A/N: I'm SO sorry for the wait everyone. I went out of town unexpectedly on Thursday, and didn't get back until Sunday night. And I've been struck with writer's block ever since, oh, and poison ivy too. Stupid itchy stuff. But I promise to make it up next post, which will be on Friday. I'll be posting two chapters then! Oh, and thanks to: Joou Himeko Dah, Silver Tears 11, MandaPandaAR, hippychick21, hanvu, litprincess, san01, nehimasgift, Lizzy Evans, svelte, ellamalfoy8, and pottersgirl91.

Chapter 15 – Tom to the Rescue

By the time Tom got back to the castle, it was sundown, and he was highly irritable. Not only for having to walk so long in the sun and a rather uncomfortable uniform, but for being alone so long. Being alone as he was gave him time to beat up upon himself about his feelings for Hermione, a none too pleasant thing in his case.

"Just wait until I get my hands on her," he ranted as he stormed through the castle corridors on his way to her room, but when he got there, she wasn't there. "Granger," he grumbled as he turned and headed for the tower where they used to keep Meg. Still no sign of her. He continued to search, going from room to room.

The library. No. The sun room where the piano was kept. Johnalin, but no Hermione. Dining hall. Nope. Just some servants preparing for dinner in there. Riddle stood in the corridor, some parts of panic now hitting him. Where was she?

He hadn't seen her outside when he came in, that was for sure, and the carriage was back. He had seen them unhitching the horses and leading them to a stable, so she obviously arrived. Tom sighed and slumped against the wall, leaning his head back and cursing the suit he was wearing.

He had unbuttoned all the buttons, and it was currently hanging open, showing a slightly sweat soaked white undershirt. His hair was no longer neatly combed and perfectly in place, rather it was tasseled about, some dark strands in his eyes which had it looking slightly like Harry's would have. He stood there with his eyes closed, about to slide down the wall out of exhaustion when he heard something that made his ears perk.

He opened his eyes and stood up straight, straining his ears for the sound again. There. A small twittering noise, but definitely not from a bird. It was more like a laugh, and Riddle had a pretty good guess as to whose it was.

He walked to the center of the corridor and looked down the hallway on his right. As he did, his eyes passed over a door that was cracked. A rather unique door with some special carvings that no other had. Tom had seen this room before. He had seen Hermione in there in a large bird cage of sorts. He walked over to the intricate wooden barrier and leaned toward the crack, his ear perking even more when the sound became louder. It was Hermione, there was no doubt about that, but why was she giggling?

Her obvious happiness and lack of concern not only served to make Tom curious, but infuriated him a bit as well. Here she had been sitting in a comfortable little room while he walked home in the hot afternoon sun in a horribly itchy and stiff suit. 'I'll be lucky if I don't have blisters from these damn boots, but she's just in there enjoying herself!' he complained to himself.

It wasn't that he expected her to come back to the castle and moan and cry about their little quarrel, but this was ridiculous in his eyes. 'She's had an ear-full coming and now she's going to get it... right here. Right now!'

Tom threw open the door and stormed his way in, eyes set glaring at her, but he stopped abruptly. 'What the hell!' Tom mentally screamed as he surveyed the scene before him.

There was Hermione inside the butterfly cage on the same bench she had been perched before. Her cheeks were twinged, and she was smiling broadly while picking at a bracelet on her wrist which was made from some kind of flower. She was giggling because, sitting next to her while whispering in her ear, was Tom's very anger point, Porthos. 'What in the name of Merlin is she playing at?' Tom hissed to himself as he stood watching.

"Porthos! Stop!" she laughed as he began poking gently at her sides. "No! Stop!"

She threw her head back and laughed which made the youth-filled Voldemort's sneer grow. He had had enough. He cleared his throat loudly, but the pair didn't hear him. He began tapping his foot, his hands on his hip in a very Mrs. Weasley-ish gesture, but still no response from the now hysterical couple. Riddle cleared his throat again as he stopped tapping his foot and crossed his arms. Yet nothing happened. He stood staring hard at them until he watched them get up and make their way to the door as a loud chiming could be heard through the castle. It was six o'clock.

They started to make their way to the carved door, still not noticing anyone but themselves until they were a few feet from Tom. Hermione spotted his dirt covered boots and followed the path created by his legs, up to his waist and then his chest where his arms were crossed and finally to his displeased looking face.

"Oh!" Hermione mock gasped. "Aramis."

"Very funny," Riddle annunciated, his nostrils flaring.

"It is rather funny, isn't it?" she taunted knowingly.

"Not anymore," he grumbled.

"I agree," Porthos interrupted. "Once the initial first, humorous shock of your appearance wears off, it's rather disturbing and dis... pleasing? Disgusting? I should think a soldier would show more respect for his appearance... seeing as he's carrying a prestigious reputation on his shoulders of the whole company."

"No one asked you," Tom shot through gritted teeth.

"Nasty temper, this one," Porthos whispered to Hermione, though his whispering was ineffective as the future Dark Lord still heard.

Blood boiling, he began to rant at Hermione.

"How dare you pull a stunt like you did today! Did you really think it was funny to leave me walk all the way back to the castle from that university?"

Apparently she did because the more he said, the harder she bit down on her bottom lip to stop the smile. Porthos wasn't much help either as he covered his mouth with his hand and began snorting with laughter. Hermione began giggling as Riddle's expression went from rage to utter incredulous heat.

"I need a word with you," he said to her in a low, dangerous tone. "Alone," he shot at Porthos while giving him a disapproving glower.

"Very well," Hermione said, her gigglish tone disappearing.

"I'll be seeing you around then, dear Princess?" Porthos stated with an inquiring tone as he took her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles.

He never gave her time to answer as he started to walk away, Tom throwing daggers with his eyes as he looked back over his shoulder at the blond soldier who was now at the door.

"Oh! Porthos! Won't you join my father and I for dinner tonight?" Hermione called as she spotted Tom's enraged look.

"I'd be delighted," the sapphire-eyed boy replied before walking out.

Riddle stormed over, slammed the door behind Porthos, and then rounded on Hermione.

"You unimaginable little wench!" he insulted through gritted teeth as he stormed across the room toward her once more.

"Do you think I fear you?" she asked calmly with a look of vexation on her face as he towered slightly over her. "You're sadly and most horridly mistaken if you do."

"Any why, dear Princess, would that be?" he growled.

"Because you're nothing more than a ruddy, ignorant fool who needs me behind you to clean up messes."

"What messes?" Tom shot.

"The mess like you made today. I come back to the castle to find Porthos in a horrid panic because he can neither see nor speak correctly because his teeth had enlarged so much that he looked rather like a beaver with an overgrowth. His teeth were down to his knees!" The youthful Dark Lord chuckled cruelly at this as he crossed his arms, visibly proud of his evil little deed. "That's not funny! I had to hide in a closet in the room and wait for everyone to leave so I could reverse the spells. Do you know how stupid I looked because I came out of the closet and Porthos saw me?"

"No more stupid than you normally do," Riddle remarked snidely.

"You're insufferable!" she snapped.

"You've told me that before," he drawled in a bored tone.

"Ough! I hate you, Tom Riddle, I absolutely hate you!" Hermione stalked past him toward the door, but stopped as she grabbed the handle. "You're childish and ill-mannered and ridiculous and ignorant and... above all things, a sad, sad excuse for a human being. Grow up," she spat as she looked back over her shoulder at him.

"Oh, a lot you would know! At least I'm not the one running around snogging some bloody ass who's planning my murder as well as that of my father's," Tom snarled.

Hermione said nothing to this. She angrily surveyed him for a moment before shaking her head and leaving, closing the door behind her. He grunted in absolute rage before heaving a great sigh. Something began tickling at his ear. He turned suddenly and saw a butterfly who had escaped the cage. Clenching his jaw, he grabbed it quickly, crushing it in his fist. He opened his hand and watched it fall to the stone floor, the tiny beauty's leg and wing twitching before its exact moment of death. Riddle sneered down at it before wiping the light, colored dusting off his palm from its wings. He then left the room, feeling some relief of anger.

"Where the hell are you going?" Tom hissed as he came around the castle and saw Hermione boarding a carriage.

It was noon the next day, and he hadn't talked to her since before dinner last night because of her show with Porthos.

"I'm going back to the university," she replied snottily as she held her head high and refused to look at him.

"Not without me you're not," he commented.

"Oh, no," she said, shaking her head. "You're not going this time."

"I am," someone spoke from beside the two.

Hermione turned and smiled at Porthos before getting into the carriage. The blond then threw Tom a snide look before climbing into the carriage as well and pulling the door closed on him. 'Two can play this game,' Riddle thought haughtily as he watched the carriage pull away and saw Porthos and Hermione waving from the curtained window in the back. He shook his head in annoyance and headed for the garden of the castle. He looked all around, and was about to Apparate to the cave where Meg was staying when a soldier came around the corner. Tom stopped all efforts and groaned as he saw who it was.

It was the guard from when Tom had been watching Hermione in the butterfly room. The one he had called an arrogant little buffoon. Riddle had learned from some other guards that his name was Arthos. 'I'll never figure out what it is with the -thos ending on everyone's name around here. Utterly ridiculous,' Tom thought to himself.

"Hey Aramis," greeted Arthos.

"Afternoon," he greeted back through gritted teeth. 'Be on your way now. Don't even stop!'

"What are you doing here? The Princess left, didn't she?" Arthos asked.

"Porthos is with her," Tom replied with disgust.

"Right 'ol jerk, he is," the other male acknowledged. "But I don't think you have to worry. Rumor through the ranks has it that she fancies you."

"Fancies me?" Riddle repeated. "I've heard no such thing."

"S'just what I heard," Arthos sighed. "And by the way... if I were you, I'd be going to that university because I don't trust Porthos alone with any girl. Got quite the reputation for breaking them."

Tom stiffened at those words. Would Granger be that stupid? 'Surely not... but if it comes to a power struggle, and she can't use her wand...' he reasoned.

"Very well," he muttered before turning and getting ready to walk away.

"Uh, Aramis," the other soldier called in curiosity.

"What now?" Riddle asked in annoyance.

"The stable is this way. You weren't going to walk there, were you?"

"Uh... certainly not. Just forgot where I was headed for a moment there," he covered quickly.

They turned and headed off around to the back of the castle where there was a large, stone building which served as the stable. Arthos and Tom entered and there were several horses. Riddle opened a stall where a chestnut-colored steed was munching oats. He grabbed a saddle off the stable wall, his arms pulling down from the weight of the thing. He groaned as he wished that Arthos would leave so he could just use magic to do this. He hoisted the saddle up, only getting it halfway up. He leaned it against the horse who snorted in annoyance as it continued to eat. Shoving the saddle, he pushed it up into place and almost over the horse.

"Here, let me help," Arthos chuckled as he held the saddle in place while Tom strapped it on. "I'll get the reins."

Riddle stood panting a little as the other soldier exited the stall and came back a few seconds later with the bit and reins. The future Dark Lord watched as Arthos lead the horse gently from the wooden compartment and out into the center aisle. Tom rolled his eyes as the other boy put the reins on with ease, the horse taking to him and his gentle ways quickly.

"There ya go," Arthos smiled before watching Riddle mount the horse. "Give Porthos hell."

Tom gave a small snort of laughter before snapping the reins. The horse stamped its hooves a moment before finally giving in to trotting out of the stable as Riddle snapped them again. He rode to the gate at a trot, into town, and then the horse broke into a gallop toward the university once the town was behind them. Tom didn't especially like the feel of riding a horse. It gave him an awkward and weird sensation. It was definitely much more different than riding a broom.

He finally arrived at the university and saw the carriage pulled off to the side of the road in front of the gate. He dismounted his horse and left it with the two guards that had been driving the carriage. He also left his weapons, though he left his wand concealed in his sleeve. Riddle began walking around the university, unsure of where Hermione might be, but then something struck him. 'She's probably bringing those books back.' He instantly headed for the library, careful not to disturb the monks as he passed through the church area. He entered the library and heard voices coming from the depths of the dusty book shelves. He looked up at the ceiling. Whoever it was, their muffled talking was coming from upstairs.

Tom moved swiftly over to the steps, careful to make himself unknown to those already occupying the library's space. He made it up to the second floor unnoticed, and still saw no sign of Hermione or Porthos, but the noises were getting louder. Riddle was certain now that it was Hermione as he heard her giggle. He turned to his right and started to walk down the shelf ends, peering into each row to see if they were there. He didn't find them until he came to the last row of books. Porthos was laying some books on the table as Hermione glanced over the shelf.

"You know, Princess," Porthos began as he walked up to her, taking a gentle curl from her light brown hair into his hands, examining it as she stopped moving. "Your father seems quite taken with me... He proved that last night when he winked at you across the table when I offered to escort you to your room."

"My father doesn't know what's best for me," Hermione replied softly in a very serious manner.

Porthos said nothing to this as he took all of her hair in his hands, moving it aside and draping it over her right shoulder as he stepped closer. Hermione felt his breath on her neck as he leaned forward to whisper in her ear. She turned around quickly to face him as he did, his eyes intent upon her. She backed up toward the bookcase, but he only mimicked her steps and left her with nowhere to go. She suddenly felt very nervous and helpless. She couldn't very well use her wand on him, what if he remembered and told them that she had used magic.

"Porthos, please," Hermione said as she turned her head to keep him from kissing her. His hands were at her hips, and she didn't like the way they held her. It was entirely too rough and directing. "Porthos," she spoke again as she closed her eyes tight and kept her head turned.

"I don't think she wants you to touch her like that," came the voice of Tom.

The blond-haired, blue-eyed soldier instantly let go of her and said nothing as she opened her eyes. She gasped as she took in the scene before her. Riddle had a sword pressed to Porthos' neck, pushing him away from Hermione with it.

"I'd lower your sword, Aramis... unless you want the General to whip you within an inch of your life," the cornered boy threatened.

"And I'm sure that would only happen after the King hangs you for touching his daughter and forcing yourself upon her," Tom growled. "I suggest you go down to the carriage, take that horse that is there, and head back to the castle... now!"

Tom jabbed the sword slightly, and Porthos winced as it was pulled away. There was a solitary line of deep red beginning to run down his neck, staining the collar of his uniform. Porthos walked past Riddle, glaring at him as he went. Once Tom made sure he left, he came back to Hermione, a look of arrogance on his face.

"You don't need to say it," she sighed as she leaned against a table, her head bowed.

"Say what?" he asked, though his arrogance was still in place.

"I told you so," she muttered. "I can't believe I was so stupid. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't of come."

There was silence for a moment or two before Hermione exhaled noisily and stood up straight. She grabbed two books from the table and was going to walk past Riddle when she stopped.

"Thanks by the way," she mumbled before reaching up quickly and brushing her lips across his cheek.

He could feel the heat from her face as she bowed her head once more and walked away quickly. Tom stood there for a moment, slightly shocked. It was then that he felt something almost like the frustration he had felt toward her for the past few days, yet this feeling was something better. It made him feel lighter, as though his feet would leave the ground and hover above the floor at any moment. A smile curled upward at one corner of his mouth before he turned and set off after her.