Every evening they met in an empty classroom. And every evening they would work hard. New wand movements were tried with the incantation.

The two would exchange a kiss before parting for the night and heading back to their respective dorms.

The evening after their outing had been particularly exciting,

"Okay. I'll head back then. We're done for today." Hermione had said. "We just need to keep working on the spell. I'm sure the incantation is right. Surely there will be a way t-"

"Are you going to kiss me goodbye or not?" Tom demanded.

Hermione stopped speaking, then laughed. "I can't believe you just said that."

"Why not?"

"I just never thought you would be one to ask that."

"We're still talking."

"Yes?"

"Merlin's beard, Hermione. Do I have to ask again?"

Hermione smiled, leaning up to reach his face. She pressed her lips to his and Tom responded, holding her to him with a hand on the small of her back.

"There." She breathed, pulling back. "Good night, Tom."

"Good night, Granger."

It was five days after that when Tom began to have his doubts.

Should I be with Hermione this way? After all, it would crush her when she discovered my true motives.

And then I might lose her for good. And I would never know how brilliant she would have been in my service.

And did I really want to hurt her?

That was the question dwelling in the forefront of his mind.

More doubts clouded his mind, in class, in the library, lying in the dorm room at night after their meetings in the evenings.

Should I be helping her get back home? I really am trying to help her, but another part of me doesn't want her leaving at all.

Not only because of my plans for her.

I don't want to lose her.

It annoyed him how sentimental he was becoming in regards to this girl.

But it was true, he had struggled to accept it, but he had. Tom Riddle was beginning to feel for the Muggleborn.

And he was playing a dangerous game.

Hermione could feel the hopelessness worsen every time the spell didn't work.

Nothing is working! Not even a little bit.

Abraxas was beginning to back out, I can tell. He looks bored most of the time. Well, whenever he deems it appropriate to even show up. And he keeps bugging Tom and I! Keeps wanting to know when we would be done!

Like either one of us knew! We were trying so hard to get the spell right, too. It would save us the trouble if I decided to stay.

And then I could be with Tom…

No way, Hermione. You are not living in the 40's to spend time with LORD VOLDEMORT.

Hermione slammed her quill down at the library desk, earning a scowl from a neighbouring student who was doing their work. She quickly apologised and picked the quill back up, scribbling away Transfiguration notes absentmindedly.

Getting back was my number one priority. Is. Is my number one priority.

I am grateful to Tom, of course I am. But things could get even more complicated than they already are what with his constant company.

Surely nothing too serious was happening. After all, I am supposed to be going home and he's helping me go back so he must not want me to stay.

Hermione snapped herself out of her thoughts- afraid of where they may lead her. She realised she had stopped writing and knew that she wasn't being productive, so she put down her quill and got up.

There must be something in these books that would help with our problem.

Hermione wandered along the aisle between the shelves, scanning the spines for anything that could possibly contain something that would help them.

She spent the better part of an hour searching, but had no luck.

There really wasn't anything to help us here.

With a sigh she retrieved her things from her desk and decided to pay Tom a visit until it was time for dinner. She left the library, heading down to the dungeons. The dim corridors, lit by firelight that still managed to emanate a chill, surrounded her as she retraced the now familiar path towards the Slytherin dormitory.

Instead of seeing Tom outside the dorm room door, she spotted another Slytherin leaning against the wall.

"Hermione. What a pleasure. Ready to convert to Slytherin house, yet? You seem to be down here far too often." Abraxas said, pale eyes flashing in the lamplight.

"Hello Abraxas." Hermione elected to ignore his taunt, "Have you seen Tom anywhere?"

"As a matter of fact, he was just about to join me." Abraxas said nonchalantly, pushing himself off of the stone wall. He stood in front of her, his hands in his pockets. "We thought we could get in some work before dinner. He should be out in a moment."

He gave her a strange look- earning a questioning glance from Hermione in return. She was just about to voice her growing confusion at his behaviour towards her when the door to the Slytherin dormitories opened.

Tom joined them, running a hand through his dark hair. He looked up, surprised to see her there, then he smirked. "Ah, Hermione."

He snaked a protective arm around my waist, looking to Abraxas. The blonde boy grimaced and Tom looked back to her. "Good thing you're here. Would you like to work a little bit before dinner?" he asked, lips close to her ear.

Hermione nodded, "Sure."

"Let's go then." Abraxas said quickly, almost cutting her off. He moved ahead as the group walked the hallways to the empty classroom that had become their laboratory.

Hermione causally laid her hand on Tom's back and felt him stiffen slightly. She could only tell because he then relaxed again, allowing her touch.

Her thoughts reeled as she walked beside Tom, who made sure she was close to his side as they strode through the empty corridors. Ahead of them Abraxas shoved open the door to the classroom and walked in. They followed behind, Hermione moving off to the cupboard, Tom's arm slipping from around her waist as he let her go.

"We should try some more motions with the wand today." She said, pulling out the tattered notebook.

She put it on a desk as Abraxas watched from the side of the room, lounging on a battered old tabletop and remaining silent.

Tom joined her, pulling out his wand and gripping it in the nonchalant way he always did. He studied the final few motions they had yet to try, dark eyes following the notebooks instructions. He stepped through the motions a few times as Hermione watched. His brow furrowed as once again nothing happened.

It went on as it always had, with Tom growing ever more frustrated as Hermione felt the last slivers of hope begin to fade.

It was the next try of the second motion of the sequence when sparks appeared.

They were bright- uncomfortably so. Colourless and shimmering, they fell gently from the tip of Tom's wand.

A moment of time flew past the group, and Hermione found herself half a step across the room towards Tom. His eyes reflected the excitement she felt.

Abraxas scrambled off of the desk, mouth agape as he watched.

Tom tried to spell again. Initium Tempus.

The motion coupled with the words cast the spell. Another moment shot past.

Tom had already lowered his wand and Abraxas was halfway to Tom already.

"It worked." Hermione breathed out, looking between the two boys. "It actually worked." she grinned, her eyes lighting up.

She moved to embrace Tom, his arms catching her around her waist.

Abraxas eyed the pair, turning to the door. Without a word he left, his eyes swimming with his thoughts.

Tom wrapped his arms around her, smiling softly.

"Thank you for helping me, Tom." Hermione murmured, smiling brightly up at him.

"I knew it would work." he stated, although doubt had been clouding his mind. Absent-mindedly, he rubbed circles on Hermione's back with his palm. He smiled again as she lay her head against his chest, beneath his chin.

Tom looked down at the top of Hermione's head and slowly his smile began to fade, leaving behind a blank look filled with utter confusion.