Through the Tears

I walked into my new common room and looked around. Everything was a combination of green, red, silver and gold. It should have looked bad with all those colors thrown together but surprisingly it was quite tasteful.

I entered to find that Riddle was asleep on the couch – snoring quite loudly. I smirked, who would have guessed that the Dark Lord would do something so ordinary as snore?

My moment of merriment was cut short by the reminder of my friends. At least the dead ones.

Knowing that I wouldn't get any sleep that night I walked up to my room dejectedly.

I dressed in my pajamas and climbed into bed.

I was seeing them falling. Each one of them separately. Ginny falling from the killing curse sent by Parkinson's father. Bellatrix laughing as Ron let out his last scream, killed by the cruciartous curse. Molly Weasley, always so kind and caring, jumping in front of Fred to save him from a deadly curse – sacrificing herself for her son. Neville being cornered by two unknown death eaters, feebly trying to defend himself from two oncoming attacks. Harry, right before the curse hit him, turning to meet my eyes. I hadn't even noticed it the first time but I knew what he was saying – a silent goodbye…

"Get up, Grendell," I heard a voice say, causing me to sit up with a start.

I looked wildly around until my eyes landed on Riddle. I was absolutely terrified but I used all of my courage just to mask that. This was the first time that I had ever been alone with Voldemort – with out any competition this was the frightening moment of my life.

I glared, "What the hell are you doing here Riddle?"

"Relax," he said, rolling his eyes. "You were crying out in your sleep. It's four in the morning and you woke me up."

"Oh, sorry," I had to force the words out of my mouth. He should be the one apologizing to me for causing those nightmares!

He hesitated before he left. "Have you really killed people?" he asked.

I silently cursed myself.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, trying to pretend that I was clueless.

He didn't buy it. "Well, it sounded to me that you were killing people for revenge. Something about some kids dying and than you saying that it was pathetic that you were able to kill some other people. All very confusing."

I continued to play innocent. "How should I know what I was yelling out? It was only a nightmare."

"Sounded like a pretty real one to me," Riddle responded.

I intensified my glare. "Riddle, what are you still doing here?"

Without another word, he left.

I knew that sleep was pointless so I got up, dressed and took a shower. After getting ready, I walked outside and headed towards the lake.

I was completely lost in my thoughts so I barely registered the fact that someone else was coming my way.

"Watch it," I heard a voice snap.

I looked up and saw that the current time period's Malfoy was glaring at me, flanked by his cronies.

I sighed. "Grow up," I told him and kept on walking.

I felt him grab my arm and push me back to where I was standing.

"Excuse me?" he said. "No one dismisses me. I will decide when we are done talking."

I smirked. "Really? Is that so?"

I whipped out my wand and turned on them.

Smiling sweetly I looked up at him and said, "How about this Malfoy, get out of my way or I will show you what I've done to superior wizards than you."

The Slytherins laughed and all took out their wands. There were about six of them total. None of them had any skill with the exception of Malfoy who far surpassed his son, Lucius with a wand.

A week expelliarmus was shot at me and I dodged it. Faster than any of them could register, I stunned and disarmed four of the six.

The remaining two, Malfoy and some Slytherin whose name I didn't know, just stood there with their mouths wide open.

"How? You. Wand. Fast … how?" Malfoy said, unable to clearly put a sentence together.

I just smirked.

"You know, I will give you guys a chance to run. If you do it fast enough, maybe I won't curse you," I told them calmly.

Malfoy snarled and lifted his wand.

With a bored sigh I blocked their pathetic curses, stupefy and a jelly legs jinx, and paralyzed both of them.

I have to admit I was disappointed in Malfoy, from what I had seen of him in class he was decent with a wand. I expected more from him.

I could felt the hatred radiating off of all the Slytherins.

Needing to blow off a little more steam, I thought about it and waved my wand and all six of the robes were turned into red and gold ball gowns – fake chests and everything.

I heard a chuckle behind me and turned to see a very attractive boy leaning on a tree.

"Very nice," he complimented me.

I smiled and replied, "It was nothing, trust me."

He smiled at me.

"Hermione Grendell," I said introducing myself.

"I know," he told me. "You have half the school talking about you. I'm Matteo Zabini. Nice to meet you."

I looked at him for a second before saying, "You're in my DADA and potions class, right?"

Matteo nodded. "History of magic and Arithmacy too."

"Sorry," I said. "There are just too many names to remember. So far I think I only know two people's names that aren't in my house."

He smiled. "Don't worry about it. Who are the two you know?"

"Malfoy and Zabini." I rolled my eyes, which caused him to laugh.

"Then I'm happy to be the first Ravenclaw you've met. I came in second year and I received some of the same attention," Matteo told me and I smiled. "Although, we were twelve so not quite the same type of attention. Specifically from the opposite sex."

My smile turned into a blush. "Shut up." I told him.

He just grinned.

A/N: I don't know how you guys pronounce it but I read it as, Ma-tay-oh. Though I would just say that.

Anywho, liked it?