Author's Note: It feels amazing to be back! Really hope you like this chapter, because I seriously enjoyed writing it. Can't thank my beta 'The stupid is always possible' enough, she's amazing!

Chapter 12

Professor Slughorn was in a particularly good mood today. But his students in Slytherin and Ravenclaw took one look at his beaming face and knew that they were in for trouble. A happier than average Professor Slughorn always meant either a very difficult surprise test or something even more annoying. Everyone had their eyes trained on him as he waddled his way to his table.

"My dear students," he began, "I've come up with a most ingenious method of marking you for this term. I will pair you up with a random student for the rest of this term and at the end of the term both of you will share your grades and any extra credit work that you wish to do." He looked around as if expecting a thundering applause at his creative idea, but he was only graced with sour faces.

This declaration was immediately met with stifled groans and a flurry of guesses regarding who would end up with whom. However, nothing could match the anxiety of one Slytherin brunette whose mind was wracked with tension. What if she was partnered with Druella Rosier, or maybe even worse, Violet Bullstrode! In a flash she could see a glimpse of a future where she handed her brother the report card with a horrifying 'A' marked beside the Potions grade! The pain and suffering!

With complete disregard to his student's cries and whimpers, the Professor began listing off the names. Hermione had completely tuned him out as her mind dissected and scrutinised the worst pairings possible and how she could make it out alive. It was only when the girl beside her squealed out, "Lucky you, you've got Malfoy", that she returned to her mortal dwellings.

Of all the people she ended up with the one person she liked, what were the odds! Abraxas Malfoy, even though he could be irritating enough to have her wish he was dead (on more than one occasion), was not so bad after all. They had spent the whole of their holidays together and during that time she had seen a side of Abraxas that was much more understanding and much more caring that the arrogant person he projected himself to be. Just a few more hours in the library and lesser number of dates and maybe a cutback on his Quidditch practise and that 'O' in the Potion grade wouldn't be all that difficult.

Now that she had some of her problems resolved, she listened to Slughorn announce the other pairings. Tom was paired with a girl named Sarah Waters from Ravenclaw. Poor Tom, she thought. Of all the people, he had to end up with her. Sarah was quite a revelation to Ravenclaw and was at the moment one of the most promising students in the House. Don't get me wrong, but she wasn't exactly promising for her intelligence, but more so for her good looks. She had all the qualities of a talented young girl should possess in the early twentieth century; a staunch Pureblood upbringing and a ruthless determination to get the boy she wanted. She had crushed hearts and had impaled them on thorns of sorrow and now she had a new target, Tom Riddle.

Professor Slughorn waited for the students to exchange their places and proceeded with his announcement. "This partnership will not only promote inter-house unity, but it will also help you get to know your classmates better. Remember, this is an opportunity for most of you students to get to learn from your more meritorious peers so use this opportunity well. Oh! And one last thing, no changes will be accepted, thank you." If looks could kill, he would have been a dead walrus by now.

Abraxas turned to face Hermione. "You know, I am glad that I was paired with you. I don't know what I'd have done if I was paired up with Crabbe or someone!"

"Yes, there is not many people out there who can exactly handle your idiocy as efficiently as I can," Hermione teased.

Malfoy's retort was cut off by the Professor's booming voice announcing that they would be making the Swelling potion.

At another seat in the class, Sarah was desperately trying to get Tom's attention. "I feel so lucky that I was paired with you Riddle, I don't think that anybody else would have suited me as well," she said fluttering her eyelids.

"I believe that there are many gifted students in both of our houses, but I am looking forward to our partnership," he curtly replied.

"Oh no, I didn't mean it that way! You see, I am very weak at Potions, and I couldn't think of a better person to help me out with it."

"Thank you, Waters, I do hope that I can be of assistance," he relied politely before he stood up from his seat to collect the ingredients. "Why don't you start reading the procedures, I'll get the ingredients…they might be a bit heavy for you to carry," he offered but didn't wait for an answer as he strode off to the cabinet.

Tom was such a wonderful boy, thought Sarah as she absently flipped through her book. Always so polite, so considerate. If only he hadn't been looking at stupid Hermione Bateson all this while! Well, whatever was going on between them would have to change, she decided as she watched Tom return with a bulk of ingredients. He carefully settled them down on the table before he sat down. Sarah, unconsciously shifted closer to him and when she turned to thank him, she caught his mesmerising grey eyes for the first time. She had never known anything more beautiful as she couldn't will herself to remove her eyes. "Umm, you are reading the book upside down, Waters!" Tom smiled. That was impetus enough for Sarah as she hastily adjusted her book with her cheeks a shade redder.

Tom leaned back into his seat as his thoughts involuntarily drifted to the two people arguing in hushed tones over how to cut the nightshade. He heard Hermione repeatedly insist on slicing it while Abraxas said for the umpteenth time that the book said that they were supposed to dice it. Why couldn't Abraxas just shut up and listen to Hermione? Obviously she knew more than he did. If only he would have been paired with Hermione instead, she was much easier to work with than the mass of blonde hair and silk ribbons currently sitting beside him. She was again boring holes into the back of his head. How would he survive an entire term with this girl?

The Professor was moving around the class, inspecting potions. He presently stopped at their table. "The two of you make a wonderful pair. I think you're lucky that you got to work with Ms. Waters here, Tom." He patted Tom on the back knowingly before moving on to the next table. Why did he have to go and fan the fire? Tom took in the wide grin on Sarah's face.

Hermione, on the other hand, was absolutely fed up with Abraxas. During the past two classes of Double Potions he had taken every opportunity to point out the places where she deviated from the book and had refused to accept that the fact that she knew better. He had spent a major part of the classes shooting daggers at Tom for having been paired up with a blonde girl, for whom he professed his undying love for half the class and the later of the class half he spent picking out her drawbacks and finally, he decide that she wasn't good enough for him. Hermione heaved an audible sigh of relief when the professor finally let them go.

The Head Boy of Hogwarts was sitting listlessly on under a tree in the courtyard. He was surrounded by his friends but he didn't seem to hear them or sense their actions. All his thoughts were focussed on his Head Girl talking animatedly with her friends a few feet away. She still had the letter he had written to her in her hands. His heart swelled with hope, maybe she had read it! One of his friends slung an arm over his shoulder to attract his attention. "You lost your chance with her the day you punched that guy for going out with her. She's gone, mate. Forget about it."

He knew that it was practical advice, and this wasn't the first time he had heard it, but it was just so hard! He hoped that Riddle's idea would work out…it was his last chance.

As if in reply to his thoughts, he noticed an inconspicuous figure peeking from behind a tree and uttering a spell. The piece of parchment in Serena's hand, his letter to her, slowly began to crumple up. Noticing it change, she placed the crumpled ball of paper in the palm of her hand. Then the ball of paper began to languidly unfurl and blossom like a flower bud. Colour seeped into the parchment as its rough surface changed into soft delicate petals of a lovely red. A brilliant red rose now lay in place of the parchment. Its petals were dotted with dewdrops which shimmered in the sunlight and it cast the fragrance of its youth. Serena curiously removed the ribbon tied around its stem. "I think I might love you- Arthur."

He saw the sheen of moisture over her eyes as she hastily looked up and her eyes scanned the rest of the courtyard. When her eyes landed on his, her face broke into the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. In that moment, he knew that she felt the same way.

The courtyard was soon flooded with seventh year students. Some watched their Head Boy and Head Girl snogging like there was no tomorrow…after all they had seven years of snogging to make up for. Some people came to congratulate the couple. But most people came to collect the money they had placed on bets as to whether those two would ever see a happy ending. From his spot behind a tree, Tom watched the scene with a hint of a smile on his lips, he would have his own collecting to do later.

Later that day Tom was cornered by both Arthur and Serena. They took him to an empty classroom and the first thing that Serena did was land a big kiss on his cheek.

"I don't know how to thank you, Tom. If it hadn't been for you, this idiot would probably never have had the guts to even ask me out," she said as she gave Arthur a pointed look.

"Do you know he was the one that charmed that letter? It was fantastic, wasn't it?" Arthur proudly said.

"Yes, it was probably the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Well, now I know why old Sluggy is always singing your praises," she said as she took a seat on one of the benches.

"It was nothing Miss. You were so kind to me that day in the library and you, Sir, helped me manage my school work so wonderfully. I saw that both of you really liked each other and getting you both together was the least I could do for you," he said in a small voice.

Arthur affectionately ruffled his hair. "You are a very kind boy Tom. I know that you will grow up to become a good man."

Serena called Arthur over to her. "Arthur, you know that Tom is an orphan, right. Just the other day, he was telling me that he didn't even know the full name of his parents, let alone his ancestry. That poor boy has never seen them since he was born. I suggest we show him the book of records, it's the least we can do for him."

"You are right, Serena, we can do at least that much for him. He seems like such a promising boy, I'll also put in a good word for him to the Headmaster," Arthur proposed.

The both of them turned to face a nervous Tom who was looking at them curiously.

"Tom, would you like to learn about your parents?"

End Note: I'll try to update regularly every Friday from now on, and I'll try even harder to avoid these sudden lapses in my writing.

By the way, 'I think I might love you' is actually the name of a fanfic by my beta, you could check it out cuz it's a good read.

And lastly, I'd love a review!