Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. That is true. But I like. Writing fics for you
A/N: Hi, everyone! Here's Ch 9! I can't give any good guestimates on when Ch 10 will be up, becuz I'm having computer problems. But I'll try to have it soon.
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For a moment, there was complete silence. Then Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"Miss Granger, I-"

"My name is not Granger!" Hermione snapped. "It's Riddle! Hermione Riddle!"

"I apologize."

"You should, you old fool," Harry heard her mutter under her breath.

"As I was saying, Miss Riddle, you have not offended Mr. Potter in any way. I merely wished to request that you consider something. I am going to ask Professor McGonagall to instruct a new, elective course on Animagi. I thought it might be of interest to you."

"Fine. Can I go now?"

"Yes, you may."

Hermione turned to Harry and smirked at him, before flouncing out of the office. Harry stared after her for a moment.

"Professor...what do we do now?"
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Hermione Riddle stalked the hallways of Hogwarts, heading for the Slytherin common room. She couldn't believe that old fool. Asking her to join some Animagi class taught by that stupid McGonagall. Like she would want to.

Actually, she admitted, she would. Not because of the teacher, but because it might be interesting. And it might help to be an Animagi once she became a Death Eater.

She decided to write her father. He wouldn't get the letter until the class had started, with her luck, but there was no other way to communicate with him. She scowled. Of couse he would pick the school farthest from his location. Only he would do it to avoid her and call it "spying on Dumbledore." Wormtail had been more of a father than Lord Voldemort, aka her father, Tom Riddle. She would write to Wormtail instead, but she knew he'd be too scared to read it and the letter would reach her father anyway. So she might as well write directly. A voice broke into her thoughts.

"Hi, Herm." She turned, scowling. She loathed that nickname.

"Oh. Hello, Crabbe."

"Uh, Malfoy's looking for ya."

That git. He probably wanted to ask her out again, despite the fact she'd turned him down twice. He was handsome, but such an arrogant little prick that she couldn't stand him. And she didn't trust him.

"Well," she said, "tell him I'll be in the common room as always, but the answer is 'no'."
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"We will have to begin preparations tonight. The sooner we send you back to fix this, the better. Now, I will have to speak to the staff, and determine if anything else has changed, before we can continue..."

Harry, however, wasn't fully listening. When Dumbledore had delayed answering his question, probably because of shock, Harry had begun to ponder what had just happened. A horrible thought struck him.

"Sir...did Hermione say her last name was Riddle?"

Dumbledore nodded. "I am afraid so."

Harry felt as though he'd been punched in the stomach. 'Then...then she's..."

"Voldemort's daughter."
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September 20, 1986

A loud cry split the night. The baby had woken in her crib.

"Wormtail! Will you shut that brat up?!"

"S-sir, she's, uh, your daughter."

"Yes, and she's disrupting my sleep. Now go feed her or whatever needs to be done."

"Yes, master." Wormtail sighed. He walked over and lifted the small baby from her crib.

"Shhh. Hush. It's all right," he crooned. "Let's go see what's the matter."

It turned out to be a dirty diaper and hunger. He rocked the child gently, smiling as she sucked at the bottle. Such a beautiful little girl. It was hard to believe her father was the Dark Lord.

"Bed is too small for my poor, tired head," he sang softly as Hermione finished drinking. Still singing softly, he burped her and returned her to the crib. He gazed at her another moment before leaving for his own bed.
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October 31, 1986

"Happy Halloween!" James Potter wandered around, greeting guests.

"Lupin, good to see you! Ah, Dumbledore, I've been wanting to talk to you...Sirius! Have you seen Harry? Your godson's growing bigger every day."

Lily Potter sat in the bedroom, nursing Harry. She smiled as she smoothed silky strands of dark hair away from his forehead. He was already such a handsome baby.

"H'lo, Lily." She glanced up.

"Oh, Peter! I didn't even hear you come in."

"Sorry. How's Harry?"

"Oh, he's fine. He-are you alright?" she asked suddenly. "You look like you haven't been sleeping well. In fact, you look like I do after a night of staying up with Harry. You aren't babysitting for anyone are you?"

"Er, no. Well, I'd better say 'hi' to James." Peter said quickly, and left.

Lily frowned. Peter was acting very odd lately...