Six years after the Battle of Hogwarts, Auror Hermione Granger activated a mysterious dark object, which unexpectedly sent her decades into the past.
The year is 1966, and Tom Riddle, now known as Lord Voldemort, returned to British wizarding society after a decade-long absence. Under the pretense of securing the DADA teaching post, he returned to Hogwarts to conceal one of his Horcruxes, Ravenclaw’s Diadem. However, the coveted position had been stolen a week before his arrival by an intriguing witch. As manipulative schemes emerge, tension builds into a ruinous obsession.
Cormac McLaggen’s body fell away from Hermione’s with a heavy thud.
She stared at his lifeless eyes with shock and horror. Her hand shook as she lifted it and pressed it against her lips. A forceful exhale left her lips as the polished shoe belonging to Tom Riddle nudged the dead wizard’s body without care.
She looked at him sharply. “What did you do?”
He gave her a bland smile and pointed his wand at Cormac. Silently, Tom transformed the body into a bone before bending to pick it up.
“You know what I’d do for you, love,” Tom said in a light voice, smiling at her. He slipped the bone inside his pocket and took a step toward Hermione. He gently placed his hand against her cheek. “Would you not have done the same for me? If someone was coercing me like he was with you?”
Hermione closed her eyes as Tom rubbed his thumb across her face. “I would have done worse,” she sighed. “But not at Hogwarts,” she tacked on with reproach.
Hermione felt Tom’s lips brush against her forehead, and she inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of his spicy cologne.
“I know what you’d do for me,” he said, ignoring the last part of her statement.
Hermione allowed him to pull her closer to him and rested her cheek against his strong chest, listening to the steady thrum of his heartbeat.
“I’d do anything,” she whispered.
He didn’t respond, but she didn’t need him to. She knew he’d do anything for her, too.
They were fools for one another.
.
.
.
It’s been a minute. very loosely inspired by Cherry Hill by Russ.
