Hermione had never much appreciated the talent of acting. Had never put too much thought in its subtle power. She had eaten when having no appetite, had smiled when in despair, had put on a brave face when frightened. But she had never really acted. Not truly. Not like Tom riddle did. He did not seem one bit of the hollow, cruel and power-hungry man she knew him to be. Riddle was constantly acting. How exhausting it seemed, to maintain the pretence of the handsome, polite and charming head boy. He was rather extraordinarily talented at playing the part. With every student at Hogwarts - no matter the year - completely enamoured by him. And every professor praising the very ground he walks on. She noticed, relatively quickly, how good he was at manipulating people to do his bidding. Even things they'd thought for certain they'd never do. This skill is presumably the reason Slughorn had revealed what little he did about horcruxes to Riddle.

Hermione had always been good at reading people, always been good at looking behind their facades and noticing the little gestures that revealed their emotions. The twitch of an eye, the slight raise of an eyebrow, the curl of lips. It all indicated something. But had Hermione not known exactly who Tom Riddle was prior to meeting him, she probably would've fallen for the act herself.

"Tom Riddle has got to be the most handsome guy in school, he's also extremely intelligent. He doesn't need to be though, he could probably get through his life successfully on looks and charm alone." Cynthia giggled.

"Oh and Abraxas is pretty handsome as well. His family, the Malfoys, are very rich and influential people. Pure blood, of course. Oh and Anthony Longbottom is cute too, he is a Gryffindor, though that doesn't matter to me. I personally think house segregation is foolish. And the animosity between houses is even more so -" Cynthia continued on with Hermione, every now and then, making the appropriate comment. She would have felt bad that she was ignoring her friend, but her attention was captured by none other than Riddle. No matter how hard Hermione tries she can't seem to ignore his presence.

Finally, Hermione and Cynthia reached transfiguration and they both took a seat in the second row. A few minutes later. Tom arrived, with his followers trailing after him. He sat directly behind her. Hermione was instantly unnerved. Dumbledore arrived soon after. He had reddish brown hair instead of white-silver. His beard was also trimmed short and his skin less wrinkled. But Dumbledore had the same exact twinkle in his eye. He grinned widely as he surveyed the class, stopping momentarily to assess her.

As Dumbledore began his lesson, Hermione wondered whether to tell him of her unusual time-travel. He could help her. She trusts him. Hermione wanted to tell him so badly, but she didn't know if it was the right thing to do. Time-travel was a complicated sort of magic, most information regarding its intricacies were unknown.

A man like Dumbledore would know much more about time-travel in rituals than the books in the library could tell her. If she ever wanted to get home, she had to take a few risks. Telling Dumbledore would definitely be one, she would not know if this would change her future until she is in it. But she had to. She wanted to.

Hermione decided that if she could not find any useful information in the restricted section, she would tell Dumbledore.

Hermione's next class was charms where they were practising spells to slow, speed up and pause time. Professor Liberton was explaining how it could be used on specific objects and people. He demonstrated by using the spell to speed up time on an apple. The students watched enthralled as the apple turned brown with rot and then a ripe green in a few seconds. The professor gave them all apples to try the spell on their own.

"Arresto Momentum"

Hermione's apple transformed to a shrivelled and rotten core and back again. Riddle glared.

After transfiguration, Hermione walked to Slughorn's office. Asking permission for access to the restricted section was almost laughably easy. She only needed to feign interest in some obscure potion that wouldn't be found in the regular part of the library.

Hermione immediately headed to the library where she stayed the rest of the evening and night. Nothing. This meant that the runes were very rarely used. If Hermione still hasn't found anything, even in the restricted section, it must mean something sinister. Hermione refused to give up. The restricted section must have something, she has to find something.

/

Tom was enraged. He hated that stupid smug girl. Everywhere he turned Hermione was there, giving him uneasy nervous looks. Like she was scared of him, disgusted by him. Like she knew something he didn't.

She had even made him look a fool in potions by correcting him. How insufferable she was, thinking she could outsmart him.

He was, though he hated to admit it, rather impressed with her practical and theoretical knowledge of magic. She was a talented witch, that was for sure. Much more talented than the imbeciles he was surrounded with. Tom was intrigued by her. She was obviously intelligent, and more perceptive than most. And pretty too, in a natural way. If only she tamed that ridiculous hair of hers.

She would be a good follower. One of his best.

There was only one problem. He had asked Lestrange to find any information he could about her and her life in France. Lestrange had familial connections in multiple departments of the ministry so he had access to information most did not. There is a registry for every witch and wizard born and Hermione Greene did not exist anywhere on it. Not anywhere in the UK or Europe did a witch with the name Hermione Greene exist.

She was lying.

He didn't know why. Tom absolutely hated not knowing things. He will find out her secrets. Whether he has to Crucio the information out or not.

Tom pondered the use of the Cruciatus curse on Hermione on his way to potions, he would obliviate her afterwards of course. But from his experience, the effect of the Cruciatus curse lingers on the body. He couldn't risk her recognising the after effects. The other option was to enter her mind, it would show him her memories and within those, he will find out what she's hiding.

A few moments later, Slughorn revealed to the class a surprise assessment. He would partner the students up and they had to decide on a potion to make which, in four weeks time, will be tested and marked. Slughorn looked between Tom and Hermione mischievously. "Tom, my boy, you will be partnered with Hermione."

Tom heard Hermione mutter under her breath and he bristled. She did not want to be his partner. Tom felt the overwhelming urge to curse her. He wanted to watch her twitch and jerk under the pain of the Cruciatus curse. He wanted, more than anything, to watch the fear colour her eyes when she realised that her life was in his hands. That she was under his control. Maybe then she would learn to respect her superiors.

/

"What potion do you want to make?" Hermione asked Riddle. They had decided yesterday in potions, to meet today to plan out their assessment. They sat in the furthest end of the library near a small circular window that overlooked the forbidden forest.

"How about Felix Felicis?"

"We can do better than that, Riddle," Hermione laughed. Riddle scowled. While Felix Felicis was a difficult potion to make, she knew that combined they could do much more.

"Fine, what do you suppose we make"

Hermione watched his expression carefully. "We could make the Exstimulo Potion, if you're up to the challenge, of course" Tom's eyebrows rose in disbelief and his eyes widened slightly. Then his expression changed and he looked almost genuinely excited. That had to be the most sincere emotion he had ever expressed in her presence. The Exstimulo potion was an elixir that, once consumed, briefly enhances the spell power of the user. It only lasts a few minutes but the power of the spell is magnified tenfold. It was an incredibly difficult potion to make and required a great amount of skill and a vast understanding of magic. The Exstimulo potion is said to be one of the most powerful and intricate potions ever created and only a handful of people have ever successfully brewed it.

Hermione had found the potion in an ancient tome in Grimmauld place in the summer before fifth year. It was in the Black family library, most of the books there were filled with dark magic and some of them were extremely rare. Since she had a lot of free time, she studied it almost obsessively.

Ron hadn't wanted to explore the old Black house nearly as much as she wanted to. He had spent most of his time with Fred and George playing childish pranks. And Harry had been too busy buried in a pile of angst to do anything. Hermione was suddenly overcome with an overwhelming sadness. What if she never saw Ron or Harry ever again? What if she was stuck here? She couldn't bear it. Not after everything they've been through together. She missed them both dearly.

"That's quite…ambitious of you" Riddle smirked but she could tell he was impressed with her. There was a gleam in his eye as he looked at her appraisingly

He looked so devastatingly handsome just then that Hermione almost blushed. A strand of inky black hair fell in front of his eyes and Hermione desperately wanted to push it back. She wondered briefly if his hair felt as soft as it looked.

"That is a slytherin trait, is it not?" Hermione grinned. A deep throaty chuckle escaped his mouth. Hermione had never heard him laugh before. A real laugh, not the ones he forced in conversation with teachers or other students.

"Yes, I suppose it is." Riddle looked at her strangely, like he wasn't quite sure what he was looking at. He seemed deep in thought.

Authors note: The potion mentioned in this chapter is a real potion, but there isn't much information about it, so I just made some up.