Chapter Text
January 1996
You’ve got to be joking!” Harry exclaimed loudly, the scowling librarian instantly shushing them. With a quick apology uttered, she turned back around to look at Hermione.
“I found it in the restricted section. Dark Creations was written hundreds of years ago, but it does include details on several powerful immortal beings. I’d be surprised if Tom hadn’t found this book when he was at Hogwarts,” Hermione explained helpfully, gazing at Harry and Ron, who had both managed to squeeze themselves around one of the round library tables that were overflowing with tombs of books.
“And you think Voldemort,” Harry started, though Ron sucked in a breath at the reference to the dark wizard. She halted her ramblings, but with a shake of her head and a fond smile blooming, Harry continued, “You think he was after one of these beings?”
Harry and Ron had been readying for Quidditch practice before Hermione ran into the common room with a frantic craze practically radiating from her. After whispering an apology to Johnson that they’d both be a few minutes late, they chased after Hermione with determined strides.
“I believe so. I mean, it would make a lot of sense. We’d just need to know which one,” Hermione concluded, a resolute expression coating her features.
Ron scratched the back of his neck before apprehensively adding, “That’s great and all ‘Mione, but how does that help us defeat him?”
To Harry's reluctance, Ron had a valid point. That there were other forms of immortality other than the elixir of life was a valuable piece of knowledge. From Harry's limited interactions with Tom, she knew he was after power above all else. Any being that sided with him could influence the war.
Hermione deflated but said sceptically, “Who knows who Voldemort tried to contact in the first war? Think about it.“ Harry settled back into her chair when that knowing haze settled over Hermione’s eyes. “Some ghosts residing at Hogwarts died a thousand years ago. They don’t like interacting with us much. Now imagine a powerful immortal that has been able to roam the world for all that time, collating knowledge, meets with a power-hungry Tom Riddle who has his eyes set on world domination. And because these beings are classed as creatures, Tom openly thinks he is better than them and can use them. How do you think that would go?”
Harry smiled widely at her friend. She reached out her calloused hand to grasp her friends. “Great work ‘Mione. I think you’re really on to something here.”
But with a quick note of the time, she stood up to leave. Ron swiftly followed suit.
“Where are you going?” Hermione asked, her face dropping.
Harry glanced down at what she was wearing: full quidditch gear, goggles uselessly dangling around her neck, and a broom in her hand. She gestured towards these critical features and said, “We’ve got practice, and if we don’t go now, I think I’ll need to be immortal to survive Johnson’s wrath.”
Hermione chuckled freely. “Fair enough. I’ll see you guys later.” But as they began to walk away, their friend called out with a pointed look towards their brooms, “And try not to die on those death traps.”
“Listen ‘Mione, think you could place that book somewhere on the back shelves? I don’t trust the Slytherins to find it and use it against us somehow,” Ron asked her.
Hermione only nodded before saying, “Not all Slytherins are bad.”
And as they walked towards the pitch, all Harry could hear was Ron complaining about Slytherins. “Not all Slytherins are bad, my arse. They’re horrible slimy gits who-“
Harry blocked out the ranting, focusing on her feelings instead. For the first time in a while, she felt like they were heading in the right direction.
Hermione sat in her dorm that night, a book on her lap as she looked towards the quidditch pitch, where she could see figures flying about. She looked towards Harry’s bed, which was still empty. But the two-way mirror she knew Harry used to talk to Sirius was on her bedside table.
She slowly turned away, knowing it was a bad idea to tell him about how Umbridge was treating Harry. It would ruin their friendship if she betrayed her trust.
So, she turned her attention to the book she had stolen from the library. The volume detailed the powerhouses within the magical community, some of whom were thought to be immortal.
Hermione had never understood the enticement of immortality. She theorised that after a few hundred years, there would be nothing to explore. It could become isolating and lonely, the price to pay too high. But that might be the witch in her.
Not that she did not respect the beings listed in the book before her. Imagining all the knowledge that was in their minds was thrilling.
But Hermione did not know which one Voldemort would want to contact. Which one would give him the most advantage if these beings were even real?
Many of the creatures listed were based on different cultures and religions in various countries. They ranged from Angels to Wendigo’s, Banshees to Dragr’s.
Dragr’s description did seem very similar to a passage she read about Inferni:
‘Believed to be a “living” undead being, the Dragr are corpses who have descended from greedy, nasty, immoral persons. Because they are considered demonic spirits, they are immortal, and they live in their graves, usually guarding treasures that are buried with them.’
Hermione smiled, knowing that specific details in the book may be accurate. Although, when Voldemort would have wanted to use Inferni, she did not know.
The door sounded, revealing a soaked Harry Potter, her long black hair roped into a ponytail trailing down her back, leaving water marks as it swung. She continued inside, on her tip-toes, trying not to make a noise.
“I’m awake. You don’t need to break a toe on my account,” Hermione said, tracking her eyes back to her book.
Harry stopped and threw her kit onto the bed. “Brilliant, I’m going to take a hot shower to warn away the aches,” Harry declared before disappearing into the bathroom.
Hermione adored Harry. She had loved her since she defended her against the troll in their first year. She would sacrifice herself if she knew Harry would endure the impending war.
But she knew Harry felt the same for her. Adding that to her brashness, Hermione knew it would end her.
So, Hermione devoted herself to what she was good at—research, reading, and gathering information.
Looking back at the following passage, she read about vampires. The original vampires that had been created a thousand years ago were rivals to the werewolves that they lived amongst.
The sun and moon curse was placed on them both, creating a conflict that continued a thousand years later.
But at the bottom, a newer note. Potential for heretics to be created: siphoners that could use both magic and be immortal.
That. That is what Voldemort would have wanted.
Hermione dreaded who Voldemort might have contacted to learn more.