Chapter Two
Hermione Granger did not feel the usual satisfaction she experienced when completing her homework well before the deadline. This time, she had finished it before midnight on Friday, fully aware that she had the entire weekend to work on it. But still she felt anxious, and it was not related to anything academic.
Hermione was worried about what Lavender and the other girls from different houses (excluding Slytherin) would discover regarding the information Harry had revealed the previous day. They had made their life goal to find the truth about Tom Marvolo Riddle. Hermione was unsure how, but she knew Lavender was very confident, and the other girls had a way of coaxing information out of people without being as direct as Hermione. At the moment, she was waiting for a response from the owl she had sent to her parents the day before. The possibility that the most dangerous dark wizard of all time had a Muggle father had surprised her greatly. She had written to her parents to ask if they knew anyone with the last name Riddle or had ever heard of someone by that name. It was a long shot, but Hermione didn't want to take any chances.
A nearby sound roused her from her thoughts, and she noticed the owl had returned. She had used the fastest school owl available from the owlery and sent her message with a note requesting a prompt reply.
She retrieved the letter and offered the owl some treats and then returned to her seat by the fireplace to read the letter. She read it multiple times, at least four. After the fourth reading, Hermione put down the letter and became lost in her thoughts, which had shifted from worry to horror.
Hermione's parents had never met anyone named Riddle. However, her father, Dan Granger, had read a newspaper article about the police finding the body of an elderly man named Frank Bryce the summer before her fourth year. Bryce had worked as a gardener at a large mansion in the village of Little Hangleton. The pathologists were unable to determine the cause of Bryce's death. Interestingly, Bryce had once been arrested for murdering the previous owners of the mansion—Thomas Riddle, his wife Mary, and their son Tom Riddle. However, Bryce was released due to lack of evidence, as the autopsy could not reveal how the Riddle family had died.
Hermione was certain that the victims had all been killed by the Killing Curse. This meant Voldemort had killed his own father and grandparents, and someone, likely Voldemort, had also killed Bryce. Her parents had mentioned that the bodies were buried in a nearby graveyard. This information resonated with Hermione, as she had been sitting in the front row during the final task of the Triwizard Tournament four months earlier. Fay had not wanted to miss anything. When Harry returned with Cedric Diggory's body, he had shouted something to Dumbledore about a ritual, a graveyard, and Voldemort's return before the fake Moody took him away and attempted to kill him. They later learnt that Harry had been trying to tell them that Voldemort had used a graveyard for a ritual to regain his full power when Dumbledore addressed the school, which, of course, was only believed by Slytherins and maybe the teachers.
Hermione didn't get to see the teachers' reactions because chaos had erupted in the Great Hall even before Dumbledore had finished his sentence. Students from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff were verbally attacking Harry, blaming him for Cedric Diggory's death and spreading stories about the dead Dark Lord. The Slytherins (only the ones in the same year as Harry) retaliated against those who dared to speak out against one of their own. Hermione had never seen Headmaster Dumbledore as angry as he was in that moment. She sincerely hoped she would never witness that side of the headmaster again.
Fay's large hand waving in front of her face snapped her out of her musings. Turning to look, she saw Fay standing before her, having just returned from the Gobstone club meeting. Fay's worried expression was focused on her.
"Are you alright?"
"Fay!" Hermione exclaimed, pushing the other girl down to sit on the chair beside her. "He's back," she whispered urgently.
"Who, Hermione? Who's back?" Fay asked, looking confused. Hermione felt an urge to slap her friend, but she controlled herself, knowing Fay's mind was still foggy from her intense game of Gobstones. Instead, she gathered her Gryffindor courage and spoke the name she had avoided for so long.
"Lo-rd V-old-emort," she stammered.
Fay gasped and nearly fell off her chair, but Hermione held her arm tightly. "What do you mean he's back? I thought I told you how dangerous it is to say his name," Fay whispered furiously, looking around to ensure no one had overheard. Hermione knew why Fay was acting this way. In their first year, most Gryffindors had confronted Hermione and Fay for using the name and what happened that night is something they will never forget. Hermione had convinced Fay to speak the name, but after that incident, they had decided not to say it. Fay had also told Hermione about the horrible things that happened in the last war that were not printed in books. Fay's mother had told her after Fay used the name at home during their first-year Christmas holidays. Her mother had lost her brothers during the war. After that, Fay flinched whenever she heard the name, like everyone else.
"I understand the risks of saying his name," Hermione said, shuddering at the memory of the horrible thing the so called brave Gryffindors did or rather tried to do. "But I believe that fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself." She paused, then continued, "Voldemort didn't die that night. I think when the killing curse rebounded, the nature of the curse changed, and he survived. He's back, and he's powerful again." Fay gasped at the mention of Voldemort's name, but Hermione pressed on, spending the next half hour explaining her theory on Voldemort's return.
"Okay, let me summarise what you've told me: You Know Who had one of his followers disguised as Moody. While Harry Potter was facing dragons during the Triwizard Tournament, he was living it up in the mansion in the village you mentioned. Somehow, likely through a portkey, Harry and Cedric were transported to a graveyard, where Voldemort performed a dark ritual to regain his powers. But he failed to kill Harry. The fake Moody also failed in his attempt to kill Harry. And now, here we are."
"Yes."
Fay and Hermione were the last ones left in the common room. The fireplace and candlelight were dimming. Fay asked Hermione a few more questions, but Hermione could only speculate on the answers. They decided to wait for Lavender to return with information about Riddle before directly going to McGonagall and clearing all the doubts. Hermione and Fay both hoped Lavender would have more positive news than their grim theory. For once, Hermione wished to be proven wrong.
The next day passed without any news from Lavender, leaving Hermione increasingly impatient. She had spent the entire Saturday in the library, researching the Killing Curse and dark rituals but found nothing useful. It was Sunday evening when Hermione was losing a Gobstones game to Fay, when Lavender suddenly burst into the common room, looking furious.
"Ginny!" Lavender shouted as she entered the Gryffindor common room, interrupting the game of Exploding Snap that Ginny had been playing with her friends. Ginny paled, and Hermione could tell that she knew what was about to happen. Lavender dragged Ginny to the middle of the common room. Ginny's brothers looked like they wanted to intervene, but one stern look from Lavender made them back down. When they stopped, Ginny was visibly shaking, while Lavender wore a triumphant smirk on her face. Lavender then turned around and spoke loudly for all to hear.
"Ginny will explain how she knows that Tom Marvolo Riddle is a real person."
"What?" Several questions can be heard from different parts of the common room before Lavender shouted for everyone to be silent.
Ron and the twins were by her sister's side and were talking in hushed tones. Well, the boys were doing the talking, and the girl was only shaking or nodding.
"Ginny, tell everything you know before I change my mind and hex you," Lavender spat at Ginny.
Ginny shakily found her voice and told the tale. In her first year, she had discovered a diary in her belongings, with only the name "Tom Marvolo Riddle" written inside. She started writing in the diary, and it would write back to her. Somehow, the diary possessed her, and she ended up opening the Chamber of Secrets. A giant basilisk petrified several students and took Ginny into the Chamber itself. Harry arrived, killed the basilisk, and saved Ginny. Afterward, Dumbledore advised that it would be best if no one ever spoke about what had happened. By the end of Ginny's retelling, she was openly sobbing, and the twins were comforting her, while Ron stared at Lavender.
Several younger year stydents were curious about how Harry Potter discovered the Chamber of Secrets and defeated the basilisk within. Some also wanted to know the location of the Chamber, but Ginny Weasley was unaware of its whereabouts. Apparently, Ginny had forgotten the events that occurred while she was possessed.
"Do you have any information about this Riddle being connected to You-Know-Who?" Ron asked after Lavender shouted for everyone to shut up.
"No," she replied.
"Who told you about this?" Ginny asked between her sobs.
Lavender narrowed her eyes before replying, "Loony.".
"What did you do to her? She is like a sister to Harry. Please tell me you didn't do anything stupid." the sobbing girl asked, now looking scared. Hermione didn't understand why she was scared. Surely Lavender hadn't bullied or forced Luna to do anything. Lavender had stopped bullying Hermione after she was petrified, and almost everyone else had stopped too, except for Ron Weasley and some Ravenclaws. One look at Lavender, and Hermione was now not so sure of Lavender not bullying Luna.
Hermione was certain that if Lavender had done anything stupid, the consequences would not be favourable for Gryffindor. Harry Potter had taken it upon himself to use the most painful curses and hexes Hermione knew on anyone who had ever bullied Luna. No one dared to bully her after the incident with Marietta Edgecombe in their third year. It was rumoured that Dumbledore himself had asked Harry to stop as even the seventh years were avoiding being in close proximity with Luna Lovegood.
"I don't think I need to answer to you about how I coaxed information from her about your precious hero." Lavender replied tersely.
Hermione was sure nothing more would come out of this banter, so she returned to her seat with Fay on her trail. Most students have also returned to their seats, talking to their friends in hushed tones. Now Hermione just wanted to drag Fay to McGonagall and ask everything her mind had been plagued with for the last 36 hours. But before she could voice her thoughts to Fay, the whole common room shook as if an earthquake had impacted Hogwarts, which Hermione knew was not possible. Most students were looking around to understand what just happened before the door to the common room blasted open.
Hermione looked up to see Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, Daphne Greengrass, and Luna Lovegood standing in the Gryffindor common room. Harry and Draco appeared ready to fight, their expressions hostile. Theodore's face was neutral, but his eyes hinted at fury. Daphne was comforting a crying Luna, who kept repeating, "I'm sorry," between sobs.
"How dare you touch her?" Harry said to Lavender, his voice laced with cold fury. He raised his wand, aiming it at her. But before he could cast a spell, the two sixth-year prefects stepped in front of Lavender, having recovered from the shock of the Slytherins barging into their common room.
"Potter, you leave now, and I promise this will not be reported, and I will personally make sure Miss Brown is punished properly for her actions." Cormac McLaggan said as calmly as he could.
"Out of the way, McLaggan, before I do something I won't regret, and you won't forget." Draco shouted at McLaggan after raising his wand and pointing at the sixth year.
Suddenly, someone grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her in front of Lavender. "We are also prefects," Dean whispered to Hermione. Hermione looked around and saw that Ron Weasley and Parvati Patil had joined the Gryffindor prefects, forming a protective semicircle around Lavender. Hermione realised she was standing directly in front of Harry Potter, and she knew the others had deliberately placed Lavender behind her. Hermione was aware of the rumours that had circulated since Harry saved her from the troll in their first year, suggesting he was secretly in love with her. Now, she understood the Gryffindors were intentionally shielding Lavender using her, and Hermione did not like it one bit.
Dean nudged Hermione, prompting her to say something. However, Hermione was unsure of how to calm the angry and dangerous-looking snakes. Meanwhile, Harry had lowered his wand and hadn't realise Hermione was standing in front of him. Nott was showing something and said two words that sounded like "5th floor" while pointing at what Hermione thought was a map. Draco and Daphne were glaring at Hermione when they noticed where she was standing. Harry glanced at what Nott was showing before returning his gaze to see that his target had gained more protection, and in front of him was the girl he had saved in their first year.
"Well, Harry—ah—I mean Potter," out of the corner of her eye she saw Daphne raising an eyebrow, "I think we should just report Lavender to Professor McGonagall and—um—that-will-also-help-you-in-staying-out-of-trouble." She finished the last part in one breath.
"We are not afraid of being caught if that's what you were implying, Granger." Daphne replied.
"We don't have much time, Harry," Theodore said this time loudly.
"Ha, I thought someone said they weren't afraid of getting caught," Ron Weasley said from somewhere behind Hermione.
"We are not afraid of getting caught But It doesn't mean that we want to get caught by the hands of Umbitch, Weasel," Draco replied to the redhead.
Hermione noticed Harry staring past her shoulder, his wand pointing at something, likely at Lavender, but He couldn't take a proper aim with her being in the middle. He didn't even care that Ron and Parvati were pointing their wands at him. Nott and Daphne were pointing their wands back at Ron and Parvati while Dean and Cormac were trying to get everyone to lower their wands. Suddenly, his emerald green eyes locked onto Hermione's chocolate brown ones. "Meet us in the library next Saturday at 12 pm," he said, before swiftly flicking his wand. Hermione saw only a blur of motion, and then a yellow spell bounced off the ceiling, hitting Lavender directly in the face. Lavender screamed in pain, and the common room was plunged into darkness. Muffled shouts were heard amidst Lavender's scream, and when the light returned, the Slytherins and the Ravenclaw had disappeared.
After Lavender was taken to the infirmary with the help of Ron Weasley and Parvati Patil, Fay approached Hermione and told her what Harry Potter had done to Lavender. Hermione was unfamiliar with this version of the stinging hex, which had caused Lavender such pain. Once the room had settled into silence, Fay asked Hermione a question that had been troubling her for the past half hour.
"Why did he ask you to meet them in the library?"
"I don't know."
Fay remained silent for a while before asking, "Will you go?"
"I don't think he has a plan to harm me. He could have done it anytime while he was here. So yes, I think I will go." Hermione replied, then went back to biting her lower lip.
"I will go with you." Fay said.
Hermione glanced at her best friend and nodded after a few moments of silence. The girl smiled at Hermione before leaving for her next Gobstones match against a 4th-year Hufflepuff. Truthfully, Hermione was nervous about going alone and felt it would be reassuring to have someone there with her. While she didn't think Harry or the others would try anything, Hermione would feel more at ease if her friend Fay accompanied her.
Hermione sat in silence pondering about her first week at Hogwarts. First, the defence professor won't teach proper defence for whatever reason. Secondly, the ministry is trying its best to shut down Dumbledore's and Harry's claim to the Lord Voldemort back. And now the most mysterious person at Hogwarts has asked her to meet him (and probably his friends, as he said "us") in the library. After musing for several long minutes, she decided it was time to head towards the great hall for dinner.
Later that night, when Fay and Hermione were sitting beside their favourite fireplace. Hermione was reading a muggle storybook while Fay was finishing the last remaining bits of her homework. After half an hour of constant scribbling, Fay finally finished her transfiguration essay and let out a victory whoop, which her best friend didn't like.
"What?" Hermione asked, looking confused and annoyed.
"It's the first time I am the second person to complete the work, and it's not even 10.". Hermione looked around and saw that everyone else from their fifth year was still scribbling furiously except Lavender, who was still in the infirmary.
"When do you think Lavender will be back from the hospital wing?" She asked.
"Feeling bad for the bully, are you?" Fay asked, trying her best to imitate Harry's voice.
Hermione narrowed her eyes, reacting to her best friend's antics. Fay let out a chuckle before saying, "I don't know, and I don't care. Besides, we weren't the only ones who received a visit from Potter and company."
"What?"
"Hermione, you couldn't have believed that Lavender was solely responsible for making Luna cry like that. Hannah Abbot and Lisa Turpin were also involved. We're fortunate to have you," she winked at Hermione before continuing, "otherwise Harry would have stormed in here and hexed everyone in his path, just like he did in the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff common rooms."
"He's not secretly in love with me," Hermione said, dismissing the idea. "How many people did he injure, and how does he know the locations of all the common rooms?" Hermione asked the questions to divert Fay's attention from the sudden flush in her cheeks.
"The victims consisted of both 5th-year Ravenclaw prefects, one 6th-year Hufflepuff prefect, and six students who most likely tried to save their friends or maybe just in between. There are rumours that Harry has access to a map of Hogwarts, which explains how they know the locations of the common rooms."
"Yes, I think that's what Nott had in hand. But why was he constantly reminding Harry that they don't have much time looking at it? Surely the map couldn't tell any teachers coming their way."
"Maybe it can," Fay replied, looking thoughtful.
"I am going to sleep, and tomorrow we will go and visit McGonagall. Okay?"
"Oh, I am coming with you. My hand is aching after writing constantly, and I don't want to sit here without you." Fay replied. Hermione just shook her head and went up to the girl's dormitory with Fay trailing behind. When they had changed into their bedclothes and were lying on their respective beds, Fay called for Hermione.
"Hermione?"
"Hmm?"
"You know you should cast a protective charm around your bed."
"Why?"
"Because if Harry can come inside our common room, he surely can come inside our dormitory, and I don't want my best friend getting pregnant so young."
Hermione threw a pillow at Fay, but it missed by a few inches. Fay laughed mischievously at Hermione, who then turned to the side and tried to hide her blushing face under her blanket. After some time, when Hermione was sure Fay was asleep, she cast protective wards around her bed. She wasn't sure why she did it, but she couldn't stop thinking about it after Fay had mentioned it earlier. Sometime later, Hermione drifted off to sleep, her thoughts turning to the plight of muggle-borns now that Voldemort had returned.