The room Algie revealed to her was perfect. A fireplace crackled to life as they entered but the room never became uncomfortably warm. Algie pushed a few dusty boxes of books behind a sofa to make a clearer pathway through the room. Hermione leant over the large writing desk to see out of the window and looked out to the horizon. The sun had mostly set and pink and orange streaked the sky like it had been splashed with paint.

"I can't believe this room has been abandoned," she said under her breath, "does no-one truly come here?" She asked him.

"Not as far as I know, never anything left lying around. House elves might pop in every once in a while but…" he shrugged. "Joe used to come up here when he went in one of his moods, just to end up falling asleep for a few hours. Its nice in here, just promise me this won't be your prime snogging spot." Hermione gave him her best unimpressed look and sank down into the sofa revelling in the softness of the cushions.

"Has he told you why we're taking things so slowly?"

"Cause he really is gay?" Algie shrugged and sat next to her.

"He thinks so much of me, but I can't remember who I was before I was here. He thinks I'll remember and not want anything to do with him."

"He's a jealous insecure idiot. I don't know why you've seen anything in him either."

"We did kind of fall together pretty fast,"

"Are you saying you don't like him?"

"No! That's not…"

"Exactly. Taking it as slow as you want doesn't matter. Memories or not doesn't matter. Actually wanting to be with each other; that's precisely what matters,"

"You've been talking to Flick and Hatty, haven't you?"

"They're the sisters I never wanted,"

"Your house is like your family." She remembered being told "I think Dumbledore told me that,"

"Completely crazy, but always makes sure you're well fed?"

"Gryffidor's got this down to a fine art then,"

"Which reminds me, there definitely needs to be a kitchen run this week."

Riddle waited inconspicuously in the Slytherin common room; the cold air clung to him like a second skin where he sat in a cubby hole in the wall. The common room was busy but not full; so as people went about their business, knowing that interfering in his was a death wish endeavour, he could observe and deliberate over his next move. Zabini felt like a key player, not only with the knights of Walpurgis but with Granger's head case. He'd come to the attention of Riddle at precisely the right time, though his subtlety could use some work. Zabini appeared to be a make or break card when Riddle was in need of certainties. The way he'd so easily assuaged Granger's suspicious nature towards Slytherins, the charm and daring in the face of Riddle's objections to his interference; It wasn't just Zabini attempting to get an in with Riddle's group and gain esteem. Something felt wrong and essentially Riddle needed to know more about him than the basic facts; and perhaps subtlety needn't be his approach either.

Riddle took out a piece of rolled parchment from his robe pocket and wrote out a short note before sauntering over to a group of second years all trying to out do each other. They'd learn soon how to gain respect without childish contests and words. Something like he was about to demonstrate. He cornered one and pushed the note into his hand.

"This is going to Zabini. Quickly,"

"But I've got a detention in half an hour," The kid whined. Riddle glowered which made the kid's mouth snap shut abruptly and he backed away from the group he'd been with. Like a herd abandoning a diseased and lame companion they left the common room up to their dorms without even attempting to accompany him. A sick pleasure curled in Riddle's gut and he went in pursuit of his own companion.

Having previously dropped a quill tip into Granger's pocket, following it to her location was fairly undemanding. All of his knights had similar locating devices and Riddle soon hoped to develop a visual way of tracking their positions. He knew he could do it, but it would take time he had been using to upkeep his exemplary status as top student. Even Dumbledore couldn't object to the hours he'd spent pouring over texts in the archives of the library to figure out the basic mechanics of the spells. From there, it was like building up each new spell to find the results he wanted. Runes especially, like the ones he's inscribed into the quill tip, were a second language to him. He'd considered placing some, "find-me-not" runes around the library as he had done in his dorm, concealing the most valuable items he'd discovered.

The corridors were barren this time of night and as the location spell let him up several staircases he presumed it would lead him to the Gryffindor common room as it had before. He almost missed the tug of the spell when it broke him off down a corridor on an earlier floor. He paused for a minute checking the location, wondering if he would find a discarded or misplaced quill tip if he followed it further. He checked his direction and continued down the corridor. Caution overcame him when the strength of the spell increased and he knew he was close by. A tiny thought took root in his mind that she had figured out exactly what he had done to track her. With another step forwards the spell began to fade as if he had passed his target. There was no-one there in the corridor behind him and the floor was as clear and the house elves kept it. He took two steps backwards and the spell strengthened again. Riddle frowned before his gaze travelled to the tapestry beside him. He first checked behind it on the foolish illusion she might be hiding as a toddler does playing 'Boo!' The stone wall greeted him coldly, but the spell tugged him forwards.

Riddle was not pleased. After the location spell had led him up and down stairs, round corners and through doors it had now decided to go haywire. Walls blocked the spell, he knew this; old walls such as the castle acted as such a presence the pull of the spell led him around them as if they were another persons in his way. This patch of wall should have been no different to the rest of the length of the stonework.

From down the corridor he heard the footsteps and hushed chatter of the patrolling prefects. He was a prefect himself so he could easily be excused for being out after hours should he need to be; but it wouldn't be beneficial to be seen out after hours. He ducked into the nearest classroom and shut the door quietly behind himself. Riddle leant back on a nearby desk and waited for the sounds to fade. He counted to one hundred before reaching to open the door when more talking broke the silence and he pulled back his arm. The conversation suggested the people outside were in the middle of a discussion and Riddle was confused as to why he hadn't heard them approach from further away.

Resting his ear to the wooden door he listened carefully; intrigued even more when he recognised the voice. "Not as clever as you think you are Granger" he muttered to himself as he heard her express how happy and wonderful 'it' was. Riddle wasn't the fool Weasley apparently was. He waited for them to pass and then slipped from the room to follow them and learn the name of Granger's esteemed companion. He smirked with satisfaction when he spotted them just as they stepped through the portrait hole. A more than friendly hand on her lower back was helping her through.

This was for the moment at least, more valuable than her memories and knowledge. The tart could play two, she might be used to play more; she certainly inspired intrigue. Zabini may yet be the ideal player. Riddle made his way back down to the Slytherin common room, the smirk on his face never fading. If it scared a few of the younger students to see him pulling such an expression, he could be forgiven for using that to his advantage. A hand delivered self-celebratory supper would be ideal. It was the small things after all.

Hermione was still laughing as she and Algie stepped into the common room and was immediately trapped in the strong arms of a hug from behind. A kiss pressed into her shoulder blades and another further up her neck.

"hey," Joe whispered closely to her ear, his breath tickling the hairs on her neck making her shiver. Joe pulled her closer. "Hey Joe,"

"Where've you been after curfew Miss? Causing mischief and mayhem in your wake?"

"Not nearly as much as you would have,"

"Oh really," He said incredulously.

"Almost got caught be a couple of prefects though, does that count?"

"Depends,"

"Algie showed me the old prefect's room where he says you hide to nap and sulk. We were just leaving when the prefects walked past. She pulled out of his arms to sit on the sofa nearer to the fire.

"Do you like it in there?" He asked, tentatively as he followed here over and sat next to her thigh to thigh.

"It's cosy; and quieter for studying,"

"I would have shown you myself. Y'know, if you'd wanted,"

"Algie's forbade any snogging, but I'm sure I would like the company while I'm studying," She shuffled closer and he looped his arm around her waist again.

"So I can use my secret room if I keep my hands to myself while I watch you read. Wow that sounds like fun,"

"I promise I won't interrupt your sleeping or sulking,"

"That might be a fair compromise,"

"Oh and he also said you were due a trip to the kitchens,"

"Now that's a plan," He watched as her eyes drooped shut and she rested her head on his shoulder, "but not tonight huh?"

"Joe picked up a crumpled ball of parchment and launched it across the room hitting Algie squarely in the back of the head. It knocked him forwards just as the game of exploding snap he was watching detonated. The room erupted in laughter at his yell and he was left desperately patting at his smouldering eyebrows. Hermione was already asleep.