Heaving breaths came through Hermione's lungs making it harder to breath. In one quick and swift movement she leapt onto her feet and reached for her wand. Her rash actions got the best of her as Tom clasped his hands tightly around her wrists and thrust her against the wall.

Hermione felt herself slipping from reality and through her own memories again. This wasn't the first time Tom had inflicted force upon her, and it certainly wasn't the first time she had been too weak to fight it. But with that thought in mind she struggled with all the strength she had to break free of his hold on her.

Hot tears ran down Hermione's delicate face when she felt his nails dig into her skin reaping blood. Although Tom was not taken completely by surprise of the effect the incident had caused, he was rather shocked by how much of a fight she was putting up.

This should not have happened, he though to himself. How could she be willing to turn so quickly?

"Stop! Stop this nonsense. You're only making yourself weaker," he scolded her, putting twice as much weight on her to force her to gain composure.

Hermione saw this as her only chance to find some answers. Finding it hard to summon words to her mouth, she began to stutter.

"W-why did you bring me here? What could you possibly want from me," was all she could thrust out.

"Precisely the same thing you want from me. You have allowed yourself to be blinded by everyone else's will but your own! I had to bring you here. For your own sake."

Hermione held her head down sobbing as the cold words leaked from his mouth.

"I-I want nothing from you." Riddle stared down at her face, waiting for her eyes to meet his. When they didn't he grew angry.

"Yes you do. You told me yourself. You have merely forgotten. Everything I show you has a purpose. Can you not even remember everything I showed you last night?"

But she did. How he had been the only one there when she was alone, how he had been visiting her in so many ways for so long… through dreams…visions…and even physically through time when he could. So many more questions came to mind with forgotten memories, but no comfort came from uneasy answers. This time she glanced up to meet his gaze, locking her fear deep in the depths of her mind.

"But why? You never told me why," she said boldly.

"You're meant for so much more than what they have given you, Hermione. I only did what I had to do to keep you safe." Hermione used the power and threatening tone of his only voice to strengthen her own.

"Safe from who? Who is "they"?"

"Who do you think?" She could see in his eyes that he growing impatient. But Tom failed to see just how impatient Hermione was growing herself. A fire rose inside them both, one from anger, and the other desperation.

"Just answer me!" she cried. "Just tell me something. Anything that will give me the least bit of closure from all this."

He inched closer to her face, drilling into her eyes to let her know he was still in complete control of her. The only way to make her see through all the lies and cover-ups was to make her let go of her resistance from him. It was time to hit her with the truth…the real truth.

"Dumbledore and those fools have told you nothing but lies all your life. So many that you began to believe them," he uttered a slight laugh as he recalled it all. "A mudblood…just the thought of you being a mudblood is disgusting. That old fool honestly thought that would be the best cover up to hide your true identity. And then throwing you into the hands of those filthy muggles you had the nerve to call your family."

At this point Hermione had stopped breathing. Hearing to truth made her want to scream from the top of her lungs. She shook her head in disbelief allowing her head to hang down once more. She couldn't stand to look directly into the eyes of her parent's murderer. He didn't even need to say anymore. There was no need to. Hermione now knew exactly how it had all ended so quickly. He had sent his death eaters…her foster parents after them.

"You once told me you always wondered why were different, Hermione. Because you are! You're so much more powerful than they are." He released her arm and took her chin making her face him. As soon her eyes met his she felt his control over her intensify. But she once again felt his touch send comfort through herself like it had the night before. He was trying to calm her…. he was actually trying to help her.

"You, Hermione Granger, are the last remaining descendant of one of the most powerful wizarding families next to my own. They kept you from the truth in order to stop you from using your power for what it was meant for! They fear you! They fear your abilities so much that they tried to hide you from me, as well as from yourself." Tom knew he was in control again. Comforted by the thought of her finally knowing the truth of not only his actions, but also her own past urged him to persist.

"I am not the enemy, Hermione. Those people have hurt us both in the worst way imaginable," she could hear his voice beginning to shake. "They lied to us both of who we are and who we were always meant to become." He released her other arm and placed it on the back of her neck. Hermione felt his forehead touch hers as she held him as tight as she could. She could feel his breath coming as rapid as her own and knew he was suffering just as much as she was. The pain was clear now.

"We have come so far, Hermione. Don't fall from me now."

Sorrow and guilt dripped through Hermione's insides as she felt his tear fall with hers. Uncontrollably, she gently caressed her lover's face. Knowing the truth made everything so different. Nothing was left of yesterday anymore. All they had left was each other. No more secrets, no more hiding, no more mistrust.

Her lips touched his as he pulled her in tighter than she thought possible. The tension gradually ceased through his touch and their longing. All the years apart came to a new beginning as they both became completely lost in one another once again. With every stroke of his body against her own and each second that their kisses became deeper, she knew their passion for each other was never truly gone. Even if things may happen, she helplessly knew that she would never be able to turn back to the life she once had. Being away from Tom again would be both emotionally and physically unbearable.

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A/N: Sowwy it took so long. I needed some motivation for this chapter and had a hard time finding. But it finally happened and it came in full blast. I've almost got the next chapter done as of now. So that will be coming soon. Sorry if this chapter has a lot of grammatical mistakes. I've been trying to post it for a while and didn't have the chance to take my time with editing (not that I ever do anyway, lol).

And for those who think that it was a bit too much on Tom's part, well…you've been asking if he really cares for her! And there is your answer! I think this chapter sums up a lot of the questions. More answers are on the way!

I was so thrilled with all the reviews I received! Thank you and keep em' coming! I wanted to get this up, so I'll do more replying to reviewers later. But I read them all and love the feedback. So let me know what you think!

For those of you who haven't, PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!