DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HP

CHAPTER SEVEN: CHANGES

Hermione had been taking walks in the forbidden forest. Sometimes in the day and sometimes in the evening, she thought it had a certain beauty to it. The walks had become her new therapy, she preferred it to fighting dummies and creatures in the room of requirement. The depression of being in the past had finally started getting to her and the walks helped her forget. Her plans of destroying Voldemort had been put on hold for now, she realised he'd started paying attention to her and that wasn't what she wanted, she wanted to be left alone for a while to clear her thoughts and so she quickly started faking falling for him, he soon lost interest thinking that she was becoming one of his stupid fangirls. She had no intention of rushing things after all she had more than a year right?

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Tom had lost interest in Bellouve, she had started falling for him, just as he thought she would. He hadn't an idea what had got him into thinking she was actually worth his time, she was a mudblood for crying out loud!

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Hermione barely spoke to anyone, ever. She'd only occasionally reply to some rude remarks but other times she ignored them so apart from answering questions in class or greeting someone, she didn't talk. There was a Quidditch match that day, the first match of the year. Hermione didn't plan to go, it reminded her too much of her past.

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Tom was about to walk out of the castle when he spotted Hermione walking down a corridor, the rational side of him told him to leave her be and go to the Quidditch match but the irrational part of him wanted to follow her and find out where she was going because she obviously wasn't going to the match. He listened to the irrational side of him and followed her casting a quick disillusionment charm on himself so she wouldn't see him.

Hermione had a feeling she was being watched and turned around, she saw nothing, she was heading to the room of requirement, she wasn't going to vent, she just needed somewhere calm so she could think clearly and undisturbed.

Tom was surprised that Hermione knew about the room of requirement. After all she'd only been here for a month, she looked around to see if anyone was watching and then she walked in, Tom followed her in right before the door disappeared, Tom didn't know what to expect when he walked into the room, but it was far from what he saw; one side of the room was blue with carpeted floors, it had a fireplace, two sofas and one armchair with a coffee table that had a book on it, right in front of the fire. The other side of the room was grey and all that was there was a dummy. Hermione walked over to the blue side of the room and sat down, she liked the blue and was glad it wasn't red otherwise she was sure she would be crying by now.

Hermione sighed and sat on the armchair, she stared into the flames, still having the feeling that someone was watching her, she dismissed it. She missed home, she just wanted to go back to her time where everyone was alive even if it was during the war, just as long as the people she loved were alive and well. An unexpected tear rolled down her cheek, she didn't bother to wipe it away, she just continued to stare into the flames.

The feeling of being watched was becoming overwhelmingly strong, maybe someone followed me in by using a disillusionment charm. Hermione raised her wand "Homenum revelio." She whispered

Hermione stared at Tom unsurprised and Tom stared back at her with an unreadable expression on his face. She turned away and stared into the flames again. She didn't bother with her shy, 'I'm so in love with you' mask, she'd had enough of it. "What are you doing here Tom?" She said in a cold, hard voice.

Tom was surprised by Hermione's tone and straightforwardness. "I was seeing what you were up to Bellouve since you obviously weren't going to the Quidditch match."

"It isn't compulsory to go to the match Tom, and now that you know what I'm doing, please leave."

"Actually I was thinking that I might stay Bellouve." He said walking over to a sofa and sitting down. Hermione looked at him and then turned back to stare at the fire. God did she hate him. "Why are you here Bellouve?"

"Because I need space." She answered simply.

"Space from what?"

She gripped the arms of the armchair in frustration. "Just shut up Tom." Her teeth were clenched.

"What did you just say Bellouve."

She snapped her head towards him "I said shut up."

"Be careful with the way you speak to me."

She laughed cruelly. "Or what Tom? What could you possibly do to me? I'll tell you what, nothing, so do me a favour and SHUT UP!" Hermione finally lost it.

Tom was pissed, how dare she?! How dare the insolent mudblood talk to him like that? He got up and raised his wand at her "Crucio!"

The pain coursed through Hermione like electricity, she felt as if she was being stabbed and electrocuted at the same time, but she didn't scream, she'd been through worse under the same wand that he was using and she hadn't screamed once, she wasn't going to now.

Tom lifted the curse and watched as Hermione lay panting on the floor, he was unsatisfied, she hadn't screamed once, not once. He stared at her and then to his surprise and utter horror she began to laugh, the laugh of a maniac, she laughed and laughed until she had to sit up and clutch her stomach, she laughed until tears streamed down her face and then she suddenly stopped. She looked at him and cocked her head to the side, she had a crazed look in her eyes and her hair was all over the place. "You really think that was going to work?" She asked. "I'm sorry but you'll have to try harder." And she burst into laughter again. Tom stared bewildered, why wasn't she crying? Why wasn't she begging him to forgive her? And most of all, why was she laughing?!

Hermione found the entire situation funny, he thought he could break her just by torturing her. He'd have to try harder, much much harder at that. The war almost broke her but didn't, he'd have to try way harder, it was almost comical to her, the man who would grow up to ruin her life and everybody else's was standing in front of her fuming because he couldn't get her to scream while torturing her.

Tom had had enough of Hermione's laughing. "Shut up." He said. She shut up and stared at him. "What now Tom?" She asked, a smile in her voice.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, aren't you going to try and obliviate me or something?" Hermione got up; dusted herself off and sat on her armchair again and resumed her staring into the fire.

"Why didn't you scream?" Tom asked in a whisper.

"What was that?" Said Hermione turning to look at him.

"Why didn't you scream?"

"Oh that, I've been through worse, much worse, can't say you get used to the pain but also can't say it hurts as much." She shrugged as if it was no big deal.

Tom sat back down on the sofa again, and for once, he didn't know what to do or say. He'd gone completely blank and the girl that sat next to him had done that to him, and so they sat in silence.

"Who are you?" Tom finally asked breaking the silence.

She turned to look at him, there were tears in eyes and she had a sad smile on her face. "Can't say I know the answer anymore."

"Where'd you come from."

"France."

"Don't give me that crap Bellouve, I think we're past that now, where are you really from?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why?"

"I can't tell you that either. Ask me something that I can tell you."

"How am I supposed to know what I can and what I can't ask you?"

"Then I suggest you keep quiet then." She smiled at him.

He growled, "I'll ask and you tell or else I will put you through much worse than you have been through."

"I highly doubt that's even possible Tom."

He raised his wand but this time she was prepared "Crucio!"

"Protego!" The curse crashed into the wall behind her.

"And here I thought we were getting along so well," Hermione said with a sweet fake smile.

"I've had enough of this." Tom sneered at her.

"You've had enough of this? You were the one that followed me in here, tortured me and started questioning me. I don't see any part that could have caused you distress."

Tom said nothing, she was right. "I'm done with this," Hermione said and walked towards the door. Tom grabbed her arm, "You're not going anywhere till I say so."

Hermione looked him dead in the eye, "Save us both the pain and let me go, we have nothing to talk about. I owe you nothing so please let me go."

Tom let her go and sat down on the sofa, she took one last look at him and left.

Tom was beyond confused and curious, the girl he'd just seen was different from the girl he'd seen a day ago in the hall. He wanted to, no, he needed to know the whole truth.

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Hermione avoided Tom the entire week, everything was ruined. She thought if maybe she avoided him, he would give up and not look for her anymore. What she didn't know was that this only made him more intent on finding her out.

Hermione was alone in the library, she decided to skip dinner, she wanted to be alone in a place that she'd always love. Tom walked into the library, he was skipping dinner because there was a book that he was intent on finishing. He walked to the back of the library and behind a bookshelf to the place that he knew nobody ever went and was surprised to find somebody already there.

Hermione looked up to find Tom staring curiously at her, just perfect. "Hello, Tom."

"Hello, Bellouve."

He sat down opposite her and opened his book they read in a comfortable yet awkward silence. "Why are you skipping dinner?" Asked Hermione, breaking the silence.

"I didn't feel hungry besides I'd much rather finish this book, how about you?" He replied looking up at her.

Hermione glanced at the book cover, it was on dark magic. "Same."

Tom looked at her book cover and smiled. "Interesting choice."

Hermione laughed. "I was bored."

"So you went to search for books on dark magic which you can only find in the restricted section."

"Oh please, yours looks much worse."

He gave her a coy smile. "I happen to be interested in things like this."

"Oh do you now?"

"Yes, I do."

Hermione smiled and went back to reading, for some reason she wasn't angry or disgusted, she felt normal just normal. They continued to read in silence.

Reading at the library during dinner somehow became a ritual. Neither knew how it happened, it just did.

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Tom was wondering why he bothered with Bellouve, she was a mudblood after all and wasn't in anyway useful to him, frankly, he should hate her but for some reason, he didn't. It made him wonder.

Hermione walked into the library and sat down next to Tom, she said her usual hello to him, picked a book from a shelf and began to read, meanwhile Tom just watched her.

Hermione's scar was burning, Rose had hit Hermione's arm with a stinging hex and now it hurt like hell, she had to bite her lip to stop herself from screaming.

Tom looked at Hermione, she was biting her lip, she looked… Cute. She groaned slightly and Tom raised an eyebrow, "Are you OK Bellouve?" He asked, just out of curiosity he told himself.

"Yeah, yeah it's just, it's nothing." She replied nodding. He gave her a strange look but said nothing He was sure something was wrong with her. Hermione was confused, did he actually care or was he just asking out of curiosity. A jolt went through her arm and she felt as if the knife was still being pressed into her arm, she let out a soft cry and clutched the table, neither noticed the red beginning to stain her sleeve. Tom looked at her, "Now seriously what is wrong with you?"

"Nothing." She clutched the table harder.

"I don't believe it."

Hermione chuckled. "It's just my arm, I'll be fine."

"Let me see." He reached out for her arm.

"No!" She pulled her arm back but Tom caught it, she struggled in his grip but he was too strong, he pulled up the sleeve of her shirt and froze. On her arm was the word MUDBLOOD carved into her skin. The wound was bleeding, it seemed as if it had been freshly done, the letters seemed bigger and deeper. Tom grasped Hermione's arm tighter, she hissed and he let go. "Who did that?" He asked through gritted teeth.

"Nothing- I mean no one, I'll be fine." She stuttered. She pulled her sleeve down and put her book in her bag hurriedly, a tear ran down her cheek and she wiped it away hastily and got up from the table. Tom grabbed her other arm and she stopped moving, he looked her dead in the eye. "Who did that?" He asked again. "No one." She pulled her arm, he didn't let go. Tom smashed into her mind.

Hermione was on the floor screaming, a woman was kneeling next to her holding a knife laughing maniacally carving the letters into her skin.

"Stop!" Hermione shouted and blocked him out of her mind, she was crying now, he let go of her arm and she ran out of the library. Tom sat back in his chair shocked by the scene that had just happened.

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Tom watched Hermione for the rest of the week and she had avoided him. Something about Hermione had spiked something in him, for once he actually found himself attracted to someone.

Hermione was walking down a hallway, she was bored, had been bored since she started avoiding Tom, for some reason she missed his company. Hogwarts was practically empty at the moment apart from the first and second year's, everyone had gone to Hogsmeade. She ran her fingers on the walls and sighed she then spotted Tom. Hermione almost called out to him but stopped herself just in time but she then noticed him walking over to her and she didn't make any attempt to walk away. He stood in front of her now and she looked down at her feet, "Hello Bellouve." He said in his usual, smooth voice.

"Hi, Tom." She muttered.

"Why have you been avoiding me?"

"I haven't bee-"

He cut her off by pinning her to the wall, his hands on either side of her head, trapping her. "Don't lie to me, Hermione." He whispered in her ear. It was the first time he'd said her name, Hermione felt a tingle go through her

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I said don't lie."

"Stop it."

He pushed off the wall and looked at her in the eye. "Just tell me."

Hermione folded her arms and stared at her shoes. "Because."

"Because of what?"

"I don't know OK? I just have."

"Then stop."

"Why?"

"Because I like talking to you."

"Why? I'm a mudblood remember?"

"Doesn't mean I can't enjoy your company."

She chuckled. "Whatever." She was still staring at her shoes. Tom stepped closer to her and lifted her chin with his hand, her brown eyes met his blue ones. "Tom I-" Hermione didn't complete her sentence because at that moment his lips met hers.

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A/N: Boom! Ok, I know this chapter wasn't really planned out or any good but seriously this was all I could think of and at last, they kissed so at least you got that. Anyway thanks for reading! :)