Hermione Double- You always leave the longest reviews. Thanks.


Chapter Five

The hippogriff in Ginny's lap screeched loudly and snapped at Tom while Ginny held it back.

"How much did you hear of that?" Ginny asked frantically. Her mind was in a buzz. She had been found out, and by a Slytherin nonetheless.

"Oh not much." Tom replied. "Just that you're from a different time is all I heard. But don't worry," He leaned up to Ginny's ear. "I won't tell."

Ginny looked at Tom with confusion written on her face, quickly replaced by suspicion.

"Yeah right," She said. "What's the catch?"

"I want to know what you know." Tom replied. "The curriculum must be more advanced. If you tell me everything you know then I'll be the top student in Hogwarts."

"Let me get this straight," Ginny moved to face Tom. "You want to exploit me and my future for your selfish desires. How Slytherin." Ginny sneered. Unfazed Tom just smirked, waiting for Ginny to make her decision. No matter how much she hated helping a Slytherin, Ginny knew she had no choice. It was either tutor Tom or risk her entire future.

"Fine, I'll teach you everything I know." Ginny grumbled, not happy with her situation. Tom smirked at her.

"Excellent." Tom held out his hand. "I presume the library is a suitable place for this?" Ginny slightly hmphed and walked to the library. She casually glanced at Tom as they walked.

"Where do you want to start?" Ginny asked sitting opposite of Tom at the table.

"Let's just begin with our assignments first." Tom pulled out his books and parchment from his bag. Ginny did the same and they set to work. Ginny filled in everything Tom didn't know, which wasn't much Ginny noticed.

"Can I ask you something?" Ginny asked pausing in her essay.

"Sure go ahead." Tom looked up from his own essay.

"Why do you need my help? There's not much I'm telling you that you don't already know." Tom set his quill down.

"I must stay one step ahead of everyone." Tom replied.

"But why?" Ginny questioned. "You're smart enough already to be a top student."

"Hogwarts is all I have so I must excel at it." Tom said, more to himself than to Ginny.

"Hogwarts is all you have? What about your family and friends?" Tom looked down at his parchment and Ginny suddenly regretted her question.

"I have no family. My mother died when I was born and my father abandoned us."

"Oh I'm sorry."

"As for friends, there aren't friends in Slytherin, there are allies. Rarely do you find a trustworthy friend." Tom finished still looking down at his essay.

"I'm sorry I brought it up." Ginny apologized meekly. Silence reigned between the two for several awkward moments.

"So what about you?" Tom suddenly asked causing Ginny to look up at him. "My past is now out so tell me about yours. You're not really Dumbledore's niece are you?" Tom reclined back in his chair.

"No I'm not Dumbledore's niece." Ginny confessed. "I'm the youngest of a nig family. I'm the only girl besides my mum." Ginny was surprised how easy it was to tell Tom the truth about herself.

"It must be great to be part of a big family." Tom commented, somewhat wistfully.

"I guess so. A lot of people want big families. But," Ginny looked down, unconsciously rubbing her arm, "It's easy to be forgotten." She whispered.

"Are you thrown to the side often?" Tom asked. Ginny noticed something in Tom's eyes but she couldn't place it.

"I'm not thrown to the side." Ginny argued. "I just… It's not… They don't…"

"You know it's true. That's why you can't finish your sentence." Tom smirked at Ginny's newly developed frustration.

"It's not true." Ginny stood from her chair and glared at Tom. "Just because my brother got all the credit for something I did as well doesn't mean that I get… Oh," Ginny trailed off, becoming lost in thought and sitting back down. "I guess that's exactly what it means." Ginny finished quietly.

"It seems that you and I have more in common than we originally thought." Tom said watching Ginny intently. Ginny didn't reply. She continued to stare at her parchment blankly, completely lost in thought. Tom watched her for a few more moments before speaking again.

"Perhaps we should cut this study session short." He said, abruptly taking Ginny from her trance.

"Yes I guess so." She replied, beginning to gather her things back into her bag. Ginny followed Tom out of the library, still somewhat dazed. She began her walk to the Gryffindor Tower and quickly noticed that Tom was following her.

"You know you're not allowed in the Gryffindor Tower." She said.

"I know but would you rather get detention for being in the halls than be escorted by me, a prefect?" Tom questioned looking at Ginny out of the corner of his eye.

"No I guess not." Ginny answered softly. Ginny mentally slapped herself. She was starting to act weird around Tom. It was like her crush on Harry Potter all over again. Except this Tom Riddle was technically like four times her senior in the time she belonged in. Ginny had more chance dating Draco Malfoy than Tom. A bit disappointing really.

"Ginny?"

Ginny came out of her trance when a hand was waved in front of her face.

"Huh? What?" Ginny focused. She was standing in front of the Fat Lady portrait with Tom next to her. He looked slightly concerned.

"Do you need to see Madame Pomfrey?" Tom asked.

"No no I'm fine." Ginny said, shaking her head. "I've got a lot on my mind. I think I just need some rest." Tom nodded.

"Get some rest. Don't forget do finish your essay." Tom told her before lightly grabbing her chin and pressing his lips to hers in a small kiss. Ginny's eyes fell closed and opened when Tom pulled back.

"See you tomorrow." Tom said before heading for the Slytherin dorms. Ginny watched him go until the Fat Lady reminded her that she was standing in the middle of the walkway.

Ginny entered the Gryffindor Tower and leaned against the wall of the common room. She lifted her hand and lightly touched her lips. Ginny heard descriptions of first kisses but they never told her that she would feel tingly afterwards.

Ginny felt herself smile and she walked up to the girls dorm. When she entered, every head turned toward her.

"Ginny! Where have you been?" Myrtle demanded, jumping up to stand by Ginny. "You didn't come to dinner." Ginny snapped out of her daze and looked at Myrtle.

"I was in the library. I guess I lost track of time." Ginny said moving to sit in a chair.

"Is something wrong?" Myrtle asked, concerned.

"No nothing's wrong." Ginny replied. "I just got sidetracked."

"I heard you were getting friendly with Tom Riddle." A short haired blonde said from the floor where a game of Exploding Snap was being played.

"Jacinda, Riddle is a Slytherin. Ginny is a Gryffindor. It's like impossible to be friends." Katrina said from across Jacinda.

"He's not that bad." Ginny said softly, turning their heads.

"So you were with him." Jacinda sat up after lying on her stomach. She gave Ginny a knowing look.

"We were just studying." Ginny replied.

"That's how it all begins." Jacinda told her.

"Would you leave Ginny alone," Myrtle told her. "Riddle was probably coping her homework."

"If you say so." Jacinda laid down on her back on the floor. "But as soon as he kisses her, I'm going to be demanding details." Ginny looked away as a small blush crossed her cheeks.

"I think I'm going to bed." She said standing up and walking to her bed.

"He kissed you!" Jacinda quickly sat up. Ginny climbed into her bed and quickly closed the curtain, knowing that each and every Gryffindor 5th year girl was about to hound her about her study session with Tom Riddle.


My gosh, I can't believe its been so long since I updated. I thought about abandoning this but right now I decided against it. I don't know how long it'll take for the next update so I'm not making any promises.