Very important author's not at the bottom!
Hermione went to her first class in this new time, Arithmancy. It was one of her favorite subjects. She enjoyed the certainty of knowing she would always have a definite answer, nothing was left to chance. Unlike the situation she found herself in.
The Dark Lord was sitting next to her and she was sitting, talking about derivatives. She could feel Riddle glaring into the side of her face. Thankfully, the class was soon dismissed.
Hermione hurriedly walked to the dungeons for Double Potions. With ease, Riddle caught up and Hermione frowned. This time, he didn't attempt to make conversation, but rather tried to creep into her personal space.
Hermione resolutely kept up her fast pace and, a short while later, found herself in front of her Potions classroom. She opened the door and was quite surprised but what she found, or rather didn't find.
It was much more open and clean than Potions when Snape taught it. Everywhere had brightness about it. There was something else that Hermione couldn't quite put her finger on.
All of the sudden a pot-bellied man stepped in front of Hermione. She quickly recognized Horace Slughorn. Hermione couldn't believe she didn't realize Slughorn was the Potions Master during this time, seeing how he told Riddle about the Horcruxes.
Slughorn grabbed Hermione's hand in two of his sweaty ones and shook it vigorously. "Hello, hello Miss Laird. I'm Professor Slughorn, your Potions Master this year. It's an honor to meet you. You must be quite a witch to be Head Girl and in my own House as well."
Hermione put on a genuine smile; glad to see some things never change. "Professor, the pleasure is all mine. It is indeed an honor to meet the man who knows so many popular and noted wizards and witches." Hermione realized that many of the flat surfaces and most of the walls held wizard photos of Slughorn with his previous protégés.
Slughorn, still holding Hermione's hand, said, "Thank you Miss Laird. Some of my favorite students are having a gathering this Friday. I would love it if you could come."
Hermione thought quickly. Even if she didn't enjoy being in the Slug Club, it was still a good way to meet people, plus there was always great food.
Hermione smiled charmingly. "Of course, sir. It sounds like a fine way to meet my peers."
Slughorn looked slightly above Hermione, addressing Tom who had stood silently throughout their exchange. "Tom, I trust you can escort Miss Laird to our party."
Hermione turned and saw Tom's perfect appeasing smile. "I would love to Professor."
Slughorn clapped his hands together jovially. "Wonderful. Now let us get class started." He waved a hand and instructions to make the Polyjuice Potion appeared on the board.
"Class, this is your assignment. Since this is a difficult Potion, you will have the rest of class to brew it. Miss Laird would you please work with Mister Riddle?" Slughorn announced.
Hermione gracefully took a seat and began gathering ingredients from memory. She had made this many times to help out on her adventures with Harry and Ron. Hermione thought about the various times the potion had come in handy.
She could have easily finished the potion by herself, but then Riddle had to come screw everything up. Just as Hermione went to add the necessary powder, a hand appeared over her cauldron, about to drop in a crushed newt. Hermione moved quickly, slapping the hand back and grabbing the next before it touched the potion.
Hermione was furious. "Riddle! Why did you do that? I was preparing the Polyjuice just fine. You could have started an explosion!"
Riddle was mad, as well. "Maybe if you didn't act like a know-it-all and do all of the work, I wouldn't feel bored enough to skip a step."
"Don't blame this on me! I stopped you from screwing up our potion."
Slughorn came up and eased the tension. "Now, as two of my best students, Mister Riddle and Miss Laird, you should be setting the example for others. Your behavior has been unacceptable. Mister Riddle, ten points from Slytherin for your careless actions. Miss Laird, thirty point to Slytherin for your quick actions and, what appears to be until the final step, a perfect Polyjuice Potion. You are both dismissed."
Slughorn turned away to try to help scavenge some ruined potion. Hermione collected her belongings and burst from the room. Hermione moved swiftly to her favorite place in Hogwarts, the library.
On her way there, a door appeared at her side. Hermione turned towards it curiously and let out a sigh as she entered the Room of Requirement.
She had never seen it like this. It looked very similar to the main library she had been heading to. Directly in front of Hermione was a desk with a lamp. A book sat in the middle, opened to a page.
Impossible, Hermione thought. It was less of a book and more of a journal. Hermione's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the messy scrawl of her best friend's handwriting. His handwriting is as horrible as his hair, Hermione thought wistfully.
Carefully turning the "Property Of" page, Hermione felt a pang of sadness when she realized the journal was empty. Hermione leaned forward and threw her arms up in an exasperated motion. As she threw her elbows out, her right one hit an inkwell and her left brushed the feather end of a quill.
Not daring to breathe, Hermione wrote in her flowing script a tentative, Hello.
Hello Hermione. The reply was almost instantaneous and still in Harry's sloppy scrawl.
Harry? Is it you? Hermione could barely breathe as her heart fluttered in her chest.
Of course it is. Are you telling me that the brightest witch of her age couldn't figure out that this book serves as a temporal rift between two times, your and mine, that allows us to communicate across the fabric of space time?
I'm not sure who is writing, but it certainly isn't Harry Potter.
Do you think I actually knew half of the words I just wrote down? Dumbledore said to tell you that and you would get it.
Hermione let out a peal of laughter at that. Now that's the Harry I know. How are you and Ron and Ginny? What about the war? I'm sorry I left but now I'm stuck in the 40's! Hermione bit her quill's tip nervously as she awaited a reply.
I can't tell you a lot because I don't know a lot. Ron and I are still hiding from Voldemort, but we have figured out a way to communicate with Dumbledore through Ron's Deluminator. Everyone is fine, or rather, no worse than when you left. The way appears to be at a stalemate. Death Eaters maintain control of the Ministry, but they appear to have stopped hunting muggleborns and half-bloods. Dumbledore says it's because of you. I don't mean to put this on you, but he said they you would stop the war or make it worse.
Letting this information digest, Hermione thoughtfully penned a response. Does Dumbledore know if I can come back, to be with you? I've meet Dumbledore in my time, so he must know.
Unfortunately, Dumbledore is being very tight-lipped, more so than usual. He said that it comes down to what you can do. I heard about Voldemort. Doesn't it make you sick to think he was once a student, like you and me?
Hermione contemplated this. His attitude towards me is despicable, but I'm not sure if it's because I'm new or if he realizes I'm a threat. Hermione felt a cold sweat break out as she remembered Voldemort and Dumbledore's duel at the Ministry not so long ago. If he has half the skill he did against Dumbledore, I'm not sure I can stop him. Then you add in his Death Eaters, I'm not sure how I'll survive this.
Hermione, no one is telling you to try to kill Voldemort and his death squad. What if Dumbledore is right and all he needs is a friend?
Hermione scoffed at the notion. Harry, this is the Dark Lord, not some jock with misunderstood feelings.
Hermione could almost hear Harry sigh. Fine, do whatever you want. I just don't want you to get hurt. Just promise me that you'll do whatever it takes to get back here. I need my best friend.
Of course I will. I have to go now. Hermione's eyes prickled with tears as she realized that Harry would rather her befriend his greatest enemy than have her get hurt. Feeling refreshed and revitalized, Hermione pushed herself away from the desk with a newfound purpose.
Checking outside, Hermione realized with a jolt that it was almost curfew. Well, she had a little over an hour, but she never wanted to risk getting caught by the groundsmaster.
She walked to the portrait of the Founders, which was the door to the Head dorms. As soon as she got there, she realized that she didn't know the password. With a huff, Hermione walked to the dungeons.
Some random third years were there and they opened the door with the password todsunde. Hermione entered confidently afterwards. It was almost comical, Hermione thought, how conversation abruptly halted when she entered the common rooms.
Hermione scanned the room. She walked over to a pair of seventh years on a sofa to see if they would know where Riddle was. Hermione walked towards the duo and conversation burst out of its floodgates. Hermione worked to keep the smirk off her face. "Hello, I'm Hermione Laird and I was wonder-"
Hermione tripped as if she had received a push from behind. Unknown to her, Riddle silently sent a jinx her way. Hermione stumbled into the boy that rose to greet her. With skilled ease, he caught her, "Please, leap into my arms, princess. Your knight in shining armor is Samuel Avery," he finished with a wink.
The girl next to him scoffed, "If you're a knight, I'm the bloody Queen of England. Annie Greengrass, by the way. How do you do?" Annie gestured and the trio sat, Sam and Annie on the couch and Hermione sitting across.
"Hermione Laird, is it?" Sam asked. Hermione nodded. "That isn't a Wizarding name."
The mere statement made Hermione gulp with the startling realization that blood prejudice ran extremely high, especially in Slytherin. Sticking to her story, Hermione said, "I'm a half blood. My father was the Muggle, obviously."
Samuel sat with a straight spine. He had short, spikey brown hair and a healthy tan. He was well built, likely on the Quidditch team. Hermione would have thought him attractive, if not for the love his eyes held for Annie.
Annie was his opposite. Everything about her portrayed warmth despite her pale skin. She was petite and her blond hair was styled so it had sleek waves. Her legs were crossed and her hands were laced in her lap, the epitome of a proper lady. They were truly a knight and his lady.
Samuel nodded with easy acceptance. Annie grinned cheerfully and resumed the conversation. "I'm in your Potions class. I believe we also have Astronomy and Transfigurations together, if the rumors of you being in all NEWT classes is true?"
Hermione grinned gratefully at her new friend. "Yes, I'm sorry I didn't get your name earlier. I made a, uh, rather hasty exit from Potions today."
"Not a problem." Annie rose to her feet and Hermione followed. "I know you are Head Girl, but I wanted to show you to my room, if you ever wanted to chat."
"Thank you, I would like that a lot," Hermione said as she stood. As Annie stood, it was as graceful as water flowing down a stream. In comparison, Hermione felt like a gangly teen going through puberty a second time.
As Annie began to walk away, Samuel caught her arm and had a hushed conversation. In a few seconds, it was over. Annie's face held the typical Slytherin smirk, but Samuel glowered and pouted.
Gleefully, Annie took Hermione's hand and lead up the stairs to the girls' dormitory.
"Fun fact, if a boy tries to climb up the stairs, it turns into a slide and snake come out," Annie said pleasantly. Hermione chuckled as the mental image contrasted with Annie's innocent tone.
Annie stepped into her room with a loud, "Ta da! How do you like it?" Hermione was stunned. The room held two queen-sized beds with a soft emerald blanket on top. A window in the wall showed the underwater lake in all of its beauty. Seaweed swayed in a calming motion.
Annie sat Hermione down and dragged a chair over so they could talk. When Annie casted locking and silencing spells, Hermione began to worry. Hermione had no doubt she would win in a duel, but she didn't want to lose her first friend.
Annie became abruptly serious. "What did you do to piss off Riddle?"
Hermione was taken aback. "What?"
"Riddle. He cast a spell behind your back to trip you just now in the common room. He's the only one who could do a spell like that wordlessly and avoid detection."
Hermione sat in stunned silence.
Annie rolled her eyes. "Come on, Hermione, I'm Slytherin, not stupid."
Hermione gulped. "I don't know. I don't think I pissed him off. Why would he do that?" Hermione's thoughts raced. What if Riddle already knew who she was and what she was planning on doing?
Annie leaned back. "I can tell you why." Annie took Hermione's silence and permission to continue speaking. "You're smart. No one bests Riddle, and you've been doing it all day. He's getting back at you; it's what Slytherins do."
Hermione paled. "Oh Merlin, what do I do?"
Annie grabbed Hermione's hands in an attempt to comfort her. "I'll tell you. You head out of my room. Keep your head up and your nose higher, sorry but you have to. You sashay," Hermione giggled, "Hey, I'm dead serious. You sashay up to Tom and go, want to go? Then you don't look back and you don't slow down, just walk to your dorms."
Hermione was laughing at the ludicrous sounding plan, but she didn't have a better one. "Ok, I think I can do that. Oh, the door is the portrait of the Founders."
Annie nodded, "Ok, I know where that is."
"I'll get the password tonight and you can meet me outside at quarter to seven? Then we can go to breakfast."
Annie released Hermione's hands and stood. The pair exchanged a smile. They walked to the stairs that lead down to the common room. Annie gave Hermione one last comforting smile, and then they descended the stairs.
Hermione, as per the plan, walked to Riddle. She felt like she was swinging her hips outrageously, but it was normal to other girls. She sauntered up to Riddle and said in a low, sultry voice, "Want to get out of here?"
Without waiting for a response, Hermione turned and strutted away. She should win an Oscar for her performance and a place on America's Next Top Model with her strut.
As Hermione left the common room, she heard Riddle hastily follow with a murmured, "What the hell?"
The short walk back to their Head dorms was over far sooner than Hermione wanted it to be. Hermione had no further plan and it worried her. She merely waited in front of the portrait and tapped her foot impatiently.
"Pureblood," Riddle said as the portrait swung open.
Hermione entered, chuckling to herself. She couldn't believe the number of heads she turned as she marched sassily through the Slytherin common room. Riddle followed angrily.
As soon as the door closed, Riddle snapped, "What are you laughing for, Laird?" His dark eyes flashed dangerously. He yanked his tie loose in one aggressive motion and ran a hand through his combed hair.
Hermione allowed her laugh to swell into a full rumble that originated deep in her chest. "I'm only laughing at how bigoted our password is," Hermione covered up.
Hermione collapsed, fluttering her eyes shut, on one of the big, fluffy chairs in their shared common room, not quite ready to retire for the night. As she reclined, Riddle was over her immediately. His hands were braced on either armrest, trapping Hermione in. Hermione felt the chair squeak again and opened her eyes, heart nearly stopping in fear as she saw a furious Tom Riddle standing over her.
Hermione internally summoned her Gryffindor courage and refused to be intimidated. Without fear, she leveled her gaze into the eyes of the man who would attempt to kill her best friend many times.
"What do you mean 'bigoted'?" Tom spat, his dark eyes flashed. His hair fell carelessly over his forehead, giving Hermione the inexplicable urge to finger comb it back, an urge she quickly tampered.
Hermione let out a very Slytherin smirk. She relaxed into the oversized chair, but inwardly, Hermione was as tense as a wound up spring. "Bigoted, Riddle, because we're both half-bloods, or is that some kind of secret?"
"How the hell do you know that?" Riddle demanded. He leaned in further and locked eyes with Hermione as if she was his prey. Hermione felt Riddle being to pry into the walls of her mind. Solidly, she clamped down on her thoughts but she couldn't stop her surprise at him knowing such an advanced form of Legilimency so early.
Hermione thought fast to avoid giving away her other knowledge. "Isn't it obvious? It takes one to know one. We both achieve at very high levels because we know about the Muggle world, intimately, and have no desire to go back. Plus, the mudbloods are too dull to appreciate their magic." The last part left a bitter taste in Hermione's mouth, but it was necessary to keep up her cover.
Riddle seemed to accept her words. He leaned in; black eyes locked with brown ones. Mentally, worked his way around Hermione's mental barriers. Hermione wanted to retaliate, but she knew that in doing that, she would leave her mind open. Plus, Hermione wasn't sure if she could handle the crazy bag of cats that is the Dark Lord's mind.
Riddle stood up to his full height. At barely five foot four inches, Hermione was immediately spiteful of anyone who used their height to intimidate others. Aside from cheating and wet socks, it was Hermione's biggest pet peeve.
With a withering look, Hermione glared up at Riddle. "What do you want now?"
Riddle sent back an equally hostile glare. "Well then, Hermione, what should the password be, O Genius of Hogwarts?"
Hermione contemplated for a moment. "Occhiolism."
Riddle rolled his eyes. "What does that mean?"
Hermione stood smoothly and breezed by Riddle. "If you care so much, why don't you figure it out?" As her statement finished, Hermione shut her bedroom door behind her and immediately started casting locking charms and wards that wouldn't be created for another twenty years. No sooner had she finished, did she hear her door shake and a quiet curse escape from Riddle.
Smirking, Hermione plopped onto her bed and fell into a deep sleep.
Tom never remembered feeling like this. He always had his emotions under control; the emotional outbursts he had been having were unprecedented. He hated how much he felt and he hated what caused them, Hermione Laird.
He slammed the door to his room after his futile attempt to gain access to Hermione's bedroom. As much as he hated to admit it, he was impressed. He didn't know anyone, regardless of blood or gender, that could make their room that impenetrable so fast.
Tom ripped off his outer robes and clothes, stripping down to his black silk boxers. In an atypical display of behavior, he left his clothes flung across the room. It was incongruous with the militant order of the rest of his belongings.
With a groan, Tom recounted his failure of a day. He was outmaneuvered in every class. It was so bad that even in classes where everyone slept, people stayed alert to watch Hermione beat him. By the end of the day, there were whispers of a new leader in Slytherin.
Tom's genius plan to get Hermione to make a fool of herself backfired. When she walked out of Slytherin, she turned the head of every male, and even some females. He had followed like a bumbling puppy.
The worst pat was that it seemed like she wasn't even putting in effort in her classes. In fact, if Tom didn't know better, he would think she was bored with the lessons, as if she was used to academics that were much more rigorous.
The ultimate insult came minutes ago when Tom pinned her down in the chair. Unfazed, she stuck her chin up and saw through his façade of brilliance. She called him on his bullshit and he didn't know how react.
Tom was well aware of his good looks. He knew that most girls, if within a six-foot radius of him, melted when they made eye contact. Yet, the infuriating Hermione didn't melt, or even warm up to him. Instead, she was stoic and he thought he detected a glimmer of disgust in the depths of her molten eyes.
Regardless, Tom knew that he would have to gain the power back. Once he did, everything would return to as it should be, with himself on top.
Todsunde is German for deadly sin. So, when Hermione enters the Slytherin dungeons for the first time, it is like she has committed a deadly sin to her former Gryffindor self. I'll explain the password Hermione made up later.
I'm sorry for not updating sooner; I had a very busy summer.
This is Chapter 6 updated. I'm going to be changing my writing sytle and plot to involve more action scenes. It will still be a Tomione, but with more blood and guts. I'm also slightly altering the relationship Hermione and Tom will have early on. I hope these changes will let me stick to Rowling's characterization more.
Please leave questions, comments, concerns, queries, or quandaries!