A/N: First off, thank you to all of you who have read, commented, or given kudos. I greatly appreciate the support.
Apologies if adding this author note alerted you twice for this chapter, but I forgot it initially and wanted to address a couple things.
I wanted to briefly address warnings for this fic. Much later in the fic, there will be a minor character death, but I decided I should probably warn early. There will also be some violence (not too graphic, I think, but let me know if you feel differently). That will start this chapter.
I also realized that the way I deal with time might be confusing; I am essentially keeping the time in days/months, etc. the same in the future and the past, and it will be explained in the fic why time has seemingly not changed in the future despite Hermione's presence in the past.
Dorea Black was hunched over in her four poster. She only hunched for one reason: to paint her toenails her favorite deep red. She had tried using a Levitation Charm once but it didn't end well. She was on the second coat of her big toe when she heard a voice like nails on chalkboard pronouncing her name by dragging out the "door," a habit she detested. The suddenness of the high-pitched call resulted in a drop of red on her cream, twelve hundred thread count sheets. Dorea huffed a "Scourgify" before responding to her insufferable roommate with an equally insufferable name: Rose Rosier. She cast a quick drying charm on her toes, annoyed that she would probably have to repaint them now, before walking halfway down the spiral staircase. (Shouting was undignified; Rose should have known better).
"Rose," Dorea responded. "What is so important that you feel the need to yell up at me?"
Rose giggled in response. "So stern, Dorea. Abraxas-" she interrupted herself with more laughter- "asked me to ask you to come to his dorm. He needs to see you, apparently."
Dorea rolled her eyes at her roommate's performance, responding with a quick "thank you, Rose," as she crossed the common room to ascend the stairs to the boy's dormitory.
Luckily, Abraxas's room was empty save himself. "What did you have to tell your roommates to get them to leave?" Dorea asked, shutting the door behind her. "Wingardium Leviosa," she said quietly to levitate a few of Avery's clothes to stuff into the cracks of the door for more privacy.
"No love lost for Avery," Abraxas coughed out, laughing. "I told them I needed some private time with you, of course, emphasizing the word 'private.'"
Dorea shook her head disapprovingly, but couldn't hide a small smile. "And I suppose you told Rose something similar?"
Abraxas nodded in response.
Dorea opened Abraxas's trunk, finding quickly the hidden lock that exposed a secret compartment Abraxas had cleverly hid with an Extension Charm he cast over the holidays almost two years ago. It baffled Dorea how much the rest of Abraxas's friends- if you could call them that- were willing to underestimate him. "We are surrounded by toads who will believe anything," she muttered as she took out the dittany to start.
"Merlin, Dorea. You know how to kick a man when he's down." Dorea would have snapped back at him, but his voice was strained. His ribs were broken. Again.
"So I suppose you won't tell me why Riddle decided to use you for Unforgivables practice?" Dorea asked as she undid the buttons on Abraxas's shirt and pants, trying to take off his clothes gently, but not missing Abraxas's wince. "Or did you just miss me?"
Abraxas chuckled at that, rolling over on his left side. "It's my left rib, I think." Dorea felt the bones and performed quick diagnostic spell she had learned for this very purpose.
"Broken. I'll have to snap them back together and give you pain reliever with your Dreamless Sleep." She didn't comment that his injuries seemed worse than normal, sure that Abraxas had already ascertained that. Dorea didn't bother with a diagnostic spell on his elbow; the bones were jutting out of the skin, puncturing and resulting in free-flowing blood.
"You didn't think to mention your elbow first?" Dorea couldn't help but comment. Abraxas didn't answer her; he was busy grimacing as she set the bone and covered the wound in dittany- after thoroughly cleaning it, of course. She worked silently after that, not missing the fact that Abraxas seemed like he were struggling with consciousness by the time she tended to the latter half of his injuries. She brushed his hair out of his eyes, trying not to cry; that could wait until later. She never wanted Abraxas to know how much these "visits" affected her, for fear that he would stop calling for her out of guilt. "Did I miss anything?"
"You, Dorea?" He murmured, eyes still closed. "You're meticulous." Dorea didn't respond, slowly putting his pajamas on so that he could go straight to sleep. She quietly fed him his potions and started to tiptoe out of the room when Abraxas coughed out her name.
"Er- Dorea."
"Yes, Abraxas? Did you need anything else? I didn't mean to rush off, I just thought-"
Abraxas chuckled and opened his eyes partway. "No need to apologize. I just wanted to tell you, anyway"- his face darkened a bit- "stay away from Hermione Prewett, alright?"
Dorea knew better than to ask more questions. "Alright, Abraxas," she nodded and closed the door quietly behind her, tiptoeing back to her dormitory.
"Oi, Hermione, are you okay there?" Todd's voice came out like a squeak to her left, making her jump slightly and cut herself even worse than she already had. It was Tuesday, and Hermione was in Herbology, in body if not in spirit. Her thoughts had been scattered after her Saturday showdown with Abraxas. Although Abraxas was the one she lied to, she was extremely jittery around Riddle. She had decided to put off her plans of irritating him, and instead avoid him until she could get more information on Friday from Abraxas regarding what else Riddle wanted to know. To that effect, she had spent all day Sunday in her bedroom, studying and biting her fingernails. She had also decided to scale back her attempts to antagonize him in the classroom, which was probably for the best since she didn't seem to be able to pay attention, anyway. Just now, she had cut herself with a knife while trimming the leaves of her Screechsnap. "Godric," she cursed under her breath.
"Hermione?" Todd repeated, looking increasingly concerned.
"I'm fine," she managed to mutter back. She then proceeded to continue potting her plant. Almost as soon as her cut finger sunk into the soil, the room begun to blur. She heard screams of her name as she fainted backward, taking her plant with her.
Did Hermione hit her head on her date with Malfoy? Any sentient person- or at least any sentient Hermione- would know that the soil of a Screechsnap is poisonous when allowed to penetrate skin. Before he knew it, Riddle was on his feet and picking up Hermione roughly. Chaos had erupted around the room when Hermione fell, but no one moved to help her. Todd seemed to snap out of it as he protested weakly. "I can take Hermione to the hospital wing-"
"Don't be ridiculous," Riddle was dimly aware of how snappish his voice sounded. "I am the Head Boy. I will take her." No one argued as he carried her limp body out of the greenhouses and to the hospital wing, starting off in a brisk walk and ending in a run.
"Madam Poole," he shouted as he rushed into the hospital wing.
"Keep your voice-" Madam Poole started to scold him, and then she saw Hermione. "Put her on the bed," she ordered. Riddle quickly complied. "What happened here?"
"Cut herself. Herbology. Screechsnap. Touched the soil," Riddle was out of breath from running, causing his words to tumble out uncharacteristically.
Madam Poole immediately rushed to her cabinet, applying creams to the wound. As she worked, she muttered under her breath about how many times she had lectured Professor Tonnell about the dangers of Screechsnap. "But does he listen? No," she continued. She seemed to notice Riddle still standing there. "You can run along to class, dear. Ms. Prewett won't be awake for a while."
"Professor Tonnell excused me for the rest of class," Riddle lied easily. "And I have a free period afterward. I would like to stay if permissible."
"Nothing more I can do for now, but you're welcome to sit with her." Madam Poole shuffled back into her office, leaving Riddle and Hermione alone.
Riddle didn't know what to think of Hermione anymore. He didn't even really know what to call her; she was always "Prewett" to him, but it wasn't even her name. He sat stiffly in the chair next to her hospital bed as he studied her. Why bother sitting next to an unconscious person?, he thought to himself. Why sit this close to a Mudblood at all? Regardless, he didn't leave, instead placing his hand awkwardly on hers.
A couple hours later, and no movement from Hermione. Madam Poole insisted that it was normal, and it would be at least a few more hours before Hermione might wake. Riddle trudged off to Arithmancy, taking his normal seat next to Malfoy.
"Afternoon, Riddle." Malfoy greeted him in a nervous tone. Riddle merely nodded in response while he took out his parchment and quill. "How's the M-" Riddle wordlessly silenced Malfoy, not bothering to turn to face him.
"What did I say regarding speaking about what you learned from your assignment?" Riddle asked conversationally as he pulled out his book. Riddle knew full well that Malfoy was unable to respond, but didn't care much. "I thought we already discussed consequences- when was it?- Sunday. But I'm not a cruel tutor; I'm happy to give more lessons." With that, Riddle finally turned toward Malfoy, who was clutching his desk so hard his knuckles were white. Riddle lifted the Silencing Charm with a small flick of his yew wand. "Well?"
"I'm sorry. I just thought- since we were the only ones in here- it won't happen again."
Riddle didn't break eye contact with Malfoy as other students started filtering in. "I think you've done all you can here, Malfoy. I'll take over."
"But, my Lord, I'm happy to serve you in any way I can-"
"You're relieved. I will make your excuses for Friday. Just stay in your dorm." Malfoy nodded meekly.
After his last class of the day, Defense Against The Dark Arts, Riddle headed back to the hospital wing, not able to shake an unfamiliar feeling that made his chest feel tight and left his judgment somewhat clouded.
When he arrived, he was irritated to hear Lyra and Todd's voices coming from inside the curtain. Todd was blaming himself for not preventing Hermione from injuring herself. He speaks as if he knew enough to ascertain that Hermione was in danger, Riddle thought to himself, thoroughly annoyed with the incompetent seventh-year and his lack of action earlier.
Riddle sighed and pushed through the curtain; he wasn't going to let a strange girl and a pathetic boy deter him from visiting Hermione, even if he wasn't quite sure why he was here. "Lyra. Todd." Riddle greeted each of them with a nod.
"R-Riddle," Todd stuttered, clearly surprised at his presence.
"She hasn't woken up yet." Lyra reported matter-of-factly. "She asked for someone named 'Harry' a few times; do you know who that is?"
"No."
"Us either," Lyra shrugged. Silence descended for a long minute before Lyra's dreamy voice broke it. "Todd and I have Astronomy essays to work on, so we should probably go to the Astronomy Tower for stargazing."
"Those aren't due until Friday," Todd replied, confused.
"We're going to leave Riddle alone with Hermione, Todd."
Riddle protested. "There's no need for that."
"We're leaving, Riddle," Lyra insisted, grabbing Todd's hand and dragging him to standing position. "Give our best to Hermione." With that, they left. Riddle closed the curtain behind them and tentatively took the seat next to Hermione's bed again, rubbing his thumb idly on her limp hand.
Hermione woke up disoriented. Her vision was blurry and her head was killing her. Moreover, she could feel her rapid heartbeat all over her body. What happened? She made out a sea of white, including white curtains- she was in the hospital wing! She sat up gingerly, smiling as she saw a slumped over body in the chair next to her, with messy dark hair lying atop her left hand, seemingly in sleep. She felt a warm feeling in her chest and smiled a little wider. Unthinkingly, she ran her fingers through his hair. Some time later, the person below her moved, first shifting sleepily so that he was further onto her lap, and then slowly rose his head until his shining gray eyes met hers. The back of Hermione's mind registered that this was Riddle, but there was no surprise in that realization. She had recognized him in her drugged state.
"Riddle," she whispered slowly, dimly aware that she still had a stupidly huge smile on her face.
Riddle put his finger to his lips before sitting next to her on the bed to whisper in her ear. "I Disillusioned myself earlier. Madam Poole doesn't know I'm here." Hermione nodded, wondering why he was there, but not having enough energy to form the words to ask. His long fingers slowly reached out for her hair before stroking it sleepily as she had done to his moments before. Somehow, he knew how to do so softly enough to not entangle himself in her hair. "I'm glad you're awake," he whispered.
Whether it was his fingers in her hair or the vulnerable tremor in his whisper, Hermione found her arms snaking around his back, pulling him into a tight hug. "Thanks for coming," she mumbled sleepily. "I have to go back to sleep now. Stay?" She felt him nod against her and let sleep engulf her.