Chapter 7

I spent my time evenly with Lou, Ben, and the library. Looking up Phoenix magic and properties in different circumstances since there were no bloody time travel books. Time tuners was maybe just a gleam in the creator's eye as of yet. Dumbledore was still waiting for his correspondences to reply. Waiting on the Dept of Magic and his friend from the North that had the phoenix egg.

I vigorously ran my fingers through my hair. It was even more unruly during this time period. The trend had it that people had them fixed with sticking sprays and charms. I couldn't bear to style it. It was a part of me. I felt like I would be losing more pieces of myself. Displaced in time, faced with a future dark lord in a place so familiar it ached. Ben reminded me of Ron with his freckles and boyish attitude, but he was placed in Slytherin for a reason. He was sharp as was Lou. Although Ben did come to me with homework questions, a pleading look in his eyes. I looked towards the window and imagined breathing in the early morning air. I was the only one in the library as it was before breakfast.

I was the only one in the library. There was someone coming. Footsteps were headed my way.

My wand was in my right pocket. I leaned my one of my hands towards it. And then I sighed. I couldn't help it.

Tom Riddle, apparently, was pleased with my reaction. He smirked while crossing his arms across his chest leaning towards one of the bookshelves.

"Well hello there Hermione. Nice day isn't it?"

I tried not to glare at him. Why was he here! Sure public space and all that but from what I saw and to my upmost aggravation, he did not study.

"Yes, it is Riddle. But it will be breakfast soon so I will be heading out." I started to pack my books to place them back when he came over and stilled my hands.

He still had that veneer of charm on his face but we both knew better. Those cool grey eyes of his belied amusement and not a small potion of irritation.

"Call me Tom", he murmured.

I started to shake my head, trying to quickly come up with some excuse.

But his hands tightened before bringing one up slowly to my hair and then yanking it back. I yelped, he didn't pull any hairs out, but he did have a firm grip.

I started to struggle immediately spewing vitrol.

"Tom! Unhand me. You have no right-"

I tried to let go of hand that was on my hair and go for the wand. I should have went for the wand first, but it was instinct to grab whatever got a grip of you. Especially if it was your hair. But he must have foreseen it since he quickly grabbed it out of the correct pocket and stuffed it in his own.

"So disrespectful Hermione" He murmured as if not insane. "I was only trying to be a good friend and keep you company. What kind of person doesn't call their friend by their first name?"

He waved his wand and suddenly my arms tightened to my sides. Unmoving. Blasted bloody hell.

He still hadn't let go up my hair. But he did relax his posture.

"It came to my attention, that we were in dire need of a conversation." He calmed stated.

He was slowly sifting his fingers through my hair.

"You should know better than to trade seats with Lou. Trying to leave me by myself."

"You have friends! Abraxas and your crew in the back. Are they also not your friends?" I spat at him.

His eyes narrowed at the mention of Abraxas. "They are not my friends. And It seems to you also do not wish to be my friend. There would have to be a different designation for you then..."

He suddenly came into close, face inches away from mine. I could feel his breathe lightly puff across my face, it reminded me of winter mint. My heart rate was accelerating, I could feel it.

"What are you hiding Hermione?"

I shook my head before sputtering, "I have no idea what you mean Riddle-" I squeaked

He pulled my head back even more then. Tilting my head back, forcing me to arch my back. He's too close! He's an absolute nut.

I told him as such. He only smirked, amusement dancing in his eyes. But then a cool front covered his face, like blinders in a window.

Measuredly he said, "No… you are hiding something. Something you do not want me to know. Why else go through such trouble to hide from me?"

He pulled away slightly, to get a good look at me I suppose. I tried to evade his eyes, but that seemed to infuriate him as it only made him grip me harder. Angling my face towards his own. If I wasn't in such a strait I would think this was a perfect time for me to get him a book here that taught something along the lines of personal space.

"You let something slip yesterday. How careless of you, Hermione" In shock I froze, horror engulfing me. Did he know? From just that moment the other day, he had seen?

Tom only smiled gently at me. "Yes my dear, all that information you spewed yesterday made you careless. That property about dragon's tooth… It was not published in any of the articles you mentioned. Sluggy was so surprised by it he sent a missive to one of his associates. And you can only guess at his shock when a work he was getting ready to publish in a month was repeated by a sixth year student at Hogwarts."

Tom looked bloodthirsty, like a dog with a bone. He continued, "You have knowledge of something that had not happened. You come out of nowhere and have meetings with Dumbledore. You barely have a French accent and speak English perfectly. Do not insult my intelligence." How does he know about Dumbledore? I was shaking now, bound and at his mercy. I did not think he would confront me so soon. Foolish witch. I could only gape at him.

He scowled, eyes flaring up. "What are you. What are you hiding?" He harshly whispered. I had to make something up, quickly. A time traveler, a seer, pure coincidence?

"I-I can explain. Tom. It-It's just that I am a…a–"

Madame Donnel's voice sounded not too far away. "Is there anyone back there? Students should be in the mess hall! Breakfast has already started."

Tom glanced back, before giving string of muffled curse. He waved his hand, and my binds were undone. I quickly got a hold of my bearing and started to run to the entrance. But I was suddenly yanked back by my arm. My back molded completely to Tom's chest. Disgusting I noticed how firm and unyielding his body was. Not overbearingly muscular like a weightlifter but lean like a swimmer. Before I let out a scream to alert Madam Donnel, he fiercely whispered, "This is not the last of this conversation. We will have this again. Meet me by the Whomping Willow tonight 30 minutes after dinner ends or you won't be getting your wand back."

He then released me. I only glanced at him before hurrying away to breakfast. Breathes coming in short gasps.

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Bloody idiot. He hadn't read my mind. I ruined myself with my big mouth. I was off by one bloody month! Actually barely three weeks with that article. I braced myself on my knees in the girls bathroom. I had to tell him something. I needed a story, he seems to be using subtle legilimency back at the library.

Was there a way I could flip this? That the research author was a friend of mind and so I knew his work? No the damage was already done. Was being from the future any less dangerous than letting him know I was a seer? I screamed into my hands. I desperately wished Ron and Harry was here.

During breakfast, I saw Riddle with his sycophants towards the head of the table. I met the worried eyes of Dumbledore. I needed to speak to him. Another question that came up was how Tom knew I was meeting with Dumbledore. I was a new student it shouldn't have been preposterous to be in meetings with the Deputy head. Although it was odd I was not meeting with my own House Head.

I absently mindedly greeted Lou and Ben. I did not really have an appetite, but I forced myself to swallow some things. I would need the energy. I wouldn't be going down so quickly this time. If we were forced to duel, I refused to let Voldemort go on without a scratch.

I took a deep breathe. I was thinking too rashly. Dumbledore was still here. Riddle wasn't Voldemort yet. I let out the breath.

I missed the concerned gaze of Lou.

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After leaving the mess hall and waving to Ben, I was surprised to find Lou next to me. "Charms class?", she reminded me.

"Sorry Lou, I just had some things on my mind."

She nodded. "About Riddle." She didn't frame it as a question.

I was taken back and I looked at her curiously. She just gave me a sly smile.

"I can tell these things. And I can also tell its not in the romantic sense. I will allow you to tell me what your issue is."

I gave her a genuine smile. It was nice to at least have a person to confide in. "There is some drama between Riddle and I. Just be sure to alert someone if I go missing or something", I tell her half-jokingly.

Lou turns to me serious. "I will, Hermione" Her face devoid of any emotion except the severity I saw in her eyes. "You must be careful around Riddle. I believe you already know this."

We had stopped walking by this point. Lou knew something about Riddle I did not already.

I hesitantly asked her, "Did you deal with Riddle previously?"

She shook her head. "No, he knows better than to intricate himself with me- " she paused "-I will give you some materials for smoke bombs if you would like? If you worry about your safety."

Multitude of questions bounced around in my mind. But at this point I just accepted her offer.

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I knocked repeatedly on the tall wooden door. Polished with brown gleaming oak made way to make for Dumbledore's face. He looked not too surprised to see me and gestured me inside.

"Is something the matter, Miss Granger?" Him speaking my real name gave me a sort of wispy relief.

"Yes professor… Riddle knows I am hiding something." I explained how he deduced this and I waited for his response with baited breath.

Dumbledore stared at me with worried eyes, "Hermione, we are crossing paths with the future. Tom is bright, it does not surprise me that he picked on some details on you. I worry…for the events of the future we may change."

Parts of the future were already changed with my just being here. "What should I tell him Professor? He will not let this go."

"If you said you were a seer, you would be the quintessential cow's milk. He would see you as a tool to raise and then exploit. However, if you feel you must tell him something. Perhaps it would be in you benefit to stick closer to the truth of being a time traveler, but only from the next decade or even shorter. You would only possess a finite amount of information."

I nodded, I would have thought all of this if I had some down time to think, but Albus's twinkling eyes made me feel better.

"I am meeting him tonight by the Whomping Willow. I suppose that is as good as time as any. And it could douse his interest in me if he knows I don't hold information of any importance."

"Good luck my dear, I will bestow to you a necklace." He moved about his room opening cabinets and rummaging until he found what he was looking for. Moving faded parchments papers aside his desk, he presented to me a clear orb like creation with a blue stone center, the charm a width of two inches. The vibrant stone was held by silvers wisp like strings, so thin were they.

"It is similar to a port key. Just crack the glass and you will appear here in my office. If you have it, it will assuage my worries."

I tested it in my palm and found that it was unyielding. Good I wouldn't accidently break it and teleport myself. I held it for a second before clasping it around my neck and placing it underneath my uniform.

I looked up at him, "Thank you professor"

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Anotha one, anotha one, and then anotha one.

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