HP Nocturne and Evening Bell

Chapter 8

Tom stood on a huge reef, the sea breeze disheveled his normally neat black hair, his face became paler, and his black eyes shone with a sickly brilliance.

"You came to see me?" Tom was still standing on the high rock, looking down at her.

"Yeah." Hermione didn't move, she just looked up at him.

"You just recited a poem by Tennyson, didn't you?"

Hermione was a little surprised: "You know Tennyson?" Tom actually knows about Muggle literature and Muggle poets?

"Once, an old lady donated some old books. I have read many of his poetry collections."

"Do you like his poems?"

There was a confused expression on Tom's face, he didn't seem to know how to express it, some deep confusion trapped him, he raised his hand and scratched the messy curly hair on his head: "I don't know, he always describes a It’s a horrible thing, and yet he goes out of his way to describe it, to celebrate it, to embrace it, and I’m terrified of it.”

Hearing the word "scared" come out of Tom's mouth, Hermione felt like she was dreaming.Crazy high-pitched laughter, glowing red eyes, only omnipotent pride and an unparalleled sense of superiority on his face, everyone is as humble as a reptile in front of him, what is he afraid of?He should only be afraid of himself. When he sees his snake-like face in the mirror and sees the fearful and dodging eyes of people around him, he will probably laugh out loud, but the eight-year-old self living in poverty is just a dirty Rather than mention the taint, he denied his origin and even his own name.Hermione looked up at the boy in front of her, and couldn't connect him with that fearsome demon, but she saw a thread stretched out from her childhood, firmly rooted, and gradually branching out in the countless wind, frost and sun. The luxuriant foliage turns into the inextricable fear that is inevitable from birth with original sin: death.

Yes, Voldemort was afraid of death.

Hermione continued to look at the boy in front of her. She saw the sea breeze blowing his lips gradually purple, and an unnatural blush began to appear on his face, and his standing upright body trembled a little, but he kept staring stubbornly into her eyes .

"You're afraid of death, aren't you?" Hermione finally said.

"Are not you afraid?"

"I'm afraid too." Hermione smiled, admitting that this is not a shameful thing, although she is a brave Gryffindor, although she decided to fight with Harry Ron until the Dark Lord is destroyed, although she is for herself The possible death erased the memory of her parents, but she admitted that when she opened her eyes again and found that she was not dead, but returned to 60 years ago, she still had uncontrollable joy in her heart and the hard work of being able to continue to live. Bliss, she loves fresh life.

"I am afraid of death, but I also respect death, and when it does come, I will accept it."

Tom opened his eyes slightly: "No, death is terrible. After Nagini died, he remained motionless and would no longer spit out bright red snake letters. It was lying on the ground, gradually rotting, and gradually disappearing. It would no longer respond to me. It left me, it left me." A little green snake came out of Tom's cuff, and he stroked its head.

"Nagini?" Hermione shook her body.

"I had a little snake, and it died." Tom fiddled with the little snake wrapped around his wrist. "It's also called Nagini, so I can pretend it's not dead."

There was such stubborn conviction on Tom's face that he even smiled.

"Death is inevitable, Tom." Hermione sighed.

"No, death is terrible and silent. No one knows Nagini's existence except me. Once he dies, he loses everything." Tom showed a nervous expression.

"But at least you remember it."

"It won't help, it won't come back to life."

"Tom, death is the end that must be sailed to. It makes you seriously examine the process of your life, and a great person does not really die. He will gain another life in some way."

"Is it magic?"

"No, I don't think this can be expressed simply by magic. Even Merlin, the greatest magician in the world, will die, but we will always remember him, do you understand?"

Tom showed a disappointed look: "Magic can't stop death?"

"I think so, it prolongs life, but it doesn't change mortality."

The little snake wrapped around his wrist slid back into Tom's cuff.

"Come down, Tom, it's windy, and maybe it's going to rain."

Tom didn't move, he began to look out at the rolling sea, and for a long time he didn't make a sound.

Hermione couldn't see the boy's expression clearly, she could only try to climb up the rock, the coat on her body hindered her movement, she fastened the buttons of the coat, took off her gloves, and grabbed the protruding rock foot.

Tom looked down at her in surprise.

"I think it must be a good view from here." Hermione jumped vigorously and stood beside Tom.

The wind became more and more howling, some sporadic sprays scattered on them, the sky became dark, and a flock of seagulls hovered over the sea, making shrill calls.Tom seemed to be lost in thought, staring at the distance of the sea with his dark eyes, motionless, until the strong wind blew Hermione's hair and brushed his cheek, and he was free from some emotion: "Are you still here?"

"Go back, it's really going to rain." Hermione reached out and grabbed Tom's arm.

Tom's hands were icy cold, but his face had an unhealthy flush. The little emerald snake swam into the sand and disappeared instantly.Hermione wrapped her coat tightly around her body and almost dragged Tom back.Drop by drop, the icy rain blurred the vision, and the beach was punched with dense sand traps. Hermione sank on the soft sand, and when she turned her head, Tom beside her had almost closed her eyes.

Merlin!The rain-soaked hand touched Tom's forehead tremblingly. The temperature there was frighteningly high. His eyelashes trembled slightly, as if he was about to open those breathtaking black eyes at any moment.

"Tom? Tom, can you hear me?"

Tom's mouth quivered slightly, and Hermione leaned over and couldn't make out what he said.She didn't hesitate anymore, bent down and hugged Tom's body vigorously, kicked off the boots that were stuck in the sand, and ran towards the orphanage.

The rain fell from the sky, and the dry branches made strange noises. The rain from the street lamps was like a fine curtain, and small pools had formed in some depressions.

When they reached the door, a thunderbolt fell from the sky, and Tom in his arms trembled unnaturally. Hermione skipped over the children who had gathered around to watch the excitement, and ran directly to the hall.

Mrs. Karl was a little surprised when she saw the situation of the two of them.Before she could explain anything, Hermione yelled directly to Madam Carl, "Ma'am, please bring a dry towel, I think Tom may have a fever."

The children beside them saw the wet Tom and exchanged complicated looks. They gathered together to discuss in a low voice, and then slowly dispersed.

Hermione didn't have time to think about it. She took off her wet coat and put Tom on a small sofa in the hall near the fireplace.At this time Tom was unconscious, his face was covered with rain and sweat, and his black hair curled randomly on his cheeks.

"God," Madam Karl exclaimed, looking up and down at Hermione who was drenched, "You're completely drenched, and Tom is barely wet."

"I'm fine, let's see Tom first."

"Oh, you..."

Mrs. Carl glanced at Hermione knowingly, bent down to wipe off the water droplets on Tom's forehead, took off Tom's damp coat, laid him flat on the sofa, and took a cushion as a pillow to rest on Tom's head. down, and found a feather quilt to cover Tom.

After finishing all this, Mrs. Karl got up and handed Hermione a towel, "Wipe quickly, you will get sick too."