A/N: Thanks for the 8 reviews I've got for last chapter. Hope you enjoy!
Thank to my beta LiveLoveWrite-93!
I struggled with this chapter but I hope you like it.
R&R!
CHAPTER 8: THE DUEL PART 2
Draco saw the curse that could be the end of their duel flying towards him. But he caught it right on time with a quick flick of his wand. He teased Tom by smiling at him in that confident way of his. This angred Tom. He couldn't have someone laughing or even teasing him for his failure. Suddenly the air became thicker, the candles in the air were blown out by a sudden gush of air that swooped throughout the great hall and dark clouds formed itself in the high sky.
The look on Tom's handsome face resembled to one of pure anger and rage. He was so close to becoming Voldemort that Hermione felt chills rolling down her spine. If Draco pushed him a little further she was sure he would explode or become Lord Voldemort.
But Draco stood there unmoved by what just happened and kept on smiling like a fool who just won a galleon. He just spread his legs, bent his knees a little and held his wand in front of him ready to catch any curses that were thrown at him. This seemed to anger the future dark lord even more and he raised his wand and began to throw curses at Draco without even speaking a word.
Different colours of spells came flying out of both of their wands but none of them hit home. It began to rain and a thunder raised through the great hall. Lightings came down right next to Draco and the ground cracked underneath the power behind it all. Draco stood there unmoved and no fear was reflected on his face even though Tom looked more and more like Lord Voldemort and the air around the man seemed to crackle with powerful magic.
Now it was Draco's turn to show what he was worth and he began to throw hexes and curses at Tom. But Tom easily caught them. It seemed like it didn't cost him any energy to dodge them.
Then they began throwing hexes and curses at each other at the same time at the speed of lightning. It was impossible for Hermione to see who was winning or who was losing as the curses formed a web of light around both duellists.
But all of the sudden she saw them throwing a curse at each other at the same time and both curses hit each other mid air as a result a big blast was formed and both players flew back by the blast. Draco fell against the wall and Tom fell down on the tables and benches. But Draco head banged dangerously hard against the wall and Hermione jumped up.
She ran towards Draco screaming "Draco! Are you okay? Oh my, that was so hard! Are you alright? Answer the damn question!" Hermione was worried sick he must have lost consciousness.
It seemed to take her forever to get across the hall towards Draco who still lay frozen on the ground while she ran she didn't see that Tom had fired the sanguine curse who was now flying towards her.
"Hermione!" Riddle screamed "Watch out!"
Hermione turned around to see the curse flying towards her only a few more seconds and she would be hit by it and have a terrible gasp in her arm.
But all of the sudden she felt transport to the place where Tom Riddle stood only a second ago and where she stood before, Tom Riddle stood now. The curse was now flying towards him and hit him square in the face. A big gasp was running down his face and blood was streaming out of the wound. This meant that Draco had won the fight if he wasn't bleeding from the blast against the wall.
Hermione ran towards Tom and quickly cast a healing charm before she ran further towards Draco who was still lying unconscious on the floor. Hermione knelt down beside him and cast a quick healing charm that would bring him back.
"Aaaa! Hermione? What happened?" Draco stuttered.
"You challenged Riddle to a duel,that is what happened. You got blasted away against the wall! Let me see your head" Hermione said stern.
Draco carefully tiled his head but as by a miracle there was no blood. This meant that he had won the duel.
"It seems that you have won this duel, Draco." Hermione stated.
"How is that possible?" Draco asked his eyes searching the hall for Riddle but no Riddle was found. Hermione explained the situation that happened just moments ago.
"Well, it seems he likes you." Draco concluded.
~LD~
Two days later and several books later, Hermione made her way outside. It was a beautiful August day. The sun was shining, there was no wind just a pale blue sky and the grass had a healthy green colour.
She had 'Hogwarts, a history' under her arm as she walked towards the hill that looked out on the quidditch pitch. She had a little blanket with her to sit on in the grass. Hermione spread it out on the hill and lay down on it and began reading her book.
After an hour of intensive reading, she put her book down beside her and decided to watch her beautiful surroundings. The lake was glistening in the afternoon sun and a bird was singing its song. Then she looked at the quidditch pitch and saw a man with striking blond silver hair making loops in the air with his broom.
She couldn't help but look at it. The stunts he was pulling off were life threatening. She could recognise one, she once read about it in a quidditch book. She was a know-it-all so she better act like one. The manoeuvre he was pulling of was the dead man's fall. One just dives down till he almost hit the ground and then pulls up, very easy but also very dangerous.
"Like what you are seeing?" a voice came suddenly from behind Hermione. Hermione turned around to look into the smirking face of Tom Riddle. Hermione couldn't help herself and blushed. It was true she was gaping at the manoeuvres the blond silver haired man was making.
"I am sorry I didn't want to startle you." Tom politely said.
"It is nothing. Do you know who is flying?" Hermione asked.
"It seems to me it is your cousin Draco. He seems rather upset doing such dangerous manoeuvres." Tom answered amused "and I saw Abraxas walking in the corridor just a moment ago."
"That could be possible. He is a seeker after all." Hermione stated.
An uncomfortable silence spread around them while Tom sat down beside Hermione.
Hermione felt awkward sitting next to the most feared wizard in whole Britain and probably the world. The silence between them stretched out between them for it felt like an eternity. The air was charged with electricity Hermione couldn't quiet place it. She began to relax after a while as it seemed there was no danger. Tom seemed to feel this and spoke up: "He isn't your cousin, is he?"
Hermione gasped and looked in horror towards Tom. How could he know that? She almost looked like an exact female copy of Draco.
"I – I am sorry but you are mistaken." Hermione stuttered. Tom lifted his wand and pointed it at Hermione. Hermione felt her breath hitch in her throat and her heart began to beat violently as she saw what he was doing. He muttered a spell beneath his breath and Hermione felt a strange tingle running through her body.
"Abraxas could be his cousin or family but not you with your bushy brown hair and brown soft eyes."Tom said calmly.
"You detected the spells I used?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Of course I did, I am one of the most skilled students that walks this grounds if not the most skilled." Tom's arrogant answer came.
"Will you tell me why you put up this charade?" Tom asked neutrally, a bit of curiosity shimmering through his voice.
"This is not a charade. I am truly his cousin!" Hermione answered defensively.
"Are you kidding me?" Tom sarcastically replied. "Abraxas could be his cousin, even his brother but you. Which makes me wonder why Abraxas looks so much like him? Can you explain that?"
"We just transfigured my hair and eyes because I look so little like him and nobody would believe I am indeed his cousin. That is the truth and the whole truth and that alone." Hermione answered hotly her eyes scanning Tom's face if he believed her.
But apparently he didn't as his answer was: "Do you honestly expect me to believe that? You do know that that makes you even more suspicious, not?"
"Yes, I expect you to believe that because it is the truth. I just look a lot like our grandmother and Draco just looks a lot like our grandfather." Hermione anger reply came.
To her surprise Tom began to laugh. "Calm down, Hermione. I believe you alright?" his sarcastic reply came. He obviously didn't believe a word she said.
"And why does he look so much like Abraxas?" Tom asked.
Hermione was prepared for that one. After she saw them two yesterday she knew Tom would suspect something. So she did a little bit of research so she would have an answer that was absolutely right.
"Well, that mister Riddle is probably because they have both the dominant Veela gene in them. Veela are known for their silver blond hear and striking pale colour. So they both must have some Veela blood in their bloodline." Hermione stated "I don't have the Veela dominant gene so I can't be that blonde and pale."
"Peculiar, miss Grey, very strange indeed. But you must be right although I will check your hypothesis. Would you like to have a tour around the Hogwarts grounds? I will be very happy to be your guide." Tom said delighted.
But before Hermione could answer they were interrupted by Abraxas Malfoy's voice.
"Tom! Tom! Do you fancy a game of quidditch? I got a snitch."
"Don't you see I am busy at the moment. Go ask Grey. He is a seeker and he is already on the pitch."
The look on Abraxas face was one of utter disappointment. Like someone just took away his favourite toy but knew it wouldn't help to push to get it back.
Hermione saw her change to get out under Tom's invitation as she didn't want to spend any more time with the future dark lord.
"It is okay, you can go. I already wanted to go to the pitch to check on my cousin as he seems to have lost his mind with the dangerous loops he is pulling off. So why don't we all go together? Tom you can show me around the pitch. Do you play too?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, I am too a seeker. It is settled then I will show you around the pitch and you can watch a game of quidditch if you like?" Tom's hopeful question came.
"That seems like an excellent idea to me." Hermione answered happily.
"I can still show you around the grounds after the game." Tom said matter of factly.
They walked towards the quidditch pitch to be meted by Draco Grey.
"Hello guys, what are you doing on this lovely Friday afternoon?" Draco's cheerful greeting came.
Abraxas answered before Tom could and said: "We are out to play a little 'catch the snitch'. Are you up for a game with us? What do you think?"
"Sure why not. Are you up for it Tom? A fair game of quidditch, you've got to love it!"
A/N: what will Tom's reply be? Is this a way of Draco to get back to Tom?
Review and I will give you a preview:p