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A/N: OKAY OMGOMGOMG! Guys I think this is my best chappie ever I'm sooooo in love with it lolz! I really hope you guys enjoy it too! I'm not gonna list all the reviewers cause there were lots and I'm a bad person :( But just know that wherever you are I love you and it means soooo much to me that you review and I'll try and respond as much as I can and thanks so much for the special pointers you guys put out! :D
Okay, so stuff reeaaallly goes down here and it gets reeeaaaallly exciting so buckle up! Haha jk wow Imma loser :)
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Chapter Five-The Time At Which Everything Becomes Harder
It wasn't until a month later that Jack Weasley got his revenge upon the now-unsuspecting Slytherins. The redhead boy had somehow managed to enchant the portrait guarding the Slytherin common room to the let him in, and inside he had wreaked utter havoc. The beds and armchairs were overturned, and the ashes from the fireplace were strewn about the room. The boy had also managed to drill a hole just big enough in the ceiling that a steady flow of lake water streamed into the common room at all times, making for an uncomfortably wet situation for those wishing to relax in their quarters. Hermione wondered, as she watched the two boys glaring at each other from across the hall at dueling club, whether or not the feud between Gryffindor and Slytherin would ever completely cease.
Hermione feared slightly for both of their safeties as they dueled vehemently on the platform, throwing hexes that surely couldn't be considered safe even at the most wildest of the professors standards. But still students and professors alike watched in awe as the two fairly competentent wizards dueled. Hermione was honestly surprised, stunned even, that Abraxas had managed to keep up with Jack for this long. She had known he was alright, but she was by no means aware that he was this capable. Although, she admitted to herself, he was death eater, so he had to have had a decent amount of training.
In the end though, Jack blasted him into a wall, and then threw him an ugly sneer and marched off the stage, high-fiving Donovan Thomas as he passed him. Edward and Niles helped Abraxas up, sending glares at Jack's back, and Hermione bit her lip. She had thought this originally started as a playful battle, but it was slowly escalating into something more.
"That was really some duel," Cassie said as they made their way up their common room. "I hope Abraxas isn't too beat up."
Bruno stopped in his tracks, glaring at the girl, who stopped as well. "Cassie, he's a Slytherin. You can't seriously be worried about him!" Cassie blushed and Bruno continued, falling into stride with her, not seeming to notice how uncomfortable she looked. "I mean, come on, it's not as though you fancy him or anything."
The boys started to chuckle and Cindy gave Cassie a knowing look, who promptly looked away, eyes narrowed. "Yeah, Cassie," Cindy said, with a sickly mocking undertone in her voice. "It's not as though you fancy him or anything." Hermione's lips turned up the slightest fraction as Cassie's head dipped and her long curls fell in front of her face.
"Of course," Cassie mumbled. "He is a Slytherin, after all."
That night, as Hermione lay in bed, Hermione pondered how not so different this era was from her own. Girls still treated boys with the same unsure but altogether naive attitude that they did in her time. Hermione remembered fondly how Ginny had acted around Harry before, never looking him in the eye and always running out of the room whenever she saw him. Hermione suddenly felt a rush of longing overcome and she all-too-suddenly missed her only true girl friend she'd ever had. Sobs welled up in her throat and burst out, and she buried her face in her pillow, her body wracking with a sudden misery that was uncontainable.
"Hermione?" The light went on and Hermione saw three faces surrounding her bed. She looked up at them with tear-stained cheeks, and tried to speak, but her voice cracked and she swallowed quickly. It seemed, however, that no words were needed, because Cindy swooped forward, wrapping Hermione up in her arms, while Samantha's hand rubbed soothing circles on her back, and Cassie's gentle fingers stroked her hair. And Hermione felt a rush of gratitude for the three girls who she had given no reason to trust her, and yet gave her everything.
Just as Hermione was going to voice her gratitude, a crack split through the night air, and the four of them jumped. Lydia was already out of her bed, wand drawn, with a finger to her lips. Five pairs of eyes darted towards the window, and they all grouped around it, peering into the night to see what had caused the disturbance.
As her eyes adjusted, Hermione counted ten, twenty-five, forty men trooping across the grounds, and in the distance, standing in front of the entrance hall, she saw one lone figure standing, as if waiting for them.
There was suddenly a commotion outside of the common room, and Hermione heard the alarm go up; "Intruders! Intruders on the grounds! It's him!"
Ghastly, bloody images clouded Hermione's mind as she and the other three girls raced down the steps and out of the common room, the boys joining them shortly. Images of tall, snake-like men with slit-like noses and cruel, red eyes.
"It's Grindelwald!"
Hermione blinked. Of course it wasn't a snake-man, with red eyes and papery, pale skin. This was a whole different villain, with brand new tactics and brand new strategies. Hermione didn't know how to deal with a villain like Grindelwald. She barely knew how to deal with a villain like Voldemort.
"It sounds like there's fighting going on down there!" Lionel shouted over the commotion, and Hermione's head swiveled toward his. There's eyes met in brief but unwavering understanding. With a soft smile, he reached his hand out to her and she took it, allowing him to pull her nearer to him. "We've got to go help."
Without another word, the nine Ravenclaws charged down the steps of the grand staircase, running faster than any of them had in their lives; but Hermione's hand never left Lionel's, and that sure, trusting feeling never vacated her.
The entrance hall was in chaos; the dark-cloaked men were fighting students, teachers were attempting to keep calm, first years were curled up in corners, sobbing, and, with a lurch of horror, Hermione realized, students were fighting each other.
The bunch was led by Jack, who was dueling fiercely with a sixth year Slytherin, whose face was curled into an ugly, frustrated sneer. It was obvious that he had not entered this duel by choice. Hermione realized quite suddenly that though Jack was a Gryffindor, the kind-hearted Weasley blood wasn't always his most domineering characteristic.
"Where's your ring-leader, Malfoy, Slytherin scum?" he roared over the confusion. "Gone to hide away in a broom cupboard? Coward wouldn't want to be in danger, now would he?"
Whether or not the Slytherin knew Abraxas personally or not, Hermione did not know, but she could tell his anger had peaked then as his wand movements became more violent and his face transformed into an expression of unbridled loathing. Hermione raised her wand and blasted aside a dark cloaked figure who had had his wand pointed toward the Slytherin student, who surely wouldn't have noticed...
She and Lionel continued to sprint through the crowd, taking out as many of Grindelwald's followers as they could. Hermione, at one point, saw Dumbledore dueling, and was stunned at the utter hatred that his face held as he dueled four dark wizards at once, and Hermione was abruptly reminded of Rita Skeeter's book on Dumbledore's dark past...
At some point in the fighting, Hermione was not sure if it had been a minute or an hour, the ministry wizards started to appear, first five, then ten, then twenty. The professionally-trained aurors made Hermione suddenly feel very safe. They all had a Mad-Eye Moody look to them, and Hermione wondered if all aurors back then were like that.
The aurors had finally gotten everything under control to where there was only one follower left; the rest had either fled or been killed, and they bound him and took him down the dungeons for interrogation. All of the students were sent into the great hall, where the tables were pushed up against the walls and they were mingling fearfully with friends in tight-knit groups.
Hermione pushed past the many clumps of students, however, unconcerned with them. She was only looking for a head of red hair, or a bespectacled face.
"Harry!" she gasped finally, as she found Harry and Ron standing together, in the corner of the room, both of their faces ashen. Hermione didn't understand their expressions; sure, it had shaken them all up, but the three of them had been through worse. "Are you alright Harry?"
Harry turned to her numbly, his green eyes like empty shells. "Someone must have let them in, Hermione."
"Yes, I understand that Harry," she said patiently. "But-"
"Someone must have let them in, Hermione, and I can't find Abraxas." Hermione froze, eyes widened the point of shattering, and then she slowly looked around the great hall, heart seeming to be frozen in place. But Harry was right; she couldn't see Abraxas, or Niles, or Edward...in fact, she didn't see Riddle anywhere either. Spotting Dumbledore talking with Dippet, she gestured to the other two and moved closer to the pair, discreetly standing a couple feet away, ear cocked in their direction.
"...a powerful spell, Albus. Nearly impossible to be broken from the outside and almost as difficult from the inside. But not as difficult-"
"I refuse to believe that one of my students would go to the aid of Gellert Grindelwald!" Dumbledore said sharply, sounding more agitated than Hermione had ever heard him. She looked back at the other two, who were looking at her with wide, trusting eyes, and Hermione realized that they were waiting for her to do something.
Before she could so much as speak, however, the doors of the Great Hall burst open and in strode three tall, burly ministry officials, dragging with them three incredibly familiar people. Hermione's eyes widened as they dropped them in front of Dippet and Dumbledore.
"These are yours?" One of them said gruffly. Dippet nodded curtly, glancing down at the three of them, but Dumbledore frowned, as if unwilling to believe the evidence that had presented itself in front of him. "Found 'em outside in the forbidden forest. I believe these are your culprits, headmaster."
"You cannot assume that they are guilty immediately," Dumbledore started, and Hermione was once again awed at his unwavering faith in everyone and everything.
"They were the only ones outside, Dumbledore," the man said sharply, almost disrespectfully, and Hermione remembered how much the ministry and Dumbledore didn't get along, and realized that some things would never change. "Not to mention these boys were in restricted territory, with no excuses for being there. There were a few more, but they ran off."
No sooner had he spoken that the door burst open again, but Hermione was surprised to see not another ministry official, but Tom Riddle himself easily striding into the room, holding a younger Slytherin by the collar.
"Headmaster," the dark haired boy said, inclining his head in the direction of the shorter man. "I found another one by the forbidden forest."
"What were you doing out there, Tom?" Dumbledore asked, and Hermione didn't know whether to be disturbed or reassured that she heard suspicion in his voice. Hermione was surprised, however, when a look of shame overtook Tom's face and he dipped his head, a dark blush spreading itself across his hollow cheeks.
"Forgive me professor, headmaster. As head boy, you know I've only ever had the mind to protect our students. So when I heard there was an intruder, I foolishly thought I should go and try to catch the culprit who let them in. Naturally, I figured they'd flee for the forest, so I set out after him, thinking impudently that I'd save the day and become the hero, but instead I found a rather larger group than I expected."
Hermione's jaw went slack at the extent of his acting abilities, and she saw Harry and Ron in similar positions. There was not a trace of amusement or mock on his face, but Hermione could've sworn she saw the tiniest glimmer of self-satisfaction in his dark eyes.
"Now, now, dear boy, only trying to fulfill your duties! No harm done!" Dippet strode forward and clapped a hand on Tom's shoulder. "I daresay you were incredibly brave, Tom! Although I'm sure it pains you to see that your classmates were the ones who caused all the trouble."
Tom sighed heavily. "It pains me deeply. Over the years we developed such a close relationship-I thought I knew them so well." Tom sighed as he looked down at Abraxas pityingly, knudging his arm with his foot. "It appears I do not." Hermione saw a flicker of annoyance cross Abraxas's face.
"I suppose we shall take them down to be interrogated," Dippet sighed heavily, looking thoroughly displeased with the work that fell upon his shoulders to do. "Although seeing as they can break through spells as Dumbledore's protective encasement, I daresay any normal security we put them under shall not do. I suppose we shall take their wands and call for some guards to watch them."
"But you don't even know they did it!" Hermione snapped, infuriated with the injustice of the system and reluctant to believe that Abraxas could ever be so cruel. One of the ministry men turned and looked at her with a sneer.
"I'd advise you to hold your tongue. Not many care to hear you're opinion, woman."
Hermione's jaw dropped as the man turned and he and his two colleagues dragged Abraxas, Edward and Niles out of the room. Her hand flew to her wand but Harry stopped her. "No! It's not worth it!" Her blazing eyes turned to him, and Ron and he both took a step back. "We can't worry about that now, Hermione!" Harry said quickly. "We've got to go and find a way to prove their innocence."
Hermione's fury towards Harry evaporated and she looked at him with hope in her eyes. "You don't think they did it?"
"I know they didn't," Harry said grimly. "They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time." At Hermione's quizzical glance he explained. "It's the third Tuesday." When Hermione's brows drew together in confusion, he repeated it. Suddenly she understood. The third Tuesday of each month; the death eater meetings. Of course.
Harry pulled out his cloak and after glancing around to make sure no one was looking, the three of them slipped under it and made their way down to the dungeons. "Which room are they in?" Hermione breathed. But her question was almost immediately answered as they came to a door at the end of the hall with three guards in front of it. Smirking, Hermione raised her wand and muttered, "Oxigenous." Immediately, their hands flew to their throats and they writhed momentarily on the floor, seemingly gasping for breath, before laying still.
"Hermione!" Ron said in a loud whisper, while Harry stared at her in horror. "What is that? A dark spell? You killed them!"
Hermione rolled her eyes as she concentrated on the door, testing out several different unlocking spells. "I didn't kill them, you idiots. Just knocked them out."
She finally found the right one and pushed the door open to find Abraxas, Niles and Edward chained to the walls. What surprised her even more was that there were large gashes on their arms, chests, and backs. Hermione felt bile well up in her throat. Those bastards had whipped them? Like dogs?
Hermione rushed forward, throwing herself onto her knees in front of them. "Oh my goodness! You three look awful!"
Edward attempted a weak smile, but Abraxas looked at her in awe. Niles, however, was suspicious. "What? You aren't afraid to be in here alone with a bunch of Grindelwald supporters?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at just how much he sounded like Ron. "No, I'm much more concerned with the lot of you being Voldemortsupporters."
Their reactions were almost comical; Niles eyes popped and jaw dropped simutaneously, Edward slumped forward and Abraxas's head, which had been resting on his hand, slipped off and hit the concrete floor with a crunch.
"You-wha'-how do you-"
"I'd advise you to tell us the entire truth and ask us no questions, seeing as your future, whether or not you're getting chucked into Azkaban, lies in our hands at the moment," Ron said gruffly. Edward's eyes widened and a sweat broke out on his forward.
"Surely they wouldn't throw us into Azkaban for something like this? Even if we didn't do it, it's not like we killed somebody."
Hermione's eyes were locked firmly on a spot above Edward's shoulder as she addressed him, her mouth set in a grim smile. "Anyone caught associating with Grindelwald is sentenced to imprisonment and possible death. I don't see how you could possibly prove your innocence." Hermione looked sharply at them, deciding instantaneously to take full advantage of the situation. "If you didn't let Grindelwald in, what were you three doing out there?"
The three of them shared wary glances, but after a defeated sigh, it was Abraxas who spoke. "Well, you already know about..." He took a shallow breath, swallowing thickly. "V-Voldemort, however you do, I won't ask, but every month we have meetings, where our leader Voldemort trains us to for his...means."
"Voldemort's Riddle, isn't he?" Hermione asked quickly. Abraxas made no move to answer; he didn't need to. Hermione sighed frustratedly. She leapt to her feet and began pacing about the room, her hands folded behind her back. "But we can't exactly tell them you were out in the forest having meetings under a raving lunatic involving the dark arts-"
"How did you know it involved the dark arts?" Niles asked sharply, and Hermione turned on him, her brown eyes narrowed, seeming darker than usual.
"I told you not to question me."
Before Niles could reply, the door burst open, and the same ministry officials trooped in. "Here's the ones that knocked the guards out!" One of them barked. Hermione felt fear dance down her spine, but she relaxed when she saw Dumbledore beside them, and it was he that she addressed.
"Professor, I'm sorry. We came in here to speak with them; we need to prove their innocence."
Dumbledore nodded gracefully, inclining his head. "Very well. You may observe the interrogation, please follow me."
Dumbledore then led the six of them (the three boys had been re-clothed and Hermione had tended to their wounds as best she could) to the great hall, which was empty save for a few chairs. The ministry wizards pushed the three boys into the middle of the room and then the tallest, most scarred one stood in front of them, his twisted face wearing and ugly sneer. Harry, Ron and Hermione sunk into three chairs against the walls, Hermione watching with a vindictive protectiveness as she saw Abraxas's face contort with fear, and he looked so young at that moment.
"Abraxas Brutus Malfoy, seventh year, Slytherin. You have been accused of alliance with Gellert E. Grindelwald, dark wizard of Germany. Do you deny these terms?"
Abraxas swallowed thickly and then looked directly up at the man. "Yes, sir."
"And what proof have you to support your case?"
At this Abraxas stayed silent and the ministry wizard's eyes sparkled in triumph. He went through the same process with Niles and Edward, and by then Hermione's blood was boiling. She really didn't like these ministry wizards.
"If none of you have any proof that will support your case-"
"Please, sir!" Hermione suddenly found herself on her feet and all eyes in the room were on her. She swallowed, her mouth drying up, and then spoke, slowly, each word seeming to way a thousand tons. "We...I know they aren't guilty. Let us prove it! We'll find the person that did it-track them down!"
The ministry wizard scoffed condescendingly. Hermione spotted a name tag on his shirt. Travers. Any relation to the 1990's death eater, she wondered. "You honestly think you and a rag-tag gang of teenagers are capable of tracking down a person competent enough to break Albus Dumbledore's wards. Assuming, as you say, that it wasn't these boys, of course." He sneered at her, and Hermione once again struggled to contain her temper.
"Please, give us...a month." Travers arched an eyebrow.
"Two weeks."
"Three."
The man tilted his head back slightly, looking down his nose at her. The man behind Abraxas, who wore a clean-cut Muggle suit and large, thick-rimmed glasses peered at her with cold, grey eyes. "Eighteen days."
Hermione bit her lip, knowing that this was the best that they were going to get. She didn't dare glance at Ron or Harry, whose impulsiveness would drive them to bargain for more time, which, she could tell, Travers would be unwilling to give. So, with a sharp, decisive nod, she looked up at the man.
"Eighteen days."
He reached forward, his large hand hovering in the air between them like a safety zone between two battlefields. "And should you not find and bring back the culprit, alive for interrogation, you three will have to suffer the same fate as your friends." Hesitating, Hermione nodded and lifted her own hand, grasping the man's quickly. His lips pulled up in a smirk, and she barely retained a shudder.
"I'm coming." The three of them spun to see a figure emerge from the shadows that Hermione had not first seem upon entering the room.
"No!" she said quickly, unable to hold her tongue. He raised his eyebrows at her, but then turned to address the Headmaster and Dumbledore.
"As head boy, it is my duty to protect the students, and I feel obliged to help find the man who endangered our school's safety. I'm sure our head girl can handle my duties for a few weeks."
Dippet bobbed his head in agreement. "Yes, yes, of course! Brilliant idea, Tom! Of course they could use you! You're brilliant of course!" Dumbledore looked a little more reluctant, but he turned away with out objection. Hermione nearly felt like crying. They couldn't do anything, say anything, plan anything with the pompous, self-absorbed git there.
But as she looked at Abraxas, whose face was a mixture of pity and gratitude, she knew that they had to go, whatever the circumstances.
So that evening, Hermione hurriedly threw clothes into her trunk, making mental lists of all the necessary supplies they would need. The ministry had supplied a tent similar to the one they used at the Quidditch World Cup, but that had been all they supplied. Hermione wondered why they weren't sending professionals to do the job, but she realized that to the ever-sadistic Travers, having a reason to punish more people the necessary was appealing to him.
Hermione didn't hear the door open as she vigorously stuffed her trunk with supplies, so she jumped when a voice spoke. "So, you're off to catch the bad guy, eh?" She spun around to see Lionel. All the other girls were downstairs, and she had no idea how he got up there, but Hermione felt herself not caring at that moment.
The ministry guards had told them not to confide into anyone else about their mission, but as Lionel looked at her with the probing eyes, she knew that she'd die before she lied to him. "Yeah. Have to prove our Slytherin buddies innocence." At this Lionel's eyes hardened, and she moved forward quickly, crossing the room in a few strides and taking his hands in hers. "I know they seem bad, but they're actually very nice people." But the statement contradicted itself as Hermione thought about the whole reason they were in this mess; if Abraxas and the boys hadn't been out playing evil psychotic evil-doers with Tommy-boy then they wouldn't have been near the scene of the crime.
"Yeah, well, all the same..." He took a step closer, so that her nose was pressed against his chest and she breathed in his rich scent. "You're gonna be out there for eighteen days with Riddle. Watch your back."
Hermione nodded. He probably already knew that she didn't need to be warned away from the Riddle, but the fact that he did anyway warmed her heart, and just as he was about to turn and leave her dormitory, she put a hand on his shoulder and turned him to face her again, standing on her toes and lightly pressing her lips against his. He kissed her back softly, gently, and Hermione realized it was perfect. As she pulled away she smiled against his lips and whispered, "I think I get it now...what Harry meant."
Without another word she withdrew her wand and levitated her trunk out of the dorm and down the stairs, her following, briefly squeezing Lionel's hand as she passed him. Downstairs in the common room the rest of the Ravenclaws were waiting, most of the girls with teary eyes.
"Oh, Hermione!" Cassie sprung forward, sobbing, and she threw her arms around Hermione, her flyaway hair surrounding both of them. "We're going to miss you so much." The girl sniffled as she drew back, wiping her face. "Y-you just lemme know if you ever need anything, Hermione. Back up, reinforcements, whatever. I know its only eighteen days, but a girl can only survive so long without someone to have her back, and...well-we have yours." Hermione smiled sadly and embraced Cassie again, and then moving to hug each of them in turn. Hermione noted that Lydia wasn't there; she wasn't very surprised, she figured the girl wouldn't come to see her off, but she hadn't been in the dormitory either.
When they were done saying their goodbyes, Hermione felt a hand on her back and she looked up to see Lionel, who didn't not meet her eyes. "I'll escort you down to the great hall." So he led her out of the portrait and down the staircase. Neither of them spoke, but ever-so-often he'd lean down and kiss her, spontaneously, and it made Hermione's skin tingle like it was on fire.
Harry and Ron were waiting with Dippet, Dumbledore, Slughorn, and the ministry officials. Abraxas, Niles, and Edward were sitting in three chairs next to another ministry employee and Tom was leaning against Abraxas's chair, though by Abraxas's stiff, tensed expression Hermione could wager a guess that he didn't want him anywhere near them.
"Have everything?" Harry asked nonchalantly, but Hermione saw the amused glint in his eyes as they flickered over she and Lionel's clasped hands and Hermione got the feeling that she would not hear the end of it.
"Yes. Everything." At her confirmation, Harry, Ron and Riddle set their trunks in front of her, and with a wave of her wand, they were all roughly the size of a nickel. Hermione withdrew her knapsack which she had placed an undetectable extension charm on and cast the trunks inside, throwing the bag over her shoulder.
Travers stepped forward, a look of seriousness on his face. "Very well. The four of you will be escorted to the gates, and from there, you may begin your trek. Do not expect any help from the ministry. You have brought this upon yourselves. Until proven otherwise, you are criminal accomplices in search of evidence."
Hermione felt that the way he said it made them sound so sinister. They were only trying to help their innocent friends be freed. And if anyone there was a criminal, it was Riddle, the one person that nobody-save for Dumbledore and themselves -suspected.
The night air was bitter as they moved silently and briskly across the grounds, none of them speaking. It was only when they reached the gate did Hermione stop them. She turned to Travers and said in her no-nonsense voice. "I think we've got it from here, sir."
He looked reluctant to leave, but Dumbledore immediately agreed, so within a few moments, the four teenagers were left alone. With a quizzical look from Harry and Ron, Hermione led the boys into the forbidden forest, Ron protesting heavily and Riddle following obediently, albeit a little suspiciously.
"Mione!" Ron whined. "Where are we going? There's spiders in here! You know I hate spiders!" Hermione cringed as he said that, knowing that everything they said from here on out, Riddle would hold against them, and more than anything, Hermione didn't want him to be able to have their weaknesses dangling above their heads.
"You should've learned by now, Ron," Harry said in a low voice, and Hermione noted that he sounded a little subdued. "Listen and obey. The two keys to surviving with her."
A wry smirk twisted on her lips as she led them deeper still. Her footsteps slowed as they reached the darkest part of the forest, where the trees grew thick, and she felt it. She stopped abruptly and the other boys nearly crashed into her. She turned and her eyes clashed with Tom Riddle's unmistakeably dark ones, and she had her confirmation; it was here.
"Do you feel it?" she muttered to Harry, for his brows were drawn together and his face had a look of utmost concentration. Wordlessly, he nodded and pursed his lips.
"It's...it's like a tingly feeling. Like...like I can actually feel the magic."
Hermione nodded, feeling the exact same thing. "Yes, its here." She slowly walked along the edge of the forest, her hand at the level of her eyes, as if running her fingers along some invisible surface. The forest spread miles and miles upon here, but there was something very strange about the boundary line between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. Something like...
"Finite Incantem." Suddenly, Hermione's hand was no longer touching mid-air, but was pressed flat against a tall, stone wall. Hermione felt excitement bubble up in the pit of her stomach as she peered into the darkness and saw that the wall went on for many miles, deep into the forest, past her line of sight.
"I don't understand," Ron mumbled. "If there's a wall there, how'd they get through?"
Hermione frowned. "I...I'm not sure, but..."
"Haven't you ever read about?" came Tom Riddle's low voice from the darkness, and the three of them turned to look at him; Hermione had almost forgotten he was there.
"Read about what, Riddle?"
"The medallion of Slytherin. You see, back in the founder's time, the master's of the castle were notified any time anyone entered or exited the gates of Hogwarts. So Salazar wanted to find a way to get in and out without them knowing he was leaving so that they wouldn't question him, but he didn't want anyone following him. He created the medallion of Slytherin, which he put some of his own blood into. The wall has existed for thousands of years to keep Muggles from stumbling upon Hogwarts, but Slytherin found a way around that. The magic he put within the medallion was complex enough to outsmart the wall; it allowed him to pass through it whenever he wore the medallion, but only one could enter, therefore, no one could follow."
Hermione was once again startled with Riddle's extensive knowledge on the subject, but realized that he had probably done more research on his ancestor than modern historians. Her frown deepened, however, when she realized that it didn't completely explain the situation. "But how did forty men get in if only one man can get in at a time?"
Tom rolled his eyes as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Well obviously once the leader was inside he broke the protection charms from the inner gates. Like Dumbledore said; its easier done from the inside."
"But how come the professors don't know about the medallion?" Harry asked, not looking at Riddle.
Riddle stiffened, his facial expression completely disappearing until he resembled a marble statue before he spoke. "I have extensive access to more exclusive readings." Harry and Hermione looked at each other, knowing that that was the best answer they were going to get.
"So...we have to find the medallion, and the one with the medallion will be our guy?" Ron asked, scratching his head. Hermione nodded slowly. "But how are we gonna find the guy? He could be anywhere?"
Hermione started to pace, Harry and Ron watching her silently. "Well, thinking logically, the culprit obviously isn't ever going to take it off; it's far too value to lose. So we might have to ask around a bit if anyone's seen someone wearing a medallion, though no doubt they'll keep it well hidden." Hermione turned to Riddle, a sudden thought hitting her. "Do you know what it looks like?"
Again Riddle hesitated, before he drew out his wand, and Harry, Ron and Hermione flinched. He smirked before muttering a spell. In the air he drew a simple golden chain, at the end of which held a blood red stone. Encrusted in the back of the stone were letters written in beautiful golden calligraphy that said "Puri passano senza pedaggio gli impuri saranno per sempre debitori."
Hermione shuddered as she saw the dark, sadistically pleased look that passed over Riddle's face. Harry and Ron looked between the two of them. "It's Italian. 'The pure pass without payment-'"
"'The impure are forever indebted," Riddle finished with a sinister grin as he flashed a dangerously toothy smile at her, and she looked away quickly. Why was he looking at her like that? As far as he knew, she was a pureblood. Unless he knew something he shouldn't have. But how could he have found out?
"Right," Harry said, clearing his throat as Riddle swished his wand and the drawing disappeared from the air. "So we just have to find this medallion and capture the guy and be done with it?"
Hermione sighed heavily, looking out into the forest, her eyes veiled with a foreboding sense of trouble. Somehow, she knew that this journey would be more difficult than any that they had embarked on in all their years at Hogwarts. And with Riddle along for the ride, how much worse could it get?
"No, Harry." She answered finally, sighing as she led the three of them back to the gates and the gate-man let them out after identifying themselves. As they stood in the middle of the Hogsmeade street, Hermione realized that despite the fact she was surrounded by her friends meant nothing; she had never felt more alone.
"Somehow, I don't think it'll be nearly that simple."
A/N: Okay sorry I gotta put another author's note just so I don't start getting angry reviews! Just to warn you-yes-it will be a Tom/Hermione story, don't flip! I've got some excellente plans for Mr. Lionel Kirkland, don't ya'll worry, keke!: ) anyways plz review, don't be too me lolz :) Thanks for reading! :)
Love forever&always:
Lil Miss Obsessed with Tom Marvolo Riddle and Hermione Jean Grangernessssss :) wooooh