Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, I'm simple using and abusing them for my own personal pleasure.


Orphaned


Chapter Three: First Day

Breakfast was quiet but it might have been because everyone at the Gryffindor table was nowhere near them. They shoved themselves at the ends as far from their group as possible. Some of Toms group was staring daggers at her but the devil himself was eating his breakfast like it was a regular day. Dressed in his usual knee high black socks and slightly worn brown overcoat. While she had to wear some private school uniform they had for back up.

"So tell me what happen again," Ron asked a third time.

"Enough Ron," Harry said taking another bite of his cereal. "Your lucky he didn't hurt you Hermione."

"Tell me, if you two really got in a fight, like everyone says," Ron pointed to the Slytherin's table. "Why does he look like a shiny new penny?"

"He is stronger than he looks." She yawned pulling his arm down, he seemed to have a bad habit of pointing and it was making Neville nervous. It was true, she had only manage to roll around in the mud with him despite her threat, then Mrs Cole came running in plucking her off and banning both of them from recreational activities for the week. Some boy tried to convince Mrs Cole that she smeared mud over her own walls then attacked Tom like some crazy mud loving lunatic, lucky for her Mrs Cole didn't buy this for one second. If it had been anyone else they might have gave Tom the benefit of the doubt. Mrs Cole let her sleep with Luna for the night till her room was cleaned. Luna, she found out, sleep walked.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked seeing her stuff granola bars in her pocket.

"Preparing for war, here hide these." She stuffed it into his pockets with stealth. Ron and Neville refused to take any as if she'd offered a gun.

.

.

She must have been the only one that stayed awake in history, it was taught by a teacher named Binns who's monotone voice had her drifting time to time. Why was his class the first one she had in the morning after a horrible nights sleep. Shaking her head she tried to stay awake. She loved history! But concentrating was giving her a headache. Mr Binns dismissed the class and she was just as fast to leave as Ron, Harry and Neville.

"Move it filth!" Bellatrix pushed her to the ground, her arm seized with pain as she landed on her books.

"Are you okay!" Harry helped her up, she nodded looking at her arm then to the hall. Bellatrix resembled a hurricane as she danced down it, either people were quick enough to get out her way or she made them.

"Well, isn't she peachy this morning," she said scathingly rubbing her wrappings. Ron snorted a laugh in his throat telling her to just avoid her on mondays. About to go in the door to the next class she almost collided with another student.

It was him.

No, she will not fall into the routine she scolded herself growing agitated. "Miss Granger," Tom said nodding politely but looking cold as ever.

"Satan's child," She greeted back curtly, his eyes flashed dangerously to her but before either of them could say another word Ron pushed her into the class his eyes widening to Harry in a silent 'she is nuts'.

Harry frowned putting a hand to her shoulder "I get your sticking up for yourself Hermione, but don't you think your looking for trouble?"

"I'm a 'dead girl' anyways, what's the point?" Yes, this was her fate after attacking him yesterday. If she could maintain her pride that was the best she could hope for "besides he's not going to do anything to me in class."

Ron scoffed "I beg to differ, this is Snape's class."

"What's a Snape?" On cue a man dress in all black came sliding into the room, the air tensed and everyone grew quiet as she took a seat next to Harry quickly. The chalk screeched across the board and many covered their ears as he wrote her name down on it.

"We have a new student today, stand up Miss Granger." She stood, everyones attention was on her, she knew Tom was sitting somewhere in the back because she could feel his eyes. Did she have to introduce herself to everyone? "I've heard you've taken a liking to fighting Miss Granger. I feel the need to warn you that if you fight in my class you will be banned from recreational activity's for how ever long this Orphanage has to keep you. Everyone... say hello." Was it really necessary to announce this to the class? Some students gave dull hellos while most stayed quiet. There was coughing that sounded a lot like 'mud blood', Malfoy's voice. "Now sit down."

"I told you," Ron whispered. After sitting Snape erased her name writing a series of math problems on the board. Every time she raised her hand it would be ignored calling instead on Tom Riddle. Who must have been enjoying every moment; although she had to admit despite him being evil, he was also really smart, maybe as smart as her. This irritated her more then anything else. Another question, her hand sprang up eagerly but she shouted out the answer without being called.

"Detention, Miss Granger for talking out of turn." This. Was. Not. FAIR! Her hand slump to the desk tiredly.

"Hermione your bandages!" Harry said. She looked down, they were red, it must have taken awhile for the blood to show when Bellatrix pushed her.

Snape, seeing it, pointed to the back of the class "Tom, take her to the nurse-"

"I'll go with Harry-"

"Potter has a thing for detours, now, Granger." Tom appeared beside her looking calm as usual. Was this teacher really going to send her away with her attacker? Was this man really a teacher? Didn't he just announced the fight to the entire class? She stalled looking to Harry and Ron who in turned stared back helplessly only to confirm it was not a joke. Making her way out the class Tom followed behind her keeping pace, the nurses office was five classrooms down so he couldn't do much damage. Only getting ten steps down the hall his hand caught her bandaged forearm turning her around. Of course she was wrong.

"Your a funny one." His mask was off tightening his grip around her arm, was he confident enough to start a fight ten feet from class? If she didn't have pride she could just scream. "For a smart girl, you act really dumb."

"Is that a compliment?" Frustrated he let her go.

"You're going to need a lot more than granola bars if you want to start a war." How did he know? "Apologize to me."

"If I don't." She settled on glaring and he seemed confused for a split second, anger replaced it.

"I'll hurt you." It rumbled at the back of his throat but when she didn't blink he closed in staring at her threateningly "do you think I'm a joke?"

"No, your not a joke," Again a perplexed look appeared. They were the same age but he still towered over her. Looking into each one of her eyes searching for admittance to defeat or fear. "You don't scare me Riddle," Momentarily they both had a stare down. For a second she thought he'd strangle her and she was ready, then, he laughed. Maybe she missed the joke. Grabbing her by the wrist he started dragging her down the hall.

"Fine, you want to play silly girl." She didn't want to play. When they got closer he let go of her wrist letting her in first, a show for Madam Pomfrey perhaps. Pomfrey turned to them both slightly surprised, then she caught sight of Hermione's arm.

"Your bandages broke, have you been fighting again?" Outrageous! Saying it like she had a thing for them. About to protest the accusation Tom cut her off.

"No Madam, she tripped on it." Tripped? Her mouth parted to speak when Madam Pomfrey continued.

"Well, that's a relief—tell you the truth its good to see you two in good standing. You've made up?" What?

"We, well, talked about it." Wait!

"Oh really," She beamed "Your friends now!"

"Absolutely not!" It left her mouth in a surge of anger and disgust. Madam Pomfreys face fell frowning at her. "He's a liar and the reason I have this cut!"

Madam Pomfey gave her a look of dismay, Tom blinked his eyes furrowing his brows, as if he didn't know what she was talking about. The nurses eyes looked to her arm inspecting it. Tom cleared his throat "Bellatrix pushed you, said she was mad that you cursed at her in the bathroom."

"That was just Ginny, don't lie" Pomfrey looked astonished. Oh, no—Ginny looked like a delinquent. "No- but the mud! He offered me food then dropped it... He had a bucket." No speak right! "It was mud!"

"That's enough, shame on Snape for sending you together if you haven't made up yet!" Translation: I haven't made up with Tom yet. The nurse caught her good arm pulling her to sit, unwrapping the bandages hastily "You guys are far to young for all this nonsense! If our Orphanage had more money we could afford more eyes, hire a new math teacher as well, if we could talk Dumbledore into it. Tom go back to class while I clean this."

"Mam, Snape asked me to make sure she didn't take any detours, said she had a thing for them."

"No, its my first day, Harry has a thing for them!" There, she had him in a lie! When he looked towards the ceiling mouthing an 'oh' she caught the nurses disappointed look and groaned, her friends looked like delinquents. God she hated Tom Riddle. Not trusting her the nurse asked Tom to sit as she poured the alcohol onto her wound over the sink. Tom looked on curiously watching for any facial reactions, there was none she made sure. After disinfecting and wrapping it she turned to them both.

"I want you to apologize before you leave, both of you." Tom's face faltered but quickly regained its composure.

Straightening himself he bowed his head slightly "I'm sorry if you misunderstood any of my actions-"

"Go to hell," she said taking a lesson from Ginny's book.

"Miss Granger!" Madam Pomfrey bellowed. Tom had an amused look in his eyes, his face grew hard looking stern but the twitch in his lip gave him away. "I will not tolerate that language - Apologize now!"

Her fist tightened, staring at Tom's face which gave no hint of deceit or foul play. It made her even more angry, for one wild moment she thought about slapping him but let out a frustrated sigh instead "I'm sorry..." Devil "Tom." Tom nodded his head his eyes fluttering down at the ground nodding appreciatively. In the end she apologized and he made her out to be some hulagin. This was not over. Looking a little less angry the Nurse flicked her hand as if waving off a fly, a signal for them to leave.

Tom had a pep to his walk, anyone else would have saw it as him causally strolling but she knew that he was happy "That was fun," See. "I like playing with you." Was that what he considered to be playing?

"I'm not playing any games with you."

"Oh?" He said unfazed. "Then what are you doing? I thought you wanted a war?" Was it so impossible for someone to stick up for themselves? Not answering him they approached Snape's class, Neville was standing looking petrified as the teacher bombarded him with question after question, which he didn't seem to know any of the answers to.

"Its twenty five."

"Another detention Miss Granger."

After what seemed like a lifetime the bell signaled for next class. "So your saying he manipulated the teacher, right in front of you? Wow, that's scary." Ron said his head bent as if discussing something extremely private.

"I don't understand how you ever doubted him." She asked cocking her head to Harry mildly annoyed at his lack of concern when she arrived.

"I was skeptical" he said simply "Everyone always said it since we were little but no one ever had proof."

"Really, he didn't seem to keen on hiding it when I first arrived." Recalling Tom trying to command her into silence and threatening to 'address' her. Then again she still found herself making excuses for his behavior on the second day because quite simply, it was probably because he was cute. Stupid demon child! No, she will never call him cute again! He was hideous.

"Well, no Gryffindor has been on the second floor before. Slytherin's don't like Gryffindor's." Ron reasoned scouting to see if anyone was watching. Ah, this gang thing again, she remembered how Tom knew her name before she said anything. Did he look at her file? Was that why he was so ill tempered with her the first day, because of a stupid group?

"Just stay away from him Hermione," Harry warned.

English, she loved reading and writing in her old school hopefully the one teaching this class was nicer than Snape. Taking her seat next to Neville she noticed Tom enter the class as well. How many classes did they have together! He took the seat behind her and she immediately sprang up, there was no way she could let him sit behind her. For all she knew he could chop off her hair.

"I'm going to get a closer seat, it's a little crowded over here." Harry, Ron and Neville watched as she took one at the front of class. McGonagall a strict looking English teacher came in and immediately started to go over symbolic meanings placed in books. At least she didn't have to say hello again.

Unlike Snape she had a fighting chance in this class, none of the other student besides her and Tom were raising their hand. She was called, Tom was called, then her again. McGonagall was almost beaming between the two unaware of the tension from the other students.

"Alright everyone pick partners, I have a new type of assignment I want you to try."

Partners? For an English assignment?

"I want you to pick a book from the library and discuss what you think the book meant and what you both got from it. Have your essays at the end of the week." Everyone scattered for partners, she started asking random students but it seemed nobody wanted to be her partner because of Tom Riddle. You'd think she'd asked for them to chop off their own hand and eat it with the way they reacted. One student rolled onto the other side of the desk with ninja ability before she could open her mouth. Finally realizing how ridiculous they were all brainwashed with fear she decided to just ask one of her friends, walking back to them she stopped. All three had partners. Ron with Harry, Neville with... oh-no, it was Bellatrix. She had a cruel smirk on her face, why did he agree to be her partner?

Looking over at Harry and Ron they frowned shaking their heads, she got it, Bellatrix made him. Why?!

Disappointed she made her way back to her seat and slumped down putting her head to the desk. Someone tapped her shoulder. Relief filled her until she saw Toms cold smile. "I believe we are both partner less." About to tell him off she stopped not looking forward to three detentions for the week.

"No, go away," she hissed picking herself from the chair. Harry saw Tom next to her and she heard him start arguing with Ron about him partnering with her instead.

Tom leaned in and she pulled away slightly "Coward," he sneered. Anger flew through her and before he could leave she caught his wrist.

McGonagall caught on that they were both partner-less . "Ron partner with Tom, Harry with Hermione."

"No!" Every head turned as if to confirm what they thought they heard. Ron was the only one with glimmering hope in his eyes. Tom watched calculatingly.

"Miss Granger?" McGonagall looked unsure as if not believing it either. Maybe she also knew of the fight, teachers could gossip as well, Madam Pomfrey and Snape knew.

"I want to partner with Tom, mam, he apologized to me earlier you see-"

"We apologized -" Tom added.

"Were okay now," A tight smile was on her face she doubt it looked sincere. She didn't want to look sincere she just didn't want to say no. Harry leaned over his desk mouthing 'what are you doing.' Something undoubtly stupid. McGonagall was about to refuse when Tom interrupted.

"I have no doubt we will provided you with something worth reading, we were just talking about which book to pick. Since it's so important to her she can choose," he rested his hand on Hermione's shoulder and she resisted the urge to bite it off. The teacher looked between them both not buying it, then to Ron who was doing a silent prayer. She gave a curt nod deciding it was their choice and sat back into her chair. Tom looked over to the boy that was beside her cocking a brow. Getting the hint he picked his books up and left.

"If you try anything I don't mind another months activity's revoked."

"It was your fault anyways, I was going to leave. Your my partner for the simple reason your not an idiot... at least not academically," he added before she could think it was a compliment.

"That's funny. I could say the same thing." Except maybe he wasn't an idiot. As much as she'd like to call him that, maybe it was just her for taking the bait, obviously he has other motives. What was she doing? "Think I'll let you drop more mud on my head?"

"You deserved it." What was his problem! Tom started tapping his pencil idly watching McGonagall. The tapping sounded familiar, she clenched the pencil in her hand. Her heart speeding to a pound her blood running cold.

Tap, taptap, tap.

The room seemed smaller, harder to breathe even. "What's wrong with you?" Tom asked dully, he wasn't tapping the pencil anymore but she still had trouble thinking straight. Or remembering where she was or how she got there. Tom waved his hand in front of her his eyebrows furrowing "Mrs McGonagall, I think their's something wrong with her..."

"I'm fine."

"I'll take her to the nurses office, she's having a panic attack" McGonagall said sitting up. Why would she assume that?

Tom stood grabbing her under the arm roughly pulling her up. "I'll take her, come on."


Authors Note: Thank you for tuning in to this chapter! If you see this I would love to hear your review. XP Fav or follow if you like it! I hope I don't scare people with the dark areas of Tom's behavior I will be putting in. Not giving away anything but its going to happen so heads up for that!

Guest: Thank you! :D I think it has the Potter feel to it lol

SkyBlue1309: Glad it didn't come off cheesy! Thank you for reading again!

Guest: I'm afraid to say to much but Harry and Tom will not be friends, your not terrible for thinking it though! Although I will say your right about Harry sticking around, not trying to say to much! But! He is a loyal person I agree :)

Mother of All Randomness: I adore that you adore it lol and your totally right!

Real Talk: For some reason I was thought since her age was in the description and everyone knows what she looks like I didn't add it XP bad author! lol I'll prolly go into the first chapter and tweak it along with a tiny few things that bugged me later as well. I know I put her scared of Tom I actually wanted a strong character for her which will make sense later as we don't know Hermione background. Thank you for pointing out the lack of character pull for Hermione and mistakes though, it brought it to my attentio, I'll try and work on it ;) Did you mean to say she wouldn't fight Riddle? Again, not enough Tom boy spunk was added to her character at that point to feel she would do it, prolly was confusing sorry haha!

Thanks for the reviews guys! See you soon ;)