Hey all, so very sorry it took me so much time to update. I just loooved your reviews and decided to reply to some of them. Thankyou so much and keep it coming as always.

Remember the quote "The more the reviews the more the updates"

Ekaterina2324: I don't really know but Hermione always hit's me as the type to be in Gryffindor. I hate slytherin girls and another reason is that the Ravenclaws are too bloody boaring for my taste, bookish knowledge is the only thing they have while Gryffindor's are hot tempered, loyal, lions(my favourite animal) and a lot lot more……..

Pink Slytherin: Why of course poor Harry, I am just going to have some fun with him, (He he)

Isabella120: Thankyou so much for reviewing and I liked your story too……

Midnight thief: I really am grateful for you have reviewed almost for almost all the chapters. As for why Hermione is portrayed as bushy haired and whatever it is, I am just trying to bring in the "Opposites attract" concept in this story, please continue to review and I'm open to suggestions.

OK, on with it…………….

CHAPTER – 13

Hermione just remembered that she had left her essay and her bag in the library and with Riddle. She was currently pacing in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room wondering how to get it back from Riddle. She could ask Harry or Alphard to retrieve it but then again she didn't want to ask because it wasn't like they were close friends to Riddle. She could ask Sheryl but she was way too afraid of Riddle. She was just about to admit that she was going to have to ask when a girl came timidly through the portrait hole and she just stood there looking at Hermione with a look of defiance. Hermione realized that the girl was probably afraid to be near a sixth year. Before she could say a word though, the little girl dropped a bag on the floor and ran out of the room.

Hermione realized that it was probably her bag and bent down to take it when she saw a note slipping from her bag. There was no mistaking of who had written it. There in the note was the eligible scrawl of Tom Riddle and he had written "You owe me, Hermione"

Hermione just threw the paper to the floor and went out of the common room for Arithmancy which was her next class and to her relief it was not with the Slytherins.

That night Harry and Hermione were again in the library's restricted section and they hadn't been caught by anyone tonight. Hermione was looking at the titles finally having given up on trying in persuading Harry to search. Harry was now keeping watch while Hermione was browsing for any information on the Eastwoods. After about two hours Hermione had to give up again and found nothing of value. She decided to browse through the journals next time as she and Harry retired to their respective common rooms.

Hermione went to her bed and closed the curtains. She was tired but she could not sleep. She was frustrated beyond measure today. First of all, she had just got beaten by Riddle in class then she proved to be a horrible liar and slipped some important information to Riddle and now after the second day of searching there was no bloody book in the library about the Eastwoods but she knew she had to keep on searching if she wanted Harry to be out of trouble.

Thankfully Harry had not attracted Tom Riddle's attention yet. She was both relieved and angry at the same fact. Didn't Tom atleast sense a bit of danger seeing the person who was fated to bring his demise. She didn't know and she felt really comfortable that the young dark lord did not know legilimency otherwise they would have been done for on the first day. However, she was sure that Tom definitely knew something she didn't about the Eastwoods and she couldn't very well ask about it to anyone either. Hermione felt frustrated and turned to lay flat on her stomach.

As Hermione sat in the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall eating her breakfast she saw that the owls were bringing the usual messages and letters to the students and the teachers. She ignored them for she got her newspaper from the library every day and it was not like someone would send her something anyway. Just as this train of thought went through her mind an owl with grey feathers and magnificent blue eyes soared down and landed near her.

Hermione was still for a minute with her spoon hanging in mid air. She put her spoon down and saw that she had attracted a bit of attention. She blushed and then turned to the owl which was holding its leg out for her. She untied the scroll and the owl flew away as gracefully as ever and Hermione was immersed in observing it for a minute before she turned towards the parchment. She knew at once after opening it that it was Dumbledore's handwriting. She smiled at the thought and saw that Dumbledore had sent the note to inform them that they would be going to visit the matron of the orphanage today as it was the weekend.

Hermione saw across the hall to notice that Harry had also received a letter and he nodded to her for confirmation before turning to speak with Alphard and Sheryl again.

After about an hour Hermione and Harry were standing in front of the Transfiguration Professor, Albus Dumbledore who was smiling at them. First he addressed Harry "Mr Eastwood there has been some wizarding families wanting your indulgence, they have invited you to spend your vacation with them, I would be willing to oblige if that is your wish"

"May I inquire as to who they might be, sir" the way in which Harry was replying made Hermione a little baffled. Harry talked as a complete gentleman of the forties with well bred manners talked. Hermione almost wanted to clap for Harry's development but personally she thought that the credit has to go to Alphard and his other Slytherin peers.

"Of course, the Blacks and the Greengrasses want you to spend your summer vacation in their houses"

"That was very kind of them, sir but I would like to spend sometime alone this summer and …." as Harry went on to explain more Dumbledore seemed to understand and cut him off.

"I do not compel you, my boy" Dumbledore said with that twinkle in his eyes.

"Thank you, sir" Harry said and Dumbledore got up from his chair to lead them to the orphanage through the floo network.

In a few minutes they arrived at the bustling streets of London with people crowding everywhere either going to shops, some going to work dressed in a tight business suit which according to Harry's opinion was way too tight to be comfortable. Hermione saw some girls dresses in forty style clothes and some women's hair was bobbing as they walked. They saw a shop called Royale Wear, from which a group of giggling girls arrived. They walked about briskly and then Dumbledore turned a left and Harry saw the grim, square building he once saw in Dumbledore's memory. Undoubtedly this was the orphanage where the dark lord was raised. They mounted some steps and Dumbledore knocked on the front door thrice and after sometime a girl with long blond hair and grey eyes wearing a filthy apron opened the door.

"Hello young lady, I have an appointment with the Matron"

"Oh, come in, I'll call her in a minute" said the girl in a frail voice before she sauntered off to find the matron. Harry who already knew how the dingy place looked didn't seem too affected but Hermione was. She couldn't believe that the darkest wizard of all time was brought up in a place like this. She had expected the orphanage to be bad but almost anyone could agree that it was not a good place to have your first walk or say your first word. They waited in the Hall for .

After waiting for about five minutes they saw a women who looked drunk come to the hall and shout "Oh, may I ask who you are?" she asked in a hoarse voice.

Dumbledore looked at Hermione and Harry with a worried expression before he said "Hello , I am Professor Dumbledore from Hogwarts school, you remember that Tom Riddle goes to that school, don't you?" The women looked baffled for amoment and hovered a little before an expression of realization hit her face.

"Oh, yes well I should say I'm really impressed by your school. You turned him into a dearie, he never misbehaves these days"

"I am pleased to hear that" Dumbledore said with a lack of enthusiasm the matron was probably expecting. Dumbledore looked to Harry and Hermione again.

"Handsome young lad as well, what did you want to tell me Professor"

Dumbledore indicated to Harry and Hermione and said "You know we don't keep our students during summer and these two have most unfortunately lost their relatives in the war. I would like it if you could keep them here during the vacation"

"Oh, of course but are they Tom's friends"

Dumbledore seemed to think for a moment after he answered "Yes, they are"

"They'll have to do a lot of adjusting though" said with a pained expression on her face.

"We will madam" answered Hermione from behind Dumbledore.

"Of course, you can share a room with Miss Benson and the young lad can share with Tom, I suppose"

"Well now that it's settled, let me not waste your time" Dumbledore said as he lead Hermione and Harry through to Hogwarts. Hermione's mind was again whirring with thoughts. Is this why Tom was who he was. She could not attribute the entire cause to Tom living in the orphanage, she knew that he was heir of Slyhterin. However, she couldn't also deny the fact that it might have played a role in his transformation because she knew that Lord Voldemort was worse than Salazar Slytherin. What had driven him to be so cruel and cold, Hermione could not understand. Hermione sighed and thought 'Maybe I never will know' but she had to try.

She was absorbed in her thoughts as they landed in Dumbledore's room again. Dumbledore turned around and asked Harry to give a parchment to Professor Slughorn. Harry felt uncomfortable leaving Hermione alone with the Professor but after a shaky nod from Hermione he left anyway.

"Take a seat Miss Broston" Dumbledore said as he sat behind his desk.

"Did you like the Matron?" Dumbledore asked suddenly and Hermione for the life if her didn't know what to say. She just blinked and blinked again.

"She is not that bad" Hermione said after a while.

"Ah, she is a good women but her world revolves around gin and tonic. She is not so sharp as she was when I met her a long time ago"

"She didn't even ask our name" Hermione said in a small voice. In her mind it was etched that such an irresponsible person should not be given the job of handling poor children.

"She does live in her own world sometimes but she is a lot better than some people. Trust me Hermione, I know" Dumbledore said with a pleading look in his eyes and Hermione gave up for the time being.

"I hear that Mr Riddle and yourself are quite competent in class" Dumbledore asked beaming.

"Oh, um…well we are I suppose" Hermione said stuttering. What was Dumbledore trying to get out of her?

Dumbledore suddenly had a serious expression on his face as he leaned forward and said "Miss Broston, be careful. Do not let your temper get out of control, it might bring great chaos later"

Hermione promptly acknowledged his statement and accepted it too. She needed to get that Gryffindor temper under control if she wanted to not be seriously injured someday. She nodded and just then the grey owl with magnificent blue eyes entered the Professors room from a concealed window. Hermione watched in awe as it lay perched on its cage.

"Ah Soren there is a rare breed of owls called midnight owls in the magical world. Marvelous isn't he, I got him as a present from one of my old friends. These owls were used by traveling wizards to see the way ahead. They have an uncanny ability to detect danger and communicate it to the wizards. They can also make themselves invisible if the need be and if the owner wants it to be"

"He's beautiful" Hermione said looking at the blue eyes of the owl. He was more gracious than Hedwig.

R&R. I know it's a bit boaring but it was necessary so please review.

And as for the kiss you have to wait a very, very, very, very long time for that. sorry GOODBYE!!!

Update real soon if you review lots . Toodles……..