He finally did it. He opened the Chamber.
Parseltongue flowed freely from his soft lips, and despite the fact that it slightly terrified her, not having any idea what it all meant, it seemed to only intensify her growing attraction towards him; whether she liked it or not, it was hitting her fast and hard.
“We’re here, Hermione. I’ve done it. I’ve actually done it.” He said, his voice sounding calm, but she could hear his excitement - this is the closest she’d ever get to seeing him truly happy - as he turned around and smirked at her once they reached the end of the Chamber. Hermione knew she’d blown it; she’d blown the mission in stopping Tom before he became Lord Voldemort. She let Dumbledore down. She let Ron down. She let Harry down. Most importantly, she let herself down. She knew now she had been too late to begin with - he had had these plans long before she had come into his life.
I could’ve stopped him. I know I could’ve. She had let her feelings get the best of her.
Hermione sighed in defeat. She looked away from Tom’s face which had been illuminated by what little light was coming into the Chamber, highlighting his cheekbones, making him appear almost angelic. Ha! Angelic. You never hear that word associated with the Dark Lord, do you? But this was different. This was Tom. Her Tom. The Tom she knew she’d gotten through to somehow, by evidence of those late nights, the passionate kissing and incredible sexual tension that sometimes was so hard to bare, Hermione would’ve gladly taken a Cruciatus curse instead.
She had gotten through his cold exterior, and somehow into his heart, but now it’s as if none of that matters. Tom Marvolo Riddle had accomplished what he’d set out to do for many years, and there was no stopping him. Not even Hermione.
“Hermione, come a bit closer,” he said, and she obeyed. He placed her in front of him, and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, whispering into her ear. A chill ran down her spine as she felt his warm breath against her neck. “This, is what I’ve been waiting for.” He said, and left it at that. He just held her, as Hermione stared ahead, knowing what lay inside the statue.
“Unfortunately, you’ve gotten too close. You know too much, and that my dear, is a problem.” He whispered in her ear, as Hermione shut her eyes tight. Suddenly he whipped her around, kissed her hard on the lips, and shoved her behind him, focusing now completely on the statue of Salazar Slytherin in front of him, Parseltongue once again gracing his tongue. She saw the basilisk - but only the body, she knew not to look it in the eyes - and started running for her life, knowing she wouldn’t be able to survive but it was worth a shot.
“Run all you want, my dear Hermione. It won’t do you any good.” He yelled, and those were the last words she heard Tom speak to her before the basilisk came towards her at an incredible speed.
