If you were in a room, alone, that was pure white, what would you do? I'm talking carpet, walls, ceiling, furniture...everything. What would you do? How would it make you feel?

Some people would sit back and relax, at peace. Some people wouldn't be able to stand it, crawling the walls to get out because they wouldn't feel like they belonged.

And then some people would pull out a crayon, or marker, or paint...and turn the huge blank canvas into a work of art.

There's no right answer, and there's no wrong answer, but it's one that Muggle psychologists pay close attention to for some reason.

Chapter Ten The Bitter, and the Sweet

Hermione closed the book and took a deep breath. She knew what she needed to do now, and she knew that she could do it. It had taken time to do everything, preparing the spell and making potions that might be of help and most of all making a pair of amulets that would allow her to stay in contact with Ginny. She planned the spell so it would take as much time here as it did for her, personally, while she was gone. With Christmas break upon them, it seemed like the perfect time.

"There. I've told my parents that I'll be doing a very involved project over vacation, but I didn't tell them what it was. Just that I'll be away the entire time. The school thinks I'll just be going home."

Ginny looked at her and nodded. "I've filled my parents in, in case anything goes wrong. Mum is upset, but she knew the Potters and she said that if there's any chance you can save them, she won't stop you."

"She knew them? What a small world..."

Ginny smiled sadly. "Her little brother, my uncle I guess, was in the same dorm as Harry's father. Mum seems to have been rather fond of him...of James Potter, I mean. At least it seems that way, from the owl she sent the other day."

Hermione nodded, locking her trunk and hefting the bag she'd filled to take "home" with her. "Ron doesn't know, does he?"

Ginny shook her head. "He'd just worry if I told him before you left. He can worry all he wants after you're gone."

"You're a great friend, Ginny." Hermione gave her a quick, tight hug and then took a step back. "You're all packed, I'm all packed, and we've still got a little bit of time left. Should we go down and see if there's anyone to say our goodbyes to in the Great Hall?"

Ginny nodded, smiling and holding the amulet she had around her neck. "This is going to be the strangest holiday of my life."

"Mine, too," Hermione laughed. They walked downstairs, waving to others either sitting or rushing about through the Gryffindor common room, and then out the hole and past the portrait of the fat lady, wishing her cheery holidays as they went.

They reached the Great Hall where some students were playing, and others were studying, and everyone seemed excited and relaxed and ready for the holidays. Hermione felt like she stood out, being as nervous as she was. Ginny plopped down in an empty seat at random and started chatting up a cute Ravenclaw boy that Hermione only knew in passing. Hermione, on the other hand, was standing as stiff as a board, looking around the room and wondering that she didn't really have anything to say to anyone.

She was just shy of pacing around the room. "I'll be right back," she murmured to Ginny, leaving her to her flirting. Hermione left quickly, to just wander around the corridors, wondering why she'd felt the need to rush down here when she'd been so much more comfortable in her own room.

"Miss Granger!"

When had she wandered so far away? The corridor was dark, and she was alone, and she froze at the familiar voice as ice shot through her veins. She licked her lips nervously and then turned around, smiling weakly. Had she done something wrong? Had she wandered into the wrong area without thinking? "Yes, Professor Riddle?" The sound of her voice seemed unbearably weak, drowned out as it was by the sound of her own heart pounding.

He gave her a winning smile and she felt a bit relieved. "You're going home for the holidays, aren't you?"

"Y-yes. That's right."

"It's too bad. I had hoped to have a chance to talk to you about your paper on time travel."

"Is something wrong with it, sir?" She swallowed, hard, hands clenched at her sides so that he would not see them trembling.

"On the contrary," he practically purred. "I'm very impressed by it. You've grasped the concepts better than anyone I have ever spoken to. Better, I'd say, than anyone currently working for the Ministry."

"Oh, no, I'm s-sure that's not the case," she stammered, ducking her head and clasping her hands before her.

Professor Riddle walked right up to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "But I am, and that is what matters, isn't it?" His hand was cold, and his voice had a bit of a hiss to it that reminded her of that night, and the snake, and it made her think he must be as cold blooded as the serpent he'd been so lovingly entwined with. "I wouldn't be surprised if you took everything you learned and tried it for your own good, in fact. Not that I doubt your integrity, Miss Granger, but I know how terribly tempting I'd find such a thing myself, at your age."

"N-no! Of course not!" Her cheeks warmed and she knew they must be a bright shade of red, but she couldn't help it. He'd hit her where it would sting her the most. Hermione couldn't stand the thought that she was breaking school rules with what she planned on doing, but also probably a dozen laws she'd been too afraid to look up. "I'd never do anything of the sort!"

"Don't lie to me, Miss Granger. I can see the truth in your eyes." His voice grew more sibilant, and the smile was completely gone. "I want you to think very hard about what it is that you are planning on doing. With one wrong move, you'll destroy everything. No more Weasleys. No more Hogwarts. No more Hermione Granger. I'm sure that is not what you wish. Once you leave school property, I won't be able to protect you from your folly, but please know I only have your best interests at heart with this most grave and dire warning."

Warning? It seemed more like a threat with him leaning so close, practically whispering in her ear.

He grinned, and it was the grin of a predator. "Give my best to Molly and Arthur, will you?"

Professor Riddle walked away into the shadows, and about a minute after that Hermione felt like she could breathe again.

"But how did he know?" Hermione and Ginny were sitting in their own compartment on the Hogwarts Express, both looking pale after going over what had happened.

"I don't know," Hermione said to Ginny's question. "He just did. And that last bit, where he said to say hello to your parents, and he called them by name. It gives me the shivers just thinking about it."

"We'll have to tell them, as soon as we get home. They'll know what to do." Ginny sounded firm, and the look in her eyes said she wouldn't accept any argument on the subject.

"No!" Hermione had to try, anyway. "They'll forbid me from trying, and I have to! Don't you understand? Harry Potter was in my class. He was so bright, and so cheerful! And I remember meeting his mother, too, and she was so pretty and I remember thinking when I saw them all at platform nine and three-quarters the first time that when I grew up I wanted to have a family just like theirs. They were so perfect, and they didn't deserve to die, and the old man in my dream is counting on me. I'd feel more horrible letting him down than I am scared that Professor Riddle will do anything to me."

"If you won't tell her, I will."

"Ginny, please..."

"She won't tell you no," Ginny started, but the door slid open and Ron stepped inside.

"Who won't tell you no about what?" he asked as he flopped down next to Hermione casually.

"None of your business," Ginny said, sticking her tongue out at her brother.

"One of those, huh? Fine. I'll get it out of Hermione." He offered Hermione a playful grin.

"You will not," she protested, looking away and blushing slightly. When had Ron Weasley gotten so cute, anyway? For some reason, it had only been in the last few months that she'd started seeing him any differently from their first year, when he'd walked around with a smudge of dirt the first day she'd met him, and hadn't been much neater since. The freckles had always made him look like such a little kid, too. So, when had that changed?

"C'mon, 'Mione. Please?" Ron looked at her with a huge pair of sad puppy eyes. "You can tell me. I promise I won't let Ginny beat you up over it, whatever it is."

"Oh, for pity's sake," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "As if I would!"

"Of course you would," he teased with a grin that threatened to make Hermione's toes curl. "Why else wouldn't she tell you?"

It had to be from playing Quidditch the last couple of years. That's where he'd gotten such a nice body.

"This isn't fair!" Hermione squeaked out loud. She immediately covered her mouth, though, turning an even more vivid shade of pink. She hadn't meant to say that!

"What's not fair?" Ron asked cluelessly.

"Nothing!"

Ginny knew better, of course. She gave Hermione a smug grin and touched the pendant. You've got a crush on my brother. That's so gross! And Ron, out of all of them. You'd be much better off with Bill or Charlie or even Fred or George. Though, I suppose he's a little better than Percy.

Hermione looked away, blushing harder than ever, but not daring to respond even by the same method.

"Hermione, it is so something. I heard you myself, you know."

"Oh, look. We'll be at the station soon," she said instead, pointing out the window.

"Fine, don't answer," he pouted.

Ginny was all but laughing at them, holding her winter coat in her hands and hiding her face in it.

"We should grab our things, that's all," Hermione said as she stood up.

"Why are you two keeping things from me? It's not fair, you know. I'm always out of the loop."

Hermione was about to actually spill it, telling him everything, because she couldn't handle the guilt anymore. Cute boy, her age, and possibly interested in her if he could see her as something other than his little sister's best friend. Sure, he wasn't the brightest boy in school, but he was protective and sweet and rather funny and always fun to be with when she did hang out with him.

Thankfully, Ginny solved it. "We're talking about girl things. I was telling her that Mum wouldn't say no to going out to a Muggle shop to buy supplies for that time of the month, since Hermione forgot to bring her own."

Ron turned so red that his freckles looked pale. "I can't know that! I did not just hear that! You're so gross, Ginny! You did not just say...ah!" He covered his ears and ran out of the compartment.

They didn't stop laughing until at least five minutes after they left the train.