Breaking Hermione

The Darker Arts

Tom Riddle P.O.V

I had no idea why Hermione was crying. Surely she knew that I always got my way in the end, though whenever I did she would always act so defeated. And it turned me on, to always have the upper hand on circumstances that drastically affected her. It was a compulsion, an urge I had deep within me to constantly torment her either psycologically or physically. She wasn't stronger than me, and she would never be.

Standing mere feet from me with tears sparking in her eyes, she was yelling at me in the Ravenclaw Common Room. All around us, the fury of the storm was raging, shaking the glass windows, the rain hammering down ruthlessly. Yet despite this her voice drowned it out.

"You're insane!" She was screaming. I smirked, the break in her voice revealing just how much pain she was in.

"At least I'm not the one labouring under a delusion that I could save the entire world from evil." I said. "How utterly pointless of you to run around thinking you could've stopped any of this. If you had the slightest shred of self respect you'd just give up. Corbin is mine. Everything you fight for is a lost cause."

Hermione froze, her pale face becoming whiter, her lips parting in what looked like surprise.

"You astonish me, Tom." She said quietly. "There is really no limit for you, is there? Well. I'm not about to give up anytime soon, I promise you."

"And I in return," I replied smoothly, "Am going to promise you that I will make your existence pure Hell. This is nothing compared to what I can do, I assure you. You have cracked the ice of my patience, but lying beneath the surface of this... I can promise you horrors you have never dreamt of."

Hermione stepped towards me, coming so close to me I reflexively clenched my wand.

"Bring it on." She stared directly into my eyes, I could see the defiance shining behind her so clearly revealing the reservoirs of strength within her I hadn't yet crushed.

"I see now." My voice was cold.

"Well, say hello to the beginning of your end, Hermione. Now. How about you run along and start preparing. Because my powers are realms beyond you, and if you want to challenge me and be taken seriously you will at least need to be able to match me for magical strength first. I am tired of your childish antics. Come for me when you are at my level. Spare me these dramatised demonstrations of your personal weaknesses."

"You undermine me, Tom." Hermione stood, unwavering before me like the stubborn fool she was. If only she knew what she was doing. "But what's new?" She gave a laugh that sounded somewhat strangled. "I know things you don't already. I'm already realms ahead of you, and you know what? I could almost say I feel something like sympathy towards you, because you have no idea of how much so."

"Go ahead," I said carelessly. "Why don't you show me what you're truly made of, then." I tilted my head to the side as I considered her. This little show of bravery was... amusing. It was always appealing to see that crooked persona of hers rising up with the false impression it could overcome what I was throwing at it.

"Maybe I will." She snarled. She stormed past me, her braid half out and a livid look on her face. I waited until she had left, giving her a moment to give her that false sense of security that I wasn't on her heels.

Not long after, I walked out of Ravenclaw Tower deep in thought. This was going to end with death, the rage sparking within me was rearing its head, her defiant look driving me into a state of absolute incomprehensionable rage. After everything, she still refused to submit to me?

I walked down the spiral staircase, lost in thought as I passed random group of Gryffindor girls in the Hall who squealed as I neared them. My mind was racing miles ahead, I wasn't focused on my surroundings. I had work to do. I had to destroy this threat. I had to eliminate it from the source, at any cost. I had to look at ways of protecting myself at any cost. She was insane, and she was somewhat right. I did underestimate her. I underestimated her insanity, her hellbent mind intent on conquering me by any means possible. I had to make myself absolutely indestructible just to contend with the idea that she would not rest until she "won" over me.