Disclaimer: don't own.
That's what happened in chapter 8:
Hermione took her time. Potions wouldn't be starting in another ten minutes and she had more than enough to go there. When most of the Ravenclaws were already gone, she leisurely made her way out of the door – and almost had a heart attack.
HE stood there – tall and handsome, like a greek god; his hair as perfectly unruffled as always, his ironed tie and clean robes standing out from Ethan's. His headboy badge gleamed – and so did his face.
She got lost in his eyes and managed a weak smile. How should she react? He had caught her unawares – she hadn't expected him here; she had expected him in potions... in ten minutes... not sooner in front of the arithmancy classroom.
"Hello Hermione." Tom said softly, a smile playing his oh so kissable lips. "Can I walk you to potions?"
On with the story:
"Yes… thank you." Hermione stuttered when Tom took her arm and they set off.
"Sooooo…." Hermione saw Tom swallow noticeably. "Did you have fun in arithmancy?"
He mentally kicked himself and Hermione tried hard not to smirk – Tom RIDDLE getting all flustered – how cute and not dark-lordish at all. She was warming up to him – which would make her task so much easier.
"I wouldn't really call it FUN, but it was quite interesting." Hermione blushed. "What about you? Did you have FUN in Care of magical creatures?"
Tom shook his head. "Well… no. It was utterly boring."
He and Hermione shared a smile.
After a lengthy pause, Tom cleared his throat. "Nice weather." Tom helplessly gesticulated out of the windows. It was raining.
"Uhm… yes." Hermione said flustered. "Very British."
Tom laughed and Hermione joined in; their awkwardness finally broken. They had finally reached the front of the potions classroom where more students than usual were assembled. "So much for smalltalk." he said grudgingly. "Look, Hermione, what happened yesterday…."
Hermione's heart beat faster. What was he going to say? Was he going to say he regretted it? The thought made her incredibly disappointed.
"I have to admit – "but Tom was interrupted by Slughorn's noisy arrival.
"Oho!" said the teacher good naturedly. "Today I have a shared class with Sixth AND Seventh years. OHO! I almost forgot."
Stupid stupid stupid. Hermione wanted to kick him. What did Tom want to say? But it seemed that Tom had lost his nerve. She would try to make him tell her later, then.
"Really? I didn't know that we had a shared class today." Hermione instead looked at Tom, surprised. She had never shared a class with another year before. This was bound to be interesting.
"He mentioned something about a project." Tom groaned. "And obviously we have it with the seventh years."
Obviously.
The students all stood around the teacher's desk looking apprehensive. Slughorn bounced – as always – on the balls of his feet. "Our project will last one week. During this week you will have to invent a potion against several illnesses at once – a potion that doesn't exist. Yet."
Hermione raised her eyebrows furtively – this sounded like an interesting challenge. The students exchanged glances – some terrified, some excited. Harry and Draco rolled their eyes in despair.
"I will put you into groups of three." Slughorn continued. "In every group, there is at least one student from each year."
Duh. Hermione could have rolled her eyes, but thought better of it.
"Mister Riddle, Miss McKinnon, Mister Dwight."
Hermione watched Riddle walk over to a pretty seventh year Ravenclaw girl and felt her insides clench. She didn't feel jealous – no – but she would have liked to be in the same group. Also, Tom still needed to tell her something. Grr. She was so lost in possibilities what he was going to say, that she gave a little jump when her name was called.
"Miss Delacour, Mister Henly, Mister Lovegood."
Two seventh years, Hermione didn't know. Goodness. She looked around the class and spotted a rather handsome young man who was making his way towards her.
"Hello, I'm Quentin Henly." the Slytherin seventh year grinned at her and gave her a cocky wink. He looked quite good, Hermione had to admit. He had dark brown hair styled in an elaborate high-maintenance way, beautiful almond shaped dark green eyes and very pretty lips.
"I'm Hermione Delacour. Nice to meet you." Hermione said unnecessarily.
"Nice to meet you too." Quentin gave her a once-over and nodded appreciatively. "You don't sound French, though."
"I'm part English." Hermione lied.
"Are you?" Quentin didn't seem too interested. "At least you are a pureblood."
Of course, THAT was all that mattered, Hermione thought sarcastically.
"Now – everyone – get to work!" Slughorn exclaimed happily. "Choose a table and start your work. You can use everything from the store cupboard."
Swiftly, she followed Quentin to the nearest table which was – unfortunately – directly next to the one occupied by Tom's group. "Where is Lovegood?" Quentin asked Hermione.
"I don't know." Hermione shrugged. "Lovegood is a Ravenclaw, isn't he – so why should I know?"
"You are right – you couldn't. I am glad that you are also in Slytherin, by the way." Quentin smirked and winked at her. "We don't have too many girls in Slytherin and not one of them is as stunning as you."
Hermione blushed and wanted to say thank you when she saw Tom saunter over to them. Although, he was a year below them, Quentin seemed to shrink away from him. It was another sign of how much power Tom already held.
"Henly!" Tom barked with so much venom that Hermione looked baffled. "Stop flirting and get to work. I might be in Slytherin too, but I am still headboy and can deduct points."
Quentin sank down in his chair. "Alright." he said meekly, neither meeting Tom's nor Hermione's eyes.
Ah. Hermione understood. Quentin was probably one of Tom's followers, ALTHOUGH he was a year older. Fascinating, the way Tom had the power all to himself. Fascinating, but terrifying at the same time.
Not only did Tom dislike the way Quentin flirted with Hermione. Draco also kept shooting covert glares at the pair. He was paired up with a fellow sixth and a seventh year and didn't seem too happy with his partners.
"Now, let's get to work, Quentin." Hermione said briskly, opening her potions book. "Any ideas?" She looked over at her partner who shook his hair out of his face.
Predictably, Quentin shook his head. "No. You?"
"No. So I would suggest we first try to find out what our potion should try to cure. Alright?"
Quentin nodded unenthusiastically. "Fine, Hermione."
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"Now, what did you want to tell me?" Hermione asked, trying to control her hands shaking, when Tom and she left the potions class for lunch. On the one hand, she was curious, but on the other hand, she dreaded his answer. He was probably going to tell her that their kiss had been a mistake and that he didn't want anything to do with her anymore. It made her incredibly sad.
"Well…" Tom's handsome face blushed. "You know about yesterday…. what did you think about it?"
"Hermione!" Draco yelled, running towards her, Harry puffing behind him. "We have to talk to you! Now! Urgently."
"Why?"
"Please Tom, if you would excuse us." And Harry had swept her away without another word.
"What about our mission?" Hermione said incredulously as soon as they were out of earshot. "I was talking to Tom in case you haven't noticed."
"That's exactly the point!" Draco said, his eyes bright. "You are doing it wrong! You are seducing the wrong guy!"
"WHAT?" Hermione looked baffled. "Didn't Dumbledore say, that we should teach Tom how to love?"
"He was probably right, but there is a bigger problem. Abraxas has just told Orion and we happened to listen in on their conversation." Harry said breathlessly. "Abraxas and Tom are BOTH trying to win you over. If Tom wins, he is going to kill Draco's grandfather. If Abraxas wins, then TOM HAS TO BOW DOWN TO ABRAXAS."
"Kill him?" Hermione was frightened.
"Yes." Draco rolled his eyes. "But not if we play our cards right."
"You mean, if I choose Abraxas, then Tom will not be the Dark Lord?" Hermione asked surprised.
"Exactly." Harry looked relieved that he didn't have to explain everything. "So, STOP everything you have with Riddle and get to know Abraxas better."
"I don't know." Hermione said unenthusiastically. "You want me to snog Draco's grandfather?"
"That's disgusting." Draco helpfully put in, earning a death glare from Harry.
"Indeed." Hermione wrinkled her nose. "But don't you think, Abraxas is going to be the next dark lord, then?"
"Not my grandfather." Draco said decisively. "He doesn't have the guts."
Hermione looked rather concerned. She DIDN'T want to seduce Abraxas; she wanted to have TOM RIDDLE, the HOT HEADBOY! Hanging her head, she turned away from her two friends. "I'm not hungry anymore. You go on without me."
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TOM & ABRAXAS; SLYTHERIN COMMON ROOM
"I think, I have found someone I can practice the killing curse on." Tom whispered maliciously at Abraxas who was sitting on a sofa in the common room, staring into the fire.
"The three weeks are not over yet." Abraxas grunted, without even looking up. "And I promise you, I'll get her into bed faster than you can say Malfoy is the best."
"Incredibly funny." Tom scowled and turned on his heel.
He exited the Slytherin common room and kicked a wall in frustration. He suddenly had a strange feeling; he didn't want to get the girl into bed just because of a competition with Malfoy; he had actually started to really care for her.
And this thought disturbed him.
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Hermione finally dragged herself out of bed and slowly made her way down the stairs. She had to get to her afternoon classes and didn't feel like it. The news that she had to seduce Abraxas instead of Tom didn't appeal to her at all.
'That's why we came here.' a voice told her in her head. 'That's our mission! When we are back in the future, I can choose whoever I like."
However, she almost lost her good will when she spotted HIM sitting there and obviously waiting for her. "Hermione."
Abraxas smiled charmingly at her. "May I accompagnie you to class?"
No, you may not.
Hermione tried to smile and took his arm, which he had offered her. "Yes, Abraxas, thank you. I have charms next."
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THE FUTURE; DUMBLEDORES OFFICE; RON AND DUMBLEDORE
"You lied!" Ron pointed a finger at his favourite headmaster. "You sent Harry and Hermione back without telling me."
"And young Draco." Dumbledore amended.
"Who?" Ron seemed confused.
"Draco… Draco Malfoy…" Dumbledore said slowly. "Don't you know him?"
"I've never known any Draco…" Ron said thoughtfully. "But I know a Valentina Malfoy."
"Valentina?" Dumbledore's voice was alarmed. "No Draco? Are you playing with my mind, Ron?"
Ron, however, looked alarmed as well. "No, headmaster. Are you playing with my mind?"
"No, I can assure you…" A knock sounded on the door and Dumbledore and Ron jumped.
"Come in, please." Dumbledore said pleasantly, but his face went white in the next second. Ron screamed in terror and dived under Dumbledore's table.
"Abraxas?" Dumbledore asked, perplexed.
Said person shook his head. "They don't call me Abraxas any more." he leered. "It's The Dark Lord."
"You are still Abraxas to me." Dumbledore said, a faint smile gracing his lips.
"After all my killings? Torturing muggleborns? After trying to be the most powerful wizard alive?" Abraxas asked sneering.
"I'm afraid that's the problem with old teachers." Dumbledore answered, but inside his mind was whirring. 'Why is Abraxas the new dark lord? Why doesn't Draco exist? Why a Valentina, instead? What about Tom Riddle? Why doesn't Ron remember the other future and I do? WHAT THE HELL ARE HERMIONE; HARRY AND DRACO DOING WRONG?`'
"I actually came here to ask you a favour." Abraxas went on, ignoring the quivering Ron under Dumbledore's table. "I've lost my wife. Can you help me find her?"
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THE PAST; HERMIONE AND ABRAXAS; TRANSFIGURATION WITH DUMBLEDORE
"I've always had problems mastering this charm." Abraxas said sullenly. They were working in pairs on human transfiguration. Hermione had already turned Abraxas' hair bright pink and back to his usual white blonde, but Abraxas was still struggling.
"You are saying the incantation wrong." Hermione told him. "It's vaLIna, not valiNA.!
Harry and Draco who were sitting at the table next to them were sniggering loudly, but Hermione ignored them and smiled at Abraxas. "Try it again. You can do it!"
She didn't notice Tom shooting them a dark glare.
Abraxas nodded and turned back to her. "vaLIna!" he brandished the wand at her hair. "WOW!" he said, his eyes glittering.
"What do I look like?" Hermione asked. "Oh this is stupid." She conjured at mirror and stared at it. "Very well, Abraxas; I look absolutely hideous." Abraxas had turned her hair emerald green. "Turn it back please."
"vaLIna." Abraxas said, now confident, but Hermione's face fell when her hair was red.
"Turn it back to my dark blonde!" she hissed.
"vaLIna." Dark brown with silver streaks.
"Horrible! Abraxas, do something!" Hermione shrieked.
Abraxas, his face pale, brandished his wand again. "vaLIna." Baby boy blue hair was all Hermione saw when she looked into the mirror. Unfortunately, it wasn't a spell, you could use on yourself, so Abraxas had to turn it back. Or Dumbledore. Or someone else. Main thing was that she didn't want to be stuck with a rainbow coloured hairstyle.
"I'm warning you." Hermione growled. "Turn it back now!"
Half the class was now watching them, but Hermione didn't care. Abraxas, however, was flustered.
"vaLIna." And it turned Hermione's hair into a bright pink. Really, she felt like weeping.
"vaLIna." A dark, attractive voice, sounding bored. Hermione didn't have to turn her head to know that it was Tom. Her heart ached. And her hair was back to normal again.
She turned around and smiled a brilliant smile at him. "Thank you, Tom. You are a life-saver."
Abraxas looked thoroughly disgruntled at this.