Author Note- I love you people. I have never gotten so much feedback with my other stories. Ok, the end of the evil little cliffie, which you can partially blame my parents on this time. Anyway, on with the story, I doubt you all read this anyways…

Disclaimer- I do not own the characters, but that's cause Tommy ran away… evil little muse…

As consciousness returned, Hermione surveyed her surroundings. Harry was kneeling to her left with Ron on his other side. They were bound to keep from running and disarmed. She guessed they had finally figured out they could not win a fight. The room was cold, made entirely of stone, not unlike the dungeons. Death Eaters lined the walls, whispering about their hostages.

A set of double doors on the wall facing them opened, putting an end to the murmurs. Twelve more people filtered in, creating a half circle behind the teens. On their way past, they shot them triumphant sneers, except one Severus Snape. They now knew that he was on their side and was not a large threat to them. Hermione, and probably the boys as well, found it ironic that the face of the hated Potions Master was a comforting sight. Suddenly, all occupants dropped to their knees, foreheads pressed to the floor, as a dark figure approached.

Lord Voldemort entered the room, robe billowing behind him, movements confident and purposeful. However, that was all that remained of Tom Riddle. His face was pasty white and sunken, eyes a bright, emotionless scarlet. His once thick, wavy hair that Hermione had enjoyed ruffling was gone. His nose too was nonexistent, only two slits remaining. He wore a cold, menacing smirk as he approached Harry.

"My friends rise, for this day is as much your triumph, as mine," he greet his cronies. Hermione heard two scoffs resonate from her friends, as they both knew that he never viewed them as friends, hardly acquaintances. "Harry Potter, welcome to out humble gathering. I think you will find yourself to be almost a, a guest of honor shall we say."

"You won't get away with this!" Harry spat, fear filling his voice all the same. A cold, humorless laugh escaped Voldemort at the comment. He knew he could win, and he planned on it.

"I've yet to witness these excellent manners I've heard so much about," he cruelly teased the boy.

"You're one to talk," Hermione thought aloud, immediately cursing herself for her stupidity.

"You want manners girl? Then I will show them to you," he responded, hardly glancing at her. "Mr. Potter, you and your friends have caught me in a good mood, and your little girlfriend here seems to think me devoid of courtesy so, instead of prolonging your miserable existence, I'll just end it now," he told the boy, raising his wand.

"NO TOM!" Hermione shrieked. "Please don't. For me, spare him," she pleaded. Voldemort froze, though whether it was from the use of his birth name or from being spoken to in such a manner she knew not. However, he quickly regained himself and drew toward her.

"My dear, I do not know of whom you speak, but I must ask you to reframe from shouting," he told her smoothly, much like a parent to a young child. "And who are you that I should spare his life?"

"My name… my name is Hermione Granger," she told him firmly. Stunned disbelief filled his eyes, but only for a moment as anger took over.

"LIAR!" he yelled pulling her to her feet. "Tell the truth, who are you?"

"I'm not lying, Riddle," she bit back. Oh, she was so dead this time.

"Don't call me that," he hissed so quietly she strained to here him.

"But you gave me permission to," she smirked back. Might as well end it all on a good note right?

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I will deal with you later. Then maybe we can come to the bottom of this mystery."

"You want me to prove it?" she asked in slight disgust, "Then I will. Your name is Tom Marvolo Riddle, you grew up in an orphanage because your father abandoned you, you wanted to be the DADA teacher. You recorded all your conversations because you never know when they might be useful, you are an amazing dancer, and have a silly fear of llamas. I met you when you were in sixth year and you called yourself, who you are now, a monster," she added breathlessly, tears stinging her eyes. Voldemort slowly turned to face her, questions written across his face.

"I will teach you to tell lies like that! CRUCIO!" a young follower yelled. Hermione fell to the floor screaming in pain, wishing for the release of death. But just as quickly as it started, it stopped. She slowly opened her eyes to see Voldemort cornering the boy, wand drawn.

"Never," he began, voice filled with hatred, "do that again."

"Y-y-yes m'lord," he stuttered out, "I-I-I apologize, it won't happen again." A pregnant pause filled the room, until finally the dark lord spoke.

"Good," he said pleasantly, a creepy smile on his face, "but just to make sure…" and a green jet of light shot from the wand tip, the boy dropping to the ground. "Professor Snape, you will accompany your students to the holding chamber, make sure they don't escape," he warned.

"Yes my lord," the cold, familiar voice droned obediently. He hauled the three to their feet and led them away. "Are you all okay?"

"Fine," the boys chorused, looking at Hermione as if she had two heads.

"Miss Granger?" he asked concerned. Hermione did not trust herself to speak and merely nodded. "That was some save, but do not let it happen again."

"Why? It saved Harry," she finally spoke.

"On most other days he would have killed you on the spot," he informed her. "Again, don't let it happen again," he warned her as he let them into a smaller room. The door snapped behind them and the boys gave her expectant looks.

"What the bloody hell happened back there?" Ron asked finally.

"I don't know what you mean," she lied, turning away.

"Hermione, you just said you knew him, that you met him on your trip," Harry told her. "We need to know what happened."

"Just, promise me you will let me get it all out, no questions asked," she compromised. Her friends nodded in agreement and she reluctantly launched into her story. "Yes, I met Tom Riddle there. He was actually the one that found me and took me to Dippet's office. Lovely little greeting that was, I was radiating hate and he looked like I was interfering with some plans of his. The next morning he welcomed me to the school and hoped that I enjoyed my stay, and kissed my hand. He had a reputation for being a gentleman and had the girls' hearts in his hand. We had potions together, I was forced to sit by him, and we talked a bit. He was a nice person, made you feel like what you said was important. It was a pleasant hour meeting, unlike our first one. Well, afterwards, he asked me to go to Hogsmeade with him and I accepted hoping that I could change him, though we know how that turned out. Anyway, that Saturday we met up and he asked about my family and eventually I told him that they were muggles," the boys exchanged knowing looks. "Well, we got into a heated battle of why he dislikes them and he told me about his childhood which you both know about. I told him that should give it a bit of thought and he did think about it and asked if we could stay together. We had a lot of fun, he was funny, charming, not evil, "she added to their shock, "and I started to really like him. Oh Ron, chill out!" she exclaimed as his face distorted in anger. He liked her and she knew it. "Anyway, two days before I had to leave there was a dance and we went together and that's were I learned of his amazing dancing skills. Oh yes boys, Voldemort can dance," as they laughed their heads off. "Anyway, the night didn't end that pleasantly though. We ended up a tad, well, really drunk, and slept together. The amazing thing though, is I wasn't mad at him and wanted to stay with him. I love… loved, him," she confessed. Harry and Ron gave her the two-headed look again.

"Hermione, you do realize who Tom Riddle is right?" Harry asked.

"Love? No Hermione, it can't be," Ron thought aloud.

"Sorry Ron, but it is true, and yes Harry, I do know who he is now and I assure you I fell nothing for that monster! He is not the man I fell in neither love with nor the father of my child," she shouted, forgetting herself.

"WHAT?" three voices shouted in unison. The three turned to see a startled Lucius Malfoy staring at her. A long stream of profanity fell from her mouth as she realized what she had just revealed.

"Need something Mr. Malfoy?" Harry asked bitterly, hoping to make the situation less awkward for his friend.

"The Dark Lord wishes to speak with Miss Granger," he answered hollowly.

"Very well," she answered bitterly, approaching the despicable man. He sharply turned and led her down the hall.

"Good luck," Harry called after her.

"BLOODY HELL HARRY! SHE'S HAVING BLEEDING VOLDEMORT'S KID!" she heard Ron shriek at his friend. Poor Ron, this must be terribly hard on him. She wondered how Harry was taking it.

For what seemed like an hour they traveled through the long winding corridors of the, guessing it to be, castle. Finally, they stopped outside a magnificently carved door. The door slowly, dramatically almost, creaked open to reveal Voldemort sitting on the edge of a cherry oak desk, looking almost laid back and casual. If the situation had not been as serious as it was, Hermione might have laughed aloud.

"You may leave Malfoy," he dismissed her tour guide.

"Actually my lord, I have some information that might be of some interest to you," he nervously voiced. Voldemort gave him a pointed look and cautiously Malfoy approached his leader. He quickly whispered the news and backed away. Whether this surprised him or not, she did not know, his expression remained blank.

"Thank you, that was quite… intriguing. You will go now," he finalized. Malfoy quickly exited the room leaving them alone. "Miss Granger," he greeted her.

"Riddle," she answered back calmly.

"Have you lost brain power over the last fifty years? You are not to call me that," he snapped.

"To me it's only been a month and the real you told me I did not have to address you by this disguise," she answered back, a bit hurt by his words.

"Just as quick witted aren't you?" he commented. She rolled her eyes, wishing he would get to the point.

"Is there a reason you wanted me here other than to torture me?" she snapped after a long silence. Wait torture her? That was not the best sentence she could have used. Way to go, putting ideas in his head. For the second time that night, he laughed emotionlessly.

"Actually that was what I was going to do, but I realize now, you are you," he told her. "But now, perhaps we could catch up?" Well that was not exactly what she had expected to hear.

"Not much to say really. I know what happened to you, and not much is up with me," she shrugged.

"When were you planning on telling me?" he asked her seriously.

"Never," she answered simply.

"You weren't planning on telling me I was to be a father?" he clarified.

"I don't see why I would, considering that you aren't the father," she replied calmly. His eyes burned through her.

"You just confessed it to your friends," he argued. She laughed at this wondering how many times she would have to explain it.

"Tom Riddle is, Voldemort is not, and before you say anything, they really aren't the same person," she answered his next question.

"Tom Riddle was a fool, a muggle-loving fool. I, on the other hand, am powerful, level headed, and why are you laughing?" he asked in surprise.

"Muggle-loving fool? You tolerated or ignored them, not loved them in any way," she laughed, "and level headed you most certainly are not." Although he would never admit it, something snapped deep inside him. She was not going to tell him. That would almost make him as bad as his father. She thought him mentally unstable too; he had pushed her away. Why did he care though? Lord Voldemort was not supposed to feel. She was just the remains of a silly crush from half a decade ago. Still, something ached deep inside him.

"You will go back to your chamber now," he told her, his voice distant and elsewhere. She turned, hoping to find her way back. Nevertheless, something confused her. Had he been hurt by her comment? Well, served him right. Luckily, Malfoy was there to take her back though he was a bit startled to see her unscathed.