"She's the girl."
When I opened my eyes, I see Lestrange hovering above me and there's someone beside him. But his face is very blurry.
I shift my body but I couldn't. Something holds both my wrists and ankles down. I tried shaking them off but they only created noise, metal to metal.
It went on until the noise turn into my voice, screaming.
"Dammit, Granger! Wake up!"
My eyes opened. It felt like a pail of cold water was thrown at me.
Malfoy dropped heavily beside me on my bed, his hands trembles as he runs them on his hair. He covers his face with his palms and stays like that for another second before looking at my sweaty self.
"Your scream can be the death of me Granger." He says breathlessly. "Why Potter can still sleep through it is beyond me."
I appreciate Malfoy adding humor to things at times like this. Right, Harry still lay unconscious after a day. It may be a side effect of time travelling but why only him?
"We didn't bring his arse here just to sleep." Malfoy stands and walks over a table and picks up something. "This is for you."
"From who? Dumbledore?" I ask after he hands me an envelope.
He shrugs and says nothing. I open the envelope and unfold the paper inside.
The girl who appeared from nowhere,
I know you were coming.
I let you live until you serve your purposes.
Burn this after reading.
Sincerely,
Surely you know who I am
"What's it say?" Malfoy asks and walks back to me.
I don't know what to do. Should I tell him? Or not?
"It's noth-"
Before I could light it on fire, he manages to get it from me and reads it.
"Who this, "sure you know who I am' person?" He started. "We know no one from here except for Dumbledore."
I have an idea. It must be from Lestrange. He mentioned about me being "the girl". I haven't mentioned the encounter because I was waiting for Harry to wake up.
"So," Malfoy says and hands me back the paper. "Any idea?"
…
"What? That happened?" Malfoy exclaims after telling him the events from the prison-like room.
"They call themselves Lestrange and Avery." I repeated. "Surely you know those family names are."
He frowns and nods all the same. "They are Voldemort's death eaters." He grimly admitted.
"And if they were the one who sent the letter!" I exclaimed and cover my face with both my palms. "This plan screwed. We're screwed."
"And if it isn't?"
I peek through the tips of my fingers and look at him. "Let's kill him."
"Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy, tonight there will be a feast, a welcoming feast for new students." Dumbledore says. "The three of you should be introduced tonight but unfortunately, Mr. Potter is yet to have awaken."
He hands us three piles of papers and stood up from his seat. I look at the first pile with a Hermione Devereaux on the first page.
"Ms. Granger, at this time period you'll be a pureblood. You will have the name Hermione Devereaux. You're the daughter of Stefan and Katherine and sister of Harry. If Grindelwald didn't attack, you would've graduated as the brightest student in Le rouge academy." He held out his hand in front of me. I took it. "Grindelwald supposedly tortured you and left a scar on your left forearm." He said as he flicked his wand and then I have my fake scar. "Devereaux family has green eyes."
He picks up the pile from my hands with Harry Devereaux on it.
"Harry Devaurax, pureblood. Son of Stefan and Katherine Devaurax. Brother of Hermione Devaurax. Supposedly, forced to flee france with his sister because of one of the attack of Grindelwald. Grindelwald used your family's wealth to attack the muggles. His parents died fighting Grindelwald. For educational background, he attended Le rouge academy for young witches and wizards." He paused and turned to Malfoy.
"Mr. Malfoy, you'll be Draco Le rouge a pureblood of course. You are the son of Damon and Elena Le rouge and the last living descendant of the Le rouge. You're ancestor was the one who founded the Le rouge academy for young wizards and witches. You attended there with Harry and Hermione. You flee France with the same reason as them. Harry was your best friend while Hermione is your betrothed."
"Wait, what?!" We asked at the same time with the same expression.
"It makes things interesting."
Draco rolled his eyes and grunted. Despite of all the disagreements Dumbledore proceeded with me.
I was quite happy with my make over. My bushy brown hair was now blonde and long tamed curls cascaded up to my back. My skin is lighter and smoother.
"Now, if anyone ask where your brother is, tell them that he is still injured and still being taken care of." Dumbledore said and stood up. "And another thing,"
"Sometimes, doing the right thing doesn't mean doing what is easier, am I right Ms. Devereaux?" He smiles and his eyes twinkle.
"Let's kill him."
"What did you just say?" I ask him and took a deep breath. I walk over to Harry's bed and sat, letting my gaze fall on his sleeping face.
"We went here to prevent the war from starting right? So we'll just go and kill him."
"We can't kill him right now! We are the only one that knows he's a murderer." I reasoned.
"So what do you say we do?" Malfoy asked.
-
"Your palm is getting sweaty, Granger."
"What?! It's not! And let me remind you Mr. Le rouge, it's De-ve-reaux! Why are you holding my hand anyway?" I snorted at Draco.
"It is. And let me remind you as well Ms. De-ve-reaux, we are supposed to be "betrothed".
I released my tight grip on his hand and glared at him. He's not going to change, EVER.
"Let me introduce you to our two new students." Announced by an old man on the podium. He must be Armando Dippet. I've read before.
"Nervous are you granger?"
"It's De-ve-reaux." I said and walked with him across the hall.
"I guess old habits die hard." Malfoy said and smirked.
Other than the loud pounding of my heart, the next thing I found annoying while walking across the great hall was the continuous whispering, pointing and meaningful smiles of the students. Malfoy was right. I am nervous. It was like year one. I was back to square one but the hard part was Ron's not beside me anymore.
Tears were threatening to fall but I was startled when a cold hand held mine. I didn't expect it to be Malfoy. I look up to see his face but he was facing Armando Dippet who was explaining why there are three students transferring in Hogwarts which was very unusual. Malfoy's hand was surprisingly comforting despite the fact that it was cold.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuff is are true And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
Malfoy was making circle movements on my hand with his thumb. If my younger self would see me right now holding hands with Draco 'ferret' Malfoy, she'd puke or worse lecture me. I admit it was comforting. Malfoy of all people giving comfort to a muggleborn, like me, it's shocking indeed. I guess the war affected us all.
"Draco Le rouge."
He carefully let go of my hand and went towards the chair and sat.
It was fast like during our first year. The sorting hat announced. "SLYTHERIN!"
No doubt about that.
"Hermione Devereaux."
I wish Malfoy was still holding my hand. I feel like passing out with every step. I sat on the chair and looked over him.
He smiled at me and mouthed "relax".
I sighed.
I was startled when I heard the audacious voice of the sorting hat.
"Ahh…your mental barrier is way too strong Ms. Devereaux or may I call you, Ms. Granger."
'How did you know?'
"I know a lot of things, like you are a time traveler and a muggleborn."
'Wait, I have a good reaso—'
"Don't worry Ms. Granger, my work here is to sort the student in their suitable houses."
'Thanks.'
"Let's start. I sorted you already in the house of Godric Gryffindor."
'Yes, I choose to be there aga—'
"Ha! This time it will be different, Ravenclaw would be suitable for your knowledge and wisdom."
'Yes, that would be ok-'
"Hufflepuff will consider your loyalty and kind heart but you have knowledge and practiced dark arts and you have killed. You fit in all houses but I know where to put you, SLYTHERIN!"
I wish to talk to the sorting hat and give him a piece of my mind but it was lifted off my head. I searched for Malfoy and saw him as shocked as I am. I couldn't think straight. The loud cheering of the Slytherin house is thumping in my head.
I could see him swaying. Swaying?
I am feeling light headed but then a pair of strong arms held me closer in his muscular chest. When his voice reached my ear, I feel something in me stir. My vision corrected and my head felt okay.
"Ms. Devereaux?" His voice is not warm. It was stern and commanding but at the same time, deep and manly. I looked up to see who the mystery guy was. He has a neat black hair, cold black eyes pale skin, structural jaw, and red kissable lips. Wait, I know this guy. He's no mystery at all.
"Ms. Devereaux."
He...
He's Tom Riddle.
He's the future dark lord, Voldemort. He, who made my life miserable, was now holding me tightly. I pushed him away with all of my strength. He didn't even stumble instead he remained in his place towering over me.
My mind is in chaos. My heart raged. With trembling hands I reached for my wand. I'll kill you now. This will be your end. But before I could pull out my wand out, Dumbledore's words came into my mind.
"Sometimes, doing the right thing doesn't mean doing what is easier, am I right Ms. Devereaux?"
Dumbledore's probing eyes lingered in my mind.
"So what do you say we do?" Malfoy asked. "Killing him is easier."
"Easier?" I say. "What about we make his true color show and let everyone know, then kill him?
Malfoy looks at me, contemplating the words that came out of my mouth.
"Let's do that."
And how am I going to do that?
Make him angry.
It's definitely not easy.
I raised my right hand but it was not equipped with my wand. I clenched it and punched Tom Riddle in the face.