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“What's got you so giddy, mate?”
Ron and Hermione had finally found their best friend. Harry was sitting alone in a train compartment, a big, dopey smile plastered on his face.
Harry blinked a few times, trying and failing to hide his goofy grin. “I have no clue what you're going on about.”
“Oh, Harry! Who is she?!” Hermione squealed in excitement.
“What are you talking about?” Harry mumbled, his red face giving the game away.
“Holy shit, mate! No wonder you barely wrote to us all summer! Is that why you didn't come visit? Is she a muggle bird?”
Harry's blush continued to deepen as he tried and failed to hide his face from them. “Could you guys please just drop it?”
Ron and Hermione shared a grin. Harry had had a rough life, growing up raised by magic hating relatives that treated him like dirt, and it had taken most of their first year for him to come out of his shell. Even then, after four years together, Harry always tended to be quiet and moody. Seeing him smile so freely truly warmed their hearts.
“Oh, Harry, there's nothing to be embarrassed about! Is it a muggle girl?” Hermione asked, curiosity eating away at her.
Harry rolled his eyes. “No, she's a witch, she's a friend of ours.”
“Friend of ours?” Ron questioned. While they were friendly enough with most people in and around their year, there weren't that many girls that could truly be called ‘friends’.
“Is it Luna? Ginny?” Hermione asked.
“Oi!” Ron roared. “I think I'd know if my sister was running around with my best mate… right?” Ron looked back over to Harry, now feeling very unsure.
Harry snorted, “Don't worry, Ronnie, I'm not going to steal your sister's purity.”
“I'd think Ronald would want Ginny to be with someone like you, Harry. But anyways, who is she?” Hermione insisted.
The compartment door slid open behind them, and Harry's eyes lit up with joy. “There you are.”
Ron and Hermione spun around, big smiles on their faces as they readied to welcome Harry's mystery girlfriend.
The smiles were quickly wiped away. Ron's mouth hung open in quiet shock while Hermione's lips thinned into a thin line.
“Granger, Weasley.” The girl said in a tone that was more than a little bit dismissive.
Standing before them was a tall girl with midnight black hair and dark eyes. She had strong but feminine features, with an angular jaw, pronounced cheekbones and thick eyebrows that made her beauty stand out all the more.
The almost robotic, decisively superior expression on her face only added to her runway model mystique.
“Riddle? What are you doing here?” Hermione hissed.
Ron swallowed. “Mione, I think-”
Emily Riddle tutted, “What is the problem, Granger? Is it against the rules to greet my boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend?! What boyfri-” Hermione's face turned ashen white as she turned to look at Harry, who had eyes only for Emily. Emily walked right past them as she wrapped her arms around Harry. She was the slightest bit taller than him, and she grabbed him roughly by the collar, pulling him in for a forceful, searing kiss.
“Oh god... No!” Hermione reeled back in horror at the unholy sight. Ron simply looked uncomfortable, coughing and looking away as Emily seemed to be in no great hurry to break off their kiss.
When they finally pulled apart with a loud smooch, Emily aggressively buried her face into the crook of Harry's neck, running her nose over it like a predator looking for just the right spot of tender flesh to sink its fangs into.
“I missed you so much,” She purred possessively, making Harry shudder and Ron and Hermione gag in pure disgust.
“Not as much as I missed you, Em.” Harry said, rubbing circles on her back.
A very irritable Hermione cleared her throat. “We're still here, you know?”
Emily quirked an eyebrow, turning her head to look at them, acting as if she had forgotten their existence.
“My apologies. When it comes to my boy-toy, I forget myself completely.”
Harry blushed. “Emily…”
“Come, Harry, my compartment is on the other end of the train.” Emily beckoned, holding Harry's chin up with her index finger.
“Wait! Hold on! Harry, can we have a word? In private?” Hermione rushed in to say.
Emily's languid, arrogant smile never left as she looked to Harry, who was staring back at her lovingly. “Would you mind, Em? It won't take more than a minute.”
“I will be right outside.” She placed one final, lingering peck on his lips before she turned around and strutted out of the compartment, chin held up high.
The moment the compartment door slid shut, Hermione moved her wand about, casting every privacy charm known to man.
“What's going on?” Harry asked.
“Did she use a love potion, Harry? Or are you under the imperious? We need to go to the hospital wing the moment we arrive!” Hermione insisted.
Harry's eyes narrowed. “I don't appreciate the implication, Hermione.”
Ron quickly jumped in to do damage control. “Sorry, mate! She doesn't mean it, It was just… a bit of a shock.”
“A bit of a shock?! It's a nefarious, malevolent-”
“I really don't need to stay around and take this.” Harry said, brushing past them and snatching his arm away when Ron tried to grab at him. “Let me know when you're not being pricks.”
“Harry!” Hermione called after him, but Ron held her back.
Emily was leaning against the wall as Harry opened the door, arms crossed and that eternal, arrogant smirk still on her face. “One minute precisely. Excellent.”
All tension left Harry as he walked up to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Let's go, babe.”
Emily shot Hermione one last, triumphant smirk before she slammed the compartment door shut with a snap of her finger.
“Well, that could have gone better.” Ron said.
…
Ron and Hermione's next chance to talk to Harry did not come during the opening feast, where the boy had chosen to sit well away from them and ignored all of Hermione's attempts at catching his attention. It wasn't until they all made it back to the common room that they were able to corner him.
“Harry, I'd like to apologize.” Hermione said in a strained voice as Ron stood by her, nodding along. “I shouldn't have said those things about Riddle.”
Harry's stare pierced right through her, and she used every single ounce of willpower she had not to squirm.
“Ok.”
“So, ummm, how did this happen, mate?” Ron asked, being a bit more skillful than Hermione at navigating these situations.
Harry smiled. “Well, you know, she started tutoring me in runes last year, and we got to know each other really well.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Ron said, surreptitiously pinching Hermione's side to stop her from bringing up how she had offered to tutor him in runes, only for Harry to give up after a single session.
“Well, I mean. That's really when I fell for her, I guess. We spent so much time together, and she's so beautiful, and… and our lives… she understands me.” Harry stumbled through the last part, looking away as he rubbed the nape of his neck.
“Anyways, we started off the summer writing to each other, and she lives in a group home that's pretty close to my relatives, only took a train and a couple of buses, and we started hanging out every day and… well… you know…”
“How wonderful.” Hermione said through gritted teeth.
“I'm happy for you, mate.” Ron said a bit more earnestly.
“Thanks for that, guys.” Harry stared off into space, clearly still lost in Riddle's embrace, “I'm gonna go up to the dorm now. Feeling a bit tired.”
Harry disappeared up the stairs as Ron and Hermione looked on, a deep frown painted on Hermione's face.
“Merlin, Hermione, I didn't realize you were so stuck on Harry!” Lavender said as she walked up to them.
“What are you talking about?!” Hermione snapped.
“I mean, you're super jealous of Riddle. Anyone can see that.”
Hermione glared at the girl, arms folded, “Don't be daft, Lavender. Harry is like a brother to me,” she didn't notice the way Ron's shoulder sagged in relief, “I just know Riddle is doing something to him. She's bewitched him.”
Their argument seemed to be drawing in gossips like flies, because Parvati came scurrying up next to Lavender. “Hermione, have you seen Riddle? I know she's a stuck-up bitch, but that girl could be on the cover of Witch Weekly.”
Lavender nodded. “I swear if she wasn't so scary I'd ask her for her skin-care routine.”
“Harry's not that superficial!”
Lavender and Parvati both snorted. “He's a guy, not a monk.”
Hermione rolled her eyes. “Whatever. The point here is, Riddle is evil.”
“Yeah, we know, she's a bitch.”
“She's a prefect now, too, bet she'll lord that over us. Though maybe Harry can get her to soften up.” Lavender contemplated.
Hermione shook her head fervently. “That's not what I mean! Riddle isn't just some bully or a mean girl or whatever. She's Evil! With a capital E! I'm sure if she's ever been to a psychiatrist, she's been diagnosed as a sociopath, maybe even a psychopath.”
“‘Mione, what are all those words you just said?” Ron asked in confusion. Hermione's dorm-mates were equally befuddled.
“Listen, I'm not her biggest fan, but Riddle's just a student. Are you jealous because she gets better grades than you?” Parvati asked.
The mention of grades made Hermione's left eye twitch uncontrollably and her lips quiver. She closed her eyes, taking a few breaths to try and calm herself down. “It's not. About. Academics,” she tugged at a strand of her hair, “Listen, remember at the very start of first year, when Parkinson kept bullying her? Then, all of a sudden we had our flying lesson and Parkinson fell off her broom and broke her collarbone.”
“Parkinson bullied Riddle? I don't remember that.” Parvati said.
“That was an accident, anyways. How could Riddle have done that?” Lavender asked.
Hermione put a hand up. “End of first year, Professor Quirrell gets killed by that troll that somehow got into the school. Second year, Professor Lockhart has that mental breakdown in the great hall and starts ranting about being a fraud. He's been in St. Mungo's ever since.”
“That was so sad.” Parvati sniffled, still holding a candle for the winner of Witch's Weekly Most Charming Smile.
“Are you saying she's offing all the defense professors? Cause nothing's happened to Lupin in the past two years.” Lavender pointed out.
“Because he's competent!” Hermione said, frustrated as the girls continued to look at her as if she were insane. “I swear! How do you guys not see it? Don't you see the way she rules her house with an iron fist? It's like the other Slytherins are terrified of her!”
Lavender shrugged. “Slytherin's always had those freaky sub-dom dynamics. It makes me wonder if they-”
Hermione raised her voice, “All of the weird stuff that's been happening, that night when all the portraits started dripping blood, it's all her! I know it! She's evil!”
Lavender and Parvati looked at Ron, who looked just the slightest bit uncomfortable. “You believe all this?”
“How preposterous! Of course he does! Don't you, Ronald?”
Ron laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. “Well, you know… I definitely think she's a bit mean. But, well, Harry likes her, she can't be that bad.”
Ron might as well have called Hermione a mudblood, from the betrayed look on her face.
“I can't believe you! You're going to see! I'm going to prove it! I'll save Harry myself!”
Hermione thundered off, stomping her way up the stairs as half the common room stared after her.
“She's gone a bit loony, hasn't she?” Parvati commented.
“She's fine. She just worries a lot.” Ron defended her.
Lavender snorted. “Nah she's definitely gone off the deep end. I mean, seriously, Emily Riddle is evil? That's not even worth putting out into the rumour mill. Come on, Parv.”
…
The next morning, Hermione seethed as Harry ate breakfast at the Slytherin table. He was sitting next to Riddle, and he was staring at her as if she were a goddess taking human form. Riddle was basking in all of it, holding court amongst her pureblood followers while she made a show out of showering Harry with affection.
“She's cutting his food for him!” Hermione hissed.
Ron looked over to see that indeed, Riddle had neatly cut up Harry's breakfast and was now bringing a fork up to his mouth, which Harry readily bit into as her hand hovered under his mouth to catch any crumbs.
“I never thought she'd be that caring. She executes the flobberworms when we pluck them out in herbology.”
“Don't you see, Ronald? She's a spider. A black widow. She's weaving a deadly web, and Harry's just letting himself be tangled up in it!”
Ron coughed uncomfortably. Hermione glared at him before returning her attention to the unholy alliance. Looking at the nearby Slytherins, she could see uncomfortable looks in the faces of Malfoy, Nott, Parkinson and Zabini. They were as disturbed by this as she was. That was a thread she could pick at.
“What do you want, Granger?” Theodore sneered. She'd managed to separate him from the pack between classes. By her estimation, Theo was the weakest link in that whole insipid group.
“I just wanted to talk, Nott.” She said, “Tell me, don't you think it's odd that Riddle is suddenly smitten with Harry?”
Instantly, Theodore began to sweat, eyes darting every which way, “I-I don't know what you're talking about, Granger. That's none of our business.”
Aha! He was hiding something.
“Seriously? Didn't Riddle go to the yule ball alone because she thought romance was for simpering fools? And now all of a sudden, she's changed?”
Theo tugged at his collar as he edged around Hermione, shaking his head. “Listen, Granger, I don't know what you're on about, but I just want it to be known,” he leaned into one of the suits of armour, lifting up the visor as he spoke into the slat. “I, Theodore Nott, am not at all concerned with Emily Riddle's personal life, and any decision she makes, romantic or otherwise, is clearly for the best.”
The bizarre display left Hermione's jaw hanging open as Theo gave her one last harried look before he turned and practically ran away. Hermione walked over to the suit of armour, casting a quick lumos to peek into the void within.
There was nothing, nothing but a hollowed out husk.
“Huh.” Hermione shook her head. “She's really got them paranoid. I guess they won't be of much help.”
…
Hermione didn't make much progress over the first two months of class. Deciding to play the long game, she reconciled with Harry, though there was still a tenseness between them, especially when Riddle was around. Which was practically always.
The first Quidditch match of the season came around, Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw, and as Harry did loops around the pitch on his cleansweep, Hermione, Ron and their fellow Gryffindors shuffled into the stands, ready to show their support.
Hermione didn't like quidditch. She found all sports boring, but this one in particular was just all-around dumb. But still, it was a great time to be outside and bond with your housemates. She could admit that attending matches was actually a whole lot of fun.
Which made it all the more annoying when she showed up.
“Riddle, you're a Slytherin.” Hermione hissed as Emily sat down next to Parvati, two seats down from her.
“And? Lovegood is here with you. I believe we should move past petty things like house rivalries, Granger.”
“Luna's our friend!” Hermione insisted.
“And I am Harry's girlfriend.” Emily said as she caught his eye. Harry waved at her from on high and she waved back.
Hermione steamed but Ron's hand on her shoulder kept her from escalating things. The stands filled up and the match soon began.
While most everyone was following the chasers and the beaters, Riddle had eyes only for Harry. She followed his every move, and the few times a bludger was sent his way there was a slight tensing of her hand on her lap.
It was uncanny. She never once looked away, never said a word to join in on the conversation around her.
Hermione was very aware of all this, because she spent the entire match observing Riddle. Her strange behavior left her with two possibilities. Either Riddle, knowing that Hermione was watching her, was trying to play the part of the loving girlfriend, or, Harry was actually important to her.
That second option was the most terrifying. Riddle was not capable of love. So, she likely needed Harry for some sort of nefarious purpose, for some dark ritual where she would stab him in the heart with a knife. Either way, it was very concerning.
“And Potter's seen the snitch! Chang is far behind, there's no way she's catching up!” Lee Jordan announced as the Gryffindor stands began to rumble loudly, urging Harry on.
In the end, it was one of his easier catches. Harry caught up to the snitch, and with a simple swipe of his hand, he captured it between his fingers.
Cheers erupted as the match ended. Hermione watched as Riddle stood, not cheering but with a very pleased look on her face as she stared up at him.
“Watch out!”
As Harry held the snitch high up in the air, a bludger came barreling towards him. He turned his head and saw it at the last second, but it was too late to fully evade. He rolled, but the bludget still struck him right under the armpit, cracking his ribs as he let out a grunt of pain.
The team came flying to his aid as Ginny glared at Michael Corner, who had both hands up and bore a sheepish look on his face.
“Sorry! I swear! I didn't realize the game was over!”
“You fucking idiot! You didn't hear the whistle?” Angelina shouted.
“It was in the heat of the game. You guys know how it is, right?” Michael looked to his teammates for support, finding only more scornful glares in return.
“It's fine, guys.” Harry said as they all slowly descended onto the grass. “I've had worse, Madam Pomfrey will patch me right up.”
Harry was quickly tended to by the nurse as the students rushed the pitch to celebrate their victory. As the crowd grew, a path was cleared as Emily stalked towards Harry, her eyes narrowed into slits.
Harry smiled, “Hey, babe. I'm glad you came.”
Emily watched as Pomfrey cast a spell and Harry's bones gave a loud crack as they mended themselves, causing him to wince in pain. She then looked up at him, smiling back, “I'm glad I came as well.”
…
The day after the match was the Halloween feast, and while everyone dug into their meal, Hermione couldn't help but notice that someone was missing from the Slytherin table.
“Harry, where's Emily?”
“Huh? Oh, we were at the library and she told me to come to the feast while she finished up a project she was working on.” A fond smile sprung up on his face. “Knowing her, she's probably dead to the world, lost in her books.”
Hermione cleared her throat. “Right. Ok.”
The feast marched on without hide nor hair of Emily, until finally, after about an hour, she quietly snuck into the hall, trying not to be noticed.
“There she is.” Hermione hissed.
Harry smiled. “I'll be right back.”
He got up and made a beeline for her. He managed to intercept her, and Emily actually jumped in surprise as Harry caught up to her.
Hermione's eyes narrowed as she observed them. They wrapped their arms around each other as Riddle cupped his face and gave him a kiss. Then, they walked over to the Slytherin table. No one paid them any mind.
The feast concluded and the throngs of students spilled out of the great hall. As people began to disperse, there was loud, ear-splitting shriek.
“What's going on?” Ron asked as the mass of students began to shuffle toward the terrified scream.
“Oh wow.”
As they turned the corner, they saw it. Across the wall, framed by torches and written in a crimson paint that looked suspiciously like blood, was a message.
“THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR BEWARE.”
And below that lovely message, stiff body propped up against the wall as his eyes stared out, unseeing, was Michael Corner.
…
“At least he was only petrified. Imagine if he'd died! They would have closed the school.”
“It's still some scary shit. And what exactly are enemies of the heir anyways?”
“I mean, it's muggleborns, isn't it?”
“But Corner was a pureblood.”
“Oh fuck, you're right!”
As rumours and speculation swirled, along with a hefty helping of terror, Hermione could barely contain the rage that simmered inside of her.
“Are they going to close the school?” Dean asked. “I mean, we're all in danger right now, aren't we?”
The others blew him off. “Dumbledore and the professors will get on it. They'll catch that heir in no time!”
“Wait. Where's Harry?” Hermione interjected, eyes darting desperately around the room.
“He went with Riddle.” Ron said.
“What?!” Hermione spat.
“You know, I think she arrived at the feast pretty late.” Ginny said.
“Poor thing. She must be traumatized. I mean, it could have been her that got petrified." Lavender said.
“Are you fucking serious?!” Hermione screamed.
“Mione, I know it's all been a bit scary, but you need to calm down.” One of the twins said.
The other twin nodded. “Yeah, whoever the Heir of Slytherin is, I seriously doubt he's in Gryffindor.”
“Whoever… DON'T YOU PEOPLE REALIZE IT? IT'S OBVIOUS!”
“Could you tone it down a bit, woman? My bloody ear's ringing now.” Seamus said as he dug a pinky into his ear canal.
Hermione looked ready to have a manic episode as she took deep, gasping breaths. “ Riddle. Riddle is the heir. She petrified Michael Corner.”
“Oh, not this again.” Dean said as he hopped up from his seat. After a nod, Ginny left along with him.
Ron, who'd missed that entire interaction, let out an exasperated sigh. “Hermione, Riddle can't be the heir. She's a muggleborn!”
“Are you serious right now?! She was the only one missing from the feast!”
“That we know of.” Lavender said.
“It was Michael Corner! Michael Corner got petrified, the same person that hit Harry with a bludger yesterday!”
Everyone exchanged shrugs as more people began to disperse.
Hermione steamed as people began to murmur, the words ‘obsessed’ and ‘loony’ being tossed around.
“Ron, we need to find Harry. He's in grave danger!” Hermione insisted.
“Listen, Hermione, I hear you, I know this is coming from a good place, but think of how pissed Harry will be if he thinks we're snooping in on him.”
“I'd rather Harry be angry than dead!”
She stood up with a huff. “I'll go find him myself!”
Ron was forced to go after her as she marched over to the exit. Just as she reached the entryway, the portrait hole swung outward.
Hermione froze as she saw the person she most wanted to see standing next to the person she least wanted to see.
“Harry, where have you been?!”
“I was with Emily.” Harry said as he tightened his grip around his girlfriend's waist.
“Yes, he was consoling me. After all, it could have so easily been me instead of Corner.” Emily swayed, leaning onto Harry's side as she let out a dramatic sigh.
“I'm sure you were inconsolable.” Hermione gritted out bitterly.
“Quite.” Emily said, her tear ducts dry as a desert. “But Harry was oh so wonderful. He makes me feel safe.”
Harry blushed as Emily wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head into her chest. She smirked at Hermione.
“Well, we're just glad you're both ok.” Ron said. “Erm, we should probably call it a night, though.”
“Indeed.” Emily said as she placed a kiss on Harry's lips. “I should take my leave, love.”
“You're very brave, Riddle.” Hermione's voice dripped with sarcasm. “I'd be terrified to be going down to the dungeons alone at this point.”
That made Harry concerned. “Hermione has a point, Emily. I don't think it's safe for you to go down there on your own. Why don't you spend the night here?”
“What?!!!” Hermione shrieked as Emily blushed.
“Oh dear, Harry. Wouldn't that be inappropriate?”
Harry shook his head, fighting his own rosy cheeks. “N-No, I mean… we can just stay down in the common room, you sleep on one sofa and I'll sleep on the other.”
“She's a Slytherin! People from other houses aren't allowed in the common room!” Hermione bellowed.
“I'm sure the teachers will understand, Hermione.” Ron said. Even as he spoke, he was pulling her away from the portrait hole as Harry and Emily stepped in.
When the next morning dawned, Hermione felt like death. She had not slept a wink. She couldn't, not with Riddle in Gryffindor tower.
She took the coldest shower she could manage just to shock herself awake, and as she walked down to the common room, she saw Harry and Riddle sleeping on the floor, the Slytherin spooning Harry, a hand cradling his jaw.
She turned right around and went back to her room.
…
As the weeks went by without a repeat attack, things began to settle down. Some began to think that the entire thing had been a cruel but ultimately harmless prank, while others thought that perhaps the heir had realized the error of their ways. Regardless, everyone was more than willing to drop it and return to some semblance of normalcy.
Except for Hermione. Hermione knew it wasn't over. She knew that everything that had been happening - Hagrid's roosters being killed, the spiders fleeing the castle en-masse, the strange hissing that she sometimes heard through the walls - all of it was connected. It was all a part of Riddle's big, evil plan.
Still, just like everyone else, she was at the Three Broomsticks when Hogsmeade weekend rolled around, and to her great displeasure, she was sharing a table with the cold, calculating sociopath herself.
Said sociopath was currently laughing as she leaned over the table and dabbed a napkin over Harry's lip, wiping away a frothy butterbeer mustache. “I think I'd rather see a beard than a moustache.”
“You really think I'd look good with a beard?” Harry asked.
“You'd look good with anything, Harry.”
Ginny let out a little squeak as she realized that she'd just spoken out loud. Everyone shot her incredulous looks. Ron looked flabbergasted. By her side, Dean looked apoplectic, Harry looked embarrassed, and Riddle…
Riddle looked positively calm. “Agreed.” she said as she stared directly into Ginny's eyes, making the redhead squirm.
“Ron, mate, you think the Cannons have a shot tonight?” Seamus interjected.
Ron instantly became incensed. “Have a shot? We're bloody gonna beat those krauts to within an inch of their lives! It's not gonna be close!”
“I mean, they're a second division team, mate. It'd be embarrassing if you didn't beat them.” Seamus said.
“The Cannons will find a way.” Harry said.
“Oi!” Ron complained as the boys chuckled, and everyone seemed to let out a sigh of relief as the awkward situation was diffused.
Everyone except for Hermione, Dean, Ginny and Emily.
Hermione kept eyes on Emily, as if she were a venomous snake just waiting to strike. Emily remained eerily quiet, arm tightly wrapped around the crook of Harry's elbow. Ginny looked as if she wanted nothing more than for the earth to swallow her up, and Dean kept shooting glares back and forth between Harry and Ginny.
“Jeez, Ginny sure made that awkward." Ron said as they walked back up the castle. “I thought she'd gotten over her crush.”
Hermione didn't respond, she was far too busy keeping an eye on Ginny, who was returning to the castle with Luna while a fuming Dean was far behind, accompanied by Seamus and Neville.
…
Ginny could not wait for this horrible weekend to end. News of her breakup with Dean had surged through the Hogwarts rumour mill like wildfire. She felt so embarrassed, she didn't want to show her face in the common room, and she definitely didn't want to bump into Harry or Riddle.
The fact that Hermione had been following her the entire day didn't help things either.
“Hermione, don't you have an essay to write or something?”
Hermione leapt out from behind a pillar, arms crossed and looking very miffed. “Homework isn't my entire personality, you know.”
“Why are you following me?”
“Isn't it obvious? You're in danger, Ginny! You're going to be Riddle's next target!”
Ginny looked at her as if she were insane. “Seriously? Listen, Hermione, I've got enough problems, I really don't have the will to deal with this crazyness.”
Ginny stalked off, only for Hermione to rush to catch up with her. “Ginny! This is serious. She's a vindictive, evil bitch! If she petrified Michael for hitting Harry, lord knows what she'll do to you.”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “I'm on my way to meet up with Luna, by the way.” She said, knowing how annoying Hermione found the girl when they were in small groups.
Hermione did grimace, but she still reached out and grabbed onto Ginny's sleeve. “What is wrong with you people? Why won't you take this seriously?”
Before Ginny could respond, a deep, raspy sound froze both girls in place.
Hissing. Disembodied, guttural hissing.
“What the fuck is that?” Ginny asked, frantically turning her head every which way.
“It's the monster.” Hermione said, pulling Ginny close as she held her wand out. “Riddle's monster.”
Still holding onto her, Hermione marched them forward
“Wait, Hermione! Why are we following the bloody hissing?!”
“I'm going to catch her in the act! I swear! I'm going to wipe that smug smile off her stupid face.”
Ginny planted her feet, finally managing to stop Hermione in her tracks. “Or we're going to die!”
“So now you believe me?”
Ginny waved her arms in frustration. “I mean… I don't know! I just don't want to be snake food!”
“Snake food? You think the monster's a snake?”
“I mean, if it's really the Heir of Slytherin we're talking about, that's the likeliest outcome, isn't it?”
As the gears began to turn in Hermione's head, the hissing suddenly faded, leaving behind a deafening silence that was much more terrifying.
“Lets just leave.” Ginny said, turning in the direction of Gryffindor tower.
Hermione followed behind. Ginny disappeared around a corner, and then she let out an ear-splitting shriek.
“Ginny!” Hermione ran after her, fearing the worst.
She turned the corner to see a pale-faced Ginny staring at the petrified form of Dean Thomas, face contorted into a mask of terror.
…
“Its just, like, so inconsiderate of them!”
“What are you going on about, woman?” An exasperated Ron asked Lavender.
A mixed group of students from all four houses were huddled up in the library.
“I mean, the heir is being a major jerk!”
Ernie McMillan snorted. “That's kind of an understatement.”
Emily, who had been holding Harry close, rested her chin on her palm. “How exactly do you mean, Lavender?”
“I mean, first they get Corner, then they get Dean! Is it muggleborns? Is it purebloods? They should just let us know who's in trouble so the rest of us can go about our day!”
A random Ravenclaw suddenly spoke up. “I'll tell you who I think it is, Granger!”
“What?” Ron and Harry both exclaimed.
“She's been acting weird lately. And she's got those psycho eyes.”
“Hermione has been out of bed a lot the past few nights.” Parvati reasoned.
Emily tutted. “Now, now. Let's not start throwing around baseless accusations. That only sows division, which is exactly what the heir wants.”
“RIDDLE!”
“Speak of the devil.”
Hermione was storming towards them like a woman possessed. “THIS ENDS NOW!” She hissed.
“Miss Granger!” Madam Pince's stern voice blew the wind right out of Hermione's sails. The bushy-haired girl ducked her head in shame. “S-Sorry ma'am.”
A much more subdued Hermione quietly scuttled to the table, though her eyes were still full of fire and brimstone as she stared Emily down.
Harry sighed. “Hermione, seriously, now's not the time.”
Emily put a hand up. “No, please, dear, we must not freeze our fellow students out.” She then gave Hermione one of those sickening, saccharine smiles that didn't reach her eyes. “Please, Granger, do go on.”
“You're being sloppy, Riddle. You keep attacking people who hurt Harry.”
“Dean didn't do anything to Harry.” Ron pointed out.
“If anything Ginny should have been the one that got petrified, right?” Parvati said.
“I'm sure she's next!” Hermione snapped.
Her eyes widened as everyone reeled back in shock. “I didn't mean it like that! Ask Ginny! She knows how evil she is!”
“Ginny's right here.” Someone said, and Hermione realized that Ginny was in fact sitting at the table, directly to Emily's left.
“Ginny?” Hermione croaked
“Well, Ginevra? Do you believe I am plotting your petrification as we speak?” Riddle said in that silky voice of hers.
“Of course not, Emily. You're the greatest friend a girl like me could ever ask for.” Ginny said in a monotone, her face drained of all colour.
“Bloody hell! Not even mum can call her Ginevra like that.” Ron mumbled.
Hermione wanted to scream. She turned around and practically ran out of the library, ducking her head as admonishments rained down from Madam Pince.
…
The next attack came the very next morning. As students descended onto the great hall for breakfast, they were greeted by a petrified Mrs. Norris, tail wrapped around a torch and a rather long message written on the wall behind her.
Ron began to read aloud. “Clarification: Blood purity has no bearing on those who qualify as enemies of the heir. Enemies are anyone and everyone that annoys, insults, or bothers the heir or the heirs' loved one.”
“That still doesn't clarify things!” Lavender whined.
“Still, it's really thoughtful of the heir to establish a dialogue. Lets us know it's not just a one way street.” Padma said.
Lee Jordan squinted as he stared at the message. “Looks like they ran out of blood and switched to tomato juice halfway through.”
“Melted blood-pops.” Emily interjected.
“Huh?”
She cleared her throat. “That's what it appears to be. To my eye, at least.” She stepped forward and swiped at one of the letters, offering her finger to Harry.
“Erm.” Harry looked slightly embarrassed as Emily gave him an expectant look. He licked her finger, earning a pleased smile from his girlfriend.
“Yeah, definitely blood pops.” Harry said.
“Well, I guess we have to be extra nice to Granger from now on.” Pansy sneered.
“Maybe just be nice to everyone?” Neville said.
Pansy scoffed. “Get a grip, poofter.”
“Where is Hermione?” Ron questioned, glancing around but not finding hide nor hair of her.
“Probably planning the next attack.” one of the older students said. “Should have led off with the cat. Now it feels like a bit of a downgrade.”
Hermione, meanwhile, was done trying to reason with her fellow students. The girl had decided to go all the way to the top, which was why she was standing in front of a gargoyle, tapping her foot impatiently.
“Just let me in! I need to see the Headmaster! The entire school's in danger! God! There has to be some sort of emergency password I can use! May Day!”
“I would suggest Cockroach Clusters.” A kindly old voice suggested.
“Cockroach- Headmaster!” A flustered Hermione spun around, gazing up at the bemused face of Albus Dumbledore.
“Miss Granger.” Dumbledore tipped his head. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yes sir! It's urgent! It's about the chamber and all the petrifications.”
“I see. Well, come along then,”
The gargoyle leapt aside and Hermione followed the headmaster up the spiral staircase and into his office.
Under different circumstances, Hermione would have marveled at all the gadgets, fawned over the portraits of all the old headmasters and headmistresses. But right now, there was only one thing on her mind.
“Sir, it's Riddle! Emily Riddle is the one petrifying all of the students! She's the heir of Slytherin!”
Dumbledore's eyes went wide. “Emily Riddle, you say?” He sighed. “I cannot say that I am surprised. Since she first stepped foot in this castle, I knew there was something very wrong with that child. Something broken within her. I hoped that she would prove me wrong, but it seems that she has allowed the darkness within her to fester.”
“You need to stop her, sir! She's a complete psychopath! Who knows what her ultimate goal is.”
“Of course, we must do so at once. Now, Miss Granger, hand me your evidence.”
“Evidence?”
“Of course! The evidence you've gathered that has Miss Riddle dead to rights!”
“Erm… well, I don't actually have anything concrete, Headmaster.”
Dumbledore's face fell. “No evidence?”
“But sir!” Hermione flailed desperately. “Its obvious! It's obviously her! Please, if you look into it, if you follow her around or something, I'm sure you'll catch her in the act!”
“Hmmm, I suppose I could have one of the house elves tail her…”
“Slave labour?! That's disgusting, sir!”
Dumbledore blinked in confusion. “Then what do you suggest, Miss Granger?”
“Can't you just track her yourself?”
“Miss Granger, I'm quite a busy man. I cannot waste my time following students around.”
“She's going around murdering students!”
“Petrifying.” Dumbledore corrected.
“Sir! You need to take this seriously! You yourself said she's evil.”
“Miss Granger, you need to understand there's rules that I must follow. I cannot personally follow a student simply because I think she's evil. No, I believe it best to simply let things run their course, I'm sure everything will work out in the end!”
Hermione's jaw was practically on the floor. “Are… are you serious? What if a student dies?”
“I'm sure it won't be one of the important ones. You'll be safe, Miss Granger. It'll probably be some Hufflepuff.”
“Headmaster!”
“If it happens! As I said, I'm sure things will work out. Perhaps Miss Riddle's heart will grow three sizes during yule.”
Hermione left Dumbledore's office more despondent than when she'd arrived. Everyone was crazy. Everyone was insane. And Riddle was just going to run roughshod over the entire school!
There was no other option. She would have to take matters into her own hands. She would have to save the school.
…
Emily came up behind Harry, wrapping her arms around him as she gave him a possessive hug.
“How's my sweet morsel?” She whispered as she kissed the back of his neck.
Harry spun around and hugged her back. Emily greatly appreciated the show of devotion, but she frowned as she noted the worried look on his face.
“What is the matter?”
“I'm just glad you're safe! There was another attack, I was worried about you.”
Emily blinked. “...another attack? Whatever do you mean?”
Harry grabbed her hand. “Here, come see.”
A very confused Emily let her boyfriend lead her down a corridor until they reached a crowd of students gathered around the petrified form of Colin Creevey. Behind him there was a new message on the wall.
“I've changed my mind. I'm going after mudbloods and all their friends now because I am a megalomaniacal, narcissistic, racist bigot.”
Emily seethed as McGonagall and Flitwick rushed in, parting the crowd as Flitwick cast a levitation charm on Colin.
Harry frowned. “The heir must really be unhinged.”
“What?” Emily asked.
“For sure.” Ron said. “I mean, can they make up their mind?”
“Them being racists and bigots is kind of upsetting.” Padma Patil said.
“That's redundant! And I seriously doubt the heir is a bigot. This must be a copycat!” Emily snarled.
“How are you so sure?” Harry asked. But Emily had already stalked off towards after the professors as they led Creevey down to the Hospital Wing.
“Finite incantatem.” Emily whispered.
Colin's body, which had been stiff as a board, went limp as it floated along beside Flitwick.
“Miss Riddle!” McGonagall warned.
“Professor, he was under a simple petrification charm, and I would bet my prefect's badge that someone fed him a draught of living death.”
McGonagall and Flitwick exchanged glances before the Deputy Headmistress gave a stern nod. “We shall see.”
Emily, along with a cavalcade of students, followed them to the Hospital Wing. After a hushed conversation with Madam Pomfrey, an antidote was administered, and Colin Creevey took a deep, wheezing breath.
Emily smiled smugly. “See, I knew it.” She crossed her arms as she looked on with pride, leaning her body back against Harry.
Colin gasped and flopped around like a fish out of water. As Pomfrey tried to calm him down, Colin's eyes drifted around the room, and then, they landed on Emily.
He stiffened, his eyes going wide as dinner plates as he extended his hand, pointing an accusing finger directly at her.
“H-H-Heir! She's the one! She's the heir!”
Everyone gasped. Emily frowned, not out of shock or fear, but like someone who didn't understand why events had not followed her designs.
“...what?”
…
Emily stared at the wall, a big pout on her face as she tapped the toe of her shoe against the aged stone.
Things were not computing. She wasn't supposed to be caught. She was perfect. She'd planned everything down to the smallest detail. She wasn't supposed to be here, locked in an empty classroom, under guard by the giant oaf of a gamekeeper while she waited for the aurors to arrive.
This was such an inconvenience.
Really, she should have fled when she had the chance. But, throughout the entire process, she'd been so sure that things would work out. After all, she hadn't petrified Creevey, she knew that for a fact.
Creevey's memories had not agreed with her. She'd seethed upon viewing them, seeing the impostor wearing her skin rage about how mudbloods were inferior beings and how she would wipe the scourge from the face of the earth.
She was so… ineloquent. No flair, her words lacking a sense of poetry.
Seriously, why was Granger so stuck on her cleansing mudbloods? Emily had long since moved past that idiocy. She was no racist, she would cull the weak, the infirm and the idiotic, regardless of blood status.
She sighed. She didn't have her wand. There was a window in the room, but it wasn't like she could fly, otherwise, she would have escaped long ago.
She should have collected Harry and made a run for it.
Harry. The thought of him made her feel something, something that wasn't just constant annoyance. Harry, her love, her soul mate, her property. The expression on his face had been impossible to decipher as she'd been led away by the professors.
The thought of him being confused… or worse, him being disappointed in her made her want to claw her heart out of her chest and thrash it against the wall. And so, she chose not to think about him, even if she swore she could hear his voice whispering in the wind.
“Emily… Emily… Emily, I'm right over here.”
Emily's head turned to the window, hands up and ready to claw the intruder's eyes out, when she saw Harry stepping in, broom in hand as he emerged from under an invisibility cloak.
“Harry, you have an invisibility cloak?” She'd thought she'd known every single detail about him!
“Emily, I need to know, did you do it? Did you petrify Colin?”
“Of course not!” She denied vehemently.
“And what about everyone else?”
It was like the air was snatched out of her lungs. She stared at Harry, deep into his emerald green orbs.
Emily was an expert liar. In fact, there was an argument to be made that it was her greatest skill. And yet, she had never managed to lie to him. She had withheld certain truths, for his own protection, but never lied to his face.
She found that she couldn't. Her face fell into a stony expression as she spoke. “Yes, I did.”
“Why?”
She shrugged. “Because I wanted to? Because It felt good to terrorize the student body, to soften them up for my upcoming rise to power where they would all grovel at my feet?”
Harry nodded, his face betraying no emotion. “And what about me?”
“What about you?”
“Why did you start dating me? Was it part of your plan?”
Emily's eyes widened as her stoic expression turned fierce. “Never. I would never use you for my plans. I love you, Harry. I would strangle a nursery full of children if it meant that you would be spared from harm.”
“... that's the most romantic thing I've ever heard you say.”
Emily bowed her head. “You are my weakness, Harry. A flaw in my being that I've found impossible to correct.”
“Would you confess, if I asked you to? Would you confess to everything you've done?”
Emily felt bile rise up in her throat, her face twitching. Confessing would mean surrender, it would guarantee her a long stint in Azkaban, it would be, at best, a monumental setback for her plans.
And yet… “If you continued to love me… yes, I would.”
Harry grinned, pulling her in for a deep hug. “Great! All right, now we need to clear your name!”
“Clear my name?”
“Yeah. I'm not letting you go to prison.”
“... but what about all I've done?”
Harry pursed his lips. “If you are planning on taking over the world, then, I mean, if I'm around, I can make sure you don't go too evil.”
“But… a little evil is fine?” Emily asked hopefully.
“A little.”
“Perhaps… more than a little?”
“Don't push it. Now, I'm guessing Hermione is the one who set this whole thing up?”
Emily glared. “For sure it was that bitch Granger. She must have plucked one of my hairs from your bed.”
“Ok. I'll make it work.”
“You'll make it work? How?”
Harry grinned. “I'll get her the same way she got you.”
…
“Harry, you know I would never rub it in your face. I'm simply glad that Riddle has finally been caught and you've seen her for what she is.”
“Mhhm.” Harry nodded along. They were all in the common room, and Hermione was unable to keep still, a smile constantly blooming on her face as she looked between all those that had doubted her.
“I can't believe Riddle actually did it. Goes to show, I guess.” Lavender said.
“Goes to show what?” Ron asked.
Lavender shrugged. “I don't know, just sounded like something people say in these situations.”
Harry shook his head before letting out a sigh. “It still doesn't feel real.”
“Oh, Harry, it's not your fault. Riddle is as cunning as she is evil.”
“She is cunning, isn't she.” He said with just the slightest hint of fondness.
Hermione frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, draught of living death? That one's really hard to brew, isn't it?”
Angelina snorted. “That's an understatement. We've been going at it for weeks and none of us have been able to get it right, and that's working in pairs.”
“Ours made you drowsy.” Fred said proudly as George puffed up his chest.
Angelina rolled her eyes. “And that was the best of the bunch.”
“Yeah, I see your point, mate. I doubt any other student could have brewed that potion.” Ron said.
“I could brew it.” Hermione said.
“I mean, you're brilliant, Hermione, don't get me wrong. But a potion like that? That takes crazy skill.”
“Almost savant like.” Seamus agreed.
“And that whole petrificus totalus thing? That was really a brilliant move.” Lee Jordan said. “Though I wonder why she only did it with Colin?”
“Probably got bored, wanted to test out different methods.” Harry said. “She may have been evil, but I have to say, she was for sure the most brilliant witch of our age.”
That had finally done it. Hermione had been steaming for quite a while, and Harry's final comment, along with about a week's worth of accumulated sleep deprivation, finally chipped away at the last thread of her sanity.
“OH REALLY?!” Hermione shifted violently as she leaned over the couch and dug around in her bag. As everyone gaped at her in silence, she pulled out two glass bottles, slamming them down on the table, casting feral looks at the shocked onlookers.
“Perfectly brewed draught of living death!” She gestured towards the one with a clear liquid. “And perfectly brewed polyjuice!” She gestured towards the one with a light purple hue.
“Ermm… Hermione.”
“What!” She snapped at Ron.
“Why are those bottles almost empty?”
“Isn't it obvious?! Because… oh.” The moment of realization struck her like a bolt of lightning, and Hermione was left standing in complete silence.
“I fucking knew it!” Lavender exclaimed.
…
“Granger.”
Hermione looked up at the guard. She'd been busy putting the finishing touches on her essay on Gamps Law. By her estimation, it would be due next week. She would be finished a week in advance.
Another mark in the win column for her.
The guard tapped his wand on the bars and the cell door slid open. Hermione blinked in confusion. “What is this? I still have three months left on my sentence.”
Overall, it hadn't really been a bad deal. Sure, getting her wand snapped had been horrible, but after much begging she'd managed to convince them not to formally expel her in exchange for an extra six months on her sentence.
“Wait, did you finally catch her? Did you realize she's the real culprit?”
“Not quite,” said a silky voice from behind the guard.
“Riddle!”
Right outside her cell were Harry and Riddle. Riddle was clad in a big, puffy coat, the hood stuffed with what looked like phoenix feathers.
“Hey, ‘Mione, you look healthy.” Harry greeted.
“What is going on?!”
“What is going on is that my rule has begun. I am in dire need of competent people to help run my regime, and as I'm sure you're aware, those are in very short supply.”
“Are you… are you trying to recruit me? After all you did?”
“You've served your time for attempting to usurp me. Consider it water under the bridge.”
“You're fucking insane if you think I'll agree to helping you!... what would I have been doing, exactly? If I had agreed to your ridiculous idea?”
Harry jumped in “There's a lot for you to do! We need to round up the last few rebels, categorize all the stuff we've seized from homes, go through all the books in the restricted section…”
Hermione's eyes widened. “I'd get to do all that?”
Emily smirked as she stretched her hand out. “Welcome to the regime, Granger.”