I own nothing, not even the plot. I am sure someone, somewhere in fanfiction has thought of this before.

Music is my Muse:
Song for this chapter: Waterloo; Mama Mia Cast
Lyric of choice: "The history book on the shelf, is always repeating itself..."

Riddle This

Chapter 35
Unexpected Revelations

"He is vain, Dumbledore…."

Hermione woke up in the arms of her fiancé only to turn over and see his mother sitting daintily in a chair with her arms crossed. She might have looked calm, but Hermione knew better.

"You will head back to your rooms, get dressed, and meet me in the green saloon."

Draco was awake beside her and let out a small groan, "Mother-"

Narcissa held up her hand and stood. "I will hear nothing from you, Draco. Hermione, now."

Giving Draco a quick look she rushed out and left him at the mercy of his mother. She figured staying would only upset the witch more, so it was better if she left and did as she was told at the moment.

Hermione had never dressed so fast in her entire life. The following meeting was in a word, uncomfortable. Narcissa calmly and forcefully explained to Hermione that although she was indeed on a potion, and that she trusted the two of them to utilise the contraceptive charm properly, magic- especially when combined with deep love, didn't really follow the rules. In fact, the reason that most couples waited to have sex until they were bonded was that magic made contraception tricky.

Hermione understood where they were coming from, but she still couldn't understand why contraception was so 'tricky'. But, having nothing to contradict what she was currently being told she nodded and started plotting.

"I understand the concern, and I am not yet ready to have a baby, however, I don't think separating us is the answer."

Narcissa gave her a small understanding smile but had nothing informative to add to the situation.

Hermione first tried to find her father, who she found out had fled before she could talk to him. Some Dark Lord, from where she stood he just looked like a big fat coward!

Severus, however, was at breakfast waiting for her with a scowl. "Oh, stop looking at me like that. We are of age and engaged."

Severus Snape sneered at her before he sipped his tea. "If you are looking for me to champion you in your lustful-"

Hermione cut him off with a sneer of her own. "Severus Snape, you bloody prude!"

Severus raised an eyebrow and smirked his eyes dancing with amusement. "Indeed. Draco should be down momentarily. I will be excusing myself so as not to have to be witness to your heartfelt farewell."

Hermione rolled her eyes but then paused for a moment. "Professor Snape, how many contraceptive potions and charms are there?"

He paused and then folded his napkin and tossed it on the table. "There are many potions, but only three charms."

Hermione frowned and then smiled. "I would assume I could find information on these three charms in the Krum's vast library?"

Severus narrowed his eyes at her and then gave a curt nod, "I will get you any material you need if you do not."

Hermione hid her grin, "thank you, Professor."

He left quickly, and Hermione sat back and waited for Draco who she figured was still speaking with either his mother or his father.

Nagini slithered in and onto her lap. "Sister snake is upset."

Hermione patted the snake and nodded, "Draco will have to go to Russia for a while, Nagini."

Nagini nodded and seemed to hug her, giving her whatever comfort she could. Hermione felt herself tearing up as she let out a long, sad breath.

"I shouldn't have gone to his room, but I miss him, I just want to be with him." She stroked the snake as she spoke thankful she was alone for the moment. "I hate that I can't even acknowledge what he means to me. It's not fair."

Nagini flicked her tongue over her hand, and Hermione felt the tears sliding down her face. "Nothing is fair in war, is it Nagini?"

"Hermione, please don't cry."

Looking up she saw Draco standing in the doorway his face full of the same frustration and pain she was feeling. Nagini moved quickly so that Hermione could stand up to rush over to him, uncaring that tears streamed down her face.

"I can't bear it. I am sorry, so sorry."

Draco rubbed her back as he peppered kisses all over her face his own eyes a bit misty, "hey, it's fine, just six weeks at the most. Father has told me that most of Slytherin house will be there, it gives me an opportunity to gain us some alleys. You will have Harry to revise with, and we can floo call and write."

Hermione nodded rubbing her nose in his chest, taking in his unique scent. "I promise that by the time you come back I will figure out a way out of the Viktor situation."

Draco chuckled and pulled her away his hands framing her face. "I am surprisingly not jealous of Viktor anymore, Hermione. If you manage to sort it out and we can start courting officially, I won't complain, but if it is safer for you to keep pretending to be courting him, it won't upset me."

Hermione sniffled, "you are surprisingly accommodating about all this all the sudden."

Draco grimaced and hugged her again, his voice a bit shaky. "Father had some rather insightful things to say about it all. You are my end goal, Hermione. I don't want to risk losing you or hurting you. I know how important your exams are to you and until we sort out Dumbledore, you are in danger. As much as I want a family with you-"

She chuckled and pulled back, "you don't wish for one right now, right?"

He flushed and swallowed. "Um, yeah, I would like to be married first and have a home for us. You aren't upset?"

Hermione shook her head wiping her tears. "About you wanting to wait to have children? Of course not! I am going to research the contraceptive potions and charms; maybe there is a reason that they fail sometimes that is a bit more informative than 'magic is tricky,'."

Draco smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her his hands tangled in her hair. "I love you. Will you be okay?"

Hermione nodded and stood on tippy toe to kiss him back. "I love you too, and I will be fine. Busy, but fine."

"Good. Father wishes for me to leave right away. I am just off to say goodbye to Harry and have a nice chat with him about not letting you do anything foolish," he frowned and then shook his head, "Strike that, I will see Viktor to chat with him about you doing foolish things, Harry is useless."

Hermione hit him in the arm but had to laugh. "Hey!"

Nagini chuckled and slithered out of the room.

"Did the snake just laugh?"

Hermione grinned kissing him again. "Yep."

Draco shuddered and shook his head. "Creepy."

OooOooOoO

Hermione spent the day in her rooms nursing her foul mood. Viktor and Harry showed up with her dinner but seemed to understand she wished to be left alone.

As she was going to bed, she noticed a pile of books that hadn't been on her nightstand earlier. Flipping through them she found her first grin since Draco had left.

"Severus Snape, you are an angel!"

The next day Hermione threw herself into her studies with determination. Severus finally let her back in the duelling practice rotation, and Remus started teaching her hand to hand combat. Kingsley even agreed to look over their duelling sessions and offer tips. He also tutored them for the N.E.W.T's and had been allowed out of the dungeon, although not given back a wand, and took meals with them on occasion.

Tonks and Kingsley could be found most days with their heads together going over notes in the dining room.

"What do you think they are discussing?" Harry asked curiously as they glanced in to see the two arguing over a piece of parchment.

Hermione shrugged. "No idea, but Nagini is always there spying. We could ask her I suppose."

Harry grinned. "Do you know your bloody father floo calls his snake?"

Hermione had to hide her laugh, "what? No way!"

Harry nodded. "I caught them at it the other day. When I asked Nagini, she just blinked at me as if I was stupid. I suppose we should have realised how he was getting most of his information before, but honestly, who floo calls their familiar?"

Hermione smirked ducking her head, "someone who can talk to their familiar, clearly."

Harry snorted out a laugh as he pushed open the door to the study they would be working on transfiguration that day in, "too right!" he said with a laugh before he sighed looking over the parchment waiting for them. "I am getting sick of all this."

Hermione nodded in agreement as she sat down to go over the practice test. "It is getting tedious, and I love to revise."

It took Hermione almost a month to find what she needed to prove her theory about contraceptive charms. Professor Snape had answered all her questions about the potions, however, he had not been able to speak in depth about the three charms.

Surprisingly it was Kingsley who helped her break down the problem as the man had a charms mastery.

"The charms break down into two parts. Each of them does render the womb to be inactive, but it also calls upon your own magic to decide if a baby is needed."

Hermione frowned as she sat back thinking this over. "So there is an out clause in the magic in a way? It allows magic to circumvent the very thing the charm is supposed to do?"

Kingsley nodded at her, "yes exactly. In fact, in most pureblood marriages potions are not used at all. They trust the charm to decide for them."

Hermione shook her head as she processed that and then sat forward her brow puckered. "So- could the charm be rendering the potion to be inactive if it decided conception is needed?"

Kingsley grew thoughtful before he gave a slow nod his eyes wide. "Well, yes, I imagine that is the most likely explanation."

Hermione nodded slowly closing her eyes. "So, remove the charm from the table, use the potion and you shouldn't have a problem?"

Kingsley chuckled. "Merlin, yes Hermione. I think you are onto something. I would speak with Severus about the potions-"

She waved that off and grinned, "I have! He is insistent that the potions are not to blame. So, it's the charms!"

Kingsley nodded his smile wide. "It has to be the charms, yes. You should write up a dissertation on this for your charms N.E.W.T, young lady."

Hermione jumped up in excitement, "I will, thank you, Kings!"

Ha, she was about to revolutionise contraception in the wizarding world. She chuckled for a full day thinking of the scandalous headlines.

OooOooOooOooO

Harry sauntered into the library and grinned at the petite witch buried in about six books and scribbling madly on parchment with two quills stuck in her hair. She was frowning and had ink on her nose.

"Hello, earth to Hermione. Are you not going to eat today?"

Hermione looked up and glared at her best friend. "I did eat; I had a sandwich. You can ask Nagini if you don't believe me."

The snake in question hissed but didn't look up from her nap in the sunlight pouring in through the window.

"I saw that your father was back. Is that why you are avoiding the dining room?"

Hermione had gone back to her parchment and didn't look up. "I don't know what you are talking about Harry Potter."

Harry snorted and sat down in a chair. "Yes, you do. You hold a grudge better than anyone I know, Hermione Granger." He waited a moment and then asked slyly. "How is Draco?"

Hermione glared at him and slammed one of the books shut. "He is fine. Revising, playing pick up games with Blaise, and apparently helping Theo with some kind of potions project. He writes me daily."

Harry smiled. "You two are nauseating. Don't think I don't know you spend an hour talking through the floo every few days too. It's the only time you stop revising and researching."

Hermione glared at him and then huffed going back to reading the papers in front of her. "You could do a little more revising yourself, Harry Potter."

"I revise six hours a day, Hermione. Lay off."

Nagini hissed out a chuckle and uncoiled herself. "Brother and sister snake should stop fighting. Nagini is going to go hunting now."

Hermione graced the snake with a rare smile as it slithered off as Harry saluted his friend. "Don't terrorise Ron again, I know that was you who left a spider in his cell."

A hissing laugh was all they got as the snake slithered off.

"She is evil," Hermione said with a fond smile.

"She is? You are the one who dished about his fear of spiders, Hermione." Harry shook his head and then frowned. "When are they leaving anyways? I thought they were being sent back to England?"

Hermione shrugged not looking up. "No idea. Severus was setting it up but something stalled out with the Bulgarian Ministry I think. They want assurances that they will be tried and not just released and apparently England is of the frame of mind that Bulgaria should just mind their own business."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Idiots, if they want their citizens released, they should be a bit more accommodating."

Hermione nodded running her finger down the page. "That is pretty much what Viktor said about it all when he was here last week. Lord Krum is in England now speaking with the Minister. If I had to guess, I would say they will be gone by the end of the month."

Harry raised an eyebrow, "well, that will just ruin your fun, won't it. Half the castle hears Ron screaming when Nagini drops a spider on his head."

Hermione gave a rather evil smirk and went back to her reading causing Harry to sigh and grab the book she had just abandoned. "What are you reading? 'Crimes of Grindelwald', why does that name sound familiar?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly Harry, do you not remember anything from History of Magic?"

Harry shrugged flipping through the book. "Probably not. So who was he?"

"The last great dark wizard."

"Really? What happened to him?"

"Dumbledore defeated him."

Harry slammed the book shut with shock. "What?"

Hermione nodded absently scratching her nose. "Yeah, that is how he got his Order of Merlin, and it was a deciding factor in making him head of the Wizengamot."

Harry whistled softly and looked at the picture of the wizard that was in a newspaper clipping that was laying on the table.

"Okay, but why are you researching all this, Hermione? Is this for school?"

Hermione gave him an 'are you an idiot' look and shook her head. "First, because Grindelwald had the Elder Wand, and I can't figure out how he got it. But, mostly it's something Kingsley said to us. About how he was starting to question things in Dumbledore's past."

Harry frowned in concentration and looked around the table. "What do you reckon?"

Hermione sank back in the chair and pushed the palm of her hands into her eyes before groaning in frustration. "There has to be a reason, Harry."

Harry gave a half smile and went back to flipping through the book. "Could you be a bit more descriptive Hermione?"

She growled and sat back up tossing aside papers before she threw one at Harry. "I think his past is the key to what is going on right now. He has been building you up to be the hero. Look at the headline, 'Harry Potter Is Our Greatest Hope'- if we assume that he wants you to die, why build you up the way he is?"

Harry frowned as he considered things. "Well, he would get to claim that he helped me. Wouldn't he?"

Hermione sighed and tapped a book with her quill. "I suppose."

"If you would stop avoiding me, daughter, I could answer your question for you."

Hermione jumped as Harry yelped and dropped his book.

"Father."

"Daughter."

Harry smirked and then deadpanned, "Harry."

Hermione glared at him before turning her bad mood on her father. "You shouldn't have forbidden Draco to visit."

Tom Riddle considered his daughter for a long moment before he shrugged and sat down. "You shouldn't have snuck into his room."

Harry chuckled out a quick. "Hussy," before he hid behind the giant book and discreetly throwing up a shield charm.

"Harry Potter you take that back!"

Tom held up his hand. "That is enough. When you have sat your N.E.W.T's, he can return. As you are all sitting for your exams next week, I think you can survive."

Hermione sat back crossing her arms across her body. "Only if you agree to me publically calling off my courtship with Viktor Krum and agree to mind your own business about mine and Draco's relationship. We are adults, father."

Harry thought she was far too brave for her own good; he could see Tom Riddle grinding his teeth in anger at her requests.

"Viktor will remain your public suitor until such a time we can break it off without causing a scandal. I will agree to not interfere in your personal life if you agree to take into consideration my concerns over you becoming pregnant before you are ready."

Hermione nodded, "it's the charm, father. It causes magic to override contraceptives. No witch has ever been reported to have gotten pregnant when taking a potion."

Tom Riddle baulked and then sat forward. "Are you sure?"

Hermione grinned. "It's my project for my N.E.W.T's actually. Kingsley helped me, and I have had Lucius, Lady Krum, and Andromeda look it over. All of them have extensive charms knowledge, father. I also asked Severus to speak with his fellow potions masters about this, and they agree with my hypothesis. Lord Krum is already working on getting records from wizarding hospitals to collaborate my theory. You are welcome to my research as well."

Harry watched Tom Riddle beam at his daughter with pride. "Good job, Hermione."

"Wait, are you saying you figured out a way for unmarried witches and wizards to have sex with no babies, Hermione?" Harry asked smirking.

Hermione gave him a disgusted look, "Shut it, Harry Potter."

Her father was chuckling, "I think the muggles called the invention of reliable birth control the sexual revolution."

Harry was still laughing as Hermione flushed.

Afer a moment, though, they quieted and Harry frowned as the previous conversation swept back into his conscious. "What did you mean about asking you about Dumbledore?"

"Where were you the last six weeks?" Hermione asked at the same time.

"Spain," Tom said with a smile.

Harry frowned in confusion. "What is in Spain?"

Hermione grinned and said cheekily. "Rain on the plains?"

Tom Riddle laughed. "Yes, it does mainly stay on the plains."

Harry cocked his head at the two who were grinning stupidly at one another. "I don't get it."

Hermione laughed turning to look at him. "My Fair Lady, Harry," she tilted her head at her father looking impressed. "When on earth did you ever see a muggle musical?"

Tom shrugged. "I actually enjoy the cinema. But let us not get off track. I was in Spain seeking out a Dark Arts master who met with Dumbledore shortly after he was cursed from my fake Horcrux."

Harry sat up now fully invested in the conversation. "Dumbledore met with someone about the Dark Arts?"

Tom nodded leaning forward and rested his hands on his knees. "Master Zendar was all too willing to speak with me. I studied under him for a time in my twenties, and he remembers me fondly. Memory like an elephant on that man, and he is perfectly willing to part with information as long as you ask the right questions. What he had to say was very enlightening."

Hermione went still in shock. "Master Zendar? The same Master Zendar who worked with Grindelwald?"

Tom's smile was slow, and his eyes flashed. "The same Master Zendar who worked with Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore over the same summer. It would appear the two were good friends."

"Why did you say 'friends' like that?" Harry asked watching Tom Riddle sit back and laugh as Hermione narrowed her eyes and went pink in the face.

"He means they were lovers, Harry. My father is telling us that Master Zendar thinks Albus Dumbledore and Grindelwald were lovers."

Harry promptly dropped the book again. "What!"

Author Note:
I am rather impressed that this was only around ten rewrites... I have a sinus infection though so I am sure I will be fixing something. Cold meds make me stupid.
I am praying you enjoy the chapter.
We are heading into a lot of plot for a few chapters to move the story along. Just so you know, plot is harder to write than fluff and lemons... damn...

I can't stop laughing at the idea that Tom Riddle sat in a cinema and watched My Fair Lady. This is also how I speak to friends, in song lyrics. If you do this too, we can be friends.

Props to dyslexic penquin for pointing out the lovely typo that was 'plane' instead of 'plain'... sure, lets go ahead and blame cold meds... I like that idea. Thank you dear for always having my back..

Cheers,
Cjean