Chapter 12
A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews;)

"Your eyes on me were as eyes that rove
Over tedious riddles solved years ago;
And some words played between us to and fro—
On which lost the more by our love."
-Hardy

Hermione had waited little more than an hour in the library and still there was no sign of Riddle, whatsoever.

She sighed her frustration aloud, and wondered what could possibly be keeping him, and doubted whether or not she should wait any longer, but as she was thinking this over, she caught her breath, as she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"What are ya doin' out of bed 'eh, this is the restricted section. Don't you know it isn't safe to be wandering late at night. It's against the rules." It looked to be the caretaker, and he was even more frightening looking than Filch, if that were possible. The lantern he held showed a scar running the length of the left side of his face.

"Off to bed with ya." He jerked his head towards the doors, motioning for her to leave.

Hermione nodded, her eyes widened in fright. She was only too glad of following the request and hurried off down the corridor. She had almost made it back to the Slytherin dormitories, when her steps unconsciously slowed as she heard two voices, further down the passageway, coming from the potions room, she thought. She looked back with hesitancy, chewing on her lower lip, and turned back round, stopping before the door of the classroom. She peered in to see that the room was dimly lit by an oil lamp- it looked a mess. Papers were strewn everywhere and the usually locked cabinet doors which held some of the more unsafe potions had been opened. She could make out the two figures standing by the overturned desk clearly enough. It was Professor Dumbledore and Headmaster Dippet. But why were they here.

"Do you think it absolutely necessary the students be told of this? I'd hate to go upsetting parents, without good reason, and, now, well, it seems we have little to tell them." Dippet wanted nothing less than to alert anybody to anything. Of course, he was even more cautious in the circumstances, especially, seeing as it was still relatively soon after a student's death, one which had never been fully resolved. Dreadful business that, Headmaster Dippet recalled, shaking his head sorrowfully.

"I think it sensible that they should be informed. Better to error on the side of caution. Some of the items that were taken can be quite dangerous, particularly in the wrong hands." Dumbledore replied, his voice full of concern, as he stroked his beard rather absently, and stared fixedly at the doorway, almost as if trying to solve a puzzle, Hermione wondered briefly if he could see her, but thought it not possible. She was hid from view behind the door.

"Yes, yes, they should be told – right away, I suppose, I'll call for an assembly tomorrow, first thing in the morning. Well, I suppose there's nothing more that can be done, at present." Dippet wished Dumbledore good night, before returning to his office.

Hermione waited for Dumbledore, who stayed behind the Headmaster for a few moments, before he took his leave, as well.

She looked round cautiously before making her way into the room and over by where they had been standing. She was careful not to step on any of the papers which covered the floor. Had Riddle broken into the classroom, and for what reason, she wondered. She glanced over at the desk, and thought she spotted something, a red smudge of some sort. She strained her eyes, trying to make out what it was. It looked like blood. But before she had time to further examine it, Hermione thought she heard a scuffle of feet, not far off, so she quickly exited the classroom and started making her way back to the dormitories, careful not to be seen.

What could they have been talking about, did it involve Riddle somehow, she mused silently, as she crossed the common room and went up the staircase. Her thoughts slowing her steps. She supposed she'd find out soon enough, at assembly tomorrow. Hermione tentatively opened the door to her room, careful not to wake the other girls. But even as she got into her bed, the question was still nagging away at her, and her curiosity kept her from sleep.

Hermione sat at the Slytherin table, reluctantly, still feeling that she didn't belong and that the sorting hat had got it wrong somehow. There was a loud murmur among the students, she noticed, and wished she had someone she could ask as to what the whisperings were about.

She rolled her eyes and her grimace grew deeper, as Avery sat down next to her. He only grinned at her.

"Don't mind my sitting here?"

Avery eyed her with mischief. His right eye was black with bruising, and there was a small cut above his temple. It looked as though he'd been in a fight. And had lost.

"And if I did?"

Hermione arched a finely marked brow.

Avery made no move to leave, and she knew he wasn't going to leave, just by her asking.

"I'd think you were lying." His grin broke into a toothy smile.

The arrogance. Hermione shifted over a bit on the bench, distancing herself a little ways from him, but she couldn't go far, since she was sitting on the end, and she couldn't change places, seeing that most the students were seated already and the assembly was about to begin. Hermione glanced over the table, looking for Riddle, and found him sitting near the other end, but he wasn't looking at her, he was looking towards the teacher's table. It looked like he hadn't gotten any sleep either.

"Settle down, students, please." Headmaster Dippet waited for silence and continued, "I'll be brief, as we have few details on the matter." He paused again for a moment, before beginning again, "It has come to my recent attention, that there has been a number of break-ins and, more worrying, several items have been stolen. There is no call for alarm, at the moment," Dippet seemed to want to stress this point, "but if any student has any information on this matter, it would be of great help to us if you came forward." Headmaster Dippet made a few other trivial school announcements and then dismissed the students, ending the assembly. Hermione glanced over at Dumbledore after the speech, he was looking at Riddle, and was it distrust she read in his stare. Did he know Riddle was up to something, and if so, why didn't he stop it. But Dumbledore broke his gaze and entered into conversation with another teacher, seated next to him. Perhaps, she had confused his misgivings with her own.

Avery interrupted her contemplation, telling her he had to go to class but promised he would see her later on, winking at her with his good eye.

Hermione didn't bother answering him, as she headed off to her own class, her thoughts filled with last night's happenings. Just as she was walking down the corridor to her Divinations class, Riddle caught up with her in the near empty hallway, quickly falling into step beside her. He looked at her askance, before he began with what she thought would be an apology.

"I just came to say that-"

It was here Hermione cut him short, she was growing tired of whatever it was Riddle was playing at.

"-you're sorry for making me wait for you for over an hour when you never even intended on showing up."

Hermione let her irritation with him show.

"No, I'm not sorry, or rather I'm not to blame." Riddle was angered by the accusation, but quickly composed himself, and went on, "I had intended on going," he hesitated a moment, "but was held up by something –unexpected."

"Well, I hope-"

Hermione stopped mid-sentence, noticing his left hand, which he was keeping close by his side. It was wrapped in a white, gauzy cloth.

"How did you come by that?"

Hermione nodded towards his injured hand.

"Oh this, it's nothing."

Riddle quickly shoved his hands into his trouser's pockets.

"I'd better be getting to class, what was it you wanted to say to me."

Hermione didn't want to be late, but more than that, she didn't want to be lied to. And she knew Riddle wasn't telling her the truth.

"I only came to say I won't be telling anyone of your parents, so consider the favour, or whatever you wish to call it, repaid. I'd better be letting you get to class then."

Riddle broke off for a moment, as he looked at her with a wavering kind of curiosity, his tone becoming more serious than she'd ever heard it, and what he said sounded almost like a well-meant warning, "Wouldn't want for you to get into any more trouble."

Hermione looked at Tom as though she'd never seen him before. He seemed almost human.