Hermione woke up in the middle of the night. She couldn't go back to sleep. She stood up, she got her dressing gown, then she walk outside the room. She reached the common room and no one was there, as always. She's been having nightmares. Every night, since they got here, her nightmares are worst.
There's no fire burning in the fireplace. She sighed. She walked outside. She silently walked up the stairs, to the seventh floor. She walked pass a corridor three times before the door revealed itself.
She entered; the room looked like the slytherin common room, not what she was expecting. That wasn't the only thing surprising about this room. There was someone inside, crying. She steps closer, only to find Tom Riddle.
Riddle turned around to find the witch he was expecting. He knows she'll go here, and he have waited long enough.
"What are you doing here? It's past midnight. You shouldn't be here." He said as he tried to hide his tears that were caused by a simple spell.
"Sorry. What they did was wrong. It's wrong to judge a person be his/her blood status. And you should know that, because you've been judging everyone by their blood status. I know your story. Harry told me everything he knows about you." He looked at her, in her eyes. He wants to know what that Dumbledore knows.
"He told me how you were conceived by a love potion, which your mother, a witch, died giving birth to you. About your muggle father abandoning both of you who is why you hate muggles so much. And also, the muggle orphanage that made you who you are today. I know the world has been cruel. But that doesn't give you the right to be harsh to others. You are not the only one suffering, Tom." He saw how careful she said his name, a name he suddenly liked.
"Harry, his mother died." She continued. Riddle looked genuinely surprised. "Her mother, Lily, she died protecting Harry. Aberfort wasn't there when Grindelwald attacked; Harry was just a year old. Gellert and Albus were friends, but they had a huge misunderstanding. You know the scar in Harry's forehead? That was what the killing cursed did. Harry didn't die because of his mother's love." She's telling the truth. He can see it in her eyes. He doesn't need to use legilimens, he can already see she's telling the truth.
"Love is not a weakness Tom. Most people would die for it, yes, but that doesn't make it a weakness. Love is the most powerful thing in the world, and every person deserves to be loved, including you." She said as she stood up and was about to leave, but Tom stopped her.
"You know about how I was conceived. Then, if you're really smart, then you would know that I cannot love. A person conceived by a love potion cannot love. How is love the most powerful thing? Love is a weakness, and those who die for it, they're simply foolish." He spat.
"You're wrong, Tom. I wish you would understand." She said.
"I have one last question. You're a pureblood, and you've just found out that I'm a halfblood, why are you here?" he asked.
"Because I want you to understand, blood status is nothing." She said. "But I guess you wouldn't understand. After all, you insist that love is a weakness." She continued. She walked away. The door opened but Tom whispered something. She looked back, "what was that?"
"Can you make me understand?" Tom whispered, this time clearer. Hermione was surprised. Her eyes widen, her mouth hang open, "You want me to help you understand?" she asked, confused.
"Yes." Tom clarified.
Hermione sighed. "Let's just say that I would help you understand, will you promise to try everything I say, even do everything I say, that wouldn't harm you?" she asked.
"Yes, I promise." He said the words but didn't mean them.
"Okay, let's do the unbreakable vow." She said. Tom was surprised. She reached out for her wand and mumbled something; an otter burst through it and went out.
"Oy! Don't say you back out! I already woke up Harry." Tom only shook his head. There was no turning back now.
Suddenly, young Dumbledore rushed to the room, his wand pointing at Riddle. His messy hair seems to be messier than ever, and he was still in his pyjamas. He stood rooted in his place when he saw Riddle's blood red eyes. He looked at Hermione, he didn't seem hurt.
"What the bloody hell are you doing here 'Mione? And what was that about your patronus? I thought something bad happened!" he rushed to Hermione, checked if she's really okay.
Hermione chuckled. "Harry, sorry. I need you to do something." She said.
"What is it 'Mione?" he asked, still worried.
"Well, I want you to bind us with the unbreakable vow." He was now speechless.
"Bind you? 'Mione, the unbreakable vow?" he asked, dumbfounded.
"Yes, Harry, the unbreakable vow." She said seriously.
"But, why?" Harry asked.
"Harry!" she yelled.
"Fine! Fine!" he said. "What would I ask him?" he asked.
"First ask him if he is willing to do anything I say that wouldn't harm him. Then ask him to if he is willing to try to find love and peace and be fair. And finally, ask him if he would never purposely kill someone." Harry doesn't get how Hermione persuaded Riddle to say yes, but he did.