Chapter 9:
Hello my dear readers! I am back, with a new chapter. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please R & R!
Appearances
I froze. Antoine Gangnon was the last being I had expected to appear into this mission. Tom's greatest friend, THE most powerful wizard alive had decided to show up in my life. He stood before me, with his violet irises dancing in joy, his long blond hair perfectly tied to the back of his head with a black ribbon. He was overjoyed to be here.
At his demeanor, I felt fury building in the center of my being.
I turned my back on him.
"Miss are you alright, do you need to lie down. Perhaps we could continue this conversation after you have rested. The ordeal you've been through, please do forgive me for my thoughtlessness."
He took my hand and interwove it with his arm, a gentleman through and through.
White, blind wrath obscured my thoughts. I started laughing in the most derisive cackle I could manage.
"Mr. Gagnon, I hope you can forgive me for my strange behavior, since I am absolutely positive I won't forgive you. You could have stopped Tom Riddle MANY years ago, but you didn't. You decided to guide, tutor and befriend that mass murderer! You refused Dumbledore's proposal all those years ago. You've watched through the years all the atrocities he has done, and done nothing!"
He sighed.
"I thought you of all people would understand. Mr. Malfoy, would you mind leaving us for a second?"
Draco´s glass shattered against a kitchen Wall, "Like hell I'm living this room. There aren't any secrets between Hermione and me. If you have something to say, do so."
"Miss Granger, I understand Tom has put you through difficult situations. Nonetheless I presume you had more than one chance to kill Tom in the past, and yet you failed to do so. You don't have the moral ground to throw accusations my way. We both care for Tom. We have met a side of him no one else ever has."
He was right, but if he had…! It was my turn to sigh.
"If you'll excuse me, I will retire for the night," without a glance back I walked towards the doorway.
In a voice as pleasant as good wine, Mr. Gagnon said, "Miss Granger, rest, for tomorrow will be a busy day. Tomorrow we are taking out another Horocrux."
My head whipped in his direction, "I don't care who you are, we have to plan ahead. First of all we need to locate the next Horocrux and unless you happen to have some basilisk venom around we have to get resources…"
He wordlessly cast a spell and Rowena's Tiara appeared. A thick veil of dark magic covered the object. Next he retrieved a vial from his pocket, it was basilisk venom.
Draco pushed himself off the wall and tried to grasp the Tiara.
"I wouldn't do that Mr. Malfoy. Remember what happened to Albus' hand? Never take unnecessary risks."
Draco recoiled like he had been burnt. He came to stand next to me.
"Why wait till tomorrow? You can't expect us to sleep knowing there is a piece of that monster under this roof. What's keeping him from luring us towards that thing during our sleep and Avada us as soon as we are inside?"
Mr. Gagnon, smiled the way Tom used to when I was being "silly".
"Mr. Malfoy, I will make sure nothing happens to you. I've kept this artifact safe for Tom for a long time. I am immune to its power. You didn't go through an ordeal this night, but Miss Granger needs her rest, am I mistaken?" his eyes dug into my brown iris.
A piece of my Tom was here, just within my grasp. He was right; I couldn't handle more of this, at least not tonight.
"Hermione," I said, turning to leave.
His sickeningly sweet voice replied, "I don't understand."
"If you are working with me, call me by my name. Miss Granger is what they used to call an excellent know-it-all at Hogwarts, many years back. Well perhaps not so many years, my time perception appears to be muddled. We'll deal with this tomorrow at 7am sharp. Goodnight."
"Then by all means call me Antoine."
I could hear Draco's smirk in his voice, "By all means do call me Draco, it appears we are now the new trio who will save the world. Great."
I left the room and as I climbed the stairs Draco caught up with me.
"Are you insane! We have no idea if he is on his side. Gagnon entered this place without the least bit of effort and you are going to sleep! Not even Voldemort would enter this place. He could betray us. Are you seriously that naïve to believe Antoine is here just for the sake of world peace? Something doesn't add up. Lest get this over with now and let's get him the hell out!"
I turned on him, and looked right to the core of his being without my usual defenses up. My eyes completely void of luster.
"Draco, I know he is not what he appears to be. My naiveté was beaten out of me the day I escaped my prison. That person sitting in our living room is the most powerful wizard alive, contested only by the demented being who still now looks for a way to enter this place. Antoine Gangnon is the King of Velaa. I don't think I could get him out of this place against his will even if I really tried. There is nothing I can do, and quite frankly I am still standing just out of pure stubbornness. I know your spoiled self has never cared about another person, but be kind enough to let me rest before I face him again. Trust me you'll regret it if you don't. Goodnight."
As darkness covered the world, I slept like a new born. I wasn't haunted by memories, tortured by guilt or torn by responsibility. That night was quiet darkness and peaceful nothingness.
Next day after taking a shower I felt, refreshed. Soon I would be free once more. The more I destroyed of him, the faster I would return to normalcy. As I thought this, I tried to ignore that small voice in the back of my head who said I didn't know normalcy, I never really had.
It was six am, and I was ready to start this wretched day. I got to the kitchen thinking about what I would have for breakfast. Entering a wave of mouth watering scents assaulted me. Bacon, eggs, freshly baked bread and critic fruits all ready to be devoured.
Antoine was sitting reading the Daily Prophet, while Draco was looking at me with a sense of urgency only an empty stomach can muster. He wanted me to take a sit so he could start eating, so I did.
I had barely sat when our plates filled. Antoine was boasting his power. To perform this simple act of magic under my wards needed a titanic amount of magic. I had done my research, no one but Draco or me should be able to perform magic here. The magical pressure would drive to his knees any other person. I knew I was right! And yet this man… Velaa just did as he pleased. It was so infuriating. No wonder he and Tom got along so well. They were like two sides of the same sword; two deadly sides.
Antoine lowered his newspaper, and served himself some fruits. "I hope you don't mind, but since I normaly sleep precious few time I decided to do something useful while you rested."
His good-natured smile, gave me the impression he was waiting for my approval. He looked like a five year old who just learned how to tie his shoes. His face was utter glee and cheerfulness.
I had to smile.
These days you never found people with that sense of abandon. People didn't trust their friends or neighbors; they could all be Death Eaters waiting just for the slightest mistake on your part to slaughter your family.
Draco's voice had an edge, "Hermione would you mind passing me the butter?"
He was right I shouldn´t be fooled. This Velaa was a stranger. He was our ally for the time being, nothing more nothing less.
"So Hermione, would you care to tell me where you learnt this sort of magic? I have not seen wards like this in quite a long time," His smile was distracting.
I decided to play with fire. If he wanted that sort of knowledge he would have to try harder. Using his Velaa charm on me was low. I could all but see the endorphins leaving his body.
"Why Antoine, it is just a parlor trick, something someone like yourself must do on reflex."
His smile broadened and he raised his orange juice in a signal of praise.
"You flatter me too much Hermione. If I am able to perform this sort of magic it is more out of discipline and constant practice than anything else. You haven't answered my question."
I took my time to grab a waffle and put butter to it, all the time avoiding his eyes.
"You are right I haven't and perhaps I won't. I can't help but wonder, what would you need these sort of wards for? You mentioned you practice them on a regular basis. No one can spare this sort of energy lightly, not even you. So what are you protecting?"
His smile froze and his eyebrow rose. After a second his smile returned to normal.
"My, my, poor Tom. He never stood a chance with you. You little girl. Did you do this to him; twist his words into challenges all the while looking for a weak spot? Intelligent strategy Hermione, but I wouldn't advise you to try the same with me. Where Tom always had your best interest at heart I might not."
I continued munching on a heavenly piece of bread and honey. My blood froze, but my heart soared. A challenge, I liked that.
"You never answered my question Antoine. Was that a threat? What an ungentlemanly thing to do. But that only confirms my suspicions; did I hit too close to home? Perhaps you are not protecting something; perhaps you are keeping something inside. But what could the King of Velaa possibly have to keep so heavily warded? What could you want that you couldn't order into submission?"
His smiled disappeared.
"If you are so curious Miss Granger, why don't you come with me after we are done with our work here. I would be delighted to show you my humble home. Perhaps you could even help me to find a better way to ward my secret. Well, but for now I guess it is enough of small talk."
Saying this he stood, with a flick of his wand he knocked out Draco.
"Now that's better. Now Hermione all you have to do is throw this at darling Tom when you see him."
He threw the vial and I jumped to catch it.
"Careful now, we wouldn't want it to break on your terse skin."
I felt goosebumps go up my arms at his remark, just imagining the sort of pain it would cause.
"I don't see why I would see Tom, we can simply pour the liquid on the tiara and that should get the job done, shouldn't it?"
He smiled, "Of course it would, but then that wouldn't be fun."
With these words he cast a spell and pushed me towards the menacing aura surrounding the Tiara. As soon as my skin came into contact with the aura it parted to allow me clear access to the Tiara.
I touched it, and I was inside.
"Damn bastard!" I yelled in rage. "Why do things the easy way when we can do them the hard way."
"I thought I was the only one who could get you this upset. I am starting to feel jealous of this person, unless it's me in your current time frame you are speaking about, then I would feel flattered."
If I never heard that velvety voice in my life it would be too soon. I didn't want to see him not again. If I just threw the vial to the floor it would start destroying this part of him. I could leave this place without looking into his face.
I looked at him, "Hello, Tom. Long time no see."
He was in his early thirties, with a long black robe and longish hair. I had never seen him wear his hair like that.
"I like our hair Tom." I came close to him and kissed him. It was the first time I started a kiss with him.
"What is it love? You are dreadfully sad. I can feel it in your magic."
He looked at me as only he ever had. The way a man looks at a woman and there is nothing on earth that matters to him but her.
"Oh Tom you know I love you. I always have and always will. You are the mot brilliant wizard I have ever known. I forgive you for everything you have ever done to me, everything you will ever do; for I have wronged you just as much if not more."
I raised the vial, and threw it against the floor with all my might. It shattered. I started sobbing. Soon this would be over. I fell to the floor uncaring if this world came crashing on top of my head.
To my surprise nothing happened.
"I guess that was supposed to be Basilisk Venom, but it wasn't. Someone has tricked you love."
I looked into his face. He was still here with me. I had the impulse to throw myself into his arms. I stopped who knew what he would do to me after this little fiasco.
"Little Jane, never ever hesitate to come to me. I love you. I knew what it meant for you to come looking for these parts of my soul. I know you came here to kill me. There is something I never told you, but you are the only being I would allow to betray me and live.
And yet you don't truly betray me unless you stop loving me and I can see your love clearly written on your face. Let me make a guess. For you to be in this total emotional conflict you must have destroyed at the very least 3 Horocruxes.
Time is so precious to me when you are here with me. It eludes me. I am so happy I get to see you, even if you come to end my days. Your prescence fills me with unrelenting joy. But there is a pressing matter I want to discuss with you. Who tricked you? I know I would never send you into one of my Horocruxes. I am a jealous man. I wouldn't share you not even with myself. So speak."
"Antoine Gagnon. He is helping us defeat you."
He helped me to get back on my feet.
"I feared as much. Listen and listen carefully, this being is too powerful for you. I never wanted him to hear about you. I knew you would catch his interest. You have to leave his side an come to me."
"That sound like the perfect plan Tom, run into your arms. "
"SILENCE. Listen to me I don't know how much time we have. But this Velaa is evil, in ways unphantomable to me. You have to leave him. He is a monster under my standards. You are in grave danger."
He had barely finished this sentence when his face contorted in pain.
"Please Jane. Listen to me this one time. Do as I say."
He pushed me out of the Horocrux.
I was back on the livingroom with Antoine.
"Hermione I am dreadfully sorry I made a mistake with the vials, are you all right?"
I nodded.
"Fine, then let us go. I have sent Malfoy ahead of us. He must be throwing a tantrum by now. Should we?"
I nodded.
Either Tom didn't want me to go with Antoine because he was the only wizard who could defeat him or Antoine was a dreadful monster. Either way, I had to get Malfoy back.
He was the last friend I had.