Braving the Past

Chapter 21: When Walls Come Back Up

After Tom had left, so had Professor Dumbledore. Hermione was left alone to think about everything that had happened that night. Her cheeks heated up with embarrassment, remembering how she had fallen apart in front of not one, but two brilliant wizards.

She just missed...well, everyone. She missed those she knew she'd lost, and those she didn't know the fate of – such as her parents. Not that they would remember she existed anyway.

Hermione looked down at her battered arms, and another warm tear fell down her cheek. She huffed and swiped it away angrily, hating how fragile she had become. Since when could she not handle adversity? Yes, this may have been a different form of adversity than she had become accustomed to, but why should that change things? She was always the one to keep a level head and to know how to solve the problem. So why should this differ?

Hermione thought she could guess why. Every time she'd faced her fears, she had her best friends at her side. They were always there to watch out for her, to give her comfort even if she refused to acknowledge she needed it.

Even if Ron had left them a couple times, Hermione and Harry had stuck together through it all. She had always been there for him, and he for her.

And now they were both dead.

A loud pop sounded and Hermione jumped, looking up from her lap to see Milly the house elf with a bowl of steaming soup in her small hands. Hermione couldn't help the smile that graced her lips as Milly's feet pattered quickly over to the bed she sat on.

"Here's your soup, Miss Hermione," she squeaked. "Mr. Tom said you needed it, and we were happy to oblige."

"Thank you, Milly." Hermione grabbed the bowl with shaking hands, but paused before eating some. She really wasn't in the mood to eat, but she also didn't want to hurt Milly's feelings when she and the other house elves had gone through the extra work to make it for her when they were already busy preparing breakfast for the school.

Hermione hesitantly picked up the spoon and filled it with the broth that swirled at the top. Milly watched intently as she moved the soup to her mouth and sipped.

"You always do such a nice job with cooking," Hermione hummed as the savory flavor danced through her mouth. Milly's face lit up like a lumos maxima spell. She hopped down from the bed.

"Mr. Tom is on his way up now. Is there anything Milly can get for Miss Hermione?"

Hermione shook her head with a grateful smile. "No thank you, Milly. I'll surely let you know if I do."

Milly nodded, her long ears flopping up and down before she popped out of sight. Tom came through the door to the Room of Requirement just as she disappeared, his breathing slightly heavy.

"Merlin, why did they have to put this place so many floors up?" he huffed.

Hermione shrugged, not sure if he had meant it rhetorically, and went back to staring down at her bowl of soup. She felt exhausted, and knew having something in her stomach would help...but she just couldn't bring herself to lift the spoon a second time.

"Have you eaten anything?" Tom asked as he walked over to the bed.

Hermione looked up, then back down to avoid his piercing gaze.

"I'll take that as a 'no'." He sighed, and sat on the edge of the bed slowly. "You know Professor Dumbledore's orders. You need this."

"I know, I just..." Hermione let out a loud breath and hung her head.

Tom was silent. Then he scooted across the bed until he was sitting cross legged next to her. He grabbed the warm bowl from her tired hands and took a spoonful of soup.

"Please eat something," he whispered.

Hermione's vision became blurry and she looked over at the early Dark Wizard before her. He didn't seem so dark at this moment as he held the spoon of soup up for her with pleading eyes.

Hermione closed her eyes for a moment before leaning forward slightly and opening her mouth. As she swallowed, another tear escaped, annoying her once more.

"Ugh, why can't I stop crying!"

"I have that effect on women," Tom voiced.

Hermione shot a glare at him and was severely tempted to knock the bowl from his hands and see how he liked having the hot soup drenching his robes.

"Alright, I'm sorry, that was uncalled for." He held up one hand in surrender, then moved it to scoop another spoonful. "Will you accept this peace offering?"

Hermione exhaled to calm herself and let him give her another bit of soup. In all honesty, she felt incredibly weird about having Tom Riddle feeding her. She was Hermione Jean Granger and had her own two hands to feed herself. Never had she ever let anyone treat her like this, as if she was broken and weak.

Would she ever be able to admit to herself that this time she was?

As the soft vegetables and broth filled her stomach, Hermione felt herself becoming more and more drained. As much as she hated the person beside her, it felt nice to have someone be there for her again. She could feel her guard slipping as her eyelids drooped lower and lower. Before she knew it, her head had fallen to the side, to be caught by Tom's shoulder. It was rather hard and slightly uncomfortable, but Hermione was too tired to move.

Just this once, she could allow herself to just sleep, without any worries about the person that sat in the bed next to her.

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When Hermione awoke, she felt a soft weight on the crown of her head. Her right temple ached slightly from sleeping on Tom's shoulder. The half-full bowl of soup sat forgotten on a small table that had appeared by the side of the bed Tom sat on.

She couldn't have been out for long. She hadn't even had a bad dream. It only took her a moment to realize that the weight on top of her head was in fact Tom. His breathing was soft and even, his hand grasping hers. Hermione tried to pull her hand from his grip, but he shifted and hummed slightly when she tried. She didn't want to wake him up by taking her hand away, no matter how much it bothered her.

Hermione almost wanted to pretend he was Ron once again. Or maybe Harry, comforting her after an emotionally draining day. But she had already let her guard slip enough before, and it was time to bring her walls back up.

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I know I said there would be longer chapters...so that starts next chapter...

Haha, sorry guys! This one was pretty laid back, not a ton happening. Next chapter will definitely have a lot more interesting things happening, I promise! I just wanted you guys to see Hermione finally deciding to buck up and try to be the old Hermione again. Please don't hate me!

That's all folks! Thanks so much for all your support and love!! And, as always, don't forget to vote and comment!