As predicted by the girls it was a heated discussion when Joe found out she would be taking the Slytherin classes, which only made her felt worse when she walked into potions class to find Riddle knowingly smirking.

"So it seems we'll be spending a little more time together Granger," he said smugly.

She glowered at him but sat down in the seat adjacent where she had been the previous lessons.

"I couldn't help but overhear your breakfast conversation; no doubt most of the school did…"

"Riddle if you think I care about your opinion,"

"Whether you care for my opinion is debatable," She huffed but it was ignored as he carried on, "but for such attempts at strength and independence of character, you've very quickly attached yourself to a weak yet possessive and jealous Weasley. It's a shame, really,"

"Riddle,"

"Yes?"

"Shut up," She hissed at him.

As Professor Slughorn introduced their next project he set them working in groups of three. Another Slytherin was placed with Hermione and Riddle.

"Zabini."

"Riddle." The boys nodded in acknowledgement of each other as Hermione read through their instructions and copied them onto her parchment.

"Hermione?" She looked up in surprise as the new boy to their table was holding out him hand to her. "It's a pleasure to meet you," He said as she took his hand. She assumed they were shaking but he brought it up to his lips and gently touched his lips to her knuckles.

"Do I get to learn your first name?" she asked, a little off put by his charming approach.

"Lucas, though I'd prefer you not to use it. Its more of a family curse that a well continued tradition." He replied sheepishly.

"Sounds like an interesting story,"

"Much like the ones circling around you," Hermione couldn't help but notice how he was fishing for information, though in a much more delicate fashion than Riddle had attempted.

"Largely fictional then,"

"We'd have to compare notes,"

"The potion first though I think," Hermione said, pulling away her hand and glancing to Riddle who was returning with the ingredients they required.

"If you two are quite finished,"

"My apologies Riddle," Zabini said, glancing to Hermione conspiringly. Hermione smiled, Hatty had been right; not all Slytherins were as rude and irritating as Riddle.

Tom had watched them chat and laugh for the past two hours and if picturing cursing his followers until they begged him to stop soothed him enough not to curse Zabini in the middle of the potions laboratory he felt he was entitled.

"What have you learn today Riddle?" Hermione's voice pulled him from his daydream. Zabini was nowhere to be seen so was probably replacing the unused ingredients.

"Excuse you? I hope you're not implying this formula was previously beyond me. I could have made this potion in first year,"

"Not all lessons are from books and cauldron's Riddle,"

"I don't,"

"Friendliness Riddle, talking, helping each other,"

"I contributed just as much to the end result. I probably was the cause of our success if you'd put those ragged dried up pieces of sage in there the whole thing would have been ruined,"

"You're missing the point Riddle," She said giving up her meaningless argument when Zabini returned.

"Would you like to walk with me down to herbology, Hermione?" Zabini asked, offering to carry her bag as well as his. Riddle glared at the back of Zabini's head for his audacity, silently pleased when Hermione didn't pass over her bag. The two of them did proceed to the greenhouses for herbology together. Riddle rolled his eyes at how predictably malleable Granger was as a Slytherin target. Playing her was bound to be Zabini's goal, and Riddle was sure he'd be able to make his own fun out of the consequences.

He was about o follow the pair after a moment when Slughorn caught him by the arm. He refrained from scowling at the assumption of compliance but smiled when he turned to face his professor.

"Sir?"

"Tom, I'm planning a small dinner for my favourite students in a week's time, I was wondering whether you had considered bringing a guest with you this year; Perhaps Miss Granger, hmm?"

"I am afraid Miss Granger is unlikely to agree to accompany myself. She already has a recognisable interest in one of her own house sir,"

"My my, well then I shall have to invite her myself, but you will recommend that she attends won't you,"

"If it pleases you Professor," Tom said as pleasantly as practiced.

"I tell you my boy, if that girl had been placed in Slytherin she would have been a prefect with those abilities," Slughorn mused as he led Tom to the door.

"Surely a head of house could recommend a late suggestion for prefect sir? It would certainly give her much more opportunity to expand her abilities and engage with the school while she attends,"

"Such a thoughtful boy you are Tom. Yes, perhaps I might. Very good!"

"Goodbye Professor," He nodded in departure and quickened his pace so as to catch up with the rest of the group. Tom Riddle did not make a habit of arriving late for class. Once he spotted Granger and Zabini up ahead he slowed down so as not to catch their attention and filed into the greenhouses to his usual spot on the back benches of the room.

He pulled out his advanced guide to cover the way he followed the path of Granger and Zabini; then to cover the smirk as Weasley barged onto the scene. Zabini, suave as ever excused himself, thought the second kiss to her hand was surely for the thrill of winding up the redhead than to gain Granger's favour. Either way it worked as Granger faintly blushed and the Weasel's hackles rose like a rabid dog.

Riddle watched them for a moment, pleased that Granger was not so easily accepting of Weasley's insecurities. It did nothing to calm him down and it was another of their friends that pulled them aside.

Someone cleared their throat beside him.

"Riddle?" Zabini again, back straight and eyes unyielding as if in challenge. Riddle glanced away unconcerned.

"I was under the impression you would want to talk," Zabini continued. Riddle weighed his chances. Dismissing the boy completely was dangerous, listening to him would be conceding to the fact that he was interested.

"Enlighten me on the subject matter," Riddle absentmindedly flipped through the pages of the book in front of him.

"Maybe I would like to offer my services. Or might loyalty be a more desirable word to you,"

"You make it sound like you would want something in return,"

"Your current lackeys are, for want of better phrasing, lacking,"

"And you believe you could surpass them,"

"You know I could," Riddle's cautiousness was justified as Granger took that moment to glance around the room, perhaps looking for their professor but frowning at how indiscrete Zabini was showing their acquaintanceship to be.

"I won't talk about this here, save your breath,"

"As you wish,"