The Green Girl

Seventh Year Part 4

Harry Potter didn't emerge from hiding again until May. Hermione was just as glad. A Tom Riddle thwarted again in his plan to kill the only person standing between himself and immortality was an angry Tom Riddle.

An angry Tom Riddle was dangerous and they all fled back to school after Narcissa's Easter ball, happy to only have to deal with the Carrows and hostile sneers from Gryffindors. The Carrows continued to be thuggish and stupid and every time Hermione stopped them from hurting students in one way they found another. She kept brewing pain potions and passing them to Michael Corner who distributed them as he saw fit. Hannah Abbot showed up outside the Slytherin common room one day with a basket of homemade biscuits. "Just because," the girl said.

"Thank you," Hermione said.

"Not everyone believes -," Hannah said and Hermione shrugged, cutting her off. She wasn't sure what Hannah believed she was doing and suspected the idealistic Hufflepuff saw the world the same black and white way Potter and his Gryffindor fan club did.

"I love you," Draco said, popping one of the biscuits into his mouth, "but you can't cook the way that girl can."

Blaise hit him and Luna laughed.

Snape asked Hermione to take over ordering supplies for his private lab, claiming to be simply too busy to handle such trivial matters with his responsibilities as Head of School.

And so the spring passed in relative peace and they went to classes and studied for their N.E.W.T. exams and waited for something to happen. "Do you think he's just going to stay in that house until he dies of old age?" Theo asked in frustration one day.

"If he never comes out can we do anything?" Hermione asked.

Draco made a show of yanking on his hair. "If that fidelius charm was breakable -"

"- it'd already be done," Hermione finished for him. "Ugg."

"Why was he after that locket, anyway?" Theo asked.

"Magical artifact," Hermione said, remembering the way the thing had made her very soul shiver. It was powerful and slimy in a way she didn't want to go near though, she supposed, she'd eventually have to. She flicked a glance and Theo and his eyes briefly widened before they shuttered completely.

"I guess," Theo agreed.

"I wouldn't pursue it," Hermione said, her eyes on Draco. "Anything the Dark Lord wants that much is something I don't want to play with. Or touch. Or anything. He killed Umbridge just for owning it and sent people off to kill the man she got it from. He likes me, but there are limits to his tolerance, you know?"

Theo nodded. "It's best to not get caught being too curious about some things," he said.

"What if there are more?" Draco asked and, at their cautious looks, he added, "What if there are more artifacts the Dark Lord cares about that much? Would Potter come out of hiding to get those too?"

"Probably," Hermione said, drawing the word out.

"Maybe I should write Mother?" Draco asked and Hermione smiled.

"I'm sure she's always happy to hear from you," was all she said.

. . . . . . . . . .

Tom Riddle read the note Narcissa handed him. "I'm glad your son is having a good year, 'Cissa," he said. "I'm sure he'd enjoy having a visit from long lost friends."

"Friends?" The woman raised one elegantly shaped brow.

Riddle shrugged. "Or whatever. I have something tucked away at Hogwarts I've been meaning to pick up. Perhaps a few dreams will inspire Potter to leave his safe little house and go look for it."