The hallways were quiet as they made their way down staircase after staircase pausing at each level to listen for footsteps and signs of movement. Riddle cast several spells to sense anyone's presence. The finally reached the ground floor but when she headed toward the front entrance he pulled her back and headed towards the back of the school.

"Front'll be too well lit, there's another exit this way," She followed him closely.

The corridor Riddle ended up leading her down appeared to be dusty and unused. Scattered chairs lined one wall, most with broken legs or disfigurements. One launched itself at them though they soon realised it was chained to the wall. Hermione silenced it to keep it from revealing their position but it continued to yank at its chain.

They reached the end of the corridor and Riddle cautiously opened the door before them. Cold fresh air blew in making Hermione shiver. There was little light but it would be enough for the

"Keep to the shadows, and keep your bushy head down for Merlin's sake. I'll meet you at the edge of the forest by the old groundskeeper's cottage," She nodded once.

"Be careful,"

"I'll be right behind you,"

She ducked into the shadows just outside the doorway and out of view. She counted to ten once she was out of sight, took the cloak from her bag and threw it over herself before doubling back. The doorway was still open but Riddle wasn't anywhere to be seen so she carefully followed the corridor back and found him casting, a glowing line across the floor. She didn't hear the spell he was casting, if he was saying it out loud at all. It was seconds later he was following her supposed trail out to the forest. She had to throw herself into an alcove to save him running straight into her and afterwards she counted again before stepping out, despite the cloak. Just as she did she heard more footsteps behind her and turned to see Zabini quick walking down the corridor, wand up and alert. He hit the line and stumbled, falling to the ground. The line glowed bright for a moment and as Zabini attempted to get to his feet Hermione saw his laces were tied. Without pausing any longer she headed out of the archway silently wondering where Riddle had picked up that trick, and how prolifically Joe and Algie would use it if they knew it.

She guessed that Zabini could be following Riddle but if Riddle had set that precaution he'd likely set others; still she'd keep alert in case he caught up with them. They didn't need someone else getting hurt. Since the cloak covered her well she cut across the semi-lit grass to the tree line instead of sticking to the shadows in an attempt to catch Riddle up before he noticed she'd fallen behind. As she glanced behind her and up to the astronomy tower, the few lights were still glowing faintly, the class continuing without them.

Hermione slowed to keep her footing on the damp grass. She heard her name called out quietly in the darkness and quickly stowed the cloak in her bag.

"Over here," She called back. She crept forwards and soon saw Riddle holding out his wand flat in his hand. "Riddle, over here," She whispered again and his head shot up to look at her.

"Where in the name of Merlin have you been?!" He raved in hushed voice glancing up to the gamekeeper's cottage

"I thought I heard something in the forest," She told him pulling her bag further up on her shoulder. They hadn't risked leaving their bags anywhere in the castle

"So you decide to wander off?" He asked incredulously, "You're not that stupid. Besides, I know you came from towards the castle,"

"It's pitch black out here Riddle, how would you know which direction I came from,"

"Don't evade,"

"Ha! You want to talk about evading?"

"Come on, sooner we get this over with the sooner I can get back to doing something worthwhile with my time," He started into the forest casting a dull light orb to hover just ahead of them.

"Bullying, sarcasm and derision; I agree far more worthwhile," She muttered under her breath as she followed him.

"Working with you is another large part of my daily activity,"

"We don't work together Riddle, half the time you're working against me," The undergrowth was damp and she didn't think her tights would survive long against the brambles and thorns.

"I wanted to work with you on the potions project, and you're working with me right now,"

"You need help with this,"

"That's not true; I wanted your help with this. I didn't have to tell you anything,"

"I'm flattered," As she spoke the sound of heavy breathing caught the edge of her hearing and she glanced back in the direction of the castle.

"Missing Weasley?"

"I thought I heard something," The darkness stretched out all around them

"Plenty of things to hear in the forest Granger, it was probably just a bird," He carried on walking. He was several paces in front of her when she started forwards again.

"I know," Her thoughts had skipped to Zabini though. Heavy breathing could have been him catching up with them. If it was, the forest was dangerous enough for the two of them, let alone someone else. "...Just caught my attention," at the back of her mind she worried what Riddle would do to protect them should anyone find them out here.

"Don't get nerves now Granger," he called back.

"I'm out here with you for company. You did say Gryffindors were brave or stupid,"

"True, true," he said with a deriding consideration, "You find Gryffindor exciting? That the reason you're out here?"

"Trouble round any corner, just like home," she smiled to herself and a few steps ahead of her Riddle paused and turned.

"And where's home Granger? I didn't think you knew," When she reached his side the continued forwards keeping pace with each other

"Here's as good as any I guess." She shrugged, "I keep thinking I should be somewhere else though. People depending on me that I can't quite picture, but I remember odd little things about them and I miss them desperately at times,"

"I could have told you that you couldn't have forgotten everything. Oh I did,"

"In not so many words," Hermione muttered narrowly avoiding the dark muddier areas beneath their feet.

"I could help you fix it, I happen to have a few tricks at my disposal,"

"You're sixteen years old Riddle , You don't know everything,"

"Don't talk down to me," He snapped, "I'm no child,"

"But you act like one."

"And don't you act like you know everything too,"

"I've lost everything I knew, of course I'm trying to gain that back. Wouldn't you want to prove to yourself how much you really knew if you felt like you have nothing,"

"I have had nothing,"

"Then you understand," she implored reaching out a hand to his arm. He twisted out of reach.

"I understand that you're a hypocrite,"

"And you're an egotistic jerk Riddle," She through her hands up in the air and huffed.

They trudged further and Hermione had long since lost track of direction and time. It had started raining and both of them were drenched to the bone.

"Are you going to tell me how it is you're going to destroy this stone," Riddle asked.

"Where's all that trust in me gone Riddle?"

"Drugs wore off,"

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked quickly.

"I'm fine Granger, now before I start picking up tips on lying and evading from a Gryffindor tell me how you intend to destroy this thing,"

"What do you know about Goblin made blades?" She asked more slowly this time. Riddle watched her carefully as she spoke, his dark hair lying sodden down his forehead. He pushed it out of his eyes once more before replying.

"Very powerful craftsmanship, and I know that they're no longer made for wizards because goblins expect such things to be returned to the craftsman upon the purchaser's death." He explained, "Obviously wizards have different customs of inheritance," Riddle added as he rubbed at his hands against the cold, fingers bumping over the ring on his finger. "Question is, how would you get a goblin made blade?" He squinted at her. She glanced away under the stare as she replied but keeping her head held high.

"I earned it," Riddle in return rolled his eyes and looked away; it clearly irritated him.

"It's an object found in the collections of rich pureblood wizards, not a toy for witches who think they're clever; you couldn't possibly have earned it,"

"Would you rather I said it came to me in a dream?" Hermione offered sardonically

"I'd half believe you,"

"How much further is it anyway?" She asked hoping to avoid any more thinly veiled insults.

"You would be able to feel it from here if my shield wasn't in place," She looked up at him glad of their trek almost being over.

"So you can feel it? Is it stronger here?" She asked.

"Yes," Hermione realised he was talking through gritted teeth. She'd assumed it was the November cold, but looking at him now, he was concealing far more discomfort and pain than the cold and damp presented.

"Take down the shield. Riddle if we're that close it won't take long to find it and destroy it,"

"Easier if one of us is in sound mind when we find this thing," He gave her a strained half smirk

"Fine, but I'm not carrying you back to the castle. I don't even know which way I'm supposed to be going,"

"Dangerous thing to admit Granger," She hummed in response, glancing up through the drizzle falling through the trees. Up ahead at the base of one of the trees was a faint glow.

"Wait, I think I can see something," She rushed forwards seeing the small dome around the cloudy stone. She fumbled with her bag and called back to Riddle who'd stopped some meters back.

"Take down the shield. I can break it,"

"I can't." Though it was said quietly Hermione could hear the surprise and anxiety in his voice.

"What?"

"I can't, its drawing too much of my power,"

"Cut the link the shield with disable and I'll stab the stone," She told him,

"I haven't got enough power, to overpower its pull,"

"They how do we work this Tom because I've not come all the way out here for nothing," He thought for a moment. Her imploring look

"There's a way to transfer magic from one person to another, the power and strength. The spell is too complicated to learn right now and it takes practice to do it without harming either of the participates,"

"But you can do it differently, you said so before, picturing what you want to happen is the biggest part of controlling magic,"

"Exactly,"

"Then what can I do?"

"Give me your power,"

"Will that be enough?"

"Momentarily, it should only take a moment to break the spell but no doubt the spike will be mirrored by the draw of the stone,"

"So you'll have to get it right,"

"Of course I'll get it right," He snapped back at her but Hermione heard the waver in his voice and how the sharp reply hid a degree of uncertainty.

"So what do I do?" She asked slowly.