Authors note: This is sort of a filler chapter, but I hope you like it anyway. Also let me know how long you want this fic to be, because I'm currently unsure.

I really appreciate the likes and reviews, so thank you!

Headmaster Dippet looked angry. Professor Merrythought looked absolutely appalled and Dumbledore looked disappointed. Their reactions were somehow reflective of their personalities.

Dumbledore seemed to realise the severity of their injuries on the way to the Headmaster's office and changed the route to the hospital wing. Hermione's injuries consisted of the curse that skimmed her left arm - which was still throbbing painfully - her right arm which had been slashed open with Riddle's powerful slicing hex and the burn of the black flame on her left shoulder. Hermione was in a great deal of pain, something she hoped the healer at the hospital wing would fix.

Riddle's injuries consisted of bruising, and a slight limp, from the wind charm and the multiple deep slashes that littered his chest. She hoped he was in more pain than she was. And from the looks of it, he was. Riddle's face was scrunched and tight.

While she was ashamed of herself, her impromptu plan had worked. Riddle had revealed himself. And not just to her this time… to everyone. This is exactly what she wanted, everyone to see him for what he truly was. It was a stupid desire, a sudden one that controlled her actions for few moments during that duel. Now…she wasn't sure what to do. She still didn't know why she was sent here. What if exposing Riddle made everything worse?

Hermione and Tom were tended to by the healer and her assistant. They treated Riddle first due to the severity of his wounds. While they were being made to drink horrid-tasting healing potions, they were getting lectured.

"Why, I have never, in all my years of teaching, been so disgusted with the behaviour of my students. That was–it was–" Professor Merrythought exhaled in exasperation, cutting herself off. She pinched the bridge of her nose and paced around the hospital beds.

"It was unacceptable" Dippet continued the professor's sentence. "Dark magic was used, in a duel no less. It is completely unacceptable." Dippet cast a frustrated look at Riddle. "That was extremely dangerous, you both could have died, had you both not been talented enough to defend yourselves." Dippet seemed the slightest bit impressed with their magical ability. "I cannot fathom why this duel got so out of hand in the first place." He shook his head and, just as Merrythought did before, he pinched the bridge of his nose in visible displeasure.

"When one of my students rushed to get me, saying a duel had gotten out of control, I never–would never have thought–Mr Riddle and Miss Greene would be responsible. I leave my classroom for a few minutes–and this–this is what happens. Merlin help me" Merrythought continued her rant, still pacing the length of the hospital wing.

Hermione looked to the ground in shame, she had lost control of her anger again in the worst of ways.

"Slughorn, as your head of house, will decide your punishments. Just know that I am very disappointed in the both of you, and I am sure this will never happen again." Dumbledore looked at Hermione pointedly. His solemn tone only made Hermione feel worse about her actions. Dumbledore had always hated the dark arts, for good reason. And so, she understood how disappointed and upset he was with her. Dumbledore probably expected that sort of behaviour from Riddle, but not her.

At least her punishment won't be so severe. Slughorn worshipped the ground Riddle walked on. And he liked Hermione a lot too. He had even invited her to his 'Slugclub'

Their punishment turned out to be three months detention together and no hogsmeade visits. Pretty good for using dark magic in a classroom duel. That was the official punishment, the real punishment were the rumours.

The most ridiculous of them, were the ones that suggested Riddle had rejected Hermione and so, she tried to exact her revenge in Defence class. And Riddle was only defending himself from Hermione's attack.

Because surely the smart, kind and handsome head boy would never use dark magic. No he was too good for that.

What a load of bullshit.

/

Tom had thought he'd been angry at Hermione before…but this was worse. Much worse. His rage was burning in his chest, taking on a physical manifestation. His fists were balled so tightly that they ached and his heart was beating so quickly.

She had made him use dark magic in Hogwarts, in front of everyone. People might not tie him to the Chamber of Secrets or to that girl's death, but they still saw him using dark magic.

That could damage his reputation. Tom knew that a rise to power had just as much to do with politics as it did with magic. Having a good reputation mattered. The way people perceive him matters because it makes them easier to manipulate. In order to control others, they needed to trust him. At least until he can use fear to coerce. People won't trust him if they suspect him of using the dark arts.

It was all Hermione's fault. He knew what she was doing. They way she gradually used darker and darker curses. Making him angrier and angrier. She had baited him. And he fell for it.

Tom felt out of control in a way he never had before. She made him so furious that he couldn't think clearly. To think that she had cursed him, tried to hurt him…and succeeded. It made his head swim with so much resentment for her that it almost made him dizzy.

Tom was furious, yes, but he was also…impressed.

Tom always seemed to feel a weird mix of angry, hateful, impressed and attracted to Hermione. Though, the last two he'd rather not focus on.

She had almost beaten him. Had they not been interrupted, he wasn't sure where the duel could have gone. Hermione was good…better than good. She had stood against him for longer than anyone at Hogwarts could have. And he seemed to be more injured than she. He ached to finish what they started.

Her magic was powerful, and she knew more about the dark arts than he thought she did. Her reflexes were surprising and her knowledge of defensive and healing magic were very advanced. In fact, to be truthful, her knowledge of magic rivalled his own.

Hermione was, of course, not as powerful as he. No one was. Perhaps Dumbledore or Grindelwald were. But magic came naturally to him. He did not have to try hard in order to master difficult spells. And it never took him long to understand advanced magical concepts.

But Hermione was…different. She knew more than she let on. And she was far more impressive than she seemed. Hermione also knew what he was capable of, he had tortured her for fucks sake, and she still stood up to him. She still fought him and argued with him and insulted him. Perhaps she was meant to be a Gryffindoor.

He was finding her to be more and more of a threat. One he could not afford to have. He didn't want to kill her, she was much too useful. He could not charm or seduce her, it was too late for that and, she was, unfortunately, not stupid enough. He could not torture her into insanity, she had too high a pain tolerance and had already refused to cave under his Crucio.

Perhaps he could recruit her.

/

Tom Riddle's rage was almost palpable. Hermione could feel it swirl around him forcefully, just as his magic does.

And it was all directed at her.

Hermione was supposed to be afraid. She should be trembling in fear…but strangely enough she wasn't.

What could he possibly do to her that has not already been done. He wouldn't kill her, not without finding out all her pretty little secrets. And she would never tell him.

He could torture her again, but she could withstand it. His legilimency was strong, but she could occlude him again, if she practised some more.

The healer had finished with Hermione and told her to rest in the hospital bed, pressing a dreamless sleeping draught into her hands.

/

The next day, Hermione was studying in the library. The furthest table, near the circular window overlooking the forbidden forest.

Riddle approached her and she tensed, bracing herself for a confrontation. One where she would surely be tortured. Perhaps not in the library, though.

Instead Riddle said, "Would you like to continue our work on the Exstimulo potion?"

Hermione's eyebrows furrowed. Why would he ask that? Why was he not foaming at the mouth about their duel yesterday? Hermione was instantly on guard. Did he want something from her?

"Uhh sure, I guess. Do you still have the list of ingredients we wrote down before?" Riddle nodded his head and took a seat in front of her. Hermione had almost forgotten about their assessment for potions, since Hermione had not met up for it in over a week, and had been ignoring each other in class.

Riddle pulled a long parchment from his book bag, moving a few of Hermione's books and laying it out in the centre of the table. "Okay so, we have almost everything on the list in the potions storage room, so that shouldn't be a problem. The mandrake root and Nightshade, we can collect from the greenhouse. The only issue is the Sopophorous plant, the Snakeweed and the Valerian root." Riddle ran his index finger down the list, occasionally stopping at an ingredient.

"We could ask Slughorn for special permission to acquire those, I think he'll say yes. He has fallen under your charm quite spectacularly" Hermione interjected, looking up from the parchment and meeting his dark gaze. Riddle's lips quirked up in a semi-smirk "You think I'm charming?"

Hermione let out a small laugh. "Well, you have managed to fool the entire school into believing you are perfectly innocent."

"Not you." Riddle said quietly, almost whispering. He looked thoughtfully at her.

"No…not me" She whispered back.

"Why is that?" Again Hermione laughed. Louder this time. "It's not going to be that easy," Hermione smiled coldly.