Tom Riddle didn't beg. He simply acted like he didn't care as he inhaled a cigarette between his cold lips whilst snow fell around him. The boulder beneath him was cold, but he pretended that it was warm when their eyes met from afar. He sat there, knowing she had no choice but to see him. It was the only path out of Hogwarts to Hogsmeade.

Weeks ago, he broke up with his girlfriend, after his parent's divorce was finalized by the Ministry of Magic. She was currently Hogwarts' smartest witch, and he regretted his decision.

He refused to talk to anyone, especially her, about how it affected him. It hurt him, and he hated feeling vulnerable. He broke up with her in frustration because she wanted him to talk about it and how he felt.

After their breakup, she still tried talking to him, but he hated the thought of it. He hated it so much that he said words he didn't mean. The look in her pained eyes said it all. He regretted it the second he said it, but he didn't know how to apologize. Afterwards, she stopped trying. They only talked in class about assignments and if only they had to. She ignored him every time they crossed paths and stopped looking his way.

Harry Potter was to her right, and Ron Weasley was to her left, as if they needed to protect her from some monster. Tom Riddle, may have been one of the best wizard Hogwarts has enrolled in the century, but too many thought he was the epitome of a high school bad boy. He received top marks, always getting Outstanding, but after his parent's divorce, he got into duels almost every week and there was always a new wound on his face.

A month after, he could no longer just stand by. He hated seeing her and not being able to talk to her the way they used to. He hated constantly getting into duels because he was too angry about life, and he would never stop fighting when they talked badly about her because she was a Mudblood, who took the attention from other pure blood witches. It wasn't her fault that she was smart and hardworking. She was always diligent about her studies and assignments.

When they first started dating in Fifth Year during the Yule Ball, no one expected it. They were from different Houses, Caste, Bloodline, and Social status. He was everything she was not, but she saw more than just Tom Riddle, the rich heir of Slytherin. Behind close doors, he was hardworking, studious, and kind. Everything he knew about Magic was because of the hours he spent studying it and crafting it. He was always showing her and trying to impress her, with his vast knowledge until the news of his parent's separation.

A billow of smoke came out his mouth when he exhaled. He nervously took another huff when she came closer. His right knuckles were covered in scabs, from a fight. Each step, made him nervous. He kept smoking until the ash reached the filter, and he pressed it against the snow beside him.

The three Gryffindor passed him without looking or acknowledging him. He hated that he meant nothing to her when they were together for almost two years. After a few steps, he could no longer hold back.

"Hermione," he said, almost yelled, out of frustration. It echoed. He didn't mean to say it too loudly or make it seem he was angry at her.

She stopped first, he noticed. Harry placed his left hand on the small of her back, and it made him jealous to see how close the friends were. She whispered something to them, and turned to face him.

"I'm busy," she answered. The two remained beside her without looking at him.

"I just want to talk," Tom replied. "Give me a couple of minutes."

She turned away from him and whispered something to them again. They moved forward but not too far. She finally turned back to him, and he breathed a sigh of relief. She was wearing the grey winter coat he got for her last Christmas and a wool cap with matching gloves. At least she didn't throw away or destroy the gifts he gave her. He held out a small chance of hope.

His curly hair was covered in snow, so was his winter coat. He had a small wound under his left eye and another in his right cheekbone, she noticed when she came close enough. She stopped about a meter away from him. Since their breakup, she never stood close to him. It hurt too much just seeing him, and sometimes she missed him when they were in the same class. She couldn't trust herself around him, because she still loved him.

"Talk," she said.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. What do you want to talk about? You have two minutes before they come here."

"I want you back," he got straight to the point.

"That's not how it works. You don't break up with me and hurt me, then say you want me back weeks later. You were an arse and never apologized. Not once did you ever," she paused and took a deep breath. She had to fight back the tears. "I can't do this with you, right now. I have to go," she turned and walked away.

xxxx

Tom kept starrng at the Gryffindor table during dinner, but all he got was two angry stares from Harry and Ron. Hermione was nowhere to be seen. He got up from his seat. At first he walked, then jogged out of the Great Hall. He ran in the halls and hurried to the library.

She was sitting alone when he walked in. Their eyes instantly met. There was no one else inside but them. Everyone was in the Great Hall for dinner, even the librarian.

He panted, trying to catch his breath as he walked towards her. She quickly shut her book and held it close to her, then stood up.

"I can't do this with you," she whispered. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying.

"I never meant to hurt you."

"But you did. You had weeks to apologize. Please, I can't do this, Tom," she stepped forward and tried to walk around him, but he blocked her way.

"I'm not good with apologies. You know that."

She stepped back and away. "I just can't go back there again. I hate you but I still love you," she went around the table and quickly walked out of the library.

The last thing he saw was her dark brown curls.

xxxx

In Potions class, he chose the table behind her. She barely looked his way and had Harry pass on anything pertaining to class. He waited for her outside the classroom, but Harry was blocking his way and he could barely get her attention.

He waited for her in the Great Hall for lunch, but she never showed. She wasn't in the library, either. He began to worry because she was skipping meals because of him.

At the end of their classes, he waited for her in the hall. She was with Ron, and she had to pull him back so that he wouldn't cause a commotion in front of everyone. He truly never meant to hurt her and if he could, he would take the words back.

She wasn't in the Great Hall for dinner.

xxxx

After they broke up, she sought him out to make sure he was doing okay. She finally found him near the Forbidden Forest casting spells in the air, hitting some branches and twigs.

"Tom, I'm worried about you."

"You don't have to. We're already broken up," he hit a tree branch with a hex, and it broke off from the tree causing, a loud thud when it hit the ground.

"You're hurting right now because of your parent's divorce. It's perfectly okay to not be okay."

"What would a Mudblood like you know?" he said, angrily.

She fought back the tears as she stared at him. She couldn't believe what she heard. The word had been thrown at her since her First Year, and he knew how hurtful it could be.

xxxx

The following morning, she wasn't in the Great Hall for breakfast. She also wasn't there for any of her classes. No matter where he looked, he couldn't find her. She also wasn't with Ron or Harry. He finally gave in and asked Harry at the beginning of dinner.

"I know you hate me, and you have every right to, I just want to know where she is and if she's okay."

Ron came at him from his seat at the very end. No punches were thrown. The red head grabbed his collar with both hands. "She's not okay. She's been in the infirmary because of you."

xxxx

Tom ran as fast as he could. He climbed up the stairs, two steps at a time, and didn't stop until he reached the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey, stopped him soon as he walked in.

"I need to talk to Hermione Granger. Is she okay?"

"You'll have to come back tomorrow. I'm afraid her fever hasn't gone down yet. It's too high and she may be contagious. Out," she pointed towards the door he came in.

xxxx

Tom came back the next morning before breakfast. He had dark circles underneath his eyes. It looked like he didn't sleep a single second. His usual perfect curls were in disarray and his tie was crooked. He didn't care about how he looked or felt. He just needed to see her soon.

The door creaked when he swung slowly. Madam Pomfrey was standing in front of the door with her hands on her hips.

"You again."

"Is she okay? If I can see her for just a minute," he spoke softly.

"I'm okay," she replied weakly from her bed.

"I'll give you five minutes, then you're out of here. She needs to rest."

He nodded and walked pass three empty beds before he reached hers. She was sickly pale and her hair was puffier than normal. He sat on the chair beside her bed, probably where Madam Pomfrey sat when healing her patient.

"I'm sorry," he finally said. "I'm sorry that I hurt you. I never meant what I said. I was angry and took it out on the only person who cared. If I can take that moment back, I would. I'm so sorry that I was a fool for waiting and wasting time. Forgive me just this once," he gently placed his hand over her cold ones. "I'll never hurt you again."

"Tom, after the winter break, I'm not coming back here."

"Because of me?"

She nodded. "I already spoke with the Headmaster and my parents."

"You can stay and I'll go. You deserve to be here."

"It's not that. It is because of you. I'm pregnant."

to be continued, next chapter.