Ultima ratio

by Winterblume

Ultima ratio - the last resort. At last the day of the Final Battle against Lord Voldemort has come. Harry, Ron and Hermione fight bravely against their nemesis - but then something goes wrong. And Hermione finds herself alone in a precarious situation.

26. Chapter Twenty Five: Parting Of Ways

Title: Ultima ratio

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

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Chapter Twenty-Five: Parting Of Ways

"Just a bit more," Hermione whispered while beads of sweat were running down her forehead.

Right now she was standing in the middle of a deserted class room. Her eyes were closed in concentration and she tried to draw upon all her magic. She needed to consciously control every ounce of magic inside of her. Only if she had her own magic completely in control, could she find that alien magic which was buried deep inside of her. That was what she was currently searching for: The Elder Magic.

Last transfiguration class, the Elder Magic had suddenly chosen to show itself again. Hermione didn't like it very much that this strange magic seemed to have a mind of its own. Sure, so far the Elder Magic hadn't harmed her in any way, more like helped her, but still Hermione would prefer it if she had some kind of control over the magic.

So now that classes were over for today she had decided to try to make some progress with the Elder Magic. By doing so she had also conveniently overlooked the fact that it may have been the better and more sensible strategy to just read Peverell's manuscript first. His last entry had been about the Elder Wand after all. Maybe now Peverell was going to delve deeper into the magic behind the wand.

Yeah, maybe, Hermione mused hesitantly. Maybe he was going to reveal why she had been sent back in time and how she would be able to return. So, how about she finished the book? Then again Hermione couldn't understand the book anyway and she had decided to read it later. Yes, that was the plan.

You are avoiding the book, aren't you? a tiny but persistent voice disrupted her train of thought reproachfully.

No, that was not it, Hermione thought while she tried to quench the guilt that rose up inside of her. She did plan to read the book. She just hadn't found the time to do so.

Why not now? the same voice demanded to know.

Well, that was because right now she tried to find the ever-elusive Elder Magic. Glad to have found an excuse, Hermione completely ignored the real reason why she hadn't touched Peverell's manuscript since yesterday. The Peverell manuscript was dangerous. What if she read on and then really found a way to use the magic to get herself back in her time period? What was she supposed to do then? Travel again through time just to end up in a place where she didn't want to be?

Hermione balled her hands into tight fists and called back her stray thoughts. She smothered them together with the guilt and again concentrated on her magic. As she summoned her magic she again noticed that familiar pulse of power which suffused the whole of Hogwarts castle and its inhabitants. She strongly suspected that this were indeed the castle's warding spells. They seemed to influence just everything.

With one exception, Hermione thought determined as she finally found the Elder Magic hidden underneath her own magic. She cautiously nudged the strange power. She wanted it to wake up again like it had done during her transfiguration class. But as she touched it, nothing happened. Hermione then put a little more power behind her approach and tried to draw upon the Elder Magic. It remained to be unresponsive and wasn't at all impressed by her attempts to raise it. Nothing worked.

Hermione let out a sight of disappointment. Then she relinquished her hold of the Elder Magic. The moment her hold on the magic lessened she could fell it give a small jerk. She stiffened and held her breath as then the Elder Magic began to move and simultaneously grow. It wasn't long and the magic completely wrapped around her. Like during transfiguration Hermione felt how she was unlinked from the castle's wards.

This time around she wasn't taken by surprise of the magic's behaviour but tried to maintain its current state. It was tricky and cost her a lot of willpower but she managed to keep the Elder Magic wrapped around her. Hermione's breathing was ragged now like she had just run a mile. There was no way she would be able to pull her wand and perform a spell. That was what she originally had wanted to try. But just to keep the Elder Magic from collapsing was incredibly draining. To use a spell now was impossible. It was becoming more and more difficult to maintain the Elder Magic's current state of being wrapped around her. With a gasp Hermione finally couldn't hold the magic back any longer. She released it and instantly the Elder Magic broke down again until it was completely hidden. As the Elder Magic left, Hermione staggered and had to grab the edge of a nearby table to not lose her balance. She felt dizzy and her breathing was still quickened but there now was a triumphant smile on her face. She had made it! It was possible after all to use the Elder Magic and even to some extents control it. The only thing needed was time and training.

She straightened up and breathed in deeply. It certainly would be nice to have something like the Elder Magic at her disposal. To achieve that she would have to practise with the magic. Which would also be a lot safer than reading Peverell's manuscript. She didn't want to admit her reluctance to read on in the book and didn't allow her guilty conscience to indulge in that thought for too long.

By the way she really planned to finish the manuscript. Honestly. …just not today. She was now really tired from her attempt to use the Elder Magic. So Hermione just pulled her wand and waved it at the door of the class room thus removing all the locking and warding spells she had put up before. Then she exited the class room. She had decided to search for Tom now. She hadn't seen him since classes were over.

_._._._._

Sometime later Hermione still walked through the castle. She had already been to the library, the Room of Requirements and had even climbed down into the dungeons. But she couldn't find Tom anywhere. It was strange. He had told her after DADA today that they would meet later but so far she had seen neither hide nor hair of him. Somehow his absence was making her quite uneasy. She knew that there was no reason to be so unsettled just because she couldn't find him immediately. He probably had just forgotten about their date and was now sitting somewhere or other, reading a book or was again ordering his stupid followers around. But still Hermione couldn't help but feel strangely worried as she now rounded a corner and entered another passageway which was illuminated by the sun falling through the many huge windows that flanked one side. She was currently in the first floor but intended to climb the stairs up to the Owlery. She was getting desperate and had no idea where else to look for Tom because it felt like she had already searched everywhere. So Hermione walked though the passageway. Her hurried steps echoed loudly on the stone floor. As she passed one of the windows her gaze wandered to the Great Lake. She was just averting her eyes from the peaceful scenery again as something caught her gaze. She stopped in her tracks and stared out of the window. Someone was sitting at the shore of the Great Lake, right under that huge willow. Though that person was too far away for her to recognize Hermione just knew that it was Tom. She furrowed her brow. What was he doing there? It was still January and thus rather cold outside. As she stared out of the window she had again that feeling that something was not right.

Hermione turned on the spot and walked back in the direction she had been coming from. It wasn't long until she reached the Entrance Hall, opened the door and stepped outside. The cold air hit her at once and she pulled her uniform robes tighter around herself before she continued her way to the Great Lake. Soon she could see the imposing willow tree that stood at the lake's shore. The person, clad in one of Hogwarts' black uniforms, still sat at the foot of the tall tree, unmoving. The ground was frozen and a thin layer of snow scrunched under her feet as Hermione hurried over to that person sitting under the tree. Finally she was near enough to be able to recognize the person. With a jolt she realized that it really was Tom. He was sitting there with his back propped against the tree trunk and he let his head hang in a very uncharacteristic gesture. By now Hermione was very alarmed for she knew that something was wrong with Tom. She quickly reached him and now stood in front of him and stared down at him. He hadn't shown in any way that he had noticed her presence. But then very slowly Tom raised his head and looked up at her. Hermione was shaken as she could see the hatred burning in his beautiful grey eyes.

"What's wrong?" she asked him worried as she frowned down at him.

Hermione stiffened as she could then watch anger seeping into his gaze.

"He can't do that," Tom suddenly hissed in barely suppressed rage. "He has no right to do it."

He continued to stare at her while the anger was now visible all over his handsome face. It was unsettling as Tom normally had his emotions tightly in control. She could even feel traces of his dark magic swirling around him.

As he didn't say any more but just glared at her, Hermione raised her eyebrows questioningly and tried to encourage him to go on, "Tom?"

He broke eye contact with her and turned his head away from her. Hermione frowned at him but then crouched down in front of him. She still got no reaction out of him.

"What happened?" she asked him while scanning his form concerned.

She could see him cringe slightly as he heard her question. But he still didn't answer so Hermione put a hand gently on his shoulder. Whatever happened it must have unsettled him a great deal, she thought worried as she looked at Tom.

After a while he spoke again and this time the rage had left him and his voice was numb as he told her hesitantly without looking her way, "He found out that I've left the orphanage during the break."

Hermione's eyes widened in shock as she stared at him. She instantly knew whom Tom was speaking about: Dumbledore. A conversation they had had during Christmas break sprang up in her mind. It had been the day after she had found Tom in the orphanage as he had told her that it was Dumbledore who forced him to stay at the orphanage during the break. Tom had also told her that he would get expelled should Dumbledore ever find out that he left the orphanage.

Hermione sat down beside Tom. The ground under the tree was snow free though still wet and rather chilly but she didn't care as she stared at Tom. He avoided her eyes and gazed vacantly in space. His face was a blank and Hermione was unable to tell what he was thinking right now but she could see that his hands trembled slightly. She slid a little closer to him and then asked in an anxious tone,

"What did he say, Tom?"

He didn't answer at once. But then he slowly turned his head and looked at her. His face was a blank but anger burned in his eyes. Hermione's heart clenched as she could see the desperation and even fear behind the anger.

"He… he is going to have me thrown out of school," Tom finally said in a cold tone.

Hermione stared at him in shock. Dumbledore couldn't do that. She knew where Tom would have to go if he was to be thrown out of Hogwarts. Hermione felt sick as she remembered how she had found Tom in the orphanage. He had been so hurt. An image of Carter with a bloodstained belt in his hand flashed through her mind. A fierce resolution now started to overwhelm her. She wasn't going to let that continue! Hermione ignored the complete lack of emotion on his face but reached out for Tom and pulled him towards her before she wrapped her arms around him. There was no way she would allow Tom to be send to that disgusting place, she thought with grim determination. She could feel how Tom slowly slid his arms around her waist before he leaned his head down so that it rested on her shoulder.

"I can't go back," he whispered. His voice was still cold but Hermione could hear it shake slightly.

She ran a hand gently through his dark hair then she said in a soothing but all the same firm voice, "I told you before, didn't I? I am not going to let you return there."

He didn't reply anything but Hermione could feel him embracing her even tighter.

"You are not going to be expelled," she tried to comfort him. "Even if you were expelled, I still wouldn't allow you to return to the orphanage."

She turned her head and then placed a kiss on his cheek before she ended the embrace. She took his hand in hers and held it. Her gaze again wandered over him in concern. He avoided it to look at her and had his eyes downcast. Hermione frowned at him. It was horrible to see him like this. She could feel anger boiling up in her. Tom had suffered in that disgusting orphanage for long enough, there was no way she would allow anyone to chuck him back there. Not even Dumbledore was allowed to do something like that, she thought enraged. What was that man thinking anyway? Didn't he know about Carter? Hermione was disappointed with the old professor and more than furious. No way in hell was she going to let Tom return to that terrible place. Carter would never again raise a hand against Tom.

Hermione had to breathe in deeply to get her burning emotions back under control. This was Dumbledore's doing after all so she needed a calm mind to find a way out of this. With force, at least, she wouldn't be able to achieve anything. Her gaze wandered back to Tom and she unconsciously bit her lip. He still let his head hang down and didn't look at her. What was it that gave Dumbledore so much power over Tom? He was able to take away Tom's wand every summer break and force him to return to the orphanage. Now he could even expel Tom. There was something Dumbledore used to threaten Tom with. She needed to know what it was.

"Tom," Hermione began gently, though there was now a certain amount of sternness in her tone. "You need to tell me why Dumbledore can expel you just like that."

Tom lifted his head up a little and now looked at her with his grey eyes. She could still see that unbearable desperation in his eyes but now there was also guardedness. He obviously didn't want to tell her.

"Why can he force you to return to the orphanage every break? Why can he take your wand away from you?" Hermione again asked him, this time her tone was strict. "What does he have on you, Tom?"

Hermione could see how Tom now recoiled from her a little bit. The guardedness in his eyes intensified, then he looked away from her. Whatever it was Dumbledore used to blackmail Tom with, he was very reluctant to confide in her. Hermione leaned a little forward then she cupped Tom's cheeks in her hands and gently raised his head so that he was forced to look at her again.

"I can't help you if you don't trust me," she said in a soft voice while she stared into his eyes.

He still didn't speak. But Hermione needed to know what had happened. She could hardly convince Dumbledore to let Tom stay at Hogwarts if she didn't have all the information she needed.

She released him again and watched him intently before she said, "Whatever it is you did, you can tell me. I won't abandon you."

She frowned as Tom then exhaled slowly. Had he been afraid she would go away if she found out what he had done? Hermione could still see reluctance in his eyes before he again broke eye contact and stared down at his hands. But then he suddenly spoke in a soft voice,

"You have no idea how much it meant to me to learn that I am a wizard." Tom looked up at her. The desperation still burned in his eyes as he continued. "I grew up in that orphanage and I always knew that I was different. But I didn't understand. I didn't know what it was that made me so different. I had this odd power and I could make things happen around me but I didn't know why."

"They told me I was crazy. That I should be locked away." Tom glanced at Hermione. He seemed to hesitate to go on. But then he decided to continue, now with a hard tinge in his tone, "I didn't care what they thought about me. They didn't matter, they couldn't understand. But I didn't want to be chucked away in an asylum either."

"And then… you know… Dumbledore turned up in the orphanage. He was the one who told me that I am a wizard. As he told me that the strange power inside of me was magic, everything seemed to suddenly fall in place. Everything made sense. So I left the orphanage and went to Hogwarts." A small smile crept on Tom's face. "It was bliss being able to leave there but Hogwarts was even better. Finally I didn't have to pretend or hide any longer."

"My first year passed in an instant but then I was sent back to the orphanage. I wasn't allowed to stay over the break." There was a certain amount of bitterness in his voice as he said that. "I didn't want to return. I didn't want to give up my freedom."

"Being back there was as if I had never left. Mrs Cole still hated me. The other children still despised me and over the year they had forgotten what I could do to them." Hermione noticed the coldness that suddenly seeped through his voice. "But I could have lived with it all if just I hadn't been forbidden to use magic."

"I was cut off from everything," Tom hissed, the accusation clear in his tone.

Hermione took his hand in hers. She could understand what he was trying to say. He had obviously been lonely and had felt abandoned. As he felt her hand on his, Tom seemed to calm down a little. He stared at her and Hermione smiled softly to encourage him to go on. It obviously was difficult for him to be open with her right now. She was quite certain that he had never before confided in anyone like he did now. She could hear him sigh softly. Then he averted his eyes from her but still continued his story. Though his voice was now so soft she could barely understand him.

"One day, we were in the yard outside of the orphanage and no-one was watching us, the other children decided to… tease me again. Until then I had always contained myself. But they didn't stop… and I lost control."

Hermione looked at him concerned. Tom still didn't meet her eyes. There now was a feeling of foreboding building up in her. This feeling even intensified with Tom's next statement.

"I had my wand always on me although I knew I couldn't use it."

Hermione tried to suppress the bad feeling and inquired in a hesitant tone, "What did you do?"

Tom looked in her eyes as he said in a tone completely devoid of any emotion, "I drew my wand and then I cursed one of the children."

Hermione furrowed her brow. That was bad. Underage use of magic was forbidden. So Tom using magic like that would have put him in trouble. And he had used magic in front of muggles. That was really bad.

"I see, the Ministry's wards would notice you using magic. But that still doesn't explain why Dumbledore can blackmail you." Hermione frowned at him. That wouldn't explain anything unless…

She looked at him sharply, "What spell did you use?"

Tom stared at her for a while. His face was covered by his blank mask but Hermione could tell that he was pondering whether to tell her. His grey eyes regarded her and even though Hermione stared back at him she was not able to say what he was feeling right now. His eyes were cold, grey wells and made chills darting down her spine. Then after a long time he seemed to have decided whether to tell her the truth or not. He opened his mouth and said in a soft but completely controlled voice,

"Haz Zoubar."

Hermione's eyes widened in shock.

Haz Zoubar? She stopped to breathe as she scanned Tom incredulously. He did not use that curse at the age of eleven! Hermione was unfortunate enough to know the curse. It was deep magic and very dark. It was a curse designed to temporarily transform a person's hatred into magical power which would then attack the opponent causing pain and severe injury. It was similar to the Unforgivable Curses which were also based on the emotional state of the caster. They could only be used when the caster really had the intention to harm, possess or even to kill.

There was another similarity to the Unforgivables. For, Hermione knew that the use of that curse was worth a one-way ticket directly to Azkaban. It was just as bad as the Unforgivables though it was not as widely known. Probably due to the fact that the caster needed a fair amount of skill to cast the curse. As Hermione stared at Tom there was a sinking feeling in her stomach. She didn't know what to say next.

As Hermione didn't react to this revelation other than staring at him Tom tried to explain, "I was so angry back then I just lost control."

A frown appeared on Hermione's face. Then she said, and by now the softness had left her voice, "But, Tom, the Haz Curse?"

Tom stared at her but didn't say anything while Hermione now glared at him darkly. Why did Tom always need to use Dark Magic on others? She wasn't even going to ask him how he had managed to find a book about such Dark Magic when he had been only eleven.

"What happened then?" she then asked him gruffly. There were the first signs of anger building up in her.

"I botched the spell up," Tom replied, his tone level.

"What?"

"At first it worked like it should have," he told her in his smooth voice, though his eyes had again left her. "But then somehow the curse broke and the magic lashed out at the other child. I was hit myself and blacked out. The next thing I remember is me waking up in St Mungos."

He shortly glanced at Hermione but as he saw that angry frown on her face he quickly averted his eyes again.

"There were a lot of people who wanted to speak with me," he continued with his story, "Aurors, Ministry officials. They interrogated me. I was told that Dark Magic had been used in the premises of the orphanage. They asked me what I knew about the incident. I lied and told them I couldn't remember anything."

"And they believed you?" Hermione asked scandalized.

Tom looked up at her, then said in a hesitant tone, "I'm not sure. But at least they never suspected me. I had been hit myself by the rebounding curse. And I was still a first year back then. They were quite convinced that no first year could ever perform that curse because-"

"-because it is too powerful," Hermione ended the sentence for him in a quiet voice.

"Yes," Tom inclined his head.

"But you were guilty," she stated angrily. By now she could feel her magic rushing through her furiously, mirroring the churned up emotion inside of her. Still, she tried to reign in her rising temper.

Tom didn't reply anything to her last statement so Hermione asked, her voice was sharp and cold, "Why didn't they ask the other children. They could have told them."

Tom could obviously see her upcoming anger but he still answered her with a steady voice, "As the Aurors arrived at the orphanage they found me and the other child unconscious in the yard. As it was a muggle orphanage they instantly obliviated everyone of the other children. That's the standard procedure in such a case."

Hermione's eyes hardened.

"So no-one would be able to tell them that it was you who fired the curse?" she asked indignantly.

"Yes."

"What happened to the child you attacked?" Her voice was clipped.

"He fell in a coma," Tom replied, his tone completely emotionless.

Hermione's mouth formed a thin line as she stared at Tom in anger.

"Did he wake up again?" Her voice was icy-cold now.

"No," he whispered.

Hermione stared at him. She couldn't stop her temper anymore and anger was washing over her as she finally understood the consequences Tom's actions had entailed.

"Did you know that could happen as you cursed him?" she asked him in a low and barely controlled voice.

"I didn't," Tom quickly assured. "I didn't know much of what the curse could do."

"And yet, you used it," came her abrupt reply.

Tom looked at her and she could see the emotions swirling in his eyes. But right now, she didn't really care how he was feeling. She just glared at him angrily and had to fight to not lose her composure. She wasn't going to ask him if he felt guilty for having cursed that innocent child. Somehow she already knew the answer to that question.

"How comes Dumbledore into all of this?" she instead asked him curtly.

"He came to the hospital as he heard what had happened," Tom explained quietly. "Then he wanted to talk to me. I think he used Legilimency on me. I don't know, I didn't know about this kind of magic back then. He didn't hand me over to the authorities, though, as he learned what I had done. He made me promise never to use such a spell again-"

Hermione snorted wryly.

"-and he told me that if I wanted to stay at Hogwarts, I would have to follow his rules. So every following summer break he took my wand from me before I had to return to the orphanage."

Tom ended his speech and stared at Hermione. She was glaring at him very darkly. This did explain a lot, she thought, still enraged by what Tom had just told her. The curse he had used was on a par with the three Unforgivables. And Dumbledore knew what Tom had done. If he decided to tell the Aurors, being expelled from Hogwarts would be the least of Tom's problems. Despite the fact that Tom had been a child as he had used the curse, the Aurors would surely start to investigate. Hermione knew that Tom had quite a few skeletons in the cupboard. He could not afford Aurors to look into his life. Back in her time period she had never heard about this incident. She now wondered why Dumbledore hadn't told Harry during sixth year. Hell, she actually wondered why he had hushed up the whole thing. It just was abhorrent.

It wasn't so much the fact that Tom had used such horrible Dark Magic that shocked her now. She had always known what he was capable to do. It wasn't even the fact that he had permanently hurt that child. It was of course horrible what he had done and she was disgusted by the fact that he had destroyed that child's future. What was really getting to her was the idea that Tom already knew how to use that curse at the age of eleven. Hermione herself hadn't even known that something like this curse existed as she had been eleven. Let alone use it.

Her eyes glinted irately as she stared at Tom.

Just what is wrong with him?

She knew all too well that there was something dark and sinister inside of him. But now it looked like that evil side of him had always been there. Apparently it hadn't developed because he had to grow up under dreadful circumstances. No, it had always been a part of him. He had been offered the wonderful chance to leave the orphanage for the wizarding world and what was the first thing he did with his new knowledge? He used it in the worst way possible and hurt others.

Hermione felt her anger slowly bubbling over. She was furious. How could Tom have done something like that? And after this experience one would have thought he would never use Dark Magic again. But no, he was still fascinated by it. She balled her hands into tight fists and tried to reign in her furious magic and not hex Tom on the spot.

"Do you hate me now?" Tom suddenly asked her in a very soft voice.

Hermione's eyes snapped back to him. He was sitting in front of her and again he let his head hang and avoided to look her in the eyes. She didn't answer him. She was too enraged and would have just yelled at him if she said anything now.

As she didn't reply to his question Tom slowly raised his head. His eyes hesitantly wandered to her own. He looked at her and his face was giving nothing away, aside from his eyes. They were swirling with emotion. His grey eyes were scanning her anxiously, almost fearfully, and there was guardedness in them. It almost looked as if he tried to steel himself against something. It seemed as if he was expecting her to stand up and walk away any moment now. Hermione's fury completely died down as she gazed back at him.

Did he think she would leave him?

Hermione couldn't take that. She didn't want him to be afraid of her leaving him. So she reached out for him and put a hand gently on his arm. He tensed as she touched him.

"What you did was very wrong, Tom. And I'm really angry with you for doing it," Hermione could see how he cringed as she said that. "But, no, I don't hate you," she finished in a firm voice.

Tom looked at her with surprise written all over his face. Hermione frowned. What had he thought? That she would leave him because of this story? She actually knew a whole lot worse things about him. But maybe Tom wasn't used to people liking him despite them having seen his dark side.

"I said I wouldn't abandon you regardless of what you did," Hermione reassured him gently.

Tom seemed to relax a little as he heard that. It shook Hermione that he had really expected her to leave him after this confession. No wonder he had been so reluctant in confiding in her.

He shouldn't have to worry about that, she thought sadly as she scanned the relief on his face.

It was odd that he had believed she would abandon him. Yes, that story was rather horrible. And Hermione had to admit that she was still angry with Tom for having done something like that. He had, after all, destroyed the future of that poor child. There was really no excuse for that. But in comparison to the other things she knew about Tom this incident seemed to drop in the background. It even had been something like an accident that the child was now permanently in a coma.

Her gaze wandered back to Tom. He was still looking at her with his blank face but she could feel how he tightly held to her hand. Why had he been so scared of her leaving him?

Then again, he had no idea how much she actually knew about his crimes. He had never told her that he had murdered his father or Moaning Myrtle. To be fair, Hermione DeCerto could not possibly know about any of the crimes he had committed so far. He had no reason to believe that she could know more. So this story he had just told her was really the worst thing she now knew about him – at least from his point of view.

Hermione felt the anger leaving her completely. This incident was now years and years ago. She shouldn't be angry with him. She pressed his hand reassuringly and smiled faintly at him. She was not going to judge him by this mistake he had made. Obviously others already did that.

There still was another problem at hand, she thought. Then she asked him in a grave tone, "As you talked with Dumbledore today what exactly did he say?"

"I… Just that he is going to expel me," Tom whispered, clearly still taken aback that she hadn't left him by now.

"Yes, but on what reason?" Hermione queried. "He can't use that story about you casting the Haz Curse. That wouldn't just get you expelled but directly into Azkaban."

"He'll just make something up to get me expelled. And I have to confess to whatever he fabricates against me because otherwise I would be carted off to Azkaban," he replied and there now seeped bitterness in his tone. "That's why he can always order me around like that. If I refuse to obey, he will tell everyone what I have done."

Hermione stared at him for a moment while it hit her how right he was.

"I understand that," she finally said slowly. "But what I don't get is how he can prove what you did. Sure he legilimized you and saw what you've done. But a forced Legilimency confession is no evidence. I don't really think you can be convicted on it. In addition to that, you've been only eleven as it happened."

Tom sniggered mirthlessly before he said, "He is Albus Dumbledore. Who would ever accuse him of lying? If he decides that I am evil, then everyone is going to believe him, regardless of how old I am or was. And he decided a long time ago that I'm a hopeless case. No-one is going to doubt his opinion. He is, after all, the most powerful wizard alive," Tom spat then he continued scornfully. "Or so they all hope. Because if he isn't then who's going to beat Grindelwald?"

Hermione's mouth was pressed in a thin line as she stared at Tom. She realized how serious the situation truly was. Dumbledore seemed to have the upper hand here. He knew what Tom had done during that summer break. He had seen it in Tom's mind. Despite of what she had just said if Dumbledore showed anyone his memory of what he had found in Tom's mind, there was a chance that Tom would get convicted. At the very least it would lead to an investigation which could get Tom into severe trouble.

So ever since Dumbledore had found out about Tom's crime he had used it to threaten and blackmail Tom. That fact infuriated Hermione to no end. She wasn't going to let Dumbledore continue with that. A determined glint appeared in her eyes as she stared at Tom. He was not going to ever return to that orphanage.

She got up from her place on the chilly ground and tried to pull Tom up with her. "Let's go," she ordered him while she tugged at his arm.

Tom frowned up at her, "Where to?"

"I need to talk with Dumbledore," Hermione answered him.

"He's not going to change his mind," he told her in a flat voice.

She continued to pull at him while she said, "We'll see about that. Now, get up."

Tom looked at her skeptically but then he stood up anyway. Hermione took his hand in hers and then started to walk back to the castle while pulling Tom after her. She led him through the castle's corridors while still holding to his hand tightly. Then they finally stood before the two gargoyles guarding the Headmaster's office. Hermione hoped that it wasn't too late yet. Things would be a lot more complicated if Dumbledore had already told Dippet about his plans of expelling Tom.

Hermione whispered the password to the headmaster's office, "Infigo."

Obviously Dippet had changed the password over the break as the stone creatures blocking the entrance didn't pounce out of their way. Hermione lost her patience and then just pulled her wand. She didn't have the time to guess the right password. So she waved her wand in an angry movement at the two gargoyles. The power behind her spell was strong enough to wake the stone sculptures and force them to jump out of the way. She was glad that right now Tom was too upset to question how she managed that. She just pulled him after her as she climbed the stairs to the headmaster's office. When they finally stood before the door leading into the office Hermione could hear voices.

"Now, see here, Dumbledore." Dippet's voice was booming through the door. "Why would Riddle do something like that? Remember, it was him who caught the real culprit."

"Rubeus Hagrid is innocent," Dumbledore's calm voice replied.

"Yes, you've said so before but all the evidence says otherwise," Dippet's voice said. "Why would Riddle, of all people, do something like that? He's a prefect and he will become head boy next year. How will the school look if we have to expel one of our best students?"

Hermione raised her eyebrows as she grasped the topic of their conversation. So Dumbledore planned to use the Chamber of Secrets incident of last year to get Tom expelled. She cast a sideways glance at Tom. His face was again covered by a blank mask. Hermione tightened her hold on his hand before she knocked on the wooden door, leading into the Headmaster's office.

"Come in," came Dippet's voice.

Hermione opened the door and entered the room behind while still pulling Tom with her. Dippet's office was like she remembered it from her previous visits. Still tidy, even to the point of looking sterile and uninviting. Dippet sat behind this imposing desk. He wore a black richly embroidered waistcoat on top of a white shirt. And right now his stern gaze had fallen on her.

Dumbledore stood before the desk and he, too, stared at the new arrivers. He looked like he had just stopped mid-step whilst pacing in front of the intimidating, huge desk. But now he had ceased his pacing and scanned Hermione over his half moon spectacles. He looked mildly surprised at her but then Hermione could see his gaze harden and a dark look crossed his face as his eyes landed on Tom who stood slightly behind her.

"Mr Riddle, just the one we have been talking about," Dippet said in his strict voice.

Hermione noticed how Dippet completely ignored her. She was quite sure that he didn't even know her name, judging from that confused look crossing his face whenever he looked her way.

"We have a little problem here," Dippet addressed Tom while he looked at him sternly. "You, of course, remember the events of last year which unfortunately led to the expulsion of one of our students? I now have to ask you again. Did you have anything to do with opening the Chamber of Secrets?"

Hermione could feel Tom tense. Then his grey eyes darted from Dippet to Dumbledore who now stared at Tom expectantly. His gaze was clearly saying that Tom should admit to this or else he would have to face the consequences.

Before Tom could answer the question Hermione cut across him loudly, "Headmaster, this is exactly why we are here."

Then her eyes wandered to Dumbledore and she said, "I need to speak with you about Tom, sir." Hermione was surprised that her voice didn't shake but sounded even strong

She could see the professor's eyes wander from her back to Tom. There was again this coldness in his gaze. Somehow it upset Hermione to see that sharp and even calculating glint in his clear blue eyes. The kind twinkle that normally brightened his face was completely missing now.

Then Dumbledore spoke and even his voice was devoid of all the kindness she normally connected with the professor, "I already discussed everything with Tom, Ms DeCerto. There is nothing more to be said."

Hermione bit her lip nervously as she heard Dumbledore's resolute voice. That cold glint in his eyes made her feel very unsure of herself. For the first time she understood how someone could be scared by him. But then Hermione could feel Tom's cold hand grasping her a little tighter. She locked eyes with Dumbledore and met his suspicious gaze squarely.

Then she said in a perfectly calm and firm voice, "You didn't have all the information as you made your decision, sir. Please, let me explain."

Hermione saw the suspicion in his eyes intensify but after a while he said, "Very well, Ms DeCerto. I will listen to what you have to tell me."

"Yes, that is a very good idea," Dippet who had followed the conversation now announced in his pompous voice. "I am sure this whole incident is just a mere misunderstanding."

An almost relieved look crossed his otherwise so stern face as he continued, almost as if talking to himself, "Wouldn't know how to explain that to the school governors. Expelling our best student. No, no. That won't do."

Then the turned to Dumbledore and said, "Please, talk with them, Albus. This needs to be cleared up."

Hermione was now very glad for Dippet's impatience when it came to dealing with students. He tended to shuffle such tasks off on his professors. All the better, Hermione decided. She needed to talk with Dumbledore alone anyway.

So it came that they left the headmaster's office and Hermione followed Dumbledore through the corridors of Hogwarts to his office while pulling a now very reluctant Tom with her. They quickly arrived at his office. Dumbledore admitted them in before he sat down behind his desk and then gestured to the chairs in front of his desk.

"Please, sit down and I will give you the opportunity to explain yourself." Hermione felt disheartened as she could hear a certain harshness in his tone.

Nevertheless she pressed Tom's hand reassuringly then she walked over to Dumbledore and pulled Tom with her. She sat down on the comfortable seat and saw that Tom took place on the chair beside her, though he remained to be very tense. Hermione's eyes wandered back to Dumbledore and she found him looking at her intently.

She breathed in deeply to calm herself down then she said, turned to Dumbledore, "Sir, it was my fault that Tom left his orphanage during the break."

She watched how Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. Though she could tell that he was not surprised but looked more like his suspicion had just been confirmed.

"Ms DeCerto, you don't need to lie for Mr Riddle," Dumbledore finally told her in a severe voice.

"I am not lying," Hermione said in a strong tone.

Dumbledore cast a short disapproving look Tom's way before he said to Hermione, "I know that Tom can be quite persuasive if he needs to be but whatever he told you, you don't have to help him out here. If Tom is in trouble now, then that is alone his doing."

"Sir, I beg to differ," Hermione replied. Her voice was still frighteningly calm. Frightening at least to herself as she knew that she was not nearly as unperturbed as her voice suggested. "It's not Tom's fault he is in trouble now. It is mine. You can't punish him."

Dumbledore sighed tiredly then he turned to Tom and Hermione could again see a hard glint in his eyes as he said in a cold voice, "Tom, I need to speak with Ms DeCerto alone. Could you wait outside, please?"

Hermione frowned at Dumbledore. Why did he send Tom away now? Though, on second thought, she could understand his actions. Dumbledore surely thought that Tom was threatening her and that he was forcing her to lie for him. Of course Dumbledore wanted to speak with her alone. So that Tom couldn't influence her anymore.

"Yes, professor," Tom said in a completely emotionless tone.

Hermione looked at Tom in concern. He was just getting up from the chair. Hermione could see that his face was again covered with that blank mask. Then he turned around to walk to the door. As he did so his eyes shortly shot at her. Hermione looked into his grey eyes and was again hit by the desperation burning in them. He seemed to be really scared. Hermione was shaken by this desperation. She would never let Dumbledore sent him back.

Hermione could hear the soft thud of the office door and knew that it was more than just the wooden door that separated her from Tom now. She had once broken into Dumbledore's office and she knew there were a few wards in the air, protecting the transfiguration teacher's office. Even if he tried, Tom wouldn't be able to hear into this conversation.

Hermione looked expectantly back at Dumbledore.

"I wasn't aware that you are friends with Mr Riddle," Dumbledore said in a quiet voice while he scanned her with his clear blue eyes.

"Oh, but I am," Hermione said cautiously.

She didn't like it very much that she had to be cautious around this younger Dumbledore but she mustn't let her old nostalgic feelings get the better of her. This Dumbledore didn't know her, at least not yet, therefore he had no reason to trust her.

"You think it is your responsibility to protect your friend?" Dumbledore asked sympathetically, even kindly.

"Yes," Hermione said without hesitation. She would always protect her friends. No matter what.

Dumbledore sighed softly and looked at her in a strange, almost sad, way.

"I respect your loyalty towards your friends," he said gently but then looked as if he prepared himself to break a terrible truth to her. "But you have to know that Mr Riddle is a special case."

"In what way, professor?" Hermione asked though she knew what he was trying to say.

Dumbledore again sighed then he leaned back in his chair.

"Ms DeCerto, I can see that you like him. It honours you that you try to help him." He paused shortly as if to decide how to proceed best. Then he continued in his gentle voice, "But before you do that you should ask yourself if Tom deserves your help."

Hermione was momentarily speechless. She had known that Dumbledore wasn't exactly a fan of Tom but for him to so openly admit it was hard to swallow. She had always known Dumbledore to be a very forgiving man. He liked to give second chances. But obviously he had given up on Tom.

Dumbledore seemed to have spotted that look of surprise on her face and continued in a suave tone, "I said it before, Tom has the ability to charm people very well. I know that my actions might seem a bit harsh to you but they are necessary. There is something very dark and dangerous in him and he is an expert when it comes to shrouding that rather dark part of his character."

Oh, he was right. Hermione knew it even better than he did. There certainly was a terribly dark part of Tom. But couldn't Dumbledore see that abandoning him in that vile orphanage would only fuel the dangerous hate inside of him?

Hermione looked the old wizard squarely in the eyes as she replied in a calm voice, "Even if you are right, sir, you still can't punish Tom for a thing he hasn't done. I made him leave the orphanage. If you need to punish someone, it should be me."

"I see, you insist in protecting Tom," Dumbledore stated sadly. "I do not know how Tom managed to persuade you to help him, Ms DeCerto, but you would change your mind if you knew why he has to stay in the orphanage."

"I know about that incident after his first year, sir," Hermione said quietly.

For the first time during this conversation she could see a genuine look of surprise on the old wizard's face.

"Tom, told you about it?" he asked somewhat incredulous.

"Yes."

"What did he tell you?" Dumbledore inquired suspiciously.

"That he used the Haz Curse on one of the other orphans," she said in a steady voice.

"I had not expected him to confide in you." Dumbledore seemed to be genuinely surprised.

"And yet he did," Hermione proceeded cautiously. She wanted to use that little bit of doubt she could see shining in the other's eyes. "Sir, if you have judged him wrongly in that case, maybe you shouldn't expel him due to another judgement you made of Tom."

Dumbledore looked at her over his half-moon spectacles. He seemed to mull over her last words. While he remained silent Hermione desperately searched for a way out of this. He seemed so completely convinced that Tom needed to be banned from the wizarding world. Somehow, she had to admit, she could even understand him. But still, she wasn't going to let that happen.

"Sir, I know that you protected Tom after you found out what he did. You saved him from the Aurors and did not tell them about his crime." Hermione hit Dumbledore with a perfectly calm gaze, though inwardly she felt terribly unsure of herself. But she had to go on. It was the truth after all, so she asked, "Why did you save Tom in the first place if you now continue to punish him for a thing he did as he was eleven?"

"I am not punishing him. But Tom is too powerful for his own good," Dumbledore said and Hermione was surprised how tired he suddenly looked. "He can't be left alone with that power. He needs rules and restrictions. If there is no-one strictly controlling him, he can go down a very wrong way." Dumbledore pause and seemed to be lost in thought and there was an almost pained expression on his face. Then he said softly, "That is a horrible experience I don't want Tom to go through."

Hermione looked in confusion at Dumbledore.

There was more. Dumbledore was talking about more than just Tom. She could see a sad and even pained look on the old wizard's face. Hermione knew that look very well. For she could always see it when she looked in a mirror. That expression, it told of loss and pain.

As she saw it now on Dumbledore's face, Hermione finally understood his motivation. She could see why he so insisted in pulling Tom away from that 'wrong way'. He tried to save Tom from the darkness because Dumbledore himself knew from experience what was waiting at the end of that way.

Her thoughts shot back into her past. After Dumbledore had died at the end of Hermione's sixth year Rita Skeeter had published a book about him. Hermione remembered how enraged she had been because it at been Skeeter, of all people, who wrote it. Nevertheless, she had read the book. And she grudgingly had to admit that Skeeter had done a halfway decent job. Harry had been very angry as he had read it, Hermione recalled, for the book illuminated Dumbledore's rather colourful past. Harry hadn't liked it very much that his idol had suddenly been reduced to a normal human being who was able to commit mistakes.

And mistakes he had made. Once Dumbledore had been friends with Grindelwald and he had believed in the same inhuman principles Grindelwald still followed: The absolute supremacy of wizards.

Back in his youth Dumbledore had already been an incredibly talented wizard. Just like Tom now was. There certainly had been a dark belief behind the young Dumbledore's actions. The same darkness that was now visible in Tom. Then, after Dumbledore had graduated from Hogwarts, his mother had died and he had been left alone with the responsibility as head of the family. But that also meant that he hadn't had to answer to anyone anymore. No-one was controlling him anymore. Just like Tom who never had parents who would look after his well-being or give him rules. Dumbledore's new freedom had led to a tragic incident, Hermione knew. During a dispute between himself and Grindelwald Dumbledore's sister, Ariana, was hit with a curse and died. Hermione could only imagine how guilty Dumbledore must feel about it.

But this story told Hermione one thing, Dumbledore himself had gone down this 'wrong way' he now tried to protect Tom from. He knew where it could lead to. By pulling Tom away from the darkness, was Dumbledore trying to rectify his own mistakes?

Hermione's eyes softened a little as she now stared at the old wizard. She knew he meant well. It was just the wrong way. Dumbledore seemed to be lost in thought, or maybe in his memories but Hermione still asked him gently,

"Could it be, that you are not trying to save Tom here but someone else?"

She could watch the pensive expression instantly leaving his face. She was rather unsettled as she saw a surprised and then suspicious look crossing Dumbledore's face before he again hit her with his hard gaze.

"What do you mean?" Dumbledore asked her sharply.

"Never mind that," Hermione replied and quickly erected her occlumency shields, just in case.

She decided to change the topic, "Professor, right now a horrible war is covering the whole world. Do you really want to chuck Tom back into the Muggle world where he could fall victim to that war?"

"There is a war raging in the wizarding world as well," Dumbledore threw back and Hermione noticed how cold his tone now was.

"Hogwarts is safe," Hermione interjected cautiously.

"Not for Tom," was Dumbledore's cold answer.

Hermione pressed her lips into a thin line. This was getting her nowhere. Frustration now boiled up in her.

"So you want him to go back to the orphanage where he can be controlled strictly?" Hermione asked him in a firm voice. Then her gaze wandered from Dumbledore to the window in the office. She stared pensively at the scenery outside as her thoughts rushed back to the first encounter she had with Carter.

"Once I had a conversation with Mr Carter, the patron of Tom's orphanage. Do you know what he told me? He told me that Tom needs a 'strong hand' and that he needs to be 'punished strictly'." Hermione couldn't stop the bitterness seeping into her voice.

Her eyes wandered back to Dumbledore and she asked while looking at him unblinking, "Professor, do you really think Carter is the right man for the job?"

The wizard just looked back at her and as he answered his tone was aloof and almost cold, "I know it is not perfect. But sending Tom back to the orphanage is the only way I see right now."

Hermione considered him for some time then she asked, "Have you ever spoken with Carter?"

"Yes," Dumbledore replied steadily.

Hermione stared at him for a second. She had actually not expected him to have ever met Carter. How could he have met that bastard and not seen him for what he was? A sadistic swine!

"Then I'm sure you know what sort of a man he is," she finally said in a tightly controlled voice.

"I do know that it is difficult for Tom having to live in an orphanage," Dumbledore replied and Hermione could suddenly see that hard glint leaving his eyes again.

But strangely the new softness in his voice only managed to rise her temper. A frown appeared on her face as he continued, "But if it prevents Tom from becoming something he will one day regret to be, then I am willing to temporarily sacrifice his freedom. It will spare him a lot of grief."

Hermione raised her eyebrows in indignation. Anger was boiling up in her as she saw that sincerity on Dumbledore's face.

"Freedom?" she asked. Her voice was nothing more than a whisper but it shook with her suppressed fury. Then she hissed at him in a clipped voice, "It is more than freedom we are sacrificing here."

Her eyes wandered back to his face and locked with his light blue ones. If the old professor had spoken with Carter, why hadn't he realized how evil Carter was. Why hadn't Dumbledore legilimized Carter to find out what that swine had done to Tom. Or did Dumbledore know but just didn't care? Hermione pressed her lips into a thin line as she continued to coldly scan the professor. Did he not care at all how Tom was treated? Had he never taken the time to really talk with Carter? Because then Dumbledore would have surely realized what a bigot Carter was.

Hermione lost her calm and snapped at Dumbledore, "As you spoke with Carter didn't you see what a prejudiced swine he is?"

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows at her outburst but then he stated in his collected voice, "I have talked with Mr Carter right after his predecessor, Mrs Cole, left Tom's orphanage. I realized back then that Mr Carter would be stricter than what Tom was used from Mrs Cole and I knew that it would be more difficult for Tom in his care. But the orphanage was still the only way to restrain Tom over the summer break."

"I am able to watch over him and prevent him from doing any harm whilst at school. But during the summer Tom would have the chance to do his misdeeds as I am not at Hogwarts during summer breaks. So I decided to take his wand from him over the break and send him back to the orphanage where he would at least be watched closely."

Hermione stared at Dumbledore with wide eyes. She still seethed but she was finally able to understand his plan. Though that didn't make her like it any more. Tom had hurt that child during the summer break after his first year. So Dumbledore had decided to take his wand from him whenever Tom had to return to the orphanage. He tried to prevent Tom from ever harming anyone again. But he only sent Tom back whenever he himself couldn't watch him. Therefore Tom had to return every summer break. That did also explain why Dumbledore had sent him back during this Christmas break. Hermione knew that the transfiguration professor had left the school during last break. That probably was the reason he had sent Tom back. That did explain Dumbledore's plan but still…

"After your first encounter with Carter did you ever meet him again?" Hermione asked him slowly.

This was important. If Dumbledore had met Carter again, that would mean that Dumbledore could have legilimized him or through some other way found out how Carter had treated Tom.

"Only shortly during this weekend. Before that we had contact through letters," Dumbledore replied calmly.

"Letters?" Hermione exclaimed incredulous. "You never thought it necessary to check how Tom was doing during break?"

"Ms DeCerto, rest assured that I did try everything to look after Tom but there were other things that demanded my attention as well." Dumbledore's tone was now cold as he hit her with a piercing gaze.

Hermione knew whom he was speaking of right now. Grindelwald, of course. His personal nemesis. So Dumbledore had neglected to look after Tom because he had been trying to find ways to stop Grindelwald. It was ironic, Hermione thought, that by trying to destroy one dark wizard Dumbledore had helped create another, even more powerful one.

She shouldn't be so surprised by Dumbledore's neglect though, Hermione thought enraged as she scanned the man. After all he had left Harry in the care of the Dursleys when he had known perfectly well that Harry would suffer there. After he had dumped baby Harry with the Dursleys he had never really checked on him again. At least not for the following ten years. So why would he devote any more attention to Tom when he hadn't even treated the Chosen-One any better?

But this also meant that Dumbledore didn't know. He had no idea what he condemned Tom to by sending him back to Carter.

Hermione now swayed between understanding the old professor's actions and hating him for hurting Tom like that. She could see why Dumbledore had sent Tom back to the orphanage without his wand. But what about Tom? Hermione wondered enraged. Back then he himself had still been a child. Her thoughts jumped back to New Year's Eve and the story Tom had told her then. He had told her how Carter had hurt him so much that Tom had nearly died.

Whatever Dumbledore's plan had been he should never have allowed something like that to happen. If he really felt responsible for Tom, then he shouldn't just concentrate on how to prevent Tom from doing evil things. No, Dumbledore should also assure that no harm came to Tom. Obviously something the professor had not foreseen in this plan of his.

Hermione sighed then she said somewhat irritated, "Professor, I know you try to help Tom. But can't you see this is the wrong way? Do you think you can constrain Tom forever? Even if you take Tom's wand away and force him to live with Muggles, he will still remain to be a wizard. The only thing you will achieve by expelling Tom and sending him back to the orphanage is that his hate will intensify."

Dumbledore still regarded her with his clear blue eyes.

"No, Ms DeCerto. This is his only chance. He cannot stay here. He has proven it again and again that he can not be trusted. Now he did it again. Against his word he left the orphanage. I am quite sure this was not the only crime he committed during the break."

Hermione had the unpleasant impression that Dumbledore was now speaking about the housebreaking of Flame's flat. Yet another thing Tom was innocent of. But she couldn't tell Dumbledore that it had been her.

"Tom has been with me during the whole break, sir," she instead told Dumbledore though she didn't feel as calm as her voice sounded like. "He never had the time to do anything without me noticing. And he didn't even have a wand."

"Hermione, you must trust my judgment in this occasion," Dumbledore finally said suavely and Hermione noticed his sudden use of her first name. "I have known Tom for quite some time now and you can believe me when I say that I tried everything else to save him." Then he added sadly, "Nothing worked. All was in vain. This is the very last chance Tom has to lead a normal life."

A normal life? Hermione thought enraged. What did Dumbledore intend to do if his plan didn't work out the way he wanted it to? Throw Tom into Azkaban?

"You still want to expel him? I really couldn't convince you otherwise?" she asked in a icy cold voice.

Dumbledore just stared at her and the harsh glint in his eyes told her that she indeed hadn't been successful.

"Professor, I know that you don't believe my story but still you have never asked me why I made Tom leave the orphanage in the first place," she said in a very soft voice.

Actually Hermione didn't want to tell Dumbledore how Tom got abused every time he had to return to the orphanage. She was pretty sure that Tom didn't want him to know. But she really thought that the professor should learn the truth. He was responsible for Tom's suffering after all. She breathed in deeply before she looked back at Dumbledore. He still fixed her with this cold stare that missed every bit of warmth she normally connected with him.

"Please, Ms DeCerto, share your story with me," Dumbledore said frostily. "But do not expect me to change my mind."

Hermione looked away from him and again out of the window. By now sleet was falling wetly down on the castle and the surrounding grounds. It looked cold and uninviting. The weather was just as bad as Hermione's mood. She unfixed her eyes from the window and looked back at Dumbledore. He was staring at her with his piercing light-blue eyes. She could see skepticism and even suspicion in them.

Hermione said in a perfectly steady voice, "Did you know that Tom gets beaten at the orphanage?"

Dumbledore's expression didn't change. But Hermione could see a small spark of surprise in his eyes.

"Did he tell you that?" he asked her and Hermione had to suppress a shudder as she heard the coldness in his tone.

"No, I saw it," she replied, her voice was tight and did not transport any of the emotions which now run through her.

There was still disbelief and even suspicion in Dumbledore's eyes. But Hermione went on for she could also spot a little bit of doubt on the professor's face.

Hermione sighed softly before she began, "You have to know, before the break I didn't like Tom very much. It was only a few days into the break that I met him by pure coincidence. I hadn't even known that he lived in London."

Hermione decided to not tell Dumbledore how she had run into Tom right after she had stolen Peverell's manuscript. So she conveniently jumped over that part of her story and continued, "Anyway, I decided to visit him in his orphanage. And do you know where I found him?" she asked Dumbledore, unable to suppress all the accusation from her voice. Before the old wizard could say anything she rushed on and now she didn't even try anymore to ban the anger from her tone,

"Tom was locked up in a room in the cellar. And he was badly hurt because your dear Mr Carter had thought it necessary to flog him."

Hermione knew her fury was now clearly visible on her face as she glared at Dumbledore. He in turn was looking back at her and a deep frown had appeared on his face. But whatever he thought Hermione could still see the mistrust in his eyes. He wasn't believing her.

"If you don't believe me, sir, have a look at my memory," she snapped at him in a flush of anger.

Her eyes locked with his and she shoved the picture of how she had found Tom huddled on the floor in that dirty chamber to the forefront of her mind.

"Have a look," she huffed at him. "I know that you can."

There was surprise crossing Dumbledore's face. But then she could feel the tingling sensation of Legilimency tugging at her mind. Hermione lowered her Occlumency shields to admit him in. She shuddered as she felt another presence in her mind. But she needed Dumbledore to see this memory otherwise he wouldn't believe her. If he tried to have a look at her other memories though, Hermione wasn't going to hesitate to push him out of her mind. After a while she could feel him leaving her mind again and immediately she let her shields fall back in place. Dumbledore looked at her and she could see something like regret in his eyes.

"I can now understand why you are trying to help him," he said in a quiet tone. "I am very shocked at how Tom has been treated."

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and eyed her pensively. Hermione had no idea what he was thinking right now. But after this revelation she was pretty sure he would not sent Tom back to the orphanage. That would be cruel and just wrong.

Dumbledore sighed tiredly and then continued in a severe voice, "It seems I have wronged Tom."

Hermione breathed out relieved. She had known it. She had known that she only had to confide in Dumbledore and then he would help her. He had always helped her. What a great loss it had been for her side as he had been killed at the end of her sixth year, Hermione mused as she scanned the old wizard fondly. She just wished that he had been able to see how strong Harry had become in the end. Dumbledore would have been so proud of him.

Hermione was brought out of her memories as Dumbledore spoke again, "I will see to it that Mr Carter gets replaced."

She blinked in confusion but then said, "You are right. That man shouldn't be allowed to watch over children."

Hermione felt a little guilty. She had always worried about Tom but there were still other children in that orphanage. Only Merlin knew what Carter had done to them.

But then Dumbledore continued, "In the mean time Tom still has to stay at the orphanage. But I will make sure that he doesn't get hurt anymore."

Hermione felt her world crashing down around her as she was gaping at the old wizard with wide eyes. Her head was swirling and her blood turned cold from the shock.

"What?" she exclaimed scandalized. "You surely don't plan to sent Tom still back, do you?"

He hadn't understood the severity, it seemed. Hermione shook her head as she tried to grasp the situation. She had been so sure that Dumbledore wouldn't sent Tom back if he just knew.

"You don't understand," she all but yelled at him, panic and a fair amount of rage got the better of her. "I'm not talking about a small slap on his wrist. Tom gets abused there!"

Dumbledore still looked at her gravely. But Hermione shuddered as she saw determination in his eyes. Then he said, trying to sound soothing, "Do not worry. I will ensure that Tom doesn't get beaten again. But at the moment I am not willing to let him stay here at Hogwarts any longer."

Hermione stared at him in disbelief. She opened her mouth to object but Dumbledore continued as he saw her outrage. His voice was mingled with regret and even guilt but it still didn't shook, the determination was ever present on his face.

"Tom's treatment in the orphanage was wrong and despicable, and it of course has to stop, but this does not change the underlying problem. I have tried to help Tom back on the right path for long enough. I cannot do that anymore. He is not willing to change. We have now reached a point where it is not longer possible to help him at the expense of others."

"But… but…" Hermione stammered as she stared at the professor with wide eyes.

"No!" she then really yelled at him.

Her fury was boiling over and she didn't care anymore to maintain her cool. She jumped to her feet and stared at the wizard furiously. She had to stop herself from flicking her wrist and releasing her wand. Even her magic now flowed through her angrily.

"You can't do this! You can't sent him back," Hermione spat at Dumbledore venomously. "Whatever you say to Carter you can't be sure he's not going to hurt Tom again."

Hermione's thoughts shot back to the last time she had seen Carter. That had been down in that disgusting chamber in the cellar. He had been right in the process of belting Tom. She remembered how she had then lost her control and had cursed Carter. What if that terrible man now wanted revenge for that? Dumbledore could not send Tom back into the clutches of that man.

"At this point in time there really is no better solution. I will no longer risk the safety and even lives of the other students just to accommodate Tom," Dumbledore told her calmly. He was not in the least bit impressed by her angry outburst. He hadn't even batted an eye. Hermione was shocked that he was ready to sacrifice Tom's well-being to protect others from his so-called 'evilness'.

"You have to trust me when I say that I will do everything to prevent Tom coming to any harm," he concluded.

'Do everything'? Hermione run a hand through her hair. This wasn't happening right now. It couldn't be happening!

But here he sat, Dumbledore, while he looked at her expectantly. Did he think she would now just consent with his cruel plan? Her blood was boiling in anger at that thought. She was NOT going to do that. She wasn't going to let Dumbledore proceed with his plan to destroy Tom. Wrath and desperation ripped at her fiercely. Even her magic had by now left her body and crackled around her angrily. She glared at the wizard before her. But Dumbledore was just looking at her curiously. He was not in the least bit affected by the pressure of her angry magic that now hung in the air.

Hermione breathed in deeply and then released the breath slowly. She wouldn't achieve anything by trying to curse Dumbledore. She needed her self-control back. Hermione stared into those clear blue eyes and tried to calm down her temper. The fury left her face and it suddenly morphed into a cold, blank mask, giving nothing away. She could even feel her magic stop to rage around her. It had been an angry torrent flowing inside of her rather aimlessly. Now it just wrapped around her mind coldly, helping to clear her thoughts. She still stared at Dumbledore, though her eyes where no longer burning with ire. They were now just gauging him coldly. Then she slowly sat back down on the chair as a plan started to form in her mind.

Hermione closed her eyes shortly. She knew what she was going to do next would most likely sever all ties she had or could have had with this Dumbledore from the past. She actually didn't want him as her enemy, especially not because she still needed to get the Elder Wand from him. But right now, she didn't see any other way out of this. She was not going to let him send Tom back. So she went on with that new plan before she would lose her nerve.

She opened her mouth and she nearly shuddered as she heard that detached coldness in her own voice, "Sir, whatever you have on Tom. I still have a very clear memory of how I found him in the orphanage."

She leaned a little forwards in her chair and stared at him unblinkingly before she proceeded, "So, if you want him expelled, I'm going to show everyone how he gets treated in that place. That is not going to put you in a very favourable light."

She could almost see the disappointment seeping into his gaze as he now regarded her. Hermione was irritated as guilt washed over her but what else could she do other than play dirty?

Dumbledore shook his head slightly then he said in a sad but all the same firm voice, "Ms DeCerto, I do not care how the public is assessing me. If I have to lose my face in the eyes of the public to save Tom, so be it."

Hermione was in inner turmoil. But there was nothing of it showing on her blank face as she continued to coldly stare at Dumbledore. She should have known that attacking his reputation wouldn't work. Dumbledore had never attached much importance to how he was seen in public. But there still was one thing she could use. Hermione felt horrible for doing it and she hated herself for blackmailing her old teacher. It was rather sick that this threat was coming from her, a Muggleborn.

"Maybe," Hermione said slowly.

She leaned comfortably back in her chair and forced a cruel smirk on her face. She hated what she was doing here but there was no other way. So, she smirked at him smugly while she inwardly cringed as she saw the regret in his eyes while he scanned her. The evil smile never left her face as she then executed her plan. The voice that now left her mouth sounded foreign to her own ears. It was scary and so full of scorn and malice that it was barely recognizable.

"In the current climate where the hate against Muggles is slowly rising, you don't want the information of a Muggle using physical violence against a wizard-child to make the rounds. Do you, professor?"

There was sadness creeping into Dumbledore's gaze as he looked at her. The twinkle that otherwise made his eyes radiate serenely had by now completely vanished. Hermione had to fight to maintain the cruel mask that still covered her face.

"Would you really go so far?" Dumbledore asked her quietly, the disappointment clear in his tone. "And risk the lives of innocent people?"

No, never! Hermione screamed in thoughts. But her mind was expertly occluded and her face was shut down completely.

So Dumbledore had no way of knowing that she was bluffing as she now replied lightly in an almost bored sounding voice, "It's not me risking anything, sir. It is your decision."

Dumbledore looked at her for a long time but Hermione held his gaze. Though she felt like despicable scum under this scrutinizing gaze of his. She wanted nothing more than to tell him everything. How she wasn't the evil criminal he now assumed her to be. How she had travelled here from a time of war and grief. She wanted him to understand that she wasn't a dark witch trying to free her partner in crime.

But despite her urge to confide in the old wizard Hermione remained silent. Her face was a blank mask only disturbed by the perfidious smirk, still tugging at the corners of her mouth. She was giving nothing away of her inner struggle. Even as Dumbledore's next words hit her very deeply she still didn't let her mask slip.

"It seems I have been wrong about you, Ms DeCerto," Dumbledore said softly but Hermione didn't even cringe as she saw the disappointment in his eyes. Then he acknowledged her victory in a grave voice, "I will comply with your wishes."

Hermione inclined her head slightly though she never broke eye contact with the wizard. Then she slowly got up from her chair. She wanted to quickly leave the office. The disappointment in Dumbledore's eyes was more than unbearable.

Before she could walk away Dumbledore said in a quiet voice, "I hope you know what you are doing, Ms DeCerto. I hope you know."

Hermione nodded more in acknowledgement than because she wanted to answer in the affirmative. Then she turned away from Dumbledore and walked over to the door leading out of his office. All the while she wondered if the old and innocent Hermione who had so obviously died during the war, would have done the same thing.

Probably not.

Now she could feel it even more than two days ago as she had stood on top of the Astronomy tower. Things had changed. She had changed. She had become harder, more callous. She was ready to do many things if it helped her purpose. For the first time since arriving in the past she wondered into what house the Sorting Hat would have put her if she hadn't intervened. Would she have again ended up in Gryffindor? The house of the brave and honest?

Hermione raised her hand and reached for the handle of the door leading out of Dumbledore's office. It felt like she was leaving behind more than just the messy but cozy transfiguration teacher's office. Without a backwards glance Hermione opened the door and stepped out on the dark corridor. With a soft thud she closed the door behind her.

She turned and found Tom standing in the corridor. Her eyes softened as they fell on him. He appeared to be at ease but from the slight differences in his stance she could tell how tense he really was. The stony expression on his face gave nothing away from his inner tension. She cast him a small smile before she walked over to him. She stopped directly in front of him and raised her head to look up at him. His face was still showing no emotion at all but Hermione could see his anxiety glinting through those incredibly grey eyes.

She raised her hand and laid her palm gently on his chest. The green fabric of his sleeveless pullover felt rough on her skin. But she could feel the heat of his body through the material as she still stared up at his face. The guilt of having abandoned Dumbledore and with him another part of the old Hermione still ripped at her but it was dimmed as she drowned herself in Tom's eyes.

"He is not going to expel you," she finally whispered to him in a gentle voice.

Through her hand which still lay on his chest she could feel Tom releasing a shaky breath as he heard her words. Then he stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her before he pulled her against him, almost desperately. She could feel him burying his face in her curly hair.

"Thank you," she heard him whisper.

A smile stole on her face as she heard his words. It was a surprise to hear Lord Voldemort thanking her. Though it was already the second time he did that.

"You are welcome," Hermione told him in a soft voice.

_._._._._

She was never going to make it, Tom thought panicky as he stared at the door across from him. He had his hands balled so tightly that the fingernails were cutting into his skin. Hermione would never be able to persuade Dumbledore. That hateful, old man would never let such an opportunity pass. He despised Tom. Why should he suddenly change his mind? That man had always wanted to expel Tom. Now he had the perfect excuse to do just that. Tom somehow regretted that he had left the orphanage during the break. Maybe he should have just stayed there and endured the pain. He shook his head in frustration. That would have meant two more weeks at the mercy of Carter. Tom ran a trembling hand over his face. Who knew how long he would have had to stay locked up in that chamber if Hermione hadn't found him.

Tom's head shot up as he heard the door being opened. He stared with wide eyes at Hermione as she walked over to him. She looked so serious, Tom thought as he scanned her face. Did that mean she had been unsuccessful?
Tom gulped as she stopped in front of him and gazed up into his eyes. There was sadness glinting in her eyes.

She couldn't convince him, Tom realized crestfallen.

No, he couldn't go back to the orphanage. He wouldn't.

Then Hermione opened her mouth and Tom dreaded to hear what she was about to tell him. "He is not going to expel you."

Tension was falling from him as realization hit him. She had really managed to stop Dumbledore? He stared at her in wonder. On impulse he stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her before he pulled her tightly against him. He needed to feel her close now. He buried his face in her curly hair and smelled that faint scent of lilac coming from her.

"Thank you." The words had left his mouth before he could have stopped himself.

He then felt Hermione's arms snaking around him while she said, "You are welcome."

Tom was immensely relieved. He had never expected her to convince Dumbledore. She never ceased to amaze him. Though now he was also deeply confused. He had actually expected her to leave him right after he had told her about how he had cursed that boy with the Haz Curse. But she still hadn't left him. She knew what he had done. By using that curse he had condemned that boy to a fate worse than death. Yet here she was, by his side.

Hermione just seemed to accept that dark side of him. She accepted him. All his life Tom had never showed his true self to anyone. He had learned early on that he was better of masking that dark part of him.

Thus Hermione… confused him.

"Let's go!" she whispered, neatly bringing him out of his pondering.

Her hazel eyes scanned him softly then she said quietly, "I don't want to stay here any longer."

Tom's eyes shot to the ominous door which led to Dumbledore's office and he nodded. He released Hermione again but still held to her hand tightly as he followed her down the corridor.

"What did you tell him?" he asked her after a while.

She turned her head and raised her eyebrows at him.

"How did you convince him to let me stay?"

"The very same way he tried to force you to go back to the orphanage," Hermione answered him cryptically.

Tom scanned her for a while before he slowly asked, "Blackmail?"

He could see in her expression that she was surprised he had seen the connection so fast.

"Yes," she whispered.

"How?"

There was a sad expression on her face as she whispered, "I'm not very proud of it, let's not talk about Dumbledore anymore."

Tom decided to let the matter drop. At least for now. He was still too amazed that Hermione had actually managed to persuade Dumbledore.

Or blackmail him! he thought contented as he glanced at the witch walking beside him.

He then noticed that the euphoria of being able to stay at Hogwarts was mingled with something else. Now that he eyed Hermione it hit him again, that greedy feeling. Ever since Christmas break it had been his constant companion. That feeling had burned up in him whenever he had looked at her, fiercely demanding to take possession of her. Now he was once again overwhelmed by this avidly feeling as his gaze wandered over her form beside him. A smile crept on his face as he scanned her untamable hair.

He wondered how he could have wasted all this time with fighting her and trying to subdue her before the Christmas break. Now she was so much more than just another opponent he had to defeat. By winning against Dumbledore she had again proven how valuable she truly was. Tom did not intent to ever let her go. With her actions today Hermione had finally admitted that she was his, Tom realized satisfied. She had obviously stopped to fight against it. Tom was glad that he had managed to gain her allegiance in the end and that she had finally abandoned her resistance against him.

He pulled her a little closer to him. She looked up and cast him a small smile.

Tom was quite satisfied with the knowledge that he had finally succeeded with obtaining her. Though he did notice that the greed he felt was now mixed with something else. Something Tom couldn't quite identify. But he didn't fight that odd feeling as it was quite nice. Warm and comfortable.

Tom was immersed in his own thoughts and was surprised at how quickly they had reached the Gryffindor common room. Too quickly, actually. He didn't want to leave Hermione now. The avidly feeling still ripped at him and he didn't want to let her go. As Hermione turned around to whisper the password to that absurd portrait, Tom lost his self-restraint and stopped her by grabbing her wrist. Then he twirled her around so that she tumbled against his chest. She raised her face at him and searched him with confusion in her eyes.

"What- ?"

She started to ask but Tom didn't leave her enough time to end her question. He pressed his lips over hers. He could feel her tense in surprise at his sudden actions. But then she began to respond to his kiss. He hugged her tightly against him and didn't leave her much room to move as he continued to kiss her fiercely.

He knew his kiss was demanding, almost bruising. But he couldn't stop himself. It wasn't enough. He needed to feel her now. He wanted to feel her bare skin under his fingers. His hand wandered down her back. As it reached the seam of her blouse it slipped underneath and began to caress the soft skin of her stomach. His other arm still held her pressed tightly against him while he continued to kiss her passionately. Then his lips left her mouth and wandered down her neck. He could hear her cry out in surprise as he bit her gently. His hand still run over her warm skin while his mouth wandered back to her lips to again capture them in another voluptuous and even ferocious kiss.

As he finally released her lips again he needed to gasp for air. He glanced down at her and saw an odd glint in her hazel eyes as she stared at him. Tom feared that he had gone too far as Hermione suddenly removed her arms from their position slipped around his waist. She then raised her arms and cupped his cheeks with both her hands. Tom's eyebrows shot up in surprise as she pulled his head down, rather forcefully. Her lips crashed on his own and she started to kiss him. He could feel one of her hands falling down to his shoulder while the other had wandered to the back of his neck. Then her lips left his mouth and Tom moaned softly in pleasure as she trailed kisses along the line of his jaw while her hand run demanding and even gruffly through his hair.

By the time she released him again he was breathing heavily. Hermione looked up at him, her brown eyes were sparkling at him so excitingly. Then she leaned against him and put her head against his chest. Tom automatically slid his arms around her and held her to him.

But he quickly released her again as he suddenly heard steps coming from the corridor behind him. Hopefully that wasn't any teacher, he thought as he took a step away from Hermione. If a teacher had seen them kissing, that would get them both into detention. Though Hermione would be punished even stricter as she was a girl. Tom turned his head to look at whoever walked towards them. If it really was a teacher, he would do his best to talk the professor out of punishing them for PDA.

However, as he recognized the person walking towards them, an evil smirk formed on his face. It was this idiotic Gryffindor boy, Marc Longbottom. Judging by that angry purple colour of his face and the glare he sent Tom's way that git had seen how Tom had kissed Hermione. Tom inclined his head in a mocking gesture of greeting as the Gryffindor boy passed them. He was immensely satisfied as he saw that glare on Longbottom's face intensify. Tom even had to suppressed the urge to snicker evilly as disgust seeped into the other's gaze.

The Gryffindor idiot then passed them without saying a word before he hissed the password at the portrait and entered the common room. After the wanker had left the corridor Tom looked down at Hermione. She just turned around to him again and Tom raised his eyebrows as he saw a sad expression on her face. Then she stepped closer to him and leaned against him, clutching the fabric of his jumper in her hands while she buried her face in his chest. Tom wrapped his arms around her protectively. It was then that he realized that the stupid Gryffindor boy hadn't just looked at him with that disgust burning in his eyes. He had looked at Hermione in the same way.

{{{{{{{{+}}}}}}}}

Author's notes: Finally I finished a new chapter. I really hope you can like it. It was kinda difficult to describe all the tensions between the characters in this chapter.

I do hope the conversation between Dumbledore and Hermione didn't get boring as it is quite long. I thought about shortening it somehow. But then I didn't know how. ^^ In case you wonder: I don't want Dumbledore to be the evil force in this story. Sure he appears as mean in the chapter but he has a very good reason to mistrust Tom. We shouldn't forget that. He knows that Tom murdered another student. That's a pretty serious crime after all.

Translation: Haz Zoubar - it's old german. Haz (Hass) means hatred and Zoubar (Zauber) means magic or spell.

To all my reviewers: You know that I love you! I love, love, love your reviews. They keep me going. So thank you very much for writing something down for me!

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