A/N: Sorry guys! went camping for school, was back today and work combined makes a shite week. Chapter title comes from "Blood and Peanut Butter" by BC Camplight.

REMINDER. THIS STORY IS NOT DH COMPLIANT. ALSO, I DO NOT PARTICULARLY WRITING ANY FORM OF SLASH, BUT I THOUGHT SOME OF IT WAS SLIGHTLY NECESSARY TO BUILD RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO CHARACTERS.

GoGothGirl - GAH. stupid login system somehow got me to the Dictionary when I wanted to post this up. You'll find out later who it was. And yes, in the first chappie, Harry was going through the memories, but he doesn't appear in any of them.

andijviestampot - Nagini never saw Hermione before she left for the past. Old Voldie was too protective, and never let her near anyone.

Ms willow gosermer

airuhkuh- I hope I'm not rushing through too many things too quickly. But I do want this story to end soon, since it might drag out too long, and I hate sequels.

Lightmoon-angel

Hotkat144

luv-icecream-hyper

CherryGrlZuli- Who said it was Tom?

Darkness-Lightness - You probably won't see Slughorn anymore. Maybe a glimpse, but he won't be an okay-ish big part in a chap like that chap.

Selene98

kayle

JennBenn3148- Oh the joys of cliffies. They make you unsure of whether everything is going to go happy or whatnot.

Princess And The Pea - You guys will found out who the secret guy is. Not in this chappie though.

blindfaithoperadiva

deeps85

-jellyacey-- The evilness will be here soon. veryveryvery soon.

amrawo

AAMRNluver16- I'm ignoring canon dates, but she will be leaving when she is between 18-19. I don't plan for Hermione to stay in Tom's life for a while, cause that would just.. drag it on.

mystic-ocean-lily

Chapter 25 - Begging You To Don't Go Away
Grindelwald's smile stretched grotesquely over his once handsome features. The blonde hair that girls had loved to run their hands through was long gone.

Not like he would have allowed any mere girl to touch him that way. Somehow, his heart ached as he thought of a distant, sweet memory.

---

He was young again, sprightly, with handsome chiseled features, in Hogwarts, as a teenager on Graduation Day. Next to him sat his best friend, his confidante, his boyfriend, his tawny-haired lover.

His younger self's hands were clasped with the boy's, and had a smile on it. It was today, that the irritating girls of Hogwarts found out that the heartthrob of the year was gay.

His lover leaned over as he saw a signal from the teachers, telling him to leave his seat and go up to the podium. "I love you," he whispered into young Grindelwald's ear, and Grindelwald felt himself tremble as he felt the warm breath.

As his boyfriend went up to the podium, the boy gave one last look at Grindelwald. Taking the chance, he mouthed back, "I love you too."

The magically amplified speakers announced the speaker. "May I now present you our Head Boy, Albus Dumbled…"

­---

Grindelwald felt pain stab him, as he remembered his old lover's name. He had gone against him, allying himself with what he believed to be 'good'.

---

"Albus, please."

"No, I cannot. Look at yourself, Gell. Wizards are no more dominant over Muggles."

"Please don't leave me, Albus."

A slightly older Albus Dumbledore's eyes flared. "You killed them out of cold blood, Gell. I ... cannot be near you."

"You ... don't mean that, do you, Albus?"

"I meant every word I said. Farewell, Gell. May our roads never pass again."

He left a bloody Grindelwald, sprawled on the ground, in tears.

---

And now he was back, with a vengeance. He had left him, with a broken heart, only with his hopes and dreams to maintain him. Over the years, he had built up a wall around his heart, impenetrable. And now he had a way to attack, and to destroy his old lover like he had destroyed him that night.

"My Lord," groveled another minion, shaking him out of his thoughts, "He is here to see you."

The evil look appeared in Grindelwald's eye again, and he turned to his newest addition. "It seems you have failed your most recent mission, young one. CRUCIO!"

The figure in the shadows collapsed, with his wailing screams echoing desolately through the dark corridors.

"If you fail me one more time, you can forget about my side of the bargain after the attack," Grindelwald snarled at the cowering figure, still shaking from the pain, "I may as well kill her myself if she refuses to join my side of this war."

---

Nervously, Hermione fidgeted with the Slytherin locket, as she entered the Great Hall for her final exams. Dumbledore had charmed it into becoming her 'Portkey' back through time. Tom was in the seat behind her, giving her a reassuring smile as she pulled out her quills, and charmed a glass of water for herself.

The small witch in the front of the hall passed out the papers, and set the timer off. As Hermione worked through it, her mind was not on the test paper. Instead, it was on a certain dark-haired Slytherin who had disappeared from her life.

Adonis was no longer seen in school. Once in a while, perhaps, but he was always tired-looking, as if he had been studying excessively. She had tried to get a word in edgeways, but he always managed to slide past her. It bothered her, since she had originally planned to ask him to be the best man to her and Tom's wedding, but she never got to ask him.

Tom, of course, didn't seem reluctant or enthusiastic about him being his best man. But nonetheless, he had agreed, for the small wedding after exams. He had been eager about that of course. And Hermione didn't stop him. Even though they had known each other for barely a year, and were getting married, her heart seemed to tell her it was the right choice. She had already moved into his room – the Head's Rooms were never monitored.

The magical bell dinged, and she put her quill down, and her paper whizzed to the witch. She realized her uncle had been quiet too. After sending the elfin tiara that had belonged to previous Burke wives and wedding rings that automatically engraved messages on themselves for the bride and groom to present to each other, he had disappeared too. She had naturally given Tom one of the rings, but she had yet to think of a message to put on.

She sighed. Perhaps he was hiding. She hoped he was. He was an innocent man, caught up with the wrong people. Nevertheless, she hoped he would be at her wedding in a week's time – after the very last exam.

Erasing her mind of worries for the moment, she exited the hall, and saw her fiancée there, waiting for her.

"You alright, Ana?"

Another apprehensive moment. Tom still didn't know her real name, and Hermione, being Hermione, knew she couldn't, and wouldn't, live a lie for the rest of her life.

She needed to talk to him about it.

"Come with me," she murmured, her face troubled, and her hand linked with Tom's, dragging her to the Room of Requirement.

---

The moment they stepped in the room, Tom knew something was wrong. According to her mood, the room had turned dark, the clothes draped from the ceiling filtering out what light was left.

His heart slowed, as if he was coming to some realization. He had never gotten over his fear of rejection…

Hermione turned to him, and he realized her eyes were in tears again. He wanted to hold her, to comfort her, and he tried to, but she refused him.

This is bad news. She refused your comfort.

"No, Tom," she sighed, "I'm not rejecting you." He heaved a sigh of relief. "But…" he tensed up again.

What was wrong with her?

"I need to tell you something."

What? That's she's pregnant? Why is she crying? We're getting married, aren't we? So isn't it going to be fine?...

"My name isn't Ana."

Somehow, it didn't strike him that much. He didn't expect something… like that.

"In fact, I've never been Ana since I came to Hogwarts." Hermione's eyes seared with more tears, as she watched Tom's shock, "And you're probably disgusted with me."

Tom felt his throat run dry, unable to utter a single word. He had fallen in love with a girl, yes, he had fallen in love with her, and she him, but she wasn't Anaïs Burke.

Hermione could bear it no longer. The silence that had fallen in the room was tearing her heart apart, and she could feel herself itching to activate the charm, to escape from the embarrassing situation, back to her time.

"I'll understand if you don't want to marry me, Tom." Her heart fell as she spoke each word into the void between them. There was no reply, and Hermione knew, inside, her heart was cracking, breaking up into irreparable pieces and shards.

Turning to leave, she hoped he would follow. But no steps followed her wake. It was the last straw, and she tore out of the room, the dam of tears breached.

---

It felt all too surreal for Tom. His mind couldn't get over the fact she wasn't Ana.

If she's not Ana, then who is she?

He hadn't realized that he had remained silent throughout her desperate rant, and his face showed no emotion. It was when the door slammed, he comprehended that she had left the room, in tears.

Ah, Tom, you bloody idiot. His inner child berated him constantly, as he sprinted out of the Room of Requirement. In the distance, he could see her slouching figure, obviously crying, running further and further away.

Picking up speed, he followed her, and felt him become closer and closer to her. He could smell her; the fresh scent of rain over the meadow he had visited when he was still in the orphanage. He couldn't let her go, no matter her name.

His arms wrapped around her, hugging her from behind. Hermione stopped, shocked for words.

"I don't care what your real name is. I love you, Ana." Hermione felt herself melt in his touch.

Turning around, still in his hold, she gave him a kiss. "I love you too, Tom."

He finally let go of her, afraid she would disappear again, but she stood there, gazing at him.

"What is your real name then?" he asked, obviously hesitant, but Hermione decided that he deserved the truth, no matter what.

"Hermione. I'll be taking your last name, Tom, so it doesn't matter. But do not call me that."

A girl, finally taking your name. Hermione Riddle. Ana Riddle. Both sound just as good.

"But then if you're not a Burke, then who are you?"

Hermione was even more averse to answering this. So she decided to become ambiguous.

"I am a Burke by blood (thanks to that potion), but I am not really Caractus' niece. I love Caractus like an uncle though."

Tom was confused, but nevertheless, she had clarified it by saying she was a Burke in a way, which made things barely easier for him.

They wandered through the halls of Hogwarts, hand in hand.

That night, Tom knew what to engrave on her ring.

A name makes no matter to me, as long as I can call you my own.