Pure

The Cave

"See you tomorrow," he murmured, then walked swiftly out of the room.

~~~

"Hermione, I need to talk to you," someone said, interrupting my thoughts. I sat in the Great Hall at the Gryffindor table. Riddle wasn't anywhere to be seen, and about that, I was pleased. I didn't know how to speak to him yet. Pretend nothing happened? Confront him about it?

"Hermione, please," the voice said. I looked up from the book that was in my hands, but I was not reading. The voice belonged to Abraxas, who had one hand leaning on the table.

"I'm not in the mood, Malfoy," I muttered, and looked back down at my book.

"Please... I'm sorry I deceived you. Really, I am. I want to be friends though. You are the best friend I've ever had," Abraxas said the the last part softly, as if he didn't really want to admit it, "What can I do to make you forgive me, Sunshine?" I closed my book, but didn't look at him.

"I'm not mad. But, if I'm your best friend, why didn't you tell me everything that was going on? I can't trust you, so how can we ever be friends?" I asked.

"Hermione, you know as well as I do that when Riddle has orders, you must follow them, unless you are willing to undergo severe consequences. I wasn't allowed to tell anyone what was going on, let alone you," he said, and pushed his legs in between the table and bench so that he was now fully sitting next to me.

"Abraxas, I..." I started, but he cut me off.

"No, wait. Let me make it up to you. Meet me in the Astronomy tower tonight, at 8 o'clock," he said. Abraxas saw the resistant look creeping its way on my features, and spoke again before I got the chance.

"Take the day to decide. If you don't come, then I'll know my answer," he said, and I saw how sincere he was. I knew my answer right then. Of course I would go.

"I'll think about it," I said. I couldn't let him get off that easily. Abraxas smiled like his usual self.

"You won't regret it Sunshine, I promise," he replied, and stood, touching my shoulder as he walked away.

I reopened my book and grinned behind it. So far, it's been a good day.

~~~

I sat outside on a stone bench. It was unusually sunny for a late September day, and I could do for some time outside. With all of my hours studying, "befriending" Riddle as the Dumbledore from my time put it, and faking my task with Riddle, I barely got to spend any time away from the castle. I lay on the bench with an old muggle book I got from the library in my hands.

Eventually, I must have dozed off because I awoke to a shadow covering the sunshine that my body desperately needed. I sat up quickly, startled, but froze mid movement when I saw that the shadow was Riddle's.

"Granger, I need you to come with me," he said, and then he glanced away from me. I was afraid to object, but I didn't want to even think about last night. Too much happened that I hadn't sorted through yet.

"Why?" I asked. Riddle set his jaw, clearly agitated, or worried, or both.

"Just come. Stop with the questions," said Riddle-- almost sneered, and he turned around expecting me to follow him, which I did. I caught up to Riddle, matching my stride with him.

"Where are we going?" I asked as we walked briskly out of sight of the castle, on the path to Hogsmeade. Riddle glanced sideways at me, and I could see hesitation in his eyes.

"Somewhere special." He didn't elaborate further, and I didn't push it, but I was growing intensely curious.

When we reached the entrance to Hogsmeade, Riddle stopped and held out his hand. My eyebrows shot up in surprise, and I didn't take it right away.