A/N: Reviewers, much thanks:

shadowglove - Yes, Trelawney is in trouble! And you'll just have to see who will play who. But I will say this, I think you'll be happy. Thanks!

All-American Vampire - Yep, lots of trouble to ensue! Thanks for the review and what's the name of that story? It sounds quite interesting!

Gaerwen - Yes, Phantom of the Opera is perfect for this situation, if I do say so myself, which I do. And no, Trelawney's not a total fraud... just obsessed with Divination and jealous of those more... gifted in the area than she herself. Especially people like Luna. Thanks for the review!

Tokyo no Ecchi - Actually, there won't be A LOT of it, but some is to be expected. I mean, Hermione is meant to change the future so there needs to be. Thanks!

Read on...

Chapter 9 – Slug Club Invitation

"Professor, I really regr-"

"Miss Granger, please," Dumbledore chuckled. "Your punishment stands as just this, you must serve detention with me for the next week."

Hermione's eyes grew wide, but it wasn't long until a smile cracked on her face as Dumbledore smiled at her. He settled himself in his chair behind his desk and summoned a chair for Hermione. She took her seat and he conjured a jug of pumpkin juice as he continued speaking.

"I see you've had one of your first encounters with Tom."

"That I have," Hermione said as she poured herself a glass of juice.

"And?"

"And what?" Hermione pondered aloud sounding bewildered.

"How did it go?"

"Silent... Intimidating and silent," Hermione replied simply.

"I'm afraid that won't do, Miss Granger," Dumbledore sighed.

"I know, I know," Hermione stated quickly. "But it's just that every time I look at him I think about him hexing me to oblivion and back before using the Killing Curse on me."

"Well, just remember this," Dumbledore instructed. "Tom knows nothing about you and he's afraid of being expelled from the school too soo-"

"But this is his last year, what would he care?" Hermione butt in.

"He would care... because he's afraid of not graduating top of his class. Being the best is something important to Tom. In fact, you'll find that both he and you have something in common," Dumbledore informed.

"Oh? And what pray tell would that be?"

"A loathing for Eileen Prince," Dumbledore chuckled.

"But she's a Slytherin... one of his little followers no doubt," Hermione reminded.

"More than a follower, quite the admirer really."

"Huh?"

"There's only one thing Miss Prince holds higher than Tom and that's her love for the art of Potion making," Dumbledore said. "She's liked him since their second year when he began to get quite the following of students."

"How is it that you know all this? I mean, it's like you were spyi-," it was here that Hermione stopped as she noticed the look on his face. There was a mischievous glow about his face and a different more cunning shine to his eyes. Hermione now swore that this man had a sparkling, twinkling, or gleam in his eyes for every emotion.

"You seem surprised, Miss Granger," Dumbledore laughed. This tone reminded her greatly of the Weasley twins and how they sounded just before an evil deed.

"I- well, I am," Hermione muttered. "Do you really spy-"

"Oh, no," Dumbledore corrected making Hermione sigh with relief. "I don't do it myself... I have Gryffindor students and even a few Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students do it for me."

Hermione's jaw about hit the floor. 'Then again, he had you watching Harry, did he not?' Hermione reminded herself, but then another, different voice spoke up inside her mind. 'Yeah, but that's for Harry's good and certainly not the same as Riddle being watched.' Dumbledore wasted no time in giving her a moment to recover as he went on talking.

"Now, your next step is to begin talking to Tom. Ask him for help in class... Potions would be an excellent one," Dumbledore instructed. "Oh, and then you must interest him in trying out for the play... In fact, I believe I know another way to get you close to him."

"How close?" Hermione mumbled. She in no way, shape, or form liked the thought of getting close to Tom.

"The Slug Club," Dumbledore responded airily.

"The what club?" Hermione said the name again to herself in her head and felt an internal bell go off. 'The Slug Club. That was Slughorn's gathering of what he thought was talented and promising students. Harry and I were part of that in our sixth year.'

"Professor Slughorn has a-"

"No, need to explain," Hermione interrupted. "I was apart of that in my sixth year when Slughorn returned from retirement to teach Potions."

"Good, then. You should have no problem making it now," Dumbledore assured her.

"Sibyll Trelawney, what is the meaning of all this pretense?" Firenze burst into Trelawney's room at the top of the North Tower. McGonagall followed, a bit winded from helping Firenze make it up the ladder. She sighed and put her wand away while wishing she had took it out earlier and used it.

"Pretense upon what?" Trelawney fired back without her misty tone. It was no secret that she and Firenze hated each other. Both thought that the other disgraced the art of Divination, and McGonagall could care less, but in this case it was Firenze that she as siding with.

"You know who made that prophecy. How dare you lie and say that it was you that made it!" Firenze snarled.

"The one who made it is neither worthy of the gift of Sight or the honor in being able to say that she made a true prophecy," Trelawney hissed. Her bangles shook furiously as she stood up and tried to get in Firenze's face, but she only succeeded in coming up to his ribs.

McGonagall was fast growing tired of their argument. She just wanted to know who it was that really made the prophecy and when.

"Forgive my intrusion," McGonagall sighed with the absence of a truly apologetic tone. "But who exactly did make the prophecy, and can I speak with them?"

"She is a student of Trelawney's."

"A student I rather dislike for her lack of respect and attention in my class," Trelawney added bluntly as she crossed her arms with an irritated shaking of bangles. She turned her overly large, bespectacled eyes to the whirling smoke in the air as Firenze continued to explain things.

"Luna Lovegood wanted to transfer from Trelawney's class to mine and I came up one day to have a conference. Once here, we waited only a short while until Luna came in and sat down. Halfway through the conversation-"

"More like argument," Trelawney butted in in a muttering tone.

"Halfway through," Firenze continued while ignoring her, "Miss Lovegood nodded off, or so it seemed. Suddenly, her head raised from being bowed and her eyes had rolled to the back of her head. Her voice was different... it sounded older and more mature, not her usual carefree tone."

McGonagall nodded here. She hardly thought that describing Luna as carefree was valid. Luna was completely out there, at least at times.

"Then, she made the prediction that Trelawney repeated to you," Firenze finished.

"I would like to see her... if you'll excuse me," McGonagall said as she turned away from the two Divination teachers and started out of the classroom.

"She won't remember making the prophecy," Firenze called after McGonagall.

She stopped, listening to his hoofs beat against the wooden floor as he approached her. His shadow fell over her, tall and ominous. She turned around and faced him, the tip of her hat reaching his nose.

"I'll accompany you, but it's no use asking her. She won't remember," Firenze repeated.

McGonagall nodded and let Firenze pass as she pulled out her wand. She levitated him down the ladder and then climbed down herself. She put her wand away and straightened her robes before setting off with Firenze to the Ravenclaw common room.

Hermione walked down the corridor, her arms wrapped tight around three books and her sights set on her target. She bowed her head when he stopped and started talking to three Ravenclaw girls. She proceeded down the hall, her eyes on her feet. It was funny to her how only a short time ago her feet were walking down these halls. She looked to her left, but she didn't see Ron's feet next to hers. Her hands felt cold as she realized Ron wasn't there to hold them.

She rubbed her arms and shivered, dropping one of her books. She stooped to pick it up, but stopped when someone grabbed it for her. She swallowed hard and looked up only to come face-to-face with a boy with fire-red hair. Hermione gaped and stood up slowly as he smiled and handed her book back to her.

"Hi," he said softly.

"Hello," Hermione grinned.

"I'm-"

"In my way," sneered a bleach blond from behind him.

"Now, now, Abraxas," chuckled an ebony haired boy. It was Tom Riddle and he stepped in front of Abraxas with a charming smile.

"T-Tom," stuttered the red haired boy. "How are you doing today?"

"Just fine, Leo," Tom smirked. "But aren't you late for your class?"

"Yes, yes I am. Excuse me please," Leo rushed as he turned and left quickly.

Hermione frowned as she watched him go off down the hall. Now she was left with Abraxas and Tom. 'Oh, joy!' she thought bitterly.

"So, Alice Granger, are you feeling much better?" Tom asked curtly. "I mean, the last I saw, you were looking quite ill after I left you off with Dumbledore."

"I'm fine," Hermione said through a clenched jaw. She hated to be reminded of her flaws. "Thank you for your concern." She went to push past him, but Abraxas stepped in her way.

"It's rude to not make introductions," Abraxas sniffed.

"Alice Granger," Hermione said stiffly.

"Alice," Tom spoke up, "this is Abraxas Malfoy and I am-"

"Tom Riddle. Yes, yes, I know," Hermione grumbled. "Now, pardon me, but I must be getting to study hall."

"Well, aren't you in luck," Tom beamed. There was a slight devilment in his smile that made it seem insincere. "I'm headed to study hall myself. Abraxas, if you'll excuse us. I'm going to escort Miss Granger to study hall... simply to insure that she doesn't find herself in anymore trouble like that of earlier today."

Hermione glared at him briefly before turning to Abraxas. Malfoy nodded as he turned and seemingly glided down the corridor turning most every girl's head.

"Shall we?" Tom offered as he waved his hand in a gesture that he was letting Hermione lead the way.

Hermione secretly rolled her eyes as she hugged her books to her and continued down the hallway.

"Here, let me take those," Tom suggested as he reached over and took Hermione's books from her.

Hermione recoiled some as Tom's hand brushed against hers. She continued up the hallways with him toward the library, her eyes never leaving her feet which moved swiftly while trying to escape Tom. She could feel his eyes upon her back and she kept her head bowed, secretly praying for him to go blind.

'Stop staring at me! Goodness it's annoying' Hermione thought angrily.

"Alice?"

Hermione stopped dead at the sound of Tom's voice. Had she spoke those words aloud?

"The library is right here," Tom informed, much to Hermione's relief.

"Oh," she managed to mumbled as she followed him into the library.

Curt nods greeted them as the made their way across the library, but Hermione could feel only the strangeness of the stares that followed. She wanted to become invisible, but with Tom at her side, that wouldn't happen.

"Here you are," Tom said as he laid her books down and pulled out a chair for her. Hermione took it jerkily, wishing he didn't have such a repulsive air to her.

'Repulsive air!' she thought to herself almost laughing aloud in disbelief. 'He's the frigging future Dark Lord for crying out loud. Of course he's going to be repulsive!'

"So, what are you studying?" Tom questioned lightly.

"Defense Against the Dark Lor-," Hermione had started, but she caught herself embarrassingly. "Arts... Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"I'm head of my class in that subject. Maybe I could help you," Tom offered.

"I bet you are," Hermione mumbled.

"What was that, Alice?" Tom asked. Hermione swore she saw a strange glint in his eye, an almost worried and daring glint.

"I said I bet you can," Hermione replied. "Help me that is."

"Terrific, then," Tom smirked as he moved from his chair across the table and went to sit next to her in the seat to her left. 'Oh, freaking great' Hermione thought nervously.

"I don't want to bother you, though. I'm sure you have more important things to do," Hermione shrugged as she gather her books toward her. "I'll just go over there and work... I'm sure to figure it out on my own."

"Nonsense," Tom laughed as he put a hand gently on Hermione forearm. Hermione froze in place, her heart skipping a beat. "Sit down." Hermione looked down at him for a moment and then around at the library occupants who were studying or reading unbothered by Tom's presence. "Please," he added.

"Fine," Hermione relented uncertainly as she lowered herself slowly, almost painfully down into the chair.

"So, what are you working on?" Tom inquired. Hermione gave him a bit of a confused look. 'You should know' she thought bitingly 'you're in the same class.' Tom caught on to her confused gaze and nodded as he continued to speak. "Same class, I know, but you might be doing a refresher course, are you not?"

"Yes, yes I am," Hermione answered. 'How in the world did he know that?'

"And the material?"

"I have a physical test against hinkypunks, boggarts, grindylows, kappas, and redcaps," Hermione informed.

"Well, that's all third year stuff. I don't know why Professor Merryth-"

"It's just to give me a refresher before I get into the harder stuff which I have written tests on next week as well as a physical test," Hermione interrupted.

"Ah, I see. Then you should have no problem," Tom said carelessly. He seemed a bit angered by Hermione's know-it-all showing-off.

"Thank you for the offering of your help, though," Hermione voiced with a bit of a snideness in her remark. She loved that feeling she had just gotten. She had out smarted Tom Riddle and it felt pretty good to her.

The rest of the time in the library, things were quiet between the two of them. Tom would glance at Hermione every now and then as she practiced wand movements and mumbled spells to herself, but other than that, they barely acknowledged each other. It wasn't until Abraxas Malfoy came striding over to them that Hermione even looked at Tom.

"Riddle," Abraxas greeted. "Slughorn has called a meeting tonight for the-"

Malfoy stopped short as he noticed Hermione listening in. He glared at her and Tom turned to her as well with an emotionless expression. Hermione bowed her head back to her book and sat there for a moment, waiting for Malfoy to continue speaking. When he did, she found she loathed the Malfoy bloodline more than ever now.

"Excuse us... Gryffindor," Abraxas sneered as he kept up his constant glaring.

Hermione looked up at the two with a perplexed gaze.

"Can you give us a moment, please, Alice?" Tom asked.

Hermione said nothing as she gathered her books and stood to leave for another table. As she was leaving, she heard Abraxas whisper to Riddle.

"Why are you being so nice to her?" he inquired with disgust.

"Don't mind that. What did Slughorn want?" Tom urged.

Hermione shook her head and continued over to another table. On her way there, though, she was stopped by Sandie.

"Alice!" Sandie panted as she stopped next to Hermione.

"What is it?"

"Well, I'm not sure, but... Dumbledore said he wants to see you." Hermione just stared at Sandie as she stood there trying to catch her breath. "He's in his office. Hurry!"

With that, Sandie dragged Hermione out of the library, almost causing her to drop her books. They raced along the corridors to Dumbledore's office. Sandie skidded to a stop outside the door, straightened her robes, and looked excitedly to Hermione who was completely lost.

"Go on," Sandie urged as she stepped aside to let Hermione through. "I'll be right behind you the whole time."

"O-okay," Hermione said as she straightened herself as well and entered.

"Miss Granger... Miss Michaels," Dumbledore greeted as he stood up from his desk.

Sitting opposite him was Slughorn who was reading a stack of papers. Hermione recognized the top page's writing to be her own hand-writing. What was this about?

"Please, have a seat, won't you?" Dumbledore offered to the two girls.

They took their seats and sat in silence for a moment as Dumbledore stared over his laced fingers at Slughorn.

"Yes, I would say that this is very impressive, Albus," Horace replied after the moment's silence.

"What's impressive?" Hermione quizzed.

"Your test scores, Miss Granger," Dumbledore answered. "I was just showing Professor Slughorn your scores, and he thinks that they are good enough to get you into a certain club."

"But I never took any-," Hermione stopped here though as Dumbledore's eyes twinkled in a way that told her to play along with what was being said. "Oh, yes... that one test I took! I remember now."

"Yes, they are marvelous indeed," Slughorn boomed. "In fact, so wonderful that Dumbledore has informed me that you are within the top three of your class... along with Miss Michaels and our young Mr. Riddle."

Hermione heard the pride for Tom ringing in Slughorn's voice. It was no doubt because Tom was in Slughorn's own house.

"So, would you like to accompany Miss Michaels to the Slug Club meeting tonight?" Slughorn questioned.

"Certainly," Hermione said with a quick, thankful glance at Dumbledore who winked.