Disclaimer: don't own.
That's what happened so far:
Chuckling heartily, the four Ravenclaws arrived in the snowy village of Hogsmeade. "It's quite peaceful without the Slytherins, isn't it?" Richard grinned at his girlfriend who shot him a warning look. "Do you want to stoop as low as the Gryffindors so that the Slytherins play a prank on us NEXT?"
"No no no… there aren't any Slytherins around who can hear us anyway. Ah look who is here today as well!" Matthew said and the two girls looked around to see…..
On with the story
…a handsome young man with black hair. "Marc!" Sarah squealed happily, embracing the ex-Ravenclaw with a hearty chuckle. "I haven't seen you for ages. How is the modelling?"
Marc grinned and gave the thumbs up. And then Hermione remembered. Of course. They had modelled together and Hermione and Marc had gone to the café together. To Hermione's pleasure, he remembered her as well and smiled a wide smile.
"Natalija." he said more or less surprised. "Marc." Hermione grinned, hugging him as well.
"How is your modelling career?" he grinned at her.
"Not that brilliant. They haven't called me since." she pouted.
"Well, the magazines are out now. Go and buy some for yourself and your friends. If you want to continue in that business, buy three exemplars. Well- " Marc clapped the two Ravenclaw-boys on their back – boys style - and kissed the two girls on their cheek "- I have to go now – some business to attend to. Say hi to the Grey Lady from me."
Sarah and Hermione smiled and waved at him again.
"Higgs is nice – and a typical Ravenclaw." Matthew commented out of the blue.
"Yeah, he is. Let me get those magazines he was talking about." Hermione said and entered the magazine shop with her Ravenclaw classmates.
"Ohhh!" Sarah squealed delightedly, handing the magazine over to Hermione. "Those pictures are PERFECT. They don't really look like you, but on the other hand, they do." Sarah grinned.
Hermione snatched the magazine out of her friend's hand, gazing wide-eyed at the fashion pictures. They really didn't look much like her, but one could TELL that it was her and she looked fabulous. Hermione's face brightened when she noticed that she was on four pages.
After her purchase of three magazines, Hermione left the shop satisfied, with Sarah next to her and the two boys trailing behind her.
After their visits to the dressmaker, the sweetshop and the joke shop, Matthew announced that he was thirsty. "Let's go to the three broomsticks then." Richard suggested, pulling his girlfriend to the other side of the street.
"Sweet, aren't they?" Matthew grinned at Hermione who smirked as well. "Yeah, Sarah and Richard are perfect for each other!"
When they arrived, they noticed that the café was bursting full and to Hermione's and Matthew's dismay Sarah's face shone with happiness. "Richard suggested that we could go to Madame Puddifoot instead."
Hermione and Matthew shot a dark look at each other and followed the happy couple grudgingly. It was as bad as Hermione remembered. Shuddering, she hoped that she wouldn't be seen in that café by any Slytherin or even Tom himself. They would surely get the wrong idea. Hermione was still trying to keep a friendly façade and sat down at the table opposite Matthew, which was quite frankly a foot away from Sarah and Richard.
"When are we having our next occlumency lesson?" Matthew asked her, noticing that Richard and Sarah were very occupied with themselves and not paying any attention to anyone.
"I think you are getting quite good." Hermione replied. "Just one more lesson and you are fit."
"Perfect! When would you like to meet up?"
"Maybe tomorrow. When the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs are in DADA." Hermione suggested.
"Great… " Matthew nodded.
Hermione looked at Matthew sickened when she suddenly noticed that white and pink confetti were falling from the ceiling. He mirrored her look and sighed deeply.
"Hey Rich – when are we leaving? It's getting late!" Matthew announced.
Richard agreed with him and they paid for the drinks and left with their bags of purchase, Matthew carrying Hermione's bag and Richard Sarah's.
"Did you have fun?" Richard asked Hermione and Matthew who nodded simultaneously. "Great."
Sarah smiled at them and looped her arm through Hermione's. "So are you looking forward to seeing Tom tonight?" she smirked suggestively at Hermione.
"Well, a bit." Hermione admitted. It was getting quite dark and they were desperate to get to the castle as quickly as possible. On their way to Hogwarts, however, they noticed two dark figures coming towards them.
THTHTH
"Professor, what is this book about?" Tom asked with his refined polite voice he always used in front of the teachers. He pointed to a black book with golden letters, spelling out the word Horcrux.
"Oh, Tom." the professor tried to hide his shock behind a mask of indifference. "The book is evil. It's the darkest magic one could ever imagine and it wouldn't be wise to tell you about that."
"And if I said that it would be for academic purposes?" Tom was eager to find out more.
"Please, Tom, let me assure you that this is dark magic you don't want to know. Besides, you can hurt yourself and the people around you." Slughorn almost begged.
Suddenly an image of Hermione flashed behind Tom's inner eye and he kept quiet. He didn't want her to get hurt. But he knew, he would find out more about that tomorrow. After all, he had a key to Slughorn's office.
When Tom left, Slughorn took the book, lit a fire and threw it in. Tom would never know about it and he, Slughorn, had destroyed the most dangerous book in the world.
Harry was still collecting wood, Draco now sweeping the seventh floor with a disgruntled Zabini, Ginny was busy and Hermione was wandering around with her Ravenclaws. Not ONE of them knew that they had already changed the future drastically.
THTHTH
"Katya." Hermione said surprised, the four students stopping in their tracks.
"Natalija." Ginny sneered in an un-Gryffindor-fashion. "May I talk to you for a sec?" she smiled sweetly at Sarah who looked questioningly at Hermione. Hermione just shrugged. "I'll be right back, Sarah."
Ginny let out a low growl and she and McGonnagal pulled Hermione into a dark corner. "I heard something that slightly disturbs me." Ginny was now glaring at Hermione. It was a look that Hermione had never seen before.
"Ah… and what exactly?" Hermione put on her cool Slytherin-mask, playing uninterested.
"I heard you are going to the ball with the head boy." this time it was McGonnagal who glared at Hermione.
"You probably heard correctly." Hermione answered, glaring back at McGonnagal.
"Actually, Miss perfect, you might know that it is MY job to go with him." Mc Gonnagal spat.
"Actually, Miss not-so-perfect, you might wonder why Tom asked ME and not you!" Hermione smirked in a very Slytherin-like fashion and stood up. "Now, if you would excuse me, my friends are waiting."
And she left with a swish of her cloak and went back to the castle with her friends. McGonnagal was fuming. "I will get back to her!"
Ginny placed a soothing hand on her friend's back. "Don't! You shouldn't stoop as low as the Slytherins and getting back at her is not an option! I'll think of something!" Arm in arm they went back to the castle together, McGonnagal seething and Ginny being lost in thoughts.
THTHTH
"So you had fun?" Hermione asked quizzically, raising an eyebrow at Tom.
"Yes, and I learned a lot, mind you."
"You didn't get the worst deal, Tom. You should be glad." Hermione grinned at him.
"And that as well." Tom admitted. They were sitting under a large tree in the Hogwarts ground. Tom had magically warmed the spot under the tree and Hermione was cuddling with him. He grinned at her and slung his arm protectively over her shoulders.
"It's not luck, mind you, but my perfect connections as head boy." he grinned.
Hermione laughed as well and savoured the feeling on her lips when he kissed her tenderly. She pulled him towards her and he kissed her deeper.
Several minutes later, they stopped, gasping for breath.
"By the way, do you know who played the prank?" Hermione asked Tom.
"Yes, I do. I'm headboy, after all."
Of course. Hermione knew that sentence too well. How often had he quoted that at the beginning of her school year in the forties? 20 times? 30 times?
"Aaaand? Who was it?"
"I'm not telling. We Slytherins stay together." Tom announced smugly.
Hermione glowered at him. "It's not like I'm going to tell anybody."
"Too bad that you have been sorted into Ravenclaw, Missy." Tom grinned and silenced her with a long kiss. Hermione decided that it didn't really matter – all she wanted to feel were his lips on hers.
"Oh by the way." Hermione announced when they were coming up for air again, "I ran into Marc. He told me that the photos have finally been printed." She pulled out one of the magazines and shoved it under his nose.
Not hiding his curiosity, Tom eagerly opened the magazine to reveal the breathtaking pictures of Hermione. "Wow!" he smiled, clearly impressed. "I didn't know you had it in you. Those photographs are wonderful." and he really meant it. Tom had never seen such a graceful, intelligent, beautiful and kind woman in his life. Natalija was the impersonation of pure bliss and when he looked at the pictures, his thoughts were proved correct. Natalija must be the dream of every man, and he, Tom, held her in his arms.
"Thank you Tom."
"Can I keep this copy?" his voice sounded slightly hopeful, Hermione noticed to her satisfaction.
She nodded, suddenly red in the face. "Yes, I bought this one especially for you. I have two more in my trunk."
"Well – thank you." Tom marvelled at the thought that this magazine was for him. Natalija thought about him! Even bought him this magazine. Almost bursting from happiness, he pocketed the magazine and grinned. "I will cut out the second picture and put it into my wallet."
To say that Hermione was surprised, would be an understatement. She had never pictured the Dark Lord as someone who would carry a picture of his girlfriend with him.
She smiled in thanks, unable to say more.
THTHTH
It was the day of the dance and although it was already 9 o clock the girls were still sleeping when a loud knock on the door woke Hermione and Sarah abruptly who had apparently been in a deep slumber.
"Wha'?" Sarah asked groggily, her vision blurry from sleep.
No answer.
"Yes?" Hermione tried a bit louder. She was angry that someone would wake them up this hour - wait! Hermione looked at her bedside table and gasped. "Sarah, wake up! We've already missed breakfast and our first class!"
Sarah groaned and made her way slowly to the bathroom. Hermione now opened the door by hand only to reveal….