Hello everyone. I am afraid here after you'll have to wait to get the updates but as I promised I'll try my level best to update soon enough.

OK, don't forget to review. If you do you might get the next chapter very soon and that is only if you make me happy…

Let's go………

CHAPTER – 11

After her ordeal with the two Gryffindor girls Hermione was exhausted and needed nothing more than a good night's sleep but at seven o' clock she still got up to go to the dungeons as she had to serve detention with Slughorn, again. She went out of the common room and took the steps leading to the corridors. It was still early and many students were moving about talking to each other.

She thought about asking one of the elves to bring her some food but decided against it as she was not hungry, yet. After about ten minutes of walking down the corridor she reached the dungeons and knocked twice and the familiar voice asked her to enter as she did.

Hermione looked at the Professor and at once she knew something was off. He had bags under his eyes and had a sour expression on his face. He did not even try to converse with her and now that she thought about it the Professor had not talked much earlier that day in class as well. Not even to his favourite students. He only indicated to the pile of papers kept on the desk and she quickly seated herself and started grading the papers.

She chanced a glance at the Professor once in a while but his face was still filled with anguish. She made a mental note to discuss the problem with Harry and the Gryffindors tomorrow morning. Then she remembered with a start that she and Harry were going to sneak into the Restricted section tonight. She smiled a little thinking of the times at Hogwarts when The Golden Trio as they were called always managed to take a journey filled with danger and escaped unscathed.

"Professor, can I leave today, I'll grade these papers tomorrow" Hermione said after about an hour.

Slughorn looked up from the book he was reading and said "That will be fine, Miss Broston"

"Thankyou sir" Hermione said as she packed her things and got up to leave.

She closed the door behind her and started walking towards the staircase when she felt someone tug her from behind. Hermione smiled and turned around as Harry slipped off the cloak with a grin evident on his face.

"Well, looks like you are very cheery today. May I know the reason for this change Mr Potter"

Harry laughed a bit and said "Why it's good to be back to what we always do, Miss Granger"

"That's a good excuse" Hermione said looking at Harry with a 'You are hiding something from me and I'm going to find out look'

"Shall we go" Harry asked extending his arm.

"We shall" and Hermione looped her arms in his after he had them both covered with the invisibility cloak.

"Harry, that's my foot" Hermione hissed as Harry came to an abrupt stop in the middle of a deserted and a very dark corridor leading to the library. It was eerily quiet as it was about nine o' clock atleast.

"Someone is coming, Hermione" Harry said in a barely audible whisper. However, Hermione who had been on countless adventures with the boy-who-lived understood the warning and they both leaned against the wall as they heard footsteps approaching.

To their dismay it was the only person they did not want to see but then again fate always tended to be hard when it involved Harry and Hermione and they both were pretty much accustomed to the fact by now. They both held their breaths as they saw the unmistakable tall and lean form of Riddle striding towards them without even illuminating his wand they knew it was him. Hermione and Harry felt a bit of admiration for the dark lord's courage in walking the dark corridors without lighting his wand but Hermione then guessed this was to be expected as he was darker than the darkness itself. Hermione resisted the urge to snort as he passed them not even stopping in his steps.

However, just as they were about to release the breath they were holding for so long Riddle turned abruptly in their direction and said "Revelio" in a calm voice and Hermione and Harry's insides were beating hard as they tried to take hold of the cloak but then nothing happened and the cloak was still on top of them as close as ever. Harry and Hermione were panicked when they saw Riddle smirk and he had finally decided to light his wandtip.

"Hmm, Revelio humanus" he said pointing his wand directly where they were hidden behind the invisibility cloak but still a purple light didn't flash out which was what the spell would do under normal circumstances. Hermione was intrigued. She had been so sure that the spell was going to work revealing their presence.

Riddle looked right and left and when he saw no one was there he turned towards them again and pointed his wand at them for the third time and said "I know you're hiding there, whoever you are. Come out and I will not harm you"

Harry and Hermione looked at each other and both were clearly not going to give in to Riddle.

"You are forcing me to use desperate measures" he said as he looked directly at the spot they were standing and said "Unveilus totile" and Harry and Hermione understood immediately that it was Dark arts as the cloak began to be pulled in the direction where Riddle was standing. Hermione was holding on to it but it still wasn't enough and she nudged Harry to do the same and as Harry touched the cloak the magical pull was gone and it was secure on them. Hermione's mind was whirring with questions as Riddle still had his wand pointed at them. He seemed to look confused for a moment and Hermione was relieved to know they had not been exposed. Now as to why the cloak would protect them was still a mystery to Hermione. He turned around and left in quick strides extinguishing his wand once he turned the left and Harry and Hermione slumped against the wall.

"That was close" Harry said to Hermione gasping for breath.

"Uh-huh. We should go" Hermione said as she stood up. She wanted to get answers and she wanted to get them now.

Tom was unnerved. He had been so sure someone was there. However, the last spell he used on them was supposed to reveal anyone to him. It was Dark Arts but only a mild form of it. He couldn't risk using other dark spells here at Hogwarts. He couldn't risk that and it would be too much with Dumbledore's watchful eye on him all the time. This was the reason Tom had grown uncomfortable at Hogwarts. Dumbledore was too close and he 'Lord Voldemort' couldn't do anything out of line. He hated Dumbledore but respected him as well. He was the only person he feared and although he would never admit it to anyone he knew deep down that he did fear Dumbledore. He was too great for his own good. He walked back to the Slytherin dorms with that grudging thought and with an inkling of who would have been hiding in the corridor. He was not going to doubt his judgement. He entered the Slyhtrin common room and saw a group of girls huddled near the fireplace. They all smiled at him but he just payed them no mind as he walked to the boys' dorms.

"He's always nice to the other house girls" said Alyssa Parkinson after she was sure Riddle shut the door to the dorms.

Hermione and Harry groped the spines of different books in the restricted section and to say that they were frustrated was an understatement. Hermione had almost looked at every books contents in their time trying to find a book about Horcruxes and she knew before hand that it was going to be a long night.

Harry on the other hand was agitated beyond point. He had never ever been found by anyone other than Dumbledore under his cloak in his time. He really, really needed to start learning some advanced defense spells if he was ever going to have a chance against Voldemort. They searched in silence for about two hours before they gave up and decided to retire to their common rooms and get a good night's sleep. They both really needed it tonight.

As they were going out they decided to go under Harry's cloak to his common room and then Hermione could take it and leave to the Gryffindor dorms. As they neared the passage to the Slytherin common room they saw some girls standing in the corridor discussing something in a low voice. Hermione tried to ignore them and side step the gang but then again her curiosity always got the better of her anyway.

She pulled Harry against the wall and strained to listen to their conversation and did a spell to increase their volume and instantly a voice said "I can't believe he cares for that filthy mudblood"

Another voice said "And she is anything but pretty"

"I think it's about time that we thought her a lesson not to take our men"

"He's not ours, he's mine" said another feminine voice.

"That's up to Tom, isn't it?" said another voice sounding timid.

And Hermione finally understood which filthy mudblood they were talking about. She gulped because she knew how Slytherin girls got when they were out plotting revenge. It was bound to be very, very nasty.

"She's got all the guys with caliber around her, hasn't she?" said another voice with a hint of amusement.

"Yeah. Alphard is always around her and eventhough I hate him I would admit Potter is too handsome for her. And to top it all the most hot guy next to Tom is also with her almost all the time"

"Alan Eastwood you mean" said another female voice and Harry who was standing beside Hermione gulped and took a sharp breath.

"Parkinson forget it. He is too good for the likes of you as well" said the same voice which proclaimed Riddle to be her own.

"I thought you were out for Riddle" the girl who was probably Parkinson shouted out indignantly.

But the other girl, whoever it was said in a calm tone "I am but Riddle is only for a pastime while I intend to marry Eastwood"

Harry wanted to run and be anywhere but here. He really decided never to hear girls gossiping again. Who knew what they talked when they were in their rooms. Harry shuddered. Parkinson was actually crushing on him and another pureblooded idiot wanted to marry him. This was too much to take.

Just then the girls decided to go into their common rooms. "You should be careful, Harry"

Harry gaped at Hermione before he said "You are the one at risk here"

"Love potions Harry. You should be cautious what you drink from now on. I'll teach you a spell to detect it tomorrow" Hermione said not trying to think what the girls had in store for her.

"Right" Harry said deciding he should keep a close watch on Hermione even more so than before. He didn't know why Riddle was interested in Hermione but he knew it would be bad. He was nor going to lose another friend. He would protect her no matter what.

They both parted and Harry uttered the password to the portrait thinking of his bed.

R&R. I'll update soon only and only if you review lots………………….BYE!!!!