A/N: Hi everyone! Back again with yet another chapter! I think this one's unusually long for me, or is that just all in my head? Well anyway, I'm sorry this took a while, but see these great ideas for new stories keep popping up in my head and I've been working on the outlines of those stories along with this one, so bear with me. I know, I know, I shouldn't make multiple stories at once, but if I neglect them, then I'll forget them. But 85 percent of my divided attention, thoughts and work are mainly on TLL, so have no fear! Oh yeah, here are the people who were kind enough to review last chapter:
Reaper3698 - Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you like it so far!
Right or Ryn - You too are becoming a regular reviewer! You're on my list!... The good one: )
Gueneviere - You know I really have trouble spelling your name if I don't have reference! Ha ha, but don't worry it's not that annoying. Kidding. Nothing much to be said here, everything's been said through PM's, so all that's left is to thank you for reviewing. So, thank you! Hope to see another review from you in the very near, (near, near, near, near,) future!
hpfanf - I understand where you were coming from in that review, thank you for your help! And thank you for reviewing too! I'll get another one in this one won't I? Crosses fingers
maximum-calories - Ah, the user with the awesome penname! I know it should have been considered Dark Magic, and if I was Minister...ess for Magic, I'd have his arse kicked to Azkaban for use on a student! BUT, neither of us are in a position of considerable high power like that (boo hoo...) so for now, Tom's a free man. Thanks for reviewing!
Paige Halliwell-Matthews - The annoying world of typos, how I wish I could magic it away with a flick of my imaginary wand, but no, that was part of a scene I decided to cut out, so nothing happened in the bathroom! Sorry folks! Great attention to detail by the way, no one else commented on it, unless they saw no need. Oh well, glad you like it! Thanks for the review! Hoping to see another one from you soon!
M.E.Potter - Thanks for reviewing! Hope to get another one for this chapter as well!
geewhiz716 - At your request, I put a bit more of Harry and Ron in there! Thanks for the suggestions, I guess I was kind of skipping out them right? When I look back at all my other chapters, I can see that you were right! So thanks for bringing that to my attention!
san01 - I'm glad you find it interesting! Thanks for reviewing!
blindfaithoperadiva - I thank you so much for that uplifting review you gave! I'm so glad that you think my story is great! Thank you again for reviewing!
doddle - Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad to know that you've become hooked to reading my story, it's great to hear! Another review from you would be great!
By the way, anyone who reviews is on my good list automatically (unless you flame), so don't be put down that I didn't tell you that myself. And I think that's it for the reviewer list. I'm glad you all took time to review it! I am also glad to be getting those alerts when people add my story or me to their list of story and author alerts and such. I'm happy to see that people want to keep reading!
AND NOW... CHAPTER 8!!!!! But first a lovely little disclaimer.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything that you find even remotely recognizable. So shut up.
Chapter 8:
Errands for Dippet
"Okay. Hermione's been missing for weeks now. What do we know?" Harry asked the group.
He, Ron, Neville, Ginny and Luna had asked numerous amounts of students if they had seen Hermione since the Welcome Feast, but no one had. Only Madame Pince had seen her, when she was borrowing a book from the library, but they received no other helpful information.
Getting more worried by the minute, they reported their concerns to Professor McGonagall and told her everything they knew, which was to say, not much. Their meeting with the strict professor had gotten them nowhere closer to finding out where exactly Hermione had gone.
"Are you sure of this Potter?" McGonagall asked, a deep frown set upon her elderly, wrinkled face.
"Absolutely Professor. We haven't seen Hermione for weeks, and we think she's been kidnapped. A couple of first year Gryffindors found a book lying in the corridor in front of the library the morning after the Welcome feast, and they checked it back in. Madam Pince said it was the book Hermione had borrowed the night before. I mean, there's no other reason right? She had to have been kidnapped. Why else would the very same book she borrowed by lying in the middle of the corridor? Hermione wouldn't leave it there on purpose. I'm willing to bet my entire Gringotts account that she was kidnapped," Harry reasoned. Half to McGonagall and half to himself.
"Well, regardless of the manner of Ms. Granger's disappearance, the situation is very serious. I shall try and ask the staff members for their help, and I would suggest that you do not spread the word. I am sure that others will notice Ms. Granger's absence, but there is no need to spread panic. I will see what I can do Potter. Hopefully we can find Ms. Granger before it's too late. You're dismissed."
That was the day they told McGonagall of their suspicions. Since that time, they had found nothing to lead them to Hermione's whereabouts. And they were getting more anxious everyday.
"Harry," Ron said from his spot on the Gryffindor table. "We've been over this a billion times! All we know is that Hermione hasn't been seen since the Welcome Feast. She can't have been kidnapped before arriving at Hogwarts because we were with her before getting on the train."
"She wasn't in the girl's dormitories that night; I asked all the Gryffindor girls, no one saw her come in or go out," Ginny added. Harry and Ron had also told her about their predicament, and now she was helping them make some sense out of the mess.
"Where the bloody hell has that girl gone off to? I swear if she ran off to see Viktor I'm going to personally track her down and kill her for the trouble she's causing!" Ron said frustratingly.
"Shut up Ron!" Ginny smacked Ron on the arm, effectively getting him to stop his ranting. "Harry," She said, turning to him. "We should go to McGonagall again. It's the only chance we've got to find out exactly what happened." Harry rubbed his eyes under his glasses. He hadn't gotten much sleep for the past few weeks, which could be blamed on the fact that he was usually tossing and turning worrying about Hermione.
Ginny put a comforting hand on his shoulder, and Harry looked up at her and smiled in appreciation of her support. "Harry, do you think, you know, is it possible that she… ran away?" asked Neville. He had also been let in on the problem. They needed as much help as they could get.
"Maybe she was eaten by a Crumple-horned Snorkack?" Luna piped up. She was, oddly enough, sitting at the Gryffindor table, and getting strange looks from other Gryffindors. She ignored them, though more than once Harry had had to tell them to shove off.
"Why would she just run away and leave the book in the corridor Neville? It just doesn't seem logical to me, much less Hermione. And no I don't think she was eaten by a Crumple-horned Snorkack Luna, no offense or anything but they don't exist!" Harry said, his voice raising a couple of tones; he was starting to get frustrated. Neville and Luna immediately fell silent.
"That was harsh mate," Ron patted Harry on the back. "They're only trying to help." Harry sighed. He knew Ron had a point. A good one.
"You're right, I'm sorry guys, I'm just really tired and frustrated, and I can't stop worrying about Hermione. We're getting nowhere!" Harry muffled his voice by pounding his head on the table, earning more strange looks, from the Gryffindors and the other houses too.
"Hey Potter, what's got your knickers all up in a knot?" Malfoy called out from his spot on the Slytherin table. Harry, who was in no right mood to take any of Malfoy's usual crap, shoving his chair back and got up angrily.
"Shove off Malfoy," His voice was dangerously low. Malfoy laughed and looked around at the Slytherin audience they had. They sniggered and urged Draco on, eager for a confrontation.
"Looks like Potty misses his girlfriend. Where's that Mudblood gone off to then Potter? To see Viktor Krum I suppose? You not giving her a good enough shag are you? Maybe you can tell Weasel-bee over there to help you out. Isn't he madly in love with the Mudblood? Would probably jump at any chance to see her nonexistent assets!" The Slytherins roared with laughter.
Harry and Ron both began to trudge angrily over to the Slytherin table, but Ginny, Neville and Luna held them back - with much difficulty - and managed to plant them back onto their seats.
"Grease your hair Malfoy!" Ginny yelled. Malfoy's smirk turned into a snarl, but he seated himself back down and left them alone.
Harry and Ron were both looking very unhappy, muttering curses under their breath. "C'mon. Let's go back to McGonagall's office, she's bound to have found something out by now," Ginny said, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah," Harry said with a sigh. "Yeah, let's – let's do that."
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After another day in the Hospital Wing, Madame McHarding finally let a very restless Hermione go. Right away, she went to find the gang.
It was Saturday morning, and she wanted to meet up with them to see if they had any plans. She figured at 9:00, they would be there, taking their time to eat breakfast before heading off to Hogsmeade and letting the day take its course from there.
Hermione entered the Great Hall, and found that her predictions were correct. Sure enough, there they were, sitting at the far end of the Gryffindor table, chatting away. Claudia spotted her standing in the doorway, and waved happily, beckoning for her to come and join them. Soon, the rest of the gang beamed at her and greeted her as she found a spot next to Samantha. Hermione had noticed that Angela was also present, but she looked distant and separate from the others.
"Hermione! How are you feeling?" Claudia asked.
"I'm all better now thanks. Do you have any plans today? I was hoping to head into Hogsmeade. I feel like an owl caged for too long," Hermione said. She grabbed an apple and considered eating it for a moment, but decided against it, not feeling very hungry, and instead began to play with it.
"We were planning to head into Hogsmeade and practice Apparating. I know we're not supposed to practice without a Ministry official, but I figured since we're all seventeen anyway, the Ministry won't even know we're doing it. Simon and Arny both need the extra practice," Samantha said.
"Hey!" the said boys exclaimed in unison.
"The last time we were practicing, Mon-mon here splinched so badly they had to send him to St. Mungo's. Arnysuckle lost half an arm, but I'm sure you'll be fine. Will you be joining us? Or are you going to work on the homework you've missed out on?" Samantha asked, cleaning out her bowl of oatmeal.
As much as I don't want to fall behind, I also don't want to stay indoors when it's the only thing I've done for the last couple of days. She thought gloomily. Besides, what does it matter if I missed out on any homework? I don't even belong in this time. "I can finish that work later this weekend. I think I'll join you. When are we leaving?" Hermione inquired, tossing the apple back into the fruit bowl.
"Right now would be good. I figured we should make a pit stop at Honeyduke's and buy a few Sugar Quills. I'm all out for History of Magic," Charlie said. The rest of them agreed and they prepared to leave, all except Angela. "Are you coming Ange?" Charlie asked her.
"Oh, not today guys, I'm feeling a bit nauseous. I'll catch up with you later though alright?" she smiled at them and waved, but didn't acknowledge them further, and so they left.
"So, where are we going to go to practice Apparating?" Hermione asked, lowering her voice when she said 'Apparating'. Normally she wouldn't approve, but right now she wouldn't pass up any opportunity to spend some time out of the castle.
"Oh, don't worry about that. I know a great place some distance from the main street where we won't get caught. No one ever goes there, and even if someone did, they won't see us. I'll cast a Disillusionment charm and a few Repelling charms just in case. No one will suspect a thing," Samantha said, smiling.
"That's great," Hermione said. They turned a corner, and almost ran headlong into the headmaster.
"Good morning sir," They greeted.
"A good morning indeed, I should think. What's a bright, young group of Gryffindors like you doing on such a fine day?" he asked absently, his eyes moving from side to side, scanning the page levitating in front of him.
"Nothing sir, just off to Hogsmeade," Charlie said coolly.
"Ah. Off to Honeyduke's I'd imagine? Well, don't let me get in your way!" said Dippet. He waved goodbye and continued his way to the Great Hall. The gang also continued their way to the main entrance, but were again stopped by the headmaster.
"Oh Miss Granger! Could you stay back for a moment? I've got an errand that needs attending to," Dippet said. They all gave Hermione a questioning look, but she just shrugged, just as confused as they were.
"I'll meet you at Honeyduke's," Hermione said. They agreed and went off on their way. Hermione went to talk to Dippet. "Yes sir?"
"Ms. Granger. I've been meaning to ask you for a while now, but since you were unconscious in the Hospital Wing for three days, well I really couldn't find the proper time. Since you're already going to Hogsmeade, I need you to fetch the supplies needed for a potion that I want used in the Fall Ball," he explained, still reading whatever the quill was writing on the floating parchment.
"Professor?" Hermione waved a hand in his line of vision after he remained quiet for longer than normal.
"Oh yes. Ah, where was I? Right, well I came across the idea of using this potion to make the Fall Ball a little more interesting while I was in the Great Hall eating a Pumpkin Pastie," he paused for a moment to read more from the parchment. "I thought that a simple Colour-changing potion would brighten things up a little, don't you?" he asked, looking back at his parchment.
Well, the idea isn't really that bad, actually. It would make for a more colourful food table. Hermione pondered the idea, before nodding her head in agreement. "That's actually a good idea sir. It would certainly add a little more brightness to the theme," Hermione said. She waited for him to finish reading, expecting him to hand her some sort of list.
"Yes, my thoughts exactly. You'll need to have the potion done one week prior to the dance, and no later," Dippet explained, taking the piece of parchment from the air and rolling it up. "You'll need to brew two hundred vials of this potion for the House-elves; they'll be putting it in the pasties," he said, pocketing the quill that was writing along with the inkwell.
"Is that the list sir?" Hermione asked, motioning to the roll of parchment the headmaster was clutching.
"Oh no, this is staff business," Dippet said, pocketing the roll on the inside of his robes. "No, the list is somewhere..." he paused, rummaging through his pockets before emerging with another roll of parchment. "here." he handed her the roll and she took it and unraveled it. It wasn't that long, but by the looks of the quantity of each ingredient she would have to buy, she would be carrying home the equivalent weight of two packed trunks. How pleasant.
"As you can see, you'll need nearly 4 entire cauldron's worth of ingredients," he said as Hermione skimmed through the list. "So you're going to need Tom's help." Hermione stopped reading abruptly and looked up from the parchment to look at the headmaster.
"Pardon?" she asked, hoping her ears had deceived her this one time.
"I said, you're going to need Tom's help," the headmaster repeated.
"With all due respect sir, I'm sure I can manage this on my own," Hermione protested. The last thing she needed was an awkward day in Hogsmeade with Tom Riddle.
"Nonsense! Find him and be on your way," Dippet dismissed Hermione's protest. "As a matter of fact, there he is right now!" Hermione looked to where Dippet had pointed, and found, to her dismay, that there in fact, was Tom Riddle, silently descending the main stairs with a book in hand. "Tom!" the headmaster called. Tom looked their way, and made eye contact with Hermione. They held each other's gaze until Hermione looked away, his intense stare making her extremely uncomfortable.
"Good morning Headmaster. Granger," He shook Dippet's hand and nodded at Hermione, who nodded back in reply.
"Good morning Tom, an excellent morning I believe, to do a little shopping," Dippet hinted. Tom remained expressionless and unreadable, just as it always was.
"I don't understand what you mean sir," He said, no confusion evident in his voice at all.
"I have instructed Ms. Granger to go and purchase some ingredients for a simple Colour-changing potion in Hogsmeade," Dippet explained. "I want you to assist her in doing so."
"I'm quite sure that she can manage purchasing a few ingredients for a simple potion as you say sir," Tom said, trying, as respectfully as he could, to weasel his way out of it. And for once, Hermione was praying for him to succeed.
"He's right headmaster, I'm quite capable of managing this by myself," agreed Hermione.
"But you'll be making numerous batches of the potion, so will need to buy a good quantity of each and every ingredient. I should think that having two people doing this job would make it easier on the both of you."
If only he knew just how wrong he was... Hermione shook her head as she tried to imagine she and Tom walking around Hogsmeade together, holding shopping bags and chatting, but she couldn't. It would be too weird.
"I'd like this potion done one week before the Fall Ball, and you shall be giving two hundred vials to the House-elves," the headmaster explained to Tom. "Oh and Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office tomorrow morning at 10:00 sharp Ms. Granger," And with that, Dippet left the two Heads. Neither of them said anything for what seemed like the longest time, so Hermione decided to break the silence.
"Listen. I don't need your help to go and buy a few ingredients, so you don't need to come with me, or brew the potion at all. I can manage it myself," Hermione said, hoping to shoo him away.
"Well by the looks of that list, I think you will need my help," Tom said stoically.
"I don't need your help. I can do this on my own," Hermione repeated firmly.
"Look, if this is about what happened in Defense Against the Dark Arts, I apologize," he said, his voice completely lacking the sincerity of a genuine apology.
"It's not about that," Hermione said, turning away from him. She was lying again, and she didn't want him to see that. It is about that day in Defense, and more. It just doesn't feel right, roaming around Hogsmeade with Lord Voldemort. How could I even try to do that? He was a murderer, a killer.
"I think it is," said Tom. Hermione could feel his gaze boring into her back.
"You're wrong."
"Then why are you being so defensive about it?"
"I'm not."
"I think you are."
"Well you're wrong again."
"I don't think I am," he said, finally moving from his spot to stand in front of Hermione.
"Well you are," Hermione said, making to walk past him. Tom had anticipated this and put a hand firmly on her shoulder.
"Look," His voice was firm, "I said I'm sorry. Now will you please stop being so stubborn about it and let me help with the potion?" he asked, hand still resting on Hermione's shoulder.
She didn't answer for a long time, but Tom didn't move a muscle. Slowly realizing that he wouldn't leave her alone about it until she said yes, she did. "Fine." At this, Tom took his hand off of her shoulder, but stood unmoving in the same place.
"How do I know that you're really sorry? Not that I care," Hermione said coldly, poking him in the shoulder.
"You don't. You'll just have to take my word for it," Tom said, eyeing her warily. He probably wasn't used to people poking him like that. Or poking him at all for that matter.
"No, I won't take your word for it. Go back to the castle, I'll do this on my own," Hermione commanded firmly, brushing past him heatedly, taking extra care to bump shoulders with him sharply.
She made it out of the castle and was walking down the path to where the carriages were stationed, when Tom came out of nowhere and grabbed her forearm, with a firm tug turning her around. This is too close for comfort. She was staring directly at his chest, since he was a good foot and a half taller than she was. Maybe more. She refused to look at him, instead diverting her gaze to the left, pretending that the trees were much more interesting that what he had to say.
"Look at me," Tom said. Hermione didn't move. Tom tried again. "Look at me," He said, his voice more firm.
Persistent little... Figuring that he wouldn't stop pestering her until she obeyed, she looked up and stared him straight in the face.
"I'm sorry. I don't know how many apologies you want from me, but I've given one, alright?" he said. His eyes almost seemed to be pleading with her. Hermione didn't even realize that he had not let go of her. She just continued to look into his stormy grey eyes, looking for some trace of deceit. But try as she might, she dismally came to the conclusion that there was none, and so she lowered her eyes and muttered a simple,
"Fine," At that, Tom let go of her wrist and dropped his own arm back to his side.
"Good. Now let's go and buy these useless ingredients. The sooner we get them, the sooner we can leave," He said, brushing past her and making his way back to the clearing where the carriages were situated. Hermione just stood there, unwilling to forgive him. Why should she forgive him? She answered her own question. He already gave me the one book I probably haven't already read, and he apologized more than once. But still, this is Tom Riddle. He wasn't to be trusted. Everyone who had ever involved themselves with him either ended up dead or locked up, and I don't fancy either of those fates. Hermione stood stock still, her thoughts swimming in her already overloaded mind. What made him apologize anyway? Surely he didn't care about what happened to me.
So why was he being so uncharacteristically… nice?
"Are you coming?" Tom's voice shook her from her thoughts. He was standing a good distance from where she stood, looking at her expectantly. Hermione didn't answer, but she forced her legs to move.
Tom made it to the carriages before her and had already boarded one. She took the seat opposite him and stared out the window, having nothing better to do. She was going to miss out on Apparating with her friends.
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The carriage ride had been awkward to say the least. Neither of them spoke or even looked at the other. Hermione had the list, going from store to store, buying ingredients here and there, and handing the bags and parcels to Tom silently.
"What do we need next?" Tom asked, trailing behind her with all the bags. He was holding at least 15 different bags, and they were not even half way through the list.
"Well we still need essence of rainbow, peppermint slivers, billywig wings, pixie and fairy dust, ground honeysuckle, and dried wild berries," she said, nearly tripping over a little child because she wasn't paying attention to where she was going. Her mind was elsewhere, on the talk between Tom and her to be exact, and what she had seen in his eyes.
She had stared into his grey pools long and hard, and was surprised to find loneliness, anger and fear. Fear of what? She asked herself over and over again. Fear of death? But why would he be afraid of death at that time? I'm not a threat to him. He could easily wipe me off the face of the earth, and no one would even know. So, what was that fear about?
"Granger? Granger?" Tom's voice once again snapped her out of her thoughts.
"What?" she asked absently, searching the crowd of faces for the faces of her friends. They were probably already there, practicing Apparition. She sighed gloomily.
"What are you looking for?" Tom asked, looking around too.
"Nothing," Hermione muttered.
"Where do we have to go now?" asked Tom.
"Well, we need to go to Honeyduke's for the peppermint slivers," she said, pointing to the shop that was Honeydukes.
"Okay." They maneuvered through the crowd to get to Honeyduke's.
"So, are you willing to tell me what happened to your parents?" he asked, looking around at the various faces in the crowds, and at the stores that lined the street.
"They were murdered," she said, a little too apathetically than she had meant to. "by Grindelwald."
"You seem to be quite indifferent to that fact," Tom pointed out. Hermione shrugged and said,
"I've accepted the fact that they're gone," she said.
"Doesn't it make you angry? That they were robbed from you?" Tom asked, chancing a glance sideways at her, which went unnoticed by Hermione.
"I guess it did, at first, but there's nothing I can do about it now, other than acknowledge the fact that they're never going to come back, and move on," Hermione answered. "I know that's what they would have wanted."
"That's admirable of you."
"It's nothing." I can't believe that he bought it! I must be better at this acting thing than I thought I was. They arrived at Honeyduke's and went inside. There, they were met by a lot of noise and a crowd that seemed too big to fit inside the shop. They squeezed through the crowd and found the peppermints. Grabbing a handful, Hermione bagged them and lined up to pay for them, with Tom following silently behind her.
"What about you?" Hermione asked him, though she wasn't entirely sure it was her place. Then again, he asked me, and I willingly confided in him. So it's only polite that he return the favour.
"What about me?"
"Your parents," she said simply. Tom's face grew stony, and his eyes became hard and cold instantly. He didn't answer her, and soon they were at the counter, and Hermione gave the lady eleven knuts for the peppermints. They exited the shop and came back out onto the street, and still Tom had not said anything.
"I never knew my parents. I was raised in a Muggle orphanage my entire childhood," he said out of the blue. Of course, Hermione knew this, but she was surprised that he had told her something about his past, something that he would have surely hated and tried to forget about.
To have never known your parents... I can't even try to imagine what that must be like.
"Oh, I see." Hermione paused for a moment, before continuing, all the while walking aimlessly down the main street of the village. "Was your mum a witch? Or was your dad a wizard?" Again, Tom didn't answer for a long time, and he kept looking straight ahead with his fists clenched. "Look Tom, if you don't feel comfortable telling me, then you don't have to," she said to make him calm down. After a few minutes of silence, he unclenched his fists and his face returned to its normal, stoic expression.
They found and bought the rest of the ingredients on their list, and when they finished, Tom ended up carrying fifteen bags, and Hermione carrying seven. Wanting to go home after a tiring day of squeezing through crowds and waiting in lines, they made their way to the clearing where the carriages were waiting.
"My mother," Tom said suddenly.
"What about your mother?" a confused Hermione asked.
"She was a witch. My... father," he said the word 'father' like it was some sort of disease, "was a Muggle."
"You don't seem too... happy about that," Hermione pointed out.
"Nothing gets past you, does it?" Tom mocked, a flicker of amusement flashed in his eyes for a fraction of a second, but it was gone as soon as it came.
"Bugger off," she said, nudging Tom playfully in the shoulder. He instantly stiffened on contact, which surprised Hermione, but he seemed to relax just a moment later. They continued their trek to the carriages in silence, until Tom said something.
"It's not only about that."
"About what?" Hermione asked.
"About my father being a Muggle," he replied.
"Oh."
"They tried to contact him - the orphanage, but he wouldn't take me," he said, remembering his terrible past. "I was his bastard, wizard child. It would ruin the family image if he took me in."
"That's horrible..." Hermione trailed off. How could any parent treat their child like that? It's absolutely heinous.
"He's the reason I'm a Half-blood," he said icily. Hermione had never heard him speak so coldly about anything before, in the past or future.
"There's nothing wrong with being a Half-blood," she said, brows furrowing.
"You wouldn't know," he snarled.
"And how would you know that?" Hermione snapped back.
"You're a Pure-blood," It was a blunt statement, however false it was, and Hermione was taken aback at this. What ever gave him the idea that I'm a Pure-blood? She figured that if she wanted to stay out of his bad books, she would have to play along.
"That doesn't mean anything!" she exclaimed.
"It means everything!" he said, just as loudly as she did. "I'm a Half-blood, only half wizard," he spat.
"Blood has nothing to do with power or abilities, and it shouldn't have anything to do with how people treat each other," Hermione retorted.
"Unfortunately, the wizarding world doesn't work like that," Tom said coldly. Hermione had nothing to say to that, because what he said was right. I would know, being discriminated against as a Muggle-born. She thought dryly. Had she been paying any attention to her surroundings, she would have noticed the cloaked figure that had been following them from a distance the entire time.
They reached the clearing with the awaiting carriages and boarded one in silence. Hermione studied Tom's face, and slowly began to understand just how painful and horrible his childhood was. To be raised in an orphanage, with no real, genuine love. And then to find out that he did have a father after all, only to realize that he didn't want him. It must have been terrible... Hermione thought, pity for Tom slowly filling her. He never learned what it's like to love, so he doesn't know what it feels like. That was why he's so cold! That was why he always pushes people away and keeps his emotions under wraps! He didn't know what to make of them! Hermione came to the conclusion, and felt like she had just solved a thousand-piece puzzle.
"Tom..." she trailed off, not entirely sure what to say. What can I say?
"What?"
"I'm sorry," she said sadly.
"For what? You haven't done anything to me," Tom said nonchalantly.
"No, not me," Hermione said, looking at Tom in the eyes with pity, "I'm sorry... for what the world has done to you." Tom's face took on a look of surprise at what she said, and then confusion. He didn't say anything, only looked at Hermione calculatingly. Hermione decided to speak again. "I want us to be friends," she stated bluntly.
"What?" Tom's eyes widened in surprise again.
"I want us to be friends," Hermione repeated with a slight smile.
"Why?" Tom asked suspiciously. "What makes me so special that you would want to be friends with me? No one else has," he stated coldly.
"I don't have to have a reason to want to be friends with you, Tom," Hermione said. "Friendship is a special thing, and anyone can have it," she explained softly. Tom remained silent for a long time, looking out the window pensively.
"I don't understand," Tom said, still gazing out the window.
"I want to help you understand," Hermione smiled. Again, Tom said nothing, this time for the rest of the carriage ride.
When it jolted to a stop, Hermione made to open the door, but noticed that Tom hadn't moved. "Tom?"
"Did you mean it?" Tom said suddenly. She looked at Tom in confusion. "When you said you wanted to be friends?" Hermione was slightly surprised, but she gave him a weak smile and nodded. Tom didn't say anything else, and turned to look out the window once again. This time, it became a more comfortable silence. A silence that was between two people involved in a new, budding friendship. And all the anger and tension between them were forgotten as they got out of the carriage with their purchases, and headed for the castle.
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By the time they reached the school, it was getting dark. Tom had taken the bags from Hermione and said that he make the potion himself, but finally gave in when Hermione insisted they do it together tomorrow afternoon. They then went their separate ways, Tom going upstairs while Hermione headed into the Great Hall for dinner.
They should all be there. Hermione thought.
Arny had hated it whenever they would arrive at dinner late, because he had it in his head that they were going to run out of the "good food." It was ridiculous no doubt, but the gang just laughed at him whenever he went on his false antics about food shortages.
Sure enough, near the far end of the Gryffindor table as usual, was the gang. Hermione suddenly remembered their Apparition practice today, and how she had missed out on that.
"Hermione! Where did you go? We waited for you for a half hour at Honeyduke's but figured you wouldn't come, so we decided to go on without you," Claudia said once she had sat down at the table.
"Oh, well, Dippet gave me a pretty long list of things to do when I talked with him in the main hall. He made me shop for potion ingredients with Tom," Hermione explained.
"Tom Riddle? It took you the entire day?" Claudia asked, brow furrowing in confusion.
"Well, Dippet's list comprised of more than just potion ingredients. He practically used us as his personal shoppers," Hermione lied. She didn't want to tell them what really happened earlier that day.
"Ah well, that's Dippet for you," Charlie said. "Come on Hermione! The house-elves make the best Minestrone you'll ever taste!" Hermione laughed. She sat down and helped herself to a bowl of said soup. Despite her S.P.E.W. campaigns, she was hungry, and the soup didn't look too bad... She took a sip and savoured the taste. "See?" Charlie said.
"It is good," Hermione agreed. Hermione looked up and saw Angela looking at her from her place across the table. "Angela! How are you feeling?"
"Oh I'm fine thanks. So, you spent the day with Tom Riddle?" she inquired, stirring her soup absently. She spoke as if talking about the weather.
"I did. We went around Hogsmeade buying potions ingredients for the Fall Ball. Why?"
"Nothing, just wondering what you were up to these days. Hey, you're okay right? I heard about what happened at Defense Against the Dark Arts with Tom," Angela said, though she didn't seem all that worried about Hermione's wellbeing. Hermione didn't notice however.
"I'm fine thanks."
"No problem." The rest of the dinner went by like any other dinner, filled with laughter, talking and spending time with friends. Angela retired early on in the night. No one paid any attention to this however, no one except Hermione. Where does she go every time she disappears on us like this? She wondered. But Hermione didn't go after her. It would be invading her privacy if she did. She would just ask her one day whenever she got the chance.
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Hermione had just finished her 11:00 shift, and she was exhausted. She made her way up to the Head's common room and gave the password, clambering in through the hole when the portrait swung open. She wasn't surprised to find Tom there, reading another one of his books. Most likely on the Dark Arts. Hermione hoped she could steer him from that path, but in doing so, she would be meddling with the past, and so the future could change drastically by the simplest of acts. It was too dangerous, but Hermione had such a great urge to help him, to show him that there was some good in the world, and that he could be a part of it. She wanted to talk to him, but she was so tired that she assured herself that she could talk to him tomorrow. Without saying a word, she trudged up the staircase leading to her room, and managed a quiet,
"Goodnight Tom."
"Night Granger," She had hoped for first names, but she couldn't wish for everything in one day. They had made exceptional progress already. And with this in mind, Hermione changed and fell asleep.
In the common room below, Tom was just about to finish up reading when Wormtail appeared.
"Good evening master," The stout man said, bowing lowly.
"What is it?"
"I wish to ask you something my lord, something about your trip to Hogsmeade," Wormtail faltered, fearing that he would anger Tom, but when he said nothing, the servant continued. "I – I am truly sorry that I eavesdropped, but I acted on your future self's orders my lord. I heard your conversation with the Mudblood, and I was wondering my lord, if you were still willing to take part in your future self's plan?" the cowardly man asked, cowering slightly.
"Of course I am," Tom said, more to himself than to the man before him. "You think otherwise?" he asked, his eyes glinting threateningly.
"No my lord, of course not! I was instructed to make sure, though it seems all is well," Wormtail said. He bowed, transformed into his counter rat self, and skittered out of sight. Tom sighed, then collected his books and climbed the steps to him room to get some sleep.
A/N: I think that was a satisfyingly long chapter, don't you think? Well if you think differently then... too bad. Just kidding. Long or not, that's it for now folks. Come back next time you get an update alert, which shouldn't be to far off. I can't tell you a sure date though, even though school's out, I'm busy with other things. And here's something that I haven't done before, a sort of poll thingy. I'm not sure if I'll have these for every chapter, but when you see one, just give your answer in your review, that should be good.
Poll: Would you rather be good (against Lord Voldemort and Death Eaters) or evil (with Lord Voldemort and Death Eaters)?
I think I would be good, because deep down, I know that it's the right thing, but the evil side is enticing and... powerful. Maybe that means I'm evil? I don't know. Well, what do you think? Put it in your review!
