Author: Svelte Rose
Rating: K
Title: Kill Time, Injure Eternity
Characters: Hermione Granger, Tom Riddle, Cygnus Black, Alphard Black, Abraxas Malfoy, Charlus Potter, and more to be added in the future.
Warnings: Time turner meaning clichés all about. Mweheh.
Date: January 9th, 2008
Note: Gosh, it's weird to have that 2008 at the end instead of 2007. Anyways, please be sure to read the 'ending notes' and my utmost thanks to the loveliness that is Nicole who had to suffer with this at its worst!
And thanks to those who reviewed: Spectrum Schenooks (I'm glad you enjoyed it!), RannayBabiiex3 (Lol, hope this is update enough), blindfaithoperadiva (Hmmm, perhaps he's not so random?), Hotkat144 (Yay!), Cursed-PirateChick (Thank you so much for your review! You don't know how much I enjoyed reading it!), Gueneviere (She was never unremarkable. It's silly she thought she could hide it. Mwehe.), ThEnAmEsGiGi (Here is the update. Haha!), aLittlelonely (Hope you enjoy this bit), Duckie (Thanks!) and my fellow Ridione-authoress, Nerys (I heart you!).
Xxxxx
"Expecto Patronum!" A silver tiger burst forth from her wand, snarling and frothing at the mouth as it charged upwards at the Dementors bearing down on her. The black robed creatures quickly scattered, flying towards easier prey as the feline chased them across the sky.
The lone witch jerked her arm and her Patronus moved accordingly, its lithe figure bounding through the dark sky, banishing as many of the creatures as it could. Her adrenaline was voraciously pumping through her body and the amount of focus required for the spell was enormous; she didn't stand a chance against the oncoming bludger.
Thwap! Crack! A hoarse scream tore from her mouth as she crumpled to the muddy ground, the fracture in her leg bleeding profusely as her Patronus flickered and then died out. She clutched at her thigh, digging all four fingernails into the skin trying to draw some of the pain away from the broken bone and torn skin.
The Dementors quickly spotted an easy prey, four or five of them swiftly flying across the open field with their ghoulish mouths wide open.
She looked up, gritted her teeth as she held up her wand with a shaking hand, "Expecto Patronum!"
A tiny wisp of silver dashed from her wand end and disappeared.
Her breath coming in short gasps now, she screamed again, "Expecto Patronum!"
A barely corporeal tiger burst forth weakly, only knocking the oncoming Dementors aside before disappearing altogether.
She let out a strangled cry, her wand shaking now more than ever as the words left her mouth in rapid succession, "Expecto Patronum!"
Another barely corporeal tiger burst forth.
"Expecto Patronum!"
And again.
"Expecto Patronum!"
She looked up, the last shout not having been one of her own. A wry grin was flashed her way as the jackal Patronus arched up and swiped at the oncoming creatures.
"Come on!" He shouted, rain dripping down his pale face as he reached down with a hand to pull her up.
"No!" She shouted, slapping his hands away as the thunder cracked above them.
"Stop being unreasonable! I'm trying to help you here!" He yelled out, his Patronus dancing around them in a circle, attacking whatever creature came close.
"I'm not! It hurts too much!" She admitted, glaring up at his profile, her skin red from a mixture of humiliation, pain and the cold rain beating down on their faces.
He clenched his jaw before decisively flicking his wrist and ending the Patronus spell. Then with another muttered incantation under his breath and a flick of his wrist, the pain disappeared from her leg. The bone was still protruding from her skin and blood kept pouring out.
"Come on, I can't do anymore than this so we'll have to get you to the hospital ward." He grabbed an arm and yanked her up around his shoulders before holding out his wand and shouting out, "Expecto Patronum!"
The Dementors scattered once again, hovering above the hobbling pair as she clutched at her leg, grimacing at the soreness that shot through her body while her nerves resisted the pain-numbing spell.
She bit back another scream as Madame Stein reset her bone with another flick of her wrist before shoving a bottle of some foul smelling potion in her hand. Hermione threw it back in one swift gulp, barely holding back the need to gag as the slimy liquid slid down her throat, her taste buds rejecting it all the way.
Apparently, the potions at Hogwarts had always tasted bad.
She clutched at her throat, the disgusting taste not quite having left her mouth as her sensitive nerves screamed at the medi-witch's ministrations. The hospital ward was chaotic, with several students lying unconscious on cots around them; helpers from St. Mungo's bustled around, spells and charms being cast left and right.
She watched her skin seal back up through the blurriness caused by her tears as the potion set to work, melding her bones back together. At least this pain wasn't as jolting as the resetting of her bone.
Though it wasn't as though she was a stranger to pain; the Cruciatus Curse hurt far more than this.
It was another barely there memory. One she was thankful to forget.
Madame Stein hurried off, having finished with her for the time being.
Hermione stared up into the ceiling, clenching the sheets as a painful jolts shot through her body in a constant stream.
"You dropped this," The voice from her left said as he finally spoke up, green eyes watching her before he pulled a broken chain from his pocket.
She turned her head to the side, brown eyes widening upon sight of the pendant sitting in his palm. "Where'd you find that?" She rasped in a voice just above a whisper.
He placed it on the stand beside her, leaning back into the chair before shrugging, "When Madame Stein took you, I think it snagged on my clothes and broke clean off. You might consider getting the chain replaced." He suggested, peering at her tense face carefully.
She nodded, thinking it was answer enough.
He licked his lips and stood up, "Well, I think I've done my good duty for the year. I'll see you later, perhaps."
She bit her lip before looking at his retreating back. In a raspy voice, she hesitantly called out, "Thank you for the help…Tom." His first name still seemed foreign on her lips.
He turned around, an all-too characteristic smirk on his face as he tucked his hands into his pockets nonchalantly, "Of course, Hera. Anytime." Then he turned on his heel and disappeared out the swinging door.
She grimaced as a thought flitted through her head.
He wasn't an altruistic being. Quid pro quo and he would collect his payment whenever and whatever he saw fit.
Xxxxx
She had exited the ward as soon as the potion finished its job. There was a bit of soreness where her bone broke but other than that, the entire area seemed flawless in its healing. So busy with the unconscious students who had the misfortune of actually being brushed upon by one of the Dementors, none of the bustling medi-wizards or witches noticed her leave. Pepper-Up Potions were being brewed right on the spot, supplies having run out.
Something else must've happened if even St. Mungo's couldn't provide their own stock to the schools comparably meager ones.
Eyebrows narrowed in thought as she scrambled out the doorway, hurrying down the hall with one destination in mind only. As was such, she didn't hear the figure calling out her name or striding up next to her until a strong hand closed around her arm, bringing her to a halting stop.
"What?" She snapped harshly, annoyed at having been disturbed.
A different green-eyed boy stood before her, a scratch across his cheek as his unruly hair fell in damp waves over his forehead.
Harry… Her eyes widened considerably, jaw clenched so that it wouldn't drop in surprise at seeing this doppelganger of her best friend.
"-negn?" He finished, mumbling his words in a shy manner as he shifted from foot to foot in his heavy Quidditch gear.
"I'm sorry, excuse me?" She blinked owlishly at him, pink dusting her cheeks.
"Are you Hera Ronegn?" He repeated a bit louder though just as shy.
She nodded, studying his pale countenance and marveling at how similar he looked compared to her best friend. "And you are?" She asked her voice distant.
He grinned lopsidedly before holding out a hand still encased in a glove, "I'm Charlus Potter! It's a pleasure to meet the girl who saved my life!"
She couldn't help but feel disappointed at this and also a bit of shame. It was silly to have allowed hope that it was one of her best friends here, by her side. Like before.
"Oh no," She immediately responded, shaking her head, curls bouncing every which way, "I didn't save your life." I can barely hold onto my own.
"What?" Charlus asked, confusion flittering across his features, "But Alphard said-,"
"Alphard was the one who saved you," She interjected, shaking hands clasping behind her back, "I simply aided him along when he had a bit of trouble." Charlus stared at her and when it passed to being longer than necessary, she fidgeted under his intense gaze before throwing him a brief smile, "Are you feeling better?"
He blinked owlishly before chuckling awkwardly and rubbing the back of his neck, "Well, it took several batches of Pepper-Up Potion previous to my waking but yeah, I am. Thank you for asking. I must say though, I wish the kitchens were still open so I could partake of some bread and cheese, something to get rid of the foul aftertaste."
She chuckled. The taste will never get better.
"Pardon me?" He asked with a smile.
Merlin, had she spoken her thoughts out loud? "Nothing, I'm just tired. Never mind me. I should go." She responded in a rush, earning herself raised eyebrows.
"Right," He was bemused, that was for sure.
She turned around, robes swirling around her ankle when she paused just long enough for softly spoken words to escape her mouth, "It was a pleasure meeting you."
"A pleasure indeed." he repeated, bowing his head as light footsteps faded down the hallways.
Xxxxx
There was an unmistakable amount of tension in the air when she first stepped through the portrait hole. Most of the Quidditch members were still waylaid in the hospital while the ones lucky enough to get away had changed and currently sat somber in front of the flickering fireplace. A few heads looked up and the hairs on the back of her neck rose accordingly as thoughtful and inscrutable glances were shot her way unabashed. Her own eyes couldn't help but flicker to them while she slowly started towards the dormitory stairways, footsteps careful and quiet so as to not disturb the terse silence permeating the air.
She had only taken a few steps before a pair of feet thudded down the stairs, and the tall figure overshadowed the entrance of the stairwell, relief clouding his blue eyes. Brown eyes looked up, catching the damp black curls and the familiar school robe cloaking his figure as he rushed towards her with concern, worry, and – anger? – in his eyes.
"Hera!"
She took a few steps back, her face breaking out in a weary smile as the boy clamped two strong hands around her arms.
Alphard took a deep breath before he pulled her into a tight hug, a squeak escaping her lips before he pushed her back again. Wholly perturbed, she was quite unprepared for the next words that left his mouth.
"Don't you ever, ever do something so stupid again, do I make myself clear?" She had never before heard such a cold fury in his voice.
"Wh-what?" She stuttered, eyes blinking wildly as her cheeks suffused with color from the attention they were garnering. Another tall figure had rose from his seat and was rapidly approaching the scene.
He bared his clenched teeth, hands squeezing so hard she was sure to find bruises there tomorrow morning before he dropped them from her arms.
She stared, half confused and half worried as her companion kept strangely still. Her hand hesitantly reached out, a question on her lips, "Alphard?"
As if her murmured call had woke him from a slumber, his head snapped up startling her for the second time that evening and with a deftness that could only be ascribed to his Seeker abilities, he snatched her hand up and pulled her towards the portrait hole.
"Merlin, you two." Abraxas grumbled as he hurried after the pair, never once looking back at the curious stares of other Ravenclaws following them.
xxxxx
"Alphard!" She called out, hating the breathless hitch in her voice very much as she half-ran and was half-dragged by the strong Ravenclaw sprinting down the halls before her.
He didn't answer, preoccupied with opening classroom doors and peering in for any persons. The first survey proved immediate success and she was thrown into it quite unceremoniously, stumbling as she bumped up against a wooden desk. Annoyance flooded her body as she jerked around at her heels and stalked towards the tall boy, hands on her hips as he finished the locking spell on the door.
Right after he turned around to face her, her finger was already digging deeply into her chest, eyes burning with fire, "What, is the meaning of this, Mr. Black?" She jabbed a couple more times with each pronunciation, "I. Am. Not. To. Be. Manhandled."
He grasped her hand, lips pursing as his blue eyes glared into her brown ones. He stood up, drawing every advantage to his height over her lack therefore of and tightly held her jabbing finger, "You…"
"Me what?" She argued, trying to wrench her hand from his iron-clad grip.
"…So…" He struggled with the words, exasperation on every inch of his face. "Stupid!"
Her jaw dropped open and she made one more yank with her hand, the offended appendage flying free from his now-loosened grip. Her eyes stared at him incredulously; tongue working to find the correct words that could describe her shock.
He blew out a breath, hand mussing up the damp curls that clung to his face as he started to pace back and forth in front of her, shooting angry glances every once in a while.
Her jaw opened and closed a couple more times before she worked out the phrase, "Are you barking mad?"
"Me?" His voice had taking on a high pitch as he stopped and advanced right into her face, "I am not the one who ran out in the middle of a dangerous Quidditch game to take a cloud of Dementors by my lovely self. What is with you!? Do you have a death wish or something!? Why would you do something like that? You are not trained or skilled enough, and I did not think you ignorant enough to actually believe you could have taken on the entire English Dementor population just because you might know a measly charm. Apparently I was wrong!"
A death wish. Not skilled enough. Ignorant. It was impossible not to feel anything at the harsh words. Did she have a death wish? She was afraid to know the answer to that. Rather, she was afraid to face the answer. Her lips pressed into a white line, brown eyes looking away as they filled up with tears.
"Merlin-," He paused helplessly, face scrunching quite painfully as he reached out with both hands, "Don't cry, please."
To Hades with control. It didn't matter anymore because nothing would erase the truth of his words.
She slapped his hands away, hating his compassion and turned her back to him all the while, chiding herself for being so emotional. A million words wanted to scream their release from the confines of her control but the only words she allowed to slip out were an unfortunately meek, "I was just trying to help."
"I was trying to help."
Green eyes stared down at her, understanding glimmering in their depths as large hands, worn by Quidditch rubbed her gently on the cheeks. "I know. But you understand, right?"
Another voice interjected before she could answer. "It's time."
His hands dropped to his side helplessly as the anger floated from his body. It had been a while since he'd dealt with anything of the crying sort, the last being that of his paramour whose loud sobs mostly annoyed him because he knew it was being used as a manipulation tactic rather than an expression of sorts.
It was simply out of character for the usually stoic witch. She didn't sob or make any loud noises; it was a totally private affair and he had the distinct notion he was spying upon something that was rarely, if ever, seen. Shoulders tense and hands clenched, he could see she was trying hard to reign in on her emotions.
The verbosity with which he was blessed with just a scant few minutes earlier now escaped him and so, in their stead, he reverted to his pre-teens self of when his younger siblings still needed the comfort of an older brother's arms. He sighed and stepped forward, arms encircling her from behind. It was a fairly intimate position and quite inappropriate especially since his younger brother was quite enamored of her but he had no idea what else to do. To his credit, it was an awkward hold, her body too tense to meld into his form.
Hermione's eyes were quickly dried but she felt tired, a consequence of the potion she'd imbibed earlier and the accumulation of the day's events. She didn't know what had triggered this flux of emotional downpour, only that she knew she would regret it later. When she felt the limbs reaching to clasp around her stomach, she turned to stone. What was he doing?
"What are you doing?" Her voice bit out harshly, mainly out of shock and surprise.
He didn't answer. His arms simply tightened around her.
Tense as she was, she couldn't help but absorb the familiarity of them. It had been a strenuous few months and she could not help but relish in the nostalgia of a hold she missed. They were all victims of their past and she was no different.
They had strong arms, he had strong arms; the validity of this did not matter whether or not it carried her own bias of simply enjoying their close comfort or the less romantic notion that the muscles were built from years of Quidditch. Simply put, it was in their arms that a silent promise of security, friendship and the sureness of tomorrow were given.
The arms surrounding her stomach said the same.
It had been a while since she was held so tightly like this.
It had been a long time since she'd received any sort of relief whatsoever.
She couldn't help but close her eyes and sink into the embrace, wishing for a scant second that the black curls that pressed upon her cheeks were red instead. Just like before.
It was this position that a pair of grey eyes found them in after unlocking the door with his wand. They widened just slightly before the owner pulled his head from the doorway, shutting it silently behind him. Then, with the slender fingers, he pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes closing slowly.
The situation had just turned a bit more complicated.
Xxxxx
She stared unblinkingly at the sheet of parchment in her hands, a pair of inquisitive periwinkle blue eyes watching her as the pallor of her skin turned a shade lighter.
"I don't understand. Why are my classes being switched?"
Albus cleared his throat, clasping his hands together. "The Faculty feels that standard classes are not enough. As such, we believe that a move towards a more advanced curriculum for you would be far more advantageous."
Her eyes finally blinked and her head finally turned to look at him. His words seemed so formal and she grasped at the reasoning that would keep her from this. "Am I allowed to refuse?"
He chuckled, leaning back into his chair as his hands dropped to his lap. Many years had been spent at Hogwarts and never once had he heard of a student refusing such a prestigious honor. Though his laugh broke the tension in the air, blue eyes studied her carefully, searching her deadpan expression to the knuckle-white grip she had on the innocent piece of parchment. He knew she was interesting from the day she'd walked through the school doors. He had not been wrong. He would not be wrong.
"I don't suppose I can petition against this?" She pressed, setting the wrinkled paper on his desk, removing her hand to resettling her school bag.
Albus shook his head, "I'm afraid that it was also due to the Ministry's recommendations to the Headmaster that you be placed in this program. Thus, the school is far more compelled to do so than they ever have been."
"What!?" She exclaimed, all notions of emotional control having gone out the window. "Why would they even bother with this?"
"The Patronus charm," He replied succinctly.
Awareness bloomed on her face, showing with the widening of her eyes and the pursing of her mouth. A laugh was forced from her lips as the corners of her eyes wrinkled accordingly. The joyful expression, however, did not reach her eyes. "Oh that's silly. That was taught in fifth year…" Her voice trailed off as the auburn-haired wizard shook his head. "But I thought-,"
His expression turned solemn, any amusement gathered before now gone. "It's not taught until seventh year here at Hogwarts."
Suddenly her head felt faint and her mouth dry as the deserts of the Sahara. How could she have made such a blunder? Though to her credit, it wasn't as though she could have known this information. After all, history was never so specific as to record the exact syllabi of classes. She had to think fast.
Her old school then…rather, the school she was supposed to have transferred from.
As if reading her mind, he continued, "I also checked with your old school, Aotearoa's Institution of Magic and it isn't even part of their curriculum there. So the question that begs to be asked is…how were you able to learn such a powerful and advanced charm without the obvious help of a professional?"
Her transcripts showed her Muggle parentage.
Unspoken questions hung in the air and her lower lip trembled. She quickly sucked it in, an old habit of nibbling on it returning as her fingers wrapped tightly around the strap of her bag so as to not belie her shattered nerves with their trembles. "I learnt it myself."
"Ah," He simply murmured, "Then a bright student like you should understand why this decision has been undertaken, no?"
She nodded mutely, glancing every which way but at him. "But it doesn't make sense. I've only done average in my class thus far and I can't be expected to exceed above that. Also, Professor…"
"Yes?"
"I am curious…" Brown eyes retained its original sharpness, "Why did the Ministry advance this opinion?"
A grim smile crossed his face as a glint in his spectacles veiled the emotions in his eyes, "Excluding the fact that various professors have spoken on behalf of your academic prowess in class, average or not, there is also the fact that in times of war with a population as sparse as ours, one must keep all options open, correct?" He sighed, "I would not wish my students to war and hope that these issues resolve itself before it comes to that. Unfortunately, things are want to go awry."
Bloody hell, she was being recruited for the Ministry. Another nodding of her head. It was an automatic notion now.
A moment of silence crossed them as he watched her curiously. Her eyes stared at his general direction but they were unseeing. "I believe your Advanced Potions is starting soon. You may be excused." He held up the parchment with her new schedule on it.
"Thank you," She murmured, blinking once before leaning forward and taking the proffered item. Then, she quickly shuffled out the door without a single glance behind.
His blue eyes glittered sadly after her.
Xxxxx
She opened the classroom door, peeking inside the dungeon classroom guardedly as the few students turned their heads towards her. Professor Slughorn, in the midst of calling out names for attendance, paused slightly before waving her in. The door closed behind her without a single sound and she fiddled with the parchment sheet in her hands.
"Students! Welcome our new Advanced Potions student, Miss Hera Ronegn!" Slughorn announced, a prospective light entering his eyes.
She held back the urge to grimace as the ten or so students watched her with something akin to slight interest. Most were Ravenclaws and Slytherins, already stationed at their respective work benches and with their partners. Tom's green eyes watched her with a bit of curiosity before he nodded stiffly at her and then turning his attention back to the front.
"Wonderful, our numbers are even now." He grinned, pointing to a table at his left, her right.
Her breath hitched in her throat.
"Move along now, we mustn't tarry." Slughorn rushed as he picked up his planner, calling out names once more.
She looked away and hurried to take her seat next to the lone student, looking straight ahead. Grey eyes watched her with a bit of amusement before a slender finger reached out to tap on her arm.
This time she did grimace but quickly covered it up with a smile.
"Welcome to the class…Hera." He drawled, a hint of bemusement underlying his lazy tone.
Inwardly, she stiffened. She didn't remember them being on first name basis. "Er…thank you?" She winced. It wasn't supposed to come out like a question.
Abraxas didn't bother to hide his smirk.
xxxxx
Ending Notes:
Tom's Patronum- Aren't you tired of seeing a snake? I thought a Jackal just as likely. Also, I imagine that with the hard life he endured, he'd treasure happy memories more than the average Joe, wouldn't you say? Simple as they can or may be, it is his background that gives him the edge, I think. Remember, people aren't born evil, unless you're that demon child from 'The Omen'- what a freaky movie.
Aotearoa's Institution of Magic- 'Aotearoa' is the name given to New Zealand by the indigenous Māori. The name means 'land of the long white cloud' which I thought befitting that of a Wizarding school. Dumbledore has too close of ties with Durmstrang and Beauxbatons for it to be believable without tiresome explanations and Salem is too overused. Thus…I created my own. Mweheh.
Expecto Patronum- Who, besides me, thinks it's unreasonable that the curriculum wouldn't have changed in fifty some odd years? Have you noticed how we're forced to grow up sooner than we used to in the past? This reflects that notion. Thus, the charm wasn't taught in fifth year as Hermione thought but in seventh year.
Patronum Curriculum at New Zealand- It is also unrealistic to presume that all Wizarding schools are homogenous in their teachings. They may focus on the more practical matters because- let's be honest here- without war, why would they ever have need to learn the Patronum charm?
Wizarding Draft- Come on, if the countries involved in WW2 had drafts, how is it possible that the Wizarding World with a population much more sparse than that of the Muggle World not have a draft? Thus, the Ministry's intervention in Hermione's curriculum.
I think that's it. Questions?
Reviews are divine. Love you all.