FIVE
Wednesday, 3 September 1944
Granger had sped through her assignment so fast it made Draco's mind spin. She was completely done with it by the time the bell rang throughout the castle signaling time for Charms. "I can help you finish it later."
"I don't need help with it, Granger," he bit out. He winced at the harshness in his own voice.
She said nothing, but he noticed the way she retreated mentally. The silence continued over them as they made their way to Charms. The classroom was still in the same spot, but Professor Flitwick was nowhere in sight. Their professor was Sylas Westwick; a very astute man with slicked back hair and a monocle on his left eye.
They had arrived in the midst of the other students, but still early enough that it wasn't hard to find a desk. They sat at the edge near the window, but in the back row. Malfoy kept a weary out for Riddle and he could feel Granger doing the same. He had purposefully made her sit next to the window in case Riddle decided to take the empty seat on his other side.
They both tensed when he entered the room. His presence was like a bolt of lightening down his spine. His every nerve was alive with little pins and needles. His left forearm itched, reminding him Riddle's magic was alive and well in the mark. He reached between them for Granger's hand. He told himself it was because he wanted to reassure her that he was there, but he knew he needed the reassurance as well.
Riddle sat at the opposite side of the room. He had only briefly glanced their way; eyes landing on the chair. He had considered sitting next to them, but decided against it.
They both relaxed as they lesson began.
Draco hadn't learned much in sixth year. The task of killing his Headmaster was a little too distracting. His seventh year had been a complete joke. With Death Eaters taking over, their focus was on letting the students that opposed them know they were in charge. He couldn't even recall a single lesson that actually involved any sort of teaching.
He wanted to focus on the lesson, but he couldn't find himself caring. He let his mind wander to their predicament instead. He knew they had to get home, but he wasn't exactly looking forward to returning to a war zone.
It was rather freeing to be here knowing that his father hadn't even been born yet. He missed his mother, sure, but that was the only reason he had to go back. Here, Riddle aside, he could do anything; be anyone. He wouldn't have to live up to the Malfoy name. He wouldn't have to endure the Dark Lord killing professors on his dining table.
He had thought about it all night. He didn't do much but toss and turn. Every time he closed his eyes, he was rewarded with a memory of the Dark Lord. Some atrocious act or another. When he woke from his last poor excuse for rest he could have sworn his mark was burning.
Granger extracted her fingers from his and it drew him from his thoughts for a moment. If it weren't for her, he would have died in the Fiendfyre. She would have made it out and lived to keep on fighting in the war. She would have undoubtedly been on the side of victory. He wondered if she would have even mourned his death.
"Malfoy?" she whispered, concern filling her chocolate eyes.
He realized he was staring, but couldn't seem to look away. He noticed the honey amongst the chocolate in her eyes. The sprinkling of freckles on her nose. He shook his head and looked away, pretending to listen to Professor Westwick again.
He knew she wouldn't have wasted her time mourning him and he berated himself for even thinking that she would. He had been nothing but an asshole to her for their entire lives. Why she even saved him from the flames was beyond him.
What bothered him the most was that no matter how much he would rather ditch Hogwarts and run away right now. How much he wanted to say fuck it all and stay in this timeline like the coward he was… He knew that as long as Granger was here, he couldn't. He couldn't leave her with Riddle. She had friends and family to get back to. She had a boyfriend.
His mood soured at that thought. Or rather, it soured when he realized that thought seemed to sting the most.
Draco had never packed his bag so fast in his entire life when the bell rang. He didn't even look back when Granger called for him as he shot out of the classroom ahead of everyone else. He knew he was breaking his promise to never leave her alone, but he forced himself not to care. Instead, he ran through the castle until he found a door that led outside.
He fell to his knees and gasped for breath. People stared at him as they passed, but he ignored them all. When the panic subsided, he sat back against the exterior and waited for his mind to clear.
Hermione sat in a daze as she watched Malfoy fly from the room. He hadn't listened to the lecture at all and he had stared at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. He hadn't responded to her at all during class and didn't even look back as he left her behind.
Resisting the urge to run off after him, she continued to pack up her notes and left the classroom with the rest of the students. She kept her head down, causing her to collide with someone in the hall. Her bag slipped from her shoulder and the contents spilled across the floor. She bent to gather her things, but stopped cold when Riddle stooped to help her.
"I do apologize, Miss Granger. I thought you heard me say your name."
She swallowed her fear and shook her head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run into you." He offered a small smile as they stood and helped her reorganize her bag. He even used his wand to repair the strap. "Thanks."
He inclined his head and then parted his lips as if to ask her something. Whatever it was, she never got to find out as Claudia came around the corner. "Oh, there you are, Tom," she said with a smile. "Hey, Harmony."
She gave a small wave and shifted her feet awkwardly.
"Dippet wants a word with us," she said to Riddle.
He stared at Hermione for a moment and then stepped towards Claudia. "I will see you in Potions, Miss Granger."
She nodded and watched as they walked away. When he was gone from sight, she made her way towards Great Hall hoping Malfoy would meet her there for lunch. She was hopeful when someone sat across from her, but it was only Kalista. Agnes and Gertrude followed shortly and they kept her somewhat distracted, but Malfoy never turned up.
Riddle had appeared halfway through lunch, but thankfully took his own seat in the middle of the table with his group. He had looked at her briefly though, but Hermione couldn't must up any fear as her worry for Malfoy continued. She wrote in the book she had linked with his, asking if he was alright and where he was, but he never responded.
The girls parted from lunch to go to their next class, leaving Hermione alone again. She waited until she had to before making her leave as well. She paced outside of the classroom, refusing to go in until he came. He would have to pass by her eventually whether it was to class or the dorm.
Riddle was one of the first to arrive. "H-have you been to your dorm since Charms?" she asked before she lost her nerve.
He shook his head. "I came straight to the Great Hall after meeting with Headmaster Dippet. I noticed Mister Malory did not joint you for lunch."
"He'll turn up eventually," she said wistfully.
"And if he does not, do not fret. I will happily be your Potions partner."
She gave a nervous smile and a quick nod. To her relief, he said nothing more as he slipped inside the classroom. She resumed her pacing and a few moments later, Malfoy came into view.
"There you are!" she hissed, advancing on him. "Where the hell did you go? Why did you-"
"Granger, stop."
"Stop? You promised you wouldn't leave me alone and then you bolted without so much as a word. I wrote in the book, but you didn't respond. Malfoy-"
"Did he do anything?" he interrupted.
She considered their interactions, but shook her head in the end. "No."
"Then can you just let it go?" he asked, stepping forward.
She moved to block his path again; taking in the way his hands clenched at his side. "No secrets, remember?"
He leaned in; his eyes the darkest she had ever seen. "Get out of my way, Granger or I will put you in a body bind and leave you in the hall."
Her jaw dropped and he used her stupor to get away. His shoulder crashed into hers and she stumbled, catching herself on a statue. She whirled around staring daggers into his back as he entered the classroom. She stalked after him not caring that all eyes were on her.
She dropped her bag unceremoniously on the desk next to him and made a show of sitting down. The tension steadily built between the two of them as Professor Slughorn began the lesson. Every time her hand went up in the air to answer the question, Malfoy snorted. It took every ounce of will power not to throttle him each time he made the sound.
Since Potions was a double, at the midway point, Slughorn announced the potion they would be working on for the next hour. He waved his wand at the chalkboard and some tips appeared. He gave them the page number for the recipe and told them to get started.
"Raise your hand any higher and you could dust the ceiling," Malfoy sneered the moment people started milling about the room.
"Excuse me?" she snapped, turning in her seat.
"I'm surprised you didn't jump out of your chair to be the first one in the supply closet."
"What the hell has gotten into you, Malfoy?"
His eyes flickered around the room, taking in how many people were pretending to ignore them. When his gaze landed back on her he shrugged with indifference.
"Fine," she snapped as she got to her feet. "I'll guess you'll get your wish after all."
She snatched her book from the table and made her way to the supply closet. She waited off to the side until the storeroom had emptied to a handful of students. She took her time scouring the shelves and finding what she needed. She'd brewed this before and knew that she could afford some time in here without sacrificing a perfect brew.
"Trouble in paradise?"
She jumped at the sound of Riddle's voice close behind her. The vial of Gnarly Root crashing to the floor.
"I take that as a yes," he said, using his wand to clean it up for her.
"Thanks," she said, her voice meek. She turned back to the shelf and grabbed the last of what she needed. Riddle was still there when she turned around. "What?"
"You are very smart, Miss Granger," he replied. "I don't believe I've come across anyone with the kind of brain you seem to possess."
"A brain that is still off limits," she scolded.
He held up his hands and Hermione caught herself returning his smile. "I can't promise to always catch myself, but I will do my best."
He reached out towards her face and the fear slammed into her gut so hard she bounced off the shelves behind her. She froze as the shelf dug into the small of her back. He either didn't notice or didn't care that she feared him as he continued to reach for her. She shifted as he moved to pluck something from her hair and then slowly brought his hand back.
He held up a feather and his eyes lifted to the ceiling. Hermione looked up and saw the little nest in the rafters. She slowly brought her gaze down and met Riddle's eyes. His expression was unreadable, but he said nothing more as he turned and left her in the supply closet alone.
Hermione watched him go. Her fingers trembled where they clutched at the shelf and she let out a shaky breath she'd been holding. Her stomach flipped as disgust filled her bones. She hated herself then. For just a moment, she had enjoyed the banter between them. She was used to banter with Malfoy, but this was different.
She shook herself out of it and returned to her desk.
"Took you long enough," he said, pulling his head off the desk when she took her seat.
"What do you care?" she snapped. "You wanted me to do everything anyway. Just go back to sleep, Malfoy."
"I wasn't sleeping."
"No, you were ignoring me and leaving me alone to fend for myself when Riddle cornered me in the supply room."
His eyes widened and she scoffed at his audacity to be concerned. "Did-"
"You should just do yourself a favor and stop pretending. I'm sure you'd just love it if he took me out before you got the chance."
"Granger-"
"Miss Granger, Mister Malory; is everything alright?" Professor Slughorn asked as he stopped by their desk. He was making his usual rounds amongst the students.
"Yes, Professor," she answered, giving him a large smile.
He nodded and walked away.
"Save it, Malfoy. Let's just get on with the potion."
He reached up and laid his hand over hers as she began to lay out their ingredients. She kept her eyes on the table. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice low. She bit at her lip, hating the way she relaxed from his touch; as if she missed it.
"You can't do that."
"I know," he said, letting go of her to divide the ingredients. "I'll tell you everything before dinner, okay?"
She nodded and they worked in silence. Not surprisingly, at the end of class, they turned in a perfect potion.