A/N: New chapter- finally some Tom/ Hermione action! You may notice a few details slightly AU in this chapter! As always please Review as they push for more chapters! Thank you.
Hermione sat wide-eyed. She didn't know what to do. For the first time that she recalled- she dint know what to do next. She turned to look at him full on. She didn't know what she has subconsciously thought she would see sitting next to her but when she looked at him he was just a normal boy. He had pale skin, not uncommon in the middle of the UK, wavy dark hair that just barely fell to his eyes and dark green eyes that were almost black. He was traditionally handsome, and she didn't know what form scared her more.
He looked at her expectantly. She narrowed her eyes in slight confusion before she remembered he had introduced himself. She shook her head and put a fake smile on her face, "Hello, sorry, I'm Hermione Granger."
He returned her smile, she felt dirty. He took her now outreached hand but instead of simply shaking it as she had intended, he brought it up to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. It took every fiber of her being not to snatch her hand away and disinfect her hand. Instead, she sent him another smile.
He took it as a sign he should continue to be in her presence, "I am a 5th year with you as well as a prefect. It would be my duty and privilege if you'd allow me to show you around, this castle can be quite daunting if you don't know where you're going." He ended with another smile.
Hermione had to bite her tongue. She wanted to tell him that she knew her way around and probably more about the castle but instead, she smiled, "Yes I had read about all the moving staircases in Hogwarts- A History."
He looked a little put out at her knowing that tidbit, probably hoping to catch her off guard. She continued, "but you are right I will have no idea about classes. If you're offering I'd like to take up on your offer."
His smile grew more genuine, "do you have your schedule, I can see how many classes we have together."
She nodded and handed him the paper Dumbledore had slipped to her as they walked up to Dippet this morning. He looked at it and nodded, "We actually have every class together. This will make showing you around easier." He handed her the paper back. She sighed; Dumbledore must have ensured she'd have classes with him to complete her mission.
She nodded in response. He began to eat his breakfast beside her. Without turning, hoping to look casual he asked, "So do you mind if I ask, why you transferred so late?"
Hermione sighed. To the outsider, it would look as if it was a sad sigh, and in a way it was. She was sad and missing her life back in her own time. But it was mostly an exasperated sigh. She knew she would get this question a lot and she was already annoyed with it, "My adoptive parents lived in France, they homeschooled me. The muggle war got a bit too close and the wards weren't strong enough for the bombs. I happened to be out with friends. When I got home everything was gone. In the end, I was brought back to the country of my birth and placed with my next closest guardian."
She looked at him when he didn't say anything for a while. He looked to be in thought. She barely heard him when he asked, "your adoptive parents?"
She had to refrain from smirking in victory. She had hooked him to her story. This was a good sign, early but good none the less, "Yes my mother died giving birth to me. My birth father found out she was a witch when her pregnancy blew her cover as a muggle. Once he found out he ran and the stress wasn't good for her, she didn't survive the ordeal. But I was lucky and old family friends and fellow wizards took me in." she smiled, thinking of her adoptive family the Weasleys.
He nodded in understanding, "So you're a half-blood?"
Her eyes immediately narrowed, "You got a problem with that Riddle?" She dared him to say anything with her eyes.
He shook his head, "No, the hat put you in Slytherin, which means you're one of us and that's good enough." He finished with a smirk.
She nodded her head once and stood up grabbing her bag as she did, "If I remember correctly, we have potions first and I'd like to get to my first lesson a little early if you don't mind."
He nodded and stood up as well. He also grabbed his bag and followed her out of the Great Hall. She didn't notice the entire table following them out the door with their eyes, several curious but a select few followed with too much interest.