Hi there. I, well, I really don't know what to say here… It's been, what? Six month –cringe- I am so sorry, wow. I literally looked today how long it had been since I updated and my heart sort of dropped and I thought 'shit, I really need to update.' So, uh, here you go. I'm trying to find excuses to why I haven't updated in so long, College, Boyfriend, Illness. But really it comes down to laziness and writers block, also you can partly blame my boyfriend….

So yeah, here you go. I'm really not sure on this chapter but I have to admit I slightly chuckled while writing it. Enjoy dearies.

Oh and again also, oops – I asked for betas in my last chapter and some of you responded and I finished this chapter and thought 'It's been six months, these people really aren't going to want to be my Betas now.' However if you would still like to be, just pm me!

Enjoy, for the final time!

Tom walked over to Hermione, his gait sure. He knew what he wanted to do, if only to scare her. If he wanted to, he could have her writhing on the ground, even dead in under a second. But what he was to do would surely scare her far worse than that.

As her walked to her, Hermione was frozen to the spot. She slowly creeped her hand to her only pocket in her extravagant dress, where she had placed her wand. Tom saw and raised his eyebrows.

"There's no need for that, Granger." He chuckled. Hermione grabbed the wand and flicked it out, tightening her grip on it.

"You just threatened me Riddle, why would there be no need for it, pray, tell me?" She hissed through clenched teeth, making him chuckle again which only irritated Hermione further.

"I'm not going to hurt you Granger; do you not think your dear Finnick would be suspicious? He left you alone, with me? The only person who would know such spells in the area. And look Granger." He smiled, throwing his arms out to the side and turning all around before facing her again. "There's no one around, tut tut, you should know I'm smarter than that."

Hermione loosened her grip on her wand; he was right, as always. Of course he wouldn't hurt her, not where anyone could see him. Or he could be blamed. She lowered her wand.

"What is it then that you plan to do?" she asked curiously, tilting her head. He smirked at her and in two paces was in front of her, nearly nose to nose. Hermione stepped back but Tom brought her back towards him with a swipe of his arm and smirked at her again.

"Dance. With you." He stated, still with that smirk on his face that Hermione longed to wipe off.

"No."

"I wasn't asking Granger. Dance with me. See? A declarative statement. No question mark to be seen or heard of. You have no choice, but it's endearing that you thought you did." And with the statement he grabbed Hermione's hand and put it on his shoulder, grabbed her other and held it before moving his hand to her waist. "We haven't danced since the Slug Club party." He stated before leading her in a dance that Hermione didn't know. She had to keep her eyes on Tom's feet to ensure that she didn't stand on his feet. Not that she didn't want to hurt him; she just didn't want him to see her embarrassment at not being able to do something he could.

Hermione ignored his statement, thought it was true, they hadn't. She was surprised that now he could even bare to touch her after he knew what she was. But he continued to dance with her, his hand in hers and he didn't pull away. They danced for what felt like forever to Hermione but had really only been a minute before he let go of her hand and put it under her chin, and pulled her head up to look at him.

"Did you not hear me Granger? We haven't danced since the Slug Club party." Hermione rolled her eyes at his statement and grabbed his hand, leading her way into a more familiar dance that she knew. Tom gladly changed his dance but still managed to steal the lead off of Hermione.

"Well done Riddle." She scoffed. "It's lovely to know that you understand the concept of time and the past." Riddle laughed quietly and looked into Hermione's eyes again, making her gulp. He danced her over to the bridge they had just crossed till her back was firmly pushed against it.

"How can you even bare to touch me?" She whispered and the smile came back onto his face, he leant down and paced a chaste kiss to Hermione's collar bone making her freeze.

"It's fun to play with your head Granger. This is only the calm before the storm. "He smirked into her skin before bringing himself up and pushing her away from him. He walked out of the shadows in which he and Hermione had been hidden and put a smile back onto his face.

"Hey Finn….what are those?" Tom stopped suddenly two meters from Finnick, his face paling. In Finnick's hands were four tubs in the shape of pumpkins.

"Honestly Thomas, they're for putting the sweets in when we go trick or treating!" He beamed at Tom, his eyes lit up. Then his smile dimmed slightly. "Where's Hermione?"

Hermione was still stood in shadows, her heart was pounding and she was trying to catch her breath. The calm before the storm, she thought, if his was the calm then she dreaded the thought of what was to be in the storm. She mentally shook herself, of course she knew what the storm was, and she had lived though worse than this. That's right, she had lived, survived and there was not a chance that she was giving up. She steeled herself and put a smile on her face before walking out of the shadows to face Finnick.

"Here Finn, I was just looking at the river." She said her voice steady. He smiled at her.

"You really are a peculiar creature Hermione Granger. Now come on trick or treating!" He whined like a child grabbing Hermione's hand and pulling her down towards the village, both of them laughing. In that moment Hermione forgot everything Riddle had said to her.

During trick or treating with Finnick, Hermione had not once thought of Tom and his threat. She focussed on the feel of Finnick's roughed hand in hers and the heavy weight of the pumpkin in her other hand, however when the time had come for them to return to the castle and get ready for the feast, reality came crashing back down on her.

"Come on 'Mione, you have to change out of your costume for the feast unless you want to go in an old fashioned evening dress…." Hermione laughed half-heartedly.

"I'm going now; wait for me in the common room?" She asked breathlessly after running up the stairs to her common room.

"Of course." He beamed at her and Hermione walked into her room, shut the door and fell down against it. Inside her room was a snowy white owl with a letter tied to its leg. Hermione breathed sharply and held her breath believing it to be some sort of cruel illusion.

"Hedwig…"She whispered, the owl didn't react and he let out her breath before moving cautiously to it and taking the letter.

Dear Miss Granger,

I t has come to my attention that you may be needing a owl and had so far not purchased one. Therefore I took great pleasure in picking one out for you. Her name is Hedwidge.

Yours faithfully,

Albus Percival Wulfric Brain Dumbledore

Hermione laughed at the absurdness of the owl, of Dumbledore, at the owls' name. She softly stroked its head.

"Hello Hedwidge." She muttered and the owl hooted softly, affectionately nipping her hand causing her to laugh softly. "Now all I need is a rat that is actually a human In Animagus for called Scabbrers."

Smiling to herself, she quickly shrugged her dress off and changed into her usual skirt and jumper, letting her hair down and once again casting her bushiness spell. She looked at her reflection and smiled, the glow she has in fourth year had returned, the light in her eyes from learning every day and made a reappearance and she had filled out into her clothes nicely after the month of constant food. She was getting back to normalcy, as much as she could get when she was in 1944 and she was actually born in 1979.

There was a knock on the door and Hermione opened it to a smiling Finnick.

"May a fine gentleman escort a fine lady to dinner?" He smirked, holding out his arm which Hermione gladly took.

"He may."

The rest of the holidays passed in a content blur for Hermione, she spent the time with Finnick, listening to his jokes and tales of his ten brothers and sister. She hadn't felt this content since her third year at Hogwarts, before Voldemort had come and ruined it all.

The last day of the holidays arrived too soon in Hermione's opinion. She had promised herself that she would get started on her task now, she had to but for this last day, she would have peace, she would spent it with Minerva - who had come back the day before and – and Finnick. She could think of no better way.

She clambered out of bed and after changing went down to the Gryffindor common room to find them both as they never left for breakfast without her. When she arrived she found them both and a group of other students huddled around a sign on the common room notice board. She tapped Minerva on the shoulder.

"What's that?" She inquired, standing on her tip toes trying to see over the other students. Minerva turned to her and bit her lip. "What is it Min?"

"It's a notice from Merrythought for all the seventh years in her class."

"And….?"

"Well, she's, well. She's put us all in partners and given us a project to do."

"Okay. Any other information to add there Min?"

"It's a two month long project.

And you're with Riddle." Minerva mumbled the last sentence hoping that Hermione wouldn't hear it. She knew that Hermione was not fond of tom, especially after the scene at the Slug Cub party.

"Sorry, I must have misheard you there Minerva, you said I was with Tom Riddle. That cannot be right." She pleaded with Minerva, but she saw the pity in her eyes.

"Sorry Mione." She shrugged. If it's any consolation I'm with Alphard Black?"

"Consolation? Alphard is the nicest Slytherin around apart from Emma Asteria!" Hermione flushed with anger. How could she be put in this situation? She knew it could help her, of course. But she also knew what she was like to work with, in her time the professors never even attempted to put her in a pair as they knew how bad she was. "Merlin help me." She murmured to herself and Minerva patted her arm consolingly.

"It will be alright 'Mione. Think of it this way, you and Tom are the smartest in our year, you'll get the highest grades." She beamed and Hermione forced a smile back.

"I suppose. I best go find Tom then." She sighed.

"Um, why?" Minerva asked confusedly.

"To start on his project of course. I'll see you at dinner!"She waved before walking out of the common room portrait to look for Tom Riddle.

Hermione had searched the grounds and the castle for over three hours and still hadn't found Tom. She sat at the edge of the lake and sighed, forming a dragon's breath.

"He must be in the Slytherin common room, if only Harry was here, he'd have the Marau….oh." Hermione exclaimed before jumping to her feet and running through the grounds to the Gryffindor common room when

BANG!

She ran straight into someone hard and solid. Hermione flew backwards and fell on her backside.

"Ow." She muttered, rubbing her head which she had hit against a rock. She sat up and the world turned. "Oh not good, I'm going to be…."

By this time the solid, hard thing she had run into had made their way over to her and Hermione was sick, right onto their robes, shoes and legs.

"You insolent, disgusting creature." It screamed at her and Hermione looked up to see none other than Bernadette Downsern.

"Oh this is totally not what I need right now…" Hermione mumble to herself as Bernadette screamed at her. "Okay Bernadette, yes I am sorry I was sick on you, but in all fairness I…"

Hermione was sick on her again. Bernadette continued t scream. Hermione's head continued to spin and her stomach continued to turn. Through the amount of noise that Bernadette was making, a crowd gathered round the pair, but not too close as everyone could see the angry magic sparking off of Bernadette.

"Oh you are going to pay for this Granger." Bernadette hissed, pulling out her wand and pointing it at Hermione. Brilliant, she thought, I'm going to be killed by some pompous arrogant little pure-blood and I can't even defend myself. However, it is quite funny she is covered in my sick.

"What's going on here?" Asked a cool voice. Hermione inwardly shuddered, she really didn't need right now, especially not when she thought she was going to be sick again. Hopefully I'll be sick on him. She thought gleefully.

"Oh look Tom, that dreadful creature was sick all over me, twice!" She said shrilly and Hermione cringed. Too high Bernadette, definitely too high for the girl who probably has concussion.

"Bernadette, what exactly happened for Miss Granger here to be, er, sick on you?" Oh yes Tom, Hermione thought, don't make sure the person who is being sick is okay, that's would be a useless stupid thing to do.

"Well I was minding my own business, walking through the ground when this creature ran into me and you know I have the necklace Daddy gave me which throws any people I don't want near me away by 20 foot." Oh so that's why I flew backwards, thank you so much for that Bernadette. " And I think she hit her head on something, but I thought I should make sure she was alright and when I came near to her and was about to ask if she was okay she was SICK on me. Punish her Tom!" She whined like a child. Hermione sat, her head between her knees trying very hard not to pull out Bernadette's voice box.

"Everybody, leave now." Tom commanded and knelt down to Hermione. "Hermione? How do you feel?"

Hermione sighed, still not wanting to bring her head up as she feared now that she might be sick. "Dizzy. My head feels like I've just been hit with a rock. Which, oh wait, I have been because of that stupid girl and her stupid necklace. "She said through gritted teeth.

"Well it was your fault…" Tom smirked. Hermione's head shot up and she felt the familiar feeling in her throat.

"Oh and also I'm going to be sick." she smiled before throwing up all over Tom chest and much to her delight, some has splattered onto his face. He looked at her and growled.

"You. Have. Concussion." He said, now through gritted teeth.

"Never would've guessed." She smiled at him before it was wiped off as Tom pulled her into him arms, rubbing her body in her sick on his chest.

"What are you doing?" She exclaimed trying to push away from him, he just looked down at her and smiled.

"You need to go to the Hospital Wing and you can't walk can you? So therefore I should carry you." He smirked before telling Bernadette to go back to the common room and started to carry Hermione to the Hospital Wing. She knew it was futile to get out of his arms, he was much stronger then her. So she lay there with her arms crosses and closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to look at his arrogant smirking face. After a minute of her eyes shut, he shook her and she opened them.

"What?" she said impatiently.

"You can't fall asleep Granger." He smirked again, how she wished she could wipe that smirk off his face.

"Whatever." She mumbled and felt his chest shake from laughter which caused her to be rubbed more into her own sick. "You know you could have just performed 'Wingardium Leviosa' and floated me to the hospital Wing.

"This way is much more fun."

"You're vile."

"Whatever you say Granger. Why were you running through the ground anyway?" He asked.

"Looking for you actually. I wanted to get started on our project for Professor Merrythought." She said simple, shrugging.

"Oh. I'm asking for a new partner so there was no need. Though I do apologize for the hassle it caused you." Hermione was frozen in shock; he was actually asking for a new partner he despised her that much?

"Oh." She said quietly. The rest of the journey was in silence, Hermione was speechless, for the first time she could remember. How on earth could she make this boy fall in love with her when he didn't even want to work with her on a simple project? It just couldn't be done.

"We're here." He whispered to her before carrying her through the doors and placing her on a bed. He walked to get the medi-witch and Hermione lay on the bed staring at the ceiling.

"Oh concussion dear? How dreadful. Good job Tom was here to bring you in. Here Tom, sit with the girl will you? This potion is not very nice, quite painful really." Bumbled a younger Madam Promfrey. Tom sat by Hermione and looked at the girls pale parlour and her bushy hair, she looked nothing like any other girl at the school who was so obsessed with their looks.

"I actually used a spell in my first year to make it bushy rather than the way it is now as that's how it normally looks. Your turn."

"Why did you do that?"

"I prefer the way it feels and looks when it's bushy. It detracts attention away from me, it always has. Now, your turn."

Tom remembered their conversation from the Slug Club; he also remembered how he had realized that Hermione was a Mudblood. She was filth. And there he had just helped her; it was so hard to remember what she was when her intelligence was the only one that rivalled his own. He watched as madam Promfrey gave Hermione the potion and how she writhed in pain before she finally grabbed Toms hand and squeezed. The contact burned his skin but he knew to pull away would look suspicious so he stroked her hand and muttered calming words to her. Eventually she stopped and the grip on his hand loosened but still, he didn't pull away under the watchful gaze of the Medi-Witch.

"She'll sleep now for a few hours dear so you may stay with her or leave and come back. But she might wake beforehand."

"I'll stay thank you. I'm sure she'll appreciate a friendly face to wake up to." He smiled at the witch, casting as much charm as he could. He could see how she softened at it and truly believed him. Inwardly he smirked, I could fool them all, he thought.

"Okay dear, I'm in the office if you need anything." And she walked away.

Tom spent the next two hours watching Hermione sleep and gazing into her dreams through the use of Legilimency. He saw her with Minerva and Finnick. He saw her sitting in the Library reading. Every so often he glimpsed a Black haired boy with bright green eyes, rounded glasses and a peculiar scar on his head in the shape of a lightning bolt. He watched as they sat around a campfire with another ginger haired boy. He saw the lightning boy, as Tom had nicknamed him, ask her to dance and watched as he twirled her round a tent. Then he watched as the ginger boy returned after having left the dreams for a while and watched as Hermione cast spell upon spell at him till she broke crying in his arms.

"Ron." She murmured in her sleep at this memory and Tom withdrew from her mind knowing she would soon wake up. But now he was burning with questions. Who were 'Ron' and 'Lightning Boy' and why on earth was Hermione not with them now.

Soon after murmuring Ron's name, Hermione woke up to see Tom riddle sat besides her, watching her.

"Are you looking for a job as a Peeping Tom, Riddle?" He smiled softly at him.

"I have permission to be here, therefore, not a Peeping Tom Hermione. Now wait here and do not move while I go get Madam Promfrey." As Tom walked away, Hermione watched him go, wondering why he had stayed with her.

"You're already to go Dearie, now take this pepper-up potion tomorrow otherwise you will feel dreadful and sleep as soon as you get to your Common Room." She smiled and waved before shutting the door on Tom and Hermione.

"I'm guessing she told you to escort me to my Common Room?" Inquired Hermione.

"Why ask pointless questions Granger?"

"It's my nature I guess, come on then, I'm tired." Hermione took one step and wave of nausea before subsiding quickly to a little stream. Tom wrapped his arm around her shoulder to steady her.

"Come Hermione. You really need to lie down." He said quietly before slowly but steadily taking her to her common room. Neither talked as they walked and both were grateful for it. Neither wanted to dissect the situation they were in. Finally they reached the common room and Tom let go of Hermione and she leaned against a wall.

"Well this seems familiar." She said softly, laughter behind her voice.

"Yes." Tom stated in return and turned around to leave the girl.

"So that's it, is it?" she called after him, now stood away from the wall with her hand by her side. Tom turned to look at her, she looked so open, like a book that he so wished he could read but was locked to him.

"What else would there be Hermione?"

"An insult? A claim at how unworthy I am? An apology?"

"Why would I apologize?"

"You know why Tom."

"My views haven't changed Hermione, you should know that."

"Really?"

"Yes. Really."

"Then why am I Hermione now and not 'Granger'?" she asked simply with no emotion behind her voice. Tom knew she was right. Hell, he even knew that she knew she was right but there was no gloat behind her words, no hint of her being proud. Nothing, just a statement that was right in every way and for once, Tom could not counter it. So her turned and walked away but Hermione called after him one more time.

"Tom?"

"What is it…Hermione?"

"I'm sorry about being sick on you." She shrugged with an apologetic smile. He looked down at himself and sighed as he realized the sick had dried and would be much harder to get off now.

"It's alright. Really." He said before once again turning around and once again being stopped by that irritatingly interesting girl's voice.

"Oh and one more thing."

"What is it now?" He said through gritted teeth, beginning to lose his patience.

"Thank you." She smiled before turning and walking into her common room. Tom was frozen on the spot. The stupid girl had gone and left him speechless again. It was not something he was used to and did not enjoy the feeling in the slightest.

"Hermione Granger, if it weren't impossible, you would be the death of me." He muttered to himself before returning to his own common room.

Also, I forgot to mention a question I have for some of you! Over these six months, quite a few people have favourite my story and story alerted it, what I want to know is, how the hell did you even find the story?

Wizardsanddarklords