Author: Svelte Rose
Rating: K+
Title: Kill Time, Injure Eternity
Characters: Hermione Granger, Tom Riddle, Cygnus Black, Alphard Black, Abraxas Malfoy, etc.
Warnings: Time turner meaning clichés all about. Mweheh.
Date: December 18th, 2007
Note: My never-ending gratitude to my lovely beta, Nicole. Also, thanks to all you lovelies who reviewed, especially to alittlelonely, Haydees, Suni-Dlight, Hotkat144, Ivory Black, hpfanf, and puttykat13 for taking the leave a comment! Finally, thanks to one of the greatest gals- Nerys, because she always leaves long reviews and because I promised her that if she updated Bittersweet before Christmas, I would update KTIE. Happy Holidays everyone!
xxxxx
The hallway was vast, dark, and undeniably forbidding. Clad in a flimsy shirt and thin trousers, she felt nearly naked walking cautiously behind the billowing cloak of the head Malfoy in the drafty area.
Wandless, confused, and frightened, she rubbed at the goosebumps littered her arm and cast a glance at her gothic surroundings.
Portraits lined the hallway walls divided by elegant lamps lit with a simple 'lumos.' Those that were not asleep cast at her a look of disregard; some even sniffed before disappearing from the painting altogether.
All of the sudden, the figure in front of her stopped, catching her attention just in time to keep her from colliding with his tall frame. He knocked twice on the elegant oak door before reaching down with a gloved hand and turning the knob.
At once, the hallway was flooded with a warm, comforting light and she found herself wincing as her eyes grew accustomed to the sudden change in brightness.
She was taken by the arm and hustled into the room before the large door closed behind her with a quiet click, the deep, rumbling tones of her classmate greeting her.
"Hello, Granger, nice of you to finally join us."
She winced, nearly dropping a suspiciously unmarked canister containing some brown root or another as the pain of resurfacing memories pricked at her temple and then slowly subsided. Leaving behind a dull ache, a hand gently rubbed the thin skin of her forehead as the can was returned to the shelf in a rather clumsy manner. Clearing her blurry vision, she squinted at the many rows of potions items neatly separated in their own glass jars. Some had labels and others didn't, which she surmised were the ones bought by others skilled enough to recognize certain ingredients upon sight.
Her search would have probably been easier if they had alphabetized the jars that crowded the shelves. Also, the many students who were allowed to come out for the first Hogsmeade visit of the year crowded the store searching for their own products. Periodically, the bell at the storefront would ring twice, welcoming another customer with its cheerful tones.
Her eyes moved to the top of the next shelf, reading each label with a certain care before it landed just a few seconds later on one marked, 'Moonstone.' Tucking her unruly hair behind one ear, she pressed her frame to the shelves and stretched upwards to reach the jar. Her fingers had just barely grazed it before a long arm from behind reached up and plucked the large jar from her.
Eyebrows narrowed in annoyance, lips pursed, and a scathing remark on the tip of her tongue, she swirled around and was ready to reprimand the one responsible for the intrusion. Upon sight of the smirking Slytherin Prefect innocuously reading the label of the jar, she noted with chagrin that she had already taken a step back from his close proximity.
What in Circe's name was he doing here? Hadn't she gotten rid of him already?
"Moonstone…" He murmured before casting his green eyes upon her, "What use do you have for a Draught of the Living Dead potion?"
She forced a smile upon her face and hoped that it seemed sincere, "Homework." Never mind that the assignment was months away.
"Ah," He simply said before handing the jar back to her with an indescribable look in his eyes.
She murmured her thanks and turned away from those probing orbs, busying herself with the job of tugging at the tightly sealed jar.
A chuckle was heard before she found herself losing the jar for the second time in but a few minutes. She couldn't help but feel aggravated as the tall boy plucked the lid off with surprising ease and pointed the open top at her. She reached in hesitantly, digging around and trying to pluck the one she wanted. Once a stone was in her grasp, she pulled her hand out and tucked it inside a brown paper bag while he retracted the jar and replaced the lid on it.
She faced him with a grim expression. Wasn't it enough he was the reason for her sanity teetering on the very edge of oblivion?
She wanted to scream out her farce. That she couldn't risk being anything other than polite because he was just far too observant for his own good! Anything else and she would risk another dangerous situation like the one she'd woken up to just a few days ago.
She had done so well staying hidden. What had gone so wrong that now, he was paying his respects like the very gentleman she knew him not to be? Beneath those thick lashes, she could make out the faint stirrings of need for power and control that would later dominate him in life. It was the reason he ostensibly would not leave her along.
In the library where she was often found hiding in, he'd turn up at the oddest hours and join her at the otherwise single-occupant table. In the hallways, he made a point to make his greetings. She even had the misfortune of being caught one night during his patrol and even though he had not delved out the normal punishment, she did not miss the calculating glint in those green eyes.
It was a type of madness that she had escaped only to fall right on the beginning path of it.
Now, standing in front of him, she had absolutely no idea what her next action would be. Was she to stay and wait for him or beg off in lieu of other matters? Her preference was of course, for the latter but she knew with a sinking feeling that it would do no good and probably set him off.
Now was the time to be careful in all matters. She could not jeopardize her position anymore than she already had and unfortunately, playing a pleasant, affable student was the best and only option left.
It would not do if she were to break down into waterworks now. Her steely reserve back, she decided to stand her ground as the tall boy relocated the jar back to its original position.
Clapping his hands together to remove any dust he had picked up while handling the jar, he turned to her with a congenial smile.
Hadn't the Big Bag Wolf lulled Little Red Riding Hood into some semblance of security before he struck?
As for Tom, he was painfully aware of all the turbulent reactions she felt in his company. Very often she was enshrouded in pain accompanied by bursts of overwhelming sadness and an intensity of paranoia. It had made her more observant and alert, causing a slight damper to his plans having already been caught staring several times. He praised her for her logic, as it kept her from confronting him- after all, what answer could she possibly expect had she asked him? More often than not, these feelings were greatly aggravated whenever he made his presence known.
Hehadbeen very persistent for the last week since her discovery of him in her quarters. He hadn't been grateful for her complacent reaction; if anything, it only added to his suspicions about her character. She had been lenient but far too much so, making him question again what her benefits were by suddenly shifting from one end of the spectrum (her cold dismissal of him) to the other (easy acceptance).
Hardly one to give up and knowing it was ridiculous not to take advantage of her forced (yes, forced) affability, he simply made sure to encounter her at every advantage he had.
It had not made Leonore happy and he had also caught the eldest Black staring at him with something akin to distrust in those deep pools of blue.
Leonore's reaction was of course, well expected. After all, while he had not expected nothing more than a short dalliance, she had already placed her heart on becoming the next long-term arm eye candy of the popular Slytherin Prefect. To put it frankly, his sudden interest in a girl who was only passably pretty rankled her pride, setting off a competitive side that was often seen by her enemies. As she was of use to him in the future, he could not yet discard her. Thankfully, she was a simple creature and easy to please. A few trinkets and a pretty word here and there, she would be offering her services once more.
Alphard Black, on the other hand…His hands closed into a tight fist unknown by the Ravenclaw girl standing before him. Frankly, it wasn't any business of his anyways if Tom fancied chatting it up the mysterious Ravenclaw, now was there?
Tucking his hands behind his back, Tom bowed in a polite manner before speaking in the same dulcet tones that had an effect equal to that of making the Hogwarts girls weak at the knees. It had no such effect on the current girl before him, however, "I want to apologize again for-,"
She interjected with a short chuckle, "No worries, we already decided that I had overreacted, remember?"
"I remember a certain pardon on your part, yes. It was to my credit and luck you were not one of those simpering misses with a flair for screaming at finding an unwanted intruder in their quarters. Otherwise, I probably would not be here conversing with you and instead, cleaning the fifty years of dust off the awards in the trophy room."
She gave another chuckle at this.
He nodded as they made their way to the counter, "But I would not say you had overreacted. Though it was quite daunting to have that wand of yours pointed at a particularly sensitive spot in my neck but one can hardly fault you, having found a stranger standing above you at such a deplorable hour."
A few coins were filched from her change purse to pay for her purchases, "It is fine. If I had lost a precious heirloom, I also would have done all I could to recover it. Simply put, there's no need to cry over spilt milk."
"However, I am uncomfortable with just that," He said with a disconcerting finality.
Turning around, she regarded him with questioning eyes as they made their way out the door, "I'm afraid I don't understand?"
He murmured a brief greeting to a group of students off to the side of the store and then matched her stride for stride as she made her way to the next shop, "I've done you a great injustice, Hera, if I may at least call you that. Let me treat you to a luncheon?"
She shook her head, "I ate a large fare at breakfast."
"Then perhaps a bag of your favorite chocolates from Honeyduke's?"
She shook her head again, "I'm afraid that I don't really like sweets."
"Oh," Green eyes regarded her with a speculative look as he pressed on, "Tell me what you do like, then."
A pink tip flicked out, wetting her lips as curls swayed for the third time, "Really, Riddle, you don't need to do anything. It's fine."
"I insist."
Slightly taken back by the request-turned-order, she glanced at the stone-eyed gaze of the boy standing before her. Reminded once again of whom she was truly dealing with, she pressed her lips together in a tight line, hesitant as to what she should say next.
This was the true facet of the boy standing before her, not the charming student whose personality he had all but perfected. She had to play it cool. She had to keep him from guessing.
Conflicting emotions battled for dominance within her as she shifted from foot to foot. In what seemed like a lifetime, she finally gave a small nod and murmured in acquiesce, "I like butterbeer."
Completely opposite from the cold look he had regarded her with, a large grin suddenly broke out on his face as he reached up and took her by the arm. "Then let us go to the Three Broomsticks immediately. I'm sure whatever business you have at Gladrag's Wizardwear-," a hand waved indifferently at the store she had led them to, "-can wait."
She felt the searing heat of his hand through the thick layers of clothing and was hard-pressed not to divest the remnants of her stomach at his feet. Instead, she immediately bit her tongue before the first stirrings of protests could escape her mouth. Control, Hermione. Control.
It was clear that his suspicions had been aroused. Otherwise, he would not have been in her quarters trying to perform Legilimency while she slept. He had even offered a shoddy excuse about a missing ring accompanied by a confession of his nighttime dalliances with her roommate.
She was not known as the brightest witch of her year for nothing. He probably had committed certain indiscretions with her roommate but she knew he had not been searching for the ring as was the excuse offered. She had seen it on his finger before he surreptitiously slipped it off while she fought off the nausea that came as a part of blocking his mind-probing spell.
He didn't know that though.
Now, it was all she could do to keep him from digging any deeper.
xxxxx
"Here ye go, lad, three butterbeers as per request!"
"Thanks, keep the change," He replied, placing a couple of galleons on the tabletop. Then, precariously taking the three mugs practically spilling over the brim with the sweet bubbly liquid, he carefully turned around, eyes searching for the bright blond hair of his close friend and the dark raven locks of his own brother.
"Alphard, over here!" A long arm waved enthusiastically, attached to the face of a boy whose features almost mimicked his own. The place was overflowing with students and as was such, he barely had time to swerve to the side before an exuberant third-year Slytherin and his friends pushed their way to the countertop, shouting their orders at the jolly owner.
By the time he had made it to the table, his hands were sticky with spilt butterbeer from being jostled about and he felt a faint ache in his shin from when it collided with the leg of a randomly situated chair.
Casting a quick 'scourgify' on his hands and the front of his robes that had received similar abuse by their treat, he quickly took his mug and held it up in the air, "Here's to another good year for the lot of us."
Grins adorning his two friends, they shouted heartily, "Hear, hear!" before sipping at their warm beverages.
"I'm surprised you lads even found a table," He commented, placing his drink back down on the table as he watched the various activities that surrounded them. A peal of giggles caught his attention and blue eyes flickered to a group of Slytherin girls who huddled about their own drinks, whispering the latest gossip and whatnots to each other. Some Gryffindor girls soon joined them wherein another round of giggling and snickering would ensue.
A shout and a hoot from the group of Hufflepuffs sitting at a nearby table as the lad won a match of exploding snaps against a younger Slytherin and to their left, a group of Gryffindors sat with Ravenclaw or two while they poked at a bag innocuously labeled "Zonko's Joke Shop."
His gaze finally coming back to the bickering duo in front of him, he leaned in to catch whatever was left of the heated argument. The once buoyant boy was clearly very flustered, growing in irritation while the other wore a smirk much like a smug kitten that had just licked the milk dish.
…Not that it was any different than how Abraxas Malfoy usually looked.
Fingering the handle of his butterbeer, he grinned as Cygnus turned an even brighter red than was possible.
"Honestly, you'd think a lad couldn't look at a girl without his friends turning him into something reverent of a lovesick fool." He grumbled, arms crossing at his chest in defense as his own butterbeer sat forgotten.
"Lovesick fool no, but you're certainly nothing short of a rogue with a voracious appetite for the lovely girls of Hogwarts," Abraxas scoffed and rolled his grey eyes, "Do you take us as fools or something of that sort? We're not blind, you know."
"But you are right sodding gits," The young Black snapped back before snatching his butterbeer and chugging it rather avidly.
"It's alright if you like her," Alphard tried soothing his brother's wounded pride.
Abraxas grinned, leaning towards Alphard with a conspiratorial glance, "Apparently your brother claims to have had his eye on Valeria King for quite sometime now."
"The Hufflepuff?" Alphard lifted an eyebrow in disbelief, "Are you sure that's a wise choice?"
"Disregarding her lack of character judgment-,"
"She made out with both Duncan Crabbe and Nicholas Goyle." Abraxas' drawl cut in.
Cygnus flashed a sharp look at his friend, "Hardly something to be indicted for the rest of your life."
"It was at the same time."
The elder Black grimaced and even he could not help but feel a bit nauseous at the image it conjured. Crabbe and Goyle weren't so bad and they were a rather frightening pair. Nonetheless, their shortcomings were certainly great and in plenty, horrid personalities and crude mannerisms a part of them.
"She was rather fetching in her dress robes the other night." He tried moderating the pair.
Abraxas threw his hands in the air before getting up and gathering their almost-empty mugs, "It's useless trying to talk sense into you two. While you ponder the meaningful existence- or lack thereof- of your conquests belonging to the lacy-knickers kind, I'm going to fetch us a second round of drinks. Any special requests?"
"Butterbeer is fine."
Cygnus smirked, "Same here, except perhaps accompanied by a dearth of the stick up your arse."
Abraxas ignored the jibe and made his way to the crowded counter.
"I bet he wouldn't talk so many travesties if he actually chased a skirt or two," grumbled the Slytherin as he leaned forward.
"But honestly Cygnus, Valeria?"
"What would you have me do? Abraxas hasn't stopped goading me since the Opening Ball!" His brother groaned as color reappeared in his cheeks.
"But it's…Valeria!" His brother choked out.
"I heard you the first time," came the sarcastic response before their blond friend re-emerged with a tray of drinks.
"Six glasses? Aren't you the generous one today?" Alphard asked with mixed amusement as the Malfoy heir set the wares down.
Abraxas simply threw him a knowing smirk and stepped aside revealing a widely grinning Caspar Crouch, a smiling Slytherin Prefect, and a rigid Ravenclaw girl.
"Oh." Alphard's mouth formed the perfect 'o' before shuffling his chair quickly to the side to make room for the newcomers.
Caspar threw him a conspiratorial wink before snatching three chairs from nearby ignoring the protests of the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs whom they belonged to. Then, he threw himself in the one closest to Alphard and leaned in, "Guess who I bumped into on their way here."
"Tom, Hera," Alphard greeted in amusement while throwing a pointed look at his blond friend who simply ignored him by passing out the various mugs.
"Glad you could join us," Cygnus flashed a warm smile at the new guests.
"I apologize if we've intruded." She responded politely in a stiff voice.
Alphard raised his eyebrows. The girl could give Abraxas a run for his money in matters of propriety.
"No need to be shy!" Came the boisterous chortle of Caspar. "You're among friends."
He barely caught the wary look in her eyes, almost confused as to whether or not he had seen it. Another glance at the twitching vein situated at her temple covered by a soft curl only confirmed his reservations
She clearly did not want to be here.
Hardly affronted, Alphard simply nudged the sweet drink at her as she took her seat and was glad when she flashed a small smile.
Merely a second later, her attention was drawn away by the loud hiss Abraxas emitted between two rows of perfectly straight teeth. His knees jerked away from Cygnus, causing a chain reaction of knocking his entire body into Tom's arm in the midst of picking up his own butterbeer. What resulted was more spilt butterbeer, a dirty look thrown by Abraxas towards the young Black as apologies were given to the Slytherin (who did seem as though he couldn't care less). Cygnus simply picked up his own drink and innocently sipped at it, ignoring the sharp looks thrown at him by three of the four other boys.
"Are you…alright?" She asked, uncertain as to what had just happened.
Abraxas shrugged dismissively, "Just Cygnus being a prat."
The boy in mention choked on his drink, throwing a glare at the now smirking Ravenclaw boy having been duly outed.
The curly-haired witch raised her eyebrows in question, now understanding there was some part of their exchange that she was clearly missing. Not one to tread on broken glass, she held up her glass, reminiscent of what Alphard had done earlier and gave another shy smile, "To Hogwarts."
"To Hogwarts!" They chorused right back.
She had just lifted her mug to her mouth before her torso was thrown off by a surprise hug from behind. As was the tradition, the liquid spilled all over her chest as a chorus of giggles exploded in her right ear.
"Excuse us boys," Said the girl with a grin, "We're going to steal Hera for just a second."
"What-!" Without any time to blink, the curly-haired witch was snatched out of her seat by her two roommates (Abraxas searched his memory for their names…Christine and Deirdre was it?) and quickly bundled over to the gaggle of Slytherin and Gryffindor girls that Alphard had surveyed earlier. The group grew, soon having been joined by Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws.
The giggling only ceased when Hera was unceremoniously shoved into the crowded bench, while she waved a wand trying to clean the mess of butterbeer from her robes. Soon after, both girl and wand were swallowed up by the various others seated where coy looks were thrown towards the table containing the boys before another eruption of high-pitched laughter followed.
"That…would probably signify your extinction." Abraxas mumbled with wide eyes at how quickly the entire situation had developed.
Cygnus grunted but Alphard could see the underlying bewilderment in his blue eyes. Patting his brother's shoulder in what he hoped to be a comforting manner, he simply uttered, "So, uh…Quidditch eh?"
"First game of the season's coming up, isn't it?" The blond boy quickly caught the flickered look the Ravenclaw Prefect threw at him. Happy for any reprieve from the previous teasing he had endured, Cygnus quickly jumped into a conversation of strategy and planning while his two friends exchanged a relieved look.
Only Caspar caught the infuriated stare that Tom had directed at the group of girls before his roommate turned back to his cooling drink and took from it, several controlled sips.
Never one to dwell on his confusion (it was a damper on his good spirits) and slightly disconcerted by the shiver that ran down his spine, the Crouch boy simply took a heavy swig from his drink and focused on the upcoming Quidditch season.
xxxxx
Monday was a slow day and having been a month into school, the work had started to pile up as the crux of the class material was finally delved into. Headed by the excitement of their first Quidditch game for the season, students- especially those of Ravenclaw and Gryffindor- found the final minutes of their last class lingering on ostensibly unnecessarily.
"Don't forget, your essays on the Fae Wars of the 1100s are due tomorrow. I expect everyone to have exactly eight inches!" The exasperated Binns finally shouted above their excited chatters.
Never one to stray too much behind the crowd, she quickly shuffled her notes into a neat pile and packed the papers into her schoolbag. Just as she tightly screwed the lid onto her inkwell, a shadow fell over her hands, her head turning in reaction.
Leonore stood there with a bland smile.
The curly haired witch chewed her bottom lip, immediately wondering what the sudden cause of contention between them was. While they were not the closest of friends, she had not perceived of any difficulties with her roommate. Certainly, the brunette was more reserved than the boisterous Deirdre and possessed a wit less than the entertaining one of Christine's. But now, there existed a type of tension and she could not understand what caused the shift in emotions.
After Deirdre and Christine surprised her at the Three Broomsticks by dragging her into an overwhelming group of girls, she was thrown unceremoniously into what seemed to be a den of hungry lions. All exchanged furtive glances and playful giggles with one another, all except Leonore who regarded her with cold eyes redolent of the green ones she'd encountered far too often.
She had a sinking suspicion she'd wrong her roommate in someway and unfortunately, she had absolutely no idea how to go about righting the matter.
Bugger it all. She hadn't done anything wrong. Of that, she was sure of.
"Hey," Leonore finally greeted the curly-haired witch who had just closed the flap of her bag and was shouldering it.
Confrontation would not be a smart move here. "Hey," she replied back, throwing her roommate a friendly smile.
"This might seem just a slight bit strange, but Deidre and Christine sent me to fetch you."
"For what?"
Leonore threw her an odd look, "The Quidditch game of course. Ravenclaw and Gryffindor are playing against each other."
"Oh," came her flustered response as they made their way out into the active hallways, "I don't think I'll be attending."
"Oh but you must!" Leonore said with an almost strained-excitement as she took her by the elbow and linked their arms together. Her curly-haired companion was somewhat uncomfortable at their mockery of what seemed to be a close relationship.
"After all, it would seem strange if you didn't come support your own house."
Was it just her imagination or did Leonore mean something else entirely by that? Having been thrown slightly off-kilter by seemingly innocent but a sensitive barb nonetheless (whether or not it was unbeknownst to the Ravenclaw), she licked her lips nervously and then threw the girl a stiff nod, "I guess…it wouldn't hurt."
"Fantastic!"
She barely caught the smirk that adorned Leonore's face as the girl turned from her, unlinking their arms and skipping cheerfully down the hall.
Something was clearly going on…but what?
Shaking her head vigorously, she sighed and wiped tiredly at one eye. The chit was just her bloody roommate. No doubt she had seen the same smirk on Lavendar's face many a times and the girl was about as villainous as Hagrid's pup, Fluffy.
Something had to be done about her paranoia and soon because with each passing day, it was developing into a much more dangerous foe than her green-eyed Prefect.