A/N: Okay so I'm not very good at writing, so I put that as a warning haha. I'm new at this but I'd love to get some feedback as motivation if you'd like to. And since I'm from Sweden my english's not the best but I figured I'd give it a try! :) This fic is firstly dedicated to all Tom/Hermione-lovers out there (and to those who aren't who should really give it a try) and to Anna, my dear friend who had to put up with me talking about Harry Potter for days and writing instead of seeing you, this is for you hun!

Disclaimer: Not that I wouldn't like saying that this magical work is all mine, I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. It's JK Rowling's, that brilliant woman...

Tears of an Angel

Prologue: A word for the truth

Seventh year now, Hermione thought to herself as she leaned towards the window. Seventh year of being Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of my age. What a shame it couldn't last longer.

She smiled to herself as the thought passed her mind.

Not that she didn't mind being who she was, it wasn't all bad really, but when school was over she would have no idea of what to do.

All this pressure.

She sighed and closed her eyes, imagining sleeping in her bed at Hogwarts. Just when the train started moving she thought she heard voices outside her compartment. BAM – door slammed open and gazed at her was no one less than Draco Malfoy. He hummed something - she didn't hear - before hawking. She opened her eyes and glazed back.

"Hrm… so yeah actually I'd like you to leave" said he finally.

Hermione couldn't help herself, so she burst into laughter. Just for a couple of seconds she could've sworn she saw Malfoy look at her with hesitation to move on with his argument.

"Yeah you'd like that huh?" Hermione smiled at him as she responded. "I was in here first, therefore, if I stand correctly, YOU'RE the one who has to leave"

"Really Granger, I'm not in the mood for this" said he irritated. "Just leave this compartment or I'll…"

"You'll what Malfoy?"

Silence fell.

"Got nothing better to do, eh Malfoy?" Hermione heard Harry say as he battered in.

"This is none of your business I believe, Potter"

"You got that right it isn't. So I suggest you leave now before it becomes any of my bloody business"

Hermione's thoughtful journey had been so abruptly disturbed, she found it hard to return to it. Even though Malfoy had left, and Ron replaced him (with a little more gentle touch in the discussions of Merlin-knows-what) she couldn't concentrate.

"…don't you think 'Mione?" Harry asked thoughtful.

"What? Erh… yeah sure I suppose so" she responded confused.

"Are you okay? You have seemed so… off since we arrived" said he worryingly.

"No Harry, I'm fine" said she. She even forced a smile to her lips. "Really"

"So, what did you do this summer?" Asked Ron, smiling at her.

"Nah nothing… oh I DID go to France this summer! And I tell you, I don't think I've ever seen a bigger prat than the boy I met in the lobby. He was really…"

And so she told them the entire story of how he had lost her copy of Hogwarts: A history and the entire story of how she got it back. When she was done telling, Ron looked dizzy of the information that was thrown at him, and Hermione figured he probably regret that he ever asked.

To be honest, Hermione couldn't wait until dinner in the Great hall with her best friends. But she didn't feel like eating today. Her mind had wandered off to the discussion Ron and Harry had about Quidditch and who they thought would be the new team captain of Gryffindor.

"I really hope it's you Harry!" Hermione smiled encouraging.

"Yeah it would be great I suppose, but there are so many that are better than I am…" he answered and raddled off all possible candidates for the position. "But thanks anyway Hermione" He smiled at her thankfully.

"Sweet Merlin!" Exclaimed Hermione "We're at Hogwarts already and I'm not in my robe… Oh no… I just know that something will be messed up… I swear!

"Relax woman" Ron laughed. "You have got about 5 minutes… and so do we. Let's get a move on then"

Once arriving to the train station a tall man with long, white beard looked at Hermione, Harry and Ron. He approached and finally Hermione saw that it was no one less than Dumbledore.

"Hello professor" said Harry gentle and gave the headmaster a little smile.

"Hello Harry!" responded Dumbledore cheeringly. He looked as if he was in the mood of hi-fiving them any minute. And it kind of creeped Hermione out.

"Forgive me, sir, but shouldn't you be awaiting the first years back in school?" asked Harry.

Dumbledore found this funny – for some reason that Hermione couldn't seem to understand – so he laughed like a girl. Okay, maybe not like a girl, but not very different from giggling.

"You're absolutely right, my boy" smiled Dumbledore. "And yet I'm standing here. Do you have a clue why?"

No, in that case he wouldn't ask, thought Hermione. Come on then, tell us! Or are you just standing here to test our patience?

"No sir" responded Harry, also realizing that the headmaster was maybe a little more cheeringly than usual.

Dumbledore leaned towards Harry and mumbled something Hermione didn't hear completely. She thought she heard something about "time"… "a riddle"… "a request" and lastly… She thought she'd heard him mention her name.

Well great then, Hermione thought to herself. That narrowed it down… NOT. Ah come on you can do better than that, headmaster.

"I see…" said Harry finally, not looking quite as happy as Dumbledore – who for that matter smiled like a maniac – but not very far from. "Well ofcours, sir. Do you want us to come right now?"

No he doesn't, he wants to tell us where we're going and why first!

"Yes that would seem like the best idea considering the circumstances" smiled Dumbledore (a more natural we might add)

"Excuse me…" said Ron irritable. "But is there something Hermione and I should know about?"

Way to go! Keep pushing them! Hermione cheered in her mind.

Dumbledore just smiled like a fool and Harry no less. They only waved at the other two who looked like two question marks so that they would follow. Indeed they did.

When they finally reached the castle they followed Dumbledore to his office. Outside the door he stopped them.

"I want you to be aware, of that what you will see is not pure evil but a boy, not to much unlike yourselves. And I do not want you to judge him quite yet.

I took the three of you here for a reason. I need to know that when seeing what's behind that door, you won't tell anyone the truth. I need to have your word on not judging, not blaming, not even mention the truth. He doesn't know about his future and my intention is to keep it that way.

Understood?"

Hermione looked at him with a very confused look upon her face.

He was telling them that behind that door it awaited no evil but a boy. Okay, so there's a boy in there, no harm done yet. We won't judge him, check. We won't tell anyone the truth… (truth about what exactly? Hermione thought but figured they'd find out the sooner they got into that bloody office)

And he doesn't know about his future. Okay, no one does, what's so strange in that?

The more Hermione thought of what Dumbledore had said she felt a little like Ron does when someone tries to tell him too much important things. Dizzy and annoyed.

"Miss Granger, Mr Weasley… yes even you Harry, I need your word on this" said Dumbledore with a touch of sorrow in his voice. "It's important."

"Yes, sir. You have my word. I won't tell a living soul" Harry was the first to say. "…or a dead one either" he added.

Dumbledore nodded at him, then looked at Ron and Hermione for an answer.

"Okay okay…" mumbled Ron.

The headmaster smiled a little and then looked at Hermione for an answer.

"Hermione? Have I got your word to not judge, not hate and not tell anyone – not even himself – the truth?"

"Well professor… what exactly is in there?"

"Your word, miss Granger. I need it before I can either show you or tell you."

"Then I guess… you have it."

Professor Dumbledore turned around and unlocked the door. Then he laid a hand on the door, hesitated for a moment before opening it.

Not too unexpected, there was a boy sitting in the chair in front of the master's desk. He had the back turned towards them so she couldn't see his face. All she saw was his dark hair and something that looked like a school robe.

That didn't exclude many in school. Well… she could discount the Weasley's anyway. Always something.

Dumbledore looked at Harry and made a discrete nod towards the chair. Harry stared at the boy's back (seriously, what's so wrong with a boy? And why am I in here in the first place?) before taking a step closer.

"Tom. I'd like you to meet your guides and the Head Girl that will accompany you for this year" said Dumbledore to the boy.

Tom… Tom… Hermione didn't know any "Tom". Unless… No. NO! It couldn't be, could it?

A riddle. Tom. Tom Riddle. No bloody way!

The boy stood up and turned around. A handsome face looked at them without any face expressions.

And indeed it was mr-future-to-become-Dark-lord or he-who-doesn't-care-about-others.

Indeed it was – Tom Riddle.