Venenum
By Koryander
Chapter 12. Bothriechis - An agreement with the Devil.
Hermione looked at him for a long time, her breath coming out of her mouth a little faster than normal, his expression declaring that they would not argue about this. She was going to stay in that cabin.
Feeling the looks on her back, she takes one or two deep breath and straightens her posture, lifting her chin a little and swallowing hard. Hermione turns around slowly, looking at the members inside the cabin. On the right were Malfoy, Rosier and Lestrange, on the left were Alphard, Avery and Mulciber. There were two empty seats, both near the window, only on opposite sides. Either she sat on the M, R, L side or she sat on the A, M, A side and she didn't even have to think too much, she preferred to stay on the known side a thousand times, with Alphard. However, before she even moved towards Alphard's side, Riddle sat in the empty seat, leaving her to sit next to Malfoy, Rosier and Lestrange.
Hermione wonders again if her sins are too much that she would not only be trapped in this cabin, but she would also sit beside the most loyal and cruel Death Eaters.
She settles stiffly beside Malfoy, feeling him look at her out of the corner of his eye, but Hermione ignores, maintaining the posture of her body with her hands together in her lap. Her face is expressionless, as she looks at the culprit of her being in this situation. The cabin is as silent as a graveyard and the only one who seems to be enjoying is Riddle, although he does not have a smile on his face, she is already beginning to recognize the small twitch in the muscles around his eyes and the glow in those irises. The small lateral tilt of his head is an indication that he knows that she knows that he is enjoying. In any case, she prefers to lower her gaze for a moment, just to control her emotions, when she raised her head, Alphard is looking at her.
There is a clear question in his expression: What the hell are you doing here? And the only way she can respond is with a shrug, keeping their conversation silent and hiding the strange rapport they had.
She lets her eyes roam around the cabin, there is a sociopath project sitting in front of her, a future manipulator beside her, a cruel boy sitting in the same direction, a sadist sitting at the end, a diabolical alchemist with no morals on the opposite side, a malicious boy and everything revolves around a question: How did she come to sit next to them?
This only adds to the personal terror she feels. All in all, they were teenage boys, young adults at most, yet they were able to do what even adults didn't dare to do. The thought froze her inside and Hermione knows that if there is a plan between them, if they act, she will have to fight right here. They were in greater numbers, it was five against one - she is excluding Alphard from her calculation, because she doesn't know how he will behave if something happens - and they were considered powerful, end with each of them would be hard work. But, she is sure of one thing: she will not fall without taking at least one of them.
That's when she looks at Riddle again, feeling betrayed, used. Was that his retribution? It's not like when she helped him, she was thinking of some sort of retribution or payment, but after all, she figured he would at least be happy to make his intentions clear, that at least he would say ' I still want to kill you 'and that would make it all clear to her. He can still be a box of negligible surprises.
The Hogwarts Express makes the first move, catching Hermione off guard, due to the movement of the train, Hermione has her body being thrown forward and she is forced to rest one hand on one of Riddle's knees so that she can steady herself.
It was a quick moment for the others, but for the two involved, time passed a little more slowly when their eyes met. Hermione recoiled as if Riddle's body was on fire, quickly putting herself in the correct, rigid position. Her mind started to think of escape plans, she looked out the window, watching as the landscape moved quickly because of the train. She wondered what the chances of survival were if she preferred to jump off the moving train. She could always use magic to help.
If nothing happened, then it would be a long and stressful trip to Hogwarts.
At first, Riddle found the awkward silence amusing, the exchanging looks asking what he was up to, the fear and submission of everyone inside. But then she leans on one of his knees to try to steady herself, looking at him, and in those brown eyes, he sees fear, dread, betrayal, accusation everything directed to him. She retracts, looking at the landscape, the hands on her lap in the shape of a fist, he watches her move her fingers as if she misses taking the wand from her holster and holding it and she probably has a thought that she discards, because a small sound comes.
He prefers to ignore it, taking a book from his male cross bag. It was one of her books, which she didn't mind that he picked up to read. Riddle would not give in to her and would not explain to the Knights what he wanted, at least for now.
It was more than half the trip, the silence was harsh and unbearable, everyone seemed to be minding their own business. When he looks at her from under his lashes, he is surprised that she has maintained her posture until now. The Knights stopped talking since Granger arrived, they don't know how much they can talk or be themselves and mainly, they don't know the role that Granger has here, among them. They are too curious, they want to know if they can finally relax, but none of them dares to say anything so far.
It was at that moment that Lestrange made a sound with his throat.
"Riddle ...? ' There is a secret question in Lestrange's tone of voice, Riddle exchanges a look with him and Hermione wonders what is going on, if this is when things will start to get worse, however, against everything she thinks, Tom replies:
"She is with us."
The Knights of Walpurgis exchange glances, wrinkling their foreheads a little, wondering how Granger went from being an enemy to ' with us' and why Riddle and she arrived together. The need to feed the Knights' curiosity and animosity, Riddle know he will have to do, however, how , when and if he will explain, it is his decision. And one thing he doesn't accept is being questioned. But for now, this short statement seems to be enough. They exhale and automatically relax. Lestrange stretches his legs on the upholstery on the opposite side, Mulciber loosens his tie, Avery yawns as if bored, Alphard makes a movement with the neck
and Rosier with his fingers, Malfoy crosses his legs and talks to Mulciber about the summer vacation.
The amusement gave way to ignorance and then to the boredom, he did not want to be moved by Granger's behaviour, but if she gave him another cautious look, he knew he would care.
"For Merlin's sake, relax, Granger." Riddle practically screamed, demanding that she relax her posture and muscles.
She swallows, finding the inner fire to debate with him.
"You can't blame me. If I remember well, the last time I was with you, it was not pleasant. "
Riddle snorts and the small superior smile he gives, along with the sounds of laughter from others, show that at least they find what happened funny. Alphard silently watches the scene.
Annoyed, Hermione tries to kick Riddle's shin, an act that none of the future Death Eaters would think of doing. Alphard looked at Hermione as if a second head had grown or as if she was having a death wish. However, to everyone's surprise, Riddle dodges Hermione's foot, looking more amused than annoyed. Alphard couldn't say how Hermione was from the girl Riddle wanted to torture and kill for the girl who had the audacity to try to kick Tom Riddle. If this situation is not strange, he doesn't know what else it would be.
"How much negative emotion, Granger." There are fun, irony and arrogance in Riddle's tone of voice. "Look on the bright side. There is always a way to get something beneficial out of a bad situation. See where you are now. "
"I really don't know if I'm in a good position," Hermione responds with sincerity and a slight intonation of anger. "Your advice? Is it for you? "
He stops for a moment.
"Let's say I'm an expert at that." There is a slight inclination towards the upper corner of the right side of his lips, indicating that such an expression can be considered a smile. She doesn't doubt his statement for even a second, Riddle must surely be a master when it comes to getting the best out of the worst situations.
"Let's be realistic," Hermione says, leaning her upper body slightly towards him, in response to her approach, Riddle also leans in, anxious for the Gryffindor girl's smart thoughts. "S-Should I trust?"
Tom raises his eyebrows a little and looks her expression up and down out of the corner of his eyes. He thinks about her question for a moment, at most three seconds.
"Could I trust you that day and every other day?" He answers with a question, even if it was a trick question willing to catch a lie, there is truth there, in those words.
Even surrounded by his most loyal followers, there is no desire in Riddle to expose the details to them. What Granger saw, participated in and offered to him, belongs to him. There is a degree of intimacy with her that puts her on a different level than others, a different way of relating. For all intents and purposes, she saw more about his life than he ever allowed others to see, and even though the two hated each other in the beginning, he assumes they are fine now. However, she will also have to give a vote of confidence in him. He finds her fear interesting, even funny. As she is ready for anything, ready to put her claws out and fight if she feels threatened, but now, this is unnecessary behaviour. He has no intention of harming her. She will just have to believe this as he also believed that she would not harm him.
Riddle holds her gaze with his for a moment, before exhaling and putting himself in the ideal position again.
"Just relax, okay." He nods at her.
Hermione holds his gaze a little longer, before nodding and also correcting her posture. She makes a slight movement with her shoulders, forcing the trapezius muscle and all other muscles to relax. Against all rational instincts and facts, she trusts him for now. She wants to believe what he said here and in the tent and wants to believe that now she is out of the way of the future Death Eaters, because the only one who can keep them away is Riddle. It is Riddle who maintains the leash of the Death Eaters and, apparently, what he says is the law between them.
That's what it is for today, she thinks.
For Riddle, they have more similar situations than he likes to admit and for his realization, it doesn't bother him as much as he did at the beginning. After all, strangely they seem to have a complement, but as far as it goes, it has yet to be seen. Granger's behaviour is nothing more than her leaving her comfort zone. They "played" when he was in her territory, now it was her turn to come and play in his.
Riddle picks up the book again and the others take it as a cue to return to acting normally. Hermione looks at the horizon through the window, watching the sun in the landscape before water droplets appear one by one until it starts to rain. She frowned a little, confused. Summer rains. More as the Express advances, the rain seems to intensify, the sun stopped shining, hidden by the thick rain-laden clouds that left the sky dark.
"It looks like the weather has changed." She heard Lestrange comment and looked in his direction.
Hermione exhaled and for her realization and everyone else, in her breaths the strange smoke that indicated the change in temperature to colder occurred. Riddle stopped reading, raised his head in Hermione's direction and everyone looked at each other, stagnating in their seats when the temperature seemed to drop to 273.15 ° Kelvin ( 32° Fahrenheit ). Hermione shivered with cold and instinct, she looked at the window and watched in horror as the window began to have the freezing texture of frost. Riddle also looked on with fascination and suspicion, until from the bottom corner of the side where Hermione was, long, skeletal fingers moving appeared, the hand dragged itself across the surface of the window feeling the presence of those in that cabin. The humanoid creature covered in torn dark robes with a hood showed slowly, the noises it made - very similar as when a person is short of breath or who wants to suck more air than is able - could be heard through the window.
The cabin occupants were standing with their eyes fixed on that horror show, seeing that creature that could only have come from the most terrible of nightmares.
"Dementors ..." Hermione whispered. Dementors were not Hermione's dread, but it would be foolish to say that she would not fear being near a Dementor.
The Dementor placed his mouth - which looked more like a small bottomless hole - against the window and as if in anger spread his skeletal hands on the window in a sudden, loud movement, which startled Hermione. She threw herself back against Malfoy, pushing him so she could get away from the window. Malfoy pushed Rosier who pushed Lestrange.
Riddle stood up and stared at the creature, dazzled as if it were a new scientific discovery for him. He had never seen a Dementor so close.
Hermione was about to pull the wand out of the holster and do the Patronum spell when the Express started moving again. The light inside the cabin came back, but it still didn't seem strong enough. She sighed and leaned her head against the seat, for all she knows this didn't seem like a good sign.
"Wow, did you see that?" Mulciber spoke, more excited than afraid. "It was a fucking Dementor!"
"That was awesome!" Rosier agreed.
"You had to see your face." Avery pointed at Rosier, laughing. "It looked like you were going to pee your pants."
"Fuck, my dad said the Ministry was going to put the Dementors as guards at the Hogwarts and Hogsmeade perimeter after the attack happened, but ... shit, I never thought I'd see a Dementor." It was so much joy that it could be heard in Lestrange's voice that any Dementor would be pleased.
Hermione looks at them with shock and disbelief. What's wrong with them? she wonders. She agrees, on a certain level, that seeing a Dementor is a vision of life, it is certainly incredible for anyone, but their reactions were not normal.
Riddle interprets Hermione's shocked expression by the verbiage that the other cabin occupants use. Somehow, despite everything he knows about her, he considers her a 'lady' to maintain appearances of politeness and sophistication.
"We have a lady in our company, boys." He nods towards Hermione, a clear order that they must compose themselves.
"Our apologies, Miss Granger," Mulciber says. "Forgive us for our inappropriate behaviour."
Hermione lets out a small, low sound of disbelief that only she could hear. She doesn't believe that. She doesn't care about the words they choose to express themselves, but about how easy they obey Riddle. It was clear that they were much more afraid of his reaction than anything else.
Alphard is silent, feeling Riddle settle down beside him and continue to read the book. He looks at Hermione, analyzing her expression, seeing how shaken she looks after the meeting with the Dementor. He doesn't know if it was really the Dementor who left her like this, but he can't help when he realizes that the window remains with the frost, meaning that someone in that environment is still sad, which is why he gets up, picking up a small bag with treats he had bought. She looks at him, watching the movements he makes when he gestures for Malfoy to give him space to sit.
Alphard sits down, his face turned towards Hermione. He knows he's probably drawing attention to both of them.
"What are you doing?" She asks in a soft, low voice.
Touching the small bag of sweets and taking chocolate from there, he opens the chocolate bar and offers her a piece. She looks at him suspiciously but takes the chocolate.
"You probably know that, but Dementors feed on people's happiness," Alphard explains, fiddling with the chocolate packaging.
Hermione smiles, Alphard looks at the frost on the window, lessened but it was not enough.
"Endorphins." She says, with scientific knowledge superior to his.
"Yeah, something like that ." He smiled. "Here, choose one."
"Bertie Botts?" Hermione raised an eyebrow, looking at him and noticing a defiant expression on Alphard's face. She reached into the package and took out a red bean. Usually red is a good thing.
Alphard also takes one, the beans are also red, perhaps more for the colour of wine.
She puts her bean in her mouth first, chewing as she imagines a worse taste and is surprised to find the taste of cinnamon. Soon after Alphard puts in his mouth, he chews more confidently.
"Shit." He murmured, wincing at the taste of the worm, shivering with disgust.
Hermione laughs. The laughter is shy, cheerful and inviting. The frost on the window thaws and the light in the cabin seems stronger. The expression on Hermione's face is brilliant and she looks at him with a sparkle in her eyes that looks like happiness, but for some reason, he thinks there's more there as if she's seeing someone else instead of him. Especially when she, still with a smile - this time more restrained - looks at him, taking all the details that she can see and suddenly there is a small crease between her eyebrows. She tilts her head to the right side and brings her face and hand a little closer, with her fingers, she puts the strands of his hair behind his ear, and her touch goes down behind his ear to the earring he's wearing on his left ear.
Alphard feels his face heat up with her approach, which is unusual for him. His bold behaviour gave him enough charisma to make people blush, but with him, it rarely happened.
Hermione runs her fingers over the earring. It is an earring dangling with the shape of a small prickly ball that looked like a sea urchin. She raises her eyebrow and he sees the small twitch in the left corner of her mouth - a small smile - and shakes her head in a very maternal way like a mother watching her son play.
A kind of look he never saw in the eyes of his mother, Irma Black neé Crabbe. At best she is cold, at worst she is the complete winter and to his displeasure, his sister Walburga 'Wally' is too similar to her.
He looks at Hermione and sees her sighing, she crosses her arms under her breasts and leans her head against the window and he understands that she needs personal space, he gets up and when he turns around, he finds Riddle looking at him intensely. Alphard swallows his saliva in a ' glup' .
The intensity of the gaze gives chills down his spine. It is not a normal look, there is no heat there or shine or emotion, it is cold and fearful. Alphard is unable to maintain eye contact and finds himself looking down to avoid confrontation.
Riddle takes a deep breath, feeling his heartbeat furiously against his chest as an unknown emotion begins to rise with bubbling anger in his stomach. An emotion that he could only compare with selfishness and possession.
What caught his attention was the sound of her laughter that he never heard, at least not directed at him, but then he realized that she was laughing at Alphard with pink cheeks and sparkles in her eyes, the light of the sunset lighting up her face and the strands of her hair.
He locked his jaw and looked under his lashes and when Alphard laughed too, his eyes narrowed.
What does that mean? He asked himself. Their rapport raised the deepest confusion and suspicion, but that was momentarily put aside when he saw Granger touch Alphard's hair and trace a path through his ear to the earring Black wore.
It was an act with no ulterior motives, but in Riddle's view it was intimate and very close and he found himself squeezing the cover of the book until his knuckles turned white.
If her kindness is given to everyone in such a banal way, then for her the actions she took in the tent didn't mean as much as for him and Tom doesn't know if he is annoyed by the closeness between her and Black or if he is admitting to himself that it has special meaning for him.
He grits his teeth, not liking what he was feeling. Tom doesn't like to be taken by surprise, he usually needs time to sort and analyze, otherwise, he can be unpredictable and his unpredictability can be dangerous.
Tom watches Alphard sit next to him out of the corner of his eye, maybe I'll have a conversation with him later.
He looks at Granger, who now has his head against the window, absently watching the sunset, this time he isn't even trying to hide it; he is studying her. Tom wonders if there is any relationship between her and Alphard, Alphard is attractive and charismatic enough to attract other girls but does Granger fit into the 'other girls' type? Tom has a hard time believing this, but it seems that way. The problem with the question is how they got to that level. So, he remembers that it was Alphard who lent her the Slytherin robe, he was the one who arrived with her in Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, he was the one who accompanied Tom in the bathroom of Moaning Myrtle. How curious. For now, he will be more of a spectator, however, that does not mean he will not take action, he just needs to connect everything. Having a thought, he closes the book in a ' paf'.
"Granger." He gets her attention.
"Yes?" Hermione leaned her head against the window.
"I made a promise to you and I keep my promises," Tom spoke and Hermione looked more suspicious. "I will do you a favour, anything as long as what you ask for me does not make me expelled from Hogwarts, or make me go to Azkaban or doesn't kill me and doesn't expose me in a degrading way." He maintained his posture as if he were talking about business. "In other words, I'm offering you a vow."
Hermione adjusts as she hears his words, she blinks repeatedly trying to adapt to what she heard.
"An Unbreakable Vow?" She asked, incredulous.
"Of course not, silly." Tom shook his head. "But don't take my words in vain. I don't say those words to anyone." He stood up and held out his hand. "All you have to say is: What I want is… And that's it. In return, whatever you saw, knew and heard, you won't be able to tell anyone about it. What do you say? "
Lestrange and Malfoy looked at each other and a small smile appeared between them.
A Vow with the Young Dark Lord? This was crazy, but then the proposal to have Riddle grant a favour was too tempting to be rejected. She could save Harry Potter when they both returned to their original time, she could stop the battle if he made the connection between this Hermione that he met and the Hermione that he wants to kill in the future. It was too tempting and yet inaccurate.
She gets up, about to make a decision, it is at that moment that Enid opens the cabin door, dressed in the Gryffindor uniform and with the Head Girl badge pinned to her robe, her hair was loose and in a beautiful pin-up style.
"Riddle, finally, I was looking for you. We have to meet with the other prefects, go get ready. " Enid spoke. She was early because Riddle is never late, it was probably the nervousness of being the new Head Girl.
Her eyes roamed the cabin occupants until they reached Hermione.
"Hermione!" She smiled. "What are you doing here? We were all waiting for you in the other cabin. "
Hermione opened her mouth, but it was Riddle who spoke first.
"Miss Granger and I met at the station, she was having some difficulties with her trunk and I helped her. We talked and I invited her to join us. We did become friends, didn't we, Miss Granger? "
"Of course ... I suppose so." Hermione had no choice but to agree, Riddle was pressing for her to confirm what he had just said.
"Oh! Really? Well, that's great." Enid tried to be kind. "I will call the others, we will be waiting for you, Riddle. Algie is already with the Ravenclaw prefects. "
"Right."
When she was gone, Hermione sat down, Riddle picked up his things and walked to the sliding door of the cabin. He turned and said,
"Boys -" Everyone looked at him "- take care of Miss Granger." And closed the cabin door, leaving Hermione there.
Spent just a second with them looking at the door until they turned their attention to her. Hermione leaned her back against the window feeling cornered and for a moment imagined the hissing snakes in the cabin. Malfoy looked her up and down and she heard a small laugh from Mulciber. She took a deep breath, making herself more courageous because they seemed to enjoy the fear.
"What is your relationship with Riddle?" Avery asked.
"Why don't you ask him?" Hermione suggested, watching a nerve in Avery's jaw bounce. "Don't tell me you are afraid to ask such a simple question?"
Oh, no. Talking to them would be like stepping on thin ice. She didn't know what to say to them, but she knew she shouldn't say much. She played with him and they seemed to notice. Avery narrowed her eyes and stood up quickly.
"Avery." Malfoy scolded him. "Sit down. Now."
Malfoy and Avery exchanged a long look and Avery sat like a sulky child. Oh, right, Abraxas Malfoy is second in command.
Lestrange laughed, happy to be watching that scene. "Why do things look more fun when Miss Granger is with us?"
"Don't be so happy," Rosier said. "She's a problem," Rosier spoke as if Hermione wasn't even there. "By the way, Alphard -"
"What?" Alphard grunted.
"- If your brother hurts my sister, I will finish him."
Alphard sighed and rolled his eyes. "For Merlin, he's only eleven! What do you think Cygnus is going to do with Druella? "
What? Wait! Were they talking about Cygnus and Druella? That Cygnus and that Druella?
Malfoy made a noise in his throat.
"It's time. We have to go get ready. " He got up. "Miss Granger." He opened the door in a gentlemanly gesture.
Hermione took her things, gave a half-ironic smile and went to put on her uniform.
o0o
" Hermione!" She heard Ectur and Bilius call her. She stepped away from the Riddle gang and walked briskly to them, a smile on her face.
"How are you?" Hermione hugged them.
"We are fine. I wanted to write to you, but you never gave me your address. " Ectur spoke, his cheeks turning pink.
"It is true. It broke our heart. " Bilius crossed his arm over Hermione's shoulders. It was much more a friendly gesture than something like 'she's my girl'. Meanwhile, Ectur grimaced and elbowed Bilius in the ribs, forcing him to release Hermione. Hermione smiled and shook her head.
"How was your vacation, Hermione?" Ectur observed the details on her face, her sun-coloured cheeks and her wild hair.
"It was a little complicated." She seemed a little lost in thought. Ectur interpreted her response as loneliness and concern for trying to start life after she participated in the War.
"It must be difficult for you. I mean, after the war. "
"We are not going to talk about sad things, are we? Hermione is here with us and now we are definitely veterans! " Bilius tried to change the subject, attracting more of Hermione's smile. She thanked him mentally, however, Ectur grunted at Bilius' interruption.
They sat at the Gryffindor table, waiting for the new students. It didn't take long for the new students to arrive, this time they were following Professor Slughorn, while they queue for the Sorting Ceremony. Headmaster Dippet announced about the new school year with Dumbledore beside him, holding the Sorting Hat, the famous stool empty and waiting for the new students.
Slughorn joined Silvanus Kettleburn, Galatea Merrythought and Dumbledore, who were standing to greet students who would be classified in their Houses.
When the first name was called, Hermione almost got up from the seat she was in. Alastor Moody? She lifted her neck, trying to see as the young boy walked over to the stool. It was Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody. There was nothing unusual about that boy who was sitting with the Sorting Hat on his head. There were no scars, nor the electrifying blue eye that moves on its own, he had both legs and mainly; the nose was complete. In fact, he was cute with big brown eyes that were childlike features, plump and pink cheeks, strawberry blond hair and a look that showed his insecurity for being in front of so many people.
" Gryffindor!" The Hat announced.
The Gryffindor table burst into applause, she put her hand over her mouth trying to hold back the smile and tears of happiness when she saw Moody sit at the Gryffindor table. Harry had to have seen this, he would be so happy.
The next to be called was Cygnus Black. Hermione didn't understand the fear Walburga had when she looked at Cygnus. The boy clearly had magic and he acted like a noble, but somehow was different from Draco - who was immature. Cygnus was slender for his age and had a more physical resemblance to Alphard than to Walburga, combed black hair and grey eyes with long lashes with a slightly upturned nose. He had a serene, confident, calm and certainly lonely expression.
" Slytherin! " The Hat didn't even seem to think.
Slughorn shook Cygnus's hand with a smile on his face and gestured for him to sit at the Slytherin table, which now applauded his presence.
Damocles Belby, the creator of the Wolfsbane Potion was classified for Ravenclaw House.
Druella Rosier. It was Druella Rosier's turn. Pretty, with blue eyes, long blond hair and pale skin. Narcissa Malfoy had inherited all of her mother's genetics. The girl had a curious look and tilted her head when she seemed to hear something coming from the Hat, she wrinkled her forehead in disagreeing with anything that the Hat seemed to be saying.
" Slytherin! "
She nodded confidently and proudly of whatever she said to Hat. It was certainly a threat to burn him until he put her in the House she preferred.
Erica Stainwright, Everklena's future creator, was classified for Ravenclaw.
Ethel Selwyn. A member of the Selwyn Family, possibly related to that man who threatened Xenophilius Lovegood.
" Slytherin! "
Evelyn Thomas had brown eyes, a channel haircut and front upper teeth slightly separated. However, despite her teeth, she would become a beautiful girl when she grew up. When the Hat was placed on her head, she seemed to smile at the voice that was in her mind.
" Slytherin! "
Gethsemane Prickle, the future Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures was classified for the Hufflepuff House
Pomona Sprout. Pomona Sprout? Professor Pomona! Hermione smiled when she saw Professor Pomona's happiness at having the Hat on her head. She was short, with a big smile despite having one of her front teeth missing - it was probably a milk tooth. - Her hair was dark brown with endless curls. Big shiny eyes and the appearance of being an adventurous child and without afraid of getting dirty.
" Hufflepuff!"
Selina Sapworthy. That Selina who's going to have a painting here at Hogwarts?
" Gryffindor!"
Hermione was seeing historical facts happening, but even with the happiness of seeing Moody, Pomona and others, Hermione was more concerned that she was seeing Voldemort's allies. It was his army gathering right before her eyes, one by one.
"Two! Just two? What's happening?" Bilius grunted. "I mean, I understand that it is a classification, but only two have entered Gryffindor so far?"
"Most entered the Slytherin House." Ectur glanced over his shoulder at the Slytherin table.
"Whatever." Ignatius shrugged. "In today's times, most are cowards."
Hermione did not dare to debate the matter, watching the rest of the new students being classified. Slytherins are not nice, cheerful or easy to get along with, but she also doesn't believe they are cowards - in the meaning of the word which is the opposite of brave. In her view, those who belong to Slytherin House are courageous, because it must not be easy to live there.
After the Initiation Ceremony, with the students already in their proper Houses and the end of the teachers' meeting, Dumbledore and Dippet are in the Deputy Headmaster's room.
"Many students joined Slytherin House this year," Dumbledore commented.
"Say what you mean, my great old friend." Dippet looked at the fire in the fireplace.
"I am clearly against judging a House by the values it carries and I believe that each one has a good and a bad side -"
"But ...?" Dippet waited.
"-These children don't learn these values alone. They are largely influenced by their experiences or their parents. "
"I know what you mean." Dippet needed no further explanation. "You fear for young Miss Evelyn Thomas. A Muggle-born classified for Slytherin. "
"For a moment I questioned the choice of the Sorting Hat, but the Hat never makes a mistake."
Dippet and Dumbledore looked at each other.
"She is not going to adapt. Not in that House. "
Dippet sighed.
"Perhaps, my great friend, this new generation could be the reason for a change in mentality."
Dumbledore looked at his teacup, very sceptical of the possibility that Dippet suggested.
"I hope so, my friend, I hope so."
At that moment there is a knock on the door. Dumbledore makes a gesture with his hand and the door opens by itself, who was standing waiting to enter was none other than Tom Riddle. Tom was not going to be able to go another day without his wand, he needed to feel the weight, feel the wand lead his fierce magic.
If Dumbledore was surprised, he didn't show it.
"Tom! My golden boy, come in, please. " Dippet invited him in. With a low gaze and perfect posture, Tom Riddle entered the room.
"What brings you here at this hour, Tom?" Dippet asked.
Smiling, Riddle replied. "I came to get my wand from Professor Dumbledore."
"I expected you to come and pick it up tomorrow".
"I know, but tomorrow will be my first day in the sixth year and I would like to not be late for classes. I think I'm a little anxious. " He gave a half-smile, wanting to indicate shame and nervousness.
Dumbledore got up, went to his desk and took Tom Riddle's wand out of the drawer. Tom's hand itched with the eagerness to pick up the wand, he almost took a step forward in anticipation but remained in control with a lot of effort.
"Here it is, Tom." Dumbledore handed him the wand.
As soon as his hand closed on his wand, Tom breathed a little easier, a little more relieved and with a strange feeling that mixed euphoria and pleasure, Tom felt the wand responding to his magic.
He raised his head, this time he was no longer smiling and gave a slight nod.
"Thank you."
He was about to turn away when Dumbledore asked:
"How was your vacation, Tom?" He looked over the half-moon glasses.
"It was actually surprisingly good. You were right. I think I should have enjoyed it more. " He gave a restrained smile with his eyes closed. "Well, if you'll excuse me. Good night Headmaster Dippet, and Professor Dumbledore. "
He turned, closing the door behind him.
"He's a brilliant young man, Dumbledore. Probably one of the best students this school has ever seen and he is capable of becoming even the best of all. Maybe he will become better than you, my old friend. " Dippet laughed as he took another sip of tea.
Outside, Tom's friendly expression was gone in less than a second. He rolled his eyes, the left corner of his upper lip rising in a clear expression of disgust and arrogance. He took a deep breath, not having the patience to deal with Dumbledore and Dippet at the same time. However he was happy, he had his wand now. He could use magic. He was at home.
"My Lord." Mulciber greeted him when he entered the Slytherin Common Room. "Walburga, Lucretia and Araminta are presenting how the Slytherin House works to the new girls. Dolohov and Nott are with the boys. "
"Hm." Tom took off his Slytherin robe and held it. He looked down at the floor below him, where the sixth and seventh graders gathered. It was the veterans' party. "Malfoy." He called.
"Yes, my Lord?"
"Bring Granger to me."