chapter 6
Hermione stepped out of the alcove passageway with a heavy sigh. Her brain still groggy from the events of the night, somehow her symptoms had worsened after being in close proximity to her deceased headmaster. She steadied herself with a hand against the staircase's stone wall, trailing her nimble fingers along the cavities until she reached the bottom. Mindlessly numb to her surroundings, She walked the halls she knew all too well, reminiscing in seeing the castle still stood vigorously strong, nothing like the most recent image that swarms her mind. The ruins of the halls, caved roofs, glass and rubble strewed along the hollow institution. Only time would tell. Her feet navigated her in the direction of her previous house, Seeing the entryway in view with the singing ladies portrait only a few steps away she sighed. The familiarity and warmth of the place was enough to put her at ease ever so slightly, she chewed at her lip, her brain thinking of the many possible phrases of what the passcode could be.
A freshly familiar scent besieged her senses causing her to whip her neck, facing the man that stood behind her. 'I hate to be the one to break the news Miss Granger, but unfortunately we don't get to pick and choose our houses. Now if you'll follow me'.
Hermione understood what he was implying, godrick gryfindoor had she really been so out of it to end up here? She contemplated whether this was just some sick joke and Dumbledore would come to his senses and help her but she knew that was too hopeful. She was too exhausted to speak to Tom, a nod was sufficient enough for him to start walking down the freight of moving stairs. The pair sauntered in silence, Tom scouting the area as if he was in patrol- a complete contrast to Hermione's head bowed position, focusing too hard on ensuring she wouldn't miss a step. The walk seemed never ending, time passed slowly as they continued walking down, down, down. Hermione notably noticed the change in atmosphere as they neared the dungeons, the lights were considerably darker with no natural light from windows, just candles missing their usual warm glow and damp cold stone beneath her feet. She wrapped her arms around herself, realising her attire definitely did not reflect the time period she supposedly was from. She had been too hasty to leave, she was sure she stuck out like a sore thumb.
Tom led her further down a dark corridor before halting at a large archway. Before stepping inside, Tom allowed her to take in the setting, large stone pillars and green curtains draped the windows. Paintings in silver frames coated the extravagantly wallpapered room. Scattered across the room, were old armchairs and sofas, which she couldn't help but gape at. She had never entered the Slytherin common room before, Harry and Ron had ventured by themselves after the incident with the poly juice in second year giving her no further reason to enter the 'vipers den'. It was much larger than Gryffindor's common room, she assumed it was due to the funding of the pureblood student's parents.
"well Miss Granger, this is your common room. Since your admittance was delayed" Tom broke their silence, patiently waiting for some sort of sign from Hermione as to why she was here in the middle of term times and when no answer was visible to him, he continued "you will receive your own dormitory. This way".
The pair meandered down rows of wooden doors, She assumed these were where the other Slytherins currently laid and once they had reached the end of the sombre hall, he retrieved a key from his pocket and churned it, displaying a lavishly quaint room. Inside advertised the essentials: a wardrobe, desk and a canopied bed accompanied by velvet green curtains. A long window on the central wall allowed the moon's luminosity to shine across the bed, her bed, which displayed luggage at the foot of it. "This should satisfy all your needs" Tom stated as he invited himself into the room and pointed towards the edge of the bed. "Your cases have arrived now and before I take my leave, I was ordered to complete a timetable for your chosen subject choices". What bloody luggage? Hermione had come empty handed, other than her wand and the locket stashed in her pocket.
Her brain flowed with choices and caught herself ranting off. "divinations, alchemy, ancient ruins, apparitions and I assume I'm already signed up for the core classes. And don't forget arith-". Hermione, for the first time in too long, felt excitement at the anticipation of being able to return to school, almost as if she was stating a new life, free from her obligations to the wizarding world where she could start over as a normal student.
"I don't think your capable of attending all these lessons I'm afraid" Tom interrupted. "And I had a list" He gloated, revealing a folded piece of paper that was stashed in his suit's pocket and chucked it in the bin, next to her newly profound desk, before muttering 'incendio' and watching the bin alight with the paper inside.
"so are you going to fess up about how you know so much about my school or were you just too eager to start?" Her cheeks blushed with embarrassment at the stupidity of her lips, how had she let herself slip up. Hermione knew what he was doing, trying to light her fuse and admit her true motive for being here. He was wary of her, rightly so. She would not make another mistake, would not bite the bait.
She sweetened her sour expression before replying "Overflowing with such excitement that I couldn't sleep for three night". It wasn't far off a lie, she hadn't experienced a restful sleep in far over three days. "And I am extremely capable of enduring all these classes, do not underestimate me"
"noted" Was all he replied, his face still a mask of perfection although she had hoped he would show some dissatisfaction at her response. Tom stalked over to her black meticulously tidy desk and planted the key that he was tossing between his fingers on its surface. "I'll see you around then Miss Granger" he chimed before shutting her door and leaving her in darkness.