"What the fuck were you thinking?" I asked myself. I had hid in an old classroom after I'd kissed her. "She's probably thinking you're touched in the head, Riddle. Fuck!" I said, kicking a desk, breaking off one of its wooden legs. Closing my eyes, the argument began. This is all her fault! If she hadn't gotten me so royally pissed off... I can't say that I didn't want to kiss Hermione, but I had only done it then, because I couldn't even think of any other way to get her away from the subject of my family. You technically started that conversation. You were the one trying to delve into her personal life. I did have a point. Maybe I was a bit touched. Constantly bickering with one's self couldn't be healthy. My ring was twitching in annoyance, reflecting how I felt well.

The classroom was dark, cobwebs sprouted across some of the desks from misuse and the floorboards creaked loudly when trodden upon. I sat on an old chair for a short time holding my head in my hands. Groaning, I pulled myself to my feet and forced myself to begin the rounds that would continue until eleven when Miss Bones, who was the Head Girl, would finish patrol. Exiting the classroom, I let my feet carry me through the familiar paths of the castle. Using my wand to light the way, I stalked down the hallways, sending kids who knew they were out past their curfew scurrying for their dorms. You need to speak with her. You know that right? If you hadn't run off like a coward and explained yourself then you wouldn't be fighting with your own thoughts. But, wait. Why should I have to explain myself? Besides, that would be one lovely conversation. Oh, sorry that I kissed you, even though we just met like two weeks ago. I mean, I might as well tell her I'd been having dreams about her as well. That would really put the idea of me being insane in her head.


I sat in one of the armchairs in front of the fire, pretending to read to get everyone to leave me alone. The Serpent Amulet, still beneath my shirt, glowed warmly. It could sense my discomfort and I guessed it was the Amulet's way of trying to calm me. Half the time, I forgot it was even there. Although it was still comforting to have its protection. Thank Merlin, tomorrow was Saturday, so I could just hide in the Girls' Dormitory all weekend. It wasn't that I cared that Tom kissed me. I just felt like everyone was staring at me, as if they knew what had occurred in the library and I know Dumbledore would tell me off for not focusing on my task. Of course, no one could know about it. Tom and I were alone when we were studying. It was extremely nerve-wracking. I couldn't even really begin my task until Dumbledore gave me the signal, so I was stuck studying Horcruxes. Finally, I was able to buckle down and focus on the paragraph I'd read at least a dozen times and take in what I was looking over.

"Hey, Hermione." A voice greeted me from behind. I snapped back to attention, muscles tensing when I recognized the voice as Abraxas'. Twisting around in the chair, I saw most of the Common Room had emptied of its occupants, leaving only a few boys of into the corner playing Exploding Snap with apparently high stakes. Given that fact, they were much to immersed in it, to pay attention to anything else. So all in all, I was pretty much alone.

Swallowing my nervousness, I closed my book and glanced upwards to meet the silver eyes of the bastard who tried to strangle me. "What do you want Malfoy?" I decided to skip any form of politeness. Tossing the book onto the coffee table in front of the green-flamed fireplace, I stood up and stared him straight in the face. All the while keeping a firm-grip on my wand in my robe pocket. Abraxas shifted on his feet and ran his hands through his pale-blonde hair.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry about...well. Trying to hurt you. I kinda lost it and it was totally uncalled for."

"I think that's a bit of an understatement, don't you think?" My face was set into a masked mixture of anger and indifference.

"Yes, you're right. I acted out of impulse. I'm just trying to protect you."

"Protect me! In case you've forgotten or I've simply not expressed this enough. You. Attacked. Me." I enunciated the last three words with as much contempt for the Malfoy heir as possible. The Amulet began burning, warning me to be on guard.

"I'm so sorry," Abraxas mumbled, something told me he was being at least somewhat sincere. Hanging his head, he scuffed his polished loafers on the mahogany floor and lifted his hand to rub his bandaged shoulder, which I presumed was from Tom. "I've known Tom since we were first-years. He's manipulative, vindictive and completely sadistic. You are an intelligent person, Hermione. You have to get away from him before he hurts you. He berates kids just to see them squirm and cry!" He whispered the last part, not being able to identify who was in the corner. Although I doubted they were even taking into account that an argument was going on.

Curling my free hand into a fist and gripping my wand a little tighter, Abraxas took a hasty step back, but continued on. "He deceives teachers for admiration and tortures students because he thinks its amusi-"

"Abraxas shouldn't you be in bed. You have Quidditch practice tomorrow morning. And we both know Lestrange will bite your head off if you're late, because you couldn't pull your ass out of bed." Mulciber interjected, stepping in between Abraxas and I. While his voice was still friendly, it contained what I guessed was hint that he needed to go away. They were still friends so he didn't want trouble with Abraxas.

"Ya, I guess you're right. Goodnight Sylas. Goodnight Hermione." I didn't care to give him a response. Once Abraxas was gone into the dormitories, I breathed a sigh of relief and released the death-grip I had on my wand.

"Thanks, Mulciber. Or should I call you Sylas?" I smiled appreciatively. Picking my book back up.

"Whichever you prefer. Sorry about Abraxas, he can be such an ass sometimes."

"Its alright. I'm just annoyed with him right now."

"Its understandable, he's an insufferable git. But I suppose that has something to do with Tom."

"What do you mean?" I questioned, taking my seat again and Mulciber plopping down onto the couch adjacent to me.

"Well the Malfoys have always been a big deal. Especially with the Ministry and Hogwarts. So Abraxas essentially has big shoes to fill. His father and grandfather and so on have normally been the top students who everyone either feared and or admired. With Tom here, he pretty much makes Abraxas look like a half-witted Troll. He gets shown up in every class, and Tom commands power so naturally, it kinda kills his pride a bit." Mulciber shrugged his shoulders and stood up with a humorous glint in his blue eyes.

"I guess its a good thing Tom isn't one for relationships. I'm not sure how Abraxas would deal with competition in that department. But don't think I'm trying to sell you on him either. He's a dick and you deserve someone who actually has the ability to be nice without wanting sex." He yawned and ran a hand through his brown hair. "I should probably take my own advice and turn in. Quidditch practice doesn't stop for the tired Chaser. 'Night."

"Goodnight." I replied. Out of all of Riddle's friends. Mulciber seemed to be the friendliest and most normal. Reopening my book. I enjoyed the new found silence, when the Common Room was cleared of its last students all except for me. Eventually my eyes began to shut and the book fell limply into my lap. You're going to have an awful cramp in your neck when you wake up. I told myself. Screw it. At least you're going to get some sleep.


After three more chimes on the clock tower, it ended the detestable task of patrols that I so loathed. Stifling a yawn, I flicked my wand towards one more suit of armor to make sure that no imbecile children were hidden there, before heading towards the dungeon. "Maybe she'll still be up." I said quietly to myself. "If not, you can talk to her tomorrow." I personally hated the Slytherin Common Room. Not because of it being home to all the other Slytherins, but because for five years I was stuck into another room with a bunch of other boys. So not a lot of much-needed privacy was given.

Delivering the password swiftly. I entered the dark room and let my eyes wander. There seemed to be no one in the room, except the fire was still burning. The fire would have gone out if there was no one in here. Walking deeper into the room, I grabbed the back of one of the green leather couches and looked to see who was still in the Common Room besides me. And to my surprise and apparent luck, it was Hermione. She was curled up in the armchair with a book still in her lap. I was still incredibly nervous after my last encounter with her, but it was something I would have to look past.

A normal person would've decided to come back in the morning, but Tom Riddle was anything but normal. So naturally, I walked over to see her better. I bookmarked the text she had been reading for her and set it down on the table. Her head hung down and her arms were wrapped around her in a self-hug. Whether for warmth or comfort, I didn't know. She looked so relaxed when she slept. She always seemed to be stressed about one thing or another, so the dark shadows under her eyes never seemed to leave. They only got a bit fainter.

What gave me the urge to touch her, I don't have the slightest clue. But that didn't stop me from crouching down to eye level with Hermione. And slowly I reached my hand out to touch her cheek. You do know what level of creepiness that this puts you on, don't you? My thoughts questioned. Ignoring myself, I barely ran my fingers across her pale skin before she flinched at how cold my hands were. Gradually, she moved into my touch again and rested there. It was actually kind of pleasant to sit there in the quiet darkness. So of course, something had to happen to disrupt that. And by something I mean some idiot's stack of Exploding Snap cards in the back corner bursting through the silence like a god-forsaken bomb.

I jumped back into the coffee table and Hermione shot straight up in her seat. Her eyes immediately narrowed onto me after cursing the playing cards to Hell while holding her sore neck. Except as soon as she recognized the person in front of her was me, her expression went from serious to embarrassed and anxious. "Tom?" She whispered. Pushing myself off from the ground, I rose to my fullest height and brushed myself off.

Deciding to get it over with as quickly as possible, I sucked in a breath and rubbed the bridge of my nose. "I came here to apologize for my behavior earlier and all that...ensued as result of it. I acted very unprofessional as my Head Boy duties obliged me to be. So I'm sorry." Hermione just sat there and stared at me. I wish she would at least say something and quit looking like a lost puppy, but I could still see the gears turning in her head. Like she was trying to process the situation and how to deal with it.. After a minute of utter silence, she shakily stood up and attempted to steady herself.

"I think it would be best if we put the whole incident behind us, Tom." She murmured. I was exasperated with myself, yet I nodded leisurely, exhausted from this much too eventful day and turned to leave for my dormitory. Great job Riddle, you really know how to deal with women. When I reached the door, I felt her hand grip my shoulder. Glancing back, I saw the war going on inside her head. "Before you go. At least tell me this." There was conflict in her decision to prolong this conversation. We locked eyes, black into gold. "Why me?"

It was truly a curious thing how words could make someone feel. Lost, yet somehow right where they should be. Swallowing was difficult and I answered back somewhat unsettled, "You're the only one worth caring for." Even in the dim light I could see her register this in her overly-complicated mind. Nevertheless, she got up on her tiptoes, placed her hands onto my shoulders and gently brushed her lips against mine. I stood rock-still, because I wasn't sure I could trust myself. When she was staring back up at me, I peered down at her and muttered, "I thought you said to put the whole incident behind us."

"That doesn't mean we can't make a different incident." She breathed softly. Maybe you didn't ruin your chance. I inclined my head a fraction to watch her. I raised my hands to rest on her hips. All of this was foreign to me, since having a relationship wasn't exactly this Lord's thing. Company wasn't a necessity and for a time it didn't seem desirable. Your plans have never been changed before Riddle. Everything is done right the first time. It wouldn't kill you to make an exception. This is just another subject you haven't mastered. If there was one thing I wouldn't allow, it would be leaving an area of study that was necessary left to wonder about. I chuckled lightly, "I guess you're right." I closed the small space between us and grazed her lips.

I could've stayed there forever, it was just so strange to me. A few weeks ago I was just the same dominant, powerful Tom Riddle. Now, maybe I could add in that I had the ability for someone to actually care about me. So Merlin help me, when that accursed stack of playing cards exhibited another huge Bang, through the mute room. We jumped apart and I whipped out my wand and set the enchanted cards on fire. Hermione had doubled over laughing at me and was trying to smother the sound from sleeping-student's ears. "What the fuck was so funny about that?" I snarled, extinguishing the pile of ember-lit ashes that had been the cards.

"The face...you make when you..you're surprised. It was priceless!" She choked out through her laughing. There were some things I just wish people would forget, but somehow I knew she would never let me live this down. Fucking fantastic.

"Go to bed Hermione," I snapped. With that, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the Common Room. Today's events are going to make one hell of a dream.I thought rubbing my head as I stalked down to my dormitory.


Everything that had occurred seemed like a dream. It wasn't possible was it? I don't know what made me do it, especially after how I was scared of what he was going to do when I initially woke up. One thing was for sure, Tom Riddle did have a heart, even if its shattered to undefinable pieces. Now the only thing is to see if its fixable. Like putting together a broken mirror by hand. But that's the thing with mirrors, when fixing them by hand, you can get the big pieces back into place. Its only the tiny shards that you can't see that are lost forever. I can only hope that there's enough to put back into place.