Author's note: I don't know if its obvious that while Tom likes Hermione, he still views her as a tool to be used or a riddle to solve rather than a friend or person. Eventually that is going to change. But at the moment that is the extent of their relationship. Just a reminder that this is a slow burn fic but it won't be too slow, I promise. The next few chapters you will see their relationship progress.

This chapter is a bit longer so I hope you like it! Also I really appreciate any reviews or likes.

Thank you for reading!

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Hermione watches Riddle's elegant handwriting. The way the letters curl around each other, each pen stroke precise and smooth. The handwriting matches him perfectly.

"Okay so we have the ingredients list and permission from Slughorn for the Sopophorous plant, the Snakeweed and the Valerian root. And we have the method, all we need to do is actually start brewing the potion." Hermione lifted her gaze from his handwriting to his beautifully crafted face. How unfair is it that Satan incarnate is so unbelievably handsome. Not fair at all.

"Yes, we should both meet up soon to start brewing. I know a place where all the necessary equipment will be available" Tom replied. Hermione had a feeling that place was the room of requirement.

Riddle gathered his books, parchment and ink and shoved them into his book bag. "I'll see you around Hermione." Riddle gave her a charismatic smile and Hermione scowled in return. His smile widened at her displeasure and a deep throaty chuckle escaped his parted lips. Then he left the library in long confident strides.

Fuck. Hermione would have melted, she would have blushed bright red and her panties would be soaked…had he been anyone else. Hermione knew this charisma he had, which he apparently could turn on and off, was the reason everyone at Hogwarts adored him. She wouldn't fall for it.

It was nearing dinner time, so Hermione gathered all her belongings and left to meet Abraxas and Cynthia. She arrived at the great hall, searching for her friends at the slytherin table. It still felt weird walking past the Gryffindor table and sitting at the Slytherin one. It felt even weirder when she realised that everyone was looking at her….and big in a good way. People were staring at her and whispering things to their friends in varying degrees of subtlety. Hermione sat between Abraxas and Cynthia, both of which immediately pestered her with questions.

"Where did you learn to duel like that? It was amazing?!"

"Oh Merlin, did you see Riddle's face? He was totally shocked"

"I can't believe you used dark magic in front of Dumbledore. How much trouble are you in?"

"Are you going to get expelled, Hermione?"

Abraxas and Cynthia had worried and perplexed looks on their faces. Hermione decided to only focus on the last two questions, steering them away from the topic of her magical abilities. "No no, I'm not getting expelled. Slughorn was in charge of doling out the punishments, so we only got three months detention and no Hogsmeade." Hermione explained. Abraxas smiled softly down at her "I'm glad, Hogwarts would be so boring without you, Hermione" She almost blushed.

"Yeah, that's nothing! It could have been so much worse." Cynthia commented, then she gave Hermione a wary glance. "Have you heard the rumours, Hermione? People are saying some stupid shit about you having a crush on Riddle. They said that you got angry when he rejected you and lashed out at him in DADA." Cynthia looked thoroughly annoyed by these rumours, which made Hermione feel exceptionally better.

"I don't care what people say about me, as long as you guys don't think any worse of me…then i'm good." Hermione smiled fondly at her two friends. While she hasn't known them for very long, she valued their opinion of her.

"Good. because it's absolute rubbish" Abraxas knocked his shoulder playfully against hers.

"Oh Miss Greene, I was wondering if you were going to my party tomorrow night. I would very much appreciate it if you came, I have so many people to introduce you to." Slughorn said in his usual joyous tone, approaching her so suddenly that Hermione's fork clattered against her plate when she dropped it.

"Uh yeah - yes I will attend the party tomorrow night, professor." Hermione said unsurely. She didn't really want to go, but she knew that important people would be there, and maybe she could ask some questions that will lead to her going home.

"Excellent! I'll see you there!"

/

Today was the day of the Slugclub party. Hermione's classes today were fairly boring, although she did answer more questions than Riddle. And her essay for Arithmancy was two feet longer than his. Hermione felt sort of proud, having good challenging competition made her a better student. Even if it was Tom Riddle.

The only thing of note that happened were the hexes and jinxes thrown her way by jealous teenagers vying for Riddle's attention…so basically every girl in Hogwarts. It was inconvenient and annoying but Hermione had faced far far worse than bitchy girls.

After her classes but before the party was Hermione's detention. Yesterday her detention had been alone, but today she was to have it with Riddle. How amazing. Really good for her mental health, it was, to be around Voldemort and death eaters all day.

So there she was, on her hands and knees scrubbing the floors while Riddle polished the trophies. Hermione tried to imagine Riddle on all fours scrubbing floors the muggle way and it made her snort with laughter. "What are you laughing for? You find the situation you got us in funny, do you?" Riddle glared at her scathingly. "No but I do find the image of you scrubbing floors like a muggle very amusing." He scowled in annoyance, but Hermione could tell he was at least slightly amused at her words.

Hermione laughed again when some of the dust from a particularly old trophy wafted into Riddle's face. His nose scrunched and twitched instinctively, it was the most adorable thing Hermione had ever seen. She wanted to coo at him. It was also such a human thing that it made her jolt in the realisation that this was Voldemort.

"You seem like you're in a bad mood today, more so than usual that is" Hermione stopped scrubbing momentarily scratch at her nose. Riddle watched her. It was an odd thing to say, Hermione realised. Voldemort is in a bad mood. She never thought she would ever be in a position to take note of Voldemort's moods.

"I'm just not looking forward to this party. Everyone's so boring and fake" Riddle said while looking at a specific trophy with a frown. Hermione looked closer and realised it was his trophy, for special services to the school. Getting that for opening the chamber of secrets and murdering a young girl. And also framing an innocent Hagrid. How atrocious.

"Oh so like you" Riddle shot Hermiome an amused look and chuckled lightly, "Yes, just like me." Hermione less-than subtly coughed 'Hypocrite' and this time he actually laughed. A full-bellied, deep, throaty laugh that warmed Hermione's chest for some strange inexplicable reason.

"What did you get that for?" Hermiome said casually, well she tried to at least, but it sounded stilted and awkward. But Hermione wanted to know what he would say, or more specifically, what lie he would feed her. "Oh it was nothing of note." Tom said it so dismissively. But Hermione, probably because she was focusing, noticed the slight inflection of his words. He was lying obviously. But if she wasn't paying serious attention and wasn't from the future, she would have definitely believed him. Hermione had also found a tell. Most of the time, when Riddle lied about anything of importance, he would rub his forefinger and thumb together. Just for a moment. So quick that if you weren't watching his body language closely, you would surely miss it.

Hermione hummed in response. "Why are you asking?" Riddle asked almost suspiciously, his dark eyes narrowed in her direction. "Just curious," Hermione said quickly. Too quickly. She sounded marginally panicked. But of course he was Tom Riddle, and he noticed everything. Riddle looked at her with definite suspicion but chose not to say and continued polishing.

/

Silver and gold decoration were strung up around the large room. A table filled with refreshments and finger foods was pressed against one of the walls and light music played in the background.

Both Cynthia and Abraxas were there, being from respected pureblood families, the Blacks and the Malfoy's respectively. It was nice to have them there. Cynthia had brought Anthony Longbottom and was currently dancing with him. Abraxas on the other hand was giving flirtatious glances and a sixth year Ravenclaw.

Hermione stalked to the table of refreshments and gulped down two goblets of Firewhisky in quick succession. "Slow down there, Hermione. Wouldn't want anyone to take advantage of your drunken state now would we." Riddle appeared at her side. Like he always does. "My drinking habits don't concern you, Riddle." Hermione said snarkily. The alcohol is already having its effect. Hermione felt a warm buzz in her chest and felt a bit tipsy.

"I must say you look gorgeous, Hermione. That dress seems rather expensive, does it not." Riddle said sarcastically. Having arrived in Hogwarts quite suddenly, she did not have any belongings nor had she had the opportunity to dress shop. When she arrived, Hermione was given a bunch of spare clothes. They were of relatively good quality but were not exactly winning any fashion awards. So the dress she was wearing was not the prettiest. Hermione had fixed it up a bit, she changed the colour to an emerald green and adjusted the measurements to fit her perfectly. Unfortunately that was the extent of her clothing magic. Hermione had used some magical charms to make her hair tamer, her lips and cheeks look redder and her eyelashes darker and longer. She thought she looked quite pretty although people could tell the dress was poorly made.

"Fuck off, Riddle." Hermione sent him a scathing look. He just smiled charmingly and said, "I really do mean it, you're the most beautiful girl here" And with that he walked off to talk to some serious looking ministry official.

Hermione froze in her place. Had he really given her a compliment? A real genuine compliment? Riddle thought she was beautiful. Hermione's insides turned to mush.

He's a bad man. A horrible man. Hermione kept having to remind herself. What a silly little girl, she was loosing reason over one simple compliment from an atrocious murderous man. No, this has to stop, she shouldn't be feeling anything about Riddle except disgust and hatred.

/

He was telling the truth, for once. The most honest thing he has said all week was that Hermione was beautiful. She was, in a natural way, even caught at a bad angle way. In the way that most women aspire to be. Flawlessly and effortlessly beautiful.

Even Hermione's supposed flaws made her all the more beautiful. Her hair, for example, was messy and untamed, sort of like a lion's mane. But it made her unique.

Objectively of course.

He had no positive feelings about Hermione. Maybe he was impressed with her but that was all. Yes definitely, that was all it was. He wanted her…wanted to recruit her.

She would be useful. So very useful. Her magical power could be used to subdue men and beauty used to seduce them.

And she was entertaining too. Hermione has made him more amused in the few months he had known her than he had been in his entire life. It was a good feeling.

Hermione was quick-witted and she held conversation in a smooth way. Nothing felt particularly forced or stilted in any way. Not like most, if not all, of his interactions with other people were. It was a good feeling too.

But nonetheless, she was hiding some very important information about herself. First it was the fact that Hermione Greene is not a registered witch. Then it's the fact that she knew about his muggle father and the orphanage. And now, it seemed like she knew about the Chamber of Secrets as well. Tom wasn't completely sure, but his suspicions were always proven correct. Always.

How could she possibly know?

/

Hermione was chatting with various different people with various different jobs. She'd spoken to aurors, quidditch stars, actors, professors from different schools, curse breakers and dragon trainers. Now she was talking to an unspeakable. He couldn't divulge anything about his job, obviously. But he did say that he worked in the love chamber and then gave her a seductive wink. Hermione laughed loudly. "Did you seriously just say that?"

"I seriously did." The unspeakable chuckled lightly "Damn that almost never works."

"Almost?" Hermione questioned. The unspeakable continued on to tell her an amusing story. But Hermione's mind wandered off to Riddle. As it always seemed to do. He looked at her suspiciously before, during detention. Riddle was suspicious of her, of her story. Hermione would never tell him, but that didn't mean he couldn't figure it out on his own. Hermione needed to go home, she wanted to more than anything, if only she could find any information on the runes or the ritual.

Hermione thought back to the moment when those men had performed the ritual. That one moment caused her to be thrown decades into the past with a young Voldemort. It was a mission of some sort, one she never asked for or agreed to. Hermione just wished she fought harder, She remembered that forced ritual so vividly.

Suddenly something clicked.

Hermione promptly excused herself and rushed to Dumbledore, who had only recently joined the party. "Professor Dumbledore, I need to speak with you immediately." Hermione had interrupted his conversation, but she did not care in the slightest. "Of course, Miss Greene." Dumbledore looked confused at her urgent tone but rushed them off to an empty classroom just outside of Slughorn's party.

"What is Miss Granger? Is something the matter?" Dumbledore scanned her dress-clad form with concern as if looking for any injuries she had suddenly sustained.

"I think the men that attacked me - the men that sent me here - i think they were unspeakables"