A/N: All thanks to my beta. x3

Previously:

"What do you mean 'somewhat'? It's impossible to do a part-horcrux, even if... then it certainly wouldn't have such power."

"With Tom Riddle you may never know, after all he was a very powerful wizard..."

T.M.R.

As the door closed behind him, Tom already had his ear pinned to it. The woman certainly knew him or at least his future self. On one hand he felt pride because of it, it meant that at least at some point he succeeded in his plans of becoming the most powerful wizard of all times. On the other hand though, where was he now? She mentioned something about fighting and killing him.

Now, was that possible?

Logically thinking, no. He has became the most powerful wizard and by doing so he turned out to be indestructible as well. However, that left this piece of information odd. Something was not right and he needed to know what.

After two minutes of listening and hearing absolutely nothing, he guessed that a silencing spell was cast over the Headmaster's office. Sighing inwardly, he fixed his somewhat crumbled robes and went downstairs.

His mind was racing though because of everything he heard, learned and seen. Briefly he even wondered what year it is, not that it mattered to him anyway. But he had to say... Minerva McGonagall's face when she saw him on the sixth floor... She looked horrified by him. If he only knew what he did. How he lived. If he really succeeded in his missions?

And then there was Dumbledore's knowing gaze. Bloody professor even in death could see through him as if he didn't exist as a human being but a mere transparent ghost. So what if he wasn't real, Dumbledore wasn't either. Both of them were different. However he was much more different, in a good way. Honestly speaking, he wasn't too sure what had really happened. All he remembered was that he found this one book in Borgin and Burges, bought it and studied closely. The next thing he knows, he's here in Hogwarts- but fifty-something years in the future, and with his memory partially blank.

Silently, he frowned a little. His head was starting to thud deafly. It was probably just a headache but he stepped on third floor anyway. He started down the corridor, every now and then glancing lazily around. A few brave girls smiled toward him, but none caught his eye. They were too pure, too sweet, too happy and too innocent for him. One could say he was a very picky boy in those areas.

On his way to the Infirmary, the Slytherin's robe flew silently behind him with every taken step. He held his head high, shoulders kept straight, and had his raven-black hair in perfect shape- despite the events that brought him there. In this sun filled corridor students seemed to sense his quiet, mythical yet so perilous presence. Of course he was new to them and even if he wasn't then they wouldn't recognize him in his teens. That idea was too preposterous to be true. Besides no one cursed him yet...

His left hand itched lightly with magic. Without his wand he felt somewhat helpless and that wasn't good at all. Truth be told he never even thought about practising wandless magic, nothing really serious anyhow. Behold that thought, now he cursed at his recklessness.

Just as he was taking hold of Infirmary's doorknob something passed noiselessly through his raging magic. His eyes opened widely, only for a second, as if that motion surprised him. Then he definitely felt someone else's magic coursing in the air. It was strong and still, had this blank feeling about it though. Somehow it wrapped around him and slowly soothed his vicious magic.

He opened doors and his mind became completely blank at that. Magic cracked with ferocity and hissing noise could be heard in the white room. Then as soon as it happened, as soon everything calmed. Tom blinked a couple of times and found himself on the Infirmary floor. It was the second time he had found himself in such a low position that day. Snapping angrily, he stood up and realized that his headache was gone. Strange thing. Out of curiosity he glanced at only bed that was in use at that time. Of course he recognized a girl at first sight. She had brown bushy hair that now somehow looked a bit sleeker than before and besides she got a bandage around her head. It had to be her. She had to be his saviour. She freed him from his prison.

Before he could step closer to bed he heard a commotion behind doors and panicked slightly. However he didn't have time to do anything as they opened, revealing redhead girl. As she spotted him between herself and her friend, she paled with her mouth hanging open. Her brown eyes widened as if in horror but only for a second, then as if she came back to her senses she glared. Hard.

Tom half turned to face newcomer but the girl had a better idea. With a fast movement her wand was in hand.

"Expeliarmus!"

Now that was what Tom expected just as he put his foot in these corridors in the first place. So without moving or speaking anything, he waited for hex to connect with his torso. When it did, he was surprised that it was powerful enough to send him flying back and actually smacking with strength he didn't know girl possessed into opposite wall. That really hurt.

"You!" a girl seethed, glaring with pure hatred at him. Her wand was prepared to attack at any time. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Well..." Tom stated from his kneeling position, looking at her from a corner of his eyes. "What does it look like I'm doing here?"

Girl's face flared. "How it is possible..." at that she checked if Infirmary doors were closed. They were. "How did you get here... Riddle?" she spat worryingly.

"Now..." Tom said, slowly standing up. He eyed girl's wand. "How come you recognize me?"

"Well..." she mocked. "I had that pleasure of meeting you in the past."

"Time traveller?" he asked casually.

The girl laughed sarcastically. It hurt his teeth to hear it. "Of course not, Riddle... or should I say Voldemort?"

Tom's face blanched, he needed information. "How then?"

"I activated one of your horcruxes when I was eleven."

"Oh."

"Now. What happened that you're here? How it is even possible you're back! We killed you and destroyed all of your horcruxes!"

"Unfortunately" he spoke, crossing arms "I don't know."

Girl blinked. "You don't know? YOU DON'T KNOW?"

"Calm yourself, Ginger-head-before half castle comes running down here."

"You know what? You're going with me. Now."

"And where to, pray tell, you want me to go with you?"

"To Headmistress McGonagall."

Tom smirked. "It may be shocking news for you Ginger-head but I spoke with her already."

"What?" Girl looked seemingly paling now. "How? What? When?"

"Seeing as you're one of prefects and from Gryffindor nonetheless, by now you should be informed that I'm a new student here."

"WHAT?" she shrieked, her wand's tip cracked with intensity of flowing magic. "I don't believe you, Riddle! It's not an option!"

"It seems it is as I'm standing here with you."

"That's the stupidest thing to do! Taking back a murderer into the school!" Her eyes were burning with a deep fire. "And for what? To help him get back on track and kill even more innocent people? You've done your part already, Riddle. You killed so many people it makes me sick to look at you. I despise you; your worse than Grindelwald was."

"Oh, my... thank you, Ginger-head."

"You're sick... and stop with Ginger-head crap!"

"But you have a ginger head. Besides it perfectly suits your personality if you ask me."

Girl had had enough and with ferocity moved her wand. Red light shot from tip and Tom suddenly found himself yet again slammed into wall. Now his head hurt. More than of a headache. He lay on the cold floor, getting a grip on his magic. The girl stared at him.

"Why aren't you fighting back?" she asked suspiciously.

Breathing deeply he looked at her angrily. "How... without wand?" he spat.

"You don't have... a wand" she repeated, lowering hers and then shook her head. "What's your purpose here then?"

"I don't know" he replied through clenched teeth. "Could you stop slamming me into walls now?"

After few seconds girl carefully hid her wand. However she was very aware of young Riddle getting up and slowly massaging parts of his body that hurt most.

"I don't get it" she spoke, looking with calm fury at Slytherin. "You are Tom Marvolo Riddle."

Tom screw up his face little. "Yes" he replied, slowly making first steps. The girl flinched backwards but didn't take out her wand. Then as if somebody else possessed his body, he stepped towards sleeping girl.

Redhead was by her side before him and she was glaring again.

"Why are you here?" she spat, glancing at her friend. She was sleeping peacefully not aware of her company.

"I don't know" he repeated coolly. Few steps more and he was before bed. "Who is she?"

The girl frowned yet again checking her friend. Still sleeping. "She's my friend."

He scowled coldly. "Wrong answer, Ginger-head" he spoke, his eyes ablaze.

"Why do you care?" she shot back.

"She freed me."

"Come again?" Girl blinked few times.

"I don't know how, but if not for her, I wouldn't be here."

Girl frowned and then glanced at friend. "That's why she's here" she concluded and then with eyes wide open hazarded look towards him. "You're... horcrux! Oh dear Merlin, no!" With two steps she was kneeling by her friend, clenching cold hand in warm one. "Hermione, no. Please, no! Open your eyes... Don't die. Not because of him... Hermione?"

Someone cleared throat behind them and both Gryffindor and Slytherin looked up. There, by closed doors, stood a pudgy, bald professor

"I thought I'd find you here, Mister Riddle" he spoke slowly. "I'm surprised to see Miss Weasley here though. Shouldn't you be in dungeons in Defence Against Dark Arts now, miss?"

"Yes, professor" she responded, standing up. Her prefect badge shone in the slowly hiding sun. "However, I was informed by Headmistress McGonagall about my friend's accident... I got the rest of the day off."

Professor nodded. "Alright then Miss Weasley. I'm just here for Mister Riddle, anyway" he waved his hand at Tom. "Come Tom, I know we hadn't see each other a long time but I hope we will find some common grounds..."

Reluctantly, Tom sighed- but stopped Ginny on his way out. "Tell Hermione thank you from me." With that and petrified look on her face, he went after his former Head of house.