A/N: Thank you so much for all of your reviews. Sorry for my late update – I didn't have access to a computer until now. Well, anyway, enjoy! :) Voilà chapter 33
Disclaimer: don't own.
That's what happened:
"Yes, there was something I needed to talk to you about, Natalija." Tom said, and suddenly he looked uncomfortable. "I need to talk to you alone!" he sneered at the others, mainly directing his sneer at Draco.
"Okay, Tom, let's go to your head dorm then." Hermione suggested.
"What is it?" she asked when they finally arrived.
"Yes, Natalija." Tom sat down gingerly on the sofa, Hermione standing impatiently next to him, tapping her foot. "I wanted to talk about the future. OUR future…"
On with the story:
Hermione stopped tapping her foot at once, staring intently at Tom. Oh no! What did he want to talk about? Hopefully not …?
"Well you see, Natalija," Tom said with difficulty "you are very… important… to me." he didn't look at her. Hermione noticed that his cheeks were slightly red from embarrassment and he was staring at the floor.
What would be coming next?
"Thank you Tom. You are very important to me as well." Hermione said sincerely and quietly. Tom looked up at her, a small smile gracing his lips. "Good… Sit down next to me, Natalija." Hermione obeyed at once, cuddling into his arms.
"And now you are pregnant!" Tom stated the obvious, unconsciously pulling Hermione tighter towards him. "Yes." Hermione answered simply as she was confused. What would she have to answer to a statement like that?
"You might not know that, Natalija, that before I knew you, I had different goals, different wishes. My plan was to rid the magical world of mudblood filth, to help the wizards not to hide anymore, to achieve something that could even conquer death!" Tom said and Hermione shuddered. Why was he telling her that?
Wait! Did that mean that he just confessed all his misdeeds?
"I knew that nothing could stop me! But then you came along! In all your glory. You made me realize that there are other things. Things that are more important than useless meetings with followers who let me torture them." Tom continued and Hermione suddenly felt very sick and she swallowed audibly.
"Natalija – I made many mistakes – and I'm not going to tell you what kind of mistakes. But I know it was wrong. And yes, I regret them. You should know that I am not a pureblood. I am a halfblood. My mother was a pureblood – the descendant of Slytherin, and my father was a filthy muggle who left me in an orphanage for 17 years. My mother died giving birth to me and – my father didn't want me. I've never known him, only the loneliness and brutality of the orphanage." Tom said in a voice that Hermione couldn't place although she noticed the bitterness.
She couldn't blame him. He sounded really heartbroken and Hermione felt the urge to cry. What a sad story! 'Pregnant women and their hormones' Hermione thought when some salty tears slid down her face. She gave an involuntary sob.
Tom looked at her concerned. "Oh, don't cry, Natalija!" he bent down and kissed her tears away, making Hermione smile again.
"Okay - to cut my story short – I changed! For the better! I'm not interested in my previous goals any longer. You are much more important to me. You and OUR baby. I can finally have a family – something that I was denied for more than 17 years! Now I know that it's THIS I missed. Having a family. People who are there for me. Natalija, do you want to have a future with me?" Tom asked enthusiastically.
Hermione just sat there dumbfounded. What did that mean? A future with him? What exactly was he implying?
But Hermione was too overwhelmed by his confession and by his change that she smiled widely and answered: "Yes, Tom. I would love to have a future with you."
After all, Victor Krum had told her to follow her heart. In her dream, at least. And at the moment she was only following her heart. Her mind was screaming at her. No, this is Lord Voldemort. He is evil. He is bad. Don't listen to him! But she didn't care. In her heart, she knew this was the right decision.
Tom looked at her, his eyes alight with fire and his lips stretching into the most beautiful smile, Hermione had ever seen. "Thank you, Natalija." and with that they kissed… and kissed… and kissed…
THTHTH
"He probably asks her, if she wants to marry him." Draco sat on the red sofa, his arms crossed, glaring at the 'golden boy' and Ginny.
"Aww come on, I don't think so. She is pregnant. He probably wanted to talk about that! Besides, I don't think that Hermione WANTS to marry him." Ginny said in a soothing voice, placing her small hand on Draco's pale forearm.
He looked up at her, his blue eyes glittering strangely. Ginny let go of him immediately. "Wha'? No!" she cried out, understanding at once. To her dismay, Draco just nodded. Harry looked at the exchange between them, not understanding anything. "What is it Ginny?" he asked, urgently looking at his girlfriend.
"Let HIM tell you." Ginny snapped, glaring at the blonde-haired boy.
"No, Ginny. I won't say a word. And neither will YOU! Good night, Potter!" Draco stood up abruptly, leaving the other two in the room of requirement in a stunned silence.
"What is it?" Harry asked again, looking at Ginny with wide eyes. She just shook her head. "He has to tell you himself. I'm not the right person to tell you. Besides, I can't believe you haven't noticed yet. You are as blind as Ron. Hermione was giving obvious signs that she liked him and neither Ron nor you noticed." Ginny grinned a bit.
Harry smiled at the memory. "Yeah. It took us quite a long time, although I think that Hermione looks happier with Tom. Don't ask me why, but I think they are perfect for each other."
Ginny was astonished. "Really? You think that?"
"Yes." Harry said simply and earnestly.
Ginny nodded and smiled at her boyfriend. "Same with me. Now let's go and find ferret-boy. We have to be there for him."
"You are kidding, right?" Harry smirked, although he was following Ginny out of the portrait hole. "He might do something rash. You know Malfoy!" Ginny shot him a reproving look, reminding him scarily of Mrs. Weasley.
"Okay okay…" Harry put up his hands defensively, being shooed out by a furious Ginny Weasley.
THTHTH
Harry found Draco an hour later in the Slytherin common room. A lone figure was sitting in front of the fire, feet up on the sofa, not even noticing Harry come in.
"Maxim…" Harry said quietly. He didn't know who else would be in this room. "What do you want, Potter?" Draco growled moodily. "Be careful." Harry looked around the room, which seemed to be empty.
"Talk to you. Ginny wouldn't tell me about your problem. Maybe I can help you." Harry said, surprising himself for showing so much compassion. Draco sneered at him. "You wouldn't even WANT to understand me, Potter." Draco said darkly.
Harry sighed and looked at his former enemy. "We're in the same boat now, Draco."
Draco looked at Harry imploringly. "Well… there is someone I like."
"Yes, I know that." Harry rolled his eyes. "You like Hermione, don't you?"
Draco gaped at Harry. "Well – yes. How did you know? I thought you had no clue!"
"Come on! I can see it in your eyes. The way you look at her. The way you talk about her. I'm neither blind nor stupid. My name isn't Ron Weasley!" Harry grinned. Draco had to grin as well, despite himself.
"So what do you suggest now?" Draco shook his head. He was having this conversation with golden boy himself?
"Wait. Just wait until we're back in the future. Although Hermione told me that she probably has to come back after us, because of the baby." Harry told him and Draco nodded.
"You think that Hermione and I are together in the future?"
"Yes, Draco, I think so." Harry smiled. He had no idea of course, but he knew it would cheer Draco up immensely.
"Good." Draco indeed seemed happier. "Let's go for a late good-night snack in the kitchen. I'm starving."
THTHTH
"Oi! What are you doing here?" Draco called out to the young couple who were cuddling in the far corner of the kitchen, eating minced pies.
"Pregnant woman had cravings." Tom smirked at Draco, ignoring the rude interruption.
Hermione glared jokingly at him. "Well – thank you so much, Tom!" She playfully hit him in the arm and threw a piece of cake at him.
"Ow – that hurt! And look, you ruined my robes!" Tom rubbed his arm, playing along, glaring jokingly at Hermione.
"You get what you deserve!"
Draco only looked at Hermione, his eyes only slits. "So… when are you getting married?" his voice sounded cold and distant, a voice that Hermione didn't like.
"Excuse me?" Why was Draco being his usual arrogant self?
"WHEN are you getting married?" Draco repeated, glaring at Hermione.
"Why – what?" Hermione asked, completely nonplussed.
"He talked to you about your future. That means, he asked you to get married!" Draco informed her haughtily.
Oh, that's where he was getting. Oh DRACO. "No, actually, he didn't. He was talking about our future and the baby, but nothing about marriage." Hermione replied mortified, her cheeks red from embarrassment and anger.
"Keep your blonde head out of our business!" Tom growled, glaring at the Abraxas-Double with hatred.
"Very well." Draco said, sounding relieved for a reason that Tom could only suspect.
"Come on, Maxim." Harry yanked Draco away from the couple and steered him out of the kitchen again. He didn't want to cause any trouble. An angry almost-Dark-lord, a pregnant woman, and a jealous Slytherin – definitely not a good combination.
"So, they are not getting married?" Draco sounded relieved and dumbfounded at the same time. They were now outside the kitchens, near the Hufflepuff common room.
"I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but I think they will get married. IF we don't go to the future before that. Hermione will have to return later anyway. Who knows if she will be married by then?" Harry reasoned, talking quietly so that they couldn't be overheard.
"But she can't be. What's the use of a marriage if the partner lives in another time-period?" Draco kicked the wall frustratingly.
Harry nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, you are actually right." So what were Hermione and Tom really going to do? Harry had no clue. They would have to talk to Dumbledore about that anyway.
Draco and Harry were now passing the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room. Harry knew of course where it was as he had seen Cedric going in there in his fourth year.
Harry was lost in his thoughts about the Triwazard Tournament in his third year– but at that moment, the Hufflepuff door burst open – and Draco and Harry both jumped in alarm.
"Geez, you are giving me a heart attack." Draco growled in his typical Slytherin manner, glaring at the two Hufflepuffs.
"Oh, I'm really sorry." a sweet voice answered, looking at Draco helplessly. "We didn't mean to scare you."
Draco looked at the girl – and was speechless for a second. She had wavy, long black hair, sparkling blue eyes, tan skin and was short – slender but short. Her nose was tiny and her lips pulled up into an attractive smile, revealing beautiful white even teeth.
"Oh, where are my manners? My name is Emilia Vane." the girl stuck out her hand and Harry immediately saw the resemblance between his former admirer, Romilda Vane and Emilia. It was almost striking, though Emilia was by far prettier.
Draco shook her hand, smirking his Slytherin trade mark smirk, looking down at the girl arrogantly, although his cheeks were slightly rosy. A pureblood – and a pretty one at that. "Maxim Krum." Harry shook her hand as well, smiling politely "Anatol Poliakoff.".
"And this is Mary Grey – in my year." Emilia explained.
"Nice to meet you." Harry shook the hand of the girl who was obviously a muggle. Draco didn't notice the difference, shaking her hand as well.
"Nice to meet you girls." Draco drawled in his familiar voice. "Want to go for a walk outside?"
Trust Draco to recover from his jealousy soon.
The two girls giggled and looked at each other, blushing profusely. "Yes, we would love to." Emilia explained. "Let us just get our cloaks."
"Good. We'll be waiting for you." Draco send a charming smile Emilia's way. "But only for five minutes. We, in Slytherin don't have time to wait." his smile was growing into the well-known smirk.
The two girls giggled again. "Okay, we'll hurry up."
As soon as they were out of earshot, Harry rounded on Draco. "Are you planning to drag me outside for your evening stroll as well?"
"Yes, Potter, I expected that." Draco drawled, leaning casually towards the wall, looking down at Harry with his usual arrogance.
"And why might I ask? I have a girlfriend in case you have forgotten!" Harry said through gritted teeth.
"So?" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"So? I don't plan on betraying her!" Harry said furiously. "Besides, do you know who Emilia Vane is?"
"A pureblood?" Draco answered, sounding bored.
"Yes, but her granddaughter was Romilda Vane – a Gryffindor in our time. She was one of my admirers." Harry spat.
Draco smirked. "Really? I never knew you had any admirers. Romilda must have had a love potion then."
"Indeed. Though it was in my pumpkin pasties." Harry rolled his eyes and Draco looked interested for the first time. "She gave you a love potion? How? Why?" but he was interrupted by the arrival of the two girls, both wearing two identical black coats with the yellow Hufflepuff badger emblem.
"So… let's go Maxim." Emilia giggled and Draco offered her his arm: "It's a pleasure Emilia." Harry didn't have another choice but to offer Mary his arm as well. She was pretty as well, though Harry was irrevocably in love with Ginny.
So, the foursome made their way outside to the gardens where it had stopped snowing. Fresh, soft snow was lying on the grounds, making the castle seem illuminated in the night. Draco and Emilia were some feet in front of Harry and Mary, though Harry couldn't block out Draco's arrogant, boasting voice. His voice and arrogant gestures were getting on his nerves.
"Watch it." he grinned at Mary. Marry giggled quietly at the sight of Harry making an almost professional snowball. He aimed at Malfoy – and directly hit him – on his white blonde arrogant head.
"Hey!" Draco turned around in a second. "You Slytherin!"
"Slytherin yourself. Look at your emblem." Harry grinned. "Oh, you wait!" Draco quickly gathered some snow and threw the ball at Harry –who dodged it– and it hit Mary instead. "Oh, sorry, Mary." Draco said, though not sounding sorry at all.
"You Slytherin!" Mary smirked for a Hufflepuff, though it looked like a friendly smile to Harry and Draco – and threw a ball herself at Draco. She missed and it hit her friend Emilia instead.
"Hey!" Emilia had already gathered some snow and threw the ball back at her friend. And then the snowball fight began. Everyone against everyone. Hufflepuffs and Slytherins against Hufflepuffs and Slytherins.
THTHTH
"Ron! Come back this instant!" Hermione screamed.
"Why should I? You betrayed me. With the Dark Lord of all people! The one who killed everyone. The one who killed Harry's parents and the one who hated you, because you were a mudblood. And now you go and sleep with him!" Ron looked at her, his features sad and his hair wilting in disappointment. He was eating a large chocolate éclair – something that Hermione was longing to eat as well.
"What?" Hermione started crying. "I never meant to hurt you. I did that to change the world."
"You broke my heart, Hermione! How could you do that?" Ron's voice was quieter and more distant now.
"And I DID change the world, so that YOU can live in a better, peaceful future!" Hermione said angrily. "So that you and Lavender live happily together."
Ron looked at her pityingly. "Do you want some tea?"
Well – that was unexpected.
"What?"
"Do you want some tea?"
Hermione awoke with a start in Tom Riddle's bedroom, looking at the man she loved, who was putting on his socks. "Uhm… did you say something?" Hermione was still confused.
"For the third time… yes… do you want some tea?"
"Oh thank you. That would be lovely." Hermione yawned and pulled her hair up in a messy bun.
"You didn't sleep too well. You were mumbling and groaning in your sleep." Tom observed, putting the kettle on.
"Really?" Hermione blanched. How embarrassing.
"It was quite interesting, really!" Tom gave her a long kiss and poured the steaming water into two cups.
"Oh? So what did I talk about?"
"I only understood the name RON! Who is that, Natalija?" Tom's voice had a sharp edge.
"What? He is Anatol's best friend. Why was I dreaming about HIM?" Hermione wondered, putting on a show.
"I have no idea. Now drink your tea before it gets cold. Today I will have my last meeting with my followers! It will be needed for the official closure of our group. There will be no more meetings." Tom said, holding Hermione tightly towards his hard chest.
"I'm glad to hear. Really!" Hermione said and Tom bent down and kissed her – longingly, deeply and relieved.
THTHTH
Abraxas stepped through the circle directly in front of Tom.
"I think, I misunderstood you, my lord. You said, you wanted to close our group and our meetings?" Abraxas Malfoy drawled.
"No, you heard correctly. But I will repeat it again, Malfoy, so that it can even penetrate YOUR pathetic mind – I am going to close this group. The goals are cruel and unproductive." Tom said in his deep authoritative voice. Harry and Draco were stunned – to say the least. So Tom had really changed.
But Abraxas thought differently. "I can't believe it! You taught us dark spells! You told us what a disgrace mudbloods were. You wanted to win for the greater good. You wanted to create a world where we don't have to hide anymore. And you wanted to achieve something that could conquer death! What happened to all your glorious plans? I can't believe that you dropped all of your goals and achievements, just because of a mere girl who just appears to stumble into your life." Abraxas sneered.
"Abraxas, you underestimated the power of love." Tom said, putting a hand on Abraxas' shoulder.
"Undoubtedly I did." Abraxas sounded so much like Lucius that Draco inwardly shuddered. "But I admired your plans. I believed every single word you said. And now you just leave us hanging there!" Abraxas continued angrily.
"I taught you spells, I gave you knowledge! What else do you want?" Tom asked.
"I believed your goals. And I want to fulfil our mission! I want to win!" Abraxas said, sounding slightly crazy. "If you don't do it – then I will. Tom Riddle – if you don't decide on staying, you may as well leave."
Abraxas looked up at everyone, straightening his robes. "If he retreats, I still think that our mission is important. I will be the new leader – the new Dark Lord. Everyone – show your loyalty!"
Harry and Draco looked at each other, a split second and then bowed down with the other death eaters. Abraxas Malfoy was the new dark lord? Oh no! The future was changed – yes, but they would have a new terrorist. Aka Abraxas Malfoy.
THTHTH
Ginny and Harry were sitting in Dumbledore's office, looking slightly tired. "This will be the last time you are going to visit the future! It wasn't changed to the better, I'm afraid. Come and see for yourself."
Ginny and Harry nodded obediently and were minutes later standing in the Great Hall…