Venenum
By Koryander
Chapter 4. Notechis - The beginning.
Inside the Gryffindor Common Room, Hermione felt like she was at home. It's safe, cozy and familiar. Enid, Bilius, and Ectur talked with her cheerfully, trying to make her comfortable.
She had the pleasure of meeting Algie Longbottom, Enid's fiance.
"See Hermione." Enid showed her hand, moving her fingers to highlight the wizard-style engagement ring. "Isn't it beautiful?" She smiled, giving a kiss on Algie's cheek.
Algie hugged Enid closer, smiling at her. He is the Gryffindor monitor just like Enid was and everyone was sure that the two would be Head Boy and Head Girl respectively next year when they enter the seventh year.
"Enid, Hermione is the sixth girl you showed your ring to today." Laughed Ignatius Prewett, his comment attracted everyone's laughter.
Ignatius was Ectur's older brother and was in the same year as Algie and Enid.
Hermione still had the pleasure of meeting Frederick Longbottom, Algie's brother and Lyall Lupin, the father of the future Remus Lupin, who were in their third year, eager to start their fourth year.
"Let's go, guys, let the freshman rest. I'm sure today was a hard day for her." Algie comments and for being a good leader, everyone agrees with the comment he made.
They wish Goodnight, making the opposite way to the female dormitory, while Enid and Hermione up the stairs.
It's a fact that all the things Hermione has been in her little handbag. Books, materials and everything important to her and Harry's survival is in there and with a simple Accio, she summons one of her pyjamass.
When she lies down, the weight on her shoulders finally seems to alleviate. It's the first time in a while that she can lie down a little more relaxed, even though she's still worried.
Hermione turns, hugging the pillow. Sleep came easy, but she woke early the next morning - courtesy of the time she spent in the tent.
Quietly, she picks up the things she'll need for today in her handbag and then goes to the bathroom, doing her morning routine, and watching her sleeping roommates. Down the stairs, she was surprised to find Ectur already awake.
"I'm happy to find someone who also wakes up early," he says, smiling.
"Good morning." She smiles at him, carrying her school bag. "Let's have breakfast?"
"Sure." He agrees, holding out a hand to Hermione. She looks at his hand, a little disconcerted.
"What?" She asked, not understanding what he wanted.
"Your bag, silly." He chuckles. "Let me take it."
Oh, the chivalry of the 1940 , Hermione realizes. She isn't accustomed to this kind of attitude and, awkwardly, she gives him her school bag. Ectur smiles at herbehaviourr, finding it somehow cute the way she behaves. Taking their bags in one hand, he offers the other arm to Hermione who hesitantly accepts.
"I don't bite," he says, teasing out a laugh from Hermione.
The Great Hall has few students, but Hermione is sure it won't be long before it gets full. When she glances at the Slytherin table, Hermione can't tell if she's really surprised to find the young Dark Lord already there. She thinks it's a bit obvious he was there so early. Of course, Voldemort gets up earlier than the others and probablyisg the last one to sleep. It's possible that the boy mistrusted his own shadow.
Hermione thinks it will be difficult to get used to seeing the Dark Lord eat. It's certainly hard to imagine Voldemort doing such thingsas basic and human, but she does her best to focus on what Ectur is saying.
At first, they don't eat, and they keep talking for a long time. Ectur is thrilled to talk to Hermione and tell her everything about Hogwarts, and she plays her freshman role very well, listening to all he has to say. Ectur is charismatic and friendly and his cheeks turn rosy with ease.
The Great Hall is filled with students. Algie and Enid sit side by side, talking to Ignatius. Lyall Lupine and Fred Longbottom are excited about the Quidditch finals and Hermione watches Bilius and Ectur arguing eagerly, but she smiles at them. They are eating, when a Slytherin girl walks toward the Gryffindor table. Bilius follows the girl's movement with her eyes, watching closely where she was going. He nudges Ectur with his elbow and nods so that Ectur notices what is happening as well. Hermione is just a bystander.
"We need to talk." The girl stops right next to Ignatius.
"What is it about, Miss Black?" Ignatius narrowed his way Ignatius spoke wasn't pleasant enough for the Slytherin girl.
"You can be sure that I wouldn't be talking to you if it wasn't necessary. So I need to talk to you." The girl cast a grim look at the Gryffindor table. "Alone" she emphasized.
Ignatius sighed before getting up, gesturing for the girl to walk ahead. The two left the Great Hall and Hermione noticed that it was not only the Gryffindors who were watching the couple leave, but the Slytherins were also as well.
"Who is she?" Hermione asked quietly.
Ectur leaned in and whispered in Hermione's ear.
"She's Lucretia Black." He satisfied Hermione's curiosity. "See those there?" Ectur discreetly pointed to the Slytherin table for three Slytherins - two boys and one girl. The Black family, Hermione acknowledged. "That's Orion Black, Lucretia's younger brother, he's in the fourth year. That is Walburga Black, and she is Alphard's older sister, who is sitting next to her." Ectur explained. The three of them were staring at the doors of the Great Hall. "They are relatives of our dear Bilius." He tapped Bilius on the shoulder, which made a face.
"My mother is Cedrella Black," Bilius explains. "My father is Septimus Weasley, who is considered by the Black family as a Blood Traitor." He mumbled with disdain the last words. "My parents' marriage was not accepted by the Black family, and they excluded my mother. I have no contact with any of them." Bilius shrugged. "My maternal grandmother is Lysandra Yaxley, which makes me connected to the Yaxley family. My aunts are Charis Crouch née Black,whoe has a four-year-old son named Barty and Callidora Longbottom née Black, who is Algie and Fred's grandmother. "
" In other words -" Ectur speaks. "Everyone's connected."
"I see," Hermione says. She certainly has a notion that all wizard families are somehow connected,which is one of the motives that make Muggle-borns so excluded, but it's certainly interesting and a bit terrifying to look closely at what marriage connections do.
They're still talking when they notice Orion, Walburga, and Alphard, are getting up and leaving the Great Hall. It is known that the Black family cherish their members andprotectst themselves, so seeing them coming out is an indication that the problems are coming to Ignatius. But to everyone's surprise, he doesn't take long and comes back with a sulky and disgusted face.
His friends try to question him about what happened, but he says he's not in the mood to talk about it and they respect his decision. Only Alphard and Walburga return to finish their breakfast andOrion probably stayedd with his sister.
The first lesson that Hermione will have since she went back to the past is Potions with Horace Slughorn. Ectur and Bilius walk beside her, Ectur was holding her school bag and offering her the arm. In the corridor, as they passed a group of Ravenclaw girls, Hermione gets a deadly look from one of the girls.
"What was that?"
"This is Mary Runcorn and you've been holding the arm of her passion since the third year," Bilius says with a laugh. Is his time to take revenge on Ectur for the comment on the table in the Great Hal?.
Hermione automatically releases Ectur, which makes Bilius laugh even more. Ectur rolls his eyes and has his cheeks pink.
"Don't worry, Hermione." Bilius continues.
"I don't want any trouble."
"You won't have it," Ectur reassures her. "She and I have nothing."
"Not for Miss Runcorn's lack of Valentine's Day she will likelyl give him the greatest declaration of love ever made at Hogwarts."
"Desired you are, hm?" Hermione enters Bilius's play, only to hear a grumblingfromf Ectur.
They arrive in the Potions room, Professor Slughorn is already there, waiting for the students. It's a Gryffindor / Slytherin class and when she realizes that Tom Riddle and his gang are there, it's like popping the little bubble of happiness she had thirty seconds ago. Hermione's blood freezes.
When Slughorn notices the presence of the celebrated Miss Granger,to which all the teachers were speaking, including Headmaster Dippet, he approaches with a smile for Hermione. Ectur sits next to Bilius after handing Hermione, her school bag.
"Miss Granger, it's a great pleasure to meet you. Dumbledore talked about you. I must say you are brave enough to have been in the war. "
"Thank you very much, Professor Slughorn. It's a pleasure to meet you too" Hermione says. And Dumbledore saves my skin one more time, she thinks. Certainly, Dumbledore talked to Dippet and the other teachers, probably to keep the lie about her arrival.
"Congratulations on being chosen as Head of the Slytherin House. Professor Dumbledore told me," If her knowledge is correct, Professor Slughorn is given the title of Head of the Slytherin House by that time. To her relief, Slughorn opens a smile, indicating that Hermione was correct.
"Thank you, Miss Granger." Slughorn thanks. "Dumbledore told us about your delicate situation." He continues. "That is why I recommend you to sit beside our dear Mr Riddle. He's one of the best students- "
Hermione looks at the empty chair next to Riddle and then looks at him. She's pretty sure he's paying attention to what Slughorn is saying and that's why he smiles so softly and lowers his gaze as if he's shy about being praised by an unfamiliar person.
"- I'm sure he'll help you with whatever you need." Hermione looks back at Slughorn who continues to speak. "But if you have any serious questions, be sure to ask me."
Hermione is reluctant to accept. She wanted to say that there's no need to be with Riddle, she's smart enough to learn by herself, and she knows everything about the entire fifth year. But, against her will, she sits next to Riddle. She is almost at the edge of the chair, eyes trained on Slughorn as she slowly picks up a quill and parchment.
"Good morning, Miss Granger. I hope you're adapting well to Hogwarts," Riddle says.
"Good morning, Mr. Riddle, I'm adapting very well, thank you for asking," Hermione replies, after a few seconds debating whether or not to talk with him. But she considered it would be more suspicious of her to ignore him when, then, he supposedly didn't do anything for her.
She feels Tom Riddle's gaze on her which is disconcerting and makes her feel insecure and anxious. He is analyzing it, even if very discreetly and that is not good.
He tries a few times:
How can I help you, Miss Granger?
Are you in need of help, Miss Granger?
Are you having any questions?
She denies all the questions he asks. She was almost curled up in her chair, her eyes following every move Slughorn made. Suddenly the Potions class became extremely interesting, just because she was very willing to ignore Tom Riddle and go unnoticed. But when the class was over, she gathered up her material quickly, trying to escape Tom's presence, but one of her quills fell and before she could catch it, Tom took it.
He looks with interest at her quill, before looking at Hermione.
"Here, Miss Granger." He offers the quill to her, looking intensely, never blinking. His eyes... His eyes never looked appealing as they are now, the colour green-grey almost glowing. Attracting to look at him.
Hermione got stuck in his gaze for a moment before she understood what he might be doing. Legilimency ...!
Terrified, she runs from his gaze, taking her quill and cursing.
"Thank you, Mr. Riddle." She says softly, before turning and walking quickly towards Bilius and Ectur.
Hermione breathed more relief as she put a distance between herself and Tom. Bilius noticed Hermione's state of mind and how her hair seemed to bristle.
"Are you okay, Hermione?" He asked, worried.
She smiled at the worried, chivalrous expression of Ectur and Bilius that made her remember how Fred and George were when they heard Draco calling her a mudblood.
To calm them down, she placed one hand on Bilius's forearm and another on Ectur's shoulder.
"I am fine. Don't worry," said. She wanted to feel more confident than how her words sounded. It's really hard to feel safe with Voldemort so lose, she thought.
"Did Riddle do something to you?" It's Ectur who asked.
Oh, he did - will do - many things, she wanted to say. However, trying to bring some enmity to the young Dark Lord didn't seem the best survival tactic and so she denied it.
"No, he didn't do anything," she replied. "He was very considerate," she emphasized, but the last words didn't sound so true to her.
"If something happens, tell us, okay?" Bilius says.
"It's true. If you need anything, talk to us." Ectur reaffirms.
Hermione smiles at the Gryffindor spirit they had.
Hermione is much calmer for her upcoming classes to be with Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, but as soon as she has time, she goes to meet Dumbledore. She takes a deep breath and knocks on the door of the Deputy Headmaster's office. The door opened by itself.
"Good morning, Miss Granger. What do I owe the honour of your visit?" Dumbledore asks. "I hope your first day is going well."
"Good morning, Professor Dumbledore." She greets him. "Everything is going very well. All the teachers and students welcomed me very well," Hermione says. "My visit is not for a complaint. It's another request for help." She explained. "Again," Hermione laughs, a little embarrassed.
"What is it about?" He looks at her over his half-moon glasses.
"I wish you would teach me Occlumency ."
" Occlumency ?" Dumbledore asked, suddenly interested in the girl's desire. "I want you to know, Miss Granger, that you're safe in Hogwarts. What would be the need to learn Occlumency? Do you want to tell me something?"
Hermione passes her tongue through her dry lips.
"I know I am safe here and have your protection, Professor Dumbledore. I also know that you are aware of how important it is that my mind is to be safe. My mind has information that many wizards and witches would kill to have. I have the knowledge of the future and walk unprotected until I come back to my time, it worries me," she explains. "I'm worried about Grindelwald. If my arrival with Harry did cause an alarm in the wizarding world, Grindelwald must also have felt." She looked uncertain. "I'm getting ready to get advanced information on the Magic of the Time and I'd love for you to help me. If the magic that was used to bring me here was from the Dark Arts, the answer to take me back is also."
"The Dark Arts, my child, should not be underestimated. Though at first innocent, the temptation in them may corrupt"
"I know." Hermione looks determined. "But my desire to do good and protect the people I love is greater."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, impressed by the strength of the words she chose.
"I know the basics of Occlumency, but I don't think it's enough." She's sincere. "Please, Professor Dumbledore, think of what I said. I appreciate all the help I can get. "
She said goodbye to him, before leaving the room and going to lunch in the Great Hall.
When she sits at the table, Enid asks.
"Where were you?"
"I had some problems to solve," Hermione responds. "But I hope everything is right."
She serves up some food for her, watching with a bit of good envy, Enid and Algie together. If she and Ron had confessed their love before, they would have enjoyed it more. Probably yes. It wouldn't have Lavender Brown or Viktor Krum, or jealousy and offences, or crying. It would have been so much better. But of course, it's common for people to talk only about what they feel when they think they're close to the end, and now she condemns herself for all the fear she felt for telling Ron about her feelings for fear of being rejected. Now she realizes she acted like a fool.
"Argh, I'm screwed in Transfiguration classes." Fred Longbottom complains beside her.
"What happened?" Hermione asks.
" Transfiguration is one of the most important matters and I cannot even finish my essay." Hermione can hear the desperation in Fred's voice.
"Your essay is with you?" She asked and Fred confirmed, handing her the parchments.
Hermione reads, ignoring her food for a moment. For her, a third-year essay is easy, but she understands the desperation of Fred. When she was in the same year that he is, she was like that too. His essay is not bad, in fact, it's very good, just a few mistakes, but nothing too scary. Dumbledore will probably like what will see from Fred.
"It's very good," she reassured Fred. "You should focus more on vertebrate animals. They are the biggest challenge when it comes to the spell Evanesco. If you can do that, then nothing will stop you in the matter of Transfiguration when it comes to your turn to do the OWL's. "
When she finished, Ectur was looking at her.
"Why didn't you come earlier, Hermione? I really need some help with my OWL's " He spoke a lot like Ron.
"You mean you're a Know-It-All?" Bilius looked at her, a smile, opening on his face. "Good to know."
"And now they'll be on your feet." Algie laughed.
"Please, let the girl breathe." Ignatius was laughing too. He leaned against the table. "So, Hermione... Are you good at Defense Against the Dark Arts?" He murmured.
Hermione laughed softly. That sounded a lot like her time with Harry and Ron, when everyone came to ask her about something. Some things don't seem to change.
The next morning, during a free period, Hermione passed in the library, meeting Madame Imogen Gleeson. She went straight to advanced magic books, taking the book of Spell Potions and the Advanced Potion-Making because perhaps the person who attacked her bathed the medallion in some potion and used some spell to complete it. She got the book of Spells, Extreme Incantations and Abracadabra. She tried to find something that might be referring to the Magic of Time, but there was nothing.
She tried to get the Most Potent Potions, but Madame Imogen requested permission. She could ask Dumbledore or Slughorn, but she wanted the book now. She begged a little, saying it was for her OWL's. Madame Imogen authorized, however, that the book was with another student, in the end, Hermione had to wait.
It was then that she remembered the most terrible and dreaded book - Secrets of the Darkest Art - that was with her all the time inside her handbag. She took the books she requested at the library and went straight to the female dormitory, grabbed her bag and looked around. She couldn't read that book in the library or in a place with much access, where people would see what kind of book it was, so she took everything she needed and went to the Astronomy Tower, which was empty at that time.
In a 'safe place' she finally holds the locket around her neck. She looks at him a little fearful and curious, at first she thought it was some sort of heavy medallion with the Time-Turner built-in, but no, it was actually a locket. The Time-Turner's hourglass stood in the middle, the sand in the hourglass was emerald green and was interestingly divided equally into both sides of the hourglass.
The locket was silver, there was a pattern in the circles around the hourglass - they were still perfect circles, however, in a twisted pattern, like Celtic circles. And around the Time-Turner were words, words she didn't understand. They were vowels followed by vowels and many 's' and 'h'.
Hermione tries to move the hourglass, but nothing seems to make the hourglass move. It's when Hermione's brilliant mind put together all the initial pieces of the puzzle.
Every 'click' that the Time-Turner made meant a decade. They totaled five clicks, meaning five decades into the past. On the last turn, the hourglass stopped in the middle. Five and a half decades. Fifty-five years. This Time-Turner is different and the person who created it, wanted her to be right where she is, she realized.
Rules, she needs rules to not make mistakes. What were the mistakes she's already made? A little desperate, she picked up the parchment and a quill and began to write:
1) Hermione Granger - I gave my real name.
It was an innocent mistake, she was surprised to see Dumbledore and gave her real name.
2) Harry - Important! Harry's identity must be kept confidential, not just for who he is and will be. If You-Know-Who knows who he is and the danger he poses to the future of this person, You-Know-Who will try to kill him sooner. It's also important so that the information doesn't clash with other people of his family. He is now Harry Evans.
3) Find a cure for Harry? I don't know what Harry has. I need to visit him at St. Mungo's. I think it has to do with You-Know-Who.
4) The locket is the key. - It was a special spell cast on Time-Turner. For all the spells a counterspell is needed or I'll have to create one. But in order for me to create a counterspell, I need to know the basics of the spell that was used.
Hermione stopped writing, again grabbing the locket around her neck. She looks at the locket, narrowing her eyes... Parseltongue!
"The spell was in Parseltongue, the words around are in parseltongue". There's a tone of happiness in her voice that soon undoes as she realizes what she has just said.
Oh, I'm so screwed, Hermione thought. She would never be able to translate what was written in the Time-Turner, she wasn't a Parselmouth. The only person who could do that was the Dark Lord - Tom Riddle.
Hello, Could you do me a favour? You can translate what's written in this Time-Turner so that I can go back to my time and try to kill your future self because you are a dark wizard and want me dead. She snorted at that thought.
Obviously, she couldn't ask for help from him with that. If what she remembers is correct, Riddle never told to anyone that he is a Parselmouth. The only people who knew about his skill were Dumbledore and his followers - she still has some doubts.
It would be very strange for her to ask for his help when he had never said he could talk with the snakes. Especially after the attacks came and they were looking for the Slytherin Heir.
Tom Riddle would kill her before she could say 'Ah!'.
How will I translate? She wondered.
With a little headache, she took the parchment which she noted the important steps she would have to follow and cast an Incendio , observing the parchment catch fire and fall into ashes.
After collecting her things, Hermione was walking down the stairs of the Astronomy Tower, when she heard voices. By reflex, she hid.
There were two people, arguing eagerly. One of the voices she recognized as Alphard's.
"Walburga, that's enough," Alphard said.
"That's important, Alphard!" She questioned him again. "He hasn't received the letter yet."
"Merlin, Wally! You know how it works. Cygnus's birthday is during our vacation. He'll get the letter. "
" What if he doesn't get it? What if he's a squib !?" Walburga's tone increased.
"What if he is?" He questioned. "He's still our brother."
"What are you saying, Alphard? I don't have a squib sibling. If he is a squib, Mom and Dad will throw him away! "
"Take back what you said, Wally," Alphard ordered. "Take it back, now!"
"No!"
"Wally, you do everything to be unbearable, you know?" Alphard grunted. "Cy is not a squib. He's done some accidental magic, remember? "
"He better not be. Have you thought about the shame it would be for us if our friends knew that our younger brother is a squib? "
"Merlin, Wally is enough! Cy being a squib or not, is not the reason for me to thank every night. Do you know what really makes me thankful every night? That I'm not going to have to marry you." He shuddered at the thought. "Thank God our cousins had Orion Black and you're engaged to him. That's what I thank every night. "
" You're cruel, Alphard." She responded after a while absorbing his words, her voice a little tearful.
"Am I?" He replied petulantly. "Which one of us was trying to throw our little brother into the Muggle world?"
"You idiot!" She pushed him, before leaving with firm and strong steps.
Hermione heard the whole conversation, trying to control her breathing. Incest… If Orion Black had not been born, the Black family, with their fanaticism for the purity of blood, would marry Alphard and Walburga . She swallowed hard at that thought.
She waited a while, not hearing anything else, and she came out of her hiding place.
"It's very rude to hear other people's conversation, Miss Granger." Alphard stood there, motionless, leaning loosely against the wall with arms crossed.
Hermione looked at him with uncertainty, she opened and closed her mouth like a fish, the books she carried, weighing in her arms. She had been caught in the act.
"So ...?" He raised one eyebrow.
She squeezed her jaw and her lips became a thin line and she swallowed.
"I didn't want to hear it," she admitted. "Was an accident. I was leaving the Astronomy Tower when you two showed up. Instinctively, I hid, but I didn't want to hear. "
He nodded as if thinking of the answer she gave.
"You didn't become one of those crazy fans, did you?" He asked, very indiscreetly.
"Excuse me?" She frowned.
"You know just what I'm talking about. These girls who are chasing us and hiding." He gestured with a grimace, then loosened his tie.
"Wait ... What?" She looked at him in disbelief. Their pride is so great that they think they own the world and all people would fall at their feet? Hermione was referring to Alphard and the rest of Riddle's gang.
A minute of silence passed, they were silent, and then Alphard began to laugh.
"You should see your face," he said almost breathlessly. His attitude only made Hermione have a poker face.
"I know you didn't want to listen," Alphard said after he had calmed down. "You don't look like one of the stalker girls."
"Do you have a double personality?" Hermione asked, really serious, which made Alphard laugh again.
"Oh, Merlin, you're going to kill me."
Hermione ignored him and started walking, making her way back to Gryffindor Tower.
"Hey, hey, wait! Let me help you. " He took half of the books she was carrying before she could stop him.
They walked in silence for a while, Hermione glanced at him a few times, realizing that he looked more serious and sad. A great contrast to the laughter he was giving a few moments ago.
"Are you okay?" She asked and he shrugged. "You want to talk about it?" She was referring to the conversation he had with his sister.
"You're pretty curious, aren't you?" It's a rhetorical question, he sighed and then spoke. "It's the same as always. Wally shouting, an exaggerated concern for Cy and the fear of shame." He rolls his eyes. "But it's just the Black family."
Alphard didn't know why he was opening up to the freshman, but somehow she seemed to be more trusting than his housemates. However, anyone seemed to be more trusting.
"That's not very Slytherin," she murmured. "I thought you loved the names of your families and the connections."
"And what do you know about the Slytherins, freshman?"
"Well, the Gryffindors speak." She shrugged.
They both smiled at each other. That's basically how it started. It was the beginning of a strange friendship. They didn't speak in public, she was still talking more with Bilius, Ectur, Enid, Algie, Ignatius, Lyall, and Fred. But sometimes, when she was alone and he just showed up, Alphard would sit next to her and talk about anything.
He realized she was some sort of Know-it-All and library rat. She always had books, always reading and seemed to be doing some kind of research. She also always seemed focused and sometimes frustrated. She really didn't give a damn about the fame that Alphard and the others had and when he was accompanied by his housemates, she didn't even give him a second look.
In one morning that all the students were excited to go to Hogsmeade, that the Daily Prophet newspaper ad.
IS GRINDELWALD CLOSER?
The Ministry of Magic says there is no danger and they are working on the capture of the dark wizard Grindelwald. However, there are reports and indications that contradict this version. Where's the truth?
But obviously, no one paid much attention. Bilius and Ectur were trying to persuade Hermione to join them and the others, but she refused, saying she was tired.
Was true, she was tired of reading and researching and her encounters with Dumbledore. Her head was aching, Harry hadn't yet been discharged and her efforts didn't seem to be leading anywhere.
She was really reluctant to go, but she thought that a walk in some 'different' environment might help her with her headache or maybe give some idea. In the end, after dressing, she went to Hogsmeade alone.
o0o
"My lord." Was Lestrange, who spoke. "Here is the letter I received from my father about the information you wanted."
Lestrange hands the letter to Tom, who was sitting in his favourite armchair in front of the fireplace in the Slytherin Common Room.
He reads the letter with extreme interest, the frustration appearing in his features when he locks his jaw and his eyebrows drop.
Nothing! There's nothing about her in the Ministry!
He crumpled the letter before his hand caught fire and burned the paper in his hand. Lestrange swallowed, nervously.
He considered himself a reasonably patient person. Tom knows that to achieve his goals, he has to be a patient person, but it was really frustrating to deal with Hermione Granger.
He was the golden student, the perfect and considerate boy for her. He smiled so much that once his cheeks get sore. He played the role of a young gentleman very well, but nothing seemed to enchant her.
Started with Slughorn, who served him well. Slughorn practically gave it to him, Hermione Granger. Placing her next to him in the classroom, and so did the other teachers, when it was a Gryffindor / Slytherin class. Tom thought that would make it easier for him to get close to her, but it wasn't that easy.
She didn't speak more than necessary, she didn't look at him, and she avoided contact. She was afraid of him.
Tom cracked his neck.
So, he was an observer of her attitude. How she managed to fall on Dumbledore's good graces without doing anything. Was in a class where Dumbledore told her:
"Miss Granger, about those private lessons you asked for, we started this afternoon, during your free period."
Her eyes flashed and a smile took over her face.
"Thank you so much, Professor Dumbledore. I'll be in your office at this time," She replied with excitement.
He noticed every time she met Dumbledore, how Dumbledore trusted her so much that he gave her free access to enter the Deputy Headmaster's office.
But the interesting thing was that she wasn't an idiot. When she was asked, she answered the question with confidence and wisdom, but if she could avoid being the centre of attention, she avoided it. It's like she doesn't want to be noticed.
During the Dueling Club class, Hermione showed a little of her potential. The Club was led by professor Galatea, a teacher experienced in DADA, but what Hermione thought of the Club was summarized as shame.
She was really annoyed by the student's behaviour. While most girls preferred to watch, those who tried to participate were treated as if they were made of glass when they were duelling against a boy. They cast the most basic and simple spells with a false pretext of 'I don't want to hurt you,' when they actually underestimated their opponents and laughed when the girls were hit by some spell.
But of course, the Feminist Movement hadn't yet reached the, despite her irritation, Hermione didn't intend to participate in some duel, but when Professor Galatea called her to perform a duel, Bilius and Ectur asked if she was okay with it and she raised an eyebrow.
"Mr. Dolohov, one step ahead, please. Be gentle to duel with Miss Granger." Galatea spoke, gesturing with her hand for Dolohov to approach. He smiled very convincing manner, in his Slytherin robes.
Hermione's heart stopped for a few beats. Antonin Dolohov, the culprit of her having such an ugly scar crossed her breasts and went towards her lower back. It seems that in the end, some fights don't seem to change the characters.
Hermione admits she's afraid of him. Dolohov is known for being a brilliant duelist and for a fleeting moment she wants to tell Professor Galatea that she doesn't want to fight, but the anger she feels about him is greater. Merlin, she has a grudge against Dolohov.
She reflexively ran her fingers between her breasts, remembering the scar. Hermione felt the weight of Harry's wand in her hand. Is the first time she'd test the connection between her and Harry's wand.
She looked at the wand.
Tom saw it. When Galatea announced that Dolohov was going to duel against Granger, he had to restrain himself from laughing. Dolohov was an exceptional pupil, very good at duelling and a loyal follower. He felt sorry for Granger, of course, if he could describe it like this.
He looked at her and watched her trace a path through the space between her breasts. For some reason, he took a deep breath when he saw the gesture. She looked at her wand, perhaps a little fearful. But the next look she gave was fierce and fearless.
She began to take her robe off Gryffindor and handed it to Ectur Prewett, who stared at her astonished.
Like a boy, she began to roll the sleeves of her shirt up to her elbow and moved her shoulders as if trying to relax. Dolohov raised an eyebrow, still with a very convinced attitude.
Tom glanced at the movement of her skirt, which rose slightly with every step she gave while climbed the few steps to enter the duel area.
He watched her gaze at Dolohov and how her rosy lips became a thin line. Her uncontrollable hair seemed more bristling and electrifying and he felt the reason behind it. Magic. She was releasing magic. Strong Magic, and it chills the hairs of his arms.
Dolohov was underestimating her and no matter how Tom understood that she could be potentially different, he still bet Dolohov would win the match.
"I promise to be gentle, Miss Granger," Dolohov spoke, bowing, but everything Hermione heard was a sort of teasing and she didn't respond.
It was just too fast. Five seconds, at most. She was ready. Before Dolohov could say Expelliarmus, she cast a Stupefy. The force of the spell lifted Dolohov and threw him back in a spinning move. All the students followed with their heads, Dolohov stopping across the room. Everyone in the room was silent.
"Impossible," Rosier muttered beside Tom.
One of my best followers finished in seconds, Tom thought. Everyone watched as she walked to the middle of the room, while a groggy Dolohov tried to stand up. With a gesture and a non-verbal spell, Dolohov's wand flies to Hermione's hand.
She looked at Dolohov from above, his wand in her left hand. She had an immense desire to break his wand in two, but all she did was leave his wand there, on the floor.
Tom Riddle inclined his head, his eyes were in that strange grey-green colour as he watched her turn away from Dolohov. She was graced by her housemates, but she didn't look so happy, just smiling gently at the comments.
Dolohov humiliated the Slytherin House, losing to Granger in a few seconds. Tom would have a special conversation with Dolohov tonight in the Room of Requirement.
"Why did you lose to Granger?" Tom asked again, the Room of Requirement was occupied with him and his followers, who were silent, observing with a strange pleasure, Dolohov being tortured. Some of them had a smirk on their faces.
"Because I underestimated her," Dolohov replied in a hoarse voice of so much screaming.
"It's quite obvious, isn't it? How many times did I say that people shouldn't be underestimated? It doesn't matter if it's a man or a woman. You were just an idiot. How can you not perform a simple Expelliarmus ?" Tom sighed and then said, "Crucio," He talked like he was saying the weather was hot.
Dolohov screamed and struggled with the effect of the spell. After what seemed an eternity, Tom stopped.
"I'm worried," He said, his gaze to his followers who until then, were not in trouble with him. "I wondered if you were all like Dolohov."
Nott and Mulciber swallowed hard, the smile fading from their faces.
"So I asked myself, why not train more?" Tom continued. "Let's practice some very dark spells, so you don't make the same mistake as our dear Dolohov."
"What should we practice, my lord?" Abraxas asked.
"Isn't it obvious? We have a perfect guinea pig right here." Tom pointed to Dolohov. "No one leaves here until I'm sure everyone is fit. Until I say that's enough. Until I'm tired."
It was a long night for Dolohov.