Collision Course

Chapter Twenty

I had a lot on my mind when we made it back to the dorms.

Mr. Brunner was nice, but it was a bit confusing when Luna had been talking. For some reason, after that Mr. Brunner kept looking at me, and I kept on catching him staring out of the corner of my eye. Is it kind of creepy that I think my new teacher is stalking me, after only one day?!

Then there was Astoria's class, but it was a bit too free will with only her there, and then next time, a whole other class would be there! And it's slightly weird to be taught by her, when she is basically one of my guardians.

And then there was Professor Sprout. She was a bit chirpy and a bit hyper-active. And her voice was a bit annoying. So high pitched! But at least with our lesson, we could have ear plugs on. We were planting this strange plant called.... eh, I forgot. Oops.

Next, there was Professor McGonagal. Now she was a strange lady. As the head master, she was in a world of respect, but she was also strict, and to me her classes were boring because I have basically perfected the art of transfiguration. Three days without pots and pans make hair elastic transformations more useful. That class was just about making minor details better, like swifter, quicker, and cleaner alterations.

But it wasn't just the teacher impressions on my mind. It was the fact that this person that frightened Luna and the rest of the class so much, had a child born on the same day as me. November second, nineteen ninety eight.

Why would I have the same birthday as this Tom Riddle's child? And why was Tom Riddle so scary to everyone?! What was going on that's was so secret and terrible for everyone?! And why wouldn't anyone talk to me about it?!!

Draco, Astoria, and I all flopped down on the couches.

"Astoria?" I said. "Draco?"

"Yes?" They chorused tiredly.

"Who is a Tom Riddle?"

Astoria sat up like she had been poked by a metal rod.

"Draco," she hissed. "You didn't tell her?!"

Draco cowered. "Noooo...."

Her eyes narrowed as she stood up, grabbed my arm and made a beeline out of the common room.

We walked for a few minutes in silence.

"Never, never, never, ask about something that everyone else seems to know, at least not here. It's not safe. Everyone here grows up knowing they're a wizard.... Except Harry Potter, but that's a different story. Do you truly want to know about Tom Riddle?" she asked.

I nodded. She took me to a giant room. I think it's the library. Well.. the ten foot bookcases full of like thirty inch thick books were a dead give away. I followed her through the maze of words.

Huh. That seemed important. Can anyone tell me why I thought the maze of words in italics?

Eh, I'll figure it out later. She lead me to a table, in the very back of the library. Tapping on one of the books covered in layers of dust, I watched the entire book case come of the wall- with little surprise.

It's a giant wizard castle, in England, why shouldn't it have swinging book cases?!

Much to my surprise though, there were no hidden rooms or piles of gold. Instead, there was a couple shelves. I watched Astoria's figure flicker, from her, to a red head, to a six year old blonde angel.

Her arm stretched out, switching from a small, delicate hand of a child, to hers, and back to the child's.

And she grasped a book.

She tugged it out of the shelf and handed it to me.

"And secrets to be told from the maze of words, from between the many worlds, a bridge must be put into light." She said, her voice constantly changing.

I stared in awe. That was amazing.

"This won't tell you the full story of Tom Riddle, but it is the beginning of another's tale, one of whom you should heed, and... well, just read." She allowed herself a small laugh, and she seemed to solidify as herself once again. "Have a fun read. The rest of the series is here too."

She passed the red book into my hands, and gave me another small smile as she walked away.

I flipped it over and looked at the cover. ' 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone' by J. R. R. Rowling a.k.a. Hermione Granger.'

*******

I finished all seven books, in one night, and got som- a lot- of useful informaton. Now I knew why Harry had thought I was mocking him in Diagon Alley, and now I knew a bit more on Tom Riddle/Voldemort.

I really wanted to thank Astoria, and apologize to Harry. Yet at the same time, I wanted to slap Hermione- if I could figure out which one she was. But I truly believe she's the girl that hangs out with Giny, Harry, and Ron. If not, then I'm an IDIOT (!), and can't tell who she is. I hated how she and Harry and Ron were so mean to Draco. Sure he acted like a snob and all.... yeah... maybe I have more talking with Draco then them, but still, can't they see now that people can change if they want to?

I gently placed the last book back into the shelf, and gazed with a hapy smile as the book case fell back into place. That was so cool!

I slipped out the door, and back up all the spinning stairs to the common room. I can't believe they went through a war. That was crazy. And the castle still looked awesome.

These people were way better than regular huma- no. I'm sorry. I felt my excitement deflate out of me, like a balloon losing air. Whoosh. Bye helium. The wizards may be more fascinating and new, but I would always love regular people. They were individuals with sparkling dreams, and stories, just like the wizards. The wizards though, were a new shiny, motorized, toy train, in contrast to the other people, the dull toy cars.

I walked the empty halls ways, with exstatic joy, gone. Poo. I enjoyed that feeling.

Plastering a smile on my face, I walked into the common room, and sat next to Astoria and Draco, and copied their positions. Legs crossed, fingers and hands by my sides, eyes smiling quietly at the fire.

"I read it all," I whispered, knowing quietness was one of the only things so delicate, it could be broken by a single sound, word or breath.

"How was it?" It didn't matter who asked.

"Good." They knew it was me.

"Good."

They smiled at me, and the three of us fell into daze that lasted until morning, when the sunlight somehow filtered down into the only common room tucked down by the schools dungeons, and the golden rays streched themselves to join us, on the green couches. It was one of the best nights ever.