Author's note: I'm really sick at the moment, and I felt super dizzy writing this chapter and the next one so there may be some mistakes.

I really appreciate the comments and likes so thank you and enjoy!

Hermione was unaware of what occurred in the department of mysteries. But she did remember the time room from her fifth year, she knew that the unspeakables were working on time travelling. But she didn't know if the work was only theoretical or practical. They must have been doing experiments of some sort. A way to travel through space and time for longer than a year

Hermione had realised when talking to the unspeakable at Slughorn's party yesterday. That the men that sent her here, wore the same black robes that unspeakables wore. They weren't distinctive robes and she had only seen them once, which is probably why she hadn't figured it out before now.

She didn't know what information this new discovery could provide, maybe none. But it was still something. She had a lead…sort of. Maybe if she could go to the department of mysteries and see what they were working on. But she doesn't even know what she is looking for, besides the runes, and she doesn't know if they have even been invented yet.

Hermione was absolutely lost. Dumbledore didn't have anything yet, and she had searched nearly all of the library, including the restricted section. She had even asked her ancient runes professor what the runes meant, Professor Finnigan said he had never seen them before. She was losing hope.

/

The day after Slughorn's party was rather amusing…for Tom at least. He cast a quick protego on Hermione as a fifth year Slytherin hexed her in the hallway. Tom glared fiercely at the stupid fifth year and jogged to Hermione's side.

"Well, Hermione, I didn't know you felt so strongly about me, I've got to say I'm flattered, I just don't feel the same way" Tom placed a gentle sympathetic hand on her shoulder and patted. He smiled widely when Hermione glared at him murderously. He loved when she got angry, it was one of the few pleasures of life. The fact that everyone thought Hermione was in love with him made him unreasonably amused. It was ridiculous, anyone could see how much she didn't like him. Hated him even. The thought made his stomach roll slightly, he didn't know why.

"Ha ha. Very funny." She rolled her eyes and walked faster, but her strides were much smaller than his and he caught up easily. Hermione was much shorter than him, and Tom was rather tall. Hermione barely reached his chest. For someone so small, she was rather powerful.

"So where are you going?" Tom asked. He already knew the answer.

"The library,"

"Well, let me accompany you. We can study together." Hermione gave him an annoyed look and began to protest before uttering a defeated 'fine'.

Tom directed Hermione to their usual table, placing a hand on her lower back to guide her. Hermione squirmed. And so, they sat and studied. It's nice to have fresh ideas on topics that he otherwise would not have thought of. It's nice having someone on the same intellectual level as him. It's nice to know that someone valued knowledge just as much as he did. Yes, it was rather nice.

Hermione yawned quite loudly and inelegantly. She glanced outside where the sun had disappeared and the moon had replaced it. "I'm going to bed." she murmured, slamming her books shut and packing away her parchment and ink.

The next day, he caught Hermione on her way to the library and said, "We should start brewing our potion today." And before waiting for her answer, he pulled her along to the room of requirement. Hermione and Tom reached the seventh floor and faced the wall across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. "This is called the room of requirement, it does as its namesake. To enter, you must think of what you need, walk past the wall three times and it will provide it" Tom explained to her, eagerly awaiting her reaction. He was disappointed, she did not seem as intrigued as he'd thought she'd be. In fact, her surprise and fascination was rather dim and insincere. Not much of an actor she is.

He wondered why she would have such a dull reaction. Perhaps she had something similar to this wherever she was from, however unlikely it may be.

Tom walked past the wall three times thinking of a good place to brew the Exstimulo potion. A door appeared and Tom guided Hermione through. The room they entered had exactly what they needed. A large cauldron stood in the centre of a table surrounded by various equipment. In the corner was a comfortable-looking green couch next to a fireplace.

"This is nice" Hermione grabbed Riddle's wrist and pulled him along to the table. Her hand was soft and her grip firm, Tom's skin tingled where she touched. Hermione let go of his wrist to get the parchments they needed, Tom did the same.

"Okay so first we start with the fluxweed and the dragon's breath. You chop up the fluxweed, finely, and I'll slice the dragon's breath." Tom ordered. And with that both Tom and Hermione began working on their potion in a comfortable silence. Usually whenever Tom was partnered with another student in any class, he would do most, if not all the work. He just didn't trust the competence of his idiotic peers. But Hermione was on his level and he trusted her not to mess up the potion.

Tom looked over at Hermione. Her long eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks and her honey brown eyes were focused entirely on the potion. He'd never noticed how pretty her eyes were. Her skin was a light caramel and so soft-looking. Hermione was small in such a way that Tom thought she could be blown over by a gust of wind. Her nose was delicate and rounded and her lips…they were absolutely perfect. Tom was suddenly struck with the desire to kiss her.

"What are you looking at?" Hermione turned her head to face him. Her eyes were narrowed suspiciously. Tom didn't think, he just took a few steps toward her until they were close. Gingerly, he cupped her jaw and tilted her head up, moving closer still.

Tom tugged her forward so that her hands pressed against his chest. The only thing between them, besides clothes. He didn't know if she was going to push him away or pull him closer. Tom really hoped it was the latter.

Hermione's breathing got heavier as he ran the length of his nose against her cheek. She whimpered when he pressed a kiss to her cheek, and then another to her jaw. Her skin was so soft under his lips, but the place he desired so badly to kiss her was her lips. Tom pressed a kiss to the corner of Hermione's mouth. He was almost trembling in anticipation.

She shoved him away. Tom mourned the loss of her body warmth so deeply. He had never in his life been so physically close to another person. He had never kissed anyone, or held anyone. And he never wanted to. But now…with Hermione…it was all he wanted.

Hermione cleared her throat awkwardly and let out a long exhale. "We should uh, get back to…you know…" she mumbled, fidgeting and shifting in her spot nervously. Tom cleared his throat too. "Um, yes we should"

Tom realised he was rejected again by Hermione. It was such a strange new feeling, like emptiness and hurt, he hated it.

/

Hermione could not believe she almost kissed Tom Riddle again. He was obviously attractive, but Hermione had never been the type to kiss someone just because they were attractive. Hermione was so disgusted by herself, if she had kissed him like she so badly wanted to, she would have been a traitor. Ron and Harry would never forgive her.

Tom Riddle was the enemy. A murderous evil man who will cause so much suffering. She just needed to remember that. She has to remember that. What would Ron and Harry think about her if they ever knew the thoughts Hermione was having about Tom Riddle.

She still loved Ron, even though they were not together romantically anymore. She still loved and missed him. And Harry was her best friend, how could she betray him like that. No she won't kiss Riddle. She never will. No matter how badly she wanted his lips on hers.

What a fucked up situation. Having weird feelings about, and wanting to kiss Voldemort.

/

The next day after classes were over, Hermione and Tom had detention together. It was so incredibly awkward, for her at least. They still argued about Gamp's law of elemental transfiguration in Dumbledore's class, which meant they were still sort of normal. Hermione didn't want to admit that she actually liked his company. But of course she would, she had never had an intellectual companion, Ron and Harry would kill themselves before discussing anything about magical theory. It was normal to feel somewhat attached to Riddle's acquaintance. But that doesn't mean she's not aware of him being her most dangerous adversary. It doesn't mean that she wouldn't be prepared to kill him if it came down to it. The thought made her stomach churn uncomfortably.

Hermione looked over at Riddle who was cleaning the walls. There was a messy prank done by some third year Gryffindor and they were the lucky ones who had to clean it up. Everytime Hermione looked at Riddle, she was struck by how unnaturally handsome he was. She understood how every girl at Hogwarts, and some boys, had a crush on him. She even understood why people were hexing her in the halls.

But they didnt know him. No one did, not even his followers.