AtlanteanDiva, thank you for the comprehensive review! I hope I can continue to offer original twists that keep you coming back for more!
Squishysib, I fully intend to do Lord Voldemort justice in his turn. I hope Tom keeps you entertained in the meantime. :)
Relatela, I find it hard to see Tom Riddle Jr. or Lord Voldemort through a 'soft' lens as I've read in other stories. Just not how I picture him. Hopefully he will live up to your expectations in all his twisted, convoluted glory.
articcat, this is the fun of a very early generation...I can create new characters that were unspecified and let my imagination roam a bit more freely. Enjoy them.
LK Hogwarts Headgirl, thank you! Sorry I do not have the patience to alternate caps in your name!
Thank you to all the new followers, favorites, and especially to all of you lovely reviewers! Keep them coming! Do let me know what you think. I've got a good bit of this story down so far...lovely reviews make me want to post more. Thanks for reading!
For her part, Hermione felt relieved that Tom Riddle seemed to be more disinterested in her than anything after the first few weeks of term. He watched her, but then again, he watched everybody, and she grew more comfortable with this habit of his, convinced that she wasn't drawing his attention in any significant way. She was different from most of the other girls, but so too were the other girls in Ravenclaw, few though they may be.
She was finally warming up to her roommates, Olivia and Sophie. Sometimes Sophie seemed more suited to Slytherin, but her performance in classes indicated she was no slouch. The girls in the other houses whom she had met were just annoying. None of them were particularly interested in others' opinions, although she just overheard one sixth year Slytherin girl explaining that her "strategy" for getting a good marriage contract was to demonstrate how cunning she was by entrapping her chosen boy in front of the headmaster, who was known to be a stickler for convention and could be counted on to write a scathing letter to the parents of said boy. Hermione had walked away from the fifth floor bathroom in disgust after overhearing that, not wanting to be late for Transfiguration.
"Honestly, as if there weren't more important things to deal with…" she muttered to herself. If she didn't already know that Dumbledore would defeat Grindelwald, she would have been worried sick over the magical war that seemed to be expanding on the Continent.
"What more important things need to be dealt with, Miss Girard?" Tom Riddle's smooth voice interrupted her quiet diatribe, and she looked up to find the Head Boy far too close, looking at her expectantly.
"Oh, um, nothing. I just overheard some girls talking about something silly in the lavatory. Never mind my ranting," she said, pushing her bookbag strap further up her shoulder.
"May I? We are going to the same class, after all." Tom's voice was nothing but polite as he gestured to her bookbag, but Hermione could not fail to grasp the implications. The students were as gossipy as ever, and small gestures such as carrying someone's books were given a high value in the gossip mills.
"Um, it's okay. I've got it," Hermione said, trying for offhand but failing from the downward quirk of his brow.
"I insist," Tom said, sliding the strap away from her shoulder. Hermione had to move her hand away quickly as his fingers brushed hers. They were so warm—it was so wrong for Lord Voldemort to have warmth associated with him in any way. "After all, I feel it is my duty as Head Boy to make sure you are feeling welcome, Hermione—and we are in many of the same classes."
Hermione knew in an instant that he was more interested in her than was good for her sanity or continued existence. Say something innocuous! her subconscious hissed at her, and she stole a sideways glance at him as they walked and said hurriedly, "Are you going to Hogsmeade this weekend?"
Mentally she castigated herself as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Damn it, he'd just offered to carry her bookbag for her! Now he would think she was fishing for a date! His mouth quirked upward slightly and Hermione realized he wasn't going to let her away with it.
"As a matter of fact, I am. Are you walking there with anyone?"
"Yes," Hermione lied quickly. "A group of us are going, from Ravenclaw."
"Oh really? Who?" Tom asked.
His expression was innocent enough, but Hermione felt a dreadful sinking feeling. If she gave him names, would they wind up mysteriously hexed or ill? Could she risk it? She hadn't heard any specific rumors, but she had had enough people warn her about Tom Riddle. Her dorm mates, Olivia and Sophie, had warned her about him. Sophie had said coolly, 'Be careful about Tom Riddle, Hermione. He doesn't like to be challenged. I'd let him correct you a few times in class, just to be safe.'
That brief conversation flitted through her brain as Hermione darted a quick glance at the tall boy beside her, the other students parting like the sea before him as they walked down the staircases.
"Phineas said he may be going…" Hermione began, but trailed off as they arrived outside the Transfiguration classroom, where their classmates were gawking at the sight of Tom Riddle carrying Hermione Girard's bag.
"There he is. Perhaps now is a good time to find out if his plans are solid," Tom said innocently, then turned his attention to her housemate. "I say, Phineas, would you join us for a moment?"
It was phrased as a question, but everyone knew it was a command. The entire class was transfixed by the scene playing out before them in the hallway. Phineas walked over bravely, but Hermione could tell that he was not happy to be the center of Tom Riddle's attention.
"Hermione was saying that some of you from Ravenclaw were planning to walk together to Hogsmeade this weekend. I asked her about it because I wanted to be sure she had company, someone to show her around. Are you going to walk Miss Girard to Hogsmeade?"
Tom didn't say outright that he had asked Hermione to go with him, but it was easily inferred by his interest in the matter. Phineas darted an apologetic look at Hermione, then looked back at Tom.
"Oh, well, I was thinking about it, but I'm not sure I will have enough of my Charms project finished in order to go…" his voice trailed off hesitantly, and he looked again at Hermione. Tom turned to Hermione and looked at her expectantly.
"I would not like for anything to happen to you on your first trip to Hogsmeade, Miss Girard. In fact, I think it would be a dereliction of my duties not to accompany you."
Hermione realized she was well and truly caught, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of showing her fear, and she couldn't afford to show her dislike.
"I would be pleased if you would accompany me." She saw the glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes, as well as the fascinated stares of their classmates.
"Excellent. I will pick you up from the Ravenclaw common room at one, then."
Hermione heard the rush of whispers of her classmates as she walked into the classroom, Professor Dumbledore watching them with interest. She sought to keep a flush from her cheeks as Riddle set down her book bag for her and took his own seat with a flourish of his robes. Damn, damn, damn! Hermione did not know what he was up to, but it surely wasn't good. She attempted to focus her attention on Professor Dumbledore, who had placed a box of dominoes on the table at the front of the classroom.
"Please put your texts and parchment away, you won't be needing those today. Wands only," he instructed.
Hermione had only sat through a few Transfiguration classes with Albus Dumbledore, but she could tell that his teaching style was far more dynamic than Minerva McGonagall's. Thus far he had only had them take notes twice, preferring instead to focus on practical lessons.
"Everyone send their desk to the wall, there, that's good," Professor Dumbledore said, then flicked a single word and a runic chart onto the chalkboard with his wand. "Ligneo. This is the spell you will be practicing today, but it will require you to work in pairs. I will team you up, now—" his wand flew and smoke arrows connected the students who would be working together. Hermione caught Professor Dumbledore's look before her arrow connected her to the Head Boy. Why is he doing that?
She caught Tom Riddle's skeptical gaze as it landed on her, and firmly promised herself that she would get the spell on the first try. He was so arrogant! Professor Dumbledore continued talking, and Hermione had to redirect her attention to him lest she miss what was said.
"This spell will cause your partner to grow roots and become firmly fixed in the floor of the classroom if it is performed correctly. To test you both, I will place a domino at your feet and ask that you try to completely surround it with roots. If I cannot remove the domino, you will have mastered the spell. As a bit of added fun, I will ask you to attempt to untransfigure yourselves. Allow me to demonstrate."
Professor Dumbledore waved his wand in a slightly complex pattern and transfigured his own feet, thick, large roots sprouting and a sturdy trunk emerging to his knees, keeping him fixed in place. He nodded to indicate this was the level of performance he was expecting, then performed the reversal equally effortlessly. "You may begin."
Hermione caught the domino that Dumbledore sent flying her way, flicking it to her feet without thinking about it. She watched Tom Riddle saunter over, the first few clumsy attempts of their classmates causing a brief look of derision to flicker over his face. This gave Hermione even more incentive to show him he ought not so easily disregard his peers. She wasn't sure what to expect from his spell, but he was a brilliant wizard so he'd probably get it right on his first attempt. It would be the first time she saw him cast anything as a student, so part of her was curious as to how advanced he was already.
"Ladies first," Tom said, his eyes clearly saying he didn't view her as in any way capable of causing him to sprout roots.
"If you insist," Hermione said with just a hint too much sweetness in her tone. It should have alerted the Head Boy, but he was too arrogant to think anyone capable of easily matching his facility for new spells. However, Hermione had not been a favorite student of McGonagall's for nothing. "Ligneo!"
Her wandwork was perfect, the amount of magic and intent absolutely right. Tom's calves transformed to a stout trunk of English yew, its small flaky bark perfect, the roots large and thick, completely obscuring Dumbledore's domino. Hermione watched Tom Riddle's face carefully, but he allowed no visible reaction. She thought, perhaps, that there was a brief flicker of something in his expression, but it was carefully blanked so speedily she might have imagined it.
"Excellent work, Miss Girard. My turn."
As Tom raised his wand almost lazily, Hermione realized that it was probably unwise to cast on him first, as it was clear in that split second that Tom Riddle did not do things by half measures. If she hadn't been the target of his wand, she could perhaps have appreciated how beautifully he finessed the spell, shaping it effortlessly to his taste and power.
"Ligneo." He did not even have to raise his voice, the force of his magic as guided through his wand sufficient to cause the roots of a rowan to spring effortlessly from her feet into the classroom, the trunk growing steadily up her legs, past her knees, and stopping, she knew, only because he willed it, just below her hips.
"Very good performance as usual, Mr. Riddle," Professor Dumbledore said easily, coming alongside Tom as he was casting, "But perhaps a bit too forceful. We wouldn't want Miss Girard turned into a tree in the classroom."
The Head Boy lowered his wand and nodded his acknowledgement, and Professor Dumbledore turned to Hermione with an easy smile. "And very good job to you as well, Hermione! I see I shall have to hope that my dominos are returned shortly. I will leave you both to get on with your individual tasks of restoring yourselves. Let us hope that you find it as facile a process as inflicting the spell on each other."
Hermione realized why Professor Dumbledore was so casual about their easy facility with the spell. It was far, far more difficult to reverse it, especially when attempting to do so for oneself. What had appeared effortless for Professor Dumbledore actually involved a fair amount of magic and significant effort. Hermione tried twice before she thought that she might have the hang of it. She chanced to look over at Tom Riddle, and saw that he had already reversed himself and was watching her with frank enjoyment of her situation.
"It wasn't very kind of you to extend the curse nearly to my waist," she muttered under her breath, but of course he heard her.
"Indeed it was not. I stand ready to help you reverse it if necessary, Miss Girard."
His self-satisfied tone was grating, and Hermione concentrated as she again attempted the reversal. This time, she felt the feeling returning to her legs, and focused her magic intently, using her wand to push the sensation further, further, until she saw the roots retreating, her feet emerging at last as the transfiguration faded completely away. Her knees felt as if they were about to give way, but she stubbornly remained on her feet, determined to not give the arrogant Tom Riddle anything more to crow over from their little exercise as partners.
"Very impressive, Hermione."
His tone was quiet, with an undertone she couldn't quite place, and Hermione again felt uneasy as she realized that their classmates were watching their interaction with a mix of horrified curiosity and sly fascination. Some were still attempting the Ligneo spell, and the rest were stuck on trying to reverse it. Tom followed her gaze and turned back to look at her, a tiny smirk on his mouth. She ignored him utterly through the rest of the Transfiguration lesson as Professor Dumbledore corrected poor technique, but apparently the damage had been done. By the time she had showered after a very dirty Herbology class and went into the Great Hall for dinner, the rumor mill was in full swing. Tom Riddle was interested in Hermione Girard.
It was going to be a long week.
"What are you wearing to Hogsmeade, Hermione?" Olivia asked her with frank curiosity as Hermione studied the meager contents of her trunk. She would definitely have to go shopping for some more clothes while she was in Hogsmeade. Their other roommate, Sophie, had left early for Hogsmeade, but Olivia had stayed behind to help Hermione get ready. Personally Hermione thought she just wanted to see what Tom Riddle would wear on a date. She flinched at the thought of his name and once again focused on the mechanics of getting through the afternoon. Everything she had heard about him focused on House rivalries and whatever he got up to with his minions. She hadn't forgotten that he claimed Moaning Myrtle's death had been a mistake. He's afraid of Dumbledore and just wants to keep a low profile during his final year in school. She just had to keep her head and she would be fine.
"Blue jeans and a jumper, why?" Hermione asked, digging down to find the auburn colored jumper that was tucked at the bottom of the trunk. It was more than cool now, and the wool would keep her warm.
"That old thing? I'd wear a dress if I were going to Hogsmeade with Tom Riddle," Olivia observed. "With the sheerest stockings I could find. After all, that's what warming charms are for!"
Hermione ignored her roommate and retrieved the blue jeans she would wear. She folded the hems into wide cuffs, leaving her white socks and loafers showing. Thank goodness the Muggle war had the same knock-on effects on the wizarding world's fashions, as she would have loathed having to wear stockings and high heels daily. It was nice to be able to wear casual clothing on weekends, even if she did feel a bit guilty for not paying the slightest attention to World War II. She did know how it ended, after all, which was more than her peers could say.
"At least that's a cute blouse. Take off your jumper inside the shops!" Olivia begged, and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Look, I'm not interested in Tom Riddle, nor will I ever be! He's too creepy for my taste," Hermione said, trying to dissuade her roommate's interest.
"Uh huh. Well, I overheard Professor Slughorn in the hallway talking to Professor Merrythought. He said Tom is destined for great things," Olivia replied, leaning over on her tummy to grab her wand from her nightstand.
You have no idea, Hermione thought to herself, pulling the jumper over her head.
"Anyway, he'd be an excellent catch. He doesn't date much, although all the girls are simply dying to go out with him. I'd watch my back for stray hexes if I were you," Olivia continued, then narrowed her eyes and zapped Hermione's jumper with her wand, transfiguring it into a cardigan with horn buttons. "Much better. And for Godric's sake unbutton it!"
Hermione finished running a brush through her curls and tucked her own wand up her sleeve. "Really, Olivia! Leave my clothes alone!"
"Okay," the girl said, holding her wand up innocently. As Hermione walked out the door, her roommate tugged her backward, pressing a pair of turtleshell hair combs into her hands.
"Put these in! Your hair will blow all over the place otherwise."
Hermione realized her roommate was being practical, and quickly twisted the combs into her hair, keeping the bulk of it from her face. "There. Satisfied?"
"Quite," Olivia said with a smile. Her roommate hadn't noticed the thin sheen of the lipgloss she'd magicked on with a subtle wave of her wand. She would thank her later, she was sure.
"Good afternoon," Tom said politely as Hermione emerged from the Ravenclaw common room with Olivia on her heels, her traveling cloak over her arm.
"Hello," Hermione said, quickly subduing her purely visceral reaction to Tom Riddle in street clothes. He was wearing a plain white oxford with a sweater vest and trousers, his own cloak hanging over his arm. There was no question that he was handsome, and it was difficult to remember what he was when he was being smoothly polite. Hermione was well aware that something far darker lurked under the surface, however, and she again resolved to not be taken in by his charming act. Olivia didn't bother to conceal her interest, her eyes clearly conveying that she liked what she saw in the Head Boy.
"Shall we?" He held out his unoccupied arm for her to take, and seeing no way to say no without being rude, Hermione let him take her arm and guide her down the steps of Ravenclaw Tower, chatting easily about the fine autumn day and hoping there would be no rain during their outing as they passed other students on the stairways. Once they reached the courtyard the chill in the air began to bite, and they both began to don their cloaks.
"Allow me," he said, taking her cloak from her and settling it on her shoulders before she could protest. "Do you have a pin?"
"I'll do it," Hermione said, then waved her hand and a bronze eagle grasped the edges of her cloak together with its claws.
"Clever," he complimented as his cloak fastened itself around his neck with a silver serpent pin, the flash in the sun brief as the pin settled in place.
"Likewise," Hermione said. It was a simple transfiguration charm, but many students didn't take the time to do it properly. Somehow it didn't shock her that whatever Tom Riddle did, he did it perfectly. She thought how glad she was that he lost that knack as he got older, his quest for power driving him to lose that perfectionist edge. Or perhaps it was merely how mutilated his soul had become. She shivered, glad that it could be attributed to the chill in the air and not her thoughts.
"Let's be off then," Tom said authoritatively. "I was supposed to keep an eye on the fifth years today, but I traded with Sylvestrus Black. I'd hate for anything to spoil our time together."
Hermione wondered if this was his way of telling her that she could expect his company all afternoon, but set it from her mind immediately. She would go crazy if she spent the whole time analyzing his motives, and he would be more suspicious than ever. They were walking at a brisk pace, but Hermione took time to look around, enjoying the sight of the autumn sunshine on the lake and the red and orange leaves falling with each gust of wind.
"Do you like it here?" she asked him suddenly, disrupting the silence. "I assume you've been a student here since you were a first year."
He seemed surprised by her question, she noticed, his walk slowing slightly. "Yes, I like it here. I have learned a great deal in my time at Hogwarts."
"Yes, I'm sure," Hermione replied in a noncommittal fashion, and they lapsed into silence again. She had expected him to pepper her with questions, so this silence was puzzling. So, doing her best to ignore the boy walking beside her, Hermione instead took in the scenery. The Hogsmeade trip officially started at noon, so the path was completely deserted. Hermione was therefore surprised when Tom struck, pushing her against a beech, his hand at her waist enough to restrain her while he flicked his wand into his hand and whispered, "Legilimens!"
I was tempted to finish this but it would have been a very long chapter if I had! Sorry for the mild cliffhanger. :)