Chapter 2
The welcoming feast in the great hall was alive with the sounds of chatter and silverware against china. Hermione and Anthony, as was expected of them at least once monthly, sat together at the end of the teacher's table.
As dinner drew to a close Headmistress McGonagall gave a brief overview of what was expected of each student. Promptly sending them to their dorm rooms at half nine.
"Miss Granger, Mr Goldstein, if you both would please follow me."
The professor took them to their new quarters. Two portraits guarded either entrance, Hermione's bearing a young girl, about their age with the head girl crest proudly pinned to the bosom of her dress while Anthony's bore who would presumably be a previous head boy if his badge was any indicaton.
"The passwords are to be decided upon by yourselves and given to the portraits from the inside of your dorms. I advise you to keep the passwords to yourselves, but of course you two are ultimately responsible for your discretion. Now it is expressly forbidden to have anyone on the interior of either of your bedrooms with the intentions of any form of sexual behaviour." She peered at both of the shrewdly and Anthony's cheeks were dusted with a hint of a blush.
"Yes Headmistress." Hermione answered with amusement subtly staining her tone.
McGonagall's eyebrows betrayed her stoic expression as they arched in contemplation. Strange indeed.
"Well I trust you should fare well enough from here. I bid you goodnight children." She said with a tip of her head, eyes focused on Hermione until the very last moment.
('.') HPFF('.')
Desdemona Ethelinda. She had no intention of letting anyone know that that's what her password was, no, no one at all. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder as she made her way to the great hall, trying to displace the pressure caused by the weight of her books.
"Granger."
"What do you want Parkinson?"
"What the fuck was all of that on the train?"
"Whatever it was, what's it to you?"
Pansy grabbed her arm and pushed her into the wall face close in what was supposed to be a threatening manner.
"Listen up Mudblood, stay far, far away from all Slytherins, especially my Draco! Got it?"
"Ha! That's what this is about? Your pimp not giving you enough attention?"
Pansy squealed in frustration. This bitch will pay!
"Look Gra-"
"Grab a seat boys this should be good."
The all too familiar drawl continued. "My my Pansy's getting her hands dirt for once? Oh this must be good." Pansy had the grace to look at Draco 'timidly' and flush.
Damn assholes. Hermione thought with a roll of her eyes.
The group of parasites behind him snickered."Oh do carry on, don't mind me." He finished with a smirk.
"Parkinson release my arm. I want to go get breakfast lest I commit murder."
"Right Muddy, cuz I'm petrified of you."
"Nice one Pans." Theodore Nott said jovially.
Draco watched on with great interest. He was waiting. It was only a matter of time before that legendary temper of hers flared. Ever since their brief encounter on the train he'd been anticipating their next meeting to test out his theory.
Hermione visibly began shaking, the situation rubbing her temper all the wrong ways.
"Fuck off, all of you." She growled through gritted teeth. Her jaw clenched almost painfully.
"You'll need to do better than th-"
Hermione whirled out of Pansy's grip to stand staring at the gathering of Slytherins. Red eyes flashing dangerously.
Aha! So itty bitty mudblood's got a juicy secret. Draco contemplated maliciously.
"Gra-Granger?"
Her full attention was drawn to Pansy, her smile predatory and malicious "I'm sorry little girl, she doesn't live here anymore."
"Wh-what are you talking about?" Pansy queried.
She threw her head back, unleashing a dark chuckle.
"What do you think? You just wouldn't take no for an answer would you. Couldn't just walk away and mind your own fucking business could you?" Everyone in the hall stood stock still in fear. Everyone but Draco.
"Listen closely Parkinson," her eyes swerved to Draco and co. "You too my lovely little serpents."
"I am not Hermione Granger. She died with the knowledge of who I really am." She paused dramatically, taking in the group of curious faces.
"My name is Desdemona Ethelinda Riddle. And I'm the last heir of Salazar."
('.') HPFF('.')
Draco hurried down to the dungeons, with Pansy in hot pursuit of him.
"Drakey, can't we just talk about this, come on, you know she's lying!" She panted as she struggled to keep up with him.
"The bitch probably-"
She hadn't even realised that he'd stopped until she was pinned to the wall, Draco's hand clamped down on her throat, his hot breath in her ear.
"Answer me this Parkinson. How in the name of Merlin would she even know about Desdemona, hmm? The only reason we know is because of my mother's penchance for gossip and ours for eavesdropping. Also, would you care to explain her eyes, or how about that undeniable power hmm?"
Pansy crumbled to the floor gulping in huge amounts of air as she was released and Draco stepped away from her disgustedly.
"Shall I accompany you to your meeting with your father?" Zabini questioned stepping out of the shadows.
"Of course Blaise. I trust you've taken care of the mess that Granger left in her wake."
"That I have, all but this one at any rate." he said tilting his head towards Pansy.
Pansy looked up at Blaise and Draco beseechingly. "Pl-please don't do this Draco, you know I won't tell, you know I wo-"
"Obliviate."
('.') HPFF('.')
Draco knocked on the tall wooden door before him.
"Enter." A muffled voice called
"Mr Zabini, Mr Malfoy." Both boys nodded their head in acknowledgment. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"We believe that Desdemona Riddle has been found."
Severus stopped grading the parchments before him to peer up at his godson and his companion through the stringy strands of hair which had fallen in front of his face.
"Excuse me?"
"Sir we have suspicion to believe that Hermione Granger is in fact Desdemona Riddle."Blaise responded.
Severus slowly rose from his chair to stand before them, hands clasped behind his back.
"Are you two willing to stick to this statement in front of the Dark Lord?"
"Yes." They both intoned without hesitation. Severus peered at them pensively.
"Very well then."
Before either boy could change his mind Severus had disappeared in a roar of green flames. The last echoes of his destination, Malfoy Manor dying in his office.
('.') HPFF('.')
"What is the meaning of this?" The cold voice of Lucius Malfoy drew them from their incessant pacing.
"Father, we believe we have found Desdemona Riddle."
"What proof do you have that would possibly link the Granger chit of all people to our Lord?"
Blaise and Draco shared a look.
"Mr. Malfoy, if I may?" Lucius nodded imperiously.
"It is undeniable that Granger is of above average intelligence, her magical prowess unheard of in muggleborns, all but one that is."
Severus stiffened noticeably, though his expression did not betray his projected nonchalance.
"Evans." Lucius said impassively to which Blaise nodded before he continued.
"Granger also displays an uncanny ability to read people. In such a way that only a legilimens could."
"Is that all? Those are but mere coincidences."
"No. Today her irises were ruby red when she was angered and she told us her name was 'Desdemona Ethelinda Riddle'. Although I'm almost positive that she doesn't remember the altercation."
Lucius leaned heavily on his cane, processing all that he had heard. Despite what he may have indicated he was not a man who put stock in coincidences, this would need to be investigated further and more thoroughly.
"Very well. I want you boys to monitor her, keep an eye out for any other similarities between her and our Lord. It is of the utmost importance that you keep this to yourselves. Do any others know?"
"Anyone who had an inkling of what occurred have been dealt with accordingly." Draco interjected.
Lucius nodded. "Good."
Lucius turned to Severus. "I trust that you shall keep me informed?"
"Of course."
"Very well."
After Lucius departed Severus turned to the two young men before him. "It would probably be more beneficial for one or both of you to get closer to Miss Granger in her time of need. Be sure to be covert in your execution. Treat this as a mission of the utmost importance. Keep me posted."
"Yes Professor."
"Now leave." Snape said as he returned to his desk.