Hope you enjoyed in my absence. I was... caught up;-)

"You're waiting for someone to put you together, you're waiting for someone to push you away, there's always another wound to discover, there's always something more you wish he'd say" -Vertical Horizon (Everything you want)

The potions class went in a blur, and Tom was not interested in the class anyway. He was more aware of the mudblood sitting next to him. From the first day, she had continually snubbed him, mouthed him off, glared at him, well... Been paired with him too, and then had admitted that she was a time traveler who had traveled through time because of something he did. She was probably here to kill him.

"So, who sent here?" Tom murmured when they were brewing the potion.

Veronica took a deep shuddering breath, "Gee, I don't know who was left alive to send me here." She told in the most accusing way, that made even Tom, the ice prince himself, to not melt away exactly, but to have the decency to atleast warm a little.

Tom did not talk anymore after that, and Veronica made no motion to do so either. Oh well... Veronica was probably the only girl who had snubbed him, but Tom guessed she was suffering it's side effects already. Leaving her alone was a punishment as it smiled a little, maybe smirk was a better word.

Hermione let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She really had no idea what to do. The only reason why she came here was to kill Tom Riddle, and that was not easy. Hermione did not want to descend to his level and to kill him like he killed everyone. But Hermione wondered why she was not feeling up to the job.

First things first. She needed to get her facts up straight. Why wasn't she feeling up to the job? Was there a reason. First of all, Hermione, be truthful to yourself. WHY don't you want to kill Tom Riddle?

Every part of her was screaming something. Her brain was screaming: Because Dumbledore knows who you are now. You should have done it earlier. He would certainly keep an eye on you now.

Her morality was screaming: How can I kill a person for what he's going to do in the future? Whatever the war had done to her, it still had not made her a killer. Her soul screamed: Because maybe I can see a miracle, and change Tom Riddle instead of just killing him and wasting all that talent and brains.

And her heart? Hermione didn't want to listen to it, it was wildly rushing, and she was afraid of what it would tell her. She was afraid she would finally understand what it was shouting from the day Tom Riddle had stopped her the night her so-called-father had died.

Tom Riddle is a... Hermione said a very unladylike word and was glad that no one was there to hear it. She was in her dormitory, avoiding the other girls. Avoiding everybody, as usual.

She dropped her head to her hands. What in all the world was she supposed to do now? She was clueless. She bit back tears when she heard footsteps and straightened herself hastily. It was McGonagall. Seeing her professor like this always sent nervous jitters down her body. Well, what was she supposed to feel, anyway? Happy?

McGonagall looked at her with an expression which was as clear as mud. "Tom Riddle wants to talk to you. He's asking for you, waiting. He says you'll know where to meet him."

Hermione frowned. What was this? She got up and thanked McGonagall for her message, feeling her future professor's eyes boring her back like little needles. She shivered as she went to the common room, where everyone was goofing around, or reading some books, flirting with each others, and in a few cases, holding hands. She felt empty inside.

She indeed knew where to find Tom Riddle, why wouldn't she? But she was careful as she went to the Room of Requirement.

She saw a look of uncharacteristic surprise on Tom's face as she approached. She smiled bitterly. "You weren't sure if I would come, were you?"

Tom gazed at her and said, "I was sure."

She tightened her lips slowly, her lips looking more like a slash across her face than anything. What the hell am I going to do with you, Tom? "What did you want?"

He smiled. "The primrose path."

She scowled. "I meant," she dragged her words a bit, "What did you want to tell me tonight? Why did you ask me to come here?"

Tom nodded devilishly. "That is an interesting question."

She grimaced. If he was going to play like this, she might as well go back to her dormitory. It was not yet that late for her to open a good storybook and dissolve in it's delightful presence. "And people like answers to interesting questions, Tom," she said reservedly.

"Indeed. Well then, I wanted to ask you of a favour. This situation has never before come, and I would never have thought that I would ever ask a mudblood this, but here I do it."Tom said.

"Yes?" Hermione said, her eyes flashing.

"Will you join my gang? It has a wonderful name, but maybe you know of that already."

Hermione glared at him. "Ah, the invitation. I feel royal. With rich blue blood flowing in my veins."

Tom gave a grin at that, a real grin. "Yes, I know. The irony."

"I thought the irony was that the leader was a half blood." Hermione whispered.

Tom stiffened. He seemed to take great methods to calm himself down. Hermione watched passively. "I have the blood of the great Salazar Slytherin himself running in my veins. I have the blood every witch and wizard would feud over."

Hermione frowned. "How galling could a person get? I could not believe my ears when you even think of asking me such a thing! As if I would ever join your... Mudblood hater group!"

And that's when Tom Riddle finally put his full force of charm. "No, they won't hurt you, I promise." His eyes were shining sincerely, and his mein was so humble and pleasing, and entreating her so much.

Hermione had a sudden vision of Gilderoy Lockhart. Maybe, a few months ago, she would have given in. But not now. She sighed and Thomas's eyes lit, like he was really transported to glee that she was going to join.

Hermione took a deep breath and smiled sweetly. He smiled back. "No."

Now she had done it. She had truly alarmed the Dark Lord. "Did you just say no? Or am I hallucinating?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes. I said no."

"No, you just said yes."

"No, I said No!"

"Two negatives," he observed dryly. "Does that not make a positive?"

Hermione found heat blazing her cheeks and she said angrily. "I said NO."

He was looking at her with an incredulous expression, and... Grudging respect? "So I see. You DID say no, I wasn't hallucinating."

Hermione was getting annoyed. But Tom wasn't done yet. He smiled again. "Well then, it's really unfortunate, I would have loved some co-operation from your side, it would have made this easier." He flashed out his wand, Hermione did the same, but just a moment late.

The horrid boy had cast a full-body-bind curse on her. Damn him.

"Now, you know how I've been aching for a partner for practicing my spells on?" he said.

He then gave a great heave of his chest and shrugged, his eyes losing all the false warmth and charm.

Hermione was trying not to panic. Was she going to end like Neville's parents? She really hoped not. She remembered Neville's mom in the hospital. And It had been horrid. This boy was going to cause that. Bellatrix was going to cause that. Panic erupt in her stomach.

Tom was looking at her with an unfathomable expression. "Why did you not kill me, Veronica? All those horrid things I've done, and you still did not kill me. Are you in love with me?" He gave an enchanting smile, and Hermione's heart was thudding very hard.

He was looking at her, and Hermione realized she could speak to him, through his Legillemency. Yep, that's why I kissed you. And then asked you to join my club of haters, and then when I put my full charm in force, you were un-affected, and I broke down and tied you up.

She was rewarded with fury coursing his eyes like a mad man. A boy gone mad with rage and bloodthirsty revenge. Revenge for what?

"Oh, hang it," he said, frustrated. "I just wanted to ask you something anyway. I have enough practice with my curses and all that. And, as dark as I am, I'm willing to wait to see what' s going to happen to you." He regarded her curiously.

Hermione wondered what he meant. He smiled tightly. "I wanted to ask you something." He pushed himself to her face and regarded her carefully.

The patches of Hermione's cheeks pinkened even with the body bind curse. And then, she found herself relaxing, able to move again. Thank Merlin.

"What is it?" she asked, examining her arms and making sure the numbness went soon.

"Did you give me a love potion?" He asked her, the tone unfathomable.

Hermione looked up, her expression startled. "What? No! Why in all the world would I do that?"

Tom was still examining her, "Tell me the truth, Veronica." He said it with a dangerous twinge in his accent.

She really was feeling alarmed now. "Ah, Come on now, let's think practically. When in all the world could I ever put a love potion into your food? Is that even possible?"

He seemed a bit disturbed. But he still stared. "Then why?"

"Then why what?" She asked impatiently.

"THEN WHY CAN'T I STOP THINKING ABOUT YOU?" he bellowed, his face ashen and eyes flaring with an indecent glare. "WHY DO YOU HAUNT MY DREAMS? WHY DO I KEEP THINKING WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU ARE THINKING OF ME WHEN I SHOULD BE THINKING OF OTHER USEFUL THINGS? WHY DO MY EYES SEARCH FOR YOU EVERY TIME IN POTIONS, AND THEN IN THE HALL?"

Hermione stared incredulously. Now she had gone and done it. Her mouth was agape. There was no way this was ever happening. "What are saying, Riddle?" she flared. "This is nuts, you are not in love with me. You're probably plotting how to kill me, or something like that." But she felt like she needed more convincing than he did. The way he had described, she knew suddenly. But this couldn't be happening. She had to get out of this place soon.

Riddle was skeptical. "Oh, really? Shall I show you what I dream of?"

Hermione just looked at him as he lowered himself to her face and kissed her. And this time, she didn't push him away. But she didn't respond either. He backed away, his face still more ashen, if ever that was possible and sighed. "There you go." he said in a reserved voice.

Hermione sighed too. "This is bad. Really, really bad." she commented.

Tom glared at her. Hermione looked at him. "Then, you just have to start dating somebody other than me and crush what you're feeling about me."

Tom glared some more. His intensity had radically increased. Hermione found that her cheeks were blazing. "Ah, fine. Maybe you should, you know, plot. You could try to jinx your friends, that would be fun, that would make you forget about me. And then you can probably concentrate on things like Hor-" she stopped and shook her head.

She rubbed the fatigue from her eyes. "Maybe you can think how ugly I am, that might work."

Tom just stood there, but a smile was starting to take form on his lips. Hermione was starting to go to panic mode. Soon she would hyperventilate. "No, no, this isn't happening. This is all possibly a bad dream."

"You mean you're dreaming about me too? That's good, that's good." Tom said.

She swatted his arm and was shocked herself by the gesture. She bit her lip. "Maybe we should go now, it's time."

Tom shrugged. "Yes, I wager we should. And you'll be seeing me in your dreams, anyway." Hermione resisted a parting comment.