Kolybel'naya

Chapter 20: The Fortuneteller

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When Hermione studied about the Great War against Grindelwald, she read about how the United Kingdom was hardly affected. Everyone said Grindelwald did not dare to step there, apparently because of Dumbledore, but now that she was living during the said war, the girl noticed that what the books and Professor Binns said were not completely true. The war was, indeed, not as strong there like it was on the continent, but one could still feel the tense atmosphere that clung to everything when someone brought up the subject of Grindelwald. But that was a normal thing, right? Like when someone talked about You-Know-Who before he came back. It was a distant threat.

Until someone was harmed.

Her name was Aella Thorpe and she was a Ravenclaw. Hermione had seen her just a few times since she arrived at Hogwarts, but the girl could remember her delicate face, long brown hair and bright blue eyes. She was in Herbology with her, and Aella had paired up with Minerva once while they were cutting the leaves of Athelas plants. And she was Head Girl. Aella Thorpe was a pure-blooded witch from a common family. She lived in East Yorkshire with her parents and grandfather. She was just another Hogwarts student, the kind of student Hermione could have been hadn't she become friends with Harry and Ron.

Aella herself was all right. Or at least physically all right. Her parents, on the other hand, had just been taken to St. Mungus so their bodies could be examined in order to give the Ministry the cause of their death. On the previous night, Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe were already asleep when a group of wizards wearing Grindelwald's symbol on their chains broke into their house. That would not be a big problem in case Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe hadn't known Mrs. Eichel and her two sons. Mrs. Eichel was a Muggleborn witch whose children, Johann and Karl, were involved in protests against Gellert Grindelwald back in Germany. She managed to get out of the country and hide with the Thorpe family, but, apparently, Grindelwald found them. Grindelwald's followers would not have harmed a pure-blooded family like the Thorpes hadn't it been for the fact they were hiding not only a Muggleborn with, but a Muggleborn witch with her Half-blood children who stood up against their leader. When morning came and Aella's grandfather returned home – apparently he had been hunting pixies or something like that during the night – he found his daughter, her husband and the family they were hosting dead. Aella Thorpe received the news from Professor Dippet earlier that morning and soon left the castle. Less than three hours later the rest of the students knew all the details of her story.

With the incident, two things became the subject of attention in Hogwarts: the proximity of the war and the fact the Head Girl spot was now open. Most people focused on the first subject, but a few people seemed to be pretty interested in the second one. Riddle was one of them, but Hermione understood it was because he was Head Boy and he most likely wanted to have someone who did a good job to work with him. Minerva was another.

"I can't accept it if they ask me to be Head Girl. I'm already in the Quidditch team and we have the NEWTs this year…"

"You're in the Quidditch team and you still get the highest grades in our year, Minnie," said Charlus, rolling his eyes as he listened to his friend's complaints during supper.

"Riddle's are the highest grades in our year," whispered Minerva. "You know that very well."

"Who cares about Riddle's grades? You're great and you'll be able to carry on everything you decide to do, believe me."

"Aella's parent's just died and all you think about is her Head Girl position?" another girl, Cecilia, asked, shaking her head in disapproval.

"At least we're not guessing who killed them," said Charlus. "Most of the school if making bets on who did it, Cecilia, and you know that."

"That's sick. Making such sad news look like as if it was a-"

"I believe it was the Valkyrie," said another voice and, as soon as they turned around, they could see Dorea Black standing behind them.

"Who?" asked Hermione, raising an eyebrow as she looked at her friends.

"Brunhild Jaeger," answered Cecilia, narrowing her eyes as she looked at Dorea.

"She's known as Grindelwald's Valkyrie," explained the Sytherin girl, sitting next to Charlus Potter. "She's the only woman in the highest ranks of his followers."

"The Valkyrie is mad," said Cecilia. "They say she's great with tortures."

"Of course she is, why else would Grindelwald put her on a good position if it wasn't for that?"

"Maybe she's a good strategist or an academic?" asked Hermione, raising an eyebrow. "Most of the people Grindelwald favours were witches and wizards that have successfully made an impact in the wizarding world: researches, teachers, politicians…"

"Wizards. Wizards that have successfully made an impact in the wizarding world," corrected Dorea. "Brunhild is the only witch amongst Grindelwald's men. That's why she's so famous."

Hermione scrunched her nose. The only thing that came to her mind was Bellatrix Lestrange. She couldn't help but imagine this Valkyrie as a 1940s' version of Bellatrix and that was enough to make her feel sick in the stomach and make her appetite vanish. The girl looked around, ignoring the conversation between her friends, until she found Abraxas Malfoy sitting by the Slytherin table. He had already finished eating, apparently, and was now grabbing his bag and getting up.

"I have to go," she whispered, pushing her plate away, most of her food remaining untouched, before getting up. "See you later."

"You look way too serious today. Didn't sleep well again?"

Riddle raised his head, looking up from the book he had open on the top of the table. Malfoy was leaning over the cauldron, his glasses almost falling from the tip of his nose as he stirred the liquid in it, right before he waved his wand to the cauldron, making the liquid start to stir on its own while he leaned back on his chair.

"Woke up in the middle of the night with Toulson banging on the door of Thorpe's room." Well, that was not a lie, although it was not the only reason he was kept awake during most of the night.

"Oh."

"Yes, oh." The boy sighed, before mimicking his colleague's action and leaning his back against the chair.

"You're worried about the war," said Malfoy, raising an eyebrow. "Relax, Tom. You have nothing to worry about. Your family is not involved in anything like the Thorpes."

Riddle forced himself to stay still, although he wished to adjust himself on the chair in order to escape from the discomfort that had taken over his body.

"I'm just thinking… How many others were killed and the Ministry hid their deaths? They obviously couldn't hide the Thorpes' because Aella is a Hogwarts student and everyone knows that if something happens in the Astronomy Tower, ten minutes later the Dungeons already know what happened. You can't hide stuff in this castle, not stuff like that."

"My father does not work in that section of the Ministry, Tom," said Abraxas, shrugging. "But I do believe… At least four attacks had been accounted to Grindewald. One year ago, they said it was five, but they discovered that one of them was just a Muggle-hating madman who killed a Muggle family Merlin knows where."

Riddle felt a shiver run down his spine before forcing himself to relax once again. There were lots of only-God-knows-where places under the surveillance of the Ministry of Magic and there were a lot of Muggle-hating madmen around the wizarding world. The one Abraxas mentioned could easily be a random wizard in Oxfordshire or Cheshire that killed a random Muggle family that lived next door.

"Father was not involved in any of the cases, but I remember this one with the Muggle family was a pain in arse for him. Some people in the Ministry started with stupid rumours about how we could have been involved in it… Apparently it happened near our camp house," Malfoy explained, stretching his neck to look at the potion. "Father had to prove we were not around at the time. We were lucky to have been visiting my cousin in France when it happened."

This time Tom couldn't help but furrow his brows. The house Abraxas mentioned was in a small city called Hornsea, this was the only thing he knew about it… Well, that and the fact it was a 'lovely house that you should visit one day, Tom'. Oh, and the fact Hornsea was in East Yorkshire.

"I'm glad to hear your family doesn't engage in such… Activities," said Tom, letting a small smile appear on his lips.

"I'm not going to run around killing people. It doesn't really appeal to me."

"Thanks God, right?"

Abraxas' face lit up with a smile and Riddle turned around to see Elston entering the room and approaching them. She stretched her neck to look into the cauldron before smiling.

"That looks good. Who did it?"

"I did," said Malfoy, looking proud of himself, as he leaned forward to grab a book from his bag. "Good, hum?"

"Then it's perfect. You didn't even blow it up." She turned to look at Riddle. "What about you?"

"I'm doing what I'm supposed to do." He pointed at the book. "Researching."

"And did you find what you want yet?"

"I did find some really interesting stuff, yes, Miss Elston." Tom narrowed his eyes before looking down at the book once again. "You should help Malfoy."

"Then sit here and wait with me for our potion to brew." Abraxas waved his hand, making a chair move from its original place near the corner of the room to beside his own. "I hope you brought a book, because the book says it'll take quite some time. I would offer you a drink while we waited but I'm not in mood for a Butterbeer or a pumpkin juice and the closest to a decent drink that I have is back in the Slytherin dormitory."

"You keep alcoholic stuff in your dormitory?" asked Hermione, arching her eyebrow.

"It's just whiskey and firewhiskey. And I don't get drunk on it, don't worry. I know how to drink without getting stupid." The blonde stared at her, looking offended. "We share it, in Slytherin. Except for Tom, because he doesn't drink unless it's vodka." Hermione turned her head to stare at Riddle, who didn't even flinch at the commentary done about him. "He won't admit it, though."

And, then, Malfoy looked down at the book he had opened on his lap and fell into silence. The girl watched him read for a few seconds, before turning to look at Riddle. Had she known she would have to wait for the potion to brew, she would have stayed longer at the Great Hall. Sighing, she pulled her bag to her lap, pulling her Divination book from it. Hermione really couldn't understand how the hell those tarot cards worked and she was spending more time studying them rather than Transfiguration or Charms.

The girl was almost understanding the meaning of the Hanged Man when Malfoy let out a strangled noise, making Riddle and her look up from their respective books, staring at the other Slytherin. He was staring at the little book in his hands with widened eyes and a laugh kept trying to escape from his mouth.

"What's it, Abraxas?" asked Tom, furrowing his brows.

"This story." Malfoy laughed. "Woah… You should read it. It'll make you think twice about your Divination, Tom."

"What is it?" Hermione grabbed the book, looking through it. Apparently it was actually a book of short stories and the one he was reading was the first one. "The Fortuneteller?"

"Machado de Assis," said Abraxas, the name seeming to tangle itself around the boy's tongue, struggling to get out. "It was Tom who introduced him to me. He says they called him The Wizard."

The Gryffindor stared at Tom once again. He had gone back to his reading, ignoring them. She had never heard of that author… Actually, she had never heard of any books written by wizards and witches that were works of fiction, now that she thought about it. Well, unless she considered Lockhart's books as fiction. Anyway, did Riddle recommend a Muggle book to Malfoy? And did Abraxas Malfoy read it without whining about it being written by a Muggle?

"Well, is it short?" she asked and the boy nodded. "Then read it for us. We have to wait anyway-"

"No, I'm working here," mumbled Tom, furrowing his brows.

"Abbafiato," she whispered, pointing her fingers to Riddle's direction, before turning to the other Slytherin. "All right, go ahead."

Malfoy stared at her for a while, looking curious to know what she had just done, before grinning, as if understanding. Tom was so absorbed in his reading about human physiology that he wouldn't even notive it.

"You have to teach it to me later," he said, laughing a bit as he saw the other Slytherin not noticing they were talking, before taking the book from Hermione's hand and cleaning his throat. "Hamlet observes to Horatio that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy..."

"I'm telling you, I saw them together."

"Seeing them together doesn't mean they are together in the sense you're making it seem they are, Florence" said Minerva as she looked under her bed in order to see if she was not forgetting anything there.

"I still think she could have tried to go for Tom and not for Abraxas. Both of them are her Potion's partners, right?" asked Florence Amello while she brushed her long, red hair. "Abraxas is nice, but… Tom is Tom."

"Abraxas is good at Quidditch."

"Oh, please, Minerva!" Emma Hooper sighed, shaking her head. "I bet you're just trying to save Mr. Riddle for yourself. Especially now that you'll be in the same dormitory as him."

"Yes, Emma, just how I'll be giving up on Quidditch."

"But you did have a crush on-"

"Every girl in this school has had a crush on Tom Riddle once their lives," said Minerva, sighing. "Every girl and a good number of boys too."

"Don't you try to run away from this conversation, Minnie-"

"Look, I just finished with my stuff here." McGonagall got up in a jump, taking her bag and putting it on her shoulder. "See you tomorrow!"

The girl left the dormitory as quick as possibl. She wanted to wait for Hermione to talk to her before changing to another dormitory, but all that talk about Riddle and Elston and the fact Minerva was moving to the same dormitory as him was starting to annoy her. The rest of her stuff should be in her new room by now and it was not so difficult to find the place: right behind the portrait of the grumpy Russian Merrythought had talked about.

The place was beautiful and big. Maybe a bit too big and too confortable for just two students. There was what seemed to be a common room, all decorated with the colours of Gryffindor and Slytherin, and two rooms with their respective bathrooms: one for her and one for Riddle.

"I don't remember Slytherin very well. He left Hogwarts when I was too young." Minerva stopped in the middle of her way to her room when she heard a voice echoing behind Tom's door.

"You saw him going?" Now it was the boy's voice speaking. "I mean, each book say a thing about Slytherin's departure…"

"I'm sorry to let you down, Mr. Riddle, but the only thing I remember are screams and-" The other person stopped talking. "A lot of arguing. I don't like to remember that year."

"I'm sorry. And… No one ever saw him again after that?"

"Of course they did!" Minerva finally recognized that voice. It was the Grey Lady! Byt why the hell was the Grey Lady in there? And why was she… laughing? "Salazar left Hogwarts, but did not disappear from the world."

"The books-"

"The books like to make everything more dramatic, they like to choose a villain for the story. For what I saw until now, Salazar was the one to occupy this role in the history of Hogwarts," said the ghost, seeming to sight in the end. "Don't trust everything the books tell you, Mr. Riddle. Aside from changing a lot of facts, there are information's that are not contained in them."

"Like…?"

"Have you ever read about me in the books?" A heavy silence fell over them before another sigh from the Lady could be heard. "I should be going."

Minerva only had time to step closer to her room's door before the ghost floated through Riddle's. The Grey Lady didn't seem to notice her presence there, as she kept floating, seeming to be looking at something right next to the fireplace while whispering something to herself.

Frowning, the girl watched as the ghost went through the other wall, disappearing. She always thought the Grey Lady was the most curious ghost inside the castle.

A/N: Some things about this chapter:

1) Machado de Assis was a brazilian writer famous for books like Dom Casmurro, Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas, Helena, etc. The Fortuneteller/A Cartomante is one of his short stories and it can be found on Google in English. Machado was known as the Wizard of Cosme Velho/O Bruxo do Cosme Velho. (but seriously, try to read one of his books... He's great. My favourite is Dom Casmurro).

I hope you guys like this chapter. Reviews, as always, are amazing. Ah, and this chapter was not beta read.