Christmas came, and Hermione smiled as she opened her present, a diary. She smiled as she observed the pen closely, such pretty colours.

The day passed and Hermione had never seen Tom, neither had she seen any parcel for the boy.

Daring as she felt, Hermione ran to her room, scribbling on a page before ripping it out.

Tom,

Thank you for my book, I know it was you.

Merry Christmas

Hermione,

Sliding under the door she returned to her place under the tree as the light went down.

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Startled she woke with a pain in her back. Looking around, her eyes widened as she realised she was outside, and it was dark. No one had even noticed.

She stood up, clutching her book to her heart.

"You know, they have been looking for you." She heard a murmur, she jumped spinning around.

The boy. Tom.

"How- why- are you outside?" She stuttered finding the right words.

"I couldn't sleep, and knew you would be out here." With the look in her face he quickly added "Curiosity"

Hermione nodded.

"You should go back." He stated

"Aren't you going to come back too?"

"Later."

She paused before turning around.

"Why don't you ever come out?"

Silence spread through the night before he spoke.

"I see no need too."

"Oh… Goodnight"

Tom watched as she walked away, her book in hand as always.

"Night."

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The matron had always known there was something about that boy, the complete opposite of Hermione. No nine-year-old boy should be like that. His eyes, soulless. It was not hard which one to favour. Yet, Hermione had not connected with the other children, why? The Matron had no idea.

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The next day Hermione had once again retreated to the tree where she had met Riddle the previous night. Sitting down again she held the book, leaning back against the tree closing her eyes.

"So, you're here again, what? We not good enough to play with?" Hermione froze as she recognised the voice.

The boy who went by the name Sam was the one who had threw her book to begin with.

"Get up"

Hermione silently stood.

"Your going to come and play tag, like a normal person."

Hermione blinked. Tag? She watched the boy count to five, she backed away towards the bush before she noticed what was happening he was running at her, he collided and she fell backwards into the bush, him laughing before he left.

Pain shot through her skin as tears came to her eyes, gorse bush. Prickles stuck into her body, painfully.

Slowly she pulled herself up, hobbling towards her tree as the boys ran away.

Her body collapsed at the tree as she closed her eyes, the pain drifted away, curious she opened her eyes astonished. The thorns had left. How…

Tom stood in shock. He had seen the scene from his window, sneaked down when she appeared to be asleep, and had come out just in time to see the thorns leave her body.

He edged towards her in curiosity.

She looked up still stunned.

Silence passed between them as she bent her hands to get up. Pain shot through her body as she realised the wounds were still there.

Tom was now standing above her, observing the wounds on her hands as she was.

"Your not the only one you know." He remarked before walking back towards his domain.

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What happened the next day would shock all members of the orphanage and no doubt remain in their minds until the day they left the world.

Tom. Riddle. Had. Left. His. Room.