Time Changes All Things: Now Complete

Chapter 4: Meet the Knights

Professor Dumbledore resoundingly cleared his voice and called out, “Miss MacMillan, will you please stay after class for a moment?” Hermione looked over at Tom who looked suspiciously at Dumbledore. Under hooded eyebrows, he nodded at Hermione, squeezed her hand and with one last glance left the classroom. Hermione hugging her books, walked up to the front of the room.

“What do you need Professor Dumbledore?” Hermione asked abruptly.

Professor Dumbledore in a worried voice and concern on his face said, “Hermione, I implore you to show caution in your relationship with Tom. He is very powerful and convincing.”

Hermione sat down in a chair with her legs crossed and her foot tapping in mid-air.

The knitted eyebrows Dumbledore wore expressed fully the apprehension concerning Hermione fraternizing with Tom and his friends. “Before you know it he has pulled you into his evil.”

Hermione, with a nervous laugh quickly retorted back, “Don’t you think I can handle things?”

Trying to be kind, but firm, Dumbledore went on, “Frankly my dear I don’t think you know who or what you are dealing with.”

Hermione, quickly standing, stubbornly rejected this notion, “I do understand Professor. I have seen his evil firsthand. I saw him kill my best friend. I haven’t forgotten that!” Hermione could feel that her face was beet red. How dare he accuse her of not understanding what was going on. “Professor, I am smart; as you have told me before. I am a good person and I will do the right thing.” Hermione briskly turned her back to Dumbledore and walked away.

As she was leaving, Dumbledore spoke quietly, “It doesn’t take long for a halo to turn into a noose.”

Hermione, stopping for a moment with a pained look on her face, let his words flood her heart. Taking one last glance at Dumbledore, who was solemnly staring back at her, she couldn’t help but glare as she left the classroom.



As soon as the door shut, Hermione felt two strong arms encircle her from behind and rope around her waist. Tom leaned his head over Hermione’s shoulder and whispered in her ear, “What did the old fool want, love?”

Hermione turned in Tom’s arms, “He was warning me about the evil wizard that I have been spending time with.”

Tom dipped down, gave Hermione a hard and long kiss. “Did you tell him you didn’t need nor want his advice?” Tom asked sarcastically.

Hermione giving a slight giggle voiced, “I told him I am a big girl and can handle things.” Wagging her eyebrows and winking at Tom, she stated in a provocative voice, ”You know you haven’t been that bad so far.”

Tom growled and dove in for another, lengthy kiss; then trailed kisses down Hermione’s neck. “Oh Tom, I…” but before she could say any more, he had once again crushed Hermione’s lips in a bruising kiss.
Tom’s hand leisurely moved up Hermione’s hip, then to her waist until his hand cupped her breast. Giving a hard squeeze, he pinched her nipple harshly. Hermione jerked back, “That hurt Tom!” Pulling Hermione back into his embrace, he reassured her, “You will start to enjoy everything I do to you.”

Hermione’s face was full of misgiving. Tom rubbed up against her so she would feel his erection. He knew that doing these things unsettled Hermione and right now he wanted to show her who was in charge. Hermione was not naïve about this fact, but was trying with all of her heart to grow “close” to Tom. She knew that they both were playing games, but how far would she go to win?

“What are you thinking about Hermione?” asked Tom as he moved his hands up and down Hermione’s back. Smiling, she reached up to pull Tom’s head back down to hers. Slowly, but firmly, her lips pressed against Tom’s as she slid her tongue into his mouth; hearing him groan he pulled her even closer.

“Tonight is the night Hermione.” Pulling back again, she questioned Tom, “The night for what Tom?” Did he want what she thought he did? Was she ready to have sex with him yet? She chastised herself for even attaching the word “yet” to that thought.

Gripping her arms firmly and giving her a small shake, Tom spat out in a biting tone, “Hermione listen to me, this is important. I need to show you something tonight of great significance to me.” The severe look on Tom’s face made Hermione realize she might not like what he wanted her to see. ”It is time I show you who I am and who I want you to become.”

Biting her lips fretfully Hermione whispered, “You are really making me nervous Tom.“

Throwing his head back and giving a cold laugh, Tom told Hermione, “I like to do that to people. But you are in my good graces, so you have nothing to worry about.” Hermione tried to give Tom a small grin, but was still filled with great apprehension. “It’s not the case for others who have forgotten their place,” Tom said with narrowed eyes. Taking Hermione’s hand in his, he led her down the hallway with Hermione struggling to keep up with his long-legged pace.


Later that night

The knocking on the door woke Hermione from a deep sleep. She had taken a nap after Tom had said they would be up very late that night. “Come in,” she mumbled in a slurred voice. The door opened and in walked Tom wearing a plain, black robe. The only thing on the robe was a patch with a large “KW” on the left side of the robe. The “KW” was woven with green and silver thread and was made of two intertwining snakes. In his arms he held another black robe.

Tom came over and sat down on the bed beside her. Reaching out to Hermione he pulled her body against his. He leaned in to smell her orchid scented hair, inhaling deeply. The sweet smell of Hermione filled Tom with passion and lust. Shaking his head back and forth slightly his lips grazed her neck, his hair tickling her, and giving her goose bumps. His powerful arms held her tight making her senses swirl.

Laying her down, he covered her tiny frame with his large, muscular one. She moaned with delight as she welcomed his body against hers. It felt good melting into his embrace. Hermione could feel his rigid hardness thrusting into her thigh.

She opened her legs even wider drawing him even closer to her core. Tom slid his hands down her firm breasts, and over her stomach feeling each curve until his hand rested on her mound. Every movement from Tom only made Hermione want to be more intimate with him. Tom’s fingers swirled in a circular motion around her slick folds, grazing her clit and reducing her breathing to soft pants. Hermione bumped her pelvis up to meet Tom’s fluid motions in search of some kind of release.

Breaking away from Hermione, Tom swiftly sat up trying to gain his composure. Hermione lay on the bed trying to catch her breath and clenching her thighs together to stop the ache. “I wish that we had all night to spend here in your bed, that will have to wait until another time, but I can assure you that it will happen,” Tom said as his hands ran one more time on the inside of her thigh. “We need to meet my Knights right now,“ Tom spoke with shallow breath.

Sitting up and putting her hand on his arm, Hermione tried to sound surprised and curious, “Your Knights Tom?” Giving her arse a squeeze he stood, “Yes Hermione, you will learn all about them tonight.” Tom handed Hermione the black robe and instructed, “Take off your school robe and put this one on.”

Hermione saw that the robe Tom handed her was identical to the robe he was wearing. As she took off her school robe and donned the new robe, Tom‘s eyes never left Hermione’s. The desirable, glazed look he gave Hermione showed he wished she were taking more than the robe off.

His eyes trailed up and down her body making Hermione want to jump back into his arms. Tom cast a Disillusionment charm on Hermione and on himself. Hermione shivered as she felt the spell wash over her body like a cold shower. She felt Tom clutch her hand and they left Hermione’s room.

He led then deeper into the Slytherin dungeons. They walked until they came to a dead end where Tom held up his hand and uttered something in parseltongue and the wall disappeared. Clasping Hermione’s hand, he led her into the dark tunnel; while Hermione chewed on her lip, as she hated dark places.

Uttering “Lumos,” his wand became the only light. Hermione shivered at the cool, damp enclosure that they were making their way through. The further they went, the more Hermione’s anxiousness increased. Here she was being led to who knows where by the man she had come back in time to eradicate. She knew what he could to do her if he chose. Feeling this way only made Hermione bite her lip even harder until she tasted her own blood.

Stopping so suddenly that Hermione slammed roughly into Tom’s back, he whipped around, “I can sense your foreboding Hermione, stifle it now.” Tom, incensed, seemed to pulsate with heat. ”I will not have my followers see the woman I have chosen as a scared rabbit!” But that is exactly how Hermione felt; she was the cornered rabbit and Tom was the fox coming in for the kill.

Hermione whimpered, “I’m sorry Tom.” Violently pushing Hermione against the moist, chilled wall, he pressed into her sharply. Bringing his wand up to her face and grinding it into her cheek, with gritted teeth he shouted out, “I do not want to ever hear you say you are sorry again! I am never sorry about anything I do. You will do the same.”

Hermione could see the veins popping in Tom’s neck as he lashed out at Hermione. “Do I make myself clear?”

Feeling the rocks behind her pushing sharply into her flesh, Hermione whispered, “Yes Tom, I understand. I’ll do as you say.”

Tom’s eyes showed no emotion other than wrath at Hermione’s mistake. “Let’s go, we have guests awaiting us.”

Hermione knew she had crossed a line with Tom, but as unbalanced as he was already, the lines weren’t always that clear. Hoping that she didn’t anger him again that night, she quietly followed Tom, not saying anything.

Coming to the end of the tunnel Tom stopped. Turning to Hermione he handed her a black hood. “You must wear this the whole time we are entertaining our visitors. Clear?”

Taking the hood from Tom’s hand she said, “Clear, Tom.” She hated being talked to like a child, but now was not the time to cross him about it.

Tom put his hood on, and turning to Hermione he rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “Remember what I told you,” he said in his commanding voice, “You must be fearless.”

Turning quickly, Tom opened the door to a huge room. Inside stood a large group of black robed and hooded Knights lining the walls like dull black stones in their shadowy clothing. In the middle of the room were seated four scared shitless boys tied down to wobbly stools. Hermione could see the panic on their faces and feel the anxiety in the air.

As Tom proceeded into the room, all of the Knights dropped down to one knee and in unison said, “Our Lord, heir to Slytherin, and keeper of the darkness. We are at your service.”

Someone next to Hermione yanked on Hermione’s arm and roughly pulled her down next to them. With a cryptic voice, eerily familiar to the Voldemort of her time, Hermione heard, “Rise, my faithful followers,” as Tom raised his arms into the air.

Everyone in the room stood, eagerly waiting to see what their great leader was going to do tonight. “As you know my followers,“ Tom started as he circled around the room, “We are an assembly of perfection and power.” Hermione felt herself start to shake whether from the cutting air in the room or the proceedings that would take place.

“We are the pure ones in the wizarding world; there is more that is expected of us.” Tom said as he stopped in front of Hermione and turned towards her, “Our purpose is to gain power, and to rid the world of those unworthy, the dirty Muggles, Mudbloods and the disloyal Purebloods, those blood traitors.”

Hermione sweated underneath her hood and robe thinking what Tom would do if he knew she was really one of the Mudbloods that he hated. As if reading her mind Tom continued, “Pureblood is the only kind of wizard worth being or knowing.” Suppressing a crazy giggle, she thought how ironic it was that Tom was giving this demented speech with him being a half-blood. As history would show, this point never stopped him in his quest of superiority.

“Tonight is another step toward showing the worthless traitors that they are not welcome in our world.” As Tom continued his speech, all was quiet except for the whimpering coming from one of the tied down boys. “It is time,” Tom began, turning towards the terror stricken boys and saying almost in a whisper, “for your judgment, filth. Strip them.”

Hermione watched horrified as the four boys, one she recognized as a seventh year Muggleborn from Gryffindor, were untied and yanked from their chairs by unknown Knights. As hands roughly reached out; shirts, shoes, pants and boxers were ripped off of the captives. They soon were standing there naked and shivering. Tom threw his head back and gave a maniacal laugh. Pointing his wands at the naked student’s cocks he cast a stinging hex their way. ”They aren’t even skilfully endowed as we are. Some would be amazed and maybe frightened by what lies between my legs,” Tom proudly proclaimed as he turned in Hermione’s direction.

She could almost feel his smirk under his hood, making Hermione squirm. Pointing his wand to the ceiling, heavy chains fell down, “Incarcerous,” Tom said. The chains, with wrist cuffs, clamped down on the prisoners wrist. They were now hanging by their arms suspended one foot from the ground.

“Someone here help us please!” yelled one of the scared boys. Tom turned quickly to the one responsible for the outburst, “Silencio”, he said pointing his wand and casting the spell. “I did not say you could talk. Crucio.” The seventh year withered in pain, crying out silently and bucking against his chains.

Hermione felt herself wanting to rush to his aide. The Knight standing by Hermione pressed his arm across her body, stopping her from moving. Feeling hot breath against her ear she heard, “Don’t even think about moving or you will be next.” Hermione looked at the Knight recognizing the voice of Abraxas Malfoy as he said, “It will be over with soon. Don’t try The Dark Lord’s patience when the darkness is overcoming him.“

Hermione sucked in her breath as she heard Abraxas call Tom by that name. Tom again made a circle around the room. “Those who were chosen,“ he motioned to four Knights, “You will come forward to show your supremacy over these loathsome creatures.” Four of the Knights, including Abraxas, stepped forward in front of the four entrapped boys. With wands pointed forward they all said, “Mortiferum Flagellum,” shooting a stream of black from their wands, which shimmered as it shaped itself into a whip.

The Knights cracked their magical whips in the air. The youngest captive boy started crying seeing the whips and fearful what would happen to him. “You can’t even be man enough to take your punishment?” Tom mocked the fourth year as he sobbed, begging for mercy. “You don’t deserve our mercy,” then Tom spat in his face; laughing while watching the spittle run down the boy’s nose.

In unison, as if they had practiced, the four Knights drew back their whips accompanied by a ringing crack and met their targets, sending a miasma of dark magic into the air as the smoky black whips met their targets of bare chests. The shrill screams of the victims only fuelled on their attackers.

As each crack of the whip resounded, Hermione felt sick. Blood was leaking in trails down their chests, backs, buttocks and legs. The ugly welts, swollen red, were slashed open again and again. As the flogging continued the skin started peeling from the bodies of the innocent victims. The blood pooling at their feet was so offensive to Hermione she wanted to vomit. Even after fighting in the war with all its death and destruction this affected her differently. There was no great cause she was fighting for amidst this scenario of destruction. The room seemed smaller as the stench from the blood and defecation mingled in the air. Hermione dared not move. Gods, what had she gotten herself in to? Maybe Dumbledore was right, she hadn’t known what she was getting into; but she was in too deep now. She had to keep playing this wretched game. She knew that it was all a gamble whether or not she succeeded. But there were no means for her to quit now; play or die.

Snatching her out of her daze was the sound of silence; as the whipping had stopped.

“My Lord,” one of the Knights said, “This young one is not breathing.”

Hermione refrained from a gasping while Tom said, “He will be disposed of.”

A human life was over and the cold attitude towards his death was almost overwhelming to Hermione. The other three boys also appeared to be dead.

“What of the others?” Tom asked. After checking for signs of life, and were confirmed to be alive, Tom charged, “The others will be obliviated and dumped by the lake.”

At that moment Hermione wanted to ask to be obliviated also so she wouldn’t have to remember what had happened tonight. Tom had said that she would learn about the real him tonight and who she would become. Bloody Hell! This was not anything what she had ever wanted to aspire to. How was she ever going to keep this plan going? Hermione felt so confused, on one hand her relationship had deepened on many levels with Tom and she couldn’t get enough of him. But then after seeing this side of him tonight, that reminded her of who Tom Riddle was, the future Lord Voldemort, she hated him.

Tearing off his hood, Tom’s normally perfect hair was matted down. He walked up to Hermione and lifted her hood off. Feeling embarrassed, she was sure that her hair looked even worse than Tom’s hair.

Oh bugger! When did she turn into Ginny or Lavender and started caring about how her hair looked? It probably happened after a very handsome wizard said that he had chosen her and wanted her. Tom’s vanity was wearing off on her. Tom actually grinned and swept his hand through Hermione’s hair trying to flatten it out.

Smiling back at him she said, “You could do that all night long and it will probably look the same way as when you started unless I shower.” With that statement Tom’s eyebrows wagged up and down, “I may have to help you rectify your problem.” Leaning into Hermione he kissed her in his forceful way showing her what was now on his mind.

“Alphard, escort Hermione and Lucretia back to their room.“ Alphard nodded his head in acknowledgment of Tom’s order. Lifting his hand he rubbed Hermione’s face softly and tilted her chin up so she would meet his eyes. “When I am done here, we need to discuss some things.” Giving her one more abrasive kiss, he kissed her hand and Alphard led them out of the Room of Terror.

Shaking her head in confusion, she looked at Lucretia who only gave her a look of understanding. What had just happened back there? One minute a raging psychopath and the next a caring lover? What did he want to talk about now? Every time he wanted to seriously talk to her about something it was always connected to something unpleasant. What was waiting for her next? If she had known right then what it was, she would have run in the other direction back to 1998.


A/N: As always I must thank my supreme beta Curse Weaver, who so amazingly filled in the blanks in my story where needed. You always have such wonderful ideas!

Mortiferum Flagellum..(deadly whip)

The line in the story,"It doesn't take long for a halo to turn into a noose" I heard on the TV show, Lipstick Jungle found on NBC. Great show by the way!

Tell me what you think about "my" Tom Riddle now. Do you like the speed I am taking this? I hope so, because this story isn't going to take place over many years...at least I don't think so? PLEASE review and let me know what you liked about this chapter! I will try and give you more of what you like! Thanks!