"Miss Graves, a word after class, please."

Professor Dumbledore's kind, twinkling eyes bore into her red-rimmed ones. She nodded. Tom shot her a concerned look as he left, and Hermione knew he would be waiting for her outside. She sighed. He was the last person she wanted to talk to right now.

"You look decidedly unwell," Dumbledore said as soon as everyone had left and he had cast a muffling charm. "I hope your housemates are not causing you too much trouble. Miss Prewett has alerted me to the fact that some of them might wish to cause you harm."

Despite her current annoyance with her Gryffindor friends, Hermione allowed herself a small smile. It was nice, if sometimes inconvenient, to have people looking out for her again.

"I'm fine, Professor. I'm just having a difficult time adjusting," she said.

He nodded in understanding. "I imagine you have lost much, since you determined this venture a worthwhile sacrifice. If there is anything I can do…"

"Thank you, Professor."

"In fact, I believe I'll write you a pass for the rest of the day. You certainly won't be missing anything by taking a day of rest," he said.

Hermione sighed in relief. The old her would have groaned at being told to miss class, but time and war had changed her, and the things she once thought were important seemed less so now. Besides, she wasn't going to miss out on an opportunity to avoid Riddle for the rest of the day.

"Thank you, sir." She took the pass.

"And Hermione," Dumbledore called. "I'm sure Madame Pomfrey would gladly give you some dreamless sleep, should you ask."

Hermione nodded and slipped out the door. As predicted, Tom Riddle stood waiting.

"Are these after-class talks becoming a habit, then?" he asked icily. She was not surprised that his suspicion was back. After last night, and then this morning, he likely thought she was reporting him.

"I certainly hope not," Hermione grumbled, doing her best to sound honest.

Tom sighed. "We'd better hurry, or we'll be late to Potions."

"I'm not going," Hermione said, holding up her pass.

"Good," Tom said, and Hermione only had a moment to process how horribly wrong her morning seemed to be going before he pushed her into an empty classroom and locked the door.

Fear wriggled unpleasantly in Hermione's stomach. He's not Lord Voldemort yet, she reminded herself. She knew, logically, that he couldn't do any permanent damage to her, not with Dumbledore watching so closely. But still…

"Where were you this morning?" he asked, all pretense of pleasantry gone.

"Out," she said casually. "Doing things."

"Graves, I won't ask again."

"You have unsuccessfully threatened me twice, so far. Where I was this morning is none of your business, Riddle," she said, allowing her tiredness to seep into her voice while she thought. Inside, she was fuming, but showing that, showing him any sign of weakness would never do her any good.

She would never have his pity, would never be able to get him on the moral side of things. He was never going to cut her a break. Playing as his enemy wasn't going to work here either, and in an almost Einstein-like moment of clarity, she realized that posing as his ally might – for the time being at least – give her enough clout to keep her head above the water until she had enough support to break free from him. But she'd have to be his ally in the least conventional way possible.

Before he could do anything, she continued. "Look, if it had anything to do with you, I would tell you."

He scoffed. "I don't believe that."

She shrugged. "I may not like you much, Riddle, but I'm not an idiot. You're the biggest fish in the pond around here, so to speak. I'd have to be pretty stupid to actively go against you, wouldn't I?"

She paused for effect, eying him as he thought this over.

"Do you think I'm stupid, Tom?" she asked. Her wand was out, but held in the least threatening – yet still accessible – way possible.

He met her gaze head-on and she felt a slight prodding at her mind. She strengthened her occlumency shields, watching in satisfaction as he failed to breach her defenses.

"I'm asking you to trust me," she said.

"I don't," he countered, twirling his wand between his fingers.

"You don't what? Think I'm stupid, or trust me?" she asked.

"Either."

She laughed, cold and dark and bitter. "Smart boy." Lightning fast, she pressed her wand into the soft flesh of his jugular.

"If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead," she said, all traces of humor gone from her voice. "If I wanted you ruined, you'd be ruined." She took a step back from him, lowering her wand. "I'm not a particularly patient person, Riddle. If I haven't struck you down yet, it's because I don't want to. Don't give me a reason."

She walked out of the classroom, leaving him wondering how she once again managed to get the upper hand.

-Author's Note-

I was going to make you all wait until Friday, but clearly I have no self-control.

Much love, and I hope to post more chapters soon.

As always, please feel free to review, as it means a lot to me 3