Can't run from time

Hermione's first task was clear: find and kill the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets. The idea alone made her stomach churn, but the realization that it was the only way to destroy the Horcruxes gave her no choice.

One night, armed with spells and trembling courage, she slipped away from the Gryffindor common room. The castle was eerily silent as she made her way to the second-floor girls' bathroom, where Moaning Myrtle hovered.

"You're back," Myrtle said with a sly smile. "The other boy doesn't visit anymore. What are you up to now?"

Hermione ignored the ghost's musings, her wand raised as she hissed in Parseltongue, mimicking what Harry had once described to her. The sink shifted, revealing the dark, spiraling entrance to the Chamber.

Sliding down, Hermione landed in the damp cavern, the stench of decay filling her nose. Her heart pounded as she moved deeper into the chamber, wand raised, her eyes darting in every direction.

"Come out," she whispered, her voice shaky but firm.

The basilisk's hiss echoed through the chamber, its massive form slithering out from the shadows. Hermione froze as the beast's yellow eyes locked onto her, but before it could strike, she cast a blinding spell.

"Lumos Solem!"

The basilisk recoiled, its hiss turning into a roar as it was momentarily disoriented. Hermione seized her chance, darting toward a nearby pillar for cover. She fired a barrage of spells, narrowly dodging its deadly fangs.

The battle was brutal, her magic weakening with each spell cast. She felt awful. this is what harry went through back in their second year. 

 Finally, with a desperate lunge, she plunged a sharpened enchanted rod she conjured  through the basilisk's mouth, piercing its skull. The creature let out a final screech before collapsing, its massive body stilling as blood pooled beneath it.

Breathing heavily, Hermione approached cautiously. She retrieved one of the beast's fangs, its venom still potent. The weapon of destruction for the Horcruxes was now in her hands.She carefully placed it in a bag. She looked up at the dead creature.

Oh god. How will tom react when he finds out? she thought. 

She sprinted out of there as fast as she could. When she was back in the bathroom she sighed. At least now, Harry wouldn't have to do this in the future..

She looked in the mirror and saw herself, god she looked worse than she did at the battle of Hogwarts..

She cautiously waited for prefect duty to be over. When the castle was quiet she crept out and back to her dorm.

The door to their shared room creaked open, the dim light from the fireplace casting a warm glow across the space. Hermione stepped inside, her breath uneven as she tried to steady herself. Blood stained her robes, her hair was disheveled, and every muscle in her body ached from the fight.

She walked slowly through their common room and to the bedroom.

She froze when she spotted him.

Tom was in bed, propped up against the headboard with a book in his hands. It was the first time he'd been in their shared room in weeks. She hadn't expected him to be there. His eyes flicked up from the pages for just a split second, it was sharp and piercing, before he looked back at his book.