Chapter 6
He was furious that they hadn't been able to see how Hermione was doing on a broomstick. Snape, or rather Professor Snape as she insisted on calling this dark wizard, with satisfaction clearly written on his face, extended their classes. Because of his irritability, no one dared to ignore him.
Harry knew he would try to drag the stubborn Gryffindor onto the Quidditch pitch after dinner. There was no way he would refuse himself to see something that had never crossed his mind. As he walked next to quiet Ron to Muggle Studies Classes, which had been compulsory for every student since the war, he wondered what the usually talkative redhead was thinking.
Standing in front of the door, he finally couldn't stand it and asked the question - "What in Godric's name is going on with you?"
"What do you think? I'm worried. Hermione isn't the kind of person who likes to skip class. And even more so to people who miss classes because of Quidditch." - he mumbled.
And Harry couldn't disagree with him.
xxx
"Salazar, how much longer is this going to last?" - he growled, walking away from the desk of the clerk at the Egyptian Ministry of Magic.
He was getting impatient, but he knew that in order to legally enter Britain without risking immediate arrest by the local Auror department, he had to have solid evidence of his stay in a country that was a symbol of the development of ancient magic. So far, he has managed to document his stay here from leaving England until the end of November 1981.
He knew it was a big improvement, but he was getting impatient anyway. At least he wouldn't be accused of murdering the Potter family. He wouldn't be accused of murdering Hermione's friend's parents.
He sighed as he walked out of the ministry building into the full sun. He wanted to return to his homeland. It was a tough thing, but Tom Riddle knew he could handle it. Just like every challenge that came in front of him.
He smiled. He knew that when he returned, he would no longer be alone.
xxx
She stormed into the Muggle Studies room. She was surprised that the professor wasn't there yet. She hoped this would avoid talking to the two boys who had once been her only friends and who now caused mixed feelings. She tried to separate what their grandparents did from what she felt for them. It was hard for her especially that they looked so much alike.
"Where do we sit?" - Brax didn't even bother to whisper his question. He knew she was usually sitting in class with Ron and Harry. - "I hope you didn't think of leaving me here alone?" - A characteristic smile appeared on his face. Characteristic for this family.
"The last bench is always free for some reason." - She answered casually before she remembered something that might have been the reason why no one sat there. But before she could ask him anything, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"I see that you enjoy talking to my grandfather, but I got bored of waiting for you to stop gossiping."
She knew who said it. However, turning around, she felt a strong blush on her face, because it was Draco Malfoy who had touched her. It was so abstract to her that she didn't know how to react to it. Wordlessly, she walked over to the bench, trying to ignore Nott's chuckle.
xxx
Harry wanted to approach his friend almost as soon as he saw her in the classroom doorway. He was disheartened when he saw the hesitation in her eyes. For some time now he had the feeling that something was going on with her, but he had no idea how to ask her about it.
He waited a few minutes, hoping that she sit next to him as usual, but he was bitterly disappointed. Instead of going towards them, she went to sit alone in a bench that had always been empty. He got up when he realized that a blond stranger had joined her.
After a moment, in an uncertain voice, he said, "Hi, I'm Harry. I'm Hermione's friend."
"Abraxas. Hermione's brother."
He hadn't expected that answer. But judging by the witch's reaction, it must have been true. So he decided to do everything to befriend this boy. Even if he irritatingly reminded him a lot of Draco Malfoy.
xxx
Rad Lestrange had spent countless hours in his laboratory. He spent even more time in the family library. He had the impression that he was getting closer to developing a method to rebuild the structure of the nervous system in people exposed to the Imperius Curse for a long time. He had the feeling that this was the only reason why, despite regular raids by the British Auror Department on his property, most of his drk books hadn't been commandeered.
"Fifteen grams of powdered moonstone…" - he mumbled as he prepared another dose of medicine. He slowly increased the amount of stone added to make the potion more concentrated without sacrificing quality.
He knew he would never forgive himself for not believing Hermione.
He didn't believe her that his family would sink to the bottom. In hindsight, he should have known that it was entirely possible. His father had mental problems. Except he was going to a mind healer. He didn't miss any of his weekly visits to Healer Smith. Then there was his elder son. He began to notice the first symptoms of the disease for which his father was treated after the fourth birthday of Rodolfus. He'd put it off too long. The first time they went to the healer, it was too late.
The older wizard sighed as he looked at the photo hanging in his lab. A group of students in slytherin uniforms. The photo was taken the day they graduated from Hogwarts. It was the last day he felt like himself and the last day he saw one of the most extraordinary witches - Hermione Granger.
He hurriedly put the test tube down when he realized that the war was over. She went back to her time. He could have gone to visit her. He just hoped she wouldn't mind that he no longer looked like the young wizard she'd once met.
xxx
She hadn't expected an attempt at confrontation from Malfoy's ex-girlfriend. - "And this comes from a witch who, instead of having fun, keeps her nose in a books."
"This is said by the witch who saw your grandfather naked. Before he was your grandfather and father to your mother." - she snorted impatiently. She couldn't help but notice Pansy Parkinson's embarrassment and the smug smirk of Daphne Greengrass sitting next to her. - "Greengrass... Your grandfather is also affected. Wizards weren't very good at poker back then, so I'd relished the humiliation of a dozen Slytherins."
The smile on the blonde's face visibly faded. Hermione walked over to her and, taking advantage of the professor's temporary absence from the room, pulled her close by her tie to whisper directly into her ear - "Be careful who you mess with. I could dismember you and not even flinch. You are either with me or against me." - she got up and added, this time louder - "I hope we understand each other... Daphne."
She was angry with herself for losing her temper, but she wasn't sure how to treat this witch. Her grandfather was a hypocrite who went after who gave him more money. Hermione wondered if there was anything left of him in his grandchildren. Seeing her cheeky smile, for a moment she thought she was looking not at Daphne but at Alexander Greengrass.
She walked over to her table and sat down without a word, as if nothing had happened a moment ago. Only when she smelled Abraxas's perfume she feel her body relax. - "What did you tell her?"
"I threatened her. Not directly, but I threatened her."
She felt the wizard's arm wrap around her. After a while, she heard his voice right next to her ear. - "Don't lose your temper around those who aren't worth it. Don't lose your temper with those who aren't worthy of your trust."
Before she could answer, a new professor entered the room. A woman who looked and sounded like Hyacinth Bucket, the heroine of the series 'Keeping Up Appearances'. In fact, the new Muggle Studies professor was named Patricia Fernandez.
"Hello, my dears. In today's class, we're going to focus on erotic literature…"
Hermione already knew she didn't have to listen. The new professor was quite eccentric, but she had to admit that Fernandez was able to make her classes interesting.
"Did I hear her right?"
She turned to her friend only to see an intense blush on his cheeks. She felt embarrassed because she forgot about the generational difference. The wizards of that time weren't prudish. They just knew what to do around people they trusted and people they just knew. So Abraxas had no problem drinking the Laughter Potion from her belly button at the Slytherin party, but talking about sex in public was beyond him.
"Yes, Brax, you heard right." - she said placing her hand on his leg. - "Times have changed a bit."
xxx
I've been struggling with this chapter. I guess I'm having a worse time because I'm thinking about deleting my profile more and more often. I hope that despite my gloomy mood I managed to write something that you liked. Regards, Katie Krum.