Authors Note: I really wanted to get this chapter done so I could start working on the next one. I've been hit with the writing bug I guess and I have been inspired to write once more! Finally that muse is coming in handy…lol. I hope to have the next one up shortly, so keep your fingers crossed that my muse will hold out ; ). Thanks to everyone who has stuck with this and to all of you who are just starting to read it! I have over 24,000 hits and 403 reviews…I can't believe it! I feel honored that so many of you enjoy my story enough to come back and read more, and I hope that you all will continue to do so. Thanks again everyone…you all rock my socks! Ok that was a little dorky I admit : ). Enjoy the chapter…even though it's a little angsty.

"I've just heard some interesting news Wormtail."

Peter cringed from hearing the cruel voice and bowed his head lower in a pathetic attempt to keep from looking into those soulless eyes.

"It seems that the little Mudblood is finally dying. What a pity." Voldemort laughed at his sarcastic remark.

"T-that's wonderful news my Lord." Peter said, raising his watery eyes to meet his master's. "Do we collect Tom then? S-surly Hermione won't live…"

"How dare you," Voldemort hissed, "speak that filthy Mudblood's name in front of me."

"Forgive me my Lord." Peter said hastily. "I should not have dishonored you by speaking…by saying her horrible, horrible…."

"Enough." Voldemort spat at the cowering man before him. He didn't know why, but hearing her name sent chills up his spine. It was almost as if he was…afraid of her. No, he wasn't afraid of anything. He was beyond that.

"We will wait until the Mudblood is dead before we collect Tom. I want to be sure that he sees her die before I bring him back to me."

"Yes my Lord, of course." Peter said quickly.

"For now, however, I have something more important to deal with. It seems that we have a traitor in our midsts, Wormtail." Voldemort said nastily, as if saying this out loud disgusted him.

"W-who my Lord."

Voldemort merely smirked and motioned for Peter to stand. The rat-like man scrambled to his feet and shot hesitant glances at the monster before him.

"All will be revealed in time Wormtail." Voldemort said quietly. "Leave me."

Peter bowed his head once more before hurrying out of the door. He greedily gulped down as much air as he could now that he was in the hallway; being near the Dark Lord always made him feel like he was suffocating.

Peter walked downstairs, grateful to be alive for one more day, but knowing that tomorrow may be his last…especially if the Dark Lord knew that there was a traitor among his Death Eaters.

He only prayed that Voldemort wouldn't realize it was him. But who was he kidding? Voldemort could easily pick his mind apart and discover the truth, if he didn't know already.

Peter felt very ill suddenly. What was he going to do? Whatever it was, he knew he couldn't do it alone. He needed help…he needed Severus.

…………………………………………………………………...

"DAMN IT! We're never going to find anything! What kind of library is this?" Tom ranted, slamming the dusty tome in front of him shut. He had already skimmed through several books on poisons, all having no success.

"Calm down Tom!" Ginny said firmly. "We have only been in here for an hour. Give us time to look. And besides," the redhead said gently, her expression softening, "Hermione doesn't need you losing it at a time like this."

Her voice cracked a little, but she forced the tears in her eyes away; she couldn't afford losing it either.

"Your right Ginny," Tom sighed. He ran a shaky hand through his already disheveled hair before settling down in front of another stack of ancient books.

"I've found a few more." Harry said, as he approached the other three teens, his arms full of books. His glasses were slightly askew and his face was dotted with flecks of dust, but he didn't seem to notice. They were all rather scruffy looking in fact, but appearances were the least of their worries.

The problem was that the task of searching for any book in the old library was proving far more taxing without Hermione, even for Tom.

"Here Ron, try looking through some of these." Harry said while handing Ron half of his stack. "They are all I could find in the Restricted Section." Harry added glumly. It turned out that the Restricted Section was not as helpful as they all thought it would be.

Ron took the books from Harry and sat down at the table once more. He opened a book called The Most Poisonous Poisons and started reading the index. About half-way through he jumped up from his seat, startling Ginny who was sitting next to him.

"I KNOW THE ANSWER!" He cried.

"What? You do? How? What is it?" Ginny asked hopefully. Tom and Harry both dropped their books and ran over to Ron who was looking wild with happiness.

"It's so simple! How could we not realize… and Snape even! How could he not know?" Ron asked himself.

"What? Not know what, Ron?" Tom asked hastily.

"A bezoar! A bezoar could do it! I mean, it does cure almost all poisons right?"

Ginny and Harry looked excited for a moment before they noticed the sad expression that shone on Tom's weary face.

"Y-you don't think it will work Tom?" Harry asked quietly.

"I know it won't work. I had to do a paper on bezoars in my fourth year, and I know every poison it can cure. Amorea isn't one of them."

Ron slowly sank back into his chair with a defeated expression plastered on his face.

"Don't be upset Ron. It was a very good guess, but Amorea isn't just an average poison like snake venom or something. It attacks the soul…drains you of your life…k-kills you slowly." Tom bit his lip to try and stop its quivering.

Ron looked up at his friends and forced a smile, granted it was a very small one. "We'll just keep looking then." He said confidently. "There has got to something in all of these books." Ron smiled sadly to himself and laughed a little as he thought of something. "Hermione made this research stuff look so easy. I'll be sure to ask her how she did it when she gets better."

Ginny couldn't take it anymore and she burst into tears. She hated crying in front of others, but she couldn't help it. Hermione was her best friend and now it seemed as though they would never be able to help her like she had helped them all those times.

Tom, Harry, and Ron all walked over to Ginny and wrapped their arms around her.

"Don't cry Gin." Ron said miserably. He hated seeing his baby sister upset, no matter how much she pissed him off.

"It will be ok love." Harry whispered comfortingly. He was rubbing small circles on her back to try and calm her, but her heart wrenching sobs kept coming.

"I-I'm s-sorry you guys. I-I just w-want her to O-ok." Ginny cried. "A-and she was s-so happy t-too because of T-tom, and now she's…she's going to die." Ginny wept.

"Shh, don't say that Ginny." Tom said gently. "We'll find a way to heal her."

"Oh Tom, its y-you who should be falling a-apart and j-just look at m-me." Ginny said miserably, her tears subsiding a little from all of the comfort she was receiving.

Tom smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "You're just as pretty love, don't worry."

Ginny giggled a little and wiped the tears from her eyes. She felt a lot better now that she had gotten that out of her system, but she still wasn't reassured.

"Tom, why don't you and Ginny go and spend some time with Hermione?" Harry said. "Ron and I can handle these few books we have left, and I think Hermione needs some friends right now."

"Go on you two." Ron added. "It might make you feel better being with her Ginny, and you as well Tom."

"No, we should stay. You will need all the help you can get." Tom said.

"There are only a few books left Tom. We have searched this library from top to bottom and the books we have found are scattered across these tables. If there's nothing in them, then is nothing in this library." Harry said.

"Well…I don't know." Tom said hesitantly.

"Go on. We'll run down to library as soon as we have found something…or as soon as nothing comes up." Harry added sadly.

Tom nodded his head and looked at Ginny. "You want to Gin?"

Ginny nodded and Tom gave a small smile. "Ok, we'll go. Thanks you two." He said gratefully as he looked at his two friends.

"No problem." Harry smiled. Ron nodded and smiled as well.

Ginny looked at Harry for a moment before walking up to him. Harry, very confused mind you, stared at her for only a few seconds before Ginny's pretty blue eyes fluttered shut. He didn't even register what was happening until he felt her warm lips press against his.

Harry felt his legs turn to jell-o, but he somehow found the strength to keep himself standing. He barely even had the chance to kiss back, however, when Ginny pulled her lips away slowly and stared into his emerald green eyes.

"Thank you Harry." She whispered.

Harry wasn't sure if he answered her or not. His eyes were glued to her soft pink lips that were slowly curving upwards into a smile. Harry brought his gaze up her tear stained cheeks, to her eyes and smiled back before realization slammed him in the gut.

Ron had seen everything! He was standing right next to him for God's sake!

Harry looked up and saw Tom beaming at the couple with a funny look in his eyes that said to Harry, "I knew it!"

Harry plucked up the courage from somewhere deep inside of him and looked to his left. Ron's mouth formed a perfect 'O' as he stared at his best friend and little sister, who were still holding on to each other. His lips started to pouf out a little and Harry was reminded of red headed fish who looked miffed about something; it took all of his willpower not to laugh.

"Well, I guess its ok." Ron grumbled.

Ginny let go of Harry and gave her brother a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thank you too, Ron."

"Ya, ya." Ron said. "Get going you two."

Ginny and Harry smiled one last time at each other before Ginny walked over to Tom. The ex-Slytherin, who was still beaming, put an arm around her shoulders and led her out of the library.

Left alone, Ron and Harry just stared at each other, each waiting for the other to say something.

"So, are you two dating now?" Ron asked quietly.

"I guess so. I've liked her for a while now, but with everything going on with Hermione, we've just kind of put it behind us."

Ron nodded. "We had better get to work." He said when he glanced at the stack of books on the table.

Harry looked over at books and felt a pang of guilt in his heart. They were supposed to be helping Hermione, and all they were doing was standing around and talking about dating.

"Lose that guilty look Harry." Ron said as they headed over to the tables. "Hermione would have been ecstatic if she knew that you and Ginny were together, so don't go feeling bad because you experienced some happiness for once."

Harry stopped in his tracks and stared at the redhead. Ron stopped as well and turned around to see why Harry had stopped. "What is it?"

"Have you been drinking your grow-a-brain?" Harry asked.

"No. Why?" Ron asked confused.

"Because that was the most levelheaded thing you have ever said Ron."

Ron was more confused then ever as he stared at Harry's face that was shining with pride.

"What's so brilliant about it? It was just the truth."

Harry shook his head and smiled. "Come on Ron, we had better get working."

"One day Harry, I will understand you. I swear it."

Harry chuckled before plucking a book off the stack.

The title read Magic's Deadliest Deadly Things. Harry sighed as he opened the book to page one; he prayed that Hermione's cure would be hidden in it somewhere.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Tom stroked the length of Hermione's arm as he stared at her pale face. One would think she was dead if it wasn't for the light rise and fall in her chest that proved she was still breathing.

Ginny sat on the other side of Hermione's bed and could do nothing but stare down at her best friend's still form. Madame Pomfrey's words had torn her apart on the inside, but her outward appearance remained as calm as she could keep it.

"So, she'll be dead soon?" Tom asked quietly.

"Yes Tom. Hermione's heart has been slowing down faster then I thought it would and her breathing has grown shallower. I'm not sure if she can hear us or not, but I think it would be a good idea if you two talked to her. It might help to keep her alive longer." Madame Pomfrey couldn't look at the children as she told them this. She couldn't understand why horrible things always seemed to happen to this young group in particular; all of them had gone through so much already.

"C-could you give us some time alone with her? Please?" Tom asked.

"Of course dears. I'll be in my office if you need anything." Poppy said sadly. She knew it wasn't wise to let her emotions get the best of her, but she couldn't stop the tear that slipped down her cheek and to her chin. She hurried off to her office and left the door slightly ajar in case anyone called for her.

Tom leaned forward and kissed Hermione's cheek; he could still smell her delicious sent of peppermint and pine.

"She's so cold." Tom said in a hushed voice.

"Talk to her Tom." Ginny said quietly. "She'll want to hear your voice."

Tom smiled to himself as he thought of something he could tell Hermione and he leaned his head closer to her ear.

"We never got to give each other our presents love." He began. "I've wanted to tell you for ages now what I got you, but I wanted it to be a surprise. The key I gave you this morning has been in my possession since my first year, and I have guarded it with my life. It opens something down in the Chamber of Secrets, but since the basilisk was destroyed by Harry, I knew it would be safe to give to you. I plan on having you recovering very soon, so don't think I am going to tell you what it opens just yet. I want you to see it."

Ginny laughed a little and wiped her watery eyes before anymore tears could escape.

Tom looked up at Ginny and smiled at her. "Hermione, you wont believe what Ginny did in the library." Tom said with a smirk.

Ginny laughed again and this time she couldn't stop a few stray tears from sliding down her pale cheeks.

"She laid one on Harry right in front of Ron. You should have seen his face! He looked like a fish out of water. I swear his eyes sunk about one and half inches into his head."

Ginny was giggling like crazy now and she took Hermione's cold hand in hers. "Well, I was sick of not being able to kiss him. And I knew it would make you proud Hermione." Ginny said tearfully. "Especially if I did it in front of Ron."

Tom just stared at Ginny and watched the silent tears roll down her face. He felt so helpless and it only made him feel worse to know that everyone else felt helpless as well.

Ginny reached for Hermione's blankets and pulled them up higher around her body. As she pressed them down around her more snugly, she heard a faint noise that sounded like paper crackling coming from under the sheets.

"Did you hear that Tom?" Ginny asked quietly.

Tom nodded his head and carefully lifted the sheets off of Hermione's body and laid them down around her knees.

"It sounded like it came from your side." Tom said.

"Maybe in her robe pocket." Ginny suggested. Sure enough, when she reached her hand inside the pocket, she pulled out a carefully folded piece of paper that was addressed to Tom.

"Curious." Ginny said to herself. "Its for you." She handed the piece of paper to Tom who looked just as bemused as she was.

Tom took it and just stared at it.

"Well, open it up Tom. Maybe she had meant it give it to you at breakfast or something."

Tom looked unsure for a moment before he carefully unfolded the paper. He read whatever was on it for a few moments before Ginny noticed his eyes watering over.

"W-what does it say?" She asked hesitantly.

Tom bit his bottom lip and looked up at the red head. He handed the paper over to her with shaky fingers.

Ginny took it and began reading the paragraph at the top. It was in Hermione's handwriting.

Tom,

I realize that this may not be the most glamorous gift, but I felt that you needed it more than anything in the world. You've spent several years of your life devoted to your father, and everything you have done, before you came to us, brought you one step closer to destroying him, but also to destroying yourself. I hope that this gift will help you find some peace with your family, and with the one person whom I believe you hate most of all…your mother. I know she left you Tom, left you alone in a place without a family, but I know she loved you as well. She loved you enough to give birth to you in a place where you would be safe, where you would have a chance to live. I hope you can forgive your parents for leaving you, both for different reasons, and I hope that if you do have to go back to your time, you will do the right thing, whatever that may be for you.

I was able to find some old records on a Merope Riddle who died in an Orphanage at the age of twenty. She was buried in a cemetery not too far from where you grew up and her grave is marked with a small plague that says her name. I suppose the head of the orphanage was not given the location of her burial site, which is why you never knew where it was. I hope that you go there so that you may finally meet your mother; she's been waiting for you.

Love always,

Hermione

Below the note were directions on how to get to the cemetery where Merope was buried. Ginny just gaped at the letter unsure of what to say or do. It was a beautiful present, but it only made it worse since Hermione hadn't been able to give it to him herself.

Ginny looked up from the letter and saw something she never thought she'd see. Tom was gripping Hermione's hand as steady tears poured down his cheeks. He looked like he was in so much pain and Ginny couldn't stand to see him look so hurt. She wanted to comfort him somehow, but she didn't know what to do.

"S-she's right." Tom said quietly. He didn't bother wiping his tears away. "I do hate my mother for leaving me there, for not being strong enough. That's why I never bothered to ask about her. I didn't want to know where she was buried, because I knew I would go to her grave and…and I would miss her more."

Tom swallowed thickly to try and stifle the sobs that threatened to escape, and he squeezed Hermione's hand tighter for whatever comfort he could receive from her.

"I can't lose her Ginny, not like I lost my mother. I can't keep losing the people I love."

"You won't lose her Tom." Ginny said firmly. "Hermione's going to make it, even if I have to shove a hundred bezoars down her throat to cure her."

Tom gave a watery smile and looked up at Ginny.

I'm scared." Tom said softly.

Ginny looked at him, her eyes full of sorrow and worry, before she looked back at her sleeping friend who was slowly slipping away.

"Me too, Tom. Me too…"

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The next chapter will reveal what Dumbledore and Snape are up to. I wanted to put them in this chapter, but I decided against it…don't ask me why : ). Wormtail will also be making an appearance, since he has something to do with Hermione and the Amorea…not telling you what though…hehehehehe, I'm evil ; ). I screwed up as well! The next chapter will be called Discoveries. I jumped the gun a little. This chapter was a sort of filler for that one I guess. Sorry about the confusion. I know this chapter was a little short, but Discoveries will be longer, I promise. Until next time everyone! Muah!