It has been too long. I am sorry, with my grandma's death, and teen issues and term papers I haven't been writing. I also have no ideas. Please give me ideas, I am in desperate need!!!

Chapter um...I don't rememberg

Into the Dark...Arts

Little was seen of Voldemort/Tom for the next few days. (I'll be calling him Tom from now on)

He mostly sat thinking in his room.

Thoughts swarmed his head.

Ideas swept through him like wind through an old screen door.

He stayed alone pondering his feelings. Surprised he even had them left to ponder.

Who was she to talk to him like that? Why did she say those things? Are they true? Why do I care?

His head buzzed with questions.

Questions to which he had no answers.

And Tom Riddle always had to have answers; it was just the way he was.

He sat brooding, trying to form a plan.

A plan to do what?

Well, he didn't actually know. But he needed a plan none the less.

Hermione, like Tom, was seen very little for the next few days as well. She spent most of her time in the library. Reading, naturally.

The odd thing was the section she was in, but that's a long story.

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Flash back

-library, Hermione is browsing books…she can't find one she wants, Draco walks in.-

'You realize there is a whole 'nuther section like 3 feet away from you full of books that you haven't read yet?' He said with a laugh.

She sighed 'I don't read Dark Arts books.'

'Why?'

'Because I'm not interested in the Dark Arts.'

'Why not?'

'Because, if you haven't noticed, I consider them evil.'

'Why?'

She started getting angry.

'Why do you keep saying why?'

'Why not?'

'Grrrrrrrrr'

'Did you just grr at me?' he said with a raised eyebrow.

She giggled. And then cracked up laughing.

Wasn't she angry like 2 seconds ago??? Bloody hell, women and emotions!!! Draco thought.

Hermione stopped laughing.

'I'm sorry.' Tears started welling up in her eyes. 'I don't know what came over me.'

She started sobbing.

Draco had absolutely no clue what to do. What the hell is wrong with her today!!! He thought.

'Um…ok then…' was all he could say.

She whipped her eyes. 'All better now.' She cheerfully went back to browsing through books.

Draco, being a Slytherin, was not used to people outwardly displaying their emotions…especially, not when it was like 4 emotions in the time span of 2 minutes.

'Are you…umm…ok?' Draco said trying to be...well, nice.

'I'm fine. Why do you ask?' Hermione replied absent mindedly.

'Just wondering. You know, there's a lot to learn from these books.' He said motioning to the dark Arts section of the library. 'You never have to use dark magic, but it's always good to know what you're up against. You might say it's a necessity, and it's highly educational.'

Hermione looked up.

'I mean when you really think about it, a lot good and useful spells come from dark books. Look at the recipe for polyjuice potion, Moste Potente Potions is considered a Dark Arts book.' 'True.' She muttered deep in thought.

'Knowledge is power, and given your situation, a little power wouldn't be such a bad thing.'

'Hmmmm.'

'Well you think about it, I've got to go.' He said and walked out.

A smile was upon his face. He always loved to cause a little mischief, and he wondered where this could lead. Plus he got her into this mess, and truth be told, he felt a bit bad, maybe she could find a way out of it, 'cuz he sure as hell couldn't.

End flash back

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That was 16 hours ago. And now Hermione sat in a comfy armchair, surrounded by piles of books. Sorted by topic, and then into two piles; read and to read.

She hadn't moved from her seat in 10 hours.

She had read 6 books, cover to cover, and had made note for herself on a separate piece of paper.

She couldn't do much in the way of wand less magic, but she could conjure a pen and paper. She had decided to go with muggle writing tools because pens are quicker and less messy than quills, and they never smudge.

How could I not have thought to read dark books before? This is full of useful spells, they aren't even inherently bad. This could have won the war for the good side. There's so much to learn.

She just kept reading and noting things. These books had everything. From the strongest healing spells, to the most useful spells for trickery, to offences spells, even some old magic, like secret-keeping and horcruxes.

And there were potions with amazing abilities. Potions that could in fact even put a stopper in death as Snape had said their first year.

Oh, this must be the potion Voldemort to come back from the almost dead. It's really complex. She thought reading over the recipe. Oh, so that's where Harry was taken by the Portkey, Riddle manor. It's fascinating. It makes sense that they are all so obsessed with this art; it's so…so…captivating.

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Draco had stopped by a few hours before to see how she was doing. But she was too absorbed in the books to even look up at him. It was no use trying to talk to her, so he left her alone.

It's a pity she was born a mudblood, she's got amazing ability, could have been one of the best Death Eaters. Provided she wasn't so…moral. Then again being a Death Eater isn't exactly great. That must be why the Dark Lord wants her, she a genius.

'Malfoy, what has the Mudblood been up to?' Voldemort questioned the Death Eater bowed at his feet.

'Nothing My Lord, reading the library.' He replied looking him in the eye.

'Reading? This entire time?'

'Yes My Lord, she hasn't been out of the library in 2 days.'

'What could she be reading that's so enthralling.' It wasn't actually a question.

'My Lord she has in fact been reading Dark Arts books.'

'Dark Arts, interesting.' He paused deep in thought, realisign Draco was still, at him feet he added 'you have my permission to go.'

'Yes My Lord.' Draco said and rose.

Well that was certainly interesting, the Dark lord has been acting strangely for the past few days, I wonder why. He thought.

I NEED IDEAS. PLEAZ. and thanx to all who sent condolences abotu my grandma's death. The dyslexic bookworm --- sarah