But Draco's explanation left a lot to the imagination.

"I'm bored, I guess."

Ginny sighed behind Hermione but Hermione was more articulate in response. "Look, you sleek haired baboon-"

"No name calling, Mudblood, it's not pure-blood behaviour, after all. You're going to have to keep that temper of yours in check, if you want my help."

"What even makes you think I'd need your help, Malfoy?"

He sighed. "Trust me, you do. I'm tired, Granger. Let us talk tomorrow. Eh, without the Little Weasley, preferably."

"Hey!" Ginny protested but, at the same time, Hermione was nodding. She almost agreed with Malfoy. Actually, this was just the excuse she'd wanted to get Ginny off her back for a little while. Ginny was smart but not really mature enough to deal with the stress. The less she knew, the less she could tell Harry or Ron.

"It's Saturday tomorrow. The Room of Requirement?"

"Why does everybody meet there? It's so unoriginal," Draco said. "Can't you think of somewhere more creative?"

She barely looked at him through his rant and said, "Room of Requirement, then. At three? That'll give you enough time to do your hair, if you get up early. Right so, er…. Goodnight." Hermione was trying to be reasonable about this.

"Don't dream too much about me." He really was making it difficult for her.

They all left the library. Hermione didn't look back as they parted ways. Draco did, just once.

Ginny was silent for the rest of the way, which was unusual for her. When they reached The Fat Lady, she turned and looked at Hermione, with an odd hard look on her face.

"I don't like any of this, Hermione, and I'm not going to let you go. If you don't have a way back, you can't go. What do you think we'd do without you? How do you think Harry would cope then? What do you think you're doing letting Malfoy get involved? He hates you, Hermione, and you're supposed to hate him.

"The whole plan seems like a waste of time. Why not deal with Voldemort in the present? Why go back fifty years? What makes you think he's even going to notice you, eh? What makes you think he's going to listen to you? You're not going to be able to seduce him, you're not going to be able to make friends with him. I don't see why you've changed all of a sudden. Where's my normal, logical, sane friend gone?"

Ginny had tears in her eyes. Hermione wasn't really sure what to do, which question Ginny actually wanted her to answer. She looked to the ground, as if the answers would somehow lie there. When she'd looked back up, Ginny had fled. Hermione knew she was upset. But Ginny didn't know the whole story. Ginny didn't know the whole story.

Twelve-year-old Hermione Granger was in a very good mood as she left the library! She'd solved it, The Chamber of Secrets, she'd done it again! If she did say it herself, she was really the smartest witch ever! It had taken hours of research and second guessing but she'd done it-

She looked up, and all her thoughts stopped.

There was a boy in front of her, but… he looked almost like a ghost. She could see his features but faintly. She had to squint. He wasn't a ghost, but what was he?

She sensed danger but she walked forward, closer to him. She didn't know why.

He was standing in front of a little black book that was spread on the ground, examining his hands as if he'd never seen them before.

She could see through him a little.

But that wasn't what she was noticing. She was noticing that her heart had started beating wildly, with something more like excitement than fear. She couldn't take her eyes off of him.

He looked up, as if drawn to her stare.

Click…

"Hermione Granger…" he said in a voice as soft as dead leaves falling.

She stepped closer to him slowly, nodding.

He looked like he couldn't take his eyes off of her face. He seemed to be searching for something…

He shook his head suddenly, and his eyes lifted from her. Immediately, she was broken out of the trance. Immediately, she realised that he was not a normal boy. She knew she was in big trouble.

"Who are you?" she whispered. She couldn't get herself to run away.

He looked to the wall and his eyes narrowed in thought. "It's coming," he said softly to himself. Then he turned to her and she found herself be swallowed by those eyes again.

They were black but she could see a rainbow in them. Or at least she thought she did…

"Take this." He gave her something. She accepted it numbly, her eyes on his.

Blinking, she slowly looked down to see a small, circular mirror.

"What's this fo-?"

He had disappeared.

Hermione stood there for a few moments, trying to slow her breathing. She looked in the mirror and saw herself, young and extremely red and flushed.

"Er…. Hermione Granger, right?" Penelope Clearwater ran up to her, anxiety written on her face. "I- I think there's something down there! We should get out of here!" She pointed down the corridor.

Hermione thought of the basilisk and then looked down at the mirror.

And she understood what the mirror was for.

Even at twelve years old, she was extremely bright.

But not bright enough, Hermione thought, back in the present. She hadn't coped on to the fact that it was Tom Riddle, it could only have been Tom Riddle, that had given her the mirror. But, why? Why had he done that?

And why had he made her feel so strange?

She hadn't figured it out for a long time, the strange boy's true identity, until, during that summer, after reading a letter Harry had sent her, giving her the specific details on what had happened. She had wondered, but not enough to have worried her friends before. After she'd been un-petrified and everyone was happy, she hadn't seen the point.

Now it seemed a little too late. She didn't want to tell them until she was sure, anyway. Until she had, had a little time to figure it out herself.

Then Sirius had broken free and they had all thought Harry was going to be attacked and, well, there was just never time…

But there had been something between her and Tom. Something that made

her think that maybe she could change something. Maybe he wouldn't ignore her completely. He hadn't killed her anyway.

He'd been after her, Harry Potter's friend to attack. He'd known her name. So… why did he give her the mirror? Why didn't he want her to die?

Had he felt the click too?

Okay, not the best chapter, I guess. But it will be good, I promise! I'm sorry this is short but, hey, quick update, right?

Just getting all the background done first. There'll be a bit more on Draco before jumping back into Tom again.

Anyway, yeah – it's going to be a bit if a triangle. I'm not sure to what degree just yet but there'll be definite stuff. I'm just focusing on getting all the pieces together in my head before I start into all the juicy stuff!

Oh, and this story will slow down! People will not fall madly in love with each other on first sight and people will not suddenly change! Don't fret! I will try my best to ensure that doesn't happen.

May I remind you, this is when you're reviews are really important! When I am making the mould! Any recommendations and/or ideas you have would been greatly appreciated! Let me know what you think!

Thanks to everyone reading.

Thanks to the 8 people who reviewed the last time:

Princess Brady, Professional Toilet Flusher, ilovstationary, Jules13, Ptrst, poke-the-sleeping-dragon, SycoCallie, and Spikes-Dreamer.