Time Changes All Things: Now Complete

Chapter 28: Mistakes

Thoughts raced through Hermione’s mind as she comprehended what the Grey Lady had just divulged to them. She couldn’t believe that it was truly possible that soon she would have her hands on Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem. She would now be able to satisfy one more of her requirements to become an official follower of Lord Voldemort, and would also be a means of fulfilling her promise to Flamina. She had promised the goddess that she would do everything in her power to help Lord Voldemort fulfill his role of becoming a great and powerful leader in the Wizarding World.
Hermione had to quickly sit down as she felt dizzy and elated about the news.

Tom now jumped off the bed in a flurry and walked over to stand next to the Grey Lady. “My Lady, where is the diadem? Please would you be willing to share with us where it lay hiding?”

With the sly smile of someone waiting to share a great surprise, the Grey Lady spoke, “You know I have been watching you both. I like you.”

Tom was trying to be patient, but Hermione could tell he was ready to jump out of his skin, but he spoke calmly, “I am so pleased you like us, but…”

The Grey Lady’s laughter broke off Tom’s speech, “I will tell you, Tom Riddle; don’t fret.” Hermione saw Tom wince as the Grey lady referred to him ‘fretting’. She knew that Tom, more specifically Lord Voldemort, was not someone who was known to ‘fret’.

“My secret hiding place for the diadem is close to where I was killed.”

“Albania,” Tom said with a whisper.

“Yes, Tom Riddle, you will find the diadem in the Pindus Mountains Mixed Forest, hidden in a large European Beech tree.”

Hermione came to stand next to Tom, “So all we have to do is search every European Beech tree in the whole Pindus Mountains Forest?” The question almost came out in the form of a strangled cry.

Tom looked sternly from Hermione to the Grey Lady, “I think Hermione’s concerns are warranted. Can you be more specific as to the whereabouts of the diadem?” Tom put his arm around Hermione’s shoulders, pulling her closer to him, so as to stand united in their concern.

Once again, the eerie smile crept across the Grey Lady’s face. Reaching her hand up, she pointed to a small table sitting next to the fireplace. “Look in the drawer and you will find your answer.”

Tom and Hermione both rushed over to the table, simultaneously grabbing the handle on the drawer. As the drawer opened quickly, Hermione’s small hand reached in first to pull out a small scroll of ancient, yellowed parchment. Hermione’s fingers trembled as she tried to unroll the scroll without dropping it.

As she opened the scroll Tom’s head leaned over Hermione’s shoulder, “The Gods are watching over us,” Tom said triumphantly. “It’s a map of the Pindus Mountains Forest. “Tom, look, there is even an X marking the spot where the tree can found!” she smiled. Tom’s arms wound around Hermione’s waist swinging her around and around in the air.

Hermione screamed, “I can’t believe this!” Tom slid her down the front of his robes holding her tightly against him. Kissing her soundly, neither one wanted to stop, feeling so euphoric about this grand find.

The chortling in the room stopped their kiss, “I am so glad that this information pleases you greatly. I must take my leave of you.” The Grey Lady motioned towards the door.

Tom grabbed Hermione’s hand and they walked over to the beautifully tragic benefactor, and gave a deep bow to the ghost, “You have brought such valuable information to us this evening. We will forever be in your debt.”

Hermione stepped forward with a smile and a curtsey, “We do owe you so much, dear Lady.”

The Grey Lady shook her head, “The only thing you owe me is for you to be happy together. Do not end up like the Baron and I, haunting Hogwarts for the rest of our days.”

Tom and Hermione looked into each other’s eyes, and then slowly kissed. The Grey Lady floated away beaming; her secret now in the hands of Tom and Hermione.
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When Tom and Hermione finally emerged, several hours later, from the Room of Requirement, they were tired, but satisfied. They meandered down to the Slytherin Common Room, walking in arm in arm; they stared at one another, lost in each other and what they had just experienced together. They stopped to kiss once again, close together as their hands roamed freely over each other.

They were startled out of their own little world by voices, “You two need to stop hurting our eyes,” Radbourne said snickering, “You two seem awfully happy today.”

“What have you been at already this morning?” Lucretia giggled as she snuggled up closely to Abraxas leaning her head on his shoulder. She knew that when she had woken up this morning Hermione had not been in her bed. Abraxas turned to Lucretia and started nibbling her lips and then pressing kisses down the side of her neck, then traveled up to press his lips gently to hers. They broke apart, smiling, as they leaned forward touching their heads.

“Oi, way too much loving for me to stomach,” Alphard said making gagging sounds.

“Stop that, you arse,” uttered Amanda, “you are sour because you have no one to love. “

“I don’t need love,” said Alphard, “I want power and to be in control. I am not going to appear to be some pussy whipped fool.”

After Alphard spoke, Hermione noticed that Tom withdrew his arm from around her and the smile left his face. Tom looked ashamed and nervous after Alphard’s statement. The words “power” and “control” seemed to have hit a nerve with Tom, more specifically with Lord Voldemort. Tom went and sat down, leaving Hermione standing there by herself by the common room door. He did not even look Hermione’s way or motion for her to come and sit down by him. The quiet settled in and the atmosphere in the room took a chilling turn. Hermione, with a grim face, glanced once at Tom and hurried through the common room heading straight to her room.

All eyes were on Tom who was staring down at his neatly polished shoes.

“Bollocks, Alphard!” Lucretia shrieked, stood up and hit him in the arm, “You need to shut your blinking mouth!” Glaring at Alphard, Lucretia stormed off after Hermione. Amanda and Clarice then glared at all of the young men, who were not making eye contact with the remaining women in the room. Amanda cleared her throat, standing quickly, and smoothing down her school robes. With noses in the air, they followed Lucretia and went straight to Hermione and Lucretia’s room.

“What did I say?” Alphard truly was confused about the impact of his words.

“Don’t worry, mate,” Casper said, “Men will never figure out women and their feelings; it’s a hopeless cause.”

“Gods!” screamed Tom loudly as he ran his fingers through his perfect hair mussing it up. No one said anything at all as Tom sat raging at himself at how he had messed things up, once again, with Hermione.
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The knock on the door interrupted the consoling that was happening in the room. All eyes shot towards Hermione who shook her head, “No”, at whether the door should be opened or not.

“I know that you women are all there with Hermione, but I must talk to her,” his statement was met with total silence.

Lucretia mouthed to Hermione, “You know he won’t go away.” All three girls looked with trepidation towards the door.

“I don’t wish to speak to him right now,” Hermione whispered back. Clarice just rolled her eyes at the continued nonsense between Hermione and Tom.

“Just let him come in. You know he will get his way.” Clarice hopped off of the bed. “Come Amanda, we are not needed here anymore.” Clutching Amanda’s hand she swung open the door, as Tom fell into the room having been leaning on the outer door.

“She is all yours, my Lord. “ Clarice curtsied to Tom and swiftly walked away, with Amanda giving a fleeting curtsy running to catch up to Clarice’s side.

As Tom stood up and looked towards the bed, Lucretia was next to Hermione with her arm around her. Hermione did not look up as Tom sat down softly on the bed. Tom leaned forward towards Hermione but was stopped by Lucretia’s foot braced against his chest. Instant rage coursed through Tom as he stared at Lucretia. She had the audacity to try to prevent him from touching Hermione!

“She does not want to talk to you right now, Tom,” Lucretia said boldly.

“Hermione, look at me; stop being a fussbudget,” Tom shouted out exasperatedly.

“That is not helping, Tom,” Lucretia patted Hermione’s arm, who leaned against her with her eyes closed just listening.

Tom, hammering down his ever increasing ire, sat breathing heavily watching Hermione intently.
No other sounds were heard in the room until Hermione spoke, “It is fine, Lucretia, you can go.” She squeezed Lucretia’s hand and managed a weak smile. Hermione was giving in; she was too tired to keep fighting Tom.

Lucretia, ever Hermione’s defender, glared at Tom. With pinched lips and a toss of her head, she left the room slamming the door on her way out.

Hermione sat very still, looking down at her hands. Tom sat by her side was not sure what to say to her.”Hermione…what can I say? I fucked everything up again, as usual.” Tom paused, waiting for a response from her. As he sat silently watching her, he noticed her red and swollen eyes. His heart gave a little twitch of regret. His eyes wandered down to the swell of Hermione’s rounded belly. Under those robes his child was growing. He didn’t know how to be everything that Hermione needed. Being Head Boy, Lord Voldemort, lover and future husband and father…could he do it all? For the first time in his life, he doubted himself and being able to accomplish all of his goals.
Lost in his thoughts, Tom did not notice Hermione searching his face. She could tell he was troubled by something, more than just her not speaking to him. Tom felt a small, soft hand caressing his face. He leaned into the gentle touch being offered by Hermione. He always garnered strength from the love this woman had to offer him.

“I need you, Hermione, in order to fulfill greatness in life. I know that I am an arse at times, but that doesn’t mean I can do all of this without you.” Tom ran his fingers lightly over Hermione’s lips, and then replaced them with his lips, pressing tenderly. His large hands pulled her close and wandered down to stroke Hermione’s pregnant belly. His touch was gentle, but caused shivering tingles to spread over her body. Falling back on the bed, Tom pressed his body into hers. Hermione’s hands followed the lines of his muscular back and to his firm backside.

“You need to come with me,” Tom managed to spurt out between kisses to the side of Hermione’s neck and down her breastbone.

“Go where, Tom?” Hermione questioned as her hands slid underneath his shirt to touch his warm skin.

“We need to go to Albania to retrieve the diadem.” Tom unbuttoned Hermione’s robes and her blouse. His lips started sucking on her breast through the thin fabric of her cotton bra. Pregnancy was doing wonderful things to Hermione’s breasts, swelling them greatly and he was most excited about this fact.

Hermione moaned as Tom slid her bra off and latched onto a round breast. He really knew how to distract her and he did it quite often. His tongue swirled around a hard peak, biting down gently; to only moisten it again with his tongue. Hermione tried to comprehend what Tom had just said to her, while enjoying what he was doing to her body. Tom slid off her skirt, loving to stare at the changes in her body as the pregnancy progressed. Great pride filled his soul, as he realized that this was his son growing inside of his woman; his seed he planted that would fulfill a prophecy. Tom kissed every inch of her growing stomach while taking her panties off. Thunderstruck once again, Tom could not believe that he had been granted a gift like Hermione in his life. He never would have believed that a woman would be this important to him, would give him so much. He laid kisses to her mound, parting her outer lips, to suck tenderly on her nub. Hermione bucked up into his mouth, and he did not let go and continued sucking. The soft little moans escaped her mouth as she felt the pressure mounting down below.

“Oh Gods! You drive me absolutely mental when you do this!” Hermione clutched onto Tom’s hair, pulling tightly as her heart beat faster and her breath quickened. Her face, neck and chest were flushed red as her clit swelled in Tom’s mouth. The contractions overtook her body as her muscles rhythmically pulsed in pleasure.

With a pleased look on his face, Tom unzipped his trousers to free his engorged cock. Sliding in to her awaiting channel Tom thrust in, not rushing, but taking his time to feel every sensation. Every time he re-entered her, his arousal spiraled higher and higher increasing the sexual tension. The delicious friction continued as Tom made love to Hermione. As the sexual ride ended, his extreme release shook his body, smiling down at Hermione. Kissing her as a thank you, they lay cuddling together catching their breath.

Suddenly, as Hermione’s mind cleared, she pushed her hands against Tom’s chest, pressing him off her. “You said that you want to take me to Albania?” The look of shock on Hermione’s face made Tom laugh out loud.

With a grin, Tom said, “Of course I want to take you with me. The Grey Lady told us both about the diadem.” Hermione still looked taken aback, “I can’t leave you alone without you getting into trouble.”

She smacked him on the arm, “That is not true. “And she actually grinned up at him.
Pulling her back into his arms, he kissed her again, “The truth of the matter is I am not going to leave you alone here with Dumbledore.”

Hermione stopped to stare at him, “What do you mean, Tom?” What does Dumbledore want to do with me?” The look of horror crossing Hermione’s face made him hesitate in telling her about the threat.

“He doesn’t like us together, Hermione. He feels threatened by our combined power.” The serious look on Tom’s face was scaring her.

Hermione continued to question Tom, “I need to know if Dumbledore has threatened me, Tom?” The pleading look on her face was wearing him down.

Tom looked down at the bedspread, then up at his worried fiancé’s face, “He was not happy to hear about the baby. “

Hermione sat up and started shaking, “Gods! He knows about the baby? How did he find out?” Her trembling hands went down to protectively cover the child growing inside of her.

“The night that Dumbledore followed you and Lucretia, he overheard you speaking about the baby. “

“Oh,” Hermione groaned, “I put our baby in harm’s way.” The distraught look on Hermione’s face and the tears falling from her eyes fueled the ever growing rage Tom felt against Dumbledore.

Giving her a big bear hug he rested his chin on her head. “He will not harm you or our child, love.” Hermione sobbed in his arms wanting to feel safe and protected; yet still knowing that there was someone out there that wanted to injure her and her child. Rocking her and mumbling words of comfort to her, soon she fell asleep in his arms.
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Once Tom knew Hermione was sound asleep, he sat up on the bed. Brushing her hair back from her face, he was glad to see her resting peacefully. A message needed to be sent to Dumbledore before they left for Albania. He wanted him to understand that he did not hold the upper hand in this “game” they were playing. Dumbledore would not win.

Tom quietly left the bedroom as Lucretia snuck back in. Clasping her hands in his he whispered to her, “Thank you for being a good friend to Hermione. You are always very loyal to her and I will never forget that, Lucretia.” He placed a kiss on the back of her hand and noticed the astonished look crossing her face. Swiftly she graced him with a warm smile and went into the room.

Tom felt happy and determined as he waltzed into his own room. Abraxas sat there studying, almost half asleep. “Are you in her good graces once again?”

“Yes, Malfoy, all is fine, but we have a mission to plan.” Tom tossed his robes on his bed and flopped down on his stomach, his head in his arms. Complete concentration took over and Tom looked as if to be lost in a trance.

Abraxas stood up from his chair to stretch and yawned, “What mission would that be?”
Tom looked up wearily, “To prove once and for all to Dumbledore, that he is the mouse and I am the cat,”

Puzzled, Abraxas strained to comprehend what Tom had just said, “What is this about the cat and mouse?” It was 1:00 in the morning; he was too tired to figure out any riddles.

“I am going to hex the living hell out of that meddlesome old fool,” Tom smacked his hands together, “and you, Mr. Malfoy, are going to help me do it… tonight.”

Abraxas groaned and smacked his head down onto his desk. Looking at his bed with longing, he knew it was going to be a very long night.
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