CHAPTER – 14

Hermione was running to the Headmaster's office. She didn't know why they called her suddenly and to say that she was nervous would be an understatement. As she was making her way through the corridors bustling with students she started to panic as she thought whether their cover had been blown. This was why she tried to no end to find out something about the 'Eastwoods' but as hard as she tried there was not a single book in the restricted section that had anything about them. This was much like the time she had been researching about the horcruxes.

As she came to the stone gargoyle she muttered "compliance" which was the pathetic excuse for the password Headmaster Dippet had probably come up with. She stepped on to the spiral staircase and it took her to the door leading to the Headmaster's private room. She knocked twice and entered.

The first thing she noticed was how plain the current Headmaster's office looked. By having a thorough look at the entire room Hermione was able to tell that Dippet must probably be a very boaring man.

"Miss Broston, please sit down" said Dippet extending an arm to show her the seat opposite to him. Hermione immediately broke away from her trance and sat down. This was the first time she had been to the Headmaster's office in this time line and she felt a little uncomfortable at not seeing the transfiguration professor of the present day seated before her with his ever twinkling mischievous eyes.

"So I've been hearing that you are very good in studies, a rival to the most talented student at Hogwarts even" Dippet said with a smile.

"Thankyou, sir" Hermione didn't know what else to say.

"Yes, yes it does come as a pleasant surprise. I am very glad indeed and that's why I decided to give you this honour" Dippet said extending a badge she knew too well. Though her heart soared at the thought of being made prefect again she wondered whom she was replacing as it was almost two months since the start of the year so she guessed that she was a replacement.

"I'm really greatful sir, but can I know who I will be replacing?" Hermione said taking the badge in her hand.

"Of course, you are put in place of Raphael Nott of seventh year. He has been abusing his rights" Dippet said with a frown and Hermione understood what abusive meant. The idiot probably tried to beat up someone. Funny she thought that a devil should be named after an arch angel. She also remembered that Nott was a famous death eater in her time. This meant that she would have to watch her back after taking this position but it was too much tempting for her to turn it down.

Hermione sauntered back to her common room to tell her friends about her new position and after about an hour she was having a serious headache after all the squealing and a bit of butterbeer. She thought she had to tell Harry but she was too tired to do it. She dropped on the bed only to be disturbed after about five minutes by an owl pecking at her hand. She took the parchment from its leg muttering curses. It was her schedule for patrolling and as she checked it out she saw that she was assigned to patrol with Riddle for about four days out of every single week. This only served to infuriate her more. She thought she should have turned down that position as soon as Dippet recommended it.

Suddenly a thought hit her, was Riddle the one to ask Nott to step down. If so was she falling in a trap intricately designed by Riddle. She gulped and thought that this was definitely Riddle's doing. No one had patrols together for these many days of a week. What she couldn't understand though was why Riddle wanted to do anything at all with her. Wasn't she a muggleborn he detested? Hermione clapped her hand to her head. She had to tell Harry. This was definitely not going the way she expected it to. Harry was the one who should gain his attention, not her.

"Why didn't you turn it down?" Harry shouted once they were secure in the Room of the Requirement.

Hermione looked nervous before stuttering "Too tempting" in a barely audible voice.

"I CAN"T BELIEVE YOU" Harry all but shouted in her face.

"Its not that serious Harry, I mean come on he's not going to murder me or anything especially in school…." Hermione desperately tried to sound confident but she was failing miserably.

"He bloody well would if you provoke him"

"I won't" Hermione said with a bit of confidence this time.

"Hermione, you just had to go and fall into his trap didn't you?" Harry asked with a sigh as he dropped down on the couch.

"I didn't know it was his doing Harry, In fact I'm still not sure and I promise I won't provoke him or whatever the hell it is"

"You are a Gryffindor, Hermione Granger" Harry said looking skeptical.

"Oh do you have to be so impossible"

"Yeah and I think Riddle is showing way too much interest in you. I'm going to direct it to me the first chance I get"

"Don't even think about it until you know everything about your family"

"We didn't find anything in the Restricted Section Hermione but I have an idea.." Harry said looking unsure and Hermione knew he was planning an adventure, again.

"What are you thinking?"

"Well I was thinking that maybe we should check out something in Knockturn Alley"

Hermione thought for a bit and said "It would take atleast until Christmas for us to leave Hogwarts and I suggest you keep your mouth shut and lay low until then"

"I'll try but if he does anything and I mean anything at all to you I won't hesitate to kill him right that instant" Harry said with a look of determination on his face that frightened Hermione a little but she didn't show it.

"And I'm going to be following you today with the invisibility cloak" Harry said getting up and going for the door.

He turned around with his hand on the door handle and just as he expected Hermione was opening her mouth to protest but he held up both of his hands in front of him and said "Don't even try to talk me out of it" and Hermione gave up for once.

"Fine but can we talk for a bit" Hermione asked hoping she didn't look desperate. Harry saw that she missed home as he was too. They were in this together.

He slowly walked back to the couch and said "Of course Mione"

Hermione also dropped on the couch and cleared her throat before asking the one question that was on her mind for quite some time now "Have the Slytherin girls tried anything yet"

"Huh, tried is really an understatement Hermione. Alphard and I nearly have to double check everything we eat and even sometimes they go to the level of putting a charm on your dress that makes you declare your love for them."

"They are awful pigs"

"That's not the worst. Riddle gets the worst though and that Greengrass girl is hell bent on getting him although I don't think she has a chance and you really really have to be careful sometimes"

"Why is that?"

"Well there's this old ritual in dark magic that says that if a girl or a boy drinks a potion along with Felix Felicis and then they propose to a guy or a girl they desire and he or she accepts and they will if the felix felicis is made right then they should be married to each other by law and that they would be bounded for as long as they produce an heir"

"WOW, I've heard of it before but then how do you manage when someone does do that to you or hasn't someone tried yet"

"Oh they've tried atleast ten times on me and Alphard"

"Then how did you…"

"Take some felix felicis as soon as you see a bunch of Slytherin girls approaching you of course"

"Oh" Hermione said in a daze. "Harry, how did you get some Felix Felicis" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"Stole it from Slughorn's inventory of course, what did you think?"

"Huh" Hermione said and they went back to talking again about everything and nothing. Hermione was content to leave after their talk. It was so much nice to be with someone you knew, Hermione thought. The only people she knew in this time was Harry, Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall and last but not the least Lord Voldemort. Somehow she didn't think she'd like to be in the company of the devilishly handsome dark lord. She mentally chided herself for thinking that for like the hundredth time since she came to this era.

Next chapter Hermione and Riddle patrolling alone in the night. Don't forget to R&R if you want me to post the next chappy soon. And by he way it's already ready. Yep I'm evil I know but I want reviews or I'll make you wait.

I will allow you a preview though…….

"You make too many presumptions about me Miss Broston"

Hermione knew she was pushing her luck but she couldn't control her mouth as she said "However, I am right, aren't I Mr Riddle" tauntingly and she saw Riddle's expression change and she was too late as he had already taken his wand out.

He, he, he. Review and I'll post it right away………………GOODBYE!!!.