𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞 ⟶ 𝑻𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒆

CHAPTER SEVEN

7 | for the greater good

𝟺 𝚜𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟿𝟺𝟺

LATER AFTER THEY'VE had dinner, the golden trio decided to go to the Room of Requirement to discuss the incident that happened that day. Hermione was standing by the fireplace, getting herself warm from the colding wind. She frowned and stared at her two best friends who made themselves comfy on the couch. Ron was laying down, hands on the back of his head while Harry sat by the edge.

"So," said Hermione sternly, a wintry disapproval on her face, "are you going to tell us why you've lost control?"

Harry glared at her. "I can't help alright."

Hermione threw her hands in the air. "Really Harry? Do you know what you've just done?"

"I know alright!" he shouted but cringed back when Hermione's glare sharpened. "I just—I know but...I don't know..."

"Can you blame him, Mione?" said Ron, coming to his rescue. "Riddle's a git. Served him right though. Enzo said no one's beaten him in a duel before."

"That makes it worse, Ron," countered Hermione, frowning even more. "Isn't it clear? Riddle is on top of Slytherin house. He rules it. Harry beating him only means him going against Riddle in a sort of way."

Ron's face fell. He slowly sat up. "But it was a tie. Harry didn't win either."

"What does it matter? Only what matters is that Riddle didn't win the duel. What happened in Defence only raised questions—questions we can't answer truthfully."

Harry grimaced as Ron went quiet. "Brilliant."

"Everybody's been asking about it," said Ron shortly. "The Gryffindors. I didn't know what to say so I told them off."

Hermione's head fell to her hands, fingers gripping her hair. "First day and it's already a mess," came out her muffled voice.

"I'm sorry," said Harry softly. "I shouldn't have lost control."

Lifting her head from her hands, she saw Harry staring at his hands.

"I'm not blaming you, Harry," said Hermione slowly. "It's just...we haven't fully calculated the possibility of every outcome since coming here. We should've thought of a possible duel happening between you and Riddle. We should've seen it happen ever since that night in the graveyard. We just haven't been thorough enough. It's not your fault so please...don't blame yourself."

Harry's head bowed down in understanding.

"Alright. Here's what we're going to do," Hermione began as she sat on the couch. "If anyone asks about the incident after the duel, say that it's probably because Harry and Riddle's wand share a twin core." She hesitated before continuing, "and I think you need to learn Occlumency."

"Not again!" Ron cried immediately, ears going a shade of scarlet. "Remember what happened last time with Snape!?"

Hermione could fault him for being angry. Not when Snape saw the brief memory of when Ron slept with Lavender one night in the early stage of their relationship, leading to Snape taking fifty points from Gryffindor and a detention that required him to sort out rotten flobberworms from good ones without using protective gloves.

"He's right Mione. It's hopeless for the both of us," Harry reasoned.

"Well that's because you two just can't seem to control your emotions and hatred for Snape!" she scolded them, crossing her arms. "Maybe with Dumbledore, you'll have more luck."