, Hermione, there was a Tom Riddle here fifty years ago. I saw his shield last time I had detention with Filch." said Dean. "He could be your father."
"Yeah… I'll look into that Dean. Thanks for telling me." she responded uncomfortably as Harry and Ginny distracted everyone by pretending to be angry at each other for cheating at chess.
The very next day Harry and Ron were woken up by Seamus and Dean who left after saying happy birthday to Ron.
"Happy birthday mate." Harry after putting his present on the pile of presents that the elves had brought for Ron. "Why don't you open them up?"
Harry began to check the map as Ron was opening his presents. Interestingly, he couldn't find Malfoy on the map.
"Wow… I appreciate it, Harry. This is great." Ron pointed to the Keeper's gloves Harry had bought him. Next present was a hat from Sirius. It changed color to yellow when Ron put it on his head. "It a mood hat. Nice."
"Looks like Malfoy isn't in his bed." He told Ron.
Ron paid him no attention while he was checking out the watch his parents had sent him.
"I wish I could come of age again next year as well. I mean look at this..." Ron said as he laughed happily.
Harry glanced at the watch for a second before looking more accurately at the map. "I'm happy for you mate."
Harry was bewildered. He could not find Malfoy anywhere on the map. He made sure to look everywhere but it was as if Malfoy had vanished from the grounds.
Ron offered Harry to have some Chocolate Cauldrons. "No thanks." He sighed heavily. "Malfoy is gone. I can't find him."
"That's unlikely." Ron said as he helped himself to a third Chocolate Cauldron. "We should hurry up or you'll have aparate on an empty stomach… which might be a good idea."
Harry tapped the map and muttered, "Mischief managed." and put the map unwillingly in his pocket as he dressed up. Where was Malfoy going to fix the cabinet. He must have had a place. He had to ask Hermione, although he doubted she would tell him.
"Ready, Ron?" he asked but Ron didn't move. "Hey? Breakfast. Aren't you…"
"I'm not hungry." He responded.
"Well, that's a first. Here I thought you said…"
"I'll come down with you." Ron said. "But not to eat."
"Wait a minute!" Harry approached him and looked into Ron's dilated pupils. He checked his pulse.
"What have you done?" Harry looked at the Chocolate Cauldrons. "Oh no!"
"I can't stop thinking about her." Ron said with a dreamy face. He was paler than usual.
"About who?" Harry asked carefully.
"Romilda Vane." Ron said softly. His facial expression forced Harry to laugh before facepalming. "She doesn't even know I exist." Ron continued as Harry looked at the box of Chocolate Cauldrons Balefully.
Harry had been fortunate to be warned by Ginny. He hadn't been careful enough to get rid of them. Harry transfigured a piece of parchment to a small bag and carefully put a Chocolate Cauldron into it. Then he pointed his wand at the remaining, "Evanesco" he cast.
"Why did you vanish my Chocolate Cauldrons?" Ron said annoyedly.
"You don't really care about them. You want to see Romilda … Eh?" Harry said cunningly.
"You're right. Where's she?" Ron asked enthusiastically.
"I think I know exactly where. Follow me." Harry walked as Ron followed him. "She'll be in Slughorn's office."
"Why?" Ron asked.
"For extra Potions lessons." Harry said flatly.
On the stairs Harry saw Hermione.
"Morning, love." Harry said
"Morning, Harry, Ron." she greeted them.
"Move on, Hermione. Harry wants to introduce me to Romilda Vane." Ron said abruptly.
"Oh… What's…" Hermione looked into her boyfriend's eyes and continued. "Oh I see. Then let me come with you two. It's best Harry and you don't go alone."
"I understand." Ron said dramatically.
Lavender was waiting for Ron near the portrait whole. Hermione swiftly confunded her before she could see Ron. Before they could leave Ron oddly glanced at the poor girl and then followed them.
Harry wondered if Slughorn was in his office. He could have left early for breakfast, but fortunately he answered his office door at the very first knock.
"Ah Harry, Hermione and … Donald I suppose?" Slughorn said cheerfully. He was wearing a green velvet dressing gown but he had combed his hair.
"You're lucky I was up early. I usually sleep late on Saturdays." Slughorn looked at Ron. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Professor, we're sorry to disturb you," Hermione said quickly. "but our friend Ron has swallowed a love potion by mistake. I hope, you wouldn't mind fixing him an antidote, would you? We would have…"
"Say no more, Hermione dear. Please, bring him in, Harry." Slughorn said.
"It's surprising that you have come to me, expert potioneers such as yourselves." Slughorn said. "Surely you could have fixed it yourself, Harry."
"Better be done by the Master." Harry said.
"Was this potion within date?" Slughorn asked, gesturing toward a sofa. "They can strengthen as they're kept longer."
"That would explain his excessive obsession." said Hermione.
"Yes, I think the Romilda gave me the Chocolate Cauldrons a couple of months ago." Harry said.
"Have you got a sample, Harry?" Slughorn asked.
"Yes, sir." Harry draw the bag from his pocket.
Slughorn took out the Chocolate Cauldrons and cracked it open.
"Ah, fresh gravy, I smells." Slughorn said. "I believe the antidote is relatively easy."
He began fixing the antidote as Harry and Hermione tried to restain Ron.
"Where is she? I can't see her." he moaned.
"She will be here soon." Hermione said confidently.
"Oh… How do I look?" Ron asked.
"Very handsome." Slughorn said with a smile. He handed Ron a glass of a milky liquid. "Drink it up. It's a tonic. Very good for your nerves. You want to be calm when she arrives, don't you?"
"Of course." Ron immediately gulped the antidote down.
They looked at him nervously. Ron's grinning face slowly morphed into a taken by horror.
"He's back to normal," said Hermione.
"Thank you very much, Professor." Harry said.
"Don't mention it, m'dears. Don't mention it." Slughorn said. Ron cuddled himself on the sofa.
"I think I have something for that. In need of relaxation, he is. I've got Butterbear… with wine, we could do … I've also got the last bottle that fantastic oak-matured mead…hmm... meant to give it to Dumbledore for Christmas...Ah well…" Slughorn shrugged "He can't miss what he has never had. I think we will open that up to celebrate Mr Weasley's birthday. Nothing like a fine spirit to chase away the pangs of disappointed love."
Harry and Hermione glanced at each other. This was the perfect opportunity to have Slughorn give Harry the real memory.
"Here you are." Slughorn handed them each a glass of mead "A very happy birthday to Ralph-"
"-Ron-" whispered Harry and Hermione.
Ron ignoring the toast had already swallowed the mead.
In a fraction of second Harry realised something was wrong while Hermione and slughorn didn't.
"-and you may have many more-"
Ron tried to stand up but fell on the ground shaking madly. Foam was dribbling from his mouth and his your eyes were bulging out.
Hermione kneeled next to him and cast something. Ron immediately sat up and vomited. Slughorn summoned a Bezoar and fed it to Ron. He went limp and still and fell on his back.
"Excellent response, Miss Riddle." said Slughorn. "Thirty points to Gryffindor."
Harry was sitting in the infirmary as Fred was talking to Hermione next to him. Fred and George seemed very upset.
"You were on Hogsmeade?" Ginny's question brought Harry to the real world.
"We were thinking of renting a place in Hogsmeade, you know, to start again … but never mind that now." said Fred. He coughed to clear his voice.
"So…What exactly happened?"
Hermione told them how she had found them after Ron had taken the Love Potion and their trip to dungeons, for perhaps the sixth time.
"... and then Slughorn summoned a Bezoar and fed it to Ron. After doing that he sent a Patronus to Professor McGonagall. Luckily, Ron wasn't awake."
"It was a spider. Not very big, but not small enough either." Harry explained. "Since he has vomited most of the poison and Slughorn has given him a Bezoar. Madam Pomfrey says he's going to be fine."
"Blimey, it was lucky you were there, Hermione." Fred said.
"Slughorn would have given him Bezoar anyway." Hermione said.
"Do Mum and Dad know?"
"They've already seen him. They arrived an hour ago. They're in Moriarty's office now, but they'll be back soon." said Ginny.
"Moriarty's office?" Harry sprang. "He's back?"
"Oh yeah, he came back with an injury… Snape is fixing him up. Apparently, he didn't allow them to take him to the infirmary. Dumbledore hasn't left his office since morning."
"So the poison was in the drink?" Fred asked Hermione.
"Yes, evidently."
"Slughorn poured it out-" Harry pointed out.
"Would he have been able to slip something into Ron's glass without you seeing?" Fred asked.
"Sure…"
"But why would he want to poison Ron?" Hermione asked.
"No, idea." said Fred. He pointed at Harry. "Maybe he mixed glasses. Maybe he wanted to get, Harry."
"Why would he want to poison, Harry?" Ginny asked annoyedly.
"Come on. He's the chosen one, or so people say." Fred argued "There are many who want Harry gone."
"So you think Slughorn is a Death Eater?" Ginny said with a demeaning smile.
Harry knew that Slughorn was probably worse than a Death Eater if Moriarty was right about him.
"Uh, but it's possible." said Fred.
"Or somebody could have put him under the Imperius Curse." said George.
"Or … maybe … just maybe … he could be innocent and somebody had planned to kill him." Ginny said.
"The only one who nobody wants to kill, is me?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione, no one is that insane." said Ginny.
"I think you're wrong." Harry said. "I mean both of your theories are wrong. There are people insane enough to kill Hermione. And I doubt anyone has ever wanted to poison Slughorn. He is … too likable. Hermione already told you the drink was meant to be given to Dumbledore. I think this was meant for him."
Harry looked at Hermione expectantly.
"I suppose you could be right." said Hermione reluctantly.
"Oh, I'm certain that's the case." said Harry.
The question Harry didn't ask aloud was something that kept bothering him. How come a professional potion maker like Slughorn hadn't noticed that the drink was spiked with poison? It made no sense.
In that moment Hagrid came by to see Ron. He had spent all day with Aragog. The old spider was kicking the bucket for sure.
"Maybe someone is attacking the Gryffindor Quidditch team." Hagrid suggested "Firs' Katie, now Ron…"
"That's very improbable."
"Yes, but there's a point. We shouldn't forget about the first attack. Katie like Slughorn was only the carrier, the medium for the attack." Hermione said calmly. "We just don't know it they were planning to kill Dumbledore or Slughorn."
"Slughorn would be tempted by the necklace." Ginny suggested.
"Well, that makes our killer even more dangerous then." said Harry "they don't seem to care how many casualties there will be."
At that moment the doors were opened and Ron's parents entered.
"Dumbledore told us how you saved him, Hermione." Mrs Weasley said sobbingly. "We owe you a great deal dear."
Hermione felt uncomfortable as she hugged her. Even though Hermione had saved Ron, she had also possessed Ginny once. At best she was even.
Ginny smiled brightly to Hermione.
When Harry and Hermione went to the common room Hermione knew Harry wanted to talk.
"He's out of order, Hermione?" Harry said quietly.
"I know, but he probably did it before Christmas." Hermione responded, agitated by awful thoughts.
"Just let's make sure he doesn't have any more surprises for us."
Draco refused to talk with Hermione any longer than three minutes. He simply assured her that he would keep working on the rune board without bothering her.
"I could help you." Hermione said.
"No. I - I'll do it on my own. I'll tell you if I need help. I'll promise, cousin." Draco nodded and left.
Harry joined them unconventionally. "Quick talk. I don't want those two to find me." said Harry.
"Um… what do we say Potter?" Malfoy said tiredly. "How about … goodbye?"
Malfoy left them with a bored expression.
"What is wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"McLaggen and Lavender are following me. For different reasons, obviously."
"Oh come on. Ron will be fine in two days." Hermione said loudly so everyone could hear her.
Lavender and McLaggen left them alone.
"See. It's simple." said Hermione.
"Well, they believe you."
And Hermione was wrong. Harry eventually had to allow McLaggen to play as the keeper. Hermione was not happy about that.
"And here I thought saving Ron's would spare me from having McLaggen on the team." Hermione said loudly.
Neville laughed and Ginny smiled.
"Just for one game." Harry said to her.
He regretted saying that when he woke up next to Ron.
"So nice of you to drop in, Harry." Ron said. "Look to your right."
Harry did so and saw McLaggen on a bed, fully bandaged and unconscious.
"Mr Potter, you have a very violent girlfriend." said Madam Pomfrey.
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"To you? Cracked skull. to Mr McLaggen? Miss Riddle happened." She pushed Harry back to the bed. "Don't get up. I fixed your skull, but you stay for the night. Do not overexert yourself, Mr Potter."
"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked.
"She has a detention with Professor Moriarty." she said "He seemed very upset."
Hermione nervously entered Moriarty's office. She had no idea what kind of detention she was going to have.
"Welcome, Miss Riddle." said Moriarty without looking up.
"Please call me Hermione, sir." she responded "I really don't like my surname."
"No." Moriarty said firmly. He had grown a beard and his hair was too long. his face had traces of vanishing scars. He was scary enough not to be argued with, especially when she was serving her detention with him.
"Although I understand your dislike for your surname, I cannot allow you to run away from it. 'Reality is what we make' some say, but reality is not the same as truth. It's simply your perception of truth." Moriarty said.
"I don't understand." Hermione said.
"To create a sustainable reality, you must acknowledge the truth first." Moriarty explained. "Your father's created his own reality, but I'm afraid a reality based on falsehood will eventually crumble. Now…" He stood up and moved toward his cabinet "You're not here for a lecture, of course. You are here for your detention." He took a piece of parchment with a quill.
Hermione stiffened. Was he going to do what she thought?
"You shall fill this paper with the following sentence. McLaggen is not a bludger."
He gave her no ink.
"Professor, please don't do this." Hermione begged.
"Do what?" Moriarty asked confused by her pleading eyes.
Hermione put the quill on the piece of parchment. Her hand was shaking. She forced herself to write, ready for a stinging pain in her hand. To her amazement the quill wrote in black.
"Oh!" said Hermione "I thought-"
"What did you think?" Moriarty asked suspiciously.
"I thought you were using a blood quill." said Hermione.
"Why on earth would I do that?" Moriarty said angrily. "Blood quills are only used for very unique occasions. Has … has anyone used a blood quill here for… for detention?"
"Professor Umbridge did." said Hermione cooly.
"I see." said Moriarty with a gloomy expression.
Hermione noticed that her sentence was gone and replaced by. 'He is.' in blue.
"What?" Hermione said.
"I think you should explain why he isn't a bludger."
It was much harder to argue with a piece of paper than Hermione had first imagined. After two hours she gave up.
"I'm sorry, sir. I just can't convince this thing."
"Well, that's because you don't believe what you're writing. You think you were right to beat McLaggen in that manner." Moriarty said as he was shaving his thick beard. "You know, I used to have a really long beard for some time. Most of my life I had a short ordinary beard until I went to live in Italy for some time. There was this woman who just hated it. I have been shaving since then."
"Is she your wife?" Hermione said.
"God no! She was a Medici." Moriarty said.
"You didn't-" Hermione exclaimed.
"Of course, I didn't. You are correct." Moriarty said. "She was cheating on her husband with his brother. I would never get myself involved in something like that."
Hermione had an idea.
McLaggen isn't a bludger because I do not wish to be punished for treating his as one.
This time what she wrote remained. Then it automatically copied itself, filling the page.
"I guess you can go, but before you do, would mind telling me what happened the day Mr Weasley got poisoned?"
Hermione explained what had happened to Moriarty.
"I need to see it." Moriarty said and went to his library, fetch a massive book.
"See what?" Hermione said.
"Your memory." Moriarty said. "Just put your hand on the book and think of the memory. It will make a copy in my pensive."
"This is a pensive?" Hermione said.
"Yes, it is." Moriarty said.
Hermione transferred the memory and waited for Moriarty to take them into the pensive.
"Thank you, dear." Moriarty said. "It's getting late. You should go back."
Hermione had no choice but to leave. On her way she wondered what exactly Moriarty wanted to see in her memory?
