Thank you again to everyone who keeps coming back to read this :) You guys are amazing – here, free Toms for everyone! :P
C.a.s - *blushing* thank you! and hehe, tom will be tom, what can i say :P and i wouldn't hate elaine just yet if i was you :P and hermione still has tom - no matter what he said last chapter - and her books :P and lol, same, i cant wait till they get bested by her :P :P :P
Andiescandieee - lol, i should start cloning tom - id make a lot of money out of him! :P :P :P and hahaha, no, i don't think she ever will - especially not by parkinson :P but maybe...just maybe, in the far, faaaaaaar future she will be accepted :P :P :P lol, but seriously, they only think tom is tolerating her cos he's too 'nice' to tell her to go piss off :S and ah, yes, grindelwald :P interesting fella isn't he? :P he's gonna be appearing more and more often now in chapters so keep an eye out for that :P and HAHAHAHA, how can i say no to tom? (seriously, that guy in C.O.S. was soooooo hot! *fangirl squeal*) ahem...yes :P :P :P lol, thank you for reviewing! :D :D :D
AlwaysthereforTaraxx - hmmm i think i might have to agree with you there :S :S but we'll just have to wait and see :P and thank you! :D :D :D
Angel Girl5 - lol, possibly :P and yes it would be funny :P (hehe, im hoping for the same thing) :P but it'll be later on if it does, unfortunately :S thanks! :D
Angrypixels - cant tell you that sadly :S but you'll be getting more of a clue soon enough so pay close attention :P thanks for reviewing! :D
Melantha of Troy - he's grindelwald. and he doesn't know her personally...but he'd very much like to and not for the more innocent reasons too :S (but yes, it was hermione) :P
and thank you! :D :D
Well, without any further ado, I present to you all chapter 20 :)
P.S. Read and review everyone! :) :) :)
Chapter 20
Silence permeated the halls of Hogwarts, encompassing them in its cloak. Only the click clack of the prefects' shoes could be heard echoing down the corridors, their sharp eyes peering sternly into every alcove and corner of the castle, looking for wandering students.
Professor Dumbledore himself was also on duty, humming quietly to himself as he strolled casually through what he considered to be his home.
"Ah, Mr. Greengrass, Miss Brown. Out for a late night rendezvous I see," he interrupted their snogging cheerfully.
They abruptly broke apart from inside the alcove, their heads banging on the low wall as they peered up at Dumbledore.
"Professor Dumbledore, sir," Raven smiled warmly at the man that had saved his life.
"Mr. Greengrass. Care to explain why you're out late with Miss Brown here?" His twinkling eyes betrayed his stern tone and both the students giggled.
"Weren't you the one who told me that time was a precious thing and that we should use it wisely?"
Dumbledore chuckled.
"So I did. I see the holiday has treated you well."
"Very, sir. My aunt knew a man who specialised in healing the minds of victims."
"I'm glad to hear it my boy." He smiled warmly down at the two of them.
"Well, have a good evening Mr. Greengrass, Miss Brown," and with that he walked off, his periwinkle star robes fanning the ground gracefully as he swept away.
His eyes bulged as he stared at the paragraph and re-read its words for the umpteenth time that night.
The light from his wand illuminated his distorted features for the whole world to see.
But no one did.
Oh, he'd have to spend more time with Granger now, feelings and all aside. The satisfaction at the end would be worth it, and no one would ever blame him too, being so heartbroken at his friend's demise and all.
Snickering to himself, he tucked the book carefully into his drawer and extinguished the light from his wand, his cruel smile hidden in the darkness.
"Good morning Granger," he greeted her cheerfully, sitting down beside her in the Great Hall and sending her a smile that betrayed nothing.
Rachelle, who had been sitting three seats away, dropped her fork in surprise mid-way to her mouth.
It went unnoticed by the rest of the house as they continued to merrily chat away with their friends, oblivious to the change in Tom's behaviour.
"…Good morning," she whispered cautiously, automatically on the guard.
"Isn't it a fine day today?" He continued, laughing at her narrowed eyes.
"…I guess…"
Leaving it at that, he shot her one last smile before dumping bacon and eggs onto his plate.
He could practically see her mind working on this latest development and not one minute in, she cracked.
"Are you feeling alright Tom?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" He answered, his innocently bewildered face not fooling her for a second.
Her eyes continued to narrow in distrust and he vaguely wondered if she could still see through the tiny slits.
"You haven't drunk something? A cheering potion perhaps?"
He waved away her concerns and snorted.
"I'm not a fool Granger."
"Well something's happened," she cried out, patience be damned.
"I've just realised what a good friend you've been this past year or so. I just wanted to show you my…appreciation so to speak."
Rachelle's fork once again clattered onto the wooden floor, her mouth openly aghast at the scene in front of her.
"You can't be serious Tom!" She interrupted just as Hermione opened her mouth in response.
"I speak the truth Parkinson. Surely you must see that." He sent her one of his 'dazzling' smiles that could leave even seventh years melting over him.
Her mouth opened and closed futilely trying to find her tongue as her cheeks began to flush.
"Of course, Tom," she answered breathlessly, her eyes glassing over as she stared lovingly at him.
"Tragic," Hermione whispered, disgusted at her behaviour.
"If only you were just like her," Tom whispered back, his lips barely moving as he continued to smile at Rachelle.
"I'd rather die," she continued seriously.
"But I would miss you sooo much Granger."
She snorted and continued her breakfast, laughing as the other girl started to fidget nervously when Tom didn't break the gaze.
"You will be learning about the lux pede spell today. Can anybody tell me what it is? Miss Granger?"
"I…er…"
Silence flooded the classroom as all heads turned as one to stare at her.
"I…"
"It muffles the sound of your feet while walking." Tom answered, shooting her a curious look.
"Well done, Mr. Riddle. 5 points to Slytherin.
"Now the wand movements…"
Her voice blurred into the background as he turned back round to face Granger who was staring shocked at the wall in front of her.
"I've never even heard of that spell." She whispered astonished.
"My, my, what has the world come to?" Tom shook his head in mock sadness.
She remained silent though, still staring at the wall as if it held all the answers she was looking for.
"Get a grip Granger, you can't possibly know everything! You've only been on this earth for 12 years idiot!" He chastised, his quizzical eyes boring into the side of her head.
"You don't understand!" She whipped her head round, eyes bulging with fright.
Fright? Tom was even more curious now.
"I should know this! And it can't be because I'm back, it can't! And why would it? What could this possibly do with me and-"
"Cut it out Granger!" Tom snapped, irritated at her obviously one-sided frantic conversation.
"Some of us are trying to learn here!"
Her eyes widened even further in horror as she stared at him like she'd just realised he was there. It was only for a second though as she hastily ripped her eyes away and focused back on the teacher.
"Of course."
Nothing more was said that lesson but Tom had the nagging suspicion that there was something more to it than Granger just cracking and finally turning insane.
"Hermione," he nudged her as he sat down beside her on the Slytherin table.
Maybe, just maybe, if he used her given name she'd respond more positively.
"Why didn't you know the light-foot spell?"
She froze for a second before laughing it away, the before frantic air around her having turned calm and serene now.
"I forgot that I didn't read the text book in the holiday, that's all. Really, I'm just used to knowing all the answers, that's why I panicked."
He gave her a look that clearly told her he didn't believe a word of what she had just said.
"You said, if I remember correctly, 'it can't be because I'm back…what could this possibly do with me'. That sounds like something more than just forgetting to read a text book, now doesn't it?"
His voice left no room to fight, deadly and serious as it was.
"Tom. Just drop it. It was the first time I didn't know the answer to something. Of course I was going to over-react."
He continued to give her a look but decided to drop it eventually. She wouldn't answer him, not today.
He'd just have to wait.
Hermione ate her chicken solemnly. She had calmed down a lot since she was in the classroom and looking back, she really had over-reacted. Of course this had nothing to do with her.
Although she had researched every syllabus ever created back in the future, making sure that the teachers hadn't forgotten to teach her something valuable, she must've made a mistake.
And anyway, she reminded herself, even if this has something to do with me, time is only rearranging history's events. Which means that this spell must've been made at some point and that I did in fact miss it when I was doing my research before.
Nodding happily to herself she smiled at the prospect of learning new things.
If the second year syllabus contained extra material, then the others would most likely have something new in them as well.
Now humming, she ignored Tom's continuous searching looks and laughed along with everyone as Dumbledore entered the Great Hall looking sheepish, his long beard now a vibrant green.
Tom wandered idly down the hallways, his black eyes deceptively innocent.
He had been reading books from both the Hogwarts library and the Malfoy's.
He had come across a special little sentence that spoke of his magic identifying with the Chamber's. He would apparently…know where it was, feel its presence.
He was on the second floor corridor now, his hands in his pockets, smiling cordially at whoever passed him.
Just as he turned a corner he heard a retching noise coming from the girls' bathroom further down.
Rolling his eyes at whoever was sick he continued down the corridor.
Not one foot closer he began to smell the repugnant smell wafting from within.
His nose crinkled in disgust, his stomach churning unpleasantly.
Increasing his speed he quickly made for the next floor, determined never to return.
"People these days," he muttered darkly to himself.
As he continued on his way around the castle he couldn't help but wander where the Chamber was. He had pretty much been everywhere in Hogwarts ever since he had first walked through those front doors in first year, and as far as he could remember, he'd never felt any sort of magical link to any part of the castle before.
"Curious…"
"Hermione!"
Turning around her eyes widened in surprise to see Raven jogging up to her.
"Hermione," he puffed out, placing his hand on the wall for support.
"Yes?"
"I just... I know I've taunted you in the past and have been disrespectful of your heritage so I just wanted to apologise to you. I know you're the one who found me that night last year and if it wasn't for your incredible ability to soak up everything you read and permanently engrave it into your head…well, I'd probably be dead."
She smiled widely up at the boy who had grown tremendously over the summer. He had turned into a remarkable young man whom she quite respected now.
"I only wish I could've done more. I know how painful it must've been for you and I'm sorry you had to go through that."
His smile was kind now, no longer the jeer that he had strutted about wearing on a day-to-day basis before.
"I also know that you tried to find a cure for me. I don't know what I did to deserve your kindness but I will be forever more in your debt Miss Granger."
"Debts are such bothersome things, don't you think?" She dismissed it, smiling. "I'm just glad you're okay now."
Smiling, he gripped her shoulder firmly and nodded his head.
"If I was Salazar, I would be proud to have you in my house." With that he walked off, most probably off to find Mary again for some more snogging.
Smiling at his turned back, she too turned around and headed off to the library again, her heart filled with joy…and if she was honest to herself, something akin to her love for Ron.
Ron…
Shaking her head clear, she hastily thought of Tom again and oh how her feelings sank.
Sighing she made her way to her favourite couch in the library and settled herself comfortably in it.
Propping The Standard Book Of Spells, Grade 2, on her lap she blissfully began to read the mostly familiar text.
Later that night as she lay on her bed, hovering between the realms of reality and dreams, Mary walked in, a smirk making its way onto her face as she spotted Hermione.
"Well, if it isn't Miss. I-think-I-know-it-all. Not so smart now are you, you whore?"
Her lids cracked open to stare sullenly up at the girl.
"At least I'm smart enough to know the difference between an animagus and a werewolf."
Mary stopped for a second, tongue poking out of her mouth and eyes staring hazily at the wall, obviously trying to think of the answer, before muttering a small, "Whatever," and walking away.
Chuckling she once more attempted to fall back to sleep but the door to their room opened again to reveal Rachelle this time.
"Ah, Miss. Idiot. How are you feeling today, hmm? A bit behind everyone maybe?"
Rolling her eyes behind her lids, she propped herself up on her pillow and glared balefully at the girl.
"I'm smarter than you Parkinson, so just leave me alone already!"
"Oh, but see, I'm not the one spreading rumours about myself that I'm as smart as a professor."
"I never said that and you know it!" Really, this was just getting tiring. Would they ever leave her in peace?"
Just then Elaine entered the room and Rachelle's eyes brightened visibly.
"Elaine, why don't you join us here," she called out, smiling evilly at Hermione.
"Yes?" The girl replied timidly.
"I was just saying that our dear Hermione here is a lying whore, who's as smart as a toad. Don't you agree with me?"
Hermione mentally pleaded with the girl to defend her, for the sake of their friendship last year, but after a moment's hesitation, Elaine's eyes shut down, the spark in them turning dull and lifeless.
"Yes, she is."
Without another word, she made her way across to her bed and sunk into it, her school clothes still on and her hair still clipped up into a tight bun.
Sighing Hermione dropped back onto her pillow and mentally cried for their lost friendship, blatantly ignoring Rachelle's snickers.
It was in the middle of the night when Rosier made his way to the third floor corridor where he was to meet Avery and Malfoy in an abandoned classroom. Tom himself was already there, preparing today's lesson.
As he walked into the room he hastily checked his surroundings before closing the door.
The last the moon ever saw of him was his wicked smile that made the moon itself scared enough to hide behind some passing clouds.
Grumbling he turned over in his bed, grabbing his pillow and covering his ears with it as the owl that had been there for the past ten minutes, continued to tap on his window.
Wait…window?
He didn't have a window!
With agility he didn't possess, he jumped out of his bed and hurried to the source of the sound.
The wall.
Confused he used his own spell to see the outside and…he was right. He didn't know how that owl knew he was there; only the strongest of protective spells had been used over the building, but there it was…as if no spells were ever used. He hastily checked that they were indeed protected before allowing the owl in.
Gingerly grabbing the letter he used every detection spell he could think of on it, but there was nothing.
Opening it he stared confused at the blank piece of parchment before something clicked at the back of his head.
But it couldn't be…
Could it?
A quaver in his voice he whispered the spell that both Dumbledore and himself created to reveal their coded messages.
"Me videre."
A second passed before cursive handwriting began to write words on the parchment.
A tear leaked from his wide eyes, his throat choked up as memories surged past his defences.
Gellert,
I implore you to stop this madness.
I know what you're looking for and why, and I won' t let you capture them.
Again, stop.
Please - for the sake of our old friendship.
Albus
Crumpling up the letter he threw it across the room, a roar escaping his lips.
He had no right! NO RIGHT! This was all his fault! HIS!
Fuming, he called the shadows and watched in vicious delight as the letter was burned, the word 'please' the last to disappear.
He'd have to find another way into Hogwarts, a method that not even Dumbledore would ever suspect of him.
...
He had just the plan.
R&R! :D