Through The Night

Through the Night
by Deirdre Blair

Chapter Two
~Opposites Meet~

11 September 1944

I have gathered seven more into my keeping. Those of my own House find my point of view easy to digest, and I know how to manipulate them, so they are of course the most likely candidates to serve me. Hufflepuffs cling together like cotton candy, and they will cower but not be swayed or corrupted. Ravenclaws are too reserved and bookish to take the risks I would desire of them. The Gryffindors are suspicious of me...surprising, as I would have thought their brains too thick for suspicious thoughts.

The Slytherins are just too easy. They say we're the most cunning of the lot. I do believe they're correct...but I also believe that some got in here more on good luck than cunning! It really is disgusted. Oh, well...more fuel for my fire, I suppose. Dumbledore has been watching me like a hawk for the past two years now. I can't seem to get anything done anymore! Something really must be done about him...

-Tom Riddle

~*~

A young girl wearing the uniform of a 1944 Hogwarts student lay unconscious in between two bookcases. The colours she wore were that of Gryffindor. Her hair was a wave of gold and chocolate that shone brilliantly against the sunlight beaming down through the windows. Soft lashes fluttered open to reveal deep cappucino eyes. The girl yawned and sat up, looking all around her. "Huh. That was very...strange. I suppose I must have fallen asleep reading again." Hermione stood up and began dusting herself off.

When Hermione really got a chance to look around, she immediately noticed that most, if not all, of her surroundings were different. She bit her lip and peeked out of the two bookcases. "Oh, Hermione," she started, her brown eyes searching the library for a familiar face. "What have you gotten yourself into this time?" She decided that she should get the book she was looking for and get on with her assignment. "Perhaps they've just redecorated... and... I don't know everyone in Hogwarts." Though, she couldn't help feeling as if she was trying to console herself.

She pulled out several different books, and also, Hogwarts: A History. She couldn't miss a chance that it might've updated itself within a three day period. She hurried to the table and opened Hogwarts: A History first. She opened it to the back and was quite disappointed. "I've read this already," she muttered in a whisper. She searched the words, however, and found that something was very off. Hermione picked up the book and brought it to the librarian. It wasn't the usual one. Must be a substitute.

"Excuse me, miss? I have a question about this book." Hermione presented the book to the young woman, carefully turning it so she could see it properly. "I was wondering why all of the events stopped at 1944."

The young librarian pulled her glasses down just a bit, letting an assuring grin grace her features. "Well, dear, that's because it is 1944."

Hermione nearly gasped, but didn't. She just took a step back. "Oh yes," she replied with a nervous and embarrassed smile. "That's right. I had lost my head there for a second. Sorry."

Hermione grabbed the book again and hurried back to her seat. She instantly began flipping through the pages. "No..." she started. "No, no, no, no, it can't happen!"

"Miss, please quiet down!" The kind librarian from before snapped in a harsh whisper.

At that moment, she greatly reminded Hermione of Madam Pince. Hermione shuddered to think that Madam Pince could've been the same girl. "Sorry," she mumbled out.

Hermione glared down at the book. This is...this is so very strange. How can I be in 1944? I'm supposed to be in 1996!

Hermione had a sudden thought and checked her pockets. She smiled when she found her wand but then frowned again when she found that she had a piece of paper in her pocket. She unfolded it and saw that it was a class schedule to a Ms. Adira Storm. Hermione quirked an eyebrow. "Adira Storm?" she whispered, thankful that nobody was paying any mind to her. She hurriedly walked from the library.

~*~

Hermione arrived in Headmaster Dippet's office in no time. "May I help you?" he asked, looking over his glasses.

Hermione showed him the schedule. "I'd like to know who Adira Storm is."

Dippet looked at her curiously. "Why, Ms. Storm, you are Adira Storm. I should know. You are Head Girl."

Hermione choked on a gasp. "Excuse me?"

"You'd better hurry, Ms. Storm," the headmaster informed, motioning towards his clock. "Your second class is just about to start."

"But I-."

"Go on, Ms. Storm. You sure are acting very odd today."

Hermione looked at him through narrow eyes; afterwards, she turned and left.

~*~

"Things just keep getting so strange. First, I find that godawful book with no scripture or anything on it. Then, I collapse in the library. Soon afterwards, I find that I'm now in 1944 when I'm supposed to be in 1996...and it's a day later. I must've been sleeping there all night without anyone noticing me. Anyway, now I find that I'm the Head Girl and my name is Adira Storm! What luck!" Hermione mumbled things like this to herself all the way to her Transfiguration class. She even did this while at her seat. She earned a few curious - and a few frightened - stares from fellow classmates.

"All right everyone, the lesson is about to begin!" boomed a voice that Hermione instantly recognized. Her glittering brown eyes snapped up and caught Dumbledore's own blue ones.

Hermione smiled with a sense of relief. At least there is one person who I recognize.

~*~

"Let's take out our books and begin reading pages sixty through sixty eight. It will help you greatly in this lesson."

The class obeyed and began reading their assigned pages. Hermione finished very early (having already read these pages thoroughly in her fifth year) and took a look around at her peers. They seemed to be a rather studious lot, not many were sleeping (only one) or glancing up at one another.

Hermione's eyes settled upon one face in particular. This young man had his arms folded on the table and had supreme boredom in his eyes. He was sitting only a few seats down from her. She gave him a rather curious stare, and in time, he felt her eyes boring into him.

The handsome brunette youth straightened up and looked over at Hermione from the corner of his eyes. She's staring at me as if she's never seen me before...very odd. But Adira's always been pretty odd, he thought to himself. Why won't she stop? He shot a look at her that clearly said, 'Why the hell are you staring at me?'.

Hermione jumped, startled by this young man's sudden look. Hermione bit her lip and took a quick look around. Then suddenly, she began making small squiggles with the tip of her wand in mid-air. She whispered something incoherent and words appeared in red and gold fire across the bored youth's table.

He furrowed his eyebrows at what it said. I'm sorry for staring. But, who are you? He shot a sideways glance at her. He did the same and words in green and silver fire appeared in front of Hermione.

You know my name. It's Tom Riddle. You should know it. After all, we've known each other since we were eleven!

Hermione bit her lip again. This was way out of hand. Tom Riddle? That was the boy that intrigued her curiosity? Oh! She could hex herself right now with an Unforgiveable Curse. Yet, something kept her writing. Oh yeah...completely forgot that for a second, Tom. Sorry.

Tom gave a disgusted look. Since when are we on a first-name basis? And what do you mean you forgot? You never forget! Are you on something?

Hermione sighed. Looks like Tom Riddle was something like Draco Malfoy. If that was the case, then she needed to be on her guard. Especially since Tom Marvolo Riddle became Lord Voldemort right after his seventh year. She probably was a Muggle-born here too.

Wouldn't you like to know, Riddle? I bet you would. Then you could probably sell it on the streets to little innocent children who think that they're buying candy.

Tom looked just as shocked by this reply. Well... this is a new development! Since when did you develop the bravery--or the stupidity--necessary to say such things to me?!

Sod off, Riddle. Hermione replied while she whispered a spell that discontinued further communication. Hermione quickly looked over at the fomerly collected youth and found a fuming young man with rage boiling inside his hazel eyes. He just trembled with fury.

Hermione wanted to hit her head on the desk repeatedly. Why, oh why did I just do that? I should know better! Sometimes, Hermione, you can be so daft!

After the lesson (which actually hadn't been very eventful), Dumbledore spoke up. "Ms. Storm, please stay after. I need to talk to you."

For a moment, Hermione dismissed it for someone else. But she quickly remembered that her name was the one he called her. "Oh, right." She walked up to him and sat in a chair opposite his desk. "What's up?"

Dumbledore sat in his chair as well. "I know what's been happening with you."

Hermione's stomach flipped. She immediately assumed that he knew that she and Tom were passing magical notes. "Listen, professor. If it's about Tom and me passing notes earlier, I'm really sorry and I hope that you don't deduct points from my house..." Then another realization hit her. Just what house was she in? She took a quick glance down at the tie around her neck and smiled contently. She was in Gryffindor.

"That's not what I'm talking about. I do believe you know what I'm talking about," he told her, his voice gentle yet firm.

Hermione sighed. "I really can't think how you always know... but I figured you did. I just thought I'd play along for a while. Might as well; I've no idea how to get back."

Dumbledore nodded. "Either do I. However, I do know how you got here. Did you happen to come across an entirely blank book back in your time?"

Hermione nodded slowly.

"I see. Yes, that's how you got here. That book, that blank book, is actually a sister item to the portkey. Yes, they are actually very hard to come by and they cost a fortune if you want to buy it off of someone. Hogwarts owns one because Armando Dippet loves rare things. But I'd like to ask you one question. Where did you find this book?"

"In the library. I was searching for a series of books for a Transfiguration essay that was due. Then I came across the aforementioned book," she answered honestly.

Dumbledore stayed silent for a moment. "Very well. I assume that you have your schedule with you and you know what your classes are?" His questioned was answered with a simple nod from Hermione. "Good. Continue with them and your Head Girl duties."

Hermione nodded and stood up, walking towards the exit. "You should know however," he stated. "That the Head Boy this year is Tom Riddle."

Hermione froze but turned only her head to look at him. "I don't see why that would make any difference. Good night professor." She knew that Dumbledore probably knew how evil Tom was. But he didn't need her telling him the future. It would change things.

"Good night, Ms. Storm."