A/N: Chapter 16 is now out! Thank you all for the reviews left and to all the new follows/ favourites. I am really trying to get these out quicker! Please review and let me know if you liked it!
Lunch finished without a hint of the melancholy that started the period. The last class of the day was a double session of Defense Against the Dark Arts and it had recently become one of Hermione's favourite classes.
Druella maintained that it was her favourite because of Professor Sutton. He had taken an interest in Hermione's education early on and hadn't let it go. Hermione brushed it off but she couldn't help of thinking about how she was with Professor Lockhart in her 2nd year.
They filed in and sat in their seats. The classroom was filled with dull chatter until professor Sutton entered and walked to the front of the classroom, "Good afternoon class, today I have a treat for you!" he clapped his hands together then gestured towards the normally empty side of the room, "Now as you can see we have a completely underutilized classroom and today is when we rectify that."
With a wave of his wand, several mats materialized onto the floor. Hermione groaned. She realized what was coming, this set up was similar to the Room of Requirements set up during the DA when they focused on dueling.
Professor Sutton smiled, "We are a defense class and I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't teach you how to utilize the spells I'm teaching in real life scenarios."
Hermione looked around the classroom. Reactions seemed to be split between the houses, Gryffindor seemed to be curious while Slytherins smirked in excitement. Dueling was a past time of many Slytherins and they excelled at underhanded spell work.
Professor Sutton motioned for the class to get up and follow him to the mats. The houses divided themselves along each side.
Professor Sutton stood in the middle of the mats, wearing his usual pants and button-up shirt. He undid the cuff buttons and rolled them up to his elbows, "Now today we are starting with disarming and protection. I do not want any causalities or mishaps, is that understood?"
With a general nodding of understanding and a few secretive Slytherin smirks, Sutton worked at pairing each student off. He seemed to be Pairing house against house.
Hermione looked to her left, Malfoy was joined by his partner- Septimus Weasley. Hermione's heart panged at the sight of the familiar red hair and gangly limbs. To her right, Tom was glaring at his partner, Fleamont Potter, Again the familiar sight of disheveled black hair and glasses made her glassy-eyed. Her name being called jostled her out of her memories.
Professor Sutton called out, "Hermione Granger and Minerva McGonagall"
A severe-looking girl began to walk towards her. Hermione's breath caught in her throat. She had forgotten that Professor McGonagall had also gone to school with Tom Riddle. She smiled at the young future professor but only got a glare in return. She was shocked but then remembered in this time she was the enemy.
She looked to Tom who happened to be looking towards her and their eyes met. He had his face set in a hard line, looking serious. He nodded at Hermione in an unspoken, "you better win" gesture. She returned it.
Once everyone was paired off, they went one by one. Facing off, taking turns disarming and attacking. Once they were both performed to the Professor's satisfaction the next pair got up.
Malfoy had easily disarmed and attacked Septimus. It took Septimus a little longer to get the hang of it but he did. Hermione had to catch herself and stop smiling at the thought of how similar this Weasley and hers was.
Tom, of course, performed flawlessly on the first try. Fleamont was the same, Harry obviously had his defense talents passed down.
It was now her turn. She and McGonagall were the last pair up. Hermione shed her outer layer for more movement.
They both got into the proper dueling stance and waited for Sutton to call the match. McGonagall would attack first. As they were instructed it should have been with an easy 'Expelliarmus' while Hermione would defend with a shield charm.
Hermione readied herself and looked towards McGonagall. When she met her eyes something in Hermione worried. The look in McGonagall's eyes was nothing she had seen on the professor before and it worried her.
Sutton didn't even reach three, on the count of 2 McGonagall waved her arm shouting the incantation. Due to her DA training, Hermione easily deflected the spell, even with its surprise casting. Sutton shouted to wait until he reached three but that act had unleashed Hermione's flight or fight instinct.
In an instant, just as her shield faded she sent an expelliarmus back, catching her off guard and causes her wand to soar into the air and into Hermione's outreached hand. She smirked as she threw it back. McGonagall caught it and sneered.
With no countdown, she sent the disarming spell to Hermione one more time. Hermione again effectively blocked it. If McGonagall had played fair she would have let her disarm her to end their turn, but McGonagall looked to be trying to prove something and Hermione was up for the challenge.
And a challenge is what Hermione got, figuring out that a simple disarm wouldn't work on her, McGonagall switched spells, this time casting a jelly legs jinx. Hermione easily deflected it. Professor Sutton began to yell for them to stay on the assigned spells but his cries fell on deaf ears.
Hermione was tired of playing the defense and she figured if McGonagall wanted to play this game, she'd play too.
Hermione shot her wand out yelling in quick succession, "Avis! Oppuugno!" Small yellow birds shot out of the tip of Hermione's wand with a loud crack and launched themselves at McGonagall. She was so surprised she didn't have time to shield herself. The birds connected and began pecking at the girl as she waved her hands around frantically in an attempt to shoo them off her.
Sutton waved his wand and the birds burst into thin air, leaving only a rain of little yellow feathers around McGonagall.
Sutton announced that class was over and for everyone to pack up. He called Hermione and McGonagall to him, " Girls I specifically said to stay with the two spells I assigned, 5 point from each house for disobeying. This is your one warning, we will be dueling for the foreseeable future and if this becomes a habit there will be more dire consequences, do I make myself clear?" Both girls nodded and with a quiet 'yes professor' they walked back to their desks to collect their things.
Minerva glared at Hermione as she brushed past her to leave. After she had gone she turned to Tom, who waited for her, as always, "You would think I did something to her personally."
Tom smirked, "Well in her mind you did."
Hermione looked quizzically at him, "What do you mean? This is the first time I've actually interacted with her."
As they left the classroom and walked towards the common room, Tom explained, "Before you got here, she was the smartest female in our year. Not to mention she used to be Dumbledore's favourite. Now that you're here and his ward none the less, she's jealous and threatened. I must admit that duel was highly entertaining. Who would have thought to use avis offensively?"
Hermione smiled at the memory of her sending the birds after an insensitive Ron decided to cross her, "It's a trick I came up with when dealing with some of my friends."
The pair entered the common room together. Just inside the fellow Slytherins that were in their year, all gathered around. Druella was the first to speak, "Hermione that was genius! Using a non-lethal spell and turning it to attack her! 5 points was well worth getting an attack on Gryffindor in!" The others murmured their agreement. Hermione smiled in false thanks and walked to her room to put her books away.
As she changed out of her uniform she couldn't shake the guilt in her stomach. She had attacked a Gryffindor and a future professor. Sure she wasn't a Gryffindor right now but she still felt loyal in her heart. She frowned but covered it up quickly, she couldn't let on she felt guilty, she was a Slytherin after all.
As she rejoined the group in the common room she felt the atmosphere shift. While she got along with her fellow Slytherins and felt comfortable these last few months, after defense she almost felt accepted completely. The males in the group nodded at her entrance and continued talking. Before they would say that men conversation isn't for the likes of females but now she was just one of the group.
They all exited together, the girls still gushing over Hermione's performance in class. Once in the great hall they sat and ate while still making idle talk within the group.
Just as Hermione was about done supper, she felt someone approach her at the table. She looked up to see Minerva, flanked by Septimus and Fleamont. Hermione wondered if that's what her, Harry and Ron look liked to others.
Hermione offered a smile, "Hello Minerva, what can I help you with this evening?"
The severe glare didn't leave her face as she spoke, "Don't offer such pleasantries, Granger, I wouldn't want you to strain yourself. I just came over to tell you that cheap trick won't work again. Gryffindor has your number."
Hermione could see the other Slytherins bristle at the veiled threat. Hermione however just smirked, "Oh Minerva, I'm flattered that you worry about my strain but rest assured that politeness is a common social courtesy I offer everyone, regardless of their… circumstances." She winded her smirk at Minervas eyes narrowing more and continued, "As for today's lesson I would like to remind you that it was, in fact, you that decided to deviate from the given lesson, you can't fault me for besting you at your own game, after all my guardian is Professor Dumbledore and he is no common wizard" She gave a haughty laugh, implying that anyone thinking she'd deliver anything less was laughable.
Minerva shouted in indignation and stomped off. The boys following her. As they departed, the Slytherins began to laugh. Hermione received a few pats and slaps on the back in congratulations. Each taking their turn to comment on the perfectly composed comeback.
Dinner was over shortly after and they all walked back to the Slytherin common room. They hadn't been given homework as tomorrow was Hogsmeade and the teachers knew that it wouldn't get done. As they all sat down for a rare homework free evening, chatter split the group. The girls talking about the trip tomorrow and the guys talking about what the girls would wear for the trip.
Hermione rolled her eyes as she pulled out a book, she was a few words in when she felt the seat dip next to her. She was seated in a love seat and Tom had chosen to sit next to her. He had pulled out his own book and began to read.
It was clear by how slowly he had something he wanted to say. Hermione turned to him, "spit it out, Tom"
He chuckled, "Sometimes I think you know me better than them all Hermione. I just wanted to say I was impressed with how you handled today, both the duel and Minerva approaching you at dinner. Using what you knew of her to subtly attack her was very clever, so I guess I just wanted to say that if you ever doubted you're where you belong, don't, because you definitely made Slytherin proud today." With that, he went back to his book.
Hermione was taken back. She didn't know how to process what he just said. She couldn't believe the heir of Slytherin just said she belonged there. Her head remained loyal to Gryffindor but she found her verbal jousts and Slytherin housemates much more suited to her true mentality. When she did homework with Tom he offered compelling thoughts, not just parroted hers. When she talked fashion with her dorm mates they asked her what she liked, not just put her in whatever no matter how uncomfortable she felt, when she helped her housemates with homework that actually attempted to retain the lesson not just get her to do their work for them.
It was then she found herself thinking how much she was taken advantage of in her own time. She liked to help but that went both ways. She couldn't believe how much she was actually enjoying her time here.
Hermione smiled at his form beside her and attempted to read her own book, but what he said about knowing him better nagged at her. Yes, she spent a few nights a week studying her journal of Lord Voldemort but the way he implied was much more intimate. He didn't need to say a word but yet she knew. They clicked together more than she and Ron ever did, maybe even more than she and Harry ever did. She shook her head of those thoughts. No matter how true they were, she couldn't let herself think that way. She focused on her book and before long was lost in the history of Hogwarts.
Hermione looked at the large grandfather clock, it was almost 1 am. Almost everyone else had already gone to bed at this point. All that remained was herself and Tom. He had never gone to bed before her, always waiting even if his homework was long done.
She closed her book. She had gotten caught up in noting the differences in the volumes she had previously read. She looked over and noticed Tom staring intently into the green flames of the fireplace. His face dimly illuminated by each flicker. She couldn't see how this face became what she knew in her time. His strong jawline didn't look like it could ever point out like a serpent's snout. His well-defined nose felt like it fit perfectly on his face, how could it disappear only to leave reptile like slits? His skin, while pale was nothing like the ghostly white she was accustomed to in her time. She shook her head of the thoughts. No matter what had happened in her time, she was here to change it.
She got up and wished Tom a soft good night. He nodded in return but made no move to get up from his seat. She walked quietly to her bed and quickly changed before laying down for the night.
She had started the day by studying him and now she was ending it by admiring him and she couldn't help but think that maybe her wanting to change the past was not only for the greater good but, was now a tiny bit for her.