Disclaimer: these characters are not mine – they belong to JK Rowling
AN: Thank you all so much for the continued love of this fic! We're in the future now, woohoo! Thank you to all of you who took the time to review the last chapter: GanjiaQueen91, YDream08, Belieber Twihard, Pianomouse, Negativecreep91, NicoruNS, ndavis77, and Lady Kaliska! Kisses to you all!
"So you see Headmaster, everything we did, we did for the greater good." Hermione said, playing on what she knew to be his soft spot.
Headmaster Dumbledore looked at the three of them thoughtfully over his half-moon spectacles, running his fingers absently along his silvery white beard. His watery blue gaze fell on Tom, and Tom shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Be that as it may, Miss Granger, the three of you have once again caused quite a conundrum," He said when Hermione opened her mouth to interrupt, he held up his hand silence her, "Luckily, I was able to come up with quite a convincing cover story to not only explain your rather abrupt departure from Hogwarts in 1943, but Mister Riddle's as well. Now, if what you say is true, then it is a small price to pay on behalf of…what was it you said? Ah yes; the greater good. The only question that remains is, what do we do with you?" He said leveling his gaze as Tom as he folded his hands in front of him on the desk.
"Sir, will I be permitted to finish my education at Hogwarts?" Tom asked, not having truly thought about what would happen once he arrived in the future.
"Of course, Tom," The Headmaster said, and Tom seemed to visibly relax, until the Headmaster continued, "I have no intention of letting you out of my sight."
Tom scowled.
"The official story, is that you are a transfer student from Durmstrang. I believe I can convince Headmaster Karkaroff to sign the appropriate paperwork for the Ministry. You will of course have to be re-sorted." The Headmaster explained.
Tom gaped at the Headmaster.
Hermione bit back a smirk at the look of horror on Tom's face.
"But, before we do that, I believe it would be wise to adopt a change of surname, since there may be those from your past who would recognize it." The Headmaster said giving Tom a pointed look.
Harry snorted, "How about Jones?"
Tom glared at Harry, before answering the Headmaster, "Actually, Headmaster, I'd prefer to use my mother's maiden name, if that is alright?"
"Thomas Marvolo Gaunt. Yes, I think that will do." The Headmaster then stood and made his way over to a shelf and lifted the sorting hat, gesturing to a stool, "Now, Tom, if you would?"
Tom shot Hermione a nervous look, and she saw his Adam's apple bob in his throat as he stood to make his way over to the stool.
Not Gryffindor, Not Gryffindor, Not Gryffindor…
As the sorting hat made contact with Tom's head, it sprang to life, the voice whispering quietly in Tom's ear:
Interesting, I've sorted you before, the ancestor of a founder! How extraordinary. You are ambitious I see, quite brave and resourceful too, but what is this? Not disloyal, no, not anymore…better be Gryffindor!
"What?!" Tom shouted ripping the hat from his head in shock
Harry laughed loudly, and Hermione had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing at the horrified look on Tom's face.
The headmaster's blue eyes twinkled as he watched Tom's uniform colors change from Green and Silver to Burgundy and Gold.
"You have got to be kidding me." Tom said holding up his tie, giving the Headmaster a pleading look.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, Mister Gaunt." The Headmaster smiled at Tom, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously as he walked the three of them to his office door.
"You'll find a trunk with the current school uniforms has already been delivered to your dorm, along with your class schedule. Miss Granger and Mister Potter can show you to your common room." The headmaster said kindly.
"Yes, Headmaster" Tom said in a barely restrained clipped tone.
"Oh, there's one more thing." The headmaster said as he looked pointedly between Harry and Hermione, "I will be writing to both your parents, and the three of you will report to detention with Professor Snape tomorrow evening after dinner."
Harry paled, "Parents? Did you say you are writing to my parents, Professor?"
The Headmaster raised his eyebrows at Harry in surprise, "Yes, Mister Potter. I expect your mother and father will not be pleased by your reckless behavior."
Harry laughed and looked at Hermione, "My parents! Did you hear that Hermione! He's writing to my parents!"
The Headmaster gave Harry a worried look and continued, "Yes, well, you three should return to your dormitory, you'll not be excused from classes tomorrow."
Hermione grabbed Harry and Tom and gave the Headmaster a grateful smile, "Thank you for everything, Professor, we'll be off to bed then." She said before pulling them out of the Headmaster's office.
~~{0}~~
"Well, this is unaccaptable." Tom said as he looked down at his tie, wrinkling his nose distaste.
"Well, it could be worse." Hermione said trying to cheer him up, knowing that he was probably feeling very out of his element.
"Worse? Hermione, how could it be any worse? This is a bloody disgrace." Tom whined.
Hermione sniggered, "Yes, Tom, it could be worse. You could have ended up in Hufflepuff."
He shot her a glare, and she bit her tongue to keep from laughing.
"Ravenclaw, I could have tolerated, but Gryffindor?" Tom scoffed.
"Well, you're one of us now, so you may as well get used to it." Hermione sighed, "Merlin, you're worse than Malfoy."
Tom snorted, "Are you seriously comparing me to Abraxas?"
"Not that Malfoy, I meant Draco…Abraxas' Grandson." Hermione said pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Merlin this is strange." Tom said looking around the common room.
"Now you know what it was like for us in 1943. It'll take some time, but you'll get used to it." She said pulling him in for a kiss.
He kissed her back, reluctantly letting her go when Harry cleared his throat, waiting to take him up to the boy's dorm for the night.
~~{0}~~
The next morning, Harry slid into the seat across from Hermione rubbing his eyes and pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Have you gained any new memories yet?" he asked quietly as he watched her flip through the Daily Prophet.
"A few, last night while I was sleeping. What about you?" She asked him.
"Yeah, I dreamt about my parents. It's so strange because even though it felt like a dream, I know they were memories. I can still remember what it was like living without them, but now, it's as if they never left." Harry said as he took a bite out of a muffin.
"I'm happy for you, Harry. You're finally getting the life you always deserved." She said as her eyes swept the room, "Hey, have you seen Tom this morning?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, yeah, he left early to meet Dumbledore. Something about having to be introduced." Harry said stifling a yawn.
"Who's being introduced?" Ron asked as he slipped into the open seat beside Hermione and reached over her to grab a banana out of the fruit bowl.
Hermione flashed Harry a look, "Oh, there's a new transfer student from Durmstrang."
"Huh, why'd he wait until sixth year to transfer?" Ron asked shoving half the banana in his mouth.
"Oh….um…" Hermione stammered, causing Ron to give her a strange look.
"He's Hermione's boyfriend." Harry blurted causing Hermione to gape at him.
Ron snorted, "Funny, Harry."
Hermione flushed a shade of crimson that may or may not have even existed yet. She hadn't thought about how to explain her seemingly sudden relationship to Ron.
"We sort of …met over the summer." Hermione began hesitantly, biting her lip nervously as she met Ron's eyes. She was aware that Ron had always had a sort of crush on her, even though he had never admitted it or acted on his feelings. The scowl that was presently adorning his face, and the redness of his ears told her that this news was not exactly welcome.
"And so what? He decided to switch schools to be with you?" Ron snorted in derision, as if she was not worthy of such a commitment. He may as well have slapped her, for the sting the comment left in its wake.
"Am I interrupting something?" Tom asked hesitantly as he looked between Ron and Hermione, and noticed her tense posture. He let his hand fall to her shoulder, and he felt her relax a bit at his touch.
"First Krum, and now you. At the rate Hermione's going, I expect her name will be carved into one of the lavatory doors over at Durmstrang before the end of the semester." Ron snapped viciously.
Tom's arm shot out so fast and grabbed Ron by the front of his robes, nearly pulling him across the table, bringing his face close to his own. When he spoke, his voice was deadly, "If you speak of Hermione in that manner again, I'll rip out your tongue."
Ron's blue eyes widened as he met Tom's angry gaze as Tom continued, "Now, I believe you were just about to apologize."
Ron gasped, and managed to croak out "I'm sorry" to Hermione just as Tom shoved him away from him, and he fell back into his seat.
Hermione stood motionless, her eyes darting between Ron, Harry, and Tom. Ron pushed away from the table abruptly and stalked off angrily, not sparing a glance back in their direction.
"Well, that went well." Harry said sarcastically as he gestured for Tom to take a seat.
"I should talk to him." Hermione sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Harry shook his head, "Give it a day. He needs time to cool down. Wounded pride, and all that." Harry suggested.
Hermione nodded, and shot a glare at Tom, "You could have been a little more patient with him."
Tom scoffed, "I'll not suffer his idiocy because you feel sorry for him, love."
Harry mercifully interjected, "I'll talk to him." earning a grateful look from Hermione and an eyeroll from Tom.
Hermione quickly changed the subject, "So what class do you have first?" pouring Tom and herself a cup of coffee.
Tom pulled his course schedule from his bag, "Defense Against the Dark Arts, with Professor Snape."
Harry sniggered.
Tom narrowed his eyes at him, "Something funny, Potter?"
Harry caught Hermione's eye, "Nothing at all, Tom."
~~{0}~~
When Hermione slipped into the seat beside Tom in the Transfiguration classroom, the look on his face was murderous.
"That man is abhorrent." Tom snapped.
Hermione bit her lip to keep from laughing, knowing perfectly well he was talking about Professor Snape.
"Oh? Why do you say that?" Hermione asked, knowing what was coming.
"That man had the nerve to call me an insufferable know it all in front of the entire class, for having the audacity to actually answer one of his questions!" Tom snapped angrily, "I mean, why ask a question if you don't want anyone to actually answer it?"
Hermione sniggered.
"It's not funny, Hermione, he should be reported!" Tom spat, which made her laugh even harder at the irony of the situation. If only Professor Snape knew who he was now in a position of authority over!
When Hermione finally got her laughter under control, she wrote on the piece of parchment in front of her so that he could see it.
Don't take it personally, he did the same thing to me my first year.
His anger receded to an adorable pout, as he focused on the text book that sat in front of him. Professor McGonagall did a double take when she entered the room, seeing Tom seated next to Hermione. He had been introduced at breakfast, but she hadn't gotten a clear view of him until now.
"Mister Gaunt?" She asked, and Tom looked up at her politely, recognizing his former classmate.
"Yes, Professor?"
"Stay after class a moment if you would? I should like to assess what material you have previously covered at Durmstrang." She said giving him a pointed look.
Tom nodded, and she continued the lesson.
As class ended, and the students were filing out, Hermione squeezed his hand and told him she would wait outside for him. He made his way towards his Professor's desk, and was met with her piercing gaze.
"How?" she snapped, looking up at him expectantly.
"Pardon?" he asked, pretending he had no idea what she was talking about.
She sighed, "You can drop the act, I know it's you, Riddle. How did you manage to do it?" she asked crossing her arms over her chest.
She had been a year ahead of him, and had always been smart as a whip; he supposed that was why she had long ago been named Head Girl.
"Minerva, always a pleasure. You look as if you haven't aged a day." He said giving her a Cheshire cat-like grin.
She scowled, raising an eyebrow at him, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
He cleared his throat, remembering that she was actually one of his professor's now.
"Time turner." He answered, doing his best to look contrite.
"Ah. I knew Miss Granger and Mister Potter looked familiar; once I saw you, it all clicked into place. I assume the Headmaster is aware of this deception?" she asked in clipped tones.
"Yes, he found my being re-sorted into Gryffindor quite amusing." Tom frowned.
The corner of the Professor's lips twitched at the thought of the prince of Slytherin being sorted into Gryffindor.
"And how is that working out for you? I am after all, your Head of House now." She said quirking an eyebrow at him questioningly.
"It's not altogether terrible." He admitted, sighing dramatically.
"Good. I expect you know that if you have any problems, you can come to me." She said giving him a small knowing smile.
He nodded, the corner of his lips lifting into smirk, "Indeed, I do, Minerva."
"That's Professor, to you, Tom." She chuckled and waved him off.
"Of course, Professor." He said grinning and headed out of the classroom to meet Hermione.
LOL! I had to make Professor Snape be a douche to Tom...it's Karma, not to mention that Tom was sorted into Gryffindor. So what do you all think?! Do you like this chapter? We still have more to look forward to...another Halloween Ball, Christmas, and Christmas Hols, which will include Tom visiting the Grangers, and Tom and Hermione both visiting Harry's family *cough*Harry's Grandparents*cough*...should make for some entertaining chapters! Please leave a review! xoxo