A/V: Hey everybody thanks for the reviews! Don't worry, soon Tom Riddle will become one of the main characters – and I know everyone has been waiting for this! OK, I know some of you (404) are a little confused so here is a small recap.
Dumbledore is proposing that the good go to the bad side. This way, everybody would be on the same side, so the bad would no longer murder the good and vice versa. There would be no more war, and a lot less pain. I hope you understand now!
Oh, and I am going to start putting the last few lines of a chapter at the beginning of a new chapter! Is this OK? Read, comment, and review I love to hear from you!
See Ya!
S.W.M.S.
I never knew Slytherin colours were so nice.
Hermione stood standing, but Dumbledore sat down on the only green and silver armchair. Riddle stood stiffly, his hand in his wand pocket.
"Riddle," Dumbledore started talking right away "We need your help."
Same Time as Chapter 5
Hermione was not surprised that Riddle was staring in utter disbelief at Albus Dumbledore. After all, if she were some soon to be massive murderer she would be surprised if the main fighter of the Good came up to her and asked for help.
And those were the exact thoughts running through Riddle's mind. And more. What did Dumbledore need his help for; he knew that Dumbledore knew of his planning. Oh at least that he wasn't planning The Holy Act or anything like that.
"What Head Boy duty does Dippet want me to fulfill now?" questioned Riddle forcing his mind to believe that this was Headmaster business. But then why was the girl there?
"Oh, Dippet wants nothing." Replied a smiling Dumbledore.
"Oh – is there anything you want then?" Riddle questioned, hoping it had to do with homework or something of the sort.
"Well, of course! That is why I am here and not Professor Dippet!"
Tom immediately noticed his mistake.
"Sorry sir – is it something to do with homework?"
Dumbledore let out a quiet chuckle.
"Oh no, this is absolutely nothing to do with schoolwork."
Hermione almost felt sorry for Riddle. Almost. After all, he was against what was supposed to be one of his enemies.
Unbelievably, Tom kept a straight face. "So what do you need me for Professor Dumbledore?"
"Oh my boy, you had better sit down." Replied Dumbledore in one of his secretive voices.
Tom winced as Dumbledore said my boy but carefully sat down, his right arm still in his pocket, holding his wand.
Dumbledore obviously noticed the hand a chuckled "Tom, I need your help, so why would I try to hurt you right now?"
It did make sense, and Hermione witnessed Riddle loosen his grip of the wand, but he did not remove his hand from the pocket of the Slytherin robes completely.
Dumbledore turned to Hermione and gave a slight nod. Hermione knew he was about to state the story.
10 Minutes Later
I hope you don't mind that I decided not to recap the whole story to you again!
"…So what do you propose?" stated, yet questioned Dumbledore. Hermione shot a quick glance at Tom. He stared expressionless at Dumbledore, his thoughts hidden beneath his deep brow.
"You know, don't you." Stated Tom as he continued the stare at Dumbledore with his gray eyes.
"Oh yes, I know," replied Dumbledore in his calm-during-tense-situation-voice. "But I have not knocked on your door to state I am going to give the authorities a little bit of knowledge. No, I am asking for you to assist Hermione and I in our – quest."
Tom stared at Dumbledore, his facial expressions still, except for the glistening of his gray eyes.
"How should I, Tom Riddle, trust anybody, let alone YOU!" Tom's voice showed only a drop of emotions.
"Tom, Tom, Tom," murmured Dumbledore "If you are never going to trust anybody, you will go nowhere. Tom, not everybody in the world is against you. I know how the future's going to turn out, and if you agree to our proposition, it will turn out better for you." Dumbledore was talking seriously now.
Hermione glanced at Tom, and was content that he did not look her way. How would she explain the time travel?
"How do you know the future?"
"There are some things that should be kept until later on, Tom. Information is not everything."
"Sir, I am not stupid. I am not going to agree to something that is probably a trap to hand me over." Tom paused for a moment "And even if the truth is what you speak, I don't need your help."
The whole room was tense, Hermione standing in the shadows, a showdown between two wizards that would one day be the greatest wizards of all time.
"Tom, your mother died foolishly, your father disowned you, and the orphanage I saved you from treated you worse then dirt," Dumbledore's face was serious, like Harry's when he was trying to explain something very important to his closest friends "But not everyone is like that Tom. Not everyone will hurt you, or force you to be good. We want to join you, to ease these troubles, and maybe, just maybe, if the time is right, you may get some of the revenge that you are so keen on having."
"Oh, and Tom?" Dumbledore's voice continued on. "Everybody needs some assistance every once in a while. Even I." Continued Dumbledore, winking at Hermione. "After all, would you be at Hogwarts if it was not for my assistance."
The room was once again silent. Hermione carefully caught a glance of Tom. The boy was staring at his elder, his grey eyes trying to hide something, nearly breaking out, his brow showing the worry that caught him.
"Sir, why do you need my assistance? You are the greatest wizard of all time, yes, that is what you will become. I know it. And you can do whatever you want. If you want to do what you say want to do then do it! My assistance is nothing. I am only a half-blooded young wizard, trying to do something that may not even go my way."
Dumbledore stared at Tom. Hermione could tell he felt sorry for the youth. And when Hermione really thought about it, she did too. What had he done to deserve such a mess of a life? What had he done to be disowned, hated, distrusted, and betrayed.
And the answer hit Hermione like a ton of rocks.
He had been born. He had lived.
"Tom, dear Tom, if you assist us, you will be great. You will be able to cover that you are a half-blood, although that is nothing to be ashamed of. We – you will be great! All will be on one side, or many. You will not have to throw away your life for one goal, when you can obtain the goal and still live like a human! Dear God Tom, this could help you!"
Tom seemed taken aback by Dumbledore's burst of emotion, and, as always, intelligence. Maybe there was a point being made by the greatest wizard?
"Is this why you have not handed me in to the Ministry?" questioned Tom.
"Of course not, I was not sure of you doings until recently. And I do not really care, if we can fix the future, then all will be fine. Even if the good rule instead of the evil."
"Tom, we need your help." Hermione bursted. She knew that she probably shouldn't have, but she could hold it in no longer. He needed to know that his help was needed by more then Dumbledore.
Tom shot Hermione a quick glance, the second of the whole conversation. He showed little emotion, but Hermione could almost tell that maybe he would give in to the plan.
"Sir, if I accept this role, you must – make the unbreakable vow. You must promise never to let the Ministry know of my actions." Tom's voice was strong.
Dumbledore let out a small sigh, of relief or frustration Hermione was not sure of.
"Of course Tom, if you insist. Hermione, you must be the witness. Please draw your wand."
Hermione stared in astonishment at Dumbledore. He was actually going through with it! But wasn't it dangerous…
"And Tom," Dumbledore interrupted Hermione's thoughts "You must promise not to break from our group, not to betray us.
Tom gave a small nod.
"Well then, Hermione, please step forward.
Dumbledore and Tom Riddle, future Lord Voldemort, linked hands. Hermione stood in front of the pair, her wand ready in her arm.
Tom spoke first.
"Will you, Albus Dumbledore, swear never to betray me, never to give my secrets to the Ministry?"
"I will."
As Dumbledore said those two words a jolt of red fire shot from Hermione's wand and around the linked hands.
"And will you, Tom Marvolo Riddle, swear to not betray Hermione Granger and I, swear to stay with us until the end of our time, swear to follow our way to a new way of life."
Silence fell.
"I will." Replied Tom, finally.
A large bolt of red light shot out of Hermione's wand and wrapped around Tom and Dumbledore's linked hands.
After a few moments the magnificent red linked fire faded from the pair of hands, and quickly Dumbledore allowed Tom's hand to be free of his gasp. The pair stared at each other, then at Hermione.
Oh my God, I performed the Unbreakable Vow! Oh my good gracious what would Harry and Ron say?
Tom and Dumbledore stared at Hermione. Dumbledore was smiling, yet Tom's mind was somewhere else.
"Excellent job Hermione, you really are the top wizard f your age!" smiled Dumbledore, making Hermione blush. After all, he was the greatest wizard on earth!
And then the impossible occurred. Tom Riddle smiled. At her!
And Hermione was reminded of Ron and Harry. They were a part of the unbeatable trio. They had never lost – at least, not yet.
But Hermione was not involved in that trio anymore.
No, her new trio included Dumbledore, Tom Riddle and herself.
A/V: So, how did you guys like the chapter? Personally, this was one of my favorites, although that may be because my two favorite characters of all time for majorly involved! This was the first major showing or Tom Riddle, how did you like it? And don't forget, I am not trying to copy JK Rowlings that is why I am making some aspects different, for those who were complaining.
Read. Comment, and review! I love to open my Ibox and receive a bunch of rave reviews!
See Ya!
S.W.M.S.