A/N: You guys rule, thank you for the feedback! It's really awesome to have so many reviews in such a short time! You ROCK! Anyway, in this chapter we get to know Perry Minella a little better, that sounded really dumb, my apologies Perry, Dumbledore does some snooping, and Hermione lets a little bit of information slip. And just a warning, I don't know Rosier's first name, so just deal with it when I pretend that he has no first name. So let the games begin!

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

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Chapter Seven: An Introduction

Rosier was beyond pissed. His powerful, cunning, oh-so-wonderful Lord had fallen for a girl, and had turned his back on his followers. Well, he wasn't going to let some two bit mousy brown bitch ruin his chance for power. He would be the next Dark Lord instead. And there would be no chick in his way. But how? He asked himself. How can I take over? First he'd get his revenge on the bimbo who ruined Plan A. That's what he would do…

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Perry Minella knew something odd was going on when he entered the head's common room. First of all, there were the muffled giggles coming from the other side of the couch by the fire, that was new. And second, the red and gold trunk sitting by Riddle's door looked wildly out of place. She cleared her throat, and watched, amused, as a startled girl slid off the sofa and onto the floor with a thud. Riddle sat up and turned around, relieved to see it was the well-mannered head girl who had interrupted his very first make-out session and not his death eaters. The girl who had helped her to the head master's office stood up, looking rather flustered. Perry couldn't blame her.

"I don't believe we've met," stated Perry plainly, as Hermione peered at the calm figure. "I'm Perry, Perry Minella." Hermione nodded as she wondered why she was so peaceful. Duh, calming drought! She had received one as well after Harry had run off. My, that seems years ago. Why couldn't she have been fed poison instead?

"I'm Hermione Granger," she said, doing her best to regain whatever shred of self-respect she still had. Tom stood up shyly and stood next to her, across from the sleepy looking teen. Perry realized exactly what she had walked in on and picked up on the awkward situation, as Hermione remembered how she had felt after she had learnt of her parent's death. She had stood in that exact spot, staring blankly at the unaware Ron and Harry, wishing she didn't have to tell them of their murder. That had been her. A lump was form in the back of her throat.

"I'm just going to go take a nap. Stressful day, you know?" Perry said, before escaping abruptly into her room. Tom and Hermione stood and froze, a little lost for words at her sudden disappearance.

"That's kind of the understatement of the century, wouldn't you say?" Tom stated, half sarcastic half amused, as Hermione sunk down onto the sofa, feeling a little dazed. Tom looked down at her, feeling a little lost as well. "Mione, are you okay?" She didn't answer, only picked up her forgotten book carefully from the floor and resumed reading it. He sighed and sat down next to her. "Accio school bag," he said calmly, as his book bag gently glided out of his open bedroom door and hovered noiselessly by his knees. He pulled out a Potion's textbook and started to do his homework.

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Cackling softly, the fire in the fireplace beside Dumbledore's armchair provided light so the professor could examine the crystal ball. A graceful phoenix rested beside the misty orb, gazing peacefully at its gleaming surface. The professor twirled his copper tinted beard between his fingers, and watched as flickers of color spread in webs in the ball. He glanced down at the Divination textbook open in his lap and sighed in frustration.

"Purple confusion and questions, blue loss and despair, pink love and passion. Fawkes, what does that mean?" The bird cooed, in a way plainly saying, I don't know, I'm a bird! They turned back to the murky spear. "Divination is useless," muttered the man as he searched the ball for more. "The sun, hope. The moon, battle. Orange, a hero." He gave up, unable to see more. Rubbing his eyes sleepily, he mumbled, "So there's darkness coming but a hero will appear, bringing hope. But who is the hero? Confusion, loss, passion. Ah, Miss Granger and Mr. Riddle must be the passion, I knew she was here for a good reason." He took a sip of tea from a china cup next to the orb. "Yes, the loss must refer to Ms. Granger as well, and how she came here, possibly what happened before hand. And the passion no doubt refers to Mr. Riddle, he looked pretty different, and he is protective of her." When no further symbols appeared in the crystal, the confused and annoyed professor called it a night. He didn't see the flickering image of a mirror appear in the glass, the symbol for role reversal.

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By dinner Tom had finished all of his vacation homework, and Hermione had yet to say anything. She was still curled up in a ball on the couch with the book and inch from her nose. She looked peaceful and comfortable for once, and though her was getting hungry, he couldn't bring himself to interrupt. So he settled on the other couch, which was, to his disgust, red and gold, and watched her as she read.

She was in her element, anyone could see that. Focused and silent, she turned a yellowed page and a wisp of wavy hair fell into her eyes, hanging content across her cheek. She didn't notice. He watched as she scanned the page quickly, pulling in the information as if with a magnet, before turning the page again. Isolation and confusion had drawn Tom away from other people, and he had never witnessed this type of comfort and peace before. There was something about this girl, so wrapped in learning and sanctuary, that pulled him out of his little hole. As much as he understood how Hermione wanted some quiet time, he wanted to be close to her again, so he quietly stood up, stretched his arms above his head, and quietly settled down next to her. She didn't seem to notice, so he gently pulled her over to him and wrapped his arms around her stomach, so that her head lent into the crook between his neck and his shoulder. She purred, and folded other the corner of her page, before pushing the book further down the couch and closing her eyes.

We're like an old couple, she pondered, zoning out as Tom's breathing oriented to her own. The logic of the situation plagued her, but she ignored it. I deserve to be happy! She snuggled further into him, appreciating the closeness and the comfortable silence. It was amazing to be so relaxed, she hadn't felt this way for years, before Voldemort returned. She could still remember the hundreds of sleepless nights, the obituaries that took up a full page of the paper, the screaming of the students as he strutted through the gates. It had been such an image, with the wall of death eaters behind him, Harry standing alone in the snow with the approaching death eaters cackling. She had watched from the astronomy with her head badge shimmering in a greenish glow as the dark mark rose in the air, a student killed by Bellatrix for entertainment. Ron had rushed down to fight at Harry's side, but Hermione had frozen and watched from the empty tower as the complete order rushed through the gates, and so the battle had begun.

She unfroze as more screams of pain filled the grounds, and she ran down to join in. Bellatrix had followed her out into the snow, and they dueled as the battle continued. For hours it seemed she flung hex after hex after hex after curse after curse at the woman, while everyone did the same. She didn't know why she had lasted so long (Hermione, not Bellatrix) or why the only curse that would stun her was her own friends, but as scarred, bruised, and bloodied as she got, she did not fall. It was like she wasn't supposed to die, because she had to be here… with him.

"You know what, I can't do this," she said, pulling herself off of him to stand facing him. He blinked, as she set her face into a determined expression. His hair was ruffled in places, and the gel made little spikes stick up randomly. He resembled Harry in some ways. "I need to be honest with you." She began to pace back and forth in front of him, and he did his best to regain his composure. "Now, I can't tell you everything, but I need to tell you what happened before I came here." He blinked again and sat up stiffly, smoothing out his hair with his palm. "My school was attacked, and my friends were killed," she stammered, her voice cracking and sharp. He didn't say anything and let her continue, this was hard for her.

"Wait no, let me start over." She rattled her head back and forth, trying to find words. "My parents were killed by this Dark Lord, and my friend Harry went to get revenge." Tom gulped, feeling guilty at the mention of a Dark Lord. He had wanted to be a Dark Lord, but not anymore. "He couldn't defeat him, so he Apparated back to our school and this Dark Lord followed him with his supporters. They attacked everyone." He cringed, he used to dream of doing that months ago, not that he ever would now. "He killed everyone, even innocent first years. And he killed my- my best friends." She was looking quite peaky now, and he was really getting worried. No wonder she was upset and constantly crying, he couldn't believe she wasn't crying now! "And he tried to kill Harry, and he- he did. I was the only one left and- and a reflected stunner hit me. The left me for dead." He stood up and wrapped her in his arms, as she crumpled into his sweater. "I woke up in the graveyard." Her words were muffled, but he heard her. He caught her as she fainted, and heard her mumble in her unconscious state, "Voldemort."

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A/N: Ooo, big cliffy there! Mwahahaha! SUFFER PERRY! Anyway, next chapter is long, and heavy with emotion. We learn more about Perry (that still sounds so wrong) and we catch up with Rosier again. Oh, and the trust issues run deep. Teaser?

"It wasn't Rosier who killed your friend, was it?" he muttered, not looking her in the eye. "Was it?"

Then later in the chapter:

"Mione?" "Yeah?" "How did you get here? You can trust me."

See you all later, and REVIEW PLEASE!