Hey everyone, I think you can look forward to more updates as I'm on my leaves. I think later this afternoon I'll be posting another chapter. However, I'll update tomorrow if you don't review.

On with the story…..

Poem

time turns the weather from hot and cold,
time makes us grow old,
time is a split decision,
time is what we have a lot in prison,
time is something you cant buy,
time keeps going even after you die,

CHAPTER – 7

"Who can tell me what a Characin is?" as usual Slughorn's booming voice reverberated around the class and as usual two hands went up.

"Yes Mr Riddle" Slughorn said looking amused and pleased with himself for having such students who always wanted to outdo each other.

"The Characin is a South-American fish that lays its eggs on a leaf and keeps them wet by splashing them with its tail till they hatch" said Tom with an airy and self confident tone.

"What is it's use in potion?" Slughorn asked still pointing at Riddle.

"The Characins eggs are used as a catalyst to prepare the mandrake draught" Riddle recited leisurely again.

"Twenty points to Slytherin, well done m'boy" Slughorn said and Riddle smiled and nodded while Hermione scowled cursing Slughorn under her breath.

"Now, now Miss Broston, you'll get your chance" Slughorn who always kept watching between Tom and Hermione said and Hermione blushed.

"I'll be pairing you up today as it's been almost two weeks" Slughorn said and most of them in the class muttered in irritation while some of them looked relieved.

"Let's see, Abraxas Malfoy and Alan Eastwood"

Harry who was standing beside Hermione snorted and went to Malfoys cursing under his breath. Malfoy on the other hand looked very pleased to have Harry as his partner. Hermione observed this and thought it was probably because of Harry's name.

"Tom Riddle and ……" Hermione could see that almost all the girls in class were holding their breath hoping they would be partnered up with Riddle.

"Ivan Lestrange" Hermione let out a breath she had been holding. She didn't want to be partnered up with Riddle which would only serve to make her friends taunt her more.

The other girls in class however just scowled or glared angrily at Lestrange as he went to take his seat near Riddle. "Looks like the girls want to kill me" Ivan said to Riddle and Riddle just smirked.

The rest of the class went well as she was partnered up with Rowan and she won thirty points for Gryffindor in the end beating Riddle by making the potion first.

"Hermione" Harry called as he raced to catch up with her.

Hermione slowed down and asked "What?"

"We need to talk" Harry said and pulled her towards an empty classroom. He locked the door both magically and manually and turned to Hermione.

Hermione looked at Harry. He looked torn between being angry and frustration. Hermione didn't like this look at all because whenever Harry was like this he always tended to shout.

"What happened Harry?" Hermione asked carefully and cautiously.

"He had one of his meetings yesterday"

"You……..you mean death eaters" Hermione asked with only a slight trace of disbelief. She had been expecting this actually but she was surprised that Riddle would do it so early in the year.

"Yeah. We were asked not to come out of the dormitories after 10:00" Harry said after taking deep breaths to calm him self. "I couldn't hear anything, I think he put some charms but I could swear I saw the masks they were taking"

Now Hermione was confused. She didn't think Riddle or his followers would be that careless.

Before Hermione could ask this however Harry answered "I bumped into Malfoy and it fell out. He was keeping it hidden under his robes." Hermione's mouth formed an 'O' in understanding before her expression turned serious.

"What are we going to do Hermione?" Harry asked now barely able to control his temper. He started pacing back and forth and said "What are we going to do, He's already on his way to become the most darkest wizard and I…I.." Harry gulped unable to continue. Hermione was near to crying.

"I was thinking about Quiditch tryouts when the whole world's fate is in my hands, What kind of a person am I Hermione?" Harry was still pacing back and forth but he hadn't started shouting yet.

"Harry don't you dare blame yourself for this. It's my fault we landed in the wrong time but we have a chance Harry. Don't blame yourself for getting accustomed here Harry. You were thinking about Quiditch and I was always thinking about academics too. We've had hard times Harry, It's only normal for us to have a break but now we must focus on what we came here for…."

"What are we here for Hermione?" Harry asked in an exasperated tone. A single tear fell from his eyes and he made no move to rub them away. There was such tenderness in his expression that Hermione felt shocked and scared at the same time. Harry had never let anyone see him vulnerable except for that time after he came back from the graveyard in his fourth year. He was on the verge of giving up everything and Hermione was truly and deeply scared. She hugged Harry and he hugged her back. She sobbed on his shoulder and he too let the tears fall. They were standing like that for a long time both letting their sorrows take over them before Harry collected him self and rubbed his tears away. He gently pushed Hermione and she too seemed to be collecting herself as her sobs reduced to sniffing and rubbing at her eyes she said "We have two choices Harry"

"One: We kill him and, Two: We befriend him and prevent him from becoming Lord Voldemort, we teach him how to love Harry"

"I'm going with the former" Harry said at once.

Hermione sighed and said "Personally I think we should try the latter first and if it doesn't work we can kill him"

Hermione expected Harry to shout but what he did was more frightening because he laughed dryly and said "You think he's…." Harry laughed again and said "You think he's going to love us Hermione"

"Why not Harry?" Hermione interjected sharply and Harry gave her an incredulous look.

"We are talking about Tom Marvolo Riddle aka Lord Voldemort, the epitome of evil, he doesn't love nor does he want to be loved" Harry said in a tone that was close to a mother telling her child not to dip her hand in the hot water.

"That's the point Harry, you see him as Lord Voldemort, the Lord Voldemort you knew and not as Tom Riddle" Hermione shouted getting furious.

"Oh, I think I know everything about Tom Riddle, Hermione" Harry said in a self assured tone crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Hermione repeated Harry's gesture and softly and clearly said "What do you know about Tom, Harry?" and Harry who expected Hermione to blow up was a little surprised when she continued in the soft tone "Do you know what his favourite color is?, Do you know when he goes to bed?, Do you know if he's good in chess?, Do you know he had an easy life?, Do you know why he doesn't trust anyone?" Hermione said with a determined expression on her face.

"Hermione, he isn't a mentally disturbed fool or an abused orphan for you to treat him" Harry explained cautiously.

"I'm not playing the psychiatrist here, Harry" Hermione said outraged.

"Are you certain, it sure looks like that to me" Harry said still in a cautious tone.

"Harry, Do you know how hard it is to not have friends just because you're abnormal?"

"You have had friends and someone to love for all your life. If not do you think you'd be the person you are now" Hermione said.

"I DIDN'T HAVE MY PARENTS" Harry shouted in her face.

"And you think Riddle has" Hermione said softly.

"Harry, you had someone to talk to. You had someone to take out your anger when you needed to knowing they would love you no matter what. You had friends and a family and parents who died for you and a Godfather. You had Dumbledore's care."

"I had to kill him Hermione, you don't think I enjoy being in the spotlight because I lost my parents and survived. I would have rather died with them"

"I know that" Hermione shouted again and said "You don't value all the attention Harry but it is what makes you the person you are but you are too bloody ignorant to see Potter, you're just too bloody ignorant"

"Oh no, no no, no, no. Hermione it's the house elves episode all over again" Harry said looking aghast.

Hermione looked vicious and said in a cold tone "How would you feel if you knew your parents didn't want you?"

She got closer to Harry as she continued "How would you feel if you had no one and I mean absolutely no one who could understand you?, How would you protect yourself then Harry?, Please do tell because I have a sneaking suspicion that you would have to just learn to be indifferent towards all"

"Alright I agree that Riddle didn't have an easy life but you can't just blame only the circumstances for him being…." and at Hermione's furious look he said "that, Hermione"

"But he could be different if we tried" Hermione said and continued "We have to try, It's what Dumbledore would have wanted us to do"

"But why didn't Dumbledore try himself?" Harry said and shouted "Because he knew it was a lost cause"

"You don't know whether Dumbledore tried" Hermione said and Harry opened his mouth to protest but as he thought better of it he held his tongue.

"Exactly and now that we're over it, Can we try the latter first?"

"Fine but I want guidelines and I honestly think I'm going to mess it up" Harry said sighing.

"I'll help you but firstly I think you have to join the death eaters" Hermione said sitting down on a bench.

"What?" Harry asked with a shocked look on his face.

"Don't be startled and I don't think being with a muggleborn like me could help. We shouldn't try to talk to each other in class here after"

"So only I am involved in this plan to get Riddle to like me"

"No. I think you should earn his trust and I will find a way to gain his attention"

"Seems to me that you've already gotten a lot of it" Harry said with a double meaning and waited to see if Hermione picked it up.

"Not really, other than dueling for points we have never talked at all"

Harry sighed and sat down next to her. It seemed that his friend was a little too innocent to understand the other meaning. Harry felt a mixture of relief and worry on seeing that.

"Hermione, you don't understand. He seems to have taken an interest in you and honestly I'm scared. I can't lose you, you're the only one I've got"

"Harry don't worry about me"

"Just be careful"

"I will be. You on the other hand should start gaining his favour and I think you should put that …uh talent of yours to good use now"

"What talent?"

"Parseltongue, Harry" Hermione said like it was the most obvious thing in the world and Harry seemed to be understanding.

Hermione stood and gathered her books and before she went out Harry asked "Why are you so intent on making Riddle to learn to love?"

"Harry" Hermione said with disbelief "You think I'm attracted to his looks. Merlin Harry, I wouldn't think of it in a million years"

Harry just smiled and said "Kidding." Hermione too smiled and went out.

I'll update today or tomorrow based on if you review or not and there will be a lot of Tom/Hermione conversations in the coming chapters. Goodbye!!!