To a Better End

Chapter 40

November 1st 1976

No, Hermione did not sleep last night. She didn't even think to change her clothes when she began opening up the shop that morning. She was, in all honesty, in no state to be running a shop, but the show must go on.

In front of the door, was a crate of new releases. She pushed up her sleeves and set to unpacking them. Hermione found herself in a groove when Antonin burst into the bookshop, panting as though he ran here from the apparition point.

Hermione turned to look at him and saw the relief wash over his face. He walked over to her a bit more calmly but still rushed. His hands held her cheeks, squishing them together slightly. He turned her head to one side and the other, inspecting her.

"What the hell, Tony," she said with her face resembling a fish.

"I didn't know, Mina. I didn't know he would be there." He pulled her into his body, hugging her. Hermione's arms were pinned to her side. The abrupt affection caught her off guard. "You must not be anywhere near the Dark Lord."

Pushing herself out of his grip, she turned back to her box of books that needed unpacking. "It's not like I did it on purpose. And anyhow, I can handle myself just fine."

"Just listen to me. I'm trying to protect you. You don't know what he's capable of."

Oh, I know. I know what he can do and what you can do. I know what you will do.

Hermione let out a heavy sigh, pressing her hands on the display table, and leaning over the books. Her back was turned to him when she finally spoke, "I don't need to be protected, Tony. I know what I'm doing."

Moving to stand next to her, he placed a soft hand on her back. "I don't think you understood me before, kotenok . I protect my own."

She looked up at the wizard before her, scoffing. "You think I'm yours."

Anontin let out a huff. "That's not what I mean. I just-"

The door abruptly opened, and a wizard in dark robes with almost black eyes and black hair stood in the doorway. He seemed irritated at Antonin.

"Dolohov," his Russian accent was thicker than Antonin's. "We need to go ."

"Just a minute, Igor," he said, holding up a finger.

Stepping further into the shop, Igor Karkaroff surveyed Hermione and Antonin before letting out a mocking laugh. "You can come back to your witch later."

Standing fully erect, Hermione placed her hands on her hips. "I'm not his witch."

Igor seemed to need to process this information. He looked back and forth between the two of them for a moment before keeping his eyes on Hermione for an uncomfortable amount of time before coming to his conclusion.

"So you're up for grabs?" he asked playfully.

Hermione snapped her fingers and pointed to the door, shouting, "Get out of my shop, the two of you!"

Antonin looked at her regretfully before nodding and leaving with a laughing Igor. Hermione expelled a sigh of relief as the door closed. She was exhausted, and her mind was still reeling. Her attitude towards Antonin was completely irrational, she knew that. She knew that he truly cared for Mina Black, and he seemed to keep true to his word.

And her feelings... Well, her feelings were entirely complicated. Seeing Tom the other night startled her to her core. It was hard to let go of all the things she felt for him, but she knew he wasn't the same person. She fell in love with Tom Riddle, the orphan who was shy. She fell in love with Tom Riddle, the teenager who made grand gestures and looked at her like she was a treasure. She fell in love with Tom Riddle, the man who would do anything for her. She supposed, at the end of all things, that was the problem.