A/V: Once again, thanks for all the great reviews! I know I haven't updated in five days (which is a long time for me) but I just got off major writers block in the middle of science! Well, I'm going to write now; your reviews make me want to write even more!
See Ya!
S.W.M.S.
8:04 PM
Hermione shoved her parchment containing her essay on Dragons and Where to Find Them. The task had not been too difficult, thanks to the teachings that Charlie Weasley had spoken to Ron, Harry, and herself about. Of course, she had been the only one who had really listened, Harry and Ron had been whispering about Quidditch.
Hermione sighed, falling until her body reached her soft bed. She was exhausted. Since the meeting with Dumbledore and Tom, she had been up late doing major schoolwork and thinking of what was to become. Did Dumbledore have a plan? They would have to be sneaky, of the Ministry, or Dippet would crash down on the three. Tom Riddle, Albus Dumbledore, and Hermione Granger.
How weird did that sound?
Of course, Hermione and Tom Riddle had not spoken since. They probably never would speak unless they were at meetings or missions or whatever Dumbledore was planning.
And that was what made it strange trios, ether then what the three were to become. They would talk only at meetings. Harry, Ron, and herself had been best friends. Of course, that wasn't possible with Dumbledore, as he was a professor. She could not walk up to him and say, "So, do you want to go out and have a butterbeer?"
But was it possible to befriend Tom? After all, he literally hated her! And it did not help that he was going to become –
But he wasn't, was he? He was not going to become Lord Voldemort because he had sworn the Unbreakable Vow!
But he could still hate her to pieces.
Well, that was going to have to change, wasn't it?
Hermione thought over what she was proposing. Could she really befriend Tom Marvolo Riddle, the one person in the wizarding world who had never loved any other person? Not even liked them, or befriended them? Was it possible that a seventeen-year-old wizard from the future could befriend him? Especially since she knew what he had done? He had murdered Harry's parents, almost Harry, and many others, he had hurt to many to say, and he had sent many to St. Mungo's with mental injuries.
But not yet. And none of this stuff will happen!
So Hermione finally decided what she was going to do. She was going to do something that would have made Ron Weasley scream Bloody Hell, and make Harry hate her. She was going to do something that all her former friends would have left her for.
She was going to befriend Tom Riddle. Or at least try. After all, did she really hate him? At the same time two petite voices in her brain screamed Yes, and No in a split second. And Hermione hated to say it, but both of the voices were right. Hermione shook her head and buried her face in Ancient Spells and How to Use Them, a book that Dumbledore had given to her.
When Hermione slipped into the Head Girl/Boy common room the next day Tom was wilting for her. He stood unemotionally, staring her down with his gray eyes, his dark hair just above his eyes…
Hermione slapped herself, angry that she had even started to think that.
"Hello Granger." Came Tom's hard voice.
"Hey Tom," Hermione could not keep her response from being a little cheery.
"Dippet wants you and I to go to his Office." Tom's voice came out bitterly, making Hermione wonder if it was the idea of going to see Dippet or the prospect of being with her for more than five minutes.
"Okay, now I guess?"
"Yes."
Tom headed for the door, making Hermione run to catch up with him. He walked fast and strong, as if he was going to see someone important.
Like a Death Eater.
Hermione became stiff, before remembering that Tom had not made his group of Death Eaters yet and the Unbreakable Vow. She continued to follow Tom down a variety of hallways, until they finally reached the stone gargoyles that guarded the way to Dum-Dippet's office.
Tom muttered winner into the gargoyles ear and the pair watched the gargoyles move to the outer space, allowing Hermione and Tom in. Hermione remembered Dumbledore's passwords, and held in a chuckle. Dippet was really conceited.
Tom and Hermione climbed the spiral stairs up what seemed like at least seven floors. Finally, they reached the floor where they saw Dippet sitting in his desk, looking as if he thought he was everything.
Oh my God he looked like Draco Malfoy.
Hermione held in a chuckle. Waiting for Dippet to notice Tom and Hermione.
As if the Headmaster had read Hermione's mind, he began to speak.
"Mrs. Granger and Mr. Riddle, I presume." Questioned Dippet without even looking up.
"Yes sir," replied Hermione, struggling not to replace sir with your highness.
"Well, I just wanted to see the two of you quickly, since you are our top students…"
"Yes," replied Tom sounding annoyed. He probably had better things to do then watch Dippet admire himself.
" Well, I just want the pair of you to do duty together for the next week. I have previous arrangements."
Tom stared angrily at Dippet, but covered up the face and replied, "Yes, that should be okay."
Hermione gave a quick nod. She was about as pleased as Tom was about the arrangement.
"Well then, you may go now, as I have previous arrangements to attend to." And Dippet turned his back to them.
Tom and Hermione scurried from the room, pleased to leave the presence of Dippet. Hermione knew she would never get used to him, not after a whole six years with Dumbledore as Headmaster.
"So," said Hermione, attempting to make conversation "This should be fun." Hermione made sure to make her voice sound sarcastic. She did not want Tom to think she actually enjoyed the idea, because she didn't.
"Eh." Tom murmured. He obviously wasn't in a good mood today, thought Hermione to herself.
"You know Tom, I think we need to talk." Hermione blurted out.
Tom looked at her surprised. "Do we, Granger? What about?" His voice held mockery.
"You know what I'm talking about. If we – and you know who we are – are going to work together on you-know-what than you and I are going to have to get along – at least talk to each other." Hermione used her business voice that she had used when lecturing Harry and Ron about S.P.E.W.
"That's nice Granger, but it is highly unimaginable how we will do that." Tom's voice was full of mockery now, as he smirked.
"Now why would that be, Tom?" Hermione asked using her sweet voice.
"Well, we are extremely different, you befriend everybody, I don't, you are almost always with friends, I'm not, and there's something weird about you!"
LIER! Hermione held herself from screaming at Tom. The ass! The nerve of him! She had no friends here, and the only weird thing about her was that she was from more then fifty years in the future!
"Well, I am sorry to hear that Tom, but you are a little strange too, my dear friend." Replied Hermione, her voice thick with sarcasm.
"Yeah right Granger. Look, just because we are working together for the same cause does not mean that we are going to become best pals."
Hermione stared at Tom, her mouth hanging open. So that was what she was going to get for trying to be friendly! He can go bloody hang himself! Hermione soothed herself down. He was not worth it. She was not going to waste her breath her breath on that scrawny little liar.
"Well then Tom, I will see you tomorrow night on duty." Hermione forced her voice not to change into a bellow.
"The greatest time of my life," muttered Riddle and he marched into the common room, leaving a very angry Hermione behind.
Hermione lay on her soft bed, trying to force sleep upon her. She had never been able to sleep soundly when she was just in a rather large fight, and she figured that her and Tom's argument had been rather large.
Hermione shook her head. She had to make this work; she had to make ends meet. Hermione sighed. Because if she didn't she would never make it through the year.
After a few more moments, Hermione fell asleep.