A Little Trip Through a Diary / TOMIONE (COMPLETE)

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Conflicted Conversations

"Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!"
_Hermione, Goblet of Fire_

If Hermione had ever needed a test of her intelligence, this was it. As she walked with Tom beside her, she analysed every mention of Voldemort in her head from the future and worked out where to adapt things. The complexity of time travel meant that whatever she said now was what would make Tom do all the nefarious acts he ended up doing in the future.

"For a start," Hermione began slowly, "Dumbledore becomes headmaster."
Tom looked annoyed but not surprised.
"This means," she continued, "that no-one dared attack the school. He's a formidable opponent in his old age and Hogwarts is impenetrable. One of your supporters unleashes the basilisk and it torments the school in my second year."

He looked coolly at her and she stared emotionlessly back.
"You were Petrified, weren't you?" He smirked.
Hermione gritted her teeth.
"Perhaps."
"That's what you get – for being a Mudblood!"

Hermione couldn't tell whether Tom had meant it to come out so positively gleeful but that insult didn't hurt her anymore. Barbs about blood impurity were petulant taunts and she had thought, foolishly it seemed, that Tom was above that level of nonsense.

"No response?" He asked curiously, searching her face for emotions with fervour like a pathologist dissecting a particularly interesting body.
She said nothing and went to walk off. Unsurprisingly, he grabbed her arm. His moves were becoming predictable.

"I wanted to hear more," he stated and it was a dangerous tone.
However, Hermione didn't particularly care anymore.
"I don't want to say anything else," she retorted. "I want to get away from you."
"Some ally you're turning out to be," Tom remarked with a glint in his eye.
Hermione felt she had overstepped any boundaries he'd ever set. But what was life without risks?

Tom had let go of her arm so she pretended to walk away and then swung round, punching him square in the face. He dropped instantly, both in shock and in immense pain.
"Never underestimate a Mudblood, Riddle," she said, breathing hard.
He looked up at her, face contorted in pain and nose bloody.

His pained face was all the reply she needed before she walked away, leaving him curled up on the floor.

*

Half an hour later, Tom sat with Abraxas in their empty dormitory. Abraxas dabbed tentatively at Tom's nose with a damp cloth.
"I think it's probably broken," Abraxas commented.
"You think?" Tom asked, annoyed. "Can't you ever just make a statement without being indecisive?"
"Tom..."

Abraxas appeared marginally angry, which was rare for him.
"For once in your life, just appreciate the amazing fact that Granger and I haven't given up on you."
"Granger has," Tom muttered, feeling very sorry for himself.
"Yeah, because you didn't reciprocate her feelings in the first place! How hard can it be to understand?"

Tom just stared, dumbfounded, at his red-faced friend. Abraxas groaned, slapping himself in irritation.
"For one whole moment in time Hermione Granger felt feelings for you. Those feelings weren't reciprocated, so she moved on. She never cared about your cause. Granger doesn't want people to die because, funnily enough, most people don't! But she was willing to help you if you were more than friends because that's what couples do. They fight, they argue, but they have each other's backs. And they never give up on each other."

"So, you're telling me that I don't understand human emotion," Tom said bitterly, trying to ignore what Abraxas had said about Hermione not caring about 'the cause'.
Abraxas rolled his eyes.
"You already knew that, Tom. You're not stupid but you are emotionally inept."
"Thanks."

"You're welcome," Abraxas replied, as though this was an ordinary conversation and Tom was the best person to riff with.
"What do you suggest I do then?" Tom questioned.
Abraxas blinked, surprised that the Dark Lord was requesting his advice.

"Ditch Granger. She did what everyone does when they first start school. They get in with the wrong group of friends and then realise, months later, that it wasn't right for them because they don't agree on anything."
Tom contemplated Abraxas' words. The boy could actually be worryingly perceptive at times.

"She's a Gryffindor," he mused, almost testing the words in his mouth.
Abraxas watched him with narrowed eyes.
"Gryffindors and Slytherins don't mix. Nor do Ravenclaws and Slytherins before you get any ideas."

"You and Augusta Longbottom had that thing," accused Tom.
Abraxas blushed.
"She was nice. I liked her."
"So? She's a Gryffindor."

"Fine. Gryffindors and Slytherins can mix. But Granger is not your type," Abraxas surrendered forcefully.
"Who is then?" Challenged Tom.
Abraxas went silent.
"There'll be someone else."

"Greengrass is pretty."
"Relationships shouldn't be based on looks, Tom!"
"Mine are."

Abraxas just shook his head in despair and Tom smirked evilly. He hadn't given up on Granger, no matter what Abraxas thought. He just needed to work out the best way to approach her.

*****

A.N. This story is reaching its finale! How will Hermione react to Tom's actions?

Thank you so much for reading and please comment anything you like! :)