Disclaimer in Chapter One
Author's note: next chapter and as promised a bit more action in this. I had a lot of fun writing a certain part of it. I'm sure you can guess which one XD
Anyway, have fun reading and I'm always happy to read your input. So drop a review if you feel like it. Thanks a lot to you guys who wrote a review for last chapter. I very much enjoyed reading them. I'm sorry I didn't manage to reply to everyone. But I did love them all!
Alyette, .Ink, Tiara2010, Ceralyn, nikif, kdjh, KamiaKeller, erinelle, Nero Basterdino, loren, sarah, m0nt, Hamelia Le Claire, azulaiii, EnuNR-zero, Zombie Reine, NY GE Pyromaniac, LadyNorth76, AvoidedIsland, Starrgirlfish, Ijoan, Angellwriter, Iceagesurvivor123, HereToRead84, SamarKanda, abcdreamer, trestreschic, Vita Artista, timi55, messy-hair-day, Nostalgic Beauty, twiggy, RabxBlack, ConfettiRiot, NorthernLights25, Forbiddenluv, R. B. Evans, BookishBrains, Chelsea Di Marco Macbeth, sacha22, among others, 372259, alannalove1990
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Chapter Five: No Prudent Cavaliers
"Did you follow me?"
"…er…" Hermione mumbled fearfully. "…no?"
†
Hermione's head was downcast. She didn't dare to look up at Riddle. Her eyes were glued on his hand which was about to pull his wand. Fearfully she pressed herself against the tree behind her while Riddle's threat of using that skin-melting curse flew through her head.
Before Riddle drew his wand, though, he hesitated. Cautiously, Hermione's eyes fluttered up at him. She didn't find the expected angry snarl there. His starkly blue eyes had left her and Riddle stared at something behind her. Odd excitement washed over his features.
"Come with me," Riddle ordered sharply.
Gruffly he pulled her with him towards an old oak tree. Hermione furrowed her brow in confusion. Riddle didn't say a word as they stood in front of the tree. Harsh triumph was mirrored in his deep blue eyes as they took in the tree. Hermione was deeply bewildered by his behaviour. She had expected Riddle to curse her or at the very least beat her for her audacity of having followed him. With mounting confusion, her gaze wandered to the tree. The oak's knobby trunk was incredibly massive, probably centuries old. The bark had fallen off at certain places, indicating that the wood underneath was not healthy. Large, leafless branches shot up to the sky, stubbornly trying to maintain whatever life was left in the oak. The impressive tree had doubtlessly reached the fall of its life, but it still stood proud, dwarfing the other trees around. The really interesting part, though, was the magic saturating the air around the tree.
Riddle pulled his wand and gracefully flourished it, trying to manipulate the tree's magic. In response the magic shifted around agitatedly, not at all content with being disturbed like this. Hermione shortly forgot who Riddle was and asked curiously,
"What is this? A ward?"
Riddle continued to wave his wand as he whispered absentmindedly, "More like a curse… very strong. But that was to be expected…"
Hermione raised her eyebrows in surprise. She hadn't thought he would reply. Riddle released a frustrated breath of air and let his wand sink down. For a moment he contemplated the tree in front of him. Then he determinedly slashed the wand through the air. Suddenly a bluish translucent wall appeared. Like a dome it spanned over the huge oak tree, enveloping it protectively.
Excitement bubbled up in Hermione as she was confronted with such impressive magic. Tentatively she raised her hand and pressed the palm against the bluish wall. Coldness prickled under her palm unpleasantly and seemed to drain warmth and magic from her.
"It absorbs energy," Hermione mused thoughtfully.
Riddle was seemingly caught up in his own thought process. Maybe that was the reason he didn't snap at Hermione for her daring comment. His frosty eyes gleamed oddly as they wandered over the challenge in front of him. In one fluid movement he raised the wand. With that his magic started to crackle forcefully around him. Hermione gulped nervously as she felt his powerful magic prickling all over her body. Slowly Riddle moved his wand over the barrier of magic. At first nothing visible happened but then the barrier melted away where Riddle's wand touched. Soon a hole appeared. As Hermione looked through that opening she was surprised. While winter had a tight grasp on the forest around her, inside the barrier the cold season had no power at all. The forest floor was free of snow. Here and there wood anemones grew, sprinkling the ground in a vivid green.
Riddle didn't stop to admire the impossible change of season, but decisively stepped through the hole in the ward. Hermione quickly made her decision and followed him. The moment she passed the ward, she was greeted by warmth. Nothing remained of the winter's coldness, instead a full sun shone down at her. Birds twittered cheerfully. As Hermione turned, she glimpsed a hint of snow before the hole in the barrier re-sealed itself. Suddenly she was surrounded by a vernal forest. The treetops were not leafless anymore but green and full of life.
Impressed by this piece of magic, Hermione turned back to Riddle. He had walked over to the old oak tree and scanned it with interest. Only the tree wasn't that old anymore, Hermione noticed in amazement. Its trunk considerably thinner, the oak was bursting with strength. The bark was healthy and undisturbed, the branches thick and full with leaves.
Curious, Hermione stepped a bit closer to Riddle. He was transfixed with the oak tree. She decided to not stretch her luck and didn't address him again. Hermione's eyes left the imposing oak and spotted a stone coffin, standing at the tree's foot. White marble shone brilliantly in the sun. On the coffin's lid lay the beautifully crafted sculpture of a young woman. The woman's fine features were carved masterfully into the white marble. Her eyes were closed and she truly looked alive as if she had just fallen in a light slumber. On a small slab at the woman's feet was an inscription.
"'Ignosce me filiola'," Hermione read softly, not noticing she said it out loud. "Forgive me, daughter dear."
Riddle's icy blue eyes unfixed from the oak tree. Mild surprise lingered in his gaze as it wandered over Hermione. She quickly cast her eyes down, fear welling up in her as she chastised herself for having spoken out loud. Whatever it was that had caused Riddle's attention to shift to her, he did not address it. Hermione breathed out in relief as he looked away from her. Riddle's fingers softly skimmed over the inscription on the slab.
"Forgive me, indeed," he sneered disdainfully.
With that he turned from the tomb and faced the oak tree. He raised his wand and brandished it gracefully while he muttered an incantation under his breath. Hermione couldn't make out his words but she felt magic building up. As Riddle's dark magic wrapped around the oak, it began to switch to and fro between the older, larger tree with snow on its branches and the young healthy one.
It took Riddle a while, but then the magic in the tree gave in to his attack. There was a loud crack and the whole tree glowed in a bright light. The light wandered down the branches and concentrated into a ball in the trunk. Riddle trained his wand on that spot. Slowly, very slowly, the light drifted towards the wand's tip. Hermione gasped softly as she saw something floating in this ball of light. Riddle reached for it. The light went out and Riddle stood there, holding a beautiful silver diadem in his hand. Light blue gems glinted serenely in the sun's light. Riddle stared down at the jewellery, unbridled triumph crossing his face.
Hermione saw something moving in the corner of her eyes. She looked away from Riddle, her gaze falling on the stone coffin. A soft gasp left her. The statue on the coffin twitched slightly as life streamed into her. Slowly the stone woman sat up. Her beautiful face shining in the sun. Then she opened her eyes. Hermione drew in a sharp breath of air. The same blue gems that decorated the diadem adorned the statue's eyes and gleamed sinisterly.
Quickly, Hermione's gaze flew back at Riddle. He hadn't yet noticed the statue's movements, entranced as he was with the diadem. The stone woman wasn't as oblivious. Her eerie blue eyes were fixed on Riddle. The calm expression fell from her face and turned to fury as she stared at the diadem in Riddle's hands. Then she raised her hand, her index finger pointing at Riddle's back.
Hermione had no idea what enchantment had animated the statue, but it certainly couldn't be anything good. Without thinking further, she sprang into action and sprinted to Riddle. She jumped into his side, her arms wrapped around his waist, and pushed him down. Riddle gasped as he impacted on the forest floor.
"What the fuck?" he growled irately, glaring up at her. "Are you cr-"
He couldn't finish as suddenly a beam of magic rushed dangerously close over their heads. Riddle's eyes widened with surprise. He tensed as he spotted the stone woman. She had slipped from the coffin and now stood there, anger twisting her beautiful face.
"Damn," Riddle hissed.
He stood up, pushing Hermione gruffly from him, and put the silver diadem into his robe pocket. His wand was already pointed at the statue. Hermione crawled away, her heart racing in her chest. The air was thick with magic and she could barely breathe.
Obviously, the stone woman wasn't one to play coy. Her hand twisted claw-like, suddenly flames burst to life. The blue flames licked hungrily over white marble fingers. Thirst for destruction burned in the statue's eerie eyes as she raised her hand, her index finger pointing at Riddle. Hissing bitter revenge, the blue flames dashed through the air.
Riddle swiftly brandished his wand and raised a silvery shield. The flames slammed into the shield, wanting to incinerate Riddle. He was forced to stumble a step back, his shield flickering under the ruthless attack. Riddle waved his wand in a complicated pattern. The blue flames roared in protest as his shield slowly sucked them in and smothered them. Quickly Riddle turned away from the dying flames and waved his wand at the protective barrier through which they had entered. This time, though, his effort was unsuccessful. The barrier was sealed and didn't want to budge a second time.
Mercilessly, the marble statue raised her arm again. This time her index and middle finger were extended towards the sky. A bright red beam of light left the fingertips. With one sharp movement the stone woman brought her arm down. The red light followed her movement. Like a sharp blade it crashed down on Riddle who swiftly raised another shield. The red shaft of light was stopped by his powerful defence. Still, the stone woman pressed on. Hermione saw Riddle's eyes widen slightly as the red light penetrated his shield. In the last second, Riddle hurled himself out of the way. Still, the red beam of light cut into his left arm before it slammed into the forest floor.
Dark red blood dripped from his hand, as Riddle stared at the statue, his eyes gleaming with rage. A snarl on his face, he attacked. Riddle's wand was a blur as he brandished it, sending curse after curse at his opponent. His dark magic sparked with fury as it stormed around him and readily formed into the most complex spells. The stone woman was forced to take a step back under the assault. Hermione had never seen someone fight like Riddle.
A flick of his wand and he cast a dark curse. His magic violently descended upon the stone woman and ripped at her. His spell seemed to bend time itself. First a thick layer of dust accumulated on the white marble. Then years, decades, rushed by in mere seconds and cracks of old age appeared in the stone.
Hermione felt Riddle's magic painfully on her body and quickly took cover, crouched behind the stone coffin. Cautiously she peered over the coffin. Under the influence of Riddle's magic, pieces of stone broke away from the statue and burst into dust even before they hit the ground. The statue stumbled another step away. Then suddenly the blue gems in her eye sockets burned balefully. Magic crackled around the woman and she slashed her arm through the air. Riddle's curse broke with a resounding crack and the woman sent a furious wave of her magic towards Riddle. He brandished his wand and managed to deflect the powerful magic.
Hermione stared with wide eyes at the duel. She doubted she would have been able to stand even a second against the statue. It obviously wasn't just animated stone but was also protected by several strong shields.
Damn, Hermione thought, angry at her own curiosity. If only she hadn't followed Riddle, then she wouldn't be trapped here. The magical barrier still covered the whole area around the oak tree, conjuring up the illusion of a spring day when in reality it was winter.
Another wave of Riddle's dark magic washed over Hermione, making her hair stand on end. Trembling slightly, she pressed her back against the stone coffin. As she cowered on the ground, she felt something hard against her hand. A strangely formed stone lay there between the brown leaves on the ground. Hermione picked it up and realized with horror that it was bone. Half of a human mandible, molars still in their sockets, lay in her shaking hand. Hermione's fear-widened eyes wandered over the forest floor. Sure enough, there were more bones lying about. She gulped thickly. Another victim of this horrible trap?
Just as Hermione wanted to crawl away from the bones, she saw something else. It couldn't be, could it? Hermione's hand trembled as she cautiously reached out. It couldn't really be a… Her hand closed around it and a ripple went through her magic.
"Merlin."
Hermione couldn't believe it as she stared down at a wand in her hand. It was slender and made of light brown wood. Hermione's magic leaped enthusiastically and rushed into the wood, sending joyful sparkles from its tip. Hermione couldn't help but smile down at that wonderful wand in her hand. Suddenly she felt so… so…
Whole.
Her joy was rather short-lived as a loud crack resounded and Hermione was pushed back into the situation at hand. Holding the wand tightly, she looked at Riddle. He was still fighting, doing his best to destroy that stone woman. Riddle's display of magic was quite impressive. Still, the cursed statue was even for him not an easy opponent. Hermione turned her head and scanned the vernal forest around her.
I need to take the barrier down.
She bit her lip hard as a mixture of apprehension and fear hit her. This was only the second time, she ever held a real wand in her hand how was she supposed to do this? Hermione closed her eyes and tried to sort her churned up thoughts.
Calm down, she told herself. You've read about wards. You know what to do.
There had been a whole shelf of books about warding magic in the Malfoys' library. Wand clasped tightly, Hermione crept away from the coffin. Just a few metres and her hands made contact with the invisible barrier. Quickly, she moved the wand over the barrier. She could feel the power of the ward pulsing under her wand's tip. There was more, though. Something more sinister was woven into the protective ward. A curse was hidden underneath. It was this curse that supplied the warding magic with the necessary energy. Hermione could also tell that the curse was a lot stronger from the inside. To enter the circle of warding magic was relatively easy but the curse would see to it that no-one would leave again.
Hermione remembered the book about curse breaking she had read just before leaving for Albania. 'Each and every curse has a weak point,' the book had said. Hermione prayed it had been right.
With a trembling hand she waved the wand. Tentatively Hermione dared to send a bit of her magic into the barrier, just to see how it would be absorbed and what path it would take. That piece of her magic moved incredibly fast. Hermione had trouble keeping track. Beads of sweat built on her forehead. But then – a soft gasp left Hermione – her magic merged with the curse and finally she could fully see it.
It was a beautiful curse. Its traces were almost invisible as it was so cleverly woven into the barrier. Whoever managed to construct this curse must have been a genius. Everything fit so perfectly. It was almost as if the curse had a mind of its own. It was a indeed a beautiful composition
Hermione breathed in deeply, reminding herself of her mission. She wasn't here to admire this curse. Her hand tightened around her wand and Hermione sent another surge of her magic into the barrier, examining more. While the curse was incredibly strong, it simultaneously was the weak point of the whole defence system. Without this curse, the warding magic and the whole barrier was useless. If the curse fell, it would set off a chain reaction, destroying everything.
Hermione suppressed her fear and ordered all of her magic to delve into the curse. Of course, there was no way she would be able to break the curse with sheer force. So Hermione formed her magic into countless tiny strands. She ordered them to curl around the curse and sneakily tug at it. One alone would have been useless, but as there were so many they slowly managed to weaken the curse. Hermione felt light-headed as she had to send so much of her magic into the barrier.
After a few horribly long minutes, a powerful ripple went through the whole barrier and Hermione could feel her magic breaking through the curse. The curse finally snapped and with a swishing sound disappeared. Hermione crumbled to her knees, exhausted. A mixture of a strangled laugh and a sob left her as snowflakes softly floated down on her.
She had made it!
The barrier had fallen. The eternal spring was broken. Quickly Hermione turned her head and looked for Riddle. He was still engaged in the fight with the enchanted statue and hadn't yet noticed that the barrier was gone. Blood was flowing down Riddle's face from a cut at his temple. The stone statue had by now lost her left arm, deep cracks running though her torso. Still, she attacked with the same viciousness.
Hermione breathed in deeply before she dashed towards Riddle. The statue raised her hand and a surge of her powerful magic soared inches over Hermione's head. Shortly before she reached Riddle, Hermione dived and once again collided with his side. This time he couldn't protest because she pulled him with her into apparition. Seconds later they slumped down right in front of the tent's entrance. Hermione lay on Riddle's chest, grabbing him tightly while her heart raced away in her chest. A confused frown was on his face as Riddle first eyed her then turned his head and scanned the tent.
"Did you just apparate us here?" he finally asked breathlessly.
Hermione gingerly got up from him and slipped the wand into her robe pocket so that Riddle wouldn't see.
"Yes, Master Riddle," she replied softly. "The wards were suddenly down."
Again Riddle turned his head, taking in his surroundings. Suspicious frown on his brow, he slowly got up. Hermione shied away from his piercing gaze as it came to rest on her.
"Why did the wards fall?" he asked sharply.
She quickly shook her head. "I don't know. I saw them breaking down and thought that you would want to leave. So, I apparated us here, Master Riddle."
For a second, Riddle didn't reply. His frosty blue eyes kept her imprisoned and Hermione was very conscious of the wand in her robe pocket. If Riddle knew she had a real wand, she didn't know what he would do to her. One of the worst crimes a Mudblood could commit was using, or even touching, a wizard's wand.
"Very well," Riddle said slowly, still scanning her suspiciously.
Then he walked over to the tent. Hermione exhaled, relief taking over. She still trembled slightly as she quickly followed Riddle into the tent. He had already taken off his winter cloak, sat down on the sitting area and carefully placed the silver diadem on the table in front of him. Hermione saw his cold blue eyes glinting eerily as Riddle stared at the diadem.
Then he reached for the leather-bound book Hermione had once tried to read. He opened the book and laid it beside the diadem on the table before he pulled his wand. Slowly he waved it over the diadem, muttering spells under his breath. From time to time he checked something in the book, before he resumed his incantations.
Hermione saw that there was still blood flowing from the deep cut in his temple. Riddle didn't pay it any heed. Well, Hermione certainly wasn't going to volunteer help. So she stepped far away from Riddle.
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Hermione suppressed a yawn as she peered at Riddle. He was still bent over the diadem. An obsessed glint smouldered in his eyes while he delicately waved his wand over the jewellery. Since hours he hadn't done anything else.
Hermione pursed her lips. The diadem was admittedly strange but it didn't really interest her. Instead the wand, the slender brown wand, dominated Hermione's thoughts. It rested so alluringly in her robe pocket.
Hermione glanced at Riddle. The way he looked like a man possessed, he would probably be immersed in the diadem for another couple of hours. Slowly Hermione inched over to the exit door. The hated bright-red wand lay forgotten on the kitchen counter. Heart thrumming in her chest, Hermione slipped out and took several steps away from the tent. Then she couldn't hold back anymore and with trembling hands pulled the wand. A loving smile curved her lips as she looked at the chestnut wand in her hand. Using it a little wouldn't hurt, would it? No-one would ever find out.
Come on, Hermione, just do it, the wand seemed to whisper to her invitingly. Hermione breathed in deeply. Okay. Just a few spells, she promised herself. She shot a furtive glance in the direction of the tent. No Riddle in sight. Her heart was beating away in her chest as Hermione raised the wand and brandished it in the movements she had practised without wand so many times.
"Protego!"
Hermione's eyes widened as the shield really took form around her. She smiled widely. It had worked! Another wave of the wand and the shield disappeared. That had been easy. She needed something more difficult. Enthusiastically Hermione tried a few other spells. Stupefy, Aguamenti, Lumos, Evanesco. Everything worked. So she decided to try something more challenging. She bent down scooped up a bit snow and formed a snowball. Then she threw it up in the air and waved her wand in a complicated pattern.
"Aresto momentum."
Nothing happened and the snowball landed on the ground. Hermione glared at the spot. Then she threw another snowball and again tried the spell. This time the snowball wobbled slightly in the air, but still fell. Her brow furrowed in concentration, Hermione worked on the spell and was lost in a happy world of her own.
"Aresto momentum."
Hermione's eyes lit up with pride as, this time, the snowball stopped its descent, floated in the air and awaited her commands. Hermione giggled in joy at her achievement, but then a sharp voice ripped her out of her delight.
"Expelliarmus!"
Hermione felt the wand shooting out of her hand. She stiffened and her heart clenched in fear. Slowly she turned around to where the voice had come from. There, a few metres, away stood Riddle. He held his own wand in his right hand and hers in the other. A swoop of panic grabbed Hermione as she looked at his face. His blue eyes smouldered with anger as he glared at her darkly. Hermione wanted to turn around and run away but stood rooted to the ground. Riddle angrily stared the second wand in his hand and the furious glint in his eyes intensified. Then he stored the wand away in his robe pocket. The angry expression was still on his face as he walked over to her.
"Where did you get that wand?" Riddle hissed, his voice laden with anger.
Hermione looked up at him fearfully. She was starting to tremble as she saw that dangerous look on his face.
"I… I…" she mumbled, cowering before him. "I found it. Right beside that coffin…"
Riddle didn't wait for her to voice anything more. He raised his hand and harshly grabbed her. Hermione winced as his hand clenched painfully tight around her left upper arm. Riddle wrenched her closer to him. Then he bent down to her so that his face was mere inches from hers. Hermione's breathing was erratic with fear.
"You are not allowed to use a wand," he said darkly, threat seeping through his voice.
"I- I know," Hermione hastily assured, trying to appease him. "I'm sorry."
Riddle's eyes narrowed in anger and Hermione shied away from him. She whimpered softly as he tightened his grip on her. Without saying any more Riddle turned around and brutally pulled her with him. Hermione was quaking with fear as she stumbled after him. What was he going to do with her? Riddle had never beaten her before, but she knew things could change very quickly.
"I'm sorry," she pleaded with him. "I won't do it again."
Riddle didn't answer, he just continued to pull her with him. Hermione's stomach knotted with fear. If only she hadn't used the wand.
"Please, Master Riddle," she choked out, terrified. "I'm sorry."
Again he didn't react to her begging. Riddle entered the tent and Hermione was forced to follow him. He never released her as he turned around to her. Hermione had to supress a sob as she saw that aggressive look on his face. He grabbed her other arm, too, and held her tightly. Hermione trembled under his touch.
"You-" Riddle hissed at her in a fearsome voice. "-are a Mudblood. You are not worthy enough to touch a wand."
Hermione nodded, incredibly frightened by the furious magic he radiated. "Yes. I shouldn't have done it. Please forgive me, Master Riddle."
Riddle sneered at her, the fury never leaving his eyes. He shook her violently and Hermione whimpered.
"How dare you use a wand, you filthy Muggle?" he yelled at her. "You deserve to get beaten for your nerve alone!"
Hermione sniffed. Unshed tears swam in her eyes as she raised them and peered up at Riddle. He looked absolutely furious and his angry magic was all over the place. It ripped at Hermione painfully. Hopefully Riddle would only beat her and not use any curses on her. She quickly averted her eyes from his angry face.
"Don't hurt me, please."
There was not even a spark of mercy in Riddle's eyes. He again shook her brutally. An intimidating snarl on his face, he hissed,
"You are unfit to hold a wand. What did you try to do? You know you are not able to compete with a real wizard. Your magic is useless and weak."
His cruel words echoed through her mind. Hermione had heard them so often, they had left behind huge scars.
Weak!
Her blood was dirty. Living among wizards, she was nothing but a slave. Something to be used, something to be punished and discarded.
Useless!
Hermione raised her face and stared up at Riddle. He glared at her, vicious conviction in his emotionless eyes. He did believe it. He knew it.
Unfit to hold a wand!
That was what she was. A Mudblood. A slave. Barely human… Hermione couldn't take her eyes from Riddle, his words re-playing in her mind over and over again. They awoke something in her. White hot, it burned in Hermione's chest.
Unable to compete with a real wizard?
What a lie!
A lie! Everything!
The white hot burning intensified inside Hermione. She could still see the darkness eerily lingering in Riddle's eyes. But what did his darkness matter? Fear dropped from Hermione and she angrily bared her teeth. How was her magic inferior? How was it weaker? As she opened her mouth, it was only to snap the truth at the dark wizard,
"You are wrong! My magic is not weak!"
As he heard it, a dark shadow crossed Riddle's face and a fearsome glint burned murderously in his eyes. Without a warning, he hurled her away. Hermione gasped as she made hard contact with the floor. His wand was pointed at her threateningly as Riddle hissed,
"You are a worthless creature. Nothing but scum."
His voice was a mere whisper but its inflection was icy cold. Hermione was lying at his feet, quite unprotected, while he towered over her. Cold anger raged in his eyes just as destructive as the dark magic flying around him. Riddle's darkness, though, did not manage to turn his lies into the truth.
All those years, Hermione had never said anything. Never. Now her lips moved and she snarled at Riddle,
"You conceited prick!"
A furious spark of his magic hit her hard, but Hermione did not care. Instead she hissed, scorn wrapped around her harsh words,
"My magic is not weaker than yours! At least I didn't get myself caught inside that barrier which was so obviously a trap. You should thank me that I didn't leave you there."
Riddle stared at her. The angry snarl had left his face. Now it was a smooth mask, completely unreadable. He did not answer anything. He just whirled his wand.
"Cruc-"
Hermione knew the spell – very well – and reacted without thinking. Like a flash a strand of her magic burst from her. It easily drove away Riddle's powerful magic which was still thick in the air and rushed towards Riddle himself. She could see his blue eyes widen in surprise. Before he was able to finish his curse or protect himself in any way, Hermione's magic collided with Riddle and angrily hurled him away. Hermione saw how his body was flung violently against the wardrobe, breaking its wooden door.
Riddle's form crumbled down on the floor, but Hermione didn't stay to see more. Hastily, almost tripping over herself, she scrambled up to her feet. Then she turned around and ran.
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Those eyes, deep gulfs where ghastly secrets lurk,
Breathe giddiness. no prudent cavaliers
Can gaze unsickened on the eternal smirk
That on thy two and thirty teeth appears.
- Charles Baudelaire
(*1821 † 1867)