Chapter 3 – Terms and Conditions
Still somewhere far away from Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, or any train tracks…
Hermione was deep in thought. Just yesterday, not 24 hours ago, she was still the know-it-all muggleborn of Gryffindor tower. After class Ron insulted her. It hurt. The insult struck so many cords that she just needed to get away.
'Oh boy did I get away', she thought.
After she decided she would withdraw from Hogwarts, Fate decided to step it up a notch by immediately giving her a means to do so by two boys who were lost and somehow or another found themselves in the second floor girl's bathroom. One of them, named Victor, clearly saw she was bullied, she still didn't know how he knew that and did the exact opposite of Ron, he comforted her for the first time in Hogwarts. He made her feel welcome, loved and so much more.
Hermione poked her stomach to try and make the butterflies go away. She quickly glanced at Victor who was talking to Tom while eating what was once a cute and fluffy bunny. Next she remembered a troll burst in. Hermione still doesn't remember exactly what happened next but when she came to her senses she heard Neville yelling how Tom and two other boys, Marvolo and Riddle, had killed her and he was going to avenge her.
Hermione burst into laughter. Startling the boys as they gave her odd looks but upon realizing she was unharmed and unbothered they went back to eating. Taking the time to update each other on their experiences after they separated at the stairs. unknowingly leaving Hermione to her musings as she comes to terms with how wildly her life changed in such a short time. So anyway…
Neville, the supposed new Leader of the Light, personal apprentice of the great and powerful Albus Dumbledore, didn't even know her as anything more than another first year. And he wanted to avenge her? For what reason would you want to avenge someone you hardly knew!? Not to mention he wasn't even competent enough to figure out that she wasn't dead, nor that her apparent killer was in the girls bathroom, not right beside her.
Then the Leader of the Light and his protégé, she clearly heard Dumbledore's voice, cast Fiendfyre, a dark curse at them, without even knowing whom 'them' were. Victor on hearing the spell instinctively created a wall of water, holding back the flames. Now that she thought about it, Victor is a very powerful wizard. She never saw him use a wand, and only heard him say a few incantations. Some of them like 'Open says me' weren't real incantations at all. Still it seemed like the combined efforts of Dumbledore and other wizards casting Fiendfyre made Victor sweat and the only thing saving them was a secret passage opening behind them. Said passage led to Gryffindor tower. There they stole a broom, blew a hole in the boy's dorm and made their escape. Oh and she finally found out that Ron stole her copy of Hogwarts: A history. She wondered if Seamus, Dean, or Neville were also involved in that. After a person tries to kill you, your opinion of them drops like a stone.
The memory where Neville held back an upper year Gryffindor from helping her when the Slytherins were taunting her was etched into her photographic near perfect memory that she will never forget. If that is what the people of the Light do to each other then she would be perfectly fine in joining the Dark side. She glanced over to Victor again. Yeah, I finally get why girls like bad boys. I wonder if Victor would like me better in leather.
"Victor?"
Victor looked over at her.
"Would I look good in leather?"
She felt her clothes shift from her Hogwarts school uniform into something similar to what Victor was wearing. Boots with a slight heel, a short but not too short leather skirt, a black long sleeved top with a leather coat similar to Tom's but somehow prettier, and with the detail of the black tight she stayed warm. She even got her own pair of sunglasses. Victor looked at her, examining her attire then with a smile he gave a thumbs up before turning back to Tom's explanations about a room he remembered and a diadem that's actually more of a circlet.
Hermione was in her happy place. She will be even more ecstatic when she finds the words "PROPERTY OF VICTOR" written on the backside of her coat. Victor was a very simple person who got straight to the point and didn't like to beat around the bush.
After she rejoined the boys, Hermione got the short and simple truth. They thought it was some rich guy's place and wanted to rob it. Normally Hermione would be upset, mad, ranting and raving about people committing crimes but after the day she had she just laughed at them for breaking into a school. Reality was stranger than fiction.
She joined in on the conversation. Explaining things she knew and becoming more enthusiastic as the boys asked questions. She could feel it in her bones! She finally found friends who didn't mind her talking. Who even encouraged it and actually listened. So when Tom declared it was time to make the long trek home she followed without question. They arrived at night and she was exhausted. A good chunk of the walk was spent either on Victor's back when she needed breaks, or flying around on the broom as they flew circles around a Tom who ignored his brother with the expertise only an experienced older brother could have. The last thing she remembered was finally arriving.
"Do something about the girl! She is practically sleeping already."
"Oh, be nice! She will be able to keep up some day. Not everyone lives like we do."
"If you're going to keep her then she needs to be able to keep up"
"What do you mean ? I'm keeping her! She's mine!"
"Fine, fine! Put the girl in your room then!"
"That's a great idea!"
The next thing she remembered was waking up to being placed in a bed. Tucked in and a whispered "Go back to sleep. I got to go help my brother with some Diary. We will be in the lounge. He's probably gonna rant for hours…eventually wanting to ask you questions. I won't let him wake you." With a gentle pat on her head he left her to slumber.
-oOo-
The next day, where she was rudely separated from the most comfortable bed by the sounds of hushed but angry whispers outside the bedroom door. Not realizing she wasn't at her parents house, or Hogwarts she stumbled sleepily towards the bedroom door intending to open it. Upon seeing the boys arguing in hushed whispers she wondered out loud "Since when can boys get into the girls dorms?" Only to be jolted back into reality once she saw those all too unique pairs of green and blue mismatched eyes filled with surprise upon realizing she was awake.
Apparently the subject of the argument had been her. Victor wanted her to hear the "Whole Truth" as Victor pointedly put it..
Tom objected. Victor was persistent. Leading her to the lounge as they argued about her like she wasn't even there. Not asking her opinion or acknowledging her beyond Victor tugging her into his lap as he took his usual spot by the fireplace. Tom acknowledged that they needed more chairs by the fireplace before pacing in front of it as he casually argued semantics with his brother. Funnily enough reminding Hermione a little of the Weasley twins arguing once in the common room. Finishing each other's sentences and seemingly each other's thoughts as well. You would think they forgot about her entirely if it wasn't for the little table of food that appeared in front of her and the silent command to eat. Both brothers' eyes fixed on her patiently waiting for her to obey. So she did and the moment the first bite was clearly swallowed Tom began arguing his point as Victor sighed in exasperation.
It seems like Victor had a noble side of him. Instead of realizing that he effectively saved her life from a troll, saved her future from changing into a fake person or healing her wounded soul, he saw that he destroyed her character by first being connected with thieves then by some weird twist of fate thought dead. So she at least deserved to know why that happened to her.
Hermione snapped. She gave a 30 minute lecturing rant about how it was HER decision, conscious or subconscious, to follow them, and it was the bloody school's fault for declaring her dead based on whatever evidence was enough to convince wizards, which means it's not their fault. She followed that up with saying that if she had to repeat the day then she would do exactly the same, except she would have punched Weasley before she left but she couldn't have it all. She ended her lecture by saying, or screaming:
"Listen Victor, before you came barging in I had already made up my mind about the school! I wanted to drop out, magic and memories be damned! You", she pointed her finger towards Victor, "showed me more kindness and respect in that toilet then I have seen towards me in those 2 months. Sometimes I don't even think they saw me as human but as a second class citizen. I trust you with my life, you already saved it once and," she pointed at Tom," even though he spoke less than ten sentences unless ranting, if you trust him that's good enough for me. So if this whole truth is some big secret you two have amongst yourself then keep it. As long as I can be your friend, or at least given the opportunity to become one, then I am happy."
The level of devotion, or her ability to scream at Victor for 30 minutes straight, changed Tom's opinion and he allowed her to be part of their little group.
The Whole Truth, was their life story, and in comparison Hermione had a heavenly childhood, which was saying something. Victor, who's real name isn't Victor, Tom just made that up from the word victory, because he doesn't know his real name. He was always called boy or freak. He doesn't know his parents, assumes his age, and doesn't know the date of his birth. He was abused and beaten until one day his house exploded and came face to face with Tom.
Tom, at least that's what he calls himself, also doesn't know anything about himself except that he had memories of being raised in an orphanage. Tom had lots of memories, starting from school, which they now figured out it was Hogwarts, from working in a shop to attending costume balls where everyone wore skull masks.
Based on their matching hair color, and weird combination of eyes, they had decided that they were long lost twin brothers reunited in some magical way that they still do not understand.
"People are sad about orphans or children on the street but when given the chance to actually help them they make lame excuses", was what Tom said, as he explained how they needed to beg for food and shelter the first few weeks.
After getting sick of playing by the law they started to steal what they needed, by magic or Tom's silver tongue, gradually heading to Little Hangleton where they hoped they would find shelter in the form of an abandoned house. After they made camp, they decided to live in isolation only interacting with other people out of necessity. Not that Hermione blamed them, they didn't really have the best adult figures in their lives. Their hobby of breaking and entering only started after Tom needed specific items he knew they would find some place or another. A book from a library, a spear from a museum and other trinkets. They concluded their life story with their little hunting trip and subsequent burglary attempt.
"Hermione, Hermione" Tom interrupted her thoughts trying to get her attention. Part of him finally understood why Victor got so pissy after trying to break him out of his own deep thoughts.
"Hmm… Yes?" Hermione looked up, seeing Victor and Tom looking at her. One looked annoyed as the other smirked in satisfaction, looking like he wanted to laugh at an inside joke.
"My brother here gave me a detailed explanation of what happened with the both of you after we separated, could you please answer a few of our questions to shed light on a few important facts?"
"Of course, Tom."
"Is it normal for Hogwarts to have a fast response squad of 30 Hit-Wizards for any small incursion? I must admit I find it odd that barely after 15 minutes of our little entrance they managed to muster an army fit to fight a Dark Lord. Not to mention our method of entry is usually undetected. Even after the wards completely fell, that would have given them 5 minutes to suit up and get in. Personally I would like to believe that they would contact the DMLE first. " stated Tom.
"No Tom, not that I know of, nor does the latest edition of Hogwarts: A history mention anything of having a private army to defend the castle." Hermione replied.
"That is strange. You see, if they did have a private security force then it could only be advantageous to broadcast the fact. Giving the school a more secure background and scaring away any potential dangers." Continued Tom.
"Now that you put it that way, it is odd."
"Is it also a common occurrence to have dangerous creatures, by that I mean the troll, roaming rampant inside the school halls?"
"As far as I know, it is not. However my opinion is skewed by the simple fact that i have only been there for two months and I didn't have enough time to talk to anybody else about the apparent dangers that roam the Safest place in Britain."
"Before we found you in the girl's bathroom we were running for about 5 minutes. Within those 5 minutes we covered two floors and came across no one else. Is it normal for the school to be abandoned at that time or were the students already being brought to the Great Hall for their protection."
Hermione needed to think about her answer. "Usually no, but it was Halloween so all the students needed to be at the Potter feast. It was mandatory."
"Potter feast? I do not believe I have ever heard of such a tradition. Can you please elaborate?"
"Sure. The Harry Potter feast named after…"
'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...'
"Tom! Tom!" shouted Victor as he was shaking Tom's shoulder.
"What?" replied Tom.
"You zoned out there. Do you have any memory of Harry Potter?" asked Victor curiously.
"I.. don't think so." Tom faced Hermione again.
"Do you know if there were any other irregularities that have occurred this year that you or any other student have noticed?"
"Actually yes. There were a lot. First, at the arrival feast Dumbledore warned anybody that, "the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death." Later in the library I talked with a Ravenclaw prefect, Penelope Clearwater and she also noted that no such warning has been given in her past four years of schooling.
Second, this irregularity happened the same year as Neville Longbottom, Dumbledore's protégé arrived at Hogwarts.
Third, somebody broke into a Gringotts vault. I overheard Ron talking to Neville that it was the same vault they emptied with Hagrid when they were in Diagon Alley.
Fourth, Penelope observed that the staff was more on edge during the year. She also noted that their head of house, who was a former dueling master, decided to constantly be in his dueling robes, and drilled the house at least once a week about safety and evacuation protocol in case of anything that might happen. Which if you think about it is the sensible thing to do, but has so far never been done."
Tom took off his sunglasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked at Victor. "Victor, how did you feel about your luck that day?"
"What do you mean?" asked Hermione.
"My brother here has his odd days when he attracts the worst of everything." Tom said, gesturing at Victor.
Victor just mentally added the things that pissed him off that day. Following train tracks for hours on end, having his first romantic moment interrupted by a troll, realizing you broke into a school and being hunted by 20 or more heavily armed wizards, not finding anything interesting to steal, being trapped in a tower.
"I would say Very High." Victor said. Using their usual scale of High, Low or Medium to determine how effective his luck was for the day. High, meaning he had the worst luck ever and Low meaning he didn't really feel like it played a part in the day's antics. Usually when he picked Low, it was mostly Tom's fault.
"I think I figured it out yesterday," Tom announced calmly, sitting in his chair facing the couple.
"Let's say that you wanted to lure somebody into somewhere. We don't know who this somebody is, but we know the place was the school. We do not know why, but let's assume they had a good reason. First, they would need bait. Something very important, so important that people would be willing to break into Gringotts. Next they needed to broadcast the information around so that said person would know about it. A hall filled with 400 gossiping children would do just fine. Still this is a school with teachers, who are noticeably upset and on edge because of said arrangement. They also do not wish the children to be harmed so forgoing secrecy they drill them in safety precautions. Following so far?"
Victor and Hermione nodded their heads.
"We have to also wonder when would be the perfect timing for the person to try and steal the item. How about the Potter feast where every student would be in the Great Hall? Said invader also released a mountain troll into the school to cause a distraction. The person was inside the school grounds, or at least had an inside man. We were the ones attacking the wards and we didn't see nor feel anyone else outside, which means they were already inside hiding a 12 ft troll, they just released it at the right time.
Now we have the interesting part. If they were after the important item on the THIRD FLOOR why was most of the assault squad, Dumbledore included, assaulting you on the FIFTH FLOOR? That's right. The item wasn't on the third floor. It was a trap in more ways than one. It was in the safest place inside Hogwarts, the Headmaster's office. Why? Only the staff know where the office is, save for a few students. The door is magically protected in more ways than one and has a Gargoyle golem protecting it. You my dear brother and you my dear brother's romantic love interest threw a spanner into their plan. You two were at the worst possible place at the worst possible time. When they realized you were going above the third floor they thought you were heading towards the Headmaster's office, they abandoned all pretenses and congregated at your position in a desperate hope to stop you from reaching the Headmaster's office.
I think they even stopped caring about the actual person they were after. They didn't even send a single person against me and I was inside the Slytherin common room, the meeting ground for the next generation of the rich and famous. Not to mention I got away with stealing so much and not a single person came to intercept me."
Hermione interrupted Tom. "Why did they think Victor was you and why did they think I was dead?"
"I'm assuming that they had a monitoring system in place that was keyed to the wards, pinpointing the location of every person inside the school. I used a similar device to open a secret passage near you. The wards, for whatever reason recognized Victor as Tom Marvolo Riddle, maybe we screwed over the wards in more ways than one. You on the other hand were hidden by my brother, by many complex spells, so you don't get in trouble with your teachers, you were hidden from the wards. I am also assuming that they finally sent someone to check up on you and after finding a blood filled toilet they deduced that it was your blood. I already figured wizards lacked common sense but not being able to tell apart the body of a dead sheep from a dead young girl is just taking it to a whole new level. Or they only found blood and your stuff, and thought that since no right minded wizard would leave their things ergo you died." Tom finished with a sigh and stood up.
"The only thing I do not understand is Neville. Since he is Dumbledore's protégé, why risk his life? Is he so reckless to just head to the front lines, in front of well trained, armed and experienced professionals or was there some deeper reason?" pondered Tom.
"No point in thinking about it. Hermione, where do you live?" Tom asked
"Crawley. Why…" then it hit her, if the staff thought she was dead then they would surely inform her parents that she died. She needed to get home as fast as she could to clarify that she was not dead. This way she might even keep her memories and her magic. She thought with a smile on her face.
"So… anybody got any ideas on how to get there?" Tom asked.
"We could always ride on a train or a bus. Where is Crawley anyway?" Victor said.
Please note that Victor's idea of riding on the train was literally riding ON the train. Tom usually didn't complain as long as they didn't encounter any tunnels. Ducking at the right time was such a pain.
"Nah, too tired for ducking under tunnels." Tom replied like it was the most normal answer to that particular question.
"I don't have any muggle or wizarding money on me at the moment," Hermione said. Following that train of thought she realized she needed to check what Victor was able to grab before they escaped.
"What's wizarding money?" asked Tom.
Before Hermione could comprehend the implications that simple question would bring on her life a white snowy owl swooped down and perched on her shoulder. It held a letter in its beak and a newspaper in its claws.
"Why is an owl carrying a letter?" asked Victor.
Hermione, realizing that she needed to explain basic wizarding facts to people who have been using magic most of their lives, blew her mind. Then she smiled and every second it grew and grew. They needed her! They needed her as much as she needed them, if not even more. Her bossy know-it-all lecturing personality, which was the reason people made fun of her, will become one of the main driving forces in their new group. Hermione was seriously in danger of passing out from pure an utter bliss. Oh how one's life can change in 24 hours.
She started her first lecture to her two students, "In the wizarding world instead of telephones, mobile phones, or emails people use owls to send written messages on parchment. All they need to do is sign the person's name on an envelope and specially trained owls, that every day wizards can buy, will take their letter to the specified person."
"What's a telephone, mobile phone, or email?" asked Tom.
"I think I remember what a telephone was. Aunt Petunia would pick it up and tell it all her secrets. " supplied Victor.
Hermione just realized that this would be a lot harder then she initially thought.
"So, who's name is on the envelope?"
Hermione plucked the letter from the bird's beak. On it was 'Hermione Jane Granger' written on it with a multi-color quill in a loopy handwriting.
"It's addressed to me."
Tom and Victor stared at each other. "Did they realize they had a brain and figured out you are not dead?" asked Victor.
"Somebody knows you are alive." Stated Tom.
Hermione opened the envelope. She took out the parchment and started to read.
"Dear Hermione
It has come to my attention that you are in the presence of my future husband, as well as likely sitting on the lap of your future husband, when you read this letter."
Hermione paused in her reading blushing before she continued.
"Please hand this letter to Tom so that he may read aloud all that is within it. He is a bit of a control freak so you might as well just give him the letter because he's gonna read it again anyway."
Handing the letter over to Tom, Hermione was quite perplexed as who would know so much information already. Not only did this person know that she was in the presence of the boys; they also knew that she was alive and that Tom was a bit of a control freak which Hermione was mildly catching onto considering she hasn't been around them for long.
Tom started to read the letter aloud, "Tom, I know you saw what was in that diary and I want you to know that you and that Tom are too very different Tom's. Do not get confused about who you are and remember that the life you live now is the life that defines you, not the one you had in the past. Once you get to Crawley, remember to collect her father's military tent and other survival gear then travel to the jungles of the first place that pops into your head. There, you will stumble across me and my father. I've already informed him that you were on your way. I've also informed him that you will end up kidnapping me. I've decided I want just as wild a story as Hermione. No need to play along or know your lines. I got it covered. You will do as I say! I know you don't like being told what to do and your curiosity is already killing you.
Awaiting our first kiss,
Love Luna Lovegood." Tom ended the letter not knowing how to even feel about it.
"Soooo…you get a girl too? Sweet! They can be best friends and talk about girl things like, make up, clothes and which neighbor cheated on their spouse with the pool boy, just like Aunt Petunia. This works out perfectly!"