Hi all, here's a short and sweet one just to wet the whistle :)

Chapter 3: Tomione

Prompt Word: Remember

Rating: K

She stood out on the Astronomy Tower, careful not to stand too close to the edge, but enjoying the cool breeze that whipped at her hair and face, all the same. She looked out towards the horizon, enjoying the fact that no matter the decade, the scenery would always remain as beautiful as this.

Of course, she was leaving tonight, and wondered what things would be like when she returned. How would everyone react to knowing where she went? It seemed like she had been gone for so long … She'd been in this time period for almost a year, yet the Unspeakables had managed to ensure that her return was only mere minutes after her departure.

She looked down at her hands as she recalled the last few months. When the Unspeakables couldn't work out a way to send her back quickly enough, they created a new identity for her, and so off Hermione went to Hogwarts as Elizabeth Banks, the sixth year Gryffindor transfer student who had fled to Britain to escape Grindelwald's stronghold on the rest of wizarding Europe.

The sudden sound of footsteps echoing up the stairs interrupted her thoughts, and she didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.

"Riddle," she greeted, before turning to face him.

His expression remained politely indifferent as he gave a small nod in greeting before joining her to look over the landscape in front of them.

"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?" he finally asked in that quiet, smooth voice of his.

Hermione couldn't hide her surprise. How did he know that she was leaving? That was strictly between her, Dumbledore, Dippet, and the Ministry.

"Surprised that I found out?" he asked, that smirk that annoyed her so much appearing.

"No, more like annoyed." She rolled her eyes theatrically at him.

"So what's with the cloak and dagger, leaving in the middle of the night business? I must say it's very annoying … I'll be left without an Arithmancy partner."

"Nonsense. Holly Fudge will be delighted you can work together again," Hermione replied, ignoring his first question.

"Okay, correction. I meant an intelligent Arithmancy partner."

Hermione turned to face him. "Are you paying me a compliment, Riddle?"

"I never took you for the type of girl who goes fishing, Banks."

Hermione shrugged lightly, a small smile appearing. "I'm not."

"You're doing an abysmal job of trying to distract me. Now, back to our original topic … Where are you going?"

Hermione looked away, and couldn't stop the wide smile that spread across her face. She never thought she'd think it, but it will be so nice to return to her own time and have Riddle as a problem of a different capacity.

"Home," she finally answered, not hiding the happiness in her tone.

"Home?"

"Yes," she replied quietly.

"And that needs the help of Ministry Unspeakables, does it?" he sounded triumphant. As if his question would unnerve her.

Hermione merely turned and arched an eyebrow. "And if it does?"

"Just seems a bit dramatic, that's all."

Hermione shrugged, before looking at the sky again. Realising the sun was getting quite low in the sky, she figured that she should get going to Dippet's office … they'd be ready for her soon. She stepped away from the edge, and gave Riddle one last look. Awkwardly swallowing as he stared at her, she crossed her arms and gave him an awkward grin.

"Goodbye Tom," she said, and turned to leave. She felt relieved at being able to say goodbye to him. No matter all of his investigating, in her mind, she was escaping unscathed.

However, before she could leave, she felt him grasp her wrist and twist her back around. Hermione let out a small cry of shock; his touch burned.

They remained silent, merely staring at one-another, and Hermione watched as his eyes travelled over her face. It felt like he was memorising her.

"They're waiting for me," she finally said, the warning unspoken, but obvious.

He let her wrist go, but she couldn't ignore the way his thumb subtly brushed against her pulse. He stepped back from her, and she really looked at him, memorising his thick black hair, high cheekbones and dark eyes. It really started to sink in … she would never know him again. There would never be another debate, another inside smirk at everyone else's stupidity, or even another worry that he was getting far too close to her truth.

"Maybe we'll run into each other again," he finally said.

A shudder went down her spine, it sounded like a promise more than anything.

She gave him a look that wasn't too telling. "If you ever see me again, I doubt you'll even remember me."

And before he could respond, she muttered another farewell as she rushed towards the stairwell, almost running to Dippet's office. Running away from Tom Riddle, running back home. She had made it, and she'd be okay.

XXX

Tom Riddle stood alone on the Astronomy Tower, a cold silence settling around him. His last image of her, a bundle of black robes and startling, curly brown hair as she ran away replayed itself over and over in his mind. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, before turning to face the view of the Scottish landscape before him.

"I remember everyone."

XXX

Thanks for reading :)