Disclaimer: don't own.

„Oh by the way, Tom…" Hermione looked up from her salad „I've got this photo shoot tomorrow."

"Right."

"Can I still go?" Hermione asked him, wondering WHY she even cared for his ok. Probably, because he was headboy.

"Of course, I haven't changed my opinion." Tom drawled, sipping his water.

"Very well, let me thank you again." If Hermione wanted to befriend him – or rather HAD TO – then she would need to be polite.

'Or maybe I could ask her to go there with her. Take care of her. Spend time with her.' But Tom dismissed this thought. He had his death-eater meetings. And they wouldn't take it lightly if he – again – rather spent time with that girl. On second thought, there was no reason to, anyway.

Hermione cringed. 'I had actually hoped that he would take me there. For a reason, I can't explain, I like spending time with him.'

But she wouldn't dare ask him. It would sound as if she was desperate and that was the last thing Hermione Jean Granger wanted to look like.

Hermione laughed lightly.

"I guess I'll go then. The other students are still at lunch and I hope I can get into the Ravenclaw common room unnoticed." Hermione said, although she'd rather stay in the Heads Room, spending time with Lord Voldemort. What a ridiculous thought.

Tom nodded, his Slytherin-mask in his place. "I'll walk you there."

"Thank you." Hermione said as she slipped into her dress.

"You look beautiful in that dress." Tom commented, not meeting Hermione's eye.

She smiled in thanks and they headed out towards the Ravenclaw common room. Hermione was disappointed. They weren't holding hands, they weren't kissing or anything else. It was as if this evening had never happened and she felt really sad all of a sudden..

She would rather have it another way, although she would never tell Draco or Harry and the least of all Ginny, who had been seduced by Tom's memory in her first year.

Tom thought the same – although he didn't show it and therefore Hermione had no clue. 'Does she actually like me? What was that yesterday? Will we repeat it? Would she want to? What does she think?' Tom looked at her calculatingly.

"Natalija, I hope you can get in this time." Tom smirked.

"I hope so too. Thanks for saving me last night." Hermione said and glared at the eagle knocker again.

"I will wait and look if you are able to get in this time." Tom grinned.

"Name the three unforgivables!" The eagle said and Hermione smiled, naming all three of them.

The eagle door swung open and revealed part of the beautiful wide common room.

"Very nice." Tom drawled, catching a glimpse.

"Good-bye, Tom."

'Ask her, just ask her.'

"Natalija, when you get out of that dress and change into normal clothes we could go for a walk in the grounds, the weather is beautiful outside." Tom said to his dismay. No, he actually didn't want to say it. He forced a mask of indifference onto his face as he watched Hermione smile.

"Okay then. I'll be right back."

THTHTH

They were walking in the grounds near the lake, bathing in the afternoon sun, both enjoying the nice, relatively warm weather. There was no real need to talk, except the occasional comment.

"I hope I can get to the photo shoot alright tomorrow." Hermione muttered.

"Of course, you will. I guess, you'll have a lot of fun." Tom answered cryptically.

Suddenly Hermione remembered. Of course, he couldn't go there with her, because he had planned a meeting. Harry and Draco were also part of that group and had told her.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" Hermione asked.

Tom stiffened, but put his mask in the place half a second later. "I will meet up with my … friends." Tom said, though hesitating a second before the word "friends".

"Oh really?" Hermione smirked at him. "And what will you be doing?"

"I don't think it is any of your business, Natalija." Tom spat, though didn't look at her.

Hermione was a bit taken aback at that but didn't show it. She just shrugged and looked straight ahead.

Hermione watched two young men playing quidditch and when they came nearer, she noticed that it were two Slytherin boys from her time.

Of course, luck was not with her and they both spotted her. The blonde and the black haired one slid down their brooms gracefully after they had landed directly in front of them.

"So, Miss Karkarova finally decides to show up." Draco sneered and to Hermione's dismay even Harry made a scene. Probably Ron's behaviour had induced his rough accusation.

"We don't see you after the dance, nor do you appear at breakfast, nor at lunch. We were so worried. We thought something had happened to you. And now we find you strolling around with V- Riddle." Harry stopped himself in time but Tom shot him a glare. Well, Tom had probably forbidden his followers to use ´his name in public, Hermione assumed.

Hermione shook her head solemnly. "Yesterday it got pretty late at the dance."

"Of course it did." Draco shot Tom a glare which the other returned with much more menace.

"And then I couldn't get inside the Ravenclaw common room." Hermione said, her face a bit red. Both Harry and Draco opened their mouth at the same time in surprise.

"Excuse me? How can you not know your password?" Harry half-laughed.

"Because there is no password. We have to answer a question correctly before the eagle lets us in." Hermione shook her head.

Draco and Harry both wore identical smirks that were mixed with utter surprise that Hermione wanted to wipe off their faces at once.

"Soooo, why didn't HE answer?" Harry didn't even bother to look at Tom.

"Because, I as a Slytherin, am not allowed to answer. Only the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors can get in by answering the eagle's question correctly." Tom gave them both evil smirks.

"So, I couldn't get in and I didn't want to sleep in the corridors and then Tom… suggested that I could…" Hermione stopped from embarrassment, blushing slightly.

Tom noticed that and found it very sweet, which he didn't show, but rather slipped on his mask of indifference.

"And therefore I offered Miss Karkarova to stay in the Head's Dorm for the night!" Tom drawled.

"WHAT?" Draco's face purpled.

"Relax, Krum, nothing happened." Hermione put her hand on his arm to calm him. Typical, he was so much like Ron.

"What do you mean, nothing happened? Of course, it did. You stayed overnight at HIS place." Harry was furious as well.

Tom was watching the scene mildly interested. They seemed to care a lot about this girl. Was it more than just caring for her? Was it obsession? Or did they have something against HIM? Did those two boys – who were on their first meeting with him tomorrow – already know that he was dangerous and powerful? Probably not, but he would show them.

"Besides, it's none of your business." Hermione spat at the Abraxas-double. Tom had to grin at her tone.

"I think it is." Abraxas number two answered in the same tone.

"No, it is not. You are neither a family member, nor a boyfriend."

"But a friend!" Draco protested.

"Yes, sure, and a really good friend." Hermione said through gritted teeth sarcastically.

"Let's just get down to business. Natalija stayed over at Riddle's and nothing happened. Is that really so bad?" Harry asked, always keeping a cool head. Hermione wanted to thank him on her knees.

"Exactly. Thank you so much." Hermione smiled thankfully at her best friend.

"Very well then. Come Poliakoff. Let's play quidditch. And we are not finished yet, Natalija." Draco sneered.

Hermione couldn't keep the sneer off her face when she said to Draco aka Krum: "Don't forget to break. You are playing against Poliakoff. Just try not to lose a leg."

"It's not as if you can play quidditch." Draco sneered back, unable to look longer into her face.

"Let's just go, Natalija." Tom said softly, in a slightly dangerous voice, ushering her forwards.

Hermione gave her two friends a last sad glance and walked away with Tom swiftly.

THTHTH

"She's lying." Draco stated flatly when Ginny, Harry and he were in the kitchens, sipping butterbeer.

"I don't know…" Harry said doubtfully, but Ginny just smirked.

"Tom can be very seductive and persuasive if he feels like it. What he wants – he gets. I remember Tom from my first year." Ginny said sadly and the two boys nodded in understanding. Ginny and Tom had already met through the diary and she had told them exactly what Tom was like.

"Do you think something happened then?" Ginny asked Draco.

"I think something happened. But on the other hand, I know Granger. She wouldn't do such thing." Draco answered, thoughtfully, scratching his head.

"Where is she, anyway?" Ginny asked them.

"Oh. She is on a photoshoot." This time it was Harry who answered.

"Excuse me?"

Draco and Ginny looked flabbergasted at the boy who lived. Harry sighed and started telling them about the Hogsmeade-incident.

"And now she is in Hogsmeade? A photoshoot? Alone or what?" Ginny was nonplussed.

"Yes."

"And you think that Tom Riddle would at least take her there." Draco growled.

"I don't think so, Malfoy. Tom has called the death eater meeting for today. Which reminds me, it's about to start in 15 minutes. We should get going. Don't want to be late on our first time!" Harry looked sheepishly at Draco who nodded slowly.

"Oh! Really? Harry, be careful!" Ginny said wide-eyed, a flicker of concern flying across her freckle-free face.

Harry looked at her with loving eyes. "I promise, Ginny, nothing will happen."

"But he can be really dangerous. Don't do anything stupid, please!"

"Of course not. I'll see you tonight at dinner." Harry kissed his girlfriend good-bye and Draco made choking noises in the background.

"Shut up, Malfoy!"

.