DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!!
PS: I know that at the start of the story, there was a lot of confusion with dates and stuff. At first I said that Hermione had been dead for 22 months but she wasn't. She was dead for 6.
Also: can anyone think of a way I can end this story?
Also also: do you think for the 3rd story, it would be a good idea or a bit cliche to send Hermione back to Tom's schooldays?
Memoirs
Chapter 14
Lucius pulled Hermione along the corridors to the secret room that the discovered Horcruxes had been stashed in. He pushed her through the door and locked it behind him. Hermione walked up to an open chest that had a few men around it, guarding it. When she saw within 5 feet, they instantly pulled their wands out and aimed them at her.
"What is your purpose here?"
"Relax, Antonin, she's with me." Lucius said, walking up behind her and pushing her closer to the chest. "Well? Go on, mudblood, what's the answer?" She said nothing just unrolled the parchment and held it out in front of him. "Are you sure?"
"Each number is relative to its letter in the alphabet, like A to 1, B to 2 etc. '13, 25, 8, 5, 18, 13, 9, 15, 14, 5' becomes 'My Hermione'."
"Your head on the line." Lucius sighed, taking the tip of his wand and writing the words on the lid. After a moment of no reaction, Lucius was about to threaten Hermione but was interrupted by a whirring sound, like cogs turning. The chest opened.
"You did it." Dolohov murmured to Hermione. "You actually solved it. Why'd you threaten her, Lucius?"
"Yes, I do that often yet people are always surprised." Lucius was about to put his hand in the chest when Hermione stopped him suddenly, remembering what had happened to the rock with the other chest.
"Don't!"
"And why not?"
"Because whatever passes through the barrier that isn't myself or Voldemort turns to dust."
"Oh, really? It turns to dust?" he snapped sarcastically, obviously not believing her.
"If you want to sacrifice your hand or any other body part than by all means." Lucius was silent for a moment before nodding and she turned to the chest pulled out...another chest? "What?" she asked, putting the new smaller chest next to the old empty one. Fastened to the lid off this chest was a thick roll of parchment. "Something tells me that this won't be as easy as last time." She groaned as she plucked off the parchment and unrolled it, seeing strange questions. "Damn! I can never do this type of question!"
1: 24 H in a D
2: 26 L of the A
3: 7 D in a W
4: 7 W of the W
5: 12 S of the Z
6: 66 B in the B
7: 52 C in a D
8: 3 B M (S H T R)
9: 5 T on a F
10: 90 D in a R A
11: 13 is U F S
12: 12 M in a Y
13: 29 D in a F in a L Y
14: 52 W in a Y
15: 64 S on a C B
Don't worry, my darling, I have all confidence that you will easily solve these questions, and I await seeing you again. xxx Tom.
"Sh8t." Hermione cursed, flopping down on a sofa that appeared to appear out of nowhere.
"24...? H in a D? What are the puzzles?" Lucius asked looking at the scroll Hermione had shoved at him.
"They're 'Intelligence Questions'. Basically, for example, number 1 '24 H in a D' means that 24 of something beginning with the letter H go into something that starts with D. Quite simple but usually quite hard." She said, drumming her fingers on the table.
"How long do you think it will take you to solve them?"
"I don't know. Could be hours, days, weeks..." she trailed off, shaking her head
"Hermione, you have 24 hours."
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When Hermione re-entered her room, she saw Tom's ghostly figure sitting on her bed, not looking too happy.
"Where've you hidden the locket?"
"What do you mean?" she asked innocently, putting the roll of parchment on her table and walking over to her wardrobe.
"Don't kid me, my darling, what have you done with the Horcrux?"
"Okay," she began, turning around and raising her pointing hands, "first off - stop calling me 'my darling', it's creepy. Second - I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Hermione," he cooed, standing up and backing her into a corner and keeping her trapped there by pinning her between his arms, "I know that you went out to Lake Windosse 2 days ago and took the locket. And what would you rather me call you? Babe? Sweetheart? My little angel?" he said, lifting a hand and running it down her cheek. She shuddered from the horrible feeling of a ghost's skin but Tom mistook it for desire. "See? Even in death I never fail to arouse you."
"I'm disgusted by you." she spat.
"Hermione, there's no need for nasty words." He scolded, stepping closer to her so their bodies touched. "Now, sweetheart...where've you put the locket?"
"Top drawer...side table..." she whimpered, not from desire but again the horrible feeling he was making worse by putting his hand straight through her chest. He pulled his hand out from her body and walked over to the drawer, opened it and saw the little necklace there.
"You're going to give this to Lucius."
"No, I'm not." She said firmly, from her place on the floor.
"Hermione, yes you are." He said firmly, picking up the necklace and walking back over to her. "Hermione, he could begin the returning ritual tomorrow, and I'd be back."
"That's why I'm not going to give it him. I don't want you back."
Hurt flashed across his eyes. "You don't mean that."
"Oh, yes, I do."
He just sulked and walked over to the table where she had put the roll of clues and he picked up it, opening it. After glazing over it for a moment he smirked. "I remember writing this. It was on the 3rd day of our arguing. I wrote the other scroll then as well. I knew you'd solve them."
"Tom, just leave me alone." She sighed, only just finding the strength to stand up and lean against the wall.
"No. I'm not going to stop howling you until you give this scroll to Lucius."
"I haven't even solved the problems."
Tom just smirked, turned away and sat at the table. He opened the ink pot and picked up the scroll and began to write on it. She walked up behind him and looked over his shoulder as he swiftly jotted down the answers. She idly noted that his handwriting was a lot neater than any boys' she had ever seen. "There." he said. He stood up and faced her. "Now, there is nothing to stop you from handing that over to Lucius and getting me back."
Hermione had an idea. She took the scroll flirtatiously, startling Tom for a moment at her sudden change of manner but didn't let it hinder him. "Just for curiosity sakes, what's in the chest?"
"Horcrux." He answered simply, sitting back down on the table, folding his arms and smirking. Hermione pushed a little further, pushed the chair out of the way and pressed herself right against him. She arched her defined brows and tilted her head to the side.
"Bit more info?" she asked.
"Hermione, it's a Horcrux."
"Yes, but is it a necklace? Or a cup like Hufflepuff's?"
"Actually there are 3 Horcruxes in the chest." he said, still smirking but a little unnerved by Hermione's persistence.
"Hmmm. After these puzzles, is there yet another box or is it straight to these precious items?"
"Straight to them."
"Ahhh. Right. Well, I'd best get these to Lucius."
She turned to walk away but Tom's voice stopped her.
"Hermione. Don't forget; I speak with Lucius as well as yourself. If you try and not tell him as to get to them first, I'll know." He threatened.
"Would I?" she asked.