Hermione's Riddle

Hermione's decision and Dippet's Plan

Hermione waited patiently as the rest of the class filed away. Once they were gone, she walked up to Newt Scamander. "May I ask you a question, sir?"

Kettleburn overheard her and hobbled over. The man's greasy black hair clumped to his scalp. His mustache twitched when he spoke. "Miss Norris, whatever question you have, I may be able to answer it."

Newt Scamander covered up his scoff by pretending it was a cough. Professor Kettleburn shot him an indignant look.

Hermione really didn't want Kettleburn there. She started to fidget on the balls of her feet and forced her face to redden. "It's kinda private, sir."

Professor Kettleburn's mustache twitched as he smiled. He nodded knowingly to her before parting ways.

Newt turned a keen gaze onto her. "What was your question Miss Norris since I can assume that you are not professing your feelings toward me since you already have someone."

Hermione ignored that last statement. "It's more of a favor than a question." Newt signaled for her to continue with a wave of his hand. "I need to find someone but I can't do it myself nor can I let anyone know."

Newt cocked his head, considering her words. "Who is it you need to find?"

Hermione wrung her hands together. "This is going to sound strange but I need to find the real Hermione Norris."

Newt blinked slowly before nodding. "Is there a place I should start from?"

Hermione blanched at his words. He wasn't going to ask her to explain? "You're not going to ask me why I'm looking for myself?"

Newt's shoulder twitched when he shuffled his weight onto his other foot. "Your accent and phrasing is slightly different. You seem knowledgeable and to possess information that you should not. I would have concluded that you were a spy but then I saw your sleeve ride up during one class." Hermione's face redden and she gave her arm a nervous glance. "Don't worry, no one else saw. From the evidence that I have seen, you are from the future, though I'm not sure by how long and I do not wish to know."

"You really are a genius."

"Just observant," stated Newt.

"Dumbledore told me that the Norris' resided in France. I'm not sure which city. Dumbledore also never mentioned them having a daughter. I had to find out through Riddle." Hermione shuddered when she mentioned Riddle. It wasn't from distaste but because she had been sent to the past because she happened to have the same name as someone from his memories.

Newt nodded in thought. "I must have read the body language from you and Mr. Riddle wrong. I am much better at reading creatures than people" mused Newt. Before Hermione could ask him what he meant by those words, Mr. Kowalski stumbled upon them. His pudgy face was covered in boils.

Newt flicked his wand without interest and the boils disappeared. Kowalski rubbed his face. "Magic is awesome."

. . . .

"Come in," rang Dippet's voice from beyond the door.

Tom pushed open the door to the headmaster's office. Summer was just around the corner and that meant the end of the school year. For Tom, that meant he had to go back to the orphanage. He tried to get one of his followers to allow him to stay with them and their family during the summer but all of their parents had refused. Tom's last resort was to ask Dippet if he could stay at Hogwarts. It was the same as every year. He already knew what Dippet would tell him but he had to at least try.

"Sir, it's about this summer."

Dippet looked up from the letter he was reading. "Tom, you know I can't allow students to stay at Hogwarts during the summer." Dippet shook his head causing white hair to fly around. The gesture reminded Tom of Hermione. He grimaced on the inside. Now was not the time to be thinking of that irking Gryffindor.