Braving the Past

Chapter 40: Quite an Adjustment

Hermione and Tom landed on their hands and knees onto the hard ground. Their breathing was labored as their bodies adjusted to the lack of movement. Just ahead sat Hogwarts castle, its protective gate twenty feet away. The air was fresh and clear. She took a deep breath in, then looked around.

To Hermione's delight, the entire group had made it back safely. James nursed his side as he walked over to Peter. Sirius had certainly looked better, Lily had fallen to her knees in exhaustion, and Remus lay fully on his back, his limbs spread wide around him.

Hermione finally looked over at Tom to find his dark brown eyes already on her. They spoke a thousand words, but his mouth couldn't seem to form them. She, herself, didn't know what to think. Tom was finally here, right in front of her after all this time.

"Hermio – "

Hermione's hand whipped up and slapped Tom hard across his already bruised face. His mouth formed an "o", a palm moving to cup the cheek that already had a red mark forming.

Sirius tsked from where they stood a few steps away. "Bad luck, mate," he said, his voice slightly raspy.

"Not quite the welcome you were expecting, eh?" James added.

Hermione moved her hard glare to them, and their mouths bit closed. She rounded back on Tom. "What in Merlin's name is wrong with you?!"

"Hermione, I am so – "

"No. You don't get to apologize," she snapped, stabbing a finger towards him. "You get to deal with the consequences of your stupid actions. The next time you run off to achieve world domination and it goes south, we will not put in the effort to save you." She stood up roughly and smacked leaves from off her clothes, wincing when pain shot through her leg and up her spine.

Tom gave a subdued nod, his eyes leaving hers in shame. Hermione looked around at her friends. While James and Sirius consoled Peter, Hermione walked forward and helped Remus stand. She pulled him into a tight hug, which he returned with enthusiasm.

He raised a fist as he held her and shook it in the air. "Yay," he said tiredly. "We won."

Hermione laughed lightly and pulled away. "Don't ever change, Remus Lupin," she said, closing her eyes briefly. Her lids were feeling heavier by the second.

"Anyone remember the charm to get through the gate?" Lily asked.

Hermione turned around to look at Tom with a single raised eyebrow. "He does."

All eyes turned to Tom, who picked himself up from the ground. His black hair was a mess on his head, his clothes torn and covered in blood. He sent Hermione a look. "I haven't got a wand," he said.

"Well, he certainly isn't using mine," Lily scoffed.

Hermione looked around. James and Sirius shrugged, hiding their wands behind their backs while Remus settled for shaking his head in refusal. Peter was still a mess, and hadn't made eye contact with a single person since getting back.

Hermione briefly wondered what Voldemort had said to him back in the forest. Was this the start of Wormtail's betrayal? Was it all her fault?

Hermione huffed. "Fine. Take mine." She stuck her wand out angrily.

Tom grabbed it hesitantly, possibly gauging if it was truly okay. He walked forward and flicked Hermione's wand at the gate. The hazy enchantment slowly came down, allowing them to enter the grounds. Tom waited for everyone to walk through before closing the gate and resealing the protective enchantment.

"Should we be worried that he knows the spell for that?" James wondered.

Hermione ignored him and swiped her wand back from Tom.