Hello, here is Chapter 7. Thanks for all who read last chapter, and especially to those who reviewed. The poll will be closing tomorrow, so hopefully by next week we'll have a couple of other Oneshots up. Enjoy!
Chapter 7 - Of Hatred and Heart-attacks
At around the same moment when Tom opened Hermione's trunk, down in the Great Hall, Hermione knew something was wrong... She'd put wards around all her stuff to make sure none of it was stolen and now, alarm bells were ringing in her head.
"Are you all right, Hermione?" Merak asked, looking up from his mince pie,
"You look a bit... pale or something."
"Yeah, I'm... Uh, I'm not feeling very well, I'm going to go to my dorm for a while," Hermione stammered in reply.
"Want me to come with you?" Merak asked, his brow furrowing in concern.
Like all the other JEDs, he was extremely fond of Hermione.
"No, it's OK," Hermione reassured him, " I just need to lie down. I'll see you in Charms."
She rose and rushed out of the hall and down a set of stairs towards the dungeons.
Someone's looking in my trunk, Hermione was screaming internally, Why would anyone be in my trunk? She was practically sprinting when she reached the painting that guarded the Slytherin common room.
"Nex ut Gyrffindors," Hermione gasped, out of breath from all the running. Despite her good figure, she was not a fit person. Sure, she ate healthily, but sitting inside reading all-day, was hardly strenuous activity. She went straight to her dorm where Mizar, one of her two dorm mates, was sitting on the floor looking dazed.
"Mizar?" Hermione said slowly, not sure what to think.
"...There was a boy in here..." Mizar said quietly after a long pause.
"What?"
"There was a boy in here," Mizar repeated, "He came in while I was getting changed so I ran into the bathroom and when I came back out... He was gone but he'd stupefied your snake."
"Did you see who it was?" Hermione demanded.
"No, I was just trying to cover myself," Mizar groaned, "Oh, I'm sorry, Hermione!"
"It's OK, Mizar," Hermione tried to reassure her.
"But it's not OK!" Mizar wailed, "It's all my fault!"
That was the trouble with the trophy wives of the 1940s... They took everything to heart and assumed everything was their fault. They thought they were useless, just because the wizard's thought they were.
"It's alright, Mizar! Just go to lunch! I forgive you!" Hermione said loudly.
I'm really not good with emotions, Hermione frowned to herself.
"Really?" Mizar whispered, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Yes, really. Now go to lunch!" She quickly ushered Mizar out of the room before going over to Lind who was lying motionless on her bed.
"Oh, Lind," Hermione said softly, sitting down on the bed and stroking her softly while wand lessly un-stupifing her. Lind curled up on her lap and started hissing softly.
"Who was it, Lind? Who stupefied you?" Hermione whispered to her.
She knew she wouldn't answer but she had to say it anyway.
If only Harry were here, Hermione thought to herself miserably, He could talk to her and find out...
It was then that she remembered why she was up there in the first place...
Her trunk wards.
With a sigh, she slid Lind off her, got up and dragged the trunk out from under four poster bed.
She shuffled through its contents, noticing that her "birth certificate" and the newspapers of her "parents murder" were near the top.
She kept looking until she realised what had been taken.
Bellatrix's wand.
"Oh, shit!" Hermione exclaimed, tangling her hands in her hair in dismay.
This can't be happening! Hermione shrieked to herself, No two wands are the same! I've lost hers before it was even made!
With a groan of despair, she grabbed her Charms and Astronomy books from her trunk, along with a mouse for Lind to eat, before shoving the trunk back under her bed and dashing for her next class, the wand she'd bought in Ollivander's lying heavily in her pocket.
Charms was a doodle. Her new teacher Professor Newton Scamander, was no Professor Flitwick. He was good, yes, but he lacked that high-pitched voice and overly adorable factor that Flitwick inspired. Plus his teaching methods were completely different...
"Now class, we will be attempting the Deprimo charm. It is a very powerful wind that can loosen or soften a variety of things. It can also be used to detach objects. We will be using it for the latter purpose today."
Easy, this was on her OWLs in 5th year...
Once everyone had been handed a detachable object, gusts of wind were blowing through the room, but withy little success. Hermione decided that one more try and then she would cast the spell properly...
After all, she was new to this class...
"NO, David, not like that!" Hermione could hear Scamander yell across the room. She sighed, then turned back to her work..
Feeling bored, Hermione cast the spell just as Scamander walked past.
Tom was laughing inside. He had pocketed Westron's wand and had a plan all set out for later...Best of all, they were in Charms class. Tom almost smiled as he waved his wand, thinking of how much success Westron must be having...
He didn't look at her, wanting to wait it out until she told some-one while crying in shame and desperation...
Yes, a snake always waited for the best time to strike...
Tom could hear Scamander scuttling about behind him, but paid him no heed..
That was until he heard,
"Wonderful work Miss Westron! 5 points to Slytherin!"
Tom whipped round to see her standing there, wand in hand. He lowered his hand to his pocket, where the other wand lay undisturbed.
How? She didn't strike him as the type to illegally posses another wand, and Tom Riddle was a good judge of character...
Scowling, Tom Riddle decided that tonight, after his little visit, he would call a meeting. He needed to sort some things out with his Knights.
After she had scarffed down her dinner, Hermione was sitting in the library. She hadn't been yet and knew that she had been putting off going. As soon as she entered, she recognised the familiar smell of dusty Tomes and parchment and mmmm...
No-one was around (minus one or two people), as it was a Friday night and most people were in their dorms, sleeping over and having fu with their mates. Hermione went straight over to the complex theory section and sifted through the titles. She had become quite good at doing that efficiently over the years.
Hermione found a few books that she thought would be useful, along with some she had read in her 3rd year and where published in this era. She headed towards her favourite spot, delighted that it existed. The library had barely changed. This, if nothing else, comforted her. After all, Hermione liked order.
Hermione sat down, almost unwilling to open the books incase they only held knowledge of how to travel back in time, or if she found out she was stuck forever.
Hermione looked at the clock, realizing that she had about three hours before she was to meet Slughorn. He had sent her a letter that morning, inviting her over at 8:30 to talk to him, and for him to help her as his duty was (being her head of house). It explained that he was there to help if she had any problems adjusting. The thought was nice, but it made Hermione laugh.
She probably knew more about the school that he did.
Hermione decided that she might as well go. She still had roughly 3 hours to research.
She flipped open Time and How it Works, and began to read...
Seven books later, and Hermione was no closer to finding a solution that when she started. Every time that Hermione thought she was on to something, never held results. Hermione flipped open her next book, feeling discouraged. A few chapters in however, and Hermione perked up.
Time is difficult, and we do not know exactly how it works (see chapter 3). However, Time Turners and Wizarding Magick, are generally the only types of Magick that are talked about in such a way.
Time Travel is not restricted to spells and enchanted objects however, but to many magical races that are often overlooked. For example, the Sidhe were the first beings that were ever associated with magic. They were able to jump through time and dimensions to their will. You may not view this as a valid point as Sidhe, and the Fae have become little more than legends, but there are other example too. Centaurs can see the future, which has not yet come about, whereas we can't travel to what has been? Elves too, have power above the norm. They were once said to heave gained their power directly from the Sidhe. House Elves are no exception. Throughout the centuries they have been oppressed, and I fear still will be in years to come. They, however have completely undiluted power, as apposed to a wizards or witch's, that was gained as a gift and passed down via family. It is possible that some of these creatures could possess such abilities, but be unable to use them because of their order of the hierarchy. This is all of course speculated, and we will never know for sure because of the ancient magick that binds these creatures and how their magick works.
Sacred and consecrated places may too, posses this ability, as many where blessed or used by Fae or the owners of the original Magick. Such places would not be widely known, but could do almost anything according to a person's will.
Hermione almost cried. She had found it! Hermione marked the page and looked at the cover. It was probably the oldest book (or worst looked after) that Hermione had ever seen. The cover was blank, and would probably be brown if Hermione could see through the dust and stains on it. It had only it's title, but no author. Hermione looked around and, satisfied that no-one could see her, Hermione stuffed the book in her bag.
She would need that...besides, it wasn't stealing if she planed to return it...
Hermione looked at the clock, and noticing the time, ran to Slughorn's classroom. She had 6 minutes.
Tom noticed Hermione's quick disappearance after dinner and followed her, before seeing her heading for the library. He left, thinking that she was trying to keep up with her homework. Within an hour or two, Tom had completed his, briefed his Knights on where to be tonight, and fully formulated a plan.
This left him with more time to...negotiate...with Slughorn, concerning his locket.
He walked through the dungeons with a brisk pace and thankfully wasn't confronted by any crying first year seeking help from the "Perfect Prefect".
Tom reached the dungeons and knocked on Slughorn's door. He didn't have to wait long for a reply. Slughorn, seeing who was at his door, grinned.
"Come in, come in Tom m'boy!"
Tom walked in, a polite smile fixed on his face.
"Take a seat, take a seat! Make yourself comfortable."
Tom sat, placing himself directly opposite Slughorn.
Slughorn spoke first. "I take it this isn't just a social call?"
"No Professor, you see, I came to acquire after a locket of mine. Family heirloom that has recently gone missing."
Slughorn looked confused. He would've fooled Tom, if Tom didn't know that all Slytherins could act, and lie very, very well...
"You see, I do believe I have spoken to you about this object. Not personally, but in a passing query. I do remember you being against such a thing rather...vehemently..."
Comprehension was slowly dawning on Slughorn's face.
A good Slytherin always read between the lines...
Hermione ran to Slughorn's room, but paused before knocking as she was panting heavily.
Blotchy faced and out of breath is not a good look.
As Hermione stood outside, she could hear voices coming from inside. She doubted that Slughorn was holding a conversation with himself, so some one must've been inside with him. She then recognised Riddle's voice.
Curiosity made Hermione unable to resist listening in, but she couldn't hear properly. She cast the Disillusionment Charm, and silenced the sound of her footsteps (and the door) as she stepped in. Thankfully, both were not facing the door, so they didn't see it open. Hermione stepped closer, wanting a better view.
Suddenly, a look of comprehension dawned on Slughorn's face. She saw Tom continue.
"You see, that locket holds a special place in my heart...well, of my soul..."
Horror was all that was shown on Slughorn's face.
"Surely you didn't...I-I...How...m-m-muder...soul!"
Slughorn couldn't get a sentance out and Hermione couldn't help, she couldn't move. It was if she was watching a car-crash...she couldn't look away, not even to get help...
A wicked smirk crossed Tom's face.
"Oh but I did. As for how, well...lets just say my filthy muggle father was good for something...Oh! And you don't have to act. I know you did it, probably thinking to be noble and destroy it but I will kill you before that happens...Well, I'll kill you anyway."
Slughorn's face was chalk white, but was rapidly flashing red, then purple, then green and back to white in a way that couldn't be healthy.
"Oh Tom! I-i don't, I-I havn't! Please...please!"
Slughorn also seemed to be having trouble breathing.
"Enough!"
Tom flicked his wand and Slughorn stopped moving. Hermione was frozen in horror. Tom began fire spells at Slughorn, some were designed just to scare, but others weren't. Blisters appeared over Slughorn's skin, spells were leaving ugly red marks and the such.
Hermione couldn't move. She remembered discovering the bodies of Order members and muggles with scares like those ones...but worse...
Suddenly Tom stopped. He regarded Slughorn before laughing, a cold, merciless laugh that reminded Hermione of memories she wished to repress.
"I was going to kill you, but I think I find the knowledge that you died in fear of me a lot more satisfying."
Tom released his bonds, watching with disgust as Slughorn dropped to his knees, clutching his heart.
"You deserve to die a dirty, muggle death!"
Tom walked away, satisfied wit the knowledge that his secret would die with Slughorn, and no-one could help it.
Hermione snapped out of her fear as she realised that Tom had left and a man was dying in front of her, when she could prevent it. She undid all of her spells and rushed to Slughorn's side. He looked like he was having a heart attack.
Well, with a man of his size...
"Miss West-tronn...watch out...Tom...hor-horcr-"
He cut off as he gasped.
"Just hold on Professor!"
Hermione tried the Patronus Charm. She thought of Harry, the last night she spent at the Burrow...
A silver raven flew through the air.
"Slughorn is having a heart attack. His classroom, NOW!"
Hermione watched as it flew off, hoping that Slughorn survived.
Trust her luck, that by lifting a locket, she had almost killed a teacher...
Five minutes later, Professor Dumbledore arrived with the headmaster, Professor Dippet, in tow.
"Professor!" Hermione exclaimed, "He's been attacked. The shock has brought on a heart attack and he could go into cardiac arrest."
She gasped it out in a rush without even thinking. Dumbledore thankfully ignored her and bent down to examine Slughorn. Professor Dippet, however, didn't.
"That's a bit advanced for a Pureblood girl," He commented, "I mean, that's a muggle illness! Pureblood's don't know that kind of thing!"
"We... Ah, I... We did Muggle Studies at Durmstrang!" Hermione stammered.
"Professor Dippet," Dumbledore said quietly, "I am not very advanced at this kind of healing. If you would be so kind, as to contact Saint Mungos?"
"Oh, of course!" Dippet said quickly, turning and running back out of the room.
Slowly, Dumbledore turned away from Slughorn's gasping form and looked at Hermione over the top of his half moon specticles.
"Miss Westron, I'm going to ask you a question and I want you to answer it truthfully," Dumbledore said slowly.
"Of course, Professor!" Hermione said without hesitantion. "Hermione, did you see who attacked Professor Slughorn?"
Hermione gulped. Depending on her answer, she could change history. But what should she do?
Rat out on Riddle and get him sent to Askaban, possibly getting herself killed in the process?
Or keep quiet and let time takes its course?
A/N-Yes, we know that Hermione's Patronus is an otter, but for purposes of the fic (and personal dislike of the otter as Hermione's inner animal) her Patronus is a raven. Besides, Ravens are smart, witty and associated with the devious streak Hermione sometimes has (Marietta Edgecombe or 2nd Year Polyjuice Potion anyone?).