Greyline

The Great Hall was bustling with students and staff alike when they entered with Dumbledore. Headmaster Dippet had hurried down as soon as the hat had placed Draco in Ravenclaw and Hermione spied him already in his seat, munching on some fruit. He could not be less concerned about them and why they had arrived. 

The hall fell into a quiet murmuring when they were noticed. She heard bits and pieces of questions and accusations start as Dumbledore led them through the main aisle to where the headmaster’s podium was placed.

He began explaining to the students about their arrival and who they were and his voice dampened into the background of her mind as she took everything in.

Her eyes danced back and forth across the hall, not even seeing all the students, it was still just as big and open as she remembered. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, the dust in the air shimmering in its rays. Tears pricked in her eyes at the sight.

It felt like home and a sharp stab of bitter melancholy hurt Hermione’s heart. The hurt grounded her and she realized how silent it had become, no chattering or any dishes clanking to be heard. 

Hermione felt her body start to stiffen, as if it too were realizing how many pairs of eyes were looking at her.

She swallowed and dug her fingernails into her hands briefly, the slight sting of the overgrown nails made her wince. She needed to file them badly.

But it was not something she thought of often while being on the run and camping. She would need to try to make herself look neater here, if the wondering looks from the students were any indication. At least having put on the school robes made them fit in more. 

She glanced over at Draco, who stood to her left, in his Ravenclaw attire. Hermione wasn’t sure if she would ever get used to seeing him in the blue and bronze colors. It made his features look lighter and well, more studious. The blue complimented his eyes in a way that made them look jewelled and glimmering instead of his usual glacier coolness. 

Hermione almost snorted out loud at her own thoughts and glanced away from him. The castle was making her tender hearted. She could think about Draco Malfoy and his glimmering eyes and choosing to be in Ravenclaw with her once the day had ended.

This was perhaps the most important day they would need to get through. 

“Carrow, Granger.” Draco’s low murmur was surprisingly close to her ear, causing a slight chill to start on the back of her neck. 

Without turning to look at him she whispered back to him, turning her chin slightly “I know that, Draco.” 

She felt him shift a little closer, her shoulder barely brushing at his robes as he leaned over.

Hermione wondered what they looked like to the students and staff filling the Great Hall. She wondered if they came off as close and knowing one another, or completely unable to stand each other. She decided she wanted it to be the latter. If they were to uphold their coven story, they would all need to look and be more than amicable with each other. 

She held her breath, nervous, and leaned in closer to Draco so that her shoulder was now nestled in the space between his arm and chest and she grabbed onto the soft fabric swaying from his body, going up on her tiptoes as if to really listen to what he had to say. 

He stiffened and seemed to pause from what he was going to say. But he did not move away from her.

Instead Draco grabbed her hand, the one hanging onto his robe, and held it in a way that Hermione thought would look familiar and comforting to anyone who was watching. Her eyes widened in surprise before she could catch herself and Theo’s green gaze found hers over Draco’s shoulder.

His mouth was turned up in a tiny smirk, and he exaggeratedly glanced between her hand and Dracos, stuck together. 

The way they were all interacting right now made Hermione think they would not have an issue playing off knowing each other well. Whether it be from self preservation, or the curiosity of one another, she thought there could be a potential for something other than dislike. 

Draco cleared his throat softly and Hermione felt his breath hover over her cheek. “You need to keep your mind closed off, Hermione.” 

She started to whisper back to him but he continued.

“No, do not try to fight me on this. Anyone else who is able to sink into minds and look at thoughts will know that you call me by another name.” His tone turned a tad harsher and she suddenly didn't want to be as close to him, feeling slightly embarrassed. 

She dropped back onto her feet. She hadn’t even noticed his presence in her mind. 

“You need to be able to protect yourself, and all of us” He paused, and she caught him looking up and scanning the crowd. 

Hermione glanced around as well, noting that very few were still looking at Dumbledore.

Draco stepped away from her, letting her hand fall back to her side.

Theo took the moment to interject himself and whispered quite loudly, hiding his mouth behind his hand, “Well, you two sure looked cozy!” 

And he winked at her. Hermione frowned at him.

Despite feeling annoyed at the boy, her heart felt lightened and she was able to calm her emotions, realizing that Draco was right. Every move, every thought and every part of them needed to be calculated and thought through. 

She tuned back into what Dumbledore was saying as she glanced around the hall again and found their situation staring right back at her.

He smiled at her just as Dumbledore began introducing them. 

Tom Riddle looked completely different in the daylight Hermione decided. Even from the distance he sat at she could see how pale and smooth he looked. 

No longer did shadows twist his features or the darkness of the sky seep into his eyes. 

No, Tom Riddle had proportionate eyes and a straight nose that wasn’t too big. No blemishes, marks, scars, nothing marred his features. His lips were a warm shade of pink, making him seem more alive.

She noted even his hair was combed over nicely, and was as dark as his eyes had looked last night. His tie sat neatly knotted at the base of his throat and he held his goblet with a regal indifference, as if he did not need the substance.

Yes, he looked completely different than last night. Hermione was hesitant to even think that he looked human, knowing what lay beneath those features. 

He was still smiling at her, his lips pressed together in what she was sure he thought looked friendly and welcoming. She did not return the gesture. 

Hermione looked away, keeping him in her peripheral, turning to glance at Draco and Theo while Dumbledore gestured to them with a sweep of his arm “Their names are Theon Fawley, Draconic Carrow, and Hermione Granger.” 

She tried to pay attention to Riddle without making it noticeable, yet his face showed no emotion to the reveal of their names.

Hermione knew using her real surname was a risk, but being found out to be an imposter pureblood could possibly be worse. At least muggleborns were tolerated in this time. She recognized the target that would be put on her by Riddle and didn’t think lightly of it. 

Talking with Draco and Theo more would have to happen as soon as possible. With Theo being in Slytherin he would be closest to Riddle. They would need to decide how to handle him and what, really, was their goal here. 

For right now though Hermione would need to survive meeting her peers in Ravenclaw.

Dumbledore was already ushering them to their respective tables, the applause from students and staff fading from her ears. She stood still for a moment, worry filling her belly as Theo saluted her and Draco and sauntered over to the Slytherin table. 

She watched him for a moment longer, seeing a familiar looking boy with a shock of white-blond hair stand up to greet him. 

Theo shook the boy's hand and Malfoy, she assumed, gestured towards the two boys sitting next to him to move down the bench. His curls bouncing, Theo slid into the open spot and reached for a pitcher of pumpkin juice. 

He did not look back at her or Draco. 

“Miss Granger.” Hermione vaguely registered Dumbledore’s voice as she still looked on at the Slytherin table. 

“Miss Granger, it is time for you to join your Ravenclaw classmates at the house table. Go and enjoy a warm meal. I would like another word with you three before leaving the hall.” She felt his hand rest on her shoulder, turning her away from Theo. 

Hermione looked up at the professor, his eyes bright blue and sympathetic. He gave her a small smile and a quick nod of his head.

“Hurry up, Granger. I don’t want my pumpkin pasties going cold.” Draco stood at the start of the Ravenclaw table, lingering for her. 

She stared at him for a second too long. 

She wanted to retort that Hogwarts food never went cold, some enchantment by the house elves, but she smothered her need to correct him and realized this was him offering a hand. 

He could see she was struggling. 

She gave a smile to Dumbledore to confirm she had heard him and carefully walked down the few stairs leading from the podium. 

Draco waited until she neared before taking two open spots away from anyone else and sitting down. He began to fill his goblet and reach for a bowl of fruit at the same time. 

Hermione stood next to him for a few moments, staring.

Her eyes followed the line of food and goodies on the table to where a group of Ravenclaw students were seated. 

Two girls and a boy that looked her age stared back, their eyes darting between her and Draco. She gave them a weak smile. 

Draco reached towards her robe sleeve and tugged, making her stumble into him. “Will you please sit down and eat.” 

“You could have just asked.” She climbed over the bench seat and sat a few spaces away from him, giving him an unamused look. 

“It's like your head is filled with nothing but air right now. We can make niceties later.” He didn’t spare her a glance, spearing a piece of honeydew with his fork. 

She sighed and grabbed a plate of bacon, munching on a crispy piece. They sat facing the Slytherin table. And though Draco did not make it obvious she knew he was keeping an eye on Theo, whose back was to them. 

Hermione was starting to get a headache. She reached for a cup of coffee hoping that would ease some of the tension in her head. The warmth from the drink seemed to seep into her bones. 

She held her breath for a moment, wanting to tell Draco how she felt but not wanting to be vulnerable. The unbreakable vow ensured he would not betray her but that was little comfort to Hermione. 

She missed Harry. 

They always went back and forth, she would comfort him and when the time came he would comfort her. They would raise each other’s courage and wallow in each other's grief. There was room to be worried, sad, angry, upset, and scared. 

She did not know what to do with Draco and Theo.

There were all these big emotions welling up inside her and she felt like she had no choice but to shove them down, deep inside. To become a wall of nothing in order to succeed here.

She was failing. 

Hermione let out another sigh. 

“I’m not quite sure how to act right now.” She admitted quietly. 

She looked over at Draco to see if he had heard her. He was taking a long sip from his goblet, the sunlight reflecting off the metal onto his pale skin. 

He turned to look at her and she met his cool gaze with only the slightest bit of trepidation. He didn’t hold her eyes for long, instead moving his along her body. 

She watched him watch her, tracking his eyes while he looked at her cheeks and mouth, forehead and nose, sweeping down to where her hand gripped the table edge. 

“You wear your emotions, Granger.” He said, locking his gaze back on her. “You don’t need to act any certain way when everything you do shows how you feel.” 

She drew her hand away from the table and kept silent, pushing her tongue to her right cheek and biting down, waiting for him to continue. But he didnt and they just stared at each other. 

Hermione didn’t know what to say, there was no defending herself. 

“Hello there!” 

Hermione startled a bit, the tense bubble surrounding her and Draco dissolving, and turned a little too fast towards the voice behind her. It was one of the Ravenclaw girls she had looked at a bit ago, along with the boy who stood next to her. 

“My name is Ottie Loriss.” The girl smiled gently, like she did not want to make them uneasy. Her auburn waves rolled over her shoulder as she turned to her companion and said, “This is Fen Talpin.” 

The boy lifted a hand semi-awkwardly. He seemed shy, his dark blue eyes dancing from them to the floor and back. 

“We’re Ravenclaw prefects,” Ottie gestured to the silver pins stuck on their robes. “So I thought it would be polite to introduce ourselves. You both seemed like you wanted to be left alone but I thought it might not hurt to say hello anyways.” 

“It's nice to meet you both.” Hermione offered. She glanced at Draco who had only lifted his shoulder in acknowledgment, still facing towards the Slytherin table. She felt him stiffen and wondered why. 

“Fen and I would like to show you around the castle later if you both feel up to it. I’m not sure if Professor Dumbledore explained to you or not, to gain entrance to Ravenclaw Tower you’ll need to answer a riddle.” Ottie looked off to the side thoughtfully, her amber eyes gleaming. “Besides, there are a lot of things you should know. The staircases move, for one.” 

Hermione hid her smile, nodding instead. She may enjoy being in Ravenclaw, Ottie reminded her of herself a little bit. She could tell the girl knew a lot and cared about that knowledge too.

She opened her mouth to reply but felt Draco twist around to join the conversation. 

“Miss. Granger and Mr. Carrow.” Hermione understood why Draco had turned to join them. 

Tom Riddle had walked up to them silently. She looked up at him, not saying anything. 

He stood tall, his hands clasped behind his back. He wore that irritating smile again.

Hermione was curious if her dislike of him was showing, as he let his gaze rest on her for a moment longer before gliding over to the two Ravenclaw students. He barely looked at Draco. 

“No need for you to show our new students around, Miss. Loris.” Riddle’s smile turned apologetic. “Headmaster Dippet has left that duty with me. I am sure you can catch up with them in your common room later.” He stared hard at the girl, obviously wanting no argument from her. 

Ottie’s cheeks flushed and she looked at them sheepishly. “I will see you both later in the common room.” Her words echoed Riddle’s oddly. 

She grasped Fen’s robe and pulled the boy away with her, although he turned around to wave good-bye. 

Hermione would muse over the boy’s quietness at a later time. And she would like to talk with Ottie more. She added the two bullet points to her mental checklist and looked back up at Riddle, sitting up a tad straighter. 

She felt a small prod to her middle back as she straightened and turned to Draco, breaking her contact with Riddle. It was his thumb that had brushed her back.

She had to stifle her surprise as she took him in. He looked easygoing and far too comfortable, Hermione thought, as he sat with his legs spread a little too informally and his arms leaned back against the table, his hand coming to rest behind her. 

“I was under the impression we were to meet with Dumbledore at the end of breakfast.” Draco’s voice was cool and measured, and she took in the indifference that showed plainly on his face while he stared at Riddle. 

So they were not playing on being cordial to Riddle. Noted, she thought. That worked for her, and she would act accordingly until they were able to get more intel from Theo. 

“Not you.” Draco murmured almost like an afterthought and glanced at Hermione, shrugging his shoulders casually. 

She glanced back at Riddle raising one brow slightly, as if to say “what now?”. 

The Head Boy didn’t agree with their sentiments. His face was carefully blank and considering, instead. Hermione noticed the small tilt of his head which made it seem like he was looking down on them even more.

It was hard for her not to over analyze every move he made, knowing who he was under all of his supposed charm. 

She kept quiet, assessing him and assumed Draco was doing the same since he was not speaking any more. Riddle was silent for a few more seconds, eight Hermione counted to be exact, and as soon as he opened his mouth to respond, Draco stood up. 

Riddle shut his mouth, watching. He smiled pleasantly at them but his eyes kept tepid. 

Draco did not rush off as she thought he would and instead waited next to her, looking down to ask with a halfhearted expression why she was still sitting.

She stood quickly, not sparing a glance at Riddle, and followed Draco as he brushed past the Head Boy without another word. 

Hermione did not look back at Riddle, but she felt him. That sweeping, sliding magic followed quietly behind. 

Theo must have been watching the interaction, because he stood abruptly from the Slytherin table to meet up with them as they approached the staff table in the Great Hall.

Dumbledore, along with the rest of the Professors, was still eating breakfast and chatting merrily. The headmaster's spot was empty, Hermione observed. 

She lingered slightly behind Draco as he stopped before Dumbledore.

Theo stayed beside her, the warmth from his body brushing hers, and she was glad for the silent agreement on letting Draco lead for the moment.

She could practically feel Riddle staring them down. Or maybe it was her own psyche causing the feeling. 

Dumbledore had put down his half-eaten lemon tart and beckoned them forward with a pleasant smile. The arches on his chair molded around him like wings. She met his blue eyes over Draco’s shoulder. 

“That word?” Draco asked. 

She started spiraling. 

“May I have a word with you, Miss Granger?” 

Professor Dumbledore had caught her just leaving the library. Hermione took a quick look around the empty hallway before looking up at him. Had he been waiting for her? 

“Of course, Professor.” She agreed. 

She wondered what he wanted to talk to her about. School had just started not even a week ago.  

It could be about a multitude of things, Harry was number one on her guess list though. Sirius Black, his parent’s murderer, had broken free from Azkaban and was currently on the run.

Harry had been having a hard time with the news, and the rumors that ran around the school were making him stressed. 

She trailed behind Dumbledore as he had beckoned her to follow, slowing her pace while she thought. 

Hermione felt a sudden sweat heat her back as she worried it had something to do with her schooling. Was she not performing well, already? 

She had never dared utter the fear aloud, but the thought always lingered in the very back of her brain; had they decided she wasn’t allowed at Hogwarts anymore? 

She knew her magic could not be taken away; it flowed through her veins and was bound to her bones. Hermione could feel it every second of every day. If she focused hard enough, the thrumming of it would sharpen in her ears and follow the beat of her heart. 

Magic was her and she was magic. 

A sharp burst of anger heated her skin more, making her hands feel hot as she curled and uncurled them from clenched fists. 

Dumbledore had stopped walking as they had reached his office. He turned to her with the dim light of his wand, the gleam of it catching his eyes as he considered her. 

“You have loud thoughts, child.” He said quietly. 

Hermione frowned at him, furrowing her eyebrows. She hadn’t meant to project her feelings so much. 

“Come,” Dumbledore swept his arm through the threshold to his office, “Do not worry, Miss Granger.” He ushered her in and her eyes settled on Professor McGonagall. 

“Hermione.” The older witch greeted her with a small smile. 

Swinging from her hand on a long golden chain was a tiny hourglass surrounded by gold and enclosed by two circles. 

She had read about the piece before. It was a time turner. Hermione wet her lips in nervous excitement, studying the necklace. The air in the room felt stiff, as if it were waiting for her to move.

“That is a time turner.” She murmured, glancing up at her transfiguration professor. 

The necklace fell from the witch’s hand, its clasp breaking open as it hit the floor. 

Hermione reached out a hand toward it. 

She slid her eyes over to Dumbledore and fell into his contemplating gaze. Pure satisfaction filled her as the metal flew across the floor and into her grasp. 

The flash back was over. 

The weight of someone’s hand rested on her shoulder, tugging slightly. The pressure felt more like talons digging into her. Her ears felt full like she had just gone swimming. 

“Come on, Granger. Not right now!” Theo’s voice registered with her mind, his whispers hurried. 

She cracked her eyes open. Tiny dust particles glittered in the sunlight all around, her eyes zoning in on the way they floated and danced in the air. Theo’s voice was still ringing in her ear, echoey. 

“I think I need to rest,” Hermione said, pushing out a sigh, thinking. The hall was still bustling with morning excitement.

She hadn’t caused too much of a disruption. 

But Theo, whose hand still lay on her shoulder, and Draco looked on at her as Dumbledore nodded and continued whatever he had started saying when she had melted back into her mind. It seemed like she had only experienced mere seconds of a disruption to her thoughts. 

She shrugged off Theo’s hand, avoiding eye contact with both of the boys. Her hand stung. She glanced down at her hand, twisting it to look at her palm. 

Her breath caught as she took in the imprint of the time turner’s circles. 

Like she had actually been holding onto it moments ago. Hermione flexed her hand, glancing up at Dumbledore to make it seem like she was paying attention. Her palm burned as the skin stretched. 

Yes, she decided, that pain was definitely real. 

Theo followed the map Dumbledore had given them, leading the way to what would be their private rooms.

The professor had explained, on the behalf of Headmaster Dippet of course, that they thought it best for them to acclimate to this new life away from the rest of the students. 

There was an unsettling silence that filled the halls as they walked. For once Theo was quiet. It felt foreboding, she decided. Not so unsettling, but more aware.

As if the castle knew why they were there and what was to come. 

All three of them and Dumbledore knew that it was just a cover up for them to explore their time travel and set forth a plan, but Hermione was grateful for the privacy nonetheless. 

Now she would not need to come up with excuses or sneak around so obviously as to why she was going to the library late at night. 

The problem was in bunking with the two former death eaters, though. Dumbledore explained they would all have separate bedrooms and a shared common room, but only one bathroom.

He had mentioned being able to use the Prefect’s bath if needed. 

This was it she supposed, nibbling on her lip as she walked behind the two boys. She studied the way they sauntered down the empty corridors, seeming to take up the whole space with just their presence. 

They had been excused from breakfast early. Tomorrow they would start classes. Today was for settling in and exploring the castle if they wanted to. 

Hermione was itching to go to the library.

One thing she would need to ask for was a restricted section pass. She was sure there would be at least one book that offered some opinion on their kind of situation. 

She ran a hand along the corridor wall absentmindedly, the rough texture of the stone biting at her fingers. Her other hand still stung but she kept it carefully tucked away. 

Draco had noticed her discomfort earlier and Hermione had the nagging feeling the boy had eyes in the back of his head, for the way he walked was easy but lagging as if he were always aware of her trailing behind. 

Her fingers caught on a sharp slab of the wall and she stopped slowly, bringing the hurt to her mouth in a grimace where she tasted blood.

She glanced behind her and back down the gloomy hall. Though things looked slightly different in this time she was fairly certain they were near the kitchens, under the Great Hall. 

“Well, this is it.” Theo had slowed his walk, stopping to stand in front of a statue of a faceless man. 

Her brain rang with Theo’s words. She shook her head, clearing the echo of his voice from her mind, and stepped forward to look at the statue more clearly. Hermione half expected it to move, enchanted by the castle, but it stood frozen in place. 

The only thing identifiable about the stone man was the bow he held, its thin individual strings carved into his fingers as he positioned three arrows of various sizes, the stone tips grazing his fingers while he pointed at a tile on the wall. 

She assumed that is where they would enter their rooms. 

Theo came to stand next to her, peering down at the parchment he held and back up again at the wall. 

“It says to tap the wall three times.” Theo said, squinting again at the paper. “But only at the place the statue is pointing at.” 

“I thought that was obvious.” Draco said in an undertone. Hermione hadn’t wanted to say it but Draco was right. 

Theo shrugged, gesturing to the instructions and eyed up Draco. 

“You do it then.” He backed away, giving a mocking bow to his friend. 

Hermione just wanted to get this over with. Even though the statue had no face it felt like it was looking at her, seeing her. She glanced away. 

Draco had brought his wand to the piece and tapped three times in quick succession, stepping back as the stone shuddered for a moment before revealing a winding stone staircase that led down. 

She peered into the darkness that spread with each step down. Now this could be curious she thought, a little bit of adventurous excitement pepping her up.

She muttered the wand-lighting charm and pushed past the boys, heading down the first few steps. 

Hermione turned halfway and looked at them. “Coming?” 

A wicked grin lit up Theo’s face and he huffed, shooting a side eye at Draco who ignored him. The blond boy held up his own glowing wand and gestured for her to keep going, his robes starting to blend into the dark until he was just a ghostly face. 

“I thought you’d never ask, sweetheart.” Theo’s laughing tone followed them down the steps.