Venenum

Pseudonaja.

-Before continuing, I want to make a warning about the character 'Tom Riddle': Tom Riddle has a complicated personality. He is probably sociopathic, egocentric, sadistic / masochistic, narcissistic (in various subtypes) and manipulative.
And I believe that if he got into a relationship, he would probably develop codependency, obsession, and possessiveness.
So the maximum I can rate him for this story is as "anti-hero."

-The story will be classified as Explicit / Mature. Due to future scenes of violence, blood and sexual.

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Chapter 1. Pseudonaja - Time Turner

Edited January 2024

1998

Hermione was still standing, staring intently at the back of Harry Potter, who was making his way to his death. She took a deep breath, her chest aching and a lonely tear trickled down her cheek. Next to her stood Ron. When Harry disappeared from their sight, both gasped, not having realised that they were holding their breath. Ron was the first to move, turning the opposite way from Harry, ascending Hogwarts' grand staircase.

"We need to help him, Ron," she said.

"You heard what he said. We have to wait and kill the snake."

Ron continued up the stairs without turning to look at her, putting his hands in his coat pockets as if to hold himself back.

"He can't go. He's going to die!" Hermione said, a little desperately. "There has to be another way. We can't abandon him! He's our best friend!"

"I know, okay!" Ron finally turned to face her. His face held an expression mixed with anger and sadness. There were tears in his eyes and he struggled to keep them contained. His lower lip trembled. "I know," Ron murmured softly. His voice reflected deep sorrow for all the friends who had been killed, for his brother Fred and now for Harry Potter, his best friend. "I know," He repeated again.

Hermione ran to hug him tightly, holding him like a lifebuoy, weeping in his arms.

"I just need to tell Ginny." He holds Hermione while hiding his face in the tangle of her hair. "She needs to know."

After a while, he released her and went upstairs. She sat up, tears streaming down her face as she tried to dry them with the palm of her hand.

Hermione was alone in the rubble of what once was the beautiful and magical staircase of Hogwarts and now in its place stood nothing more than destruction, dust and gravel, and the smell of death. The pressure of the environment made her tense, making even her small beaded bag feel heavy, in the silence the whistle of the wind seemed ghostly. Alone, she was nauseated and weak, sad and desperate. Everything around her seemed dead and hopeless. And now, with Harry walking to his death, the gravity of the situation finally seemed to be too heavy to bear.

No!

Hermione condemned herself for her faithless thoughts. She couldn't lose her courage now, otherwise, all the acts, the deaths, the time spent just surviving, obliviating her parents, the sacrifices... Everything would have been for nothing. They can't give up now.

She lifted her gaze, determination shining in her brown eyes. Hermione wiped the traces of tears from her face, she breathed heavily as she stood up, her genius mind starting to make a plan to kill the snake. She had to go to Ron. They had to kill the snake.