Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter, Sillies!

So sorry it took me so long to update. I have been on vacation for the past week and haven't been able to write. This chapter is a tad short but I really wanted to get something out to you guys since it's been a while. I hope you enjoy it.

It's over now, what have you done now?

What have you done?

I, I have been waiting for someone like you

But now you are slipping away

I woke up the next morning in a bed that was not my own. I was startled and would have sat up if it wasn't for the curly haired girl who was claiming my chest as her pillow. I tried to relax but it wasn't working too well. Never in my life had I been this close to some one and I was having a few problems adjusting. Trying not to move around too much and risk waking Hermione, I looked around. I was trying to remember what happened last night but it seemed to come to me as a dream and was very fuzzy. I thought for a second more, pushing through my mental block when it finally came to me.

Hermione and I professed our love for each other. It was the strangest and probably most insulting way in the history of the planet that two people did this but it still meant something to both of us. What followed was a lot of kissing, after a few hours Hermione fell asleep in my arms and that is where she remained all night. I smiled to myself and pulled the girl closer to me. In response, she groaned groggily and nuzzled deeper into my chest.

My smile grew and I put the arm that I did not have wrapped around Hermione behind my head. At that very moment, nothing matter and I was completely happy. It didn't matter what I did in the past or what I would do in the future. It didn't matter that this thing with the mudblood could never work-

I did not just think that. I couldn't have. An ice cold settled into the pit of my stomach and realized those were Voldemort's words, not mine. A growl escaped my lips as I mentally snapped at him to shut up. I wasn't letting him get to me anymore. No matter how much energy it took me, I would oppress him. With Hermione around I thought it would be a very manageable task. I laid there for another moment before my stomach decided to rumble loud enough to cause Hermione to stir. Even though I didn't want to, I had to leave and get something to eat. Very gently, I lifted Hermione off of my chest and laid her back onto her large bed. She mumbled something under her breath but remained asleep. I covered her with the blanket and took one last long look at her before quietly exiting the room.

I went down to the little kitchenette and looked for something to eat. There was nothing in the cabinets or refrigerator that I would deem edible. A long sigh escaped my chest as I made the decision to go down to the great hall for breakfast. I hated the idea of doing so. I hadn't gone down there to eat in such a long time, Merlin it most have been months since I last ate there. It was no secret that I preferred to be alone but now that I was going down there I couldn't help but wonder what the other students would think about my sudden presense. But in all honest, who cared? They were irresponsible and moronic children and I should in no way, shape, or form care what they think of me. The great hall loomed in front of me and I finally made it to my destination. I sighed before taking a seat at the far end of the Slytherin table, which was pretty empty except for some sixth years discussing the some class or another. I filled my plate with eggs and toast before digging in. As I ate I could feel eyes digging into the side of my head, threatening to burn a hole through me. Ignoring the feeling was what I would normally do but this new Tom Riddle had to investigate what was going on.

I looked up from my plate to see the sixth year boy closest to my place eying me curiously. "Can I help you with something?" I spat. Catching my own tone, I took a deep breath. Hermione would be furious if I acted in such an insulting, rude manner. I smiled to myself. This girl had changed me so much. Voldemort snarled and the cold feeling settled deeper into my stomach in response.

"Yeah." The brown haired boy said to throw me out of my thoughts. "You're Tom Redford, right? The Head Boy?" He inquired. It took me a moment but I soon recognized my alias as a Redford instead of a Riddle.

I nodded. He did the same. "Then you're stuck up in that tower with Hermione Granger, right?"

My brow furrowed at the sound of Hermione's name. What did she have to do with anything this boy wanted from me? I nodded once more, slowly. The boy chuckled and slid over to the place across from me. He leaned in close as if what he was about to say was of utmost importance along with being top secret. "Listen, that mudblood is on my list. I don't know if you heard of the battle that went on here but it was bad." He narrowed his eyes as he scanned me up and down. "You're a Slytherin. You would have been on the Dark Lord's side... You've heard of him, right?"

I placed my hands under the table and balled them into tight, little fists. "Yes. I've heard of him." I said. "What do you want with Hermione?"

The chuckle appeared once more as he leaned even closer to me over the table. "Well, you see. She and her brat pack- the two boys Voldemort managed to kill before he died- caused a lot of trouble along with defeated the Dark Lord in the end. She is the one who put my father in Azkaban for life. I need to avenge my father and I want your help." He informed me. The fists in my lap balled up even tighter at his words. My anger was threatening to burst out at the mention of causing harm to Hermione. My eyes narrowed into snake-like slits as I watched the boy. He had some nerve to ask this of me.

"And what do you want to do to her?" I hissed. He didn't seem to notice my change in mood and continued to blabber on like an idiot.

"Well," He said. "That's where you come in. I need your help to surprise her, you know? You need do nothing but let me in one night. I will do the rest.. that is unless you would like to help." He said with a smirk.

My anger grew. "And after I let you in?"

He smiled. "Well let's just say I don't think Granger will be coming out of the hospital wing for a while after that." He wiggled his eyebrows before chuckling again. That was the last straw on my nerves and I blew up. Before I knew what was going on I leaped over the table and tackled him to the ground. With all my strength I punched him. No one tried to stop me as I pounded the boy's face into the ground and for that I was thankful . Once I saw a sufficient amount of blood I gave my knuckles a rest and reached for my wand. I pointed it at the boy's face and watched as he squirmed underneath me, trying to escape. I laughed and started to mutter theCruciartus Curse. Light footsteps padded up to me and caused me to stop my attack. Small, delicate hands pulled at my shoulders to make me release the sixth year. Now, I didn't want to let him go. That was the last thing I wanted to do but the hands were like a force acting against what I wanted.

I stood up put kept my wand pointed at the dark haired boy, watching as he coward by my feet. The hands moved from my shoulders to my chest. I finally looked down at Hermione and saw the pleading look in her deep brown eyes. She shook her head, silently asking me to stop my attack. I was still angry but after keeping eye contact with her for a few seconds a managed to calm down. I lowered my wand and sighed. The boy was able to scurry back a foot and stand up shakily. He made a motion that showed he was about to run off like the coward he was but I stopped him by roughly grabbing his arm. He spun around and met my eyes with his own. "You will not touch her. Do I make myself clear?"

He frantically shook his head 'yes' and I nodded. I pushed him away and he fell to the ground, hard. He managed to stand and run back to the Slytherin table. I looked back down at Hermione. Fear and anger filled her eyes. Probably from what I was doing, but I didn't really care at the moment that she was mad at me. What I did to that guy I did for her and she would understand that once we got back to the common room.

"Mr Redford!" A shrill voice pierced through the hall. I shot my gaze up to see McGonigal standing at the entrance of the hall. She wore a look of outrage and had her wand drawn towards me. She looked over at the bloody boy I had just bashed up and pursed her lips together. Her eyes once again came to rest on me. "You two." She pointed at me and then Hermione. "My office. Now."

My eyes went to Hermione who now looked more angry than scared. She glanced at me for a fraction of a second before going off to follow McGonigal out of the room. With reluctance, I followed. It only took us a few short moments to reach the massive gargoyle that guarded the entrance and then enter the Headmistress's office. I wish I had more time to try and feel guilty about what I had done to that kid but I didn't feel bad at all. He deserved what he got. Just like my father.

Just like my father? I shook my head to rid the thought from my mind. Voldemort was becoming stronger lately and it is getting hard to resist him. But I had to do it and I would be able to resist.

I sat down next to Hermione and across from McGonigal. Both gave me skeptical looks which I tried to ignore. The one Hermione was shooting at me hurt but still I just let it roll off my shoulder.

"I warned you, Tom." The headmistress said. "You know now that I must notify the Minister and you will be sent to Azkaban until the time in which you can be returned to your time."

My head shot up and I snarled. "He was threatening Herm-Granger. What was I supposed to do?"

McGonigal's head snapped back in surprise. Bloody hell. No one knows about me and Hermione and that was probably how it should have stayed. I felt Hermione tense up next to me in her chair but still she remained quiet like she always does when we are not alone. "You should have reported the threat to a teacher, Tom." She let out a deep breath. "The dementors will be here to collect you in the hour, I suspect."

I fell speechless at her words. I would be leaving Hogwarts? I would be leaving Hermione? I couldn't do that. I had to think of something, anything to make her let me stay but there was nothing. I am going to prison.

What makes you think we will be going willingly, Tom? Voldemort questioned.

I thought about it. It would be easy enough to escape here if I just sat back and let Voldemort take the reins. I would be out of England in two minutes and be a free man. It is the most simple and obvious thing in the world. I looked at McGonigal and noticed how stupid she was for leaving me with a wand. Just one flick and-

"Please Professor." Hermione whispered. My plotting stopped and surprise took over me at the sound of her voice in the presence of someone besides me. The headmistress's face held the same look of utter shock that I'm sure was present on my own face. "He has done no harm this year besides what happened today. And this act was only committed to keep me safe. Doesn't that count for something?" She looked down at her lap as she talked, seemingly embarrassed.

McGonigal sputtered a little bit before she could get real words out of her wrinkled mouth. "No, Miss Granger. It does not change anything. In all honesty to you both, I should have turned Tom Riddle in from the very moment he came to us. This is Lord Voldemort that sits next to you, Hermione. He is not a student or a friend." She explained.

Hermione finally looked up at her with a sad expression written all over her face. "That is who he could have become, Professor. Right now he is Tom Riddle. He is not evil, he's not Voldemort."

"He killed his father and his grandparents. Along with releasing the Basilisk and killing Myrtle. I am sorry but those are evil acts that he did in fact commit already at this time in his life."

Hermione went silent. She couldn't fight those facts. I couldn't either. I did indeed do those things. I'm not proud of it but those deaths are on my head and I should suffer the consequences. Voldemort screamed inside my head in outrage but I blocked him out completely. I knew what I had to do now. I know what Hermione would do in this situation and I would do it too. I just prayed that she would understand in the end.

"Professor," I addressed McGonigal. She tore her eyes from Hermione and laid them on me. "I will except the consequences and go to Azkaban."

Hermione let out a gasp and was about to protest but I stopped her by placing my hand on top of hers. She looked down at it then let our a defeated sigh. She knew she couldn't change this, my mind was set now. McGonigal looked like she had a stroke at the sight out our entwined hands but she did not dwell on it too long.

"If you don't mind my asking, why are you taking this so easily? The Tom Riddle the world knew fifty years ago would never have given into something such as this."

I kept my eyes on Hermione and smiled as I answered the headmistress's question. "Because I am no longer that boy. I am a different person and I accept all punishments for what I have done in the past."

Silence followed. I rubbed small, reassuring circle on Hermione's palm to try to keep her calm, I could tell from the look in her chocolate brown eyes that she was close to tears but was trying with all her might not to let them flow. It broke my heart to see her like this and have to leave her here but I knew I had to, it was the right thing to do. It took Hermione to make me realize that I had to pay the price for my actions.

"I will wait to inform the Minister until tomorrow." McGonigal said quietly. I broke eye contact with Hermione and saw that the old woman was still staring at our laced fingers with a bewildered look on her face.

"Thank you, Professor." I said. She pull her eyes from our hands and brought it up to meet my gaze. Her expression softened for a moment but it quickly went back to being hard and accusing. She nodded once. "But so help me Tom, if you try to escape it will only be worse for you."

"I understand and I will not be going anywhere today." I told her as my eyes found their way back to meet Hermione's awaiting gaze.

Silence for a moment. "Very well, you two are excused."

With those words I stood up and walked toward the door with Hermione in tow. We left the headmistress's office with the knowledge that this could very well be the last day we would be spending together in a very long while, if ever again. It was only yesterday that we confessed our feelings for each other and now we were being ripped apart because of my stupidity and anger, because of my evil nature I will end up breaking Hermione's heart and I hated knowing that fact. But that all would happen tomorrow, we still had today. We had one single solitary day to be happy. And I planned on making the best damn day I could, for Hermione's sake. Merlin knows she deserves it.

The story's coming to a close guys. I think there will be... um... probably two more chapters and then we are done. =/ I hope you liked the chapter. Thanks for reading and feel free to leave some feedback!