Authors Note: Here is another one guys! Not too much action, but something important does happen so I guess it is an important chapter in some ways. I hope you like it! Loves ya! Mandy
"Did you think that old fool Dumbledore could protect you forever Harry?" Tom recognized that high pitched voice and it sent a horrible chill down his spine.
"And look who else we have here; the blood traitor and the Mudblood. I must say Harry...I disapprove in your choice of friends."
Harry was on the ground doubled over in pain as Lord Voldemort stood menacingly tall before him. Ron and Hermione were on the ground as well and were in a forced kneeling position that looked quite excruciating.
Tom stood by watching helplessly as his friends were being tortured by the one man he was destined to become.
"Now let's see…I think I shall kill the Mudblood first. After all she is of no importance whatsoever…she means nothing….right Tom?"
Lord Voldemort turned to wear Tom was standing; a sadistic grin adorned his face as he looked at his younger self.
"Help me destroy her Tom." It was more of a command rather than a request.
"I-I can't…" Tom stuttered out. He wanted to help them but for some reason he was unable to move.
"Tom, help us…PLEASE!" Hermione begged. The tears streaming down her face were mixing with the blood and sweat.
"BE QUIET YOU DISGUSTING MUDBLOOD!" Voldemort screamed as painful curse shot out from his wand and hit her in her chest. Hermione slumped forward unconscious.
"NO!" Tom screamed. How he longed to go to her and help her, but he could not force his legs to move.
"Come back to me Tom." Voldemort hissed out. "You belong to me….you ARE me…"
Tom looked over to Harry and Ron and saw that both boys were looking at him with silently pleading eyes. He couldn't let them be hurt…and he had to save Hermione.
"NO! I AM NOT YOU!" Tom shouted as loud as he could.
Voldemort's horrible face twisted in rage and anger as he looked at Tom. He raised his wand high, and for a moment Tom thought that he would kill him, but Voldemort whirled around just as the curse left his mouth.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort screamed, as the green light from the curse hit Hermione directly in her chest. Her already unconscious body had stopped breathing and Tom knew she was dead.
"NOOOOOOO," Tom screamed in a frenzy. His future self had destroyed the one person he had ever cared about the most.
"I told me to join me…and you disobeyed me. NO ONE GOES AGAINST ME! It is you who has killed her Tom! Tom do you understand me…Tom…Tom?"
For some reason, Voldemort's awful voice had been replaced with a different one; one belonging to a women. The horrible scene in front of him was beginning to fade and Tom felt his body beginning to shake.
"Tom…Tom are you ok? Tom answer me…Tom wake up!" Tom stirred and opened his eyes. Madame Pomfrey was standing over him and was shaking his shoulders to try and wake him up.
"W-where am I?" Tom asked confused.
"You are in the hospital wing Mr. Riddle. Do you not remember what you and Mrs. Granger did yesterday?" Oh thank the Gods it was just a dream, he thought.
"Um….did-did I make her jump into a lake with me?" Tom asked as the previous day's deadly swim was coming back to him.
"Afraid so Mr. Riddle." She told him sharply. "You and Mrs. Granger are quite lucky to have such friends that would come looking for you and find you both in the water on a freezing cold day! I mean where is your sense Mr. Riddle? Did you two think it would be fun to try and become merpeople?"
"I'm sorry." Tom said embarrassingly. "I just….I just wanted Hermione to loosen up a bit. I wanted to see her do something that was out of character."
"Humph…I would say it worked Mr. Riddle." Madame Pomfrey looked at him questioningly.
"What do you mean Madame?"
"Well, I would have never thought that young Mrs. Granger would be seen sleeping in a bed with a boy. Although you could have entered her bed without her knowledge, but that seems unlikely seeing as how you would have probably woken her up."
Tom's eyes grew as big as saucers. He turned over ever so gently and saw Hermione curled up on the other side of the bed, pleasantly asleep. A small smile lit up his face as he remembered Hermione asking him to come and sleep next to her for warmth.
"Mr. Riddle, would you care to explain this to me?" Poppy asked.
"You see Madame, after you left last night, Hermione told me she was still feeling really cold so I asked her if she wanted me to come and lay next to her." He lied because he didn't want to get her in trouble.
"Can I be assured that nothing happened?" She asked him with a raised brow.
"No Madame, we both just went to sleep." He told her, as his cheeks were colored bright red at being asked such an embarrassing question.
"Alright Mr. Riddle. You two seem to be doing fine this morning, but I want to keep you in here for a little while longer just in case."
Tom nodded. He felt completely fine, but he was told by Harry that Madame Pomfrey often made a big deal about even the most trivial illness, so there was no choice but to go along with it.
"Breakfast is about to be served but I am almost certain that your friends will come and visit you before they go there. So it would be best if you woke Mrs. Granger up before they come."
Tom knew she had meant get out of her bed before they come, but she wasn't rude enough to say that.
Poppy excused herself and walked into her office once again. Tom sat up a little bit and stretched out as far as he could. The bed was not really big enough for two people so he was just a little bit sore from sharing a bed with Hermione.
He rolled over and looked at the sleeping girl next to him. No matter what time of day it was, Hermione always looked so wonderful. Her hair was fanned out across the pillow and her eyelashes were fluttering ever so slightly. The morning sun shining through the windows had illuminated her face and brought out her golden brown skin tone. Tom always thought she looked like some kind of angel.
He reached out his hand and lightly stroked her creamy cheek. She stirred slightly but did not wake up. He then brought his fingers to her mouth and gently traced her slightly plump lips. Hermione must have been a little ticklish in that area because as he traced her mouth she let out a small giggle and her eyes began to open.
She woke up staring at Tom's face and she felt her breathe being taken away. He looked so lovely with the morning light shining on his face and a small smile playing on his lips as he gazed at her.
Neither of them said anything as they stared at each other, which was fine for both of them. Tom's face grew serious as he looked into her eyes.
He brought his nose to hers and brushed them together. Hermione closed her eyes at the contact and she felt her heart beginning to speed up.
"Morning," Tom whispered, as there noses were still pressed together. "Are you still cold?"
Hermione shook her head no and continued to stare at him. He looked so wonderful and beautiful and perfect, and it only made it that much harder for her. They could never be together, and they both knew that. Hermione was angry at herself for asking him to sleep next to her; what had she been thinking?
"Tom I…." Tom brought his finger to her mouth to silence her.
"I know." He whispered sadly.
"If you know then why are you about to kiss me?"
Tom couldn't answer her. He didn't know what to say…because he was about to kiss her.
Hermione moved her head away and rolled off of the bed. "We need to stop this. Tom we can't be together."
"I know."
"Are you going to stay away from me then?"
"No."
"Damn it Tom, we can not do this." She cried. "I am sorry I ever asked you to sleep next to me…"
"But you did…and I am glad you did." Tom had gotten off of the bed as well and had moved over to her. She backed away even farther.
"No Tom, you don't know me. I- you wouldn't want me after a while, trust me. I would bore you and then you would leave me anyways…so we had best just stop this now before either of us gets hurt."
"You obviously don't know me either Hermione. When I want something I get it."
Hermione could not believe him. Who the hell did he think he was?
"Oh I see…you just figured you could use me until you got what you wanted and then you could discard me?' She asked outraged.
"No. When I want something Hermione, it is because it means a lot to me…and I don't ever let it go." He told her while moving closer to her again.
"That is not the proper mentality for someone who is trying to change Mr. Riddle. Don't forget that you are here to change who you are and not to find romance!"
"I didn't ask to be brought here Hermione. I didn't ask for someone to change me, but now that I am here I am trying despite what you may think."
"Tom, listen to me please," Hermione begged. She walked over to him and took his hands in hers. "You need to change. You don't understand how important it is for you to try. If Voldemort survives then he will destroy everything! His hate will not be limited to muggleborns and muggles alone; his hate will spread to all until he has enslaved the whole world. He is more evil then you could possibly imagine. You must stop him…Tom promise me you will?" Hermione was almost in tears trying to convince him.
"Hermione I had a dream….just now." Tom began, quietly. "I don't know where we were, but He was there. Voldemort was…he was hurting Harry and Ron….and you. He killed you Hermione, and it was the worst pain I have ever felt to see such a thing. I swear on my life I will try and change who I am, for the sake of that never happening. I promise you…"
Hermione could do nothing but stare at him. She felt relieved and yet still scared at the same time. She was scared for all of them.
Just then, both of them could hear footsteps coming down the hall and Hermione released her hands from Tom's.
Harry, Ron, and Ginny entered the hospital wing with what appeared to be armfuls of candy. They dumped all of it on the bed and then walked over the where the couple was standing.
"How are you both feeling?" Ginny asked right away.
"Much better…thanks to all of you." Tom replied kindly.
"What are friends for mate?" Ron said. "Besides…it was rather my fault you guys got in that mess anyways." He turned to Hermione with an apologetic smile. "Sorry for what I said Hermione. I didn't think you would take it so seriously…but then again I do rather have a big mouth sometimes and I don't know when to shut it."
"Ginny made you say that didn't she?" Hermione smiled at him.
"Well, just the part about my big mouth and stuff…but everything else came from me."
Hermione laughed. That was her Ron. "Of course I forgive you Ron. I was just in a bad mood is all and everything was driving me nuts anyways."
"You know," Harry began questioningly, "Why were you two in the water anyways?"
"That would be my fault." Tom said with a blush creeping up in his face. "I uh…wanted Hermione to feel better so I um…well I…"
"He wanted me to be a wild child and decided it would be best to start off my new life as a bad ass by swimming in freezing cold water that almost killed us." Hermione didn't even need to draw breathe to say all of that.
"Thank you Hermione." Tom told her with a smile. She grinned back at him.
"Well that was brilliant." Harry told them sarcastically.
"So where did you get all of this candy from?" Hermione asked.
"Well a lot of it came from the girls…you know, Lavender, Parvati, Susan, all the rest who were there yesterday." Ginny told her. "They all felt really bad when we told them what had happened. Lavender ever broke out in tears thinking that you had tried to commit suicide because of what she said about you."
"SUICIDE," Hermione said astounded. "Why in the world would I kill myself over something that twit said?"
The rest of them laughed. "I know Hermione," Ginny giggled, "But you know how she is….overdramatic about everything."
"Yes well, it was nice of them to do this. There is far too much candy though, and aw…" Hermione eyed a few open packages of candy. "It seems Tom, that our candy has already been plundered. Ron, this looks like your work."
"Why do you assume it was me?" Ron asked as his ears turned red.
"Ron, you are the only one I know who doesn't know how to open a package without ripping it completely apart."
"Oh, that is just hilarious everyone." Ron said to his giggling friends.
"Alright, alright…I think we had better be off to breakfast." Harry told them.
"Are you two aloud to leave?" Ginny asked.
"No. Pomfrey thinks that we need to stay in here for one more day at least." Tom rolled his eyes.
"Yup, that sounds like Poppy." Harry told him smiling.
"Well you two enjoy the candy." Ginny told them as the trio began to leave for breakfast.
"Um…do you mind leaving me some of the Droobles in the stack…?" Ron asked, as Harry and Ginny both grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him out of the room.
"We'll see you in a bit." Harry told them. Tom and Hermione could still hear Ron arguing about the candy as the walked on down the hall.
Sighing, Hermione plopped down on the bed and began to sort through the candy. Tom stood still and just stared at her.
"Are you going to just stand there and look at me all day?" Hermione asked without looking at him.
"I might." Tom told her. Hermione turned around and looked at him, and for a few minutes it seemed neither could say anything. Maybe there was nothing left more to say….
"Tom didn't we just talk about this?" Hermione started up. "I thought I told you…"
"I know what you told me." Tom said quietly.
"And did it all just go in one ear and out the other?" Hermione asked angrily. She got up off of the bed and stared at him defiantly. "Tom this has to stop!"
"You've said that already."
"Then I shall say it again!" She yelled. "And I will continue to say it until you get it through your head."
"Who says I am thinking about it at all Hermione? Can you read my mind?"
"I can see it in your eyes."
Tom just stared at her and cursed his eyes for giving away his feelings. "I cant help it Hermione. I care about you too much."
"That's fine Tom…as long as it doesn't go beyond caring." She warned.
"You can't tell me what to feel Hermione."
"Oh I give up! You don't seem to want to listen to anything I have to say…or at least you are not taking any of it to heart." She turned her back on him and sat down on the bed again.
"Hermione….I am going to promise you one more thing."
"What's that?" She asked without turning around to look at him.
"I promise that I will not let my feelings for you go on past friendship." He didn't have any other choice but to lie to her. He feared he would always think of her in a way that he shouldn't.
"So…finally you have regained some sense." She told him while turning to face him. She wore a relieved smile on her face. "It's about time!" All he could do was shrug.
"Now come over here and help me eat this candy so it doesn't go to waste…or to Ron." She giggled.
Tom smiled and moved over to the bed and sat down on the other end.
"Um….I don't know some of these." Tom asked confused, as he picked up a cockroach cluster.
"Oh that's right; some of these candies were probably not invented in your time." Hermione gave the cockroach cluster a look of disgust and then plucked it out of his hand.
"You might not like these so much." She said as she tossed the disgusting candy onto another bed.
"Alright Mrs. Granger…show me what to eat and what not to eat." Tom smiled.
"Formalities Mr. Riddle." Hermione gave him an agitated look. Formalities were one her pet peeves for some reason.
"Sorry Hermione," Tom smirked.
"Alright," she began, "These are Droobles Bubble Gum. I don't think you have ever had these, right?' Tom shook his head no and unwrapped one of the candies.
"Fabulous," Tom said as he chewed on the delicious pink bubble gum.
Hermione giggled. She had never pictured Tom Riddle as someone with a sweet tooth.
She moved on to show him all of the different candies he had never tried before. He was delighted with most of them, but some made him gag and he spit them out while Hermione laughed.
All-in-all, it was the funniest lesson Tom had ever had while in Hogwarts….
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Yes, no, maybe so? How was it? I hope it was ok…. In this chapter I wanted to establish the fact that Tom and Hermione are now fully aware of their feelings, but Hermione remains the ever sensible one and tires to put a stop to it (emphasis on tries)…lol… Oh and by the way…that dream Tom had was just a dream. Voldemort is still blissfully unaware of Tom's presence in the future…but who is to say it will stay that way? Hmmmmmm…we shall see! Thanks again you guys and I love you all to pieces. (Picks up the pieces and apologizes for loving you that much…lol) ; )
