Chapter Two: Arising Fear
Seconds stretched into minutes, and minutes stretched into what seemed like hours since she had heard the voice. Feeling a little unnerved and somewhat uncomfortable, she leaned against the stone wall of the lavatory. She didn't even know what she was waiting for that left her feeling so nervous.
Closing her eyes in a daze, she saw someone in her mind's eye. He was a dark figure with fine features of a long frame. He watched her stare at him with curiosity. Something in his eyes captured her. The grimness hidden within his blank expression would frighten others at first glance, but Hermione was not afraid. There was softness there. It was well hidden, but it was there. He moved toward her walking slowly, but as soon as he was close enough to touch, he disappeared before her into thin air, along with the aura he possessed. Startled, Hermione opened her eyes. And he was there again, right before her very eyes. He stared directly into her eyes while she stared straight back into his trying to read his expression once more. She couldn't tell at first glance, but something lingered in his eyes this time that she didn't like. So captivated by the way his eyes entranced her, she allowed her mind to drift. The rush came so suddenly that it took Hermione by surprise. The young man took her hand, stroking her smooth skin within his hold.
Breaking their eye contact, he glanced down at her hand gently cradled in his. Almost immediately Hermione remembered where she was. Taking her hand back, she saw his expression change from one of affection to anger. Judging by the look on his face now, she thought it would be a good time to leave as fast as she could. She could not believe she had let him touch her like that. She felt her face turn a bright shade of red from embarrassment.
Stepping to one side, Hermione tried to get around him only to be blocked. She tried again he blocked her way. Beginning to loose her patience after she tried again to get around him, Hermione put on a stern face to match his own.
"Will you please let me pass? I have to get back to my friends before they start to worry," she said trying her best to sounds forceful. But he could sense the tenseness in her voice. A very sly grin crept upon his face, sending an unearthly chill down Hermione's spine. She couldn't place what it was about this man that made her so nervous, but she felt herself begin to tremble.
"I think your friends are the last thing you should be worrying about." He said.
Not even waiting to let his threatening words sink in, Hermione took advantage of the moment and quickly looped around him, reaching for the door. She dug deep in her pocket searching for her wand, but it wasn't there. She quickly tried to think through her options if he had somehow locked the door without her knowing it. There were no other exits around that she was aware of.
Upon hearing him utter something under his breath, she grasped the door handle and held on tight. She prepared herself to make a mad dash to the common room. But Hermione didn't even get the chance to pull it open. She felt an unearthly force snatch the back of her robes. It lifted her completely off her feet and slammed her into the back wall. It held her there long enough for her to cry out in excruciating pain before dropping her back to the stone floor. Her shoulder now lay beneath her in an awkward position. Blackness nearly overcame her eyes as she resisted the urge to pass out. She tried desperately to stand before her attacker, but her legs would not move. She couldn't even manage to roll herself off her throbbing shoulder. Her back kept her from making any sharp movements. The only thing she could move at this point was her eyes.
The man stood towering over her as she whimpered in pain. For a moment she thought he was going to start kicking her, but he just stood there in silence. When he began to speak, his voice was like ice.
"I have been waiting a long time for you to finally arrive, Hermione. You can't possibly imagine how long. I must admit I had hoped you would have put up more of a fight when you saw it was me, but now I gather you do not recognize me. Allow me to refresh your memory."
Hermione's mind began to drift once again. Her senses flowed through what felt like a deep sleep… only she was watching herself…from someplace else. Like an awkward dream, she saw herself in her 2nd year. Her bushy hair and deep brown eyes made Hermione sure it was her own small form she was watching. But she wasn't moving. A mirror was raised in her hand away from her face. That was when Hermione realized what she was seeing. She was lying in the hospital wing…petrified by the basilisk that once haunted the school just a few years ago.
Her eyes opened with fear. She knew that voice now. It was the voice of none other than Tom Riddle…no…Lord Voldemort. She was facing the Dark Lord, Voldemort, her worst fear and Harry's worst enemy. But he wasn't the dreadfully hideous looking man she thought he would be. He was younger and appeared to be around her age, give or take a couple years.
Hermione's thoughts raced trying to search for a reason…a reason as to why he would hunt her down like this. What had she done to get on his bad side? Was he using her to get to Harry? She pondered if she could possibly be his bait. But most of all, where was Harry? Where was Ron? Wouldn't they have come to look for her by now? She had been gone too long as it was. Why hadn't they started looking for her yet? Wouldn't this be the opportune moment for them to walk in?
"Ah, yes, now you see. You do know me, and I know you. Quite a shock I suppose. Perhaps I should just leave you here. I wander how long you will last before you die of internal bleeding." His voice almost teased her as he spoke.
"N-n-no," was all she could manage to get out. He laughed a cold, harsh, and soft laugh at her desperation.
"No? You don't want me to leave? My, this is interesting." A small grin crept upon his face now. He knelt down towards her and wiped the tear off her delicate cheek. She cringed at the feeling of his touch. It was soft and yet chilling to the inner core. "I'm the man you have feared in your dreams for years. And yet, you want me to stay…here…with you?"
Another tear fell down Hermione's face. It trickled down toward her hair that sprawled across the hard stone floor. He wiped it away gently as it fell. She knew in the back of her mind that he would not let her survive this encounter.
"Well, of course we can't stay here. We'll have to go somewhere a little more private." He said.
Hermione began to tremble again as he stood from his kneeling position. The violent shaking of her body only caused more pain to spread throughout her weakened limbs. Tom lifted her light form above the ground with a simple levitation spell and guided her through the darkness that was the Chamber of Secrets. Hermione finally gave into the pain and allowed herself to surrender to a deep sleep overtaking her senses.
A/N: Okay, so it took a while, I know. But that's just how I write sometimes. I've had testing, finals, and some sinus work done…so naturally, it took a while. Not to mention I'm a bit of a perfectionist. That alone makes me take my time. Hopefully the next chapter will be up a lot faster than the last. Thank you to everyone for being so patient. Love ya!
READ AND REVIEW! Please let me know what you think.
Special thank you to Fantome. Where would I be without you? Thanks for helping me edit everything. You're a natural writer!
