A/N: Sorry about the delay. My cat spilt milk on my keyboard, so it wasn't working for a while. Anyways, I've finally got an update and I hope you enjoy. Thanks to my reviewers for their positive feedback. Nerys pointed out that Walburga's last name should already be Black, but I don't think I'm going to change it. I want to keep the part about her sister who will marry Abraxus, I think. I'm not entirely sure where the story is going because it started off in one direction and now it's in the complete opposite. For example, I was going to have Alphard conspire against Hermione and Tom with Abraxus, but then I decided against it cause I like Alphard. Even so, I'm not entirely sure what's going to happen to Alphard.

"Let him who desires peace prepare for war."

-Flavius Vegetius Renatus

On Tuesday Hermione sat in Transfiguration regretting her decision to ask to be paired with Tom. After Slughorn's party the previous Friday, she wanted nothing to do with Tom. The whole class had been paired up and moved around to sit next to their partners to wait for Dumbledore's instructions. Abraxus was paired with a pretty muggleborn from Gryffindor named Mary Lamport and Alphard was paired with Thomas Potter. In fact, most of the class was paired with people they would normally never associate with.

"Today we start a group project that will last until Christmas break. During the last class before break, each group will be expected to hand in their final project. This is not purely a Transfiguration project, however. We are combining with your Charms class in the hope of making rather powerful objects. Now, due to the nature of the project, you will no longer be meeting for your scheduled Charms class and will be expected instead to work on your project. Now, I would like each group to come to the front of the class and collect a rock, any rock will do," Professor Dumbledore instructed. Hermione went up to collect the rock for her and Tom. After sitting back down, Professor Dumbledore continued with his explanation. "Now, I am sure you are all very curious as to what our project is. We will be making a magic mirror. You will first transfigure your rock into a mirror, and yes, I do hope to be able to see something reflected off the surface. After completing the transformation, you will be expected to use a number of charms to enchant the mirror. I don't care what your mirror does, as long as it does something. You may wish to create a miniature Mirror of Erised which will show your deepest desire. Let your imaginations run wild. I expect a proposal due this Thursday, no longer than a foot. A week from Thursday I expect a detailed hypothesis of how you intend to create the mirror of your choice. That is all for today. I will see you all Thursday."

"So, Riddle, when do you want to meet to go over the project," Hermione asked as she pocketed the rock and rose from her seat.

"Well, I suppose since you're off to the library now with your lover, we shall have to meet there after dinner, say 7 o'clock sharp?" Tom suggested. His manner had not become any warmer since Friday, but at least he was being civil.

"Fine," Hermione replied before hurrying from the room to meet Alphard. He was waiting as always right outside the door.

"Hey Hermione," he greeted her, taking her books from her and carrying them in one hand while slipping his other hand into hers. They weren't officially a couple, but after Slughorn's party, they had become closer. She did like him quite a bit, but she was reluctant to begin a relationship when she had a mission to do.

Alphard squeezed her hand and she smiled up at him, her brown eyes softening.

Tom watched Hermione walk off with Black, anger in his chest. He hadn't wanted them to end up together, happy. After all, purebloods had made his life hell from the day he started Hogwarts. It wasn't fair if they got to have happiness too.

"Tom?" a voice startled him from his thoughts. He looked up and found Professor Dumbledore watching him in that disturbing way that made Tom feel like his soul was exposed.

"I'm sorry professor, I'll be on my way now," Tom apologized, smiling up at Dumbledore, covering all traces of anger of hatred.

"Is everything alright, Tom?"

"Of course, why wouldn't things be alright?" he lied with ease, sending another easy smile Dumbledore's way.

"I take it then that you are happy with your assigned partner? Merlin knows everyone else has had a complaint," Dumbledore asked.

"It's fine. It's an interesting project, so it doesn't matter who my partner is." Tom knew that Dumbledore thought he was lying, and he was, but he also knew Dumbledore wasn't going to call him on it. He stood and grabbed his bag. "Good day Professor."

"Good day, Tom." Tom excited the classroom, the smile falling off his face. He didn't go to the Slytherin common room, he didn't go to the library, instead he opted to head to a certain girl's bathroom.

THTH

"Alright, Riddle, let's get this over with," Hermione stated as she sat down across from him in the library at seven.

"It'll be my pleasure to finish as quickly as possible," Tom drawled, absently twirling his wand in his fingers.

"Have you come up with any ideas on what you want our mirror to do? I was thinking we could make it into a type of pensive so that is shows your happiest memories. What do you think?" she suggested as she pulled out a quill and some parchment. This part shouldn't be too hard; all they had to do was write a proposal.

"No, I want it to show the future. I want to see what will happen if one were to continue on their current path," Tom practically demanded. Hermione paused for a minute. Was it really a good idea to let Tom see how much power he could obtain?

"Well, I suppose we could do that. It will be immensely difficult to do with just charms, we might have to add in some runes to enhance the charms and during the transfiguration, we better transfigure the outside of the mirror into a metal that is conductive to divination, like crystal. Very well. I suppose we can do that. Let's quickly write our proposal so that we can get out of here," Hermione finally agreed. Perhaps Tom wasn't on his way to becoming evil.

Tom didn't answer; he just began writing the proposal. In less than fifteen minutes he was done. He stood to leave, but Hermione stopped him.

"You know, this might be a little off topic, but not all purebloods are bad. You can't judge someone on their blood. That makes you just as bad as the Malfoys and other prejudiced gits. You can't just continue to pass all of this hatred along, it only ends in hurt and death," Hermione stated, trying to get through to him. He stared at her for a minute, as if he was trying to figure out what her aim was. Then he smirked, and left.

Hermione sighed and dropped her head to the table. Everything was so awful. How was she supposed to change this boy, this hateful boy, into something good?

"Hermione? May I sit down?" a hesitant voice questioned. She groaned and looked up into Abraxus' face. He looked so hesitant and she wondered where Draco's evil grandfather was.

"Of course, you may sit down. Is there something in particular that you want?" she asked.

"No, I just thought we could talk. We haven't talked in a long time. How are you?" he asked.

"I could be better. How about you Abraxus?" she had to be nice. After all, Tom wasn't her only project in this time. She wanted to change the foundations of blood hatred.

"I could be better also. I got placed with a mudblood for that project," he grumbled and Hermione felt her blood boil.

"How dare you. You spout off blood purity with no thought to the people you hurt, the people you exclude and don't even give a chance. Have you ever once thought that maybe a muggleborn had something to offer to society? There are muggles out there who are smarter and more capable than half the pureblood wizards I know and there are muggleborn witches and wizards who are brilliant. Minerva McGonagall is one and Alastor Moody is another. You can't judge a person on their blood, you can only judge them on their personality," she exploded, slamming her hand on the table in her outrage. She was tired of these people with their hatred and the prejudices. "Goodbye Abraxus. Don't bother talking to me until you get over your prejudices." With those words she exited the library, head held high.

THTH

Alphard stood in the common room Saturday night, dressed in his best dress robes, waiting for Hermione. Abraxus was beside him, waiting for Artemis, who Alphard was pretty sure he was dating, but Abraxus refrained from saying anything. It was weird, actually, because Abraxus had been fairly quiet all week. It wasn't like Alphard was friends with Abraxus, he wasn't and didn't even particularly like him, but they usually did talk every once in a while, mostly because their families were old friends.

"So," Alphard started, but he was interrupted by the sight of Hermione coming down the stairs. She looked gorgeous with her curls piled up on her head and framing her face, light blue gown that seemed to flow around her, skimming her curves and gracefully falling to her toes. It was gathered at her shoulders, rather like a Greek chiton and she had a silver arm band spiraling up her left arm to her elbow. She looked as if she could really be the mythological Hermione, daughter of Menelaus and Helen.

"Hi," she whispered when she reached him, smiling gently up at him. His heart immediately began to beat faster and he tried to come up with something to say to her.

"Hi," was his brilliant response and he mentally hit himself. She took his hand in hers and he prayed his palms weren't sweaty.

"Shall we go?" she suggested, leading him to the exit. Neither one of them noticed a Slytherin prefect watching them from the stairs.

"You look amazing, Hermione," Alphard remarked as they left the room and the Slytherin Prefect was forced to agree as he shut his eyes, trying to dislodge the image of her. Suddenly, for no explicable reason, he didn't want to hurt her. He didn't want to make her suffer. He slammed his hand against the wall and reminded himself how those purebloods had hurt him all through school and even tried to kill him. It didn't matter now that they feared his power and his strength, they still deserved to suffer. But even as he told himself this, a little voice in the back of his mind said, not her.

Hermione felt her heart flutter with nerves as she stood next to Alphard, about to enter the great hall. Tonight, she knew, would be important, special, but she wasn't sure how. She smiled up at Alphard, her heart skipping a beat at how handsome he looked in his deep blue, almost black, dress robes.

"Ready?" he asked, almost as if he could sense her nervousness.

"For anything," she answered, slipping her arm through his, taking a deep breath, and walking through the doors. Inside was a multitude of color, girls in beautiful dresses, and guys in their best dress robes. It took her breath away. "Wow," she sighed.

"It's great isn't it?" Alphard remarked, gazing at the floating jack-o-lanterns and, more importantly, the extra-long table filled with every kind of food one could imagine. Most of the guys were standing at the table, gorging themselves on sweets while their dates stood in groups, telling each other how beautiful they looked and gossiping about their dates.

"I suppose you want to go join all the men at the table, don't you," Hermione remarked dryly. He was practically salivating, just looking at the table.

"Is that okay? We can dance later, right?" he asked earnestly, and she laughed.

"It's fine, I'll find someone to go talk to," she grinned. He squeezed her hand and then practically ran to the table. She then looked around the room for someone she knew. She was kind of friendly with Minerva McGonagall and she did want to keep up inter-house relations, so she headed over to her.

"Oh, hey Hermione," Minerva greeted her. She looked very pretty with her hair flowing down her back and in her red and black gown.

"Hey, you look great," Hermione greeted. "Who are you here with?"

"I'm with one of the pigs over at the table, Charles Boot. I'm assuming you're here with one of the other pigs?" Minerva rolled her eyes, then looked at Hermione questioningly.

"Yeah, I came with Alphard Black. Mostly it was so that I didn't have to go with Abraxus, but he is quite entertaining, when he's not stuffing his face."

"Are you two dating? I keep hearing rumours, but I thought I ought to confirm with you," Minerva questioned.

"I suppose I should get used to that question, but I'm not really sure of the answer. I suppose I'm kind of dating him, but it isn't really official," Hermione sighed.

"Oh? Well, do you want it to be official? Or are you just heading off the question in the hope it never comes?"

"I don't know. I really like him, but I'm just not sure. He's a good friend, and I don't want to lose that if it doesn't work out." Just as Hermione finished, the subject of their conversation appeared at her side.

"Shall we dance, Miss Dumbledore?" he asked, giving a rather elaborate and ridiculous bow. Hermione looked questioningly at Minerva who motioned her to the dance floor.

"I'm going to go find Charles. Let me know when you figure everything out," Minerva told her, heading off in the direction of the food. Hermione took Alphard's hand and he led her to the floor.

"So, what are you figuring out?" he asked as they spun across the floor in a waltz. She just smiled up at him secretively.

"Oh, you know, it's just a bit of girl talk," she replied ambiguously. Alphard groaned.

"You know, I think guys would pay to know what girls are saying when they're not around," he remarked.

"Hmm, are you suggesting a business proposal?" Hermione teased.

"Why, Miss Dumbledore, that is a marvelous idea. Shall we shake on it?" he asked, mock-seriously, pausing their waltz.

"Not right now. People might steal our idea," she exclaimed in mock outrage. The dance slowed and the slowed with it until they were no longer moving. Hermione stared up into Alphard's eyes, before lowering her gaze to his mouth. Without even thinking, she moved toward him.

Alphard was cheering inwardly. Finally, it seemed that Hermione was going to be his. He would have the most amazing girl he had ever met. As she moved closer to him, he wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned down, meeting her lips with his own. It was like heaven and she tasted of ambrosia, the food of the gods. He pulled her closer never wanting the moment to end. Alas, it did, but as she pulled away and looked up at him with honey brown eyes dazed and lustful, he felt the end was worth it just to see her again.

"You're amazing," he whispered in her ear, kissing it gently. She shivered and leaned into him closer. Unfortunately the moment was ruined by a scream echoing outside the great hall. Hermione broke from Alphard and began running, but he followed closely behind her. At the top of the stairs was a body, one that Hermione recognized with a sick thump of her heart. Minerva McGonagall lay perfectly still, eyes wide open and a mirror clutched in her hand.