Disclaimer: don't own.

That's what happened in chapter 10:

"And I know another truth: both of you were trying to win me over; it was a challenge." Hermione went on, glaring at the two people responsible. "I don't like the way you behaved towards each other, so I'm going to tell you something:"

Slowly she walked over to Abraxas and Tom; her face only inches from theirs. "I'm not going to choose any of you. I'm not going to play this game any longer. I'm out. That was it. You both had your chance but you blew it."

She turned on her heel and said in a very final sort of voice: "Good night."

When Hermione was gone, Tom punched the wall in frustration and Abraxas groaned: "What did she just do? Who in their right mind would turn down a Malfoy?"

On with the story:

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Later on, when Tom was lying in his bed, his thoughts kept returning to the horror of the cruciatus curse. He had made Abraxas, Harry and Draco swear that they wouldn't tell a soul. He couldn't begrudge Abraxas the victory; after all, he had put the poor boy through the curse several times before, but he still felt a shiver run down his spine when he thought of the pain of the unforgiveable curse.
It was vile. Cruel. It was terror, he never wished to experience again.
Tom shook his head and plumped up his pillow – he vowed he would never use the curse again – at least not on his followers. It wasn't fair anyway – and useless as well as painful. He had other means to get them do his work anyway, but he would never use the cruciatus again – not on his followers. Tom knew, that he would soon possess a much subtler gift. Smirking slightly, Tom opened the newly ordered book on legilimency.

But he couldn't concentrate. His thoughts kept returning to Hermione Delacour. Her disappointed face, her anger and her sadness. Tom's heart ached at the thought of her being sad or in pain. However, he was also confused.
Why did she follow them anyway? How did she find out that it used to be just a kind of challenge? Tom was glad that she didn't know how he really felt about her – because the feelings were new to him too and he still had to get used to them.
Caring about someone? Hoping someone was alright? Missing someone? Thinking about someone non-stop? This someone was Hermione and Tom couldn't deny one thing: He had fallen. Hard.

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The next morning dawned bright and cold. Hermione was an expected icy version of her usual cheerful self and refused to talk to Abraxas (who tried to charm her endlessly) and Tom (who kept sending her longing glances). She also ignored Harry and Draco pointedly.

"What did I do?" Draco asked Harry as he watched Hermione's haughty back leave the breakfast table in a dignified hurry.

"I… don't know." Harry said through mouthfuls of cornflakes. "She is just… confused and probably… disappointed."

"Why do you know so much about her?" Draco asked moodily.

"I am her best friend." Harry said, smiling.

"But you used to be crap at the 'feelings-talk'. Almost as bad as Weaselbee."

"I USED to be." Harry still smiled. "But I think I am starting to see how some people work. I am still having trouble with girl's logics though."

Draco chuckled. "Good one, Harry."

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When Hermione crossed the entrance hall she spotted a cluster of girls and walked over to them and spotted the sign. "Hogsmeade weekend." A girl with brown pigtails said loudly to her Hufflepuff friend. "Brilliant. Who are you going with?"

"I don't know yet, Myrtle. I hope he's going to ask me though – you know who I mean." Both girls giggled loudly.

Hermione walked by them and realized with a jolt that said girl was moaning Myrtle. She stared at the pair so long that she hardly noticed a shadow behind her.

"Hogsmeade weekend." The boy read from the sign and Hermione jumped at the sound of his voice.

"Quentin." she greeted with a smile. "You scared me there."

"I am sorry." Quentin even looked it. "How can I make up for it? Care to join me in Hogsmeade?"

Hermione raised her eyebrows.

"I mean… would you like to go there with me?" Quentin rephrased when Hermione hadn't given him an answer.

Hermione quickly thought this over. Quentin was good-looking, fun and obviously quite popular. Furthermore, she didn't feel like going with her friends from the future, nor did she feel like fending off Abraxas and Tom again. Besides, Quentin was the first guy who had asked her – so first come, first serve.

"Fine." Hermione smiled. "I'll go with you."

"Great." Quentin's beautiful green eyes lit up. "Thanks. I can't wait. See you in potions, Hermione."

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The few days before the weekend flew by. Hermione pointedly ignored Abraxas (who had tried to ask her out several times), she also didn't even glance at the future Dark Lord and kept her contact to Harry and Draco to a bare minimum.

It seemed like no time at all that she met Quentin in front of the entrance hall. "Good morning." Quentin smirked and gave her a once-over. "Nice to see you out of your school uniform."

Hermione giggled. "Thank you. Shall we go?"

Quentin nodded and Hermione took his arm. Quietly they walked outside and passed a rowdy group of Slytherin boys. Death Eaters, obviously. Tom and most of his followers were among them (those who probably hadn't gotten a date), looking smug and superior.

"Not so fast." Suddenly Tom stepped in front of Quentin and Hermione, blocking their way. "What are you doing?"

The question was obviously meant for Quentin, but it was Hermione who answered it.

"Quentin is taking me to Hogsmeade." She replied sweetly. "It's Hogsmeade weekend in case you haven't noticed."

Tom's pale cheeks were tinged in red. "So why are you going out with HIM?"

"Because he asked me." Duh.

"Did I tell you to take Hermione to Hogsmeade?" Tom sneered at the older student.

Quentin shrank back and Hermione mentally rolled her eyes. Didn't anyone of Tom's followers actually have any backbone?

"No, my... No, Tom, but,..."

Toms POV:

Oh my god, I can't believe it, Hermione and Quentin going together? I should have asked her. But she probably wouldn't have gone with me anyway. She hasn't talked to me for a few days. God, how I miss her. I should never have cursed Abraxas. I should have fought for her. Now, she is going with that git, Quentin. I hate him. I will probably dismiss him from my follower-group. Or I'll curse him. No, I wouldn't. Hermione would probably hate me even more then. So no.

"Now Quentin, I am disappointed in your behaviour." I said slowly, menacingly.

"Why?" my Hermione butted in. "Why isn't he allowed to ask me out?"

Because you are mine, I wanted to scream, but of course I couldn't. I should have asked her out instead of going alone with my followers. Why am I so against dating? I am not – not when it concerns Hermione.

"Because he is engaged." I let the bombshell drop. That should put her off him. I was one of the few who knew. Quentin, though, didn't care. Every week you found another girl in his bed. "I don't think this is proper behaviour, you know. And now you are the next on his list."

Hermione looked shocked for a second but quickly composed her facial features back to a proper Slytherin mask.

Normal POV:

She didn't really care that Quentin was engaged; she had no feelings for him whatsoever. But she found it extremely sweet that Tom (obviously) cared so much about her. He sounded jealous and... well... caring.

Hermione's heart went out to him and she gave him the first smile for days. "Thank you Tom, I really appreciate your concerns, but we are just going to Hogsmeade."

Quentin looked furious, but Tom relaxed slightly and nodded. "Fine, Hermione, just wanted to warn you."

Hermione smiled again; she had really treated him coldly enough – and after a week, she should forgive him. Him and Abraxas.
And she had a new resolve; Dumbledore had asked her to show Tom Riddle love – and she would do that. She wouldn't seduce Abraxas, and she wouldn't even dream of seducing Quentin; the Dark Lord was her new (and old) goal. And she would do everything in her power to show Dumbledore that she was indeed the brightest witch of the year.

"Let's go then." Hermione said gently to Quentin.

When she turned around, she could have sworn she had seen Tom smile.

"Tom is a freak." Quentin said quietly when they were out of earshot. "And it is not true what he said about me, I'm not engaged."

Hermione rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "You are. I can see your ring."

Quentin paled.

"But it doesn't matter, Quentin. I agreed to go with you and we'll have a nice time. And I need somebody to show me around, I've never been here before."

Quentin looked much happier at the prospect of being a tour-guide and offered Hermione his arm once again.

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Against all odds, Hermione and Quentin got along splendidly. They laughed lot, talked and Quentin showed the surprised Hermione what Hosgmeade looked like in the forties. After their shopping, Quentin led Hermione to the infamous Madame Puddifoots. Hermione couldn't very well say no as she wasn't supposed to know the village.
The café was full of Hogwarts couples and Hermione inwardly cringed. At least, Tom wasn't here, but Abraxas was. A girl with long red hair was sitting opposite him, batting her eyelashes and drinking cappuccino.

Quentin was shown a table for two – a foot away from Abraxas and his date. Hermione wanted to bury her head in shame, but decided to act Slytherin.

Abraxas' eyes narrowed when they sat down. "So you are taking, Hermione, Quentin. I didn't know." Abraxas said coolly, interrupting the red haired girls speech about waterlilies.

"Looks like it." Quentin responded equally coolly. "Problem?" This time Quentin showed more backbone towards Abraxas. Hermione still wondered how much power Tom actually held.

"Problem?" Abraxas gave some sort of grimace. "No. Why should it be a problem?"

"Don't fight." the soft voice of the red haired girl said. She turned to Hermione, smiling. "Hello Hermione."

Hermione shook her hand, wondering who on earth that girl was. She didn't look like a typical Slytherin and Hermione's speculations were confirmed immediately.

"My name is Emily Clearwater." she said. "Ravenclaw."

"You are going out with a Ravenclaw?" Quentin jeered. "Didn't you usually say that only Slytherin girls are REAL girls?"

"Really." Hermione said crossly, leaping to Emily's defence, who seemed nice. "Don't fight."

Grumbling, the two boys shut their mouths and Hermione and Quentin were served coffee.

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Tom and his followers who hadn't gotten dates, met up at the Hogs Head which couldn't be anymore different from Madame Puddifoots. The walls were bare and grey, dusty bottles of firewhiskey and butterbeer were being offered and the clientele – instead of loving couples – were dodgy characters clad in black cloaks.

"Welcome." Tom smiled a smile which didn't reach his eyes. "As you probably know I recruited two more members to our followers. Draco and Harry."

His "followers" clapped unenthusiastically, but it seemed enough for Tom who went on, enjoying the attention. "The Hogs Head is our regular meeting point – as well as the Secret Slytherin room which will be shown to you by one of my followers – and every Hogsmeade visit you usually meet here with me."

Tom paused and his voice was quieter. "Some followers have proven to be disloyal; those who prefer to spend the days with dates instead of making plans with me."

Harry and Draco shivered at his menacing tone.

"They will be punished of course." Tom went on, fingering his wand.

"Abraxas is always one of them." Avery told Draco. "Malfoys can't keep their hands off girls."

Most of the table laughed at this, except Draco and Tom.

"Keep your mouth shut Avery. Only talk when instructed." Tom turned back to the two time-travellers. "That's another thing – as I'm your leader, you do everything I tell you to do. You talk when I tell you to NOT when you feel like it. If you do, then you will be punished."

"How do you punish people?" Harry asked cautiously. He had seen Tom use the cruciatus on Abraxas and didn't feel like receiving one as well.

Tom glared at Harry. "I won't use the cruciatus any longer." He ignored the sighs of relief that went through the ranks of his followers. "I have practiced it enough. Instead, I need to practice a new thing. And if you don't behave and if you ask more questions, Delacour, then you will be the first I will try it out on."

Harry went silent at once.

"During our meetings you call me my lord. At school it is Tom for you. Clear? Rosier will tell you about our goals and what our meetings are about." Tom nervously looked at his watch. "Now it's time for me to go. I have other businesses to attend to. Next meeting will be in the Slytherin common room the day after tomorrow at 9 pm. Don't be late, or you will be punished."

Tom swiftly got up, not looking back. He desperately had to find Hermione.