The rest of the month seemed to drag by pretty slow, as Hermione was finally able to officially join the seventh year class; she had, to no one's surprise, gotten an O (Outstanding) in all her O.W.L.S. October was long gone, and November had arrived filled with high expectations and lots of stress, - not only for Hermione, who has been stuck in-between her piles of books and brewing the Felix Felicis; but to all other students.
The thick rain and thunder had arrived at Scotland, bringing with it an unpleasant atmosphere to surround Hogwarts's grounds. Everything was gloomy, dark, and cold, -even the ghosts would often be seen crying for their deaths, dripping massive extents of spectrum into the students' food or robes as they hovered by. – "Ew, that's bloody disgusting" – would be heard now and then, as the pupils complained, only to earn a loud shout from the dead as they flew away, crashing against the portraits on the brick walls and disappearing.
Not even Peeves, the Slytherin poltergeist, was seen pranking the students (with the exception of his house), or harassing the portraits like he had on a daily basis. Hermione was feeling it too: the eerily expectation that something bad was bound to happen soon, and it made the hair at the back of her neck stand.
Patrick Howell reached forward, splashing large amounts of salt on his food. He was a seventh year Ravenclaw who shared Astronomy and Potions class with Penelope and Hermione, a clingy boy with blonde hair, big cheeks and a round belly. He reminded her an awful lot of a blonde Dudley Dursley, though Hermione cursed herself for not being able to recall Harry's cousin as the last time she saw him. She had started to forget more things, there were gaps on her memory, - and it was unnerving.
"Have you seen the last Daily Prophet?" He asked as he chewed on his steak. His brown eyes wandered to Ursulla, who met his stare, and he winked unattractively, drips of sauce escalating down his chin.
The other blonde averted her gaze, reaching for the newspaper and handing it to Hermione, who was sitting by her left. "Things are looking pretty ugly for us wizards." Lovegood whispered, large pink glasses adorning her bright eyes.
Hermione lowered her gaze to the paper, where a moving picture of Gellert Grindelwald could be seen, escaping from a window, a wand held tightly on his hand – and she didn't have to look twice to recognize it.
-Daily Prophet-
Grindelwald:
TERROR CONTINUES
Grindelwald has delved into his research on the Deathly Hallows and uncovered the location of the Elder Wand. Rumors have been circulating that the well-known wandsmith Gregorovitch, had the wand and was trying to duplicate its properties. Grindelwald broke into Gregorovitch's workshop, laid in wait for the wandmaker to return, stunned him, and stole the wand, thereby becoming its new master.
His current location is, unfortunately, unknown and the extent of Grindelwald's success in his revolutionary endeavors is unclear. He has already succeeded in creating a fortress, Nurmengard, to serve as his power base, apparently using it to imprison the wizards against his views as well. It is unknown, however, how many he has captured this far.
-M. Carneirus
"This is bad," Mumbled Penelope, her hand dropping the paper, eyes focusing on her food. "No one's safe anymore. He will rise to power, he will take over the Wizarding world."
"The Ministry of Magic will get him," Patrick said, no longer focused on his food. It was as though this conversation had stolen his appetite. "The aurors will catch him and kill him."
They wanted to believe him, they wanted to believe him so badly, but Hermione knew that was not going to happen. Chaos, strive and pain would soar in the air on a daily basis, innocent blood would be shed, pure magic would be turned into dark arts. She had seen it once.
"Right?" Patrick's voice sounded uncertainly.
He was glaring at her, eager for a nod of agreement, Ursulla and Penelope soon joining him. But Hermione sat still, eyes locked on the dark wizard on her hands. She crumbled the paper and tossed it away, watching as it flew in the air and landed on the fireplace behind Patrick. Grindelwald's face melted with the blue flames, ink dripping on the ashes. Suddenly, he didn't look as glorious anymore! She then glanced at her friends, lips pursed, eyebrows raised.
"Right."
♡
The rest of the day passed without great incident, apart from Patrick's caldron exploding in Potions, unfortunately (or not) landing on Malfoy's neatly combed hair. Professor Slughorn gave Patrick detention, and the poor boy returned from it in a state of nervous collapse, having been made to disembowel a barrel full of horned toads. Abraxas Malfoy, however, seemed very pleased with it, for he had been spreading Patrick's incident around the castle, not even once stopping to think about how his hair had been dripping a disgusting, green substance for a long hour.
"Malfoy, that git," Shrieked Penelope, hugging her Ravenclaw robes closer to her chest. It was still raining outside, and the students were running down the corridors, using their bags as umbrellas whenever they had to cross the yards. Hermione rolled her eyes at their stupidity, putting on her hood. It was like people forgot they even had it. Penelope glanced at her briefly, embarrassment flushing her cheeks for not acknowledging her hoodie, and she too placed it above her head. "Poor Patrick though, if he were a snake I bet Slughorn wouldn't give him detention."
"I reckon Slughorn has a slight preference for Slytherins," Hermione said thoughtfully.
"Slight?" Mocked Penelope.
They reached class 31, where a large wooden door stood before them, the words 'Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom. No cursing allowed.' carved neatly on it. This was Hermione's first D.A.D.A. class with Ariana Dumbledore, and she was highly nervous and somewhat intrigued. Ariana hasn't been able to teach for the past month, stating that she had some business to take care of at the Ministry, instead the students would gather at the Library and use the hour as a study period. But not today, Albus' sister was back and ready to teach.
They hurried into the chairs right in front of the teacher's desk, followed by Ursulla and Patrick who had arrived now, took out their copies of The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, and waited, unusually quiet. Green robes and a shiny Head Boy badge caught Hermione's attention, and she watched as Tom Riddle himself, took a seat at the desk to her right, earning a few swoons from the other girls around.
Soon they heard light, elegant footsteps coming down the corridor, and Ariana Dumbledore entered the room, looking as beautiful as ever. Her hoodie was covering her perfectly curled locks as she walked, wand aiming at the board in a writing motion. The words 'unforgivable curse: Imperius and how to resist it' appeared on the board, earning a few gasps and murmurs among the students.
"Silence," she called, walking over to her desk and sitting down, "as you all can see today we have a very interesting matter to discuss."
They perked up at her words, looking interested. Ariana glanced around the seventh years, studying them intensely with her eyes. Then she continued.
"I should start by saying that the use of this particular curses are completely restricted within and outside school walls—" her gaze lingered slightly on Hermione, who shifted on her seat, wondering if the younger Dumbledore knew anything about the past incident. "And the consequences of those who even dare try it, will be very...severe."
"Right then," she said, upon glancing around the scared faces staring back at her. Her message had been very clear. "Let's start, shall we?"
There was a general murmur of assent.
Ariana's gaze landed on Tom's dark eyes as she stood from her seat and walked toward the front of the class. Tom's gaze did not falter, not even for a millisecond as he held her gaze; after what seemed like an hour but had been in fact a few seconds, the professor broke the stare, mumbling 'interesting' under her breath and crossing her hands behind her back.
"Who would like to volunteer?" She asked. People immediately glanced away, some even tried hiding their faces behind their partner's back, afraid to get chosen. Ariana lifted her eyebrow, a frown adorning her lips. "No one? Such a pity."
"I'll volunteer." Hermione snapped her head at the boy to her right; her eyes widening as he rose from his seat. Ariana's lips tugged slightly, but she quickly hid it, nodding her head.
"Ah! Tom Marvolo Riddle," She said. "I've heard many things about you, boy. Excellent things indeed."
Tom nodded his head slightly, standing tall and proud before the woman. "Resisting the Imperius Curse is possible, but requires great strength of will and character. " Ariana began, circling once around Tom with her wand by her hand. "The fact that it can be resisted makes it unique amongst the Unforgivable Curses as it is the only curse that has a manner of defence."
"Who would like to try? '' Everyone was silent. Ariana chuckled lowly, taking a few steps closer to Tom. '' This is the only time you'll be able to cast such spell without any consequences and under my utmost vigilance... No one dares? ''
Again, everyone either looked away or hid themselves, causing Ariana's features to crumble with anger. She huffed, pointing her finger at the girl who sat near to her, -Hermione. She looked around confused, making sure Ariana was indeed pointing at her.
"Yes, you. Stand up, girl."
With trembling hands and legs, Hermione slowly rose from her seat, earning a few encouraging smiles from her friends. She walked next to Tom, who glanced at her over his shoulder, a cold look on his face, which she did not know if was for her or the teacher.
"On my count." Ariana instructed, watching amusingly as Hermione raised her wand at Tom. "3, 2, 1, now."
"Imperio."
They stood there, neither of them moving, as the yellow-green light swirled around Tom's figure, the powerful and sinister spell trying to reach his mind. Dark and warm brown eyes locked, teeth gritted and sweat began to drip from both foreheads, each one struggling with distinct things: Hermione twisted her wrist ever so slightly, the tip of her wand aiming steadily at the victim; though Tom was still resisting the curse, his will power stronger than hers. But there's only much one can take, and Tom's stiffened muscles began to relax ever so slightly, his eyes losing their hardness, lips falling to a tiny gap. The curse had overcome him, he was completely and utterly under Hermione's total control.
Slow, loud claps echoed around the large room, and Hermione glanced briefly to see Ariana Dumbledore staring at them intensely, a small side grin plastered on her face. The woman stopped clapping, her expression fading back to a blank one.
"As you all probably know, there are currently lots of witches and wizards being controlled by the Imperius Curse," said Ariana, and Hermione's eyes travelled back to a stunned Tom, before glancing around the astonished students, -their mouths agape. She, much like all of them, couldn't believe she had won against the Tom Riddle, the all-powerful wizard. "The Imperius Curse can be fought, and I'll be teaching you how, but it takes real strength of character, and not everyone's got it." Ariana's eyes glared Tom's unmoving figure up and down, before glancing back at the class.
"Not even the greatest wizards." She clicked her tongue. "Better avoid being hit with it if you can. But you always need to be prepared."
The woman walked back to her seat before eyeing each students carefully, dismissing Hermione with a slight wave of her hand. Hermione lifted the curse from Riddle, watching as his eyes slowly went back to their normal state, narrowing them at the girl once he was back to himself. Both sat back on their chairs, not muttering a word.
Hermione glanced at Tom from her peripheral vision: his cheeks flushed with slight embarrassment, chest heaving up and down with each breath, hand tight against his wand on his pocket. But what caught her attention though, was the glare he was giving the younger Dumbledore, his dark eyes burning her skin, tiny tinges of red appearing around his iris.
Ariana was speaking again, from a great distance, it seemed to Hermione. With a massive effort, she averted her look, and listened to what she was saying.
"(...) it is, of course, only allowed in this classroom and under my vigilance. You are not to use this curse outside that door, am I making myself clear? " the class nodded in union.