Disclaimer in Chapter One
A/N: I bet you thought I abandoned this fic, didn't you? But look at that: Here's the new chapter O.O Didn't expect that, did you? ;) I apologize for the loooong hiatus. I kinda wasn't in the writing mood for the longest time. Do you know that when life just sucks all the energy right out of you? Or is that just me? Anyway, long story short, no writing juices for me for the longest time. Not even Tom and Hermione could convince me.
But finally, I finished the next chapter. I hope anyone still remembers this fic and is willing to read on.
I thank you all for reviewing my fic :D I may be a horribly slow fic writer, but you're awesome review writers. Thank you!
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Chapter Thirty-Eight: Vita Detestabilis
Hermione could hear her own blood rushing in her ears and her fingers nervously flexed around the wand in her hand. Her gaze flittered over the woman standing on the other side of the room. The sweet smile on Umbridge's face was horribly out of place. Her soldiers had taken position around her, a menacing air floating around them. The tall beefy men dwarfed Umbridge in an almost comic way. The woman's pink tweed suit collided harshly with their black and olive uniforms. Panic tugging at her, Hermione threw a glance at the Muggleborns behind her. Not all had managed to escape through the Floo. A few were still here. Huddled against the wall, they stared at Umbridge's soldiers with fear widened eyes. Hermione's gaze collided with Dobby's. The man had his arms protectively thrown around a trembling Winky. Hermione turned back to Umbridge. The woman's cruel intentions were hidden behind a girlishly innocent smile.
"I must thank you, Mr Malfoy," Umbridge told Draco. "Your information turned out to be most valuable."
There was a nasty smirk on Draco's face. As he replied his self-satisfied gaze was fixed on Hermione. "Please, you don't have to thank me, Madame Umbridge. It's my civil duty to alert the authorities whenever I see a Mudblood creeping around places she doesn't belong."
Like a ton of bricks, realization hit Hermione. After her confrontation with Tom, she hadn't renewed her concealment charms. Her eyes shot to the Muggleborns. It's my fault. Draco had seen her running around the castle.
Umbridge giggled. "Still, your help is highly appreciated."
Draco bowed his head. "It was my pleasure."
Umbridge scanned him interestedly. "The Department for Observation of Magical Bloodlines always searches for dedicated staff members. If you decide to follow the call, I will personally support you."
Draco's smile gained a frighteningly hungry streak. "That is a very generous offer, Madame."
Umbridge released a laugh, the sound fake and grating to Hermione's ears. Then her cold eyes wandered to Hermione and her expression turned shark-like.
"Now, little Mudblood, what's it going to be?" the woman inquired. "I suggest you surrender that stolen wand."
Hermione swallowed thickly as her thoughts twisted into a ball of panic. She was all too aware of the Muggleborns behind her, held at wand-point by the soldiers. Hermione took in a deep shuddering breath, her wand heavy in her hand. This was hopeless, wasn't it? …at least I can't make it worse.
"Dobby?" Hermione whispered, not turning around to the Muggleborns. "I'm sorry."
"At least the others got away…" Dobby tried to soothe her even as his voice shook with fear.
A mirthless laugh fell from Hermione's lips. "You could still…" Her fingers nervously flexed around her wand before she yelled the rest of her sentence, "Run!"
With that Hermione slashed her wand through the air. A bright curse exploded from her wand's tip. Umbridge's eyes widened. Before Hermione's curse hit, the soldiers reacted and shields sprang up. Hermione didn't hesitate but sent more curses at them. Another wave of her wand and she spanned a shield over the Muggleborns, granting them some protection.
"Quick! Get out!" Hermione yelled, already firing more curses at the soldiers.
By now the soldiers mounted their counter-attack and a barrage of curses rushed towards Hermione. She threw herself to the side, sliding a bit on the stone floor. Through the corners of her eyes she saw the Muggleborns scrambling for the Fireplace. The shield protected them, but curses were pelting down on it. It wouldn't hold.
Again, Hermione brandished her wand. A bright curse shot from the wand's tip and hurtled towards one of the soldiers. It violently crashed into his chest. The man was flung away and grunted in pain as he made hard contact with the stone floor. Before he even touched ground, his comrades closed ranks. A flurry of curses was raining down on Hermione and she had to cast a shield around herself.
"Stop her!" Umbridge ordered sharply.
The woman had retreated. Protected by a thick shield, she and Draco watched the fight from a safe distance. Hermione couldn't pay Umbridge much attention as more powerful curses hurtled towards her. She gasped as they relentlessly crashed into her shield. She could feel her magic slipping. Hermione cast a fearful look at the Muggleborns. She saw a glimpse of Dobby as he helped a shaky Winky towards the Fireplace.
The soldiers pressed on and Hermione knew she couldn't keep them at bay much longer. The draw on her magic almost sent her to her knees. The soldiers never hesitated and continued their attack, cold and meticulous. Hermione's magic was stretched thin between two shields. It was all she could do: Protect herself with a flimsy shield and cover the Muggleborns until they had passed through the Floo. Hermione breathed out in relief as she watched Winky disappear in the green flames. Dobby was the last one left.
Hermione wasn't really sure why she hadn't expected it. She was taken completely off guard as one of the soldiers waved his wand and yelled,
"Avada kedavra!"
Hermione's heart squeezed in fear as she watched the green curse cut through the air. Everything slowed down, and still Hermione could do absolutely nothing to stop this. Mercilessly, the curse reached its target. A soft gasp left Dobby as the Killing Curse hit him in the back. The force behind the curse hurled him against the stone wall. Hermione couldn't breathe as she watched Dobby slip down the wall and slump on the floor. She couldn't see his face. He was just lying there, unmoving.
"No…" Hermione breathed.
For a second, all thoughts fled her mind and she stared at her friend. Then boiling hot rage rushed through Hermione. The anger infected her magic, making it storm around her in a dangerous cloud. Hermione abandoned her shields. Instead she pushed her magic through her wand and a powerful curse dashed towards the soldier who had cast the Killing Curse. The man erected a shield. With ease Hermione's curse cut into the shield, through it, and collided brutally with the man. He was thrown away, crying in pain. Hermione didn't stop to watch if he got up again, but again waved her wand. Her furious magic instantly obeyed and another curse hurtled towards her attackers.
Confronted with Hermione's rampant magic, the soldiers spread around her. Her magic forcefully roiled the air, fed by her fury, as Hermione lashed out at them. Hot tears burned on her cheeks, but Hermione ignored them and furiously brandished her wand. The wood had got hot with all the magic it channelled. An especially powerful curse crashed through one of the soldiers' shields. The man cried out as his left arm was cut open. Blood splattered on the floor.
Hermione's enraged magic still flickered in the air as she threw curse after curse at her attackers. Her magic was powerful, but her adversaries were trained soldiers. They knew how to co-ordinate their attacks, how to wear her out. While one of them attacked Hermione head on, another would sneak up from behind. Their attacks never wavered while Hermione's furious magic tired out. She got slower and slower.
Suddenly there was a loud crack. Pain exploded in Hermione's ankle. She cried out and crashed to her knees. Her whole left foot hurt unbearable. She tried to get up again, but it was impossible. The soldiers closed in on her. Hermione sent erratic curses at them, but she couldn't even stand up anymore.
"Expelliarmus."
The simple disarming charm hit Hermione and she couldn't do anything as her wand was ripped from her hand. In horror, she watched as it sailed away from her and over the soldiers' heads. A cruel smirk adorned Umbridge's features as she caught Hermione's wand.
"Tut-tut, little Mudblood. Did you really think you could win? Against real wizards?"
Two of the soldiers stepped forward and harshly grabbed Hermione by her arms. She fought against the painfully tight grip, but in the end was overpowered. One of them ripped Gryffindor's Sword from its strap around her back. The other took her bag. Then the men forced Hermione up into a standing position. Black dots danced in her vision as she was forced to put weight on her left foot.
Smirk curling her lips, Umbridge stalked towards her. "I have to admit, that was entertaining to watch." Her gaze dropped to Hermione's wand in her hand. "You used this for quite some time, didn't you? What a shame. You soiled a perfectly fine wand."
With that, Umbridge took the wand in both hands and applied pressure. A snapping sound echoed through the room. Hermione flinched as her wand was broken in two. Carelessly, Umbridge threw the pieces at Hermione's feet. Tears burning in her eyes, Hermione glared at the woman. Umbridge gazed back at her, completely unperturbed.
"I knew I'd catch you sooner or later," the woman said, self-satisfaction dripping from her voice. "I've been searching for you, Mudblood."
"Why? What do you want with me?" Hermione snapped hoarsely.
A laugh escaped her before Umbridge replied, "Let's just say that you're somewhat of a high profile case."
Umbridge ran her pink fingernails through Hermione's hair. Contently, the woman said, "First, your uncanny escape from Smith manor. Next thing I hear, you've been mingling with Purebloods," Umbridge gestured at Draco. "gathering intel for this escape attempt, perhaps?"
Hermione pressed her lips into a thin line, not replying anything. Umbridge didn't mind at all. The cloying smile still hung from her thin lips.
"You aren't acting alone," she discerned. "A Mudblood wouldn't be able to plan even half of this. No no. You were acting on someone's orders. I think I have a good idea who that might be." Umbridge's fingers painfully fisted Hermione's hair. "You're the puppet of the Order of the Phoenix, aren't you? And Sirius Black is your Master."
Hermione bared her teeth in a snarl. "I don't have a master. I did this all on my own."
Umbridge giggled and released Hermione from her tight grip. "Don't worry, Mudblood. I'll make you talk. Soon enough you'll tell me everything."
With that Umbridge turned away from Hermione. Addressing her commandos, she ordered sharply, "Establish a Floo connection."
Hermione's whole body trembled as she watched one of the men kneel down by the fireplace, waving his wand. Panic cruelly tugged at her. Barely, Hermione noticed how Draco stalked over to her. This was all his fault. Hermione glared at the blond. The Slytherin merely smirked at her.
"Like a Mudblood could ever pull this off," Draco informed her arrogantly. "You're pathetic,"
If the two men hadn't still held her, Hermione would've punched that smirk off Draco's face. Instead she sneered at the Slytherin, "I don't care what you think of me. If anyone is pathetic, it's silly spoilt little Pureblood boys like you."
At her words, anger contorted Draco's face. He raised his hand and harshly slapped her in the face. Hermione hissed in pain as her head was thrown to the side.
"How dare you?" the blond snarls at her. "How dare you speak to me like that? I'm your Master."
Hermione's cold gaze bored into Draco's eyes. "No, you're not. No one is."
Draco crinkled his noise in disgust. "You're a Mudblood."
She shook her head at him and her voice dropped to a whisper. "Are you really so blind?"
"Shut your mouth, Penny," Draco sneered. "I don't care to hear a Mudblood's opinion. You stepped out of line. And you're finally getting the just punishment."
"…just punishment?"
A mirthless smile stretched over Hermione's lips as she looked up him. The two men by her sides still held her in a vice-like, painful grip. Still, Hermione managed to lean a bit closer to Draco. A disgusted look crossed his handsome face at her proximity.
"You can't ignore this any longer," Hermione whispered to him, voice steady as stone. "I know you. You're not a murderer. Not like them. You need to finally open your eyes and grow up."
A sad little smile hung from Hermione's lips while Draco's face remained smooth as ever. Still, she could see his eyes widen a fraction as a look of discomfort flittered through them. He didn't reply anything. Finally, the Floo connection had been established. Hermione felt dread rolling over her as she eyed the green flames. Umbridge snapped her fingers at the two bulky men flanking Hermione.
"Take her. We're leaving."
Umbridge, still looking like the cat that got the cream, stalked to the fireplace. Before she stepped in, she turned to Draco and said,
"Your efforts will not go unrewarded, Mr Malfoy."
This time, Draco didn't reply anything. Hermione got a glimpse of his face as she was dragged to the fireplace. Somehow the priggish air had completely left the Slytherin. His grey eyes were flat as he stared at her. Soon their eye contact broke and Hermione was harshly pushed into the fireplace. She gasped as the green flames enveloped her and pulled her away from Hogwarts.
†
He could feel it the moment she left. Tom's hands flew to his head, fingers fisting into his black hair. Hermione was gone and Tom felt it, the emptiness grasping at him. Again. Again. Again! His head almost split open with pain and he sucked in a sharp breath of air. He could feel himself falling into the emptiness. While he fell pieces of him crumbled away, turning him into nothing.
A soft groan left him and he squeezed his eyes shut. The nothingness still shone through and wouldn't leave him alone. Desperately, Tom grasped at the strand of magic that connected him to Hermione. It was stretched so thin, barely there. A jolt of panic hit Tom. What if it snapped?
I need her.
At the thought a jolt of white hot fury washed through Tom. This was intolerable. He couldn't be dependent on a Mudblood. His hands balled into fists. Tom blinked his eyes open. In confusion he noticed that his magic had clawed deep marks into the stone floor. The heavy flagstones around him had burst, ripped up by his agitated magic. Hastily, Tom pulled it back to him. His hand shot to his mouth and Tom felt sick.
He hurried down the empty corridor and mercifully quickly found a toilet. Tom entered and just had enough time to rush to one of the stalls. His knees buckled and he crashed down to the floor before he threw up. His head swirled. He could barely get any air into his lungs as he retched.
As he was finished, Tom sagged down on the filthy toilet floor, breathing heavily. His body was sore all over, remnants of her Cruciatus. The pain, though, felt reassuring when compared to the Nothingness. Tom tried to calm his breathing. He only now realized where he'd stumbled into. Of course… second floor, girls' bathroom. Tom sighed. On one of the taps – just a few steps away, he didn't even have to look – there was a tiny silver snake engraved into the metal. Tom had been so excited when he'd spotted that little snake for the first time. Now he sat on the floor, wearily leaned against the toilet stall, while he felt the stale water from the tiles soak into his trousers.
†
Sirius' heart hammered in his chest as finally the green flames burned up. His fingers tightened around his wand and he was glad to have Kingsley standing by his side. It took quite some time but then someone stumbled through the green flames. It was a gaunt looking woman, clothed in a shabby grey dress. A relieved breath left Sirius. Hermione had been successful.
Quickly Sirius stepped to the poor woman and gingerly helped her out the fireplace. She looked up at him with large scared eyes and flinched away from his touch, fearing pain. Sirius hated this part. He hated seeing the fear in their eyes, the desperation. He smiled at the woman reassuringly and whispered what she wouldn't believe him anyway, not yet,
"You're free."
Gently he handed her over to Kingsley. They'd set up their little hide-out in an abandoned factory hall. All Muggle of course. Sirius watched as Kingsley guided the woman over to their temporary little camp. A few sleeping mats and camping chairs were placed on the factory's cement floor. Sirius turned back to the green flames to welcome the next Muggleborn. He helped the intimidated young boy out of the fireplace and again handed him over to Kingsley. Sirius' heart swelled with pride as more and more people came through the Floo. Hermione had convinced them all. Of course she would. He'd never doubted it. A happy little chuckle left Sirius. He couldn't wait to congratulate Hermione on her first mission. More and more people came through. All in the same state of panic and fear like the first.
It was the last one that changed everything. Sirius saw the woman and instantly knew something was very wrong. Like the others she was scared, not able to utter one word. Unlike the others, though, the woman was injured. A steady flow of blood gushed from a deep wound in her arm. It already soaked into her grey dress. Sirius could feel fear slowly creeping up on him. Where was Hermione?
He helped the woman out the fireplace and sat her down on one of the camping chairs. She watched him suspiciously through frightened eyes. Fighting for calm, Sirius asked,
"What happened?"
Trembling all over, the woman just stared at him and remained silent. Panic ripping at him, Sirius wanted to grab her by her shoulders and demand to know where Hermione was. Of course he couldn't. Instead he pulled his wand which made the woman flinch.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Sirius told her in a soothing voice and waved his wand over her hurt arm. Instantly the flow of blood stopped. "There. That's better."
"T- thank you," the woman whispered shakily.
"Don't mention it." Sirius smiled reassuringly. "What's your name?"
"Winky."
"My name's Sirius," he said. "It's good to meet you, Winky. Now, I need you to tell me what happened. Where is Hermione?"
Fat tears flowed down the woman's face. "D- Dobby… He didn't make it. He's dead."
Sirius tensed. His thoughts swirled and his voice sounded strange to his own ears as he inquired, "What about Hermione?"
Winky still cried but managed to whisper, "S- she saved us. She did. But they caught her."
"No," Sirius whispered hoarsely, shaking his head. "No. No, no. Please. Is… is she still alive"
"She was when I left." The Muggleborn, Winky, looked at him with sad eyes. "Hermione saved us. She stayed so we could leave."
Tears sprang to Sirius' eyes and he couldn't breathe. "W- who…"
"They got her," Winky told him the cruel truth with a heavy voice. "It was Umbridge."
Sirius pressed his eyes shut and could feel tears roll down his cheeks. He raised a shaky hand and ran it over his face. He wanted to do nothing more than to jump into the Fireplace and get to Hermione. But the flames burned in an orange flame, the connection closed. Panic tightly grasped Sirius. He couldn't reach her. Hogwarts was a fortress and he'd been locked out for years now. His hands balled into tight fists as he fought for control.
There was nothing he could do.
Sirius struggled with the blind urge to rush to Hogwarts and search for Hermione. Everything screamed at him to leave, to get her, to save her. Still, Sirius didn't move. Aurors would swarm the place as soon as he or the Order set foot in Hogwarts. They'd probably taken Hermione away. If they hadn't just killed her on the spot. He was powerless to help her. He wanted to scream. Yet Sirius was equipped with a mask of calmness as he stepped in front of the Muggleborns. His voice was kind as he addressed them,
"You are safe now. They can't reach you here. The Floo connection can't be traced."
He gestured at Kingsley and the man started to hand out proper clothes to the Muggleborns who were visibly shaken from their ordeal. Sirius waved his wand and opened the canisters they had prepared earlier. They were filled with food and bottles of water.
"We'll stay here for an hour," he told the Muggleborns, smiling reassuringly. "Rest. Eat something. Later we'll continue our journey and get you out of the country."
"H- how?" one Muggleborn dared to shakily ask.
Sirius turned to her. The woman barely dared to even look at him, a Pureblood, and even bowed. He'd never get used to his. Sirius smiled at her softly. "We'll get you out the Muggle way. We have a van outside." At her confused look, he added, "A Muggle vehicle. We've learned that the Ministry tends to not monitor Muggle traffic very closely. It's a fifteen-minute ride to Immingham. From there we'll get you on a freight ferry and twenty-eight hours later you'll be in Kristiansand, Norway. We have contacts there. They'll take good care of you."
Kingsley started to distribute the food and helped the Muggleborns settle down. Sirius could only watch numbly. As he was finished Kingsley stepped over to him. He put a hand on Sirius' shoulder, pressing it gingerly. Sirius took in a sharp breath of air. After a moment, he asked softly,
"Did you contact Signe?"
Kingsley nodded and replied in his deep voice, "Yes. She's informed and ready to pick them up in Kristiansand."
"The others?"
"All made contact," Kingsley replied. "Nothing to report. Everything went to plan. It was just us."
"Okay," Sirius replied colourlessly. "Can you look after them for a second? I got to step outside."
"Of course."
Sirius threw Kingsley a grateful look before he walked over to the exit. He stepped outside the abandoned factory hall. It was still dark and Sirius looked up at the night sky. The stars calmly blinked down at him as if nothing had changed.
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Hermione tugged at the handcuffs that chained her to the metallic table. They wouldn't budge, reinforced by some kind of spell. Hermione's heart fearfully hammered in her chest and refused to calm down. She'd been here for hours and the small room started to make her feel claustrophobic. Bare walls, no windows, the room was cold and uninviting. The only furniture were the metal table, bolted to floor, and two chairs. Hermione occupied one while the other ominously remained to be empty. The only exit from the room was barricaded by a thick and heavy door, locked and bolted. Hermione released a long breath of air and let her head sag to the table top. It was ice cold in the room. Her clothes were gone and she had been forced into a thin chemise-like dress. Bare feet touching the cement floor, the chill crept up on her. Hermione stubbornly ignored the throbbing pain in her left ankle. She was pretty sure that something was broken.
She sat up again, fidgeting on her seat. Hermione had no idea where she was. The Floo hat spat her, Umbridge, and the soldiers out into a room, nondescript and bare like Hermione's current cell. The soldiers had then proceeded to drag her down a corridor. She'd been stripped and frisked. Then she'd been thrown into her cell. During the whole process Hermione had seen no windows, no hint of her location. Now she sat in her cell. Waiting. Hermione again tugged at her handcuffs. Her hands balled into fists to stop the trembling.
It was another thirty minutes later that the harsh sound of the door being unlocked made Hermione's head shoot up. Fear mercilessly flooded her. With wide eyes Hermione watched as the door was pulled open. In stepped two men. They were different than the soldiers that had arrested her. Both men wore grey trousers and shirts under black robes, not the battle gear of the soldiers. Hermione swallowed nervously as another person entered. The smile on Umbridge's face had a smug streak as her eyes wandered over Hermione.
"I hope you had time to cool down at bit," the woman said, fake concern lacing her voice.
Hermione remained to be silent. Umbridge stepped closer and sat down on the chair opposite from Hermione, legs crossed smartly. The ugly smile still curled her lips.
"Let's resume our previous conversation, shall we?" Umbridge leaned a bit closer. "Tell me a bit about your Master, Sirius Black."
Hermione's stomach constricted, fear threatening to override everything. She gritted her teeth and forced the feeling away. Not now. She could not cave in now. Hermione forced a cheeky tinge into her voice as she replied,
"Sirius Black? Never met the guy. Sorry."
Anger flittered through Umbridge's eyes and the smile dropped from her face. A cold edge entered her voice as she suggested, "You better talk, little Mudblood. What I want from you is information. Where is Sirius Black? Where does the Order of the Phoenix hide?"
Hermione deliberately widened her eyes and whispered, the servile tone in her voice so overdone it was a mockery, "I'm just a little Mudblood, Mistress, how should I know?"
Umbridge's jaw tightened furiously and Hermione grinned. This wasn't amusing in any way, but evoking the woman's frustrated anger felt like a small victory.
"For the last time," Umbridge hissed threateningly. "Where is Sirius Black?"
Hermione just shrugged her shoulders, keeping her silence. Umbridge stared at her hatefully. As no reply came, she snapped her fingers at one of the men standing by the door. The man stepped over to them. Hermione suppressed a fearful flinch. Umbridge gave a sharp nod. The man raised a fist and pain exploded in Hermione's head. A gasp left her. Her cheek ached, the dull pain radiating through her whole head. Umbridge still fixed her with a cold stare.
"Where is Sirius Black?" the woman again demanded to know.
Hermione blinked, trying to get rid of the vertigo. Looking at Umbridge, she just shook her head. Again the man standing beside Hermione reacted. This time the blow hit her chin. Hermione's upper body was painfully thrown to the table. The inflexible handcuffs cut into the skin as they forced her arms into an unnatural position.
"Where is Sirius Black?"
Hermione didn't even look up, ignoring the question. The man grabbed her shoulder and yanked her up. Again he hit her. This time his fist collided with her abdomen. Hermione whimpered as pain erupted in her stomach. She had to heave painfully. Her mouth filled with blood. She spat out and the blood splattered on the metal table. Umbridge crinkled her nose in clear disgust.
"Talk," Umbridge's sneered. "and this'll be over in an instant."
Blood running down her chin, Hermione scanned the woman. Umbridge coldly stared back. Hermione ignored the pain and scoffed,
"You're wasting your time. I don't know anything."
A cruel smile distorted Umbridge's lips. "I don't think I am, little Mudblood. We're going to get to the bottom of this."
Hermione felt like crying but knew she couldn't let it show. Instead she forced a sneer on her face. The defiant smile on her lips was a mask as she looked at the man beside her.
"Hope you get your overtime paid," she sassed at him.
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. Hermione could've sworn she saw the corners of his lips twitch in amusement. The man's gaze wandered to Umbridge and he inquired,
"Can't we just call one of the Legilimens on duty? This'll take ages otherwise. It'll make it easier for everyone involved."
Umbridge frowned at the man. "She's a Mudblood. Legilimency only works on witches and wizards." She shuddered dramatically. "Why, Caradoc Dearborn once tried to legilimise his dog. Never been the same again." Umbridge's beady eyes wandered back to Hermione. "No, we can't use Legilimency on a Mudblood. Not to worry, though, she'll talk."
{{{{{{{{+}}}}}}}}
Only a day.
Only one day had passed since Hermione had abandoned him again and Tom couldn't get over her absence. It was worse than ever before. He cursed Hermione's name. Yet he guiltily enjoyed its sound as it fell like a prayer from his lips.
The world shifted now faster and faster. Tom ignored it and it would only gain in momentum. There was a bright light that outshone everything. It softened things and turned them into an intangible blinding mass. It was so hard to concentrate. Tom forgot things. Important things. They just fell away into the void. Maybe it was Hermione's fault. Maybe it wasn't.
"It's indeed very unfortunate that you were at the core of that unsavoury episode with the Mudblood, Mr Riddle."
Tom sat up straighter, forcing his wayward thoughts back on track. The contrite look on his face was a mask. Lately they came more and more difficult. Tom wanted to reach for his wand and curse the old idiot.
"I apologize, Headmaster," he instead whispered, painting the expected shame on his face.
Dippet scanned him through his watery-blue eyes. The man looked frail with age, hunched forward in his seat, while his knobbly fingers rested on the table top. Tom wondered when the old man would finally drop dead.
"It wasn't your fault," the old Headmaster soothed. "Don't blame yourself for that Mudblood's disgusting actions."
Tom's magic seethed and raged through him. With difficulty he kept it bottled up. Instead of cursing Dippet for daring to insult Hermione, Tom simply smiled at him politely.
"I should've noticed something," he whispered ruefully. "She was a Mudblood. I should've realized much sooner."
Dippet nodded his head, the last remnants of his white hair bobbing with the movement. "You mustn't blame yourself, my boy. It was all her doing."
As if I could be played like that. Tom gritted his teeth in anger but kept the polite mask covering everything up. Dippet pointlessly re-arranged a stack of documents on his table.
"Unpleasant business," the Headmaster croaked. "But this is not why I wanted to talk to you, Mr Riddle."
"How may I help you, Headmaster?" Tom inquired, once gain reverting to his Head Boy act, always eager to help.
Dippet cleared his throat awkwardly. "I'm sure you've noticed that we are currently one student short."
For a second Tom just stared at the Headmaster, his thoughts swirling. Outwardly, he remained his calm and inquired politely, "What do you mean, Professor?"
"Well, it is a Slytherin," Dippet continued in his faint voice. "I'm sure you've noticed."
There was no beating around bush any longer. Tom pursed his lips in fake contemplation. "Well, Regulus Black has been absent for some time now."
Dippet inclined his head. "Indeed. Regulus Black. Do you know where he is?"
Tom didn't appreciate the line of questioning. Still smiling politely, he said, "No, sir. We all just assumed he had urgent matters to take care of at home."
Dippet sighed, "Sadly, that is not the case. It would seem that Mr Black went missing."
A surprised gasp tumbled from Tom's lips. "Missing? What do you mean? Did something happen to Regulus?"
Dippet sighed, "His parents reported him missing. Currently, Aurors are searching for him."
Tom's eyes widened in faux shock. Injecting a fearful tint into his voice, he inquired, "You don't think Regulus got hurt, do you?"
"As of the moment," Dippet replied. "we simply don't know."
Tom furrowed his brow, apparent concern covering all emotion underneath. "I don't understand. What… what happened to Regulus?"
Once again Dippet reached for his stack of documents and arranged them anew in an obvious attempt to stall. Tom watched the whole thing through suspicious eyes.
"That's what I wanted to know from you, Mr Riddle."
This time Tom didn't completely have to feign the shock on his face. "From me? Why would I know anything?"
"Well… you see…" Dippet avoided looking Tom in the eyes. "A concerned student told me, in confidence of course, that you had something to do with Mr Black's disappearance."
Tom's thoughts swirled. If only the piercing headache would give him a minute to think this through. He ran his fingers through his hair. The expression of shock still painted all over his face.
"I… I don't understand," Tom forced a rather convincing tremble into this voice. "Who would say that about me? I didn't even know Regulus was missing until you told me just now."
Dippet nodded understandingly. "No, of course not."
Despite this, there was dangerous doubt in the Headmaster's eyes. Tom couldn't have that. Looking thoroughly shaken, he said, "What… what exactly did that concerned student say about me?"
Dippet released a long breath of air. "I can't tell you much, Mr Riddle, only that said student told me you had a problem with Mr Black. They were concerned you'd be responsible for Mr Black's disappearance."
Tom placed a distressed hitch into his breathing. At least Dippet hadn't called the Aurors, so he didn't completely believe this accusation. A wave of fury hit Tom. Who would dare tell Dippet? Tom leaned a bit forward in his seat. He gazed at Dippet intently and whispered,
"I- I don't know where this is coming from, professor. I don't have a problem with Regulus. I never had. We get on well enough. You can ask the other Slytherins."
"So you don't know where he is at the moment?" Dippet probed.
"No, sir," Tom replied, making his voice tremble a bit. "As I said, we assumed Regulus had gone home. His family always was troubled because of…" He stopped as if embarrassed to go on. "Regulus' brother."
A sombre look darkened Dippet's face. "Of course Sirius Black." Then he inquired, "Still, if Mr Black was absent for so long why didn't you ever inquire about his whereabouts? You're Head Boy, after all."
Tom bent his head, carefully arranging his body language so it would convey shame and guilt. "I… I should have. But you see, Regulus never talked much about… his family problems. I simply didn't want to prod into his private affairs."
Tom could see a hint of relief flittering through Dippet's eyes. The Headmaster leaned back in his seat, seemingly content with the explanation.
"No, of course not. I didn't think you have something to do with this, Tom, but I had to check. You understand."
"Yes, sir," Tom agreed, still displaying a dejected mood.
Now Dippet even threw him an encouraging smile and reassured, "I'm sure Regulus is fine and will return to us soon enough. Don't worry too much. After all, NEWT week is about to start. You know the whole staff is expecting great things from you, Tom."
"I don't know about that, sir." Tom forced a blush on his face and inclined his head a bit. "But I'll still try my best."
After that, it wasn't long that Tom was released. Thoughts still racing, he walked down the spiral staircase from Dippet's office. His magic raged inside of Tom. This had been too close. Where he usually was quick witted, the lies had come difficult today. But he would find them. Whoever had snitched on him, they would pay.
{{{{{{{{+}}}}}}}}
They were like dark shadows descending upon her. They had no form, a black burial shroud wrapping them in secrets. It wasn't so much that they hurt her. Hermione didn't know if they even had hands to do so. And yet they were worse than pain. Her panicked breaths left her lips in misty clouds as she curled up into a tight ball on the cell's floor.
"Just let us know when you've had enough," a sadistic voice told her.
Hermione barely took notice of Umbridge, protected behind a silvery shield. The shadows floated in the air like smoke. Ever so slowly they drifted closer to Hermione. She whimpered in fear as the coldness increased to unnatural levels. The lights in the room flickered ominously.
Hermione flinched as she felt the shadow's shroud brushing her bare leg. So close. The fabric was silky soft but the touch sent sharp coldness over her skin. In panic, Hermione tried to skid away from the monstrosity, but her arms were tied to her back with handcuffs. She could barely move. The wraith was so close. Hermione looked up. As if sensing her attention, the monster turned to her. There was no face, only darkness. A sucking rattling sound escaped from underneath the hood. Hermione whimpered and shrunk away, squeezing her eyes shut.
Frost wandered over her. It clung to her hair and bit into her skin. Hermione couldn't move anymore. The coldness seeped into her thoughts. The monster's shroud was spread over her and her thoughts plunged into darkness.
"You're worth nothing," Tom's silky voice whispered to her. "You never meant anything to me."
Hermione gasped as the coldness wrapped tighter around her.
Sirius' voice was full of disappointment as he told her, "I knew you'd fail your mission. You're just a Mudblood after all."
"No… I tried. I really tried." Hermione pleaded with him, but he was gone already. In his stead was the wraith. It floated closer, pulling all warmth from her.
"You belong to me," Draco told her priggishly. "You have to do what I tell you."
Hermione curled up even more, not saying anything anymore. Maybe he was right.
"Stupid thing!" Narcissa Malfoy yelled at her. "Can't you do anything right?"
"You're not worth half the money I paid for you," Lucius Malfoy sneered.
Maybe they were all right. Hermione couldn't even bring herself to care. There was no point to it anyway.
"You're weak," Lupin decided cruelly. "I've wasted my time on you."
He was replaced by Dobby. The man sneered at her accusingly, "You killed me."
Hermione whimpered. A heavy feeling squeezed around her chest. Wasn't he right though? It was her fault Dobby had died. She was weak and useless. She'd always been useless.
"Yes," Tom agreed, cruel amusement lacing his tone. "So useless. I should've killed you right away."
Hermione could feel a black mass growing inside of her. She stared up. The shadow floated even closer. It was so close, inches from her. Under the hood, Hermione saw glimpses of grey flesh, a distorted mouth.
This is how I'm going to die. The thought popped up in Hermione's panicked mind, in its rationality cold and cruel. It cleared her swirling thoughts. She swallowed as she pulled her thoughts back to her. Dobby wouldn't blame her. Maybe Hermione had let him down, but she knew him. He was kind. He always helped her. Just like Regulus. They wouldn't blame her. Neither would Lupin or Sirius. Hermione closed her eyes, feeling a bit warmer as she thought of her friends. She had friends now, hadn't she? Hermione could see Sirius' and Lupin's faces smiling at her. Dobby's face swam into focus, smiling as well. Ginny was waving at her. McGonagall stood beside her. The Baron and Neville were there. Greyback grinned at her, showing sharp teeth. There was a man and a woman. Hermione didn't remember much from her parents. She just knew it was them.
Even Tom crouched down beside her, holding her hand.
He was smiling lovingly down at her.
Normally he wouldn't,
but here he could.
A voice drifted through the thick mist covering her thoughts, "This is not working, Madame."
A higher, shriller voice replied in annoyance, "I can see that. She is stubborn, I give her that."
Hermione could see a bright light through her eyelids. Then the frost retreated. Seconds before unconsciousness took her, Hermione heard Umbridge's voice,
"We have to take drastic measures with this one."
{{{{{{{{+}}}}}}}}
'Hateful life
first oppresses
and then soothes
as fancy takes it;
poverty
and power
it melts them like ice.'
- Carmina Burana
(early 13th century).