I don't own these characters I'm just borrowing them. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. You're the best! I have reread it but if I did miss some spelling errors I apologize.

Hermione Granger was not the one for violence, she always tried to find the good in everybody but her classmates knew not to get the book worm annoyed. As it always turned out, the smartest witch of her day could out best everyone. She was not the one to torture people but right now Tom Riddle Sr. was not a human being but, an evil carnation of the devil.

"He is just a boy, he had no control over what Merope did to you!" Hermione screamed at him.

"I don't care! I don't want anything to do with him, I know he's just as disgusting as that woman who bewitched me.!" Tom sir screamed back. Hermione looked at the man and shook her head. There was no getting through to him. She had been here for over an hour and he still wouldn't budge. Gripping the bridge of her nose she closed her eyes and took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Looking up at him they both looked at each other.

"You look too young to be taking care of a little boy." He said after a pregnant pause.

"Someone has to." She said quietly. She turned around to get ready to leave, she knew a lost cause when she saw one. She was exhausted and wanted to get the things on the list and head to Hogwarts to pick up Tom. Thinking of Tom, how could someone hate something so innocent? Tears were forming in her eyes and she blinked them back, she wouldn't loose control here, she would not let him see that.

Walking outside into the beautiful day, she instantly smelled lilacs, her favorite flower. She took a deep breath and exhaled as the wind blow past her bringing the scent of the flower towards her.

Walking down the steps Hermione snapped her head towards her right when she heard a sound and squinted her eyes to see what or who was hiding by the building. She walked towards it and Hermione smelt the person before she saw him and gaged at the stench of the person's odor. Holding her breath, Hermione saw a person kneeling down, trying to hide himself in the flowers. A light came at Hermione and she blocked it quickly, a wizard she thought. Hermione was curious as she didn't think wizards lived in the muggle world.

"Accio wand" Hermione whispered and the man's wand slipped out of his hands and into Hermione's. The guy jumped up and she quickly looked down at the floor trying to get the surprised but disgusted look off her face before he could see it. Hermione realized that this man was Tom's relative, she forgot they lived around here. Hermione knew that family had kids with their own and this mans face was slightly deranged by all the inbreeding. He had thick hair that was tangled and very long, several missing teeth, and his eyes stared in opposite directions, Hermione was surprised he could even see her and he was hunched over with a walking stick in his right hand.

"What do you think you're doing" Hermione snapped as she got rid of her shock. She turned her head slightly hoping to catch some fresh air as the man's body odor came towards her as he shook his head to get the dirt off of his head.

"Who are you and what are you doing at that muggles place?" He asked, spit coming from his mouth because he had no teeth from stopping it. Hermione backed up slightly, she didn't want anything getting on her.

"I asked you first." She said and gave him a glare when he walked towards her. Hermione noticed one leg was slightly shorter than the other that he had a limp when walked his way towards her, now she knew why he needed the walking stick.

"I don't believe you know who I am little girl. My name is Morfin Gaunt and I am to be respected." He snapped at her. Hermione stared at him, his words not coming out right so she had a hard time understanding what he was saying. Of course, Harry told her the Grunt's lived around here but she was sure the father was either in jail or past away, she wasn't sure.

"My name is Hermione Granger and I was just… visiting with Mr. Riddle." Hermione said. Looking at the flowers behind him. She didn't want him to get offended for her staring at him for to long, who knew what he'd try to do.

"You were not just visiting, I heard the screams down by my cabin, I did. You were yelling at him." Hermione stood up straighter. "I was simply talking to him."

He took a step towards her. "Stop lying, do you think I'm stupid?" He yelled. Hermione tried to keep the smile of her face and a sarcastic comment from coming out of her mouth. "No, of course not. I just had business with him." She said and she knew he didn't believe her.

"Well sir I must get going." Hermione gave him his wand and turned around to leave.

"My sister was in love with that disgusting muggle." He said. "He came back but she didn't. Tell me, is she dead?" He asked. Hermione couldn't believe that someone could talk about a dead relative like that, with no emotion, especially his sister. She turned around. "Yes she is, and if you must know they had a child together." Hermione stopped to let that sink in. It didn't take as long as she thought. His eyes got wide and he glared. "A disgusting half-blood!" He screamed. "I have a filthy half-blood as a nephew."

Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "He is not a filthy half blood as you call him. His name is Tom and Merope past away from child birth. He's been in the orphanage ever since and I adopted him." Hermione said.

"The fortune is going to go to that half blood." He sneered.

"That half blood is your nephew and his name is Tom. He is the most amazing thing in my life and I will do anything to protect him." Hermione said with a warning look.

"What makes you think I want or will do anything to that child. I don't even want to look at him."

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned around to leave. She knew nothing she would say change his mind but a thought came to her.

"Does Merope have anything you could give to Tom so he can have something of his mother?"

He looked at her with disbelief. "Why would I give him anything, you disgusting blood traitor, you just want the Salazar's fortune." He said. Hermione looked at him, shock written all over her face. Hermione sneered at him. "What fortune? You and your father wasted it and you have nothing left. Don't you dare try to accuse me of trying to take anything you disgusting inbred." Hermione yelled, getting tired of his attitude. She raised her wand as did he. They both stood wand at ready waiting for the other to shoot the first curse.

He lowered his wand and looked her over as she lowered her wand as well. After a while he finally spoke.

"I heard my sister sold the necklace to Caractacus Burke, you might find the necklace there." He said. Hermione nodded her head. "Thank you." She said turning to leave she apparated to Diagon alley.

Looking around her before walking into Knockturn alley she noticed people weren't looking at her so she walked straight for Borgin and Burkes to get the locket.

Looking at the locket in the case Hermione shivered as she recalled wearing it and feeling the darkness and the power that was Voldemort's soul locked inside. Now there wasn't anything in it, no soul, no power but she still shivered at the memories of the necklace. Sighing out loud she had to remind herself its just a locket.

She remembered the gold chain that looked slightly new so she expected it was replaced or someone cleaned it really well. The gold locket itself had a S that was made out of glittering green stones that made it look like a snake. Last she had it the golden latchet opened and a dark eye of Tom Riddle Jr looked back at her, she had nightmares after that, it was always the same one.

Hermione was wearing the necklace and she heard whispers coming from the necklace, she tried to take it off but it tightened on her neck and she was suffocating. Her fingers tried to grab the chain but it burned her fingers and it was burning her neck. She opened up her mouth to scream for Harry and Ron but no sound came out. The latch came undone, the eyes was just watching her suffocate and it looked satisfied that it was killing the mudblood. She finally understood the whispering. Mudblood must die, Mudblood dare taint the necklace. until she fell into darkness that was the eye.

Shaking her head Hermione looked away. Turning away from it she went to the owner to get the locket and knew it was going to be an argument all together to get him to sell it to her.

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Making sure she had everything before she flooed to Hogwarts, she grabbed some floo powder and appeared in Dumbledore's office. Before she got out of the fire place she felt arms wrap around her waist. She smiled and wrapped her arms around Tom.

"Did you have fun today Tom?" She asked.

He nodded his head and went into detail of what they did and what he saw. Hermione smiled as she took a seat at the table next to Dumbledore, nodded her thanks when a cup of tea was placed in front of her. Hermione was delighted to see the excitement in Tom's eyes and the admiration in his eyes when he looked at Dumbledore.

She smiled at Dumbledore, her hand went up towards her bag and grabbed the necklace that was inside. She wasn't sure if she should give it to him or not, as he turned it into a horcrux in the future. Knowing Dumbledore, nothing gets passed him. He straightened up and told Tom dinner was getting close and wanted to know if he wanted to walk with the house elf he met today. Tom nodded, getting up and grabbing his things Dumbledore bought for him.

"Winky." Dumbledore said, a female elf appeared. She looked happy when she saw Tom and felt honored to take him to the Great Hall.

Dumbledore turned and looked at Hermione. "Now miss Granger I assume you have everything straightened out with Tom Riddle Sr. and Morfin Gaunt." Hermione felt a rush of anger through her when she thought of Tom Sr.

"what would you like to ask me?"

"I have a necklace that was from Salazar Slytherin and it is basically Tom's right to have it but, having to deal with it in my future I'm a little uneasy to give it to him."

"Well miss Granger, you are doing a wonderful job raising him, I haven't seen a boy who was so caught up with another person as he is with you. He talked about you all day. You are directing him in the right direction and I believe he will not turn out as he has in the future. I'm sure he would appreciate the necklace that was once his mother's."

Hermione smiled and grabbed onto the tea cup not knowing what to say. He stood and held up his hand. "Dinner in ready miss Granger." She smiled, taking his hand.

Getting the supplies in the classrooms took a lot longer than necessary because Tom went around the room asking what each item did and wanted to know what each thing was in the jars. Hermione told him everything he wanted to know that when they got back to the flat Tom fell asleep in her arms while they were going to their home.

Putting him in his night clothes and tucking him into bed she turned and fell into her own bed without changing her clothes. The minuet her head hit the pillow she was out.

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Waking up the next morning when the sun shined on her face, Hermione opened her eyes to see everything outside was completely bright. Lifting her head, she was shocked. Looking at the time and realized it was 11 am she shot out of bed and into the kitchen to find Tom completely covered in flour. Hermione stared at him and he stared at her not knowing how she'd react.

Hermione started laughing so hard she fell to the ground with tears running down her face. She heard a humph and looked up to find Tom's arms crossed giving her a dirty look. She tried to hide her smile, when she controlled her laughter.

"What are you doing Tom?"

"I was trying to make pancakes." He said.

Hermione stood and raised her wand and the kitchen was cleaned. She walked over and grabbed the flour bag and the bowl. "How about I help you." Hermione suggested and he nodded. Mixing in the ingredients and cooking it in the pan, Tom grabbed the plates and the silverware to put on the table. While eating Hermione looked up at Tom and thought it would be a good time since they were home to give him the necklace.

She cleared her throat, tom looked up at her. She handed him the necklace and tom looked at it and grabbed it. He studied it running his fingers on the front of it, noticing it was a snake shaped like an S with green stones. He looked up at her. "Whose was this?" He asked.

"It was your mothers Tom." Hermione said slowly, not knowing how he would take it after meeting his father. He looked down at it again then looked up at her again. "Did you know her?"

"No I didn't. But I know she would have loved you Tom." She said softly. He nodded his head.

"Thank you." Hermione smiled at him. "Your welcome."

"School starts soon, are you excited?" Hermione asked, changing the topic. Tom looked up at her and shrugged his shoulders. "I guess. The teacher seems nice."

"I'm sure you'll make lots of friends Tom." Said Hermione, sounding confident. He smiled at her encouragement. Hermione stood up and grabbed the plates to clean them, thinking of what to do today when Tom came up behind her.

"When can I go back to Hogwarts?" he asked, Hermione turned around and smiled at him. "You will soon Tom." He looked disappointed and Hermione felt bad about not telling him a direct answer. She smiled when she had an idea. "How bought I teach you the different spells huh?"

It was no Hogwarts but it was the only thing she could think of, it seemed to work because Tom looked at her with excitement and ran to the living room with all the books were. Hermione laughed and followed him, knowing it would take all day to have him satisfied with trying to remember all the spells and Hermione wouldn't want it any other way.

Excerpt for next chapter

The moment Hermione walked into the classroom Tom came rushing towards her and Hermione kneeled down as Tom ran into her arms, she picked him up and let him talk about his day. Hermione smiled as he talked about his teacher and she was so happy he made a friend until he told her him name. She instantly stopped walking and looked at him in shock.

Tom stopped talking and looked at her. She began to feel light headed and dizzy and she knew she was having an attack, putting Tom down so she wouldn't drop him she heard him say her name but if seemed as if her head was under water, he sounded so far away. Hermione knew he was screaming for help and she felt hands on her lifting up her head she came up and saw someone she thought she'd never see again.

"Harry…" Blackness came and took her under.