A/N: Hey again! I just wanted to make something clear really quick. I don't think I really established exactly what time of year it is in the story. Tom arrived just a little bit after Halloween and it is now nearing the end of November. Just wanted to get the cleared up! I hope you like this chapter….if you don't then please don't throw things at me! Love you all lots! Mandy

Just as Tom had figured it would, the infamous rumor about the "Tom and Hermione love triangle" had fizzled into mere myth that seemed to be quickly fading away. Both teens were thankful for it; especially Hermione who had received a lot of scorn and hateful comments from most of the girl population in Hogwarts.

Much to Tom's dismay and to Hermione's relief, Tom had resumed his role of being a friend and had not overstepped his boundaries with the brunette. This however caused him to go into a bit of a funk that everyone around him noticed; except for Hermione who stayed clear of him as much as possible.

Harry and Ron spent days trying to cheer him up, and just when it would seem to work, Hermione would come into the room or her name would be mentioned, and Tom would instantly reform into his old, depressed self.

But as the days went by, Tom seemed to be feeling better and opening up again…even when Hermione was around. He didn't spend much time with her though, and whether his avoidance of her was deliberate or unintentional, no one really knew.

Hermione began to notice this though, and while she was happy that Tom seemed to be moving on, she couldn't help but feel a little heartbroken as well.

She was extremely surprised one day when she had walked into the Common Room to find Tom doubled over and clutching his stomach, laughing uncontrollably. Harry, Ron, and Ginny were there as well, all laughing just as heartily.

Harry, who seemed to be telling a story, continued on with in a voice that was strained from laughter.

"And then Ron takes out his wand and points it at Draco and goes "You'll pay for that one Malfoy….EAT SLUGS! And then his curse backfires on him and Ron gets thrown back on his ass and turns completely pale. We all rush over to him to see if he is ok when suddenly he leans over and up-chucks this slimy slug," Harry finished laughing hysterically once again.

"Oh man, I wish could have been there to see that," Tom said through peals of laughter.

"Let me tell ya, it was no picnic mate," Ron told him grinning. "I was retching up slugs for ages. I thought it would never end."

"It was very noble of you though," Hermione said, making her presence known. The four laughing baboons all looked over to where she was standing by the portrait door. Each of them gave her a fond smile….Tom included.

"What? Did you think I would let the Great Ferret get away with saying something like that to you?" Ron asked as he grinned at her.

"Wait a minute." Tom interrupted. "Why is Malfoy known as a ferret?"

"Well," began Harry with a mischievous grin, "In our fourth year we had a DADA teacher named Mad Eye Moody. He sort of took me under his wing and all to help me with the Tri Wizard Tournament. He wasn't the real Mad Eye however," Harry recalled, "but that is beside the point. Anyways, one day Malfoy was pestering me and I mouthed off to him. Just when he was about to hex me, Mad Eye came out of nowhere and transfigured him into a ferret! May Eye had him bouncing up and down the hallways while he squealed like a little pig." Harry ended his story with a cackle of laughter and watched as Tom and the others began to laugh merrily again.

"How does all of this stuff happen to you guys?" Tom asked in wonderment.

""Were just a bunch of misfits mate." Ron smiled.

"You all are. I am the voice of reason in the group." Hermione told them all.

Ron, Harry, and Ginny all snorted.

"Tell that to Neville Hermione. I am sure he would get a good laugh." Harry joked. "I believe it was you who used the Petrificus Totalus spell on him in our first year, was it not?" Harry raised his eyebrows accusingly.

"So, Hermione is not as innocent as I thought she was!" Tom asked in amusement.

"I resent that." She told him jokingly. "I had no choice! After all, you two," she pointed at Ron and Harry, "thought it was brilliant."

"Well, that is because you are brilliant." Ron told her with a soft smile. Hermione blushed and smiled back.

Tom just sat there looking back and forth between the two. Even though he tried to ignore it, he couldn't help but feel jealousy rise up in him. Why couldn't he and Hermione act like that? It wasn't fair…but then again, nothing in life ever is he supposed.

Hermione noticed Tom staring at them and she caught his gaze. They held it for only a moment, but it was long enough for Hermione to see the pain in Tom's eyes. She wanted nothing more then to run over to him and throw her arms around him…but those feelings had to be forgotten.

"So," Ginny began in an attempt to fill the silence, "Are you any of you bringing a date to the next Hogsmeade trip this week?"

"A date," Ron asked aghast. "Are we supposed to bring dates?"

"No you don't have to, but it would be nice since Christmas will be here shortly."

"Are you going with someone?" Ron asked her questioningly.

"Actually I am." Ginny told him unabashed. "Dean asked me the other day to go with him."

"Dean Thomas! Are you two dating?" Ron asked surprised.

"That is why it is called a "date" Ron." Ron blushed at his own stupidity.

"Well, he had better watch himself is all." Ron gave her a stern look. Ginny just snorted and rolled her eyes.

"Are you going with someone Tom?" Harry asked curiously.

"Actually, I asked Bailey Thompson to go with me. She seems nice." Tom stole a quick glance at Hermione and saw that she was avoiding his gaze and looked rather defeated. He looked away in shame. He didn't do this to hurt her, but he wasn't going to spend the rest of his life chasing after someone who would never give in to him.

"You mean the pretty blonde in Ravenclaw?" Ron asked and Tom nodded. "Nice choice mate." Ron grinned at him. Tom just shrugged and smiled softly.

"How about you Hermione," Ginny asked trying to bring the subject off of Tom for Hermione's sake. "Are you going with someone?"

"No. I didn't get asked." Hermione gave her a small smile. "I am just going to go alone I suppose." Hermione looked over at Tom and saw that he looked rather upset. Hermione was a bit surprised by this. She had thought that he would be glad that she was not going with anyone.

"What do you mean alone?" Harry asked. "When have we ever let you go alone?"

"Well I just thought that you would ask someone. Are you sure it's ok?"

"Hermione, what has gotten into you? You are our best friend! Of course it's ok!" Harry told her.

Hermione smiled. She was always thankful that she had such good friends; even Ron who could piss her off like no one else.

"Well I think I had better get started on my homework." Hermione told them while standing up. "McGonagall has been giving out loads of it and I think I am a little behind."

"Hey Harry, do you want to go practice some quidditch?" Ron asked looking excited.

"Don't you have homework?" Hermione asked a little sternly.

"Aw, it can wait." Ron shrugged her off.

"Well, I don't have too much homework left so I guess it's ok." Harry told him.

Hermione just rolled her eyes and moved over to one of the tables so she could begin one of her many essays.

"Are you coming Tom?" Ron asked.

"No, I uh…have some homework to do as well."

Harry looked at him knowingly, as if he knew he was lying, but Ron just shrugged and asked Ginny if she wanted to come.

Ginny, who was far wiser then her ignorant brother, realized that that Tom wanted to talk to Hermione alone so she went along with Harry and Ron.

When the three had left, Tom walked over to where Hermione was sitting and just stood behind her for a moment.

"You know, you can sit down Tom." Hermione said without lifting her eyes from her work.

Tom sat next to her and just stared at her while she worked.

Hermione sighed and looked up into his eyes.

"What is it Tom?"

"I um-I just wanted to tell you…"

"I don't care that you asked Bailey Tom." She interrupted. "I am really happy for you in fact; she is a really nice girl as well as very pretty…you should have a good time with her." Hermione smiled kindly and looked back at her work.

"Hermione, I just don't feel right about this."

"Oh for goodness sake Tom," She cried exasperated.

She looked up at him again and Tom let out a loud scream and jumped out of his chair.

Hermione's beautiful face was cut up in deep gashes that oozed out dark red blood. Even her mouth was leaking blood and her eyes seemed to be lifeless as she stared at him. It was easy to see that she was dying.

Tom looked at her in horror and started screaming for someone to help, but for some reason he could not hear his own voice. It was as if someone had turned the volume down on the world as Tom stood there, uselessly screaming for someone to help.

Then suddenly, he heard a noise. He looked around and around for the source and yet he couldn't see where is was coming from. Someone was saying his name ever so softly…as if they were looking for him.

He turned to look back to Hermione and saw that her body had vanished! Only a puddle of blood was left on the table were she had just been sitting. He didn't know what the hell was going on and he was beginning to wonder if he was hallucinating.

The lone voice was getting louder and Tom discerned that it was a man who was calling his name; it was by far the creepiest thing he had ever heard. It was an eerie voice that sounded not helpful, but foreboding. He was suddenly very afraid as the voice got closer and closer. He recognized that voice…but from where?

Suddenly, Tom felt a tingling sensation on his neck. Someone was behind him.

Slowly he turned around and stood face-to-face with….no one. There was nobody there at all.

Tom felt like screaming and he even opened his mouth in an attempt to do so. When he did however, he found that he could hear his voice again and he began to frantically call out Hermione's name, hoping that she would reappear again.

"Tom, calm down," came a voice that sounded far away.

Tom only screamed louder; he needed to find Hermione…he needed to save her.

"Tom, listen to me," came a kind, but stern voice. "You have to wake up Tom. Hermione is fine. If you just open your eyes then you will see her."

Tom felt dizzy and very confused. When had he shut his eyes?

He complied with the voice and he slowly opened his eyes and found himself staring into Dumbledore's concerned face.

"Tom do you understand me?" Dumbledore asked.

Tom nodded. "W-where is Hermione?" His throat was scratchy and his voice was a bit hoarse from all of the screaming.

"I'm right here Tom." Hermione rushed over to his side and took hold of his hand.

Tom looked over at her and smiled, relief flooding over him. She was ok; there was not even a scratch on her…she just looked extremely worried.

"Do you think you can sit up?" Dumbledore asked softly.

"I think so." Tom told him. Hermione put her arms under his and helped to hoist him up into a seated position. He smiled gratefully at her.

"What has happened?" He asked as soon as he was sitting comfortably. "And how did I get on the floor?" He glanced over at the couches and saw that Harry, Ron, and Ginny were all there as well. Harry was holding his head and was wincing every now and then. He looked how Tom felt….like crap.

"Well Tom, I think I should tell you about Harry first." Dumbledore began. "He has no doubt already told you about how his scar connects him to Lord Voldemort?"

Tom nodded. "He said that when Voldemort is feeling strong emotions then he can sometimes feel it."

"That is correct." Albus nodded approvingly. "It has in fact just occurred, which is why Harry and the others are here at the moment."

Tom felt suddenly afraid. "Harry, what happened?' Tom asked worryingly.

"We had just walked outside and onto the field when I started hearing something." Harry told him. "It sounded like someone was calling out your name Tom, only it was very quiet. I was about to ask Ron and Ginny if they heard it as well when all of the sudden, my scar felt like it was being ripped open." Harry brought his hand to scar and rubbed it absentmindedly .

"Ginny and I had to carry him back into the castle because he blanked out for a bit." Ron told him. "He woke up when we got inside but his scar was still hurting so I told Ginny to go find the Headmaster while I helped Harry back to the Common Room. When we got here though, we saw Hermione on the floor hovering above you Tom…you were out cold."

"That is where I enter into this interesting tale." Dumbledore chimed in. "When Miss Weasley came to me and told me what had happened to Harry, I never imagined that I would come to find you in a similar situation, Tom. Do you recall what it is that made you faint?"

Tom recalled the horrible scene he had just witnessed moments ago. "I was talking to Hermione about uh…something…and all of the sudden her face became gashed and bloody, as if some invisible person had just slashed her face." Tom looked over at Hermione; although she looked calm and thoughtful, Tom noticed that her face had gone completely pale. He reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"I got up out of my seat and started screaming for help but I couldn't hear my own voice…I couldn't hear anything at all. Then all of the sudden, I heard this faint voice calling out my name, getting closer and closer from wherever it was coming from." Tom looked over at Harry and both boys exchanged worried glances before Tom continued. "The voice got very close to me when I suddenly felt that someone was behind me, but when I turned to look no one was there. I started feeling very dizzy when suddenly I heard your voice Headmaster and I woke up shortly after that."

Dumbledore was staring at him thoughtfully and he smiled when Tom had finished his story.

"I would ask you to go to the hospital wing to rest for a bit," Dumbledore told him, "But I feel that Mr. Potter's influence will cause you to turn that offer down…much like Harry did himself." Dumbledore turned to Harry and gave him a small smile which was returned.

"You would be right Headmaster." Tom agreed.

"Headmaster, do you know what has happened?" Hermione asked. Tom was still holding onto her hand….she didn't want to draw hers away.

"It appears that not only is Mr. Potter connected to Voldemort, but Tom as well. This is not surprising seeing as how it is his future self and I expected something like this to happen. I only wish we knew what it is Voldemort was feeling." Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully and stole a quick glance at Hermione. Tom noticed this and looked at him suspiciously. Does he know something that he is not telling us, Tom wondered.

"I wish I knew Headmaster." Harry told him. "I did not feel or see anything that would indicate what Voldemort was feeling."

"Nor did I," Tom added.

Albus sighed and stood up from where he had been crouched on the floor. Tom got up as well and helped Hermione onto her feet…they were still holding hands. Dumbledore noticed this and he quickly glanced at Hermione again.

"I think it would be best if you all relaxed for the rest of the afternoon." Albus told them. "If anything else happens, then I want someone to come straight to me or to Professor McGonagall. Understood?" They all nodded.

"I will be off then. Try to have a good afternoon." He told them.

Each of them thanked him and he headed for the door.

Before he walked out, he glanced at the group inside the room. Tom and Hermione had sat down next to the others. They were no longer holding hands but both of them were sitting very close to each other, as if they were both afraid of losing the other.

Dumbledore sighed softly and shut the door.

He stood there for a moment and contemplated everything that had just happened. He remembered what Tom had said about Hermione in his hallucination

She had gotten hurt.

Dumbledore looked down the corridor but he wasn't really seeing it. Only one thing was going through his head at the moment; one thing he had wanted to happen since Tom had first arrived, and since he had warned Draco to keep his mouth shut about Riddle.

"He knows…" He said quietly to himself before heading down the hall, ready to face the challenges ahead. He only hoped that Tom would be as well…..

So, was it ok? There is a reason that Dumbledore wanted Voldemort to know about Tom. It is not some big revelation or anything so don't go expecting some crazy plot twist with this….but there is a reason. You shall find out what it is eventually.

So…it has begun! Voldemort is now messing with them! The others don't know that he knows yet, but they will….

I just want to thank you guys again! You all are the best people in the whole wide world…in the whole wide web…in the…ok, I don't know anymore good W words for this….ok I am rambling…. Mistress of Craziness should be proud of me!

I love you all! I will kiss for reviews…lol…ok that wasn't really funny…I'll shut up now…