Venenum
By Koryander
Chapter 6. Daboia - Priori Incantatem.
Hermione fortifies the grip on the book against her chest. She swallows hard by noticing the kind of look that Tom has on his really tried to avoid him, and tried to be the neutral girl, but he developed a kind of obsession and distrust.
It's like he's got a strange kind of sixth sense.
Fearful, Hermione took a few steps back.
"What do you want?" She asked. Hermione's expression changed from surprise to an expression of ferocity. She knew better than to believe that Tom wanted to just talk with her.
"I think we have an unfinished conversation, Miss Granger." Tom walked with a side smile on his face, playing with his wand with his fingers. "But I don't believe that here, in a corridor, is the best place to talk. Then I ask you to accompany me." He blinked a few times. "But of course, you'll come wanting it or not." He threatened.
Before she could take her wand out of the holster and cast a spell, Tom made a silencing gesture, much like the working of a zipper. Hermione's mouth went silent and she was unable to say a single word, she turned and tried to run, but was quickly stopped by Tom, who took her arm, causing her to drop the book she held.
She stared at him, her eyes already filled with tears. She actually tried to stay out of reach Tom Riddle, but all the events seemed to serve as a kind of catalyst to make Tom get even more interested in her.
I tried, Harry.
Tom glanced at the book she dropped, he was surprised and angry to realize what book it was. He tightened the grip on her arm.
"Where did you get this book?" He demanded, shaking her. It was impossible for this book to be with her because this book was currently with him. Inside his trunk, along with his belongings and more dark magic books. How did she get it? "It doesn't matter, you're going to tell me everything when we get to a special place. "
The Chamber? The Basilisk? Hermione didn't have much time to think, the darkness took over her and she fainted. Tom had manipulated her consciousness.
When she opened her eyes, a little groggy, Hermione looked at the ceiling of the Room of Requirement. She tried to stand up, raising only her torso, her heart beat faster when she saw that she was surrounded by the future Death Eaters, watching with pleasurable attention. Tom himself was in the centre, looking at her in a very confident and petulantly way. He felt superior to her.
She glanced at Alphard, who pressed his lips together and locked his jaw in disgust at the situation that Hermione was in.
"Well, Miss Granger, I believe our conversation can already happen, don't you think?" Tom smiled at her.
She crawled, making noises very similar to the noises that a mute person makes, while tears ran down her face.
"Oh, of course. You can't talk. Let me help you." Tom snapped his fingers.
"You monster!" Hermione screamed at him.
"Oh, Miss. Granger, I think this is a terrible way to start a conversation." He frowned. "Allow me," Continued. " Crucio. "
Hermione was struck by the torturing spell, her body writhed and her screams echoed in the Room of Requirement. It was only seconds, but it seemed like hours.
"Tell me, Miss. Granger, what do you know? Who are you? Why do you have this book?" He demanded. Tom's tone changed.
At first, Hermione thought she would go crazy. Bellatrix Lestrange was certainly fit to practice the Cruciatus curse, but Tom ... Tom was different, was special. It was a thousand times worse than the Bellatrix Cruciatus. The pain was so intense, that it gradually became like something deep in her mind. She no longer felt the pain as at first and did not know if she was screaming or not.
Every time she denied the answer to his questions, remaining silent, Tom increased the power of the Cruciatus. He realizes that she is much tougher than many of his Knights, Dolohov or Mulciber would already be begging and crying, curling up in ball form, begging for mercy for him.
In that last Cruciatus, he increased the potency of the spell as he gritted his teeth, the Knights were frightened, and Hermione's scream was deafening, but she didn't break.
Tom paused, breathing quickly. His anger rising.
He laughed.
"I must say, Miss. Granger, I'm impressed. I confess that each of these boys presents here, would have peed in their pants if they were in the Cruciatus curse as you are." He approaches her.
Hermione opened her eyes, a little numb, but still with a fierce look on her face. Her throat is dry and irritated from screaming, so she's hoarse. Tom gritted his teeth as he realized that she still had that fierce look on his face. He sat on her, with one leg on either side of Hermione's body, she is still looking at him with determination.
"You're going to tell me what I want to know, Granger?" He asked, pointing the wand at Hermione's neck. "Or I'm going to have to tear it from you, hm?" Tom raised one eyebrow. "Don't doubt me, Granger. I have very effective methods." He put his forefinger and thumb to lift Hermione's chin.
Tom touched her hair, a thoughtful act of his curiosity to know what the texture of her hair was, and he was a little surprised to find her hair soft and silky to the touch.
"Don't touch me!" She ordered, fighting against his weight on her.
Tom tried to control her movements, but Hermione, for all her boldness and courage, grabbed Tom's raven hair, messing up the perfect hairstyle out of his hair, yanking a few strands of his hair and spitting on Tom's face, apparently shocked, was Hermione's chance of being able to push him. She gets up quickly and calls her wand from Mulciber's hand.
The Knights are shocked and Dolohov is the first to take a step towards Hermione, Alphard is the first to draw his wand - because he knows that from now on, things will get worse. The others pull out their wands, ready to curse Hermione.
Tom rose slowly, wiping Hermione's spit with the sleeve of his shirt in the process, he laughed softly, but when he looked at her, his eyes were glowing red.
"The next one who takes a step will join her," Tom threatened.
The Knights, very fearful of Tom's anger, step back, out of sight of Riddle. Nobody wants to be the lost target.
"I must admit that Gryffindor fits you well. Bold, fearless, foolish. With an undeniable desire for death." His grip on the wand increases. "You, Miss Granger, knew how to irritate me. I know this is going to give me more trouble, you know? But I'm sure I can manage everything in the end. However, you gave me so much anger, that I'm in the mood to kill you. What do you think of that? "
"It will not be today, Riddle. Do you want to know everything I know? Well, I see you, Riddle. I know your tricks and the masks you put on for everyone else. The perfect boy?" Hermione snorted. "No one is more pathetic here than you."
Hermione convinced herself that she really had a wish of death. Still, she couldn't stop talking. Who did Tom Riddle think he was to think he could threaten her? She would probably die someday, but it wouldn't be today.
Riddle was so angry that he began to breathe faster, his magic came to life and he let the wand be the conductor of his fierce magic.
" Avada Kedavra! "
He shouted, pointing his wand at Hermione. The Knights' eyes widened savagely as they saw the green light emanating from the tip of Riddle's wand, they tried to hide, even if they weren't the target of that curse. And Hermione...Hermione was there, but she was ready. She saw in his red eyes the intention of using that Unforgivable Curse and she was prepared for it. Harry had often spoken of how he managed to get out of his various clashes with Voldemort. She concentrates because she knows what will happen and holds Harry's wand - which is hers for now. - with both hands. It is when the magical shock occurs, the spells - both conjured at the same time - met and clashed against each other. Both the magic of Tom and of Hermione are felt by the other occupants of the Room of Requirement. It's the Priori Incantatem. Their wands remained connected, a thousand rays rising above Hermione and Tom, crisscrossing around them until they were enclosed in a golden dome- shaped web, a cage of light, protecting the two. There was no "echo" because neither of the two wands managed to defeat the other, it was a tie.
Tom is brilliant, from a very young age, he is a great duelist, even without having real battles. It's his magic, he's too strong, and he has a magic to spare, but finding an equal is something new to him. Try to enchant her didn't work, trying to break her didn't work and now he is tied with her in a duel. His wand is attached to her wand, his anger is diminishing as he can't break the bond between the two wands. He doesn't understand what's going on.
Tom again underestimated Hermione. He thought she didn't know what the Room of Requirement was, that she did not know how the Come and Go Room worked, but Hermione knew this Room very well and knew that this Room would become whatever the occupant wanted most. Hermione took advantage of the fact that the desire of Tom Riddle and the others in the Room was weak and strongly desired that the Room is transformed into a labyrinth, capable of separating each occupant from that room and showing her the exit.
The Room attended Hermione's request and thick concrete walls were erected between Tom and Hermione, between Hermione and all the other Knights. The interference and Hermione broke the Priori Incantatem. Hermione turned her back and the Room was already with the doors open for Hermione and she ran with all her efforts out of the Come and Go Room.
Before Tom could force his magic over hers, a concrete wall began to come between him and Granger, she managed to undo the bond between the two wands, the Room had become a labyrinth, and he knew there was something to do with Granger. He undoes Hermione's desire, asking the Room to become as was before, giving him time to see Hermione running away.
She slipped through my fingers, Tom thought.
The Knights look frightened at Tom, who has an icy look on his face. He growls and casts some curses in random directions, almost hitting Lestrange and Malfoy.
Tom has more questions than answers, however, he didn't come out empty-handed. He has the book, that Granger supposedly stole from him.
Her muscles were sore from Tom's torturing spell, her throat also didn't escape this description, due to the screams she gave inside the Room of Requirement, and despite her body requesting immediate rest, she found the strength to run back to the Gryffindor Tower, where she thought she would be safe.
Tell Dumbledore everything, don't be stupid Hermione! She thought. Show him the images about Tom and end it all at once. A part of her mind spoke. Yeah, do it and break the whole timeline. You will probably hurt your existence and the existence of your friends if you do. The other part of her mind spoke.
In the end, Hermione only breathed more relief by being in a place away from Tom Riddle, putting a hand to her chest - trying to soothe the muscles in her chest and lungs. Hermione threw herself on one of the sofas in the Common Room and squeezed the wand in her hand.
I lost the book. She thought angrily. The only chance of trying to find an answer and I let Riddle take the book. Hermione gritted her teeth. I have to find a way to get the book back.
Grunting in pain, she drags her feet to the female dormitory. Hermione's roommates are already asleep and Hermione doesn't have to make much effort to fall asleep either.
When Hermione woke in the morning, her body felt even sorer than before, she took one of the muscle pain potions she had in the medical kit in her bag. Relieved, but not improved so much. What gave her strength to face that day was the anger she was feeling about Tom Riddle. She was like a ferocious lioness, people who cross her path today had to be careful.
She already has an idea of how to retrieve the book, but for this, she needs Tom Riddle to be a little far away. Far enough for her to be able to transform into him with the last Polyjuice potion she has in her bag. It's the worst idea she could have, but it's the only one that gets her into the Slytherin Common Room, where the book probably is. She needs hair from Tom Riddle and if Alphard is really reliable, she'll test him now.
At breakfast, Bilius and Algie are trying to talk to her, but Hermione is serious and quiet, her eyes glaring at the Slytherin table and the members. She sees the looks that Tom's gang gives her and it annoys her so much that she gets up from the table, abandoning breakfast. Ectur follows her, worried about her state of mind.
He touches her arm and she grunts through aching muscles, Ectur frowned.
"Hermione, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Ectur." She put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry."
Ectur did not seem very convinced by her words and paid close attention to her walk and behaviour. The first lesson she has is Herbology, being a Gryffindor / Ravenclaw class. Hermione can't say that she was really focused on the lesson, humbly saying, she's already been through the fifth year, but that's not the reason why she is so deconcentrated, it's anger. A kind of anger bubbling inside her, giving her a feeling of discomfort, snorting every five minutes.
Her facial expression is clear - today she is for few friends - low brows, lips like a thin line, tight jaw, a bright, fierce look and uncontrollable, loose hair. That's how Tom Riddle and his gang met her when they passed her in the hall. Rosier and Mulciber do not know how to react to her presence, they were unsure of what to do, but in general, everyone maintains a stoic expression. Hermione can see the glow of anger in Tom's gaze, few would notice, especially because he opens a smile. Imitating a 'welcome' expression.
Hermione's bubbling rage threatens to burst, but she is adamant about her role here. She controls herself.
"Miss Granger, you're-" Tom has his sentence cut off as Hermione walks past them straight, she doesn't even look at any of them, mostly ignoring him.
He wanted to play with her psychologist, torture her in public, manipulate her and know how much she told of their meeting last night, but he wasn't prepared for it. Tom blinks, and his facial expression falls a little, especially his smile. She passes between him and Abraxas, her movement makes him smell the perfume of red fruits that are in her hair. No, he wasn't prepared for this kind of behaviour. He expected the fear in her eyes, tears, an old attempt to run or bargain with him, even if she later begged him for mercy, but he didn't expect to be ignored.
Tom breathed more quickly, his temper changing. Oh, she can actually activate conflicting feelings in him and that's not welcome.
He turned, casting a look at Granger's back.
"Miss Granger." It is Abraxas, who speaks, demanding that she turn. She simply ignores it.
"Miss Granger, why are you doing this? Did I somehow hurt you for you to ignore me? If I did, I ask your pardon, it was certainly an unnoticed mistake on my part. "
Tom says, his voice with false concern. Oh, Tom plays with her, two can play this game and win who is the best. They have an audience, students who lick the floor wherever he goes - no matter the House.
Even with his theater, she ignores it.
"Granger." It's Dolohov who chases her, taking her arm. Dolohov has a short temperament, his patience is very limited and now, Hermione is his target. She added Dolohov's rancour list the night in the Forbidden Forest.
Hermione is prepared and with a simple movement, she turned and pointed the wand at Dolohov.
"Don't touch me," She commands.
They have an audience, but she doesn't care about it, even though all the students are looking with interest at what is happening.
Tom breathed in. Oh, the magic. Tom is an admirer of magic because magic was the only thing that has never failed him, he feels the magic like no one else will ever feel and he believes that magic is the only thing that matters. Then, feeling the strong magic of Hermione, the wand waiting to be a conductor of such magic is amazing and manages to catch his attention. He sees the magic differently and can see her magic, acting around her, intensifying the environment and it's like ... like him. It somehow equals him and he doesn't know how to handle it.
He really doesn't know how to deal with her. Last night was a fucking disaster, a catastrophe and he didn't control his impulses, she saw something she shouldn't and she's alive and he doesn't know how to handle it. She prevented a Death Curse - no one can stop a Death Curse, no one could ever stop any curse that he really wanted to do, but here she is. She stopped it. - She fought against his Cruciatus, she did not break and acted against him and he lost.
No, he really didn't . Tom tries to calm his wounded ego. It was a tie. A fucking tie and it never happened to him. He just doesn't know how to handle it.
Tom is divided between the interest of who she is or the threat she represents. If he can't break her and undo that kind of attitude she has, then he'll be leaving loose ends, someone who doubts him. Of course, he has a thousand people in favor of him against one, but this 'one' has an ally that is the stone in his shoe. Granger is in the Gryffindor House, right under Dumbledore's nose, she has free access to the Deputy Headmaster's office and shit, Dumbledore protects her. She's a loose end, who saw him casting a Death Curse. She's a loose end.
However, there is something wrong. He feels, he sees. He doesn't know where Granger's interests and loyalty are. With Dumbledore? He was beginning to doubt it. If she is Dumbledore's new favourite student, then she is a failed student. Her attitude don't match Dumbledore's idealism. You see, he's not really complaining, but the girl who is Dumbledore's new pupil tries to hang Dolohov? Or can you feel the Dark Magic? And read the darkest magic book? Her actions put him in check. Who is she? What does she really want? Is she like him? Is she manipulating Dumbledore? Oh, he likes that last version. If so, then she is more precious and poisonous than I thought. Being able to wrap the old half-moon glasses around her little pinkie.
And the book ... She didn't steal it. His book was still with him, in his place, with his belongings. Tom stayed a long time in the night, looking at the two books alike. What would a Gryffindor girl be doing with such a book? Having her own added to her personal collection? So he had asked the question himself for the tenth time: Is she like me? The answers are there, magic, the duel, the tie, the academic interests. He doesn't know what to do with it.
"Miss Granger, why are you doing this?" Tom asked, trying to get closer to her.
She still has her wand up, this time pointing at him. She snorted at Tom's question and then smirked, before turning and walking away. He looks at Granger moving away from him. Bold, but foolish, she has supposedly offended the Hogwarts golden boy in some way, if depends on the other girls and even the other boys, Granger is a dead person. So, it's delicious to play with people's psychological in public.
Hermione feels like a mess. She's starting to understand better the kind of pressure Harry was having with Voldemort always there, waiting for the slaughter. She is currently in the office of the Deputy Headmaster, stroking Fawkes - which is the only thing that calms her recently and Fawkes seems to notice and let her gladly touch his feathers.
"Alphard spoke to me." She tells Dumbledore, who is writing on the parchment, not taking her eyes off Fawkes. "He told me that you asked him to help me. Why him? "
"Mr. Black is an interesting young man, I must say, I was surprised that he had entered the Slytherin House. He seems to have distinct ways of thinking different from his Housemates." Dumbledore is still writing on the parchment. "I dare say, Miss Granger, as I believe you know, that the recent ideological positions in the wizarding world are influenced by pureblood families. Many of the members of these families reside in the Slytherin House and your blood status may not please everyone." He looks up from the parchment to her.
"Why Alphard? Why tell him?" She asked.
"Mr. Black seems to have a tolerance for the status of your birth, something unusual in the Black family. He seemed like the right person who can work on Slytherin House to mitigate any facts that might occur against you."
"How much does he really know? He knows that I came from the future?"
" Mr. Black is only aware of your blood status. I suppose our idea is to keep your identity hidden."
" Good," Hermione murmured, turning back to Fawkes.
It's a few minutes past, before ...
" Granger." Hermione hears Dumbledore's voice behind her, she turns and Dumbledore is looking directly into the eyes. Legilimency . He looks at her and nothing happens, but Hermione can feel that light creep of Dumbledore trying to enter subtly through her Occlumency shields. "Good, very good, Miss. Granger." Dumbledore walks away from her. "I must say you are a quick and formidable apprentice."
"Thank you." Hermione sighed. "Professor Dumbledore, what happened in Hogsmeade? Were those people really allies of Grindelwald? "
"I'm afraid your fear is real, Miss Granger. Those men were from Grindelwald and I believe he knows about your arrival. He, like everyone else, felt it when you arrived. "
" But how did he know I was in the Hog's Head Inn? "Hermione asked.
"I believe, Miss Granger, that the Time-Turner trapped in your neck is to blame. There is a strong and unique magic in him, but that is still discreet as if he did not want to attract attention. Few would be able to notice such magic. "
" So he's tracking me down because of the Time-Turner magic? "
" That would be a way of saying it. Grindelwald is Grindelwald, a powerful wizard, that's why he has a notion of Time-Turner. But I believe magical barriers can hide the presence. "
"Like Hogwarts." She finished and Dumbledore nodded. "How is Aberforth? When we left the Hog's Head Inn, he was fighting some of the pursuers. "
"My brother is certainly hard to beat. He's fine. "
"That's very good. I'm so happy he's okay. What about France?" Hermione asked anxiously. "Was there really an attack?"
"Yes," Dumbledore confirmed. "The British Ministry of Magic with the French Ministry of Magic are deciding what to do."
"They're going to unite the countries to try to end Grindelwald," Hermione realized.
"But it's relative," Dumbledore said. "Many people in power are in favour of Grindelwald's cause, even if they don't publicly assume."
"Yes, I know." Hermione lowered her eyes. "However, it is dangerous. If Grindelwald knows the location of this meeting - which may or may not occur - then he will kill all the representatives. Or he can leave alive those who join him," she said. "He's already taking over Magical Europe, isn't? That's why it's so hard to catch him. "
Dumbledore let out a sorry sigh. "Yes"
But Hermione knows more, even though it's terrible to see Grindelwald's invasion and dominion with her own eyes, she knows that in the end, he will fail. At this very moment, she was looking at the only one capable to stop Grindelwald. Dumbledore. He wants to avoid duelling against Grindelwald, but he will not escape it and soon he will be victorious.
With compassion, Hermione touches Dumbledore's shoulder.
"Everything's going to be okay, professor. I truly believe in that."
o0o
Hermione is getting more and more annoyed, if she has to divert any more silly spells, the next person casting some spell toward her will be hit by a Bombarda.
It's really weird how Riddle and his gang have a kind of fan club or whatever that was. ' The crazy fanatical girls' as Alphard had said. Hermione is no stranger to this kind of behaviour, she saw it with Krum, with Malfoy, with Diggory, with Harry and his fame of 'The Chosen One' and even with Ron in the sixth year, but to this day she couldn't understand how some people can be stalkers. She just rolls her eyes at this kind of behaviour and gets even angrier at Riddle for putting his fan club to look like a shadow chasing after her.
She waits for everyone to enter Duel Club class, it's the last class before the OWL's, waiting for Alphard. Incredibly, he's always late for class.
"Hermione?" It's Alphard's voice. Hermione pulled him into a corner.
"I need your help," she says flatly. Alphard frowned.
"What?" He asked.
"I need your help," she repeats.
"Are you okay?" He's worried. "I mean, after yesterday, you know what happened." No one talks about what Riddle does in the Room of Requirement. "You were tortured in that curse and escaped from that other curse," he whispered.
"I-I'm fine," she responds.
"No one escapes that curse, Hermione. Nobody escapes from Riddle. And you did it. He wants your head now. "
" You think I don't know?" She replied, letting her anger leave with her words. "Why are you walking with them, Alphard? You're not like any of them. "
Alphard looked surprised but recovered his facial expression quickly.
"I saw what Riddle does to those he considers an enemy, I don't want to stand in the direction of the tip of his wand."
"Is that it? Because of fear? "
" Oh, please, Hermione, I'm a survivor. The Hat didn't accept my request to stay at the Slytherin by chance. Inside the Slytherin House, things are different. You don't know anything. "
Hermione hesitated.
"All right," she says more composedly. "I still want your help. You promised that you would be by my side, just in different colours. Prove. "
" What do you want? "
"I want you to get Riddle away from Slytherin's dormitory. I want you to tell me where his dorm is and the access password to get in."
" Do you want to invade the Slytherin House? Are you crazy? "
" Riddle stole something from me and I want it back. "
" Even if I do all this, the other students will recognize you."
" Luckily, I know how to take care of myself. Help me, Alphard. "
" You know, if Riddle finds out, you're going to die, don't you? "
" He already tried to kill me, remember? "
Alphard seemed uncertain about accepting to help Hermione, it was too risky. If Riddle found out that he had betrayed him, he and Hermione would have targets in the back. Riddle would never let this go unpunished.
"Please, Alphard." Hermione intensifies the request.
Shit, he doesn't know why he's going to help her.
"All right." He accepted after a while. "We have to set a day for that to happen. I'll tell you the password and his dormitory, but do nothing but take what's yours. If Riddle finds out, you will also be putting me in the line of fire. "
" I would never say about you. "
" After OWL's, it's better. On the last day of class. I'll tell you all the information and it will give me time to think of a pretext for Riddle. "
" Thank you." She smiled at him gently.
"Whatever."
The two of them enter the Dueling Club room together. Their sudden entry is noted by Professor Galatea and some students. Galatea always implied Black's delays and today is no different.
"Mr. Black, Miss. Granger would be kind enough to set an example for the other students and take part in a duel. "
Hermione grunted internally, Alphard froze as he felt the eyes of Riddle and his companions.
"Come on, Alphard. Finish with her." Mulciber whispered Alphard gulped.
"Huh ... Professor Merrythought, I'm not feeling very well. I think I'd better not duel." Alphard said. He is not crazy enough to step on the duel area with Granger on one side and Tom sleeping in the same dorm as he.
"Mr. Black - " Galatea begins but is interrupted by Tom.
" Please, professor, allow me to duel with Miss. Granger. She was brilliant in the last class. "
Rosier and Avery exchange glances at Tom's request. Professor Galatea cannot refuse a request from the golden boy, Alphard has gotten rid of it, but who is actually hanged in the act is Hermione. She almost says she's not feeling well either.
"All right." Professor Galatea agrees.
Tom is waiting for all that behaviour Hermione does while duelling, but she doesn't give him this pleasure. She didn't take off the Gryffindor robe, didn't wrap the sleeves of her shirt, and he interpreted it as if she thought he was unworthy of her.
She is on the other side of the duel area, looking at him fiercely determined. He wants a rematch, he doesn't accept what happened in the Room of Requirement, but he cannot begin the duel with fire.
He waits, but she casts no spell in his direction, forcing him to move first. Tom casts some simple spells, but she diverted them all. She makes no move, she's defensive. He begins casting more spells, spells that are more powerful and specific to battles, but she deflected and lifted a shield.
Tom's anger shines in his eyes.
He's going to try to kill me. That's all Hermione thinks.
"Expelliarmus!" The two scream simultaneously, the 'sisters' wands connect again, and the Priori Incantatem occurs. The strength of the spell is so great that both are thrown to the extreme sides of the room. The noise of their bodies hitting the floor is loud, but the two rise. Tom has an angry and surprised look, looking directly at Hermione. She has a more fearful look, but not less angry.
She was preventing this from happening. Tom noticed. Whatever the connection between the two wands, she didn't want it to happen.
"Great Merlin! Are you okay? You must go to Hospital Wing now." Galatea orders.
"I'm fine, Professor Merrythought," Tom reassures her.
Hermione can't say the same. Her body still has the effects of Tom's Cruciatus curse and now, being thrown across the room, it just made her limp more.
"Miss Granger, you must go to the Hospital Wing. Mr. Riddle, accompany her. "
"No need, Professor Merrythought, I can go to the Wing by myself," Hermione said. Not even in dreams, she'll be alone with Riddle after the duel.
"I insist, Ms. Granger. I was the one who asked for the duel, I'm responsible for your state of health now. "
Hermione thought of screaming for help.
"Let me take her, Professor." Ectur appeared as the knight in Hermione's shining armour. Hermione smiled at him and looked at the teacher, but Tom intervened.
" Let me take her. I am responsible for the accident, you must attend the class and also, it is my duty as a prefect. "
There is no way to argue with the golden boy and responsible prefect. Soon Hermione finds herself walking on Riddle's side in empty corridors, heading toward the Wing, after a duel. It's a nightmare. Hermione tries to walk faster, but her leg won't let her, she wants to get away from him as fast as she can.
Riddle walked beside her in silence, without making any menacing movements. She's surprised, but Hermione knows best, it's a trap. It's a trap.
And she's not wrong, as soon as they were away from the classrooms and in an empty hallway near the Wing door, Riddle's peaceful expression changed, he turned and cornered her against the wall, wand pointing at her temple. But Hermione is also prepared and pointed the wand at Tom's neck, right under his mouth. He smiled at that.
This is Hermione's golden chance.
"Get away from me," she ordered.
"No, no, no, Miss Granger. I'm the one making rules here. "
"I want you to get away from me." Hermione grabbed Tom's hair by pulling a few strands and shoved him.
"Who do you think you are?" His eyes glow red, he grabbed Hermione's hair as well and placed her against the wall again. "Who are you, hm? Loyal to Dumbledore? I think not. What are you doing with that book? ? "
" It's none of your business! "She pushed him again, this time slapping Tom's face.
It's a 'slap!' very loud in the ears. Tom turned his face, his pale cheek soon turning a reddish colour. Tom's raven hair are falling against his face. His face slowly returns to the ideal position, there is no red glow in his eyes, but his eyes are the purest green colour she has ever seen. He looks at her amazed. The big, bright green eyes. Slowly he touches his red cheek and then looks at his hand as if his hand were a Boogeyman. His hands shake.
"You ... You hit me," He says softly as if he didn't believe what he was saying. He looked at her.
His eyes are green in a second, in the other, they're red, in a blink of an eye. He raises his wand and points it at her head. That's when Hermione knows, she's gone too far.
The door to the Wing opens, and they both glance in that direction.
The matron opens the door, finding Riddle and Granger. He's got one hand on her shoulder, in a weird grip, but she doesn't notice it. All she sees is his smile.
"Mrs. Derwent, we came to the Wing because Miss Granger was injured during the duel in the Dueling Club. "Riddle said.
"Oh, come here young lady."
Mrs. Derwent points to one of the beds, Riddle is reluctant to let Hermione go, but the matron doesn't notice. All She realized is how messy his hair is and how his cheek is red and how Miss Granger also has messy hair and a frightened and limping look.
Riddle leaves Hermione in the Hospital Wing, leaving, not before giving her a look. When he returns from the patrol at night, his followers are gathered in the Common Room as usual.
"What happened to your face?" Abraxas is the first to notice.
"That looks like a slap mark," Mulciber commented. "What is it? Have you been rejected by a girl?" He laughed lightly, but he swallowed his words like acid, by the mortal look Tom gives him.
But Alphard knows who possibly gave that mark on Riddle's cheek.
Tom goes straight to his dorm. Already lying on his bed and with the curtains around the bed, he touched the cheek that she hit. Of course, he could have healed himself, but for some reason, he didn't. His cheek is usually pale, but now is red and hot. Fierce, aggressive, strong, uncontrollable, that's what she is and he doesn't know how to deal with her, but he's having a dizzying feeling.
o0o
"Are you sure you wanna do this?" Alphard asked for the thousandth time.
"I have to." Hermione is determined. "You already know you have to keep him away for at least an hour."
"Good luck." He wished Hermione. "You'll really need it."
The OWL's finished and she's not worried about it. She waited all these days for this moment. After what happened in the Wing, Riddle ignored her. What Hermione didn't know made her calmer or more worried. She was so diverted from the spells of his fan club that it became a routine.
People were a little flustered with the end of OWL's and for tomorrow to be the last day before the Hogwarts Express for the start of the summer vacation. She combined everything with Alphard for today, he would remove Riddle from the Slytherin dorm by at least an hour, which would have to be long enough for her to find the book.
"Thank you, Alphard," she murmured to him again.
He, very disconcerted, confirmed. Alphard still didn't understand why he was helping Granger, of course, he made a promise to Dumbledore to help her, but it was too risky. What he was doing was going against Riddle, which is practically going against the whole Slytherin House. He understood that what Riddle was doing was 'wrong' on some level, but shit, joining Riddle's personal circle was a free pass for less trouble-or so he thought.
He glanced at Hermione again, before turning away. Merlin would help this girl, Alphard wanted less information as possible about what was happening, but he would do what he promised her.
Hermione watched Alphard leave, the count on the clock started now. She removes two small jars from her school bag, one containing Riddle's hair that she took off in the incident outside the Wing door, the other was the last jar of the Polyjuice potion she had.
She took the strand of Tom's hair very carefully, bringing the hair up to her eye level before adding the hair to the potion. Before drinking, she transfigured her clothes into the masculine version of the Slytherin uniform. The Polyjuice potion became a dark, black colour with some green reflections, when she drank, the taste of the potion was the taste of Death - if she could describe it that way. It was like swallowing ice cubes that cooled her throat and burned at the same time. It was slimy and for a moment she thought she was tasting the taste of a snake's skin - even though she had never tasted such a taste. - but only at the end, in the last sip, the potion became sweet, but it wasn't enough for her to remember the taste or to take the other experiences.
When she finished, Hermione looked at the mirror in the ladies bathroom, the famous Moaning Myrtle bathroom. It was certainly ironic the place she chose to become Riddle, but this is one of the only places that students don't dare to enter. The moment she entered the bathroom, she wondered where Myrtle was, Hermione called for her a few times, but Myrtle didn't show up.
As she was still staring at the mirror, her stomach turned and she felt a little sick, her skin began to bubble like hot wax as it slowly turned to Riddle's pale skin.
This was literally the worst idea that I could have, she thought.
In the end, Hermione looked in the mirror, watching as her face became the perfect face of Tom Marvolo Riddle Jr. She took a deep breath, staring at her reflection- now Tom's appearance- and took a deep breath, looking into her eyes - now green. She took a few breaths, taking the courage to leave the bathroom. She swallowed and settled, ten minutes had passed, and time was running. She left the bathroom.
With quick steps, she headed toward the dungeons, everyone looked at her, seeing Tom. The girls smiled like fools to her, the boys made room for her, all because they thought she was Tom Riddle. Hermione now understood the kind of popularity Tom looked at her with expressions of confusion, but let it pass.
In the dungeons, the Slytherins looked respectfully at her, and very eagerly she murmured the password to enter the Slytherin Common Room. They found Riddle's behaviour strange, it was unusual for him to demonstrate his expressions, but of course, no one commented.
When she entered the Slytherin Common Room, she sucked her breath. Divided between something classic and sombre, the Common Room was up to its upper-class members, but what surprised her most was the silence that formed with the few people there. They all looked at Hermione - Tom - with some respect and admiration, hoping to hear what she - he- would have to say. But Hermione - Tom - very clumsily went upstairs to the men's dormitory. Troubled and anxious, it wasn't something common in Tom Riddle.
Dormitory, dormitory . It was all Hermione thought. Last bed, the bed farthest in the room, near the window. She was passing on the information Alphard gave in her mind. Last closet, last trunk.
She rushed into the closet, feeling the magical protections. She supposed that the magical protections for Tom's housemates or for other people were complicated protections, but not for her. She was Hermione Granger, the girl who was part of the Golden Trio.
She searched in the closet, the dresser by the bed, where now she was looking. Hermione was surprised to find that few things, were very well organized. She was so focused that when she came across the diary, she froze. Her hand began to tremble, with the slight inclination of the diary to be so close. The Horcrux. But she felt the magical protection in him more powerful than all the others, it was too dark. Dark Magic. And was whispering to her.
She ran, abandoning her search. Feeling dizzy, nauseous, strange. Tom's dark magic was infiltrating her, whispering things, crawling, licking her skin. She just had to run away, running away from that thing. Desperate, she ran away like a five-year-old girl. Running, she passed by Abraxas, who looked for her in a very suspicious way.
She needed to get back to a safe place.
Upon arriving at Myrtle's bathroom, Hermione ran to one of the sinks and poured water on her face a few times, trying to feel firmer and less dizzy. In the mirror, the reflection of Tom Riddle stared at her. Not even the frightened look on her face had undone the perfection on Tom's face.
What aroused Hermione from her dizziness was a few clapping. She looked toward the entrance, the real Tom was there, with Alphard on his diagonal.
"You're so interesting, Miss Granger." Tom smiled in his last words. She looked at Alphard accusingly and he tilted his head to the side. "You know, Miss Granger, being friends with some ghosts or having people loyal to you, has its advantages." Tom wasn't looking at her, he was contemplating, philosophizing.
Alphard approached her, circling, looking closely.
"And didn't she really become you?" He arched one eyebrow, talking to Tom.
Tom looked at Granger, seeing her transformed into him. He looked up and down.
"Leave us," Tom commanded.
Alphard glanced over his shoulder at Hermione and glanced at Tom's back and then left. Tom stood there, hands behind his back, waiting silently for Alphard to leave.
Hermione, transformed into Tom and Tom Riddle himself, were alone in that bathroom that was the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.
Tom approached with calm steps, deliberately slow, looking at her from top to bottom, a strange gleam in his eyes. Hermione didn't understand what that look meant, what was going on in his mind, it is likely that no one would ever decipher. He was releasing magic into the air, it was in his aura. Powerful, domineering, this was his magic.
He circled her, watching intently, his hand sometimes touching the Slytherin robe she wore. In one of his moments, his hand moved up her arm to her shoulder. He circled once more, stopping right in front of her. Now that she was transformed into him, they were at the same height. Tom Riddle looked at her, looking deep into her eyes, meeting his own green eyes, but they conveyed emotions that Tom Riddle himself could never convey.
She didn't look away, they were a few inches away, his gaze had a strange glow and she noticed a kind of smile before she felt his lips against hers.
Tom was kissing her. Crushing his lips against hers, surprised, she tried to pull away, but he pressed her against him. His tongue invaded her mouth, savouring her taste. He pushed her against the bathroom sink, she was between his body and the sink, being kissed. In a quick move, Tom turned her to face the mirror, he kissed her neck a few times before placing her head over her shoulder and with one hand, he held her jaw, making her look at the reflection in the mirror.
His eyes flashed in a grey-green, a smile on his face.
"Don't you think you're perfect like that, Miss Granger?"
He asked, looking at the reflection just as she was looking. In the mirror, the image of two Tom Riddle was reflected. One domineering and another submissive and kissed. The real Tom Riddle was holding Hermione Granger tightly in his arms.