Bit longer this time round. Hope you all enjoy it! And remember, reviews are my life! :D

CHAPTER 5

He stood nervously before his master, dreading his fate while bitterly wishing his mother had never conceived him.

'I do believe one week has passed by Abraxas…'

He could feel the sweat beginning to slide down his face, his palms starting to turn clammy. 'Master, I-I've tried everything I can but there was nothing that I could find. There was nothing by that name-'

'Crucio.'

I watched with troubled eyes as Abraxas walked through the portrait hole into the common room. Normally he would be of no concern to me but Tom had walked through not five minutes before and he had had a look of vindictive pleasure plastered all over his face.

There was nothing unusual though about Abraxas; he wasn't limping, there was no sign of blood anywhere on him and he didn't even have the smallest of bruises.

Pft! You live in the magical world Hermione! Anything can be covered by spells!

And the sorting hat actually considered placing you in Ravenclaw! Hats these days!

Ignoring my inner self's snort I mentally shook my head, tossing aside those facts. No, it was something else that drew my attention to him today. And suddenly it clicked as we abruptly locked eyes across the room before he quickly lowered them again. It was his eyes. His eyes that would normally sparkle with pride and power now seemed…dimmed somewhat. They no longer held arrogance and self-importance but of submissiveness and…pain.

Barging right over to Tom I impulsively decided to remove that stupid smirk of his.

'Hi Tom!' I called to him a bit too cheerfully. 'Had a nice day so far?'

'Now that you're here, no.'

'And they say that this era was chivalrous! Pft!'

Tom looked at me bizarrely before shaking his head and going back to stare at the oh-so-interesting fire.

'What are you doing Tom?' I could practically hear his teeth grinding together and I mentally laughed at the not so disciplined Tom.

'I'm thinking Granger. Have you ever heard of such a concept?' He shot back scathingly.

'Why yes. I do believe it occurs when man-'

'Shut it Granger!' His sudden outburst made me chuckle appreciatively and I lightly smacked my hand across the back of his head.

'Tom, that's no way to behave to a lady!' Reprimanding him truly was the highlight of my day.

'Lady? You? I believe you're sorely mistaken there. You could never pass off as a lady.'

'Okay okay, I do admit it. I'm not a lady. Happy now?'

'Why ye-'

'I'm a queen instead!'

'Granger, for once in your life just leave me be! I'm tired and I'd rather not deal with you at the moment!'

'Why are you tired?'

'Granger, I'm warning you…'

'Hey, I'm just saying! Normally though you seem to be fine, even after a strenuous day. Hmmm… have you exerted yourself or your magic in any ways?'

'I am not having this conversation with you right now Granger!'

'Fine, we'll talk tomorrow. But just to let you know it's generally seen as more beneficial if a person opens up-'

'Granger! For the last time shut it!' I smirked as he dramatically made his way to his dorms, his robes billowing out behind him.

"Maybe that's where Snape learnt how to do it."

Grinning like an idiot I turned around to find Abraxas but he too seemed to have left for his dorm.

Oops.

I might just have caused more damage than good. An angry Tom was not an ideal person to deal with. But yet again Tom wouldn't have mastered the unforgivables by now would he? Maybe he'd just curse Abraxas but it wouldn't be anything too bad. He was only eleven after all. Right?

I sighed heavily with relief as Abraxas was back to normal the next day; his eyes screamed superiority and he even yelled at three second years when they tried to sit at the breakfast table; that spot was apparently his now. Laughing quietly to myself I hummed peacefully under my breath, musing amusedly over the fact that Malfoy could control his elders.

Going back to my meal I felt the usual serene aura of Hogwarts washing over me again as it always had, its barriers to intruders singing in my veins, protecting us like a mother would her child.

But however much I liked it, it didn't last. It never did.

'Have you heard?'

'Yes. Geoffrey told me yesterday. But it can't be true though…can it?'

'I'll bet 10 galleons it is.'

My ears perked up. It was clear that there was something bothering those two fifth years. And that it had nothing to do with school.

'But…they say he went to Durmstrung. Doesn't that school teach the Dark Arts?'

'I think so…yeah.'

'But we're safe here, right?'

Glancing at the two boys I saw them both simultaneously glance at the teacher's table where Dumbledore sat with his bright yellow robes which had pink kittens running all over it, chasing after a ball of wool.

'I'm not sure. Dumbledore doesn't exactly seem really fierce, does he now? I even heard he offers lemon drops to anyone visiting him in his office, even if it's a student in trouble.'

I chuckled appreciatively. It was obvious that they were in fact safe since the two students were ignorant of the power that Dumbledore possessed. No matter what it was Dumbledore would protect us.

'I know. But there's something about him… hopefully it's enough to defeat Grindelwald, even if he's only conquered a few cities down south.'

My mind felt numb all of a sudden. G-Grindelwald? Did he just say Grindelwald? But that was impossible! War began in the early 40's, not 30s!

Calm down Hermione! Just breathe in, breathe out! Breathe in-

"I get it already!" I snapped at my obviously calm inner self.

Hey, I'm just saying! Dumbledore beat Grindelwald, remember? Hogwarts was never attacked and you won't be affected at all by this war. Just relax already!

"I…oh." I replied dumbly.

Exactly! I could practically see her smirk taking place.

But…but there was something else; something other than that which had caused my heart to beat askew.

I had come back. That in itself changed the timeline permanently. I wasn't here the first time round; that much was obvious as Dumbledore sent me back here in desperation, and not because he remembered me.

Would something else happen as well then?

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