Disclaimer: I do not own anyone or anything from Harry Potter!

Hermione Granger found herself in the library the next afternoon once classes had finished for the day. Usually she would be in the common room with the others, but she needed some time alone away from her friends because as much as she cared about them, there were times when she simply needed to get away from it all and just take a breather and there was no better place than the library to and lose her worries and stress in the words of a good book. For the most part her friends left her to it since they weren't all that interested in books with the same intensity she was, which made perfect sense because everyone had different ways of winding down and reading was Hermione's. It was good to have different hobbies than everyone around you since it helped keep things interesting and fun. Her mother once told her that if everyone liked the same things the world would be a boring place and Hermione was inclined to agree.

She moved to a section in the back of the library hoping to find some new reading material and she was surprised to find Harry standing in the very back as he thumbed through the different titles. She hadn't expected to see him here, but it was not as if she had never seen Harry in the school library at all, he came here loads more often that Ron and sometimes they even studied together and that is why she made her way over to him with a slight skip in her step. It was good to see her friend looking better, she had been really worried when he was sick.

"Hi Harry!" She greeted when she finally reached him. "I thought for sure Ron would have talked you in to a game of wizard chess. He tried to get me to play, but as usual I declined since his is an arse when he wins. I'll never understand wizard chess and that is why I will stick to the muggle version. Anyways, I just thought I'd say hi and now that I have, well I think I'll get back to my book and let you get back to yours."

As she turned to leave his voice stopped her in her tracks. "You can stay if you want Mione. The only reason I came down here was because I was hoping to find you here."

Hermione blushed slightly because the way he was looking at her, well he had never done that before and for some reason it made her feel strange in a way she couldn't comprehend. "You were looking for me? Is everything alright? Did you need help with something?"

"No, everything is fine I can assure you." He stated as they headed to an empty table in the library and sat down across from each other. "I know things have been weird lately, but I wanted you to know that I really do appreciate everything you do for me Hermione, I don't think I tell you that enough. I'm not sure where I would be if you weren't in my life. I realize that I don't always treat you the way you deserve and this is my way of making it up to you and letting you know that even if I don't always show it, I do care about you and appreciate everything that you do."

"I know you do Harry." She told him with a soft smile as she reached across the table and placed her hand over his. "You have so much on your plate and I understand that. I don't need to be complimented or anything Harry because I know that you appreciate my help and I am not helping you because I want to be recognized for my actions, but rather because I care for you. You're my best friend in the entire world and the first person who ever tried to get to know me and look past my bookworm side. You saw me for who I am on the inside and that just shows how good of a person you are. That's the reason I'm your friend Harry."

Voldermort, who of course was still in Harry's body, made sure to grin at her even though her comment made him feel sick to his stomach. They were no doubt left over from Harry Potter, but in time they would hopefully fade and for now he simply pushed them to the back of his mind as he had done with the 'boy who lived' for a short while at the very least.

"I'm not sure I have ever told you this Hermione, but you are the most important woman in my life. You make me want to be the best possible version of myself that I can be." Voldermort hated to spout out those kinds of words and yet it was needed if he was to get her where he needed her to be if the prophecy was indeed true. It shouldn't be all that hard. His plan was to manipulate her in to falling for him, whom she just assumed to be Harry, and by the point she found out the truth it would be too late for her to do anything. Perhaps he would even let her live to be his dark queen because he would need a dark queen in his life to help rule beside him and raise the child that according to the prophecy would be conceived and the end of the light side forever. "I'd be lost without you, I hope you know that."

"You're making me blush Harry!" Hermione told him with a bright smile shot in his general direction. "It is very sweet of you to say such things and I want you to know that I have no plans of leaving your side. No matter how bad things may get, I am always going to be here, even if you order me away I will still still by you. Whatever you have to do with in the upcoming future, I can guarantee you won't have to face it alone."

TBC...

AN: I am very sorry if this was not a good chapter, I just, with my health the way it is lately I am tired all the time and I write shorter chapters and such. I do hope that you all liked this chapter it is sort of the start where you get to know a little of what Voldermort is planning and yet it does not give everything away yet. I am kind of excited about the next chapter so I would love to hear your thoughts.

Please R&R like always!