Disclaimer: don't own.
"Excuse me? WHEN?" Harry asked scathingly, deeply disturbed by the thought.
"You heard right, Poliakoff." Abraxas Malfoy snapped. "The Dark Lord orders us to meet up at this place once a week at midnight."
"Why midnight?"
"We don't want to be overheard." Zabini explained in a deep soothing voice.
"Very well, and how do we open the stone wall again?"
"You are my master!" Abraxas hissed. "Remember that and you will get in."
"Very well. Now, are we allowed to go to Hogsmeade?" Draco asked, not keeping the anger out of his voice. They were still in the Hogwarts ground, the secret meeting place of the Death Eaters was near the dungeons. Draco was desperate to get out as soon as possible.
"We also have to show you the bar in Hogsmeade where we always meet up on Hogsmeade days. I don't know why he chose not to hold a meeting today." Zabini shrugged.
Draco narrowed his eyes. Of course not, because he wanted to spend the day with Hermione.
"We'll show you the bar in Hogsmeade, then you can explore the town on your own. Remember to be back by 7 for dinner." Abraxas turned around and walked to the carriages, not looking if Draco, Harry and Zabini were following. Which they were, though somewhat unenthusiastically.
After a relatively short carriage ride, during which Abraxas had told them a story about the time when he and his parents had visited Paris – the story which Draco had had to endure every year in the future – they walked out into the sunny streets of Hogsmeade.
"This is Hogsmeade." Abraxas told them unnecessarily.
"And where is this pub you are always meeting?" Harry asked.
"It's right over there. The Hogs Head. And it is the pub WE are always meeting. Remember, you are part of our group now, Maxim, Anatol." Zabini explained, with a slight smile on his handsome face.
"You are dismissed now. Remember to be back at 7." Abraxas told them with a slight nod of the head.
"Okay. Until later then." Draco and Harry nodded back and departed, keeping their eyes peeled for Hermione.
"Where do you reckon she is?" Draco asked and sounded to Harry just like Ron who he missed terribly.
"I honestly don't know. Do you think something bad happened?" Harry asked, for a moment forgetting that he was walking down the streets leisurely with his former enemy.
"I hope not." Draco answered unsurely.
"Where did they go?"
"I have no idea. Just into Hogsmeade. Where would a dark lord want to go?" Draco asked Harry who just smirked.
"Besides the Hog's Head? Well we know for sure that he is not there. Definitely not the three Broomsticks. I guess something far more sinister. But there isn't anything like that in Hogsmeade."
"The shrieking shack?" Draco asked, not noticing how close this actual suggestion of Hermione's and Tom's place was.
"No, it wasn't built until Professor Lupins year."
"How do you know?"
"He told me. It was built as a hut to where he could go when he transformed into a werewolf. So, wanna go to Honeydukes? We will find Hermione later…"
"Sure." Draco drawled and they walked into the shop, where they bumped into…
THTHTH
"GINNY!" Harry exclaimed.
Draco trod on his foot.
"Oh, Katya." Harry corrected himself. To his pleasure, only Ginny and McGonnagal were there and so no one really noticed his slip-up, since McGonnagal was in the back, examining the new ice-mice.
"Hi, Maxim, Anatol…" Ginny smiled. "Are you having a good time?"
"Well yes, definitely. We had to hang out with Abraxas and Zabini for the first half of the day – which was just wonderful." Draco snapped, still in a bad mood.
"That's too bad." Ginny smiled slightly.
"Yeah. But at least, we are for ourselves now." Harry answered dully.
"Would you care to join us? We are going for a drink at the 3 broomsticks?" Ginny asked but McGonnagal came from behind.
"Why would we go with them, Katya? They are from Slytherin." McGonnagal said with clear hate in her voice.
"But they were my friends in Durmstrang… why should I not meet up with them? So they are Slytherins? He is still my brother – " she pointed at Draco. "And this one is still my boyfriend."
"But they are Slytherins and we are Gryffindors. katya, we should not associate with them!" McGonnagal said furiously, some strands of her hair coming out of her tight ponytail.
Draco smirked at his former professor. "Riiiight. Anatol, I agree with her. We really shouldn't associate with them, these Gryffindors are beneath us anyway. A shame that my sister was sorted there."
McGonnagal crossed her arms and glared at Draco.
"No one asked your opinion you stuck up, conceited Slytherin-pure-blood." she spat.
"And glad about that, thank you very much." Draco's smirk had just grown wider.
"Please, Minerva. We don't want to fight. Why don't you just want to get to know them? They are usually really nice." Ginny pleaded.
"And let other people see that I associate with conceited, evil, stuck-up, Slytherin-assholes? I prefer not to." McGonnagal sniffed.
Draco's smirk grew wider. "You forgot handsome."
Ginny couldn't suppress a giggle at that.
McGonnagal turned to her. "You think it is okay that your brother insults us like that? You included, Katya. You are in Gryffindor as well!"
"Minerva, he is always like that. He doesn't mean it."
"If you prefer your brother's company over mine, I might as well leave." McGonnagal threw a furious glare at the two boys and walked out of the store in a huff.
"Wow. I didn't know you had it in you, Weaselette!" Draco smirked.
"Yeah, me neither. Besides, she was getting on my nerves. She is almost as bad as in the future as a teacher." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"She was not a bad teacher." Harry exclaimed, though half-heartedly.
"No, not bad, but getting on my nerves. I think I will take these…. Let's go to the three broomsticks. I want to see what it looks like in the 40s." Ginny looked at the two boys.
"Yeah, sure, let's do that. Hey, Ginny, have you seen Hermione or Tom anywhere?" Draco asked in a quiet voice.
"No, why?" Ginny's eyes grew wide.
"Because, we haven't seen them yet. And they are here on a date." Harry sniffed.
"Hmm, maybe they are in the three broomsticks." Ginny smiled. "Or in Madam Puddifoots." she added laughing.
Draco threw her a furious glare. "No, she wouldn't do that, Hermione wouldn't." he said more to himself than to anyone else.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Malfoy." Ginny said as she paid for her purchases. "She went there with Victor Krum in her fourth year."
"WHAT?" this time it was Harry's turn to be surprised.
"Well yes. Harry, you are as blind as my brother. Honestly. Guys." Ginny rolled her eyes again.
"Okay, let's go then. We need to find them." Draco urged them out of the shop. The sooner they found them the better.
THTHTH
"It's getting a bit cold." Hermione said after a while. It had been completely peaceful with Tom on the meadow of the small mountain, overlooking the village. They had talked, drank, eaten and just gazed at the clouds.
But now the sun had gone behind some clothes and it was chilly.
Tom didn't say anything. He peeled out of his jacket and handed it to Hermione. "Take it, Natalija. I'm not cold."
With a smile, Hermione took his jacket and thanked him. He had really changed. She knew both sides of Tom Riddle. The aggressive, dangerous side and the sweet, caring side. He had been absolutely wonderful on this day. She looked at his handsome face and marvelled at how handsome he looked. His jaw was slightly tensed, his hair was a bit ruffled from lying down but his eyes held a certain softness that Hermione hadn't seen before.
The truth was Tom Riddle was doing some serious thinking. He had shown her another side today. More or less unwillingly. It just came naturally. He had just felt completely at ease with this new girl. She was nice, caring, intelligent, sporty (he had noticed how they had walked up the hill) and not to mention breathtakingly beautiful. The whole Slytherin common room talked about her. Tom always felt that he would want to rip that person apart. Jealousy. He had to admit that he had grown fond of that girl. And no one would take something that HE wanted away from him – he would make sure of that.
Tom looked sideways at Hermione who was admiring the view. He had to smile inwardly. His jacket was too big for her, but she looked happy. Happy to be there with him? With HIM of all people? It would just be too good to be true.
He shook his head. But he still couldn't figure that girl out. There was a certain mystery. She was hiding something. And he still wanted to find out. But maybe for a different reason? Could it be that he was seriously becoming just curious for her life and well-being?
"Natalija?" he asked softly.
Hermione turned around to this voice she liked so much.
"Yes?" she answered equally softly.
"Do you want me to come with you on Saturday? I'm school prefect after all." he felt like adding.
"That would be wonderful." Hermione smiled in thanks.
"You're welcome." Tom and Hermione stared at each other for longer than was necessary.
"By the way, we should go. We should be back by 7." Hermione said, getting up.
Tom furrowed his brow. "At 7? How do you know that? I haven't told you."
Hermione was quickly to cover up that lie. "Of course, you haven't. I heard Abraxas telling Maxim and Anatol about it."
Tom bought it, to Hermione's pleasure.
"Oh ok. Tell me, Natalija! What is there between you and Maxim?" Tom regretted the question at once. Why did he sound so interested? It was not him to be interested in girls, let alone show it.
"Oh. There is nothing between Maxim and me. We were pretty… close friends at Durmstrang." Hermione almost choked on the lie. He and Draco friends? Ha! As if! He was just acting like a jealous prick. For what reason, Hermione had no clue. She would have to ask Harry about it.
"There is not nothing! I'm not stupid. I can see how he always looks at you! He practically drools. And he wanted to go to Hogsmeade with you. Natalija, he has a thing for you." Tom said in a more dangerous voice that sent chills down Hermione's back.
"If you think so. I haven't noticed it yet though. I'll keep a lookout." Hermione didn't have the nerve to speak against his words. She had become really 'brave-less" after she had been sorted into Ravenclaw. She had been braver in Gryffindor. Much braver.
It was getting darker and even colder.
"Let's go back." Tom said, helping Hermione up with his hand. She marvelled again at this gesture. She honestly preferred the men in the 40s. Ron would never have helped her up.
With a flick of his wand, the blanket and everything vanished and he offered her his arm once again.
Quietly, but happily, they departed.
THTHTH
The 3 time-travellers arrived just in time for dinner and noticed – to their immense relief – that Hermione was sitting at the Ravenclaw table. She seemed to be tired, but unhurt and even… happy.
She was eating with a slight grin, talking to Sarah, Matthew, Richard and Darius.
Draco frowned. Something was not right. Something was definitely not going the right way. Hermione was either losing her head, she was bewitched, or… something else that Draco didn't want to think about. They were here on a mission, to befriend Tom Riddle (which Draco found hard enough as it is) and not to try and get him into bed. He looked at Harry who seemed to be thinking along the same lines as he too watched Hermione with a slight frown on his scar-free face.
"Hey Potter, do you think we should talk to her?" he whispered quietly.
"Don't call me Potter." Harry hissed and jerked his head in the direction of Riddle who was watching them interestedly.
"Ugh. Poliakoff. How many times do I have to tell you? He doesn't know legilimency. YET." Draco snarled.
"So what? You never know who else is listening in."
THTHTH
"So how was your date with Tom?" Sarah asked, grinning widely.
"It was very nice. We first went shopping for clothes and guess what, this guy asked me for a photoshooting for Witch's Weekly!" Hermione told her all about that and Sarah listened with wide eyes, gaping like a fish.
"That's so great! And Tom witnessed all of that?"
"Yes, he did. He even encouraged me to do it. And he will go there with me on Saturday."
"I'm not sure if that is so great!" Matthew said, shaking his head.
"Why not?" Hermione and Sarah asked at the same time.
"He just wants to control you, Natalija. He might have been impressed that you were asked by a model scout, but he is also a control freak. And I repeat: be careful, Riddle is dangerous." Matthew replied, looking at Hermione conspirationally.
"Okay. I'll be careful." Hermione sighed and Sarah put an arm around her. "We just don't want you to get hurt, Natalija. We mean no harm."
"I know. And I thank you for that." Hermione smiled at her Ravenclaw-friends.
Richard smiled at her encouragingly. "By the way, the Ravenclaw quidditch team is practising tonight. Wanna watch?"
Hermione smirked. "Which means, watch you??? You play in that case?"
"Yes, I'm keeper. And Charles is seeker." he pointed at various people, explaining their positions and what they do, which bored Hermione endlessly.
She just remembered that Edward Davies was the Ravenclaw captain. Like grandfather like grandson, Hermione mused. She had never really talked to Roger much, except when he and Fleur were going steady for some time. They had often hung out as a quartet – Fleur and Roger and Krum and Hermione.
"And the beaters have to-" but Richards explanation was stopped by a smirking face, plopping down into the seat next to Hermione.
"Don't bother explaining her quidditch rules. she will never understand." Draco smirked.
Hermione went red and Richard and Matthew laughed loudly.
"What do you want, Krum?" she hissed, her eyes slits.
"As you what you are doing tonight!" Draco answered, his voice still full of laughter.
"I'm going to watch quidditch."
"WHAT?"
"I'm going to watch the Ravenclaw quidditch team train tonight." Hermione repeated clearly.
This time it was Draco's turn to laugh. "You??? Watching quidditch? Come on, Natalija. You can't be serious."
"Why not?"
"You are not interested in quidditch. You'd rather hang out with me." Draco smirked in all his arrogance.
Hermione drew herself up. "I. Think. Not. Maxim, I'm going to watch them train tonight, whether you like it or not." she huffed.
"Whatever!" Draco said loudly and got up from the bench, giving Hermione a furious glare.
"Someone is jealous." a grinning Sarah commented when Draco had left.
"No no no." Hermione shook her head again. "Maxim and I are just friends." she said for the umpteenth time.
"You can kid somebody else. Besides, I wasn't talking about Maxim."
Hermione's eyes were round as galleons and she made the mistake to turn her head and look at the Slytherin table. Tom was still watching her, with an unreadable expression. When he saw that she was looking at him, he disinterestedly turned his head away from her and engaged in a polite conversation with a dark-haired boy.
She groaned but didn't answer. What was Tom thinking?
'Now why is this idiot again bothering her? Can't he see that she doesn't want to hang out with him? I guess, I will have to teach him a lesson! I wonder, what Natalija is doing tonight. I might ask her to work on our project although it is Saturday.' Tom thought, but as soon as this brilliant thought occurred, his eyes travelled over to the Ravenclaw table, where Maxim was smirking arrogantly at Richard – or whatever this guy's name was.
His smirk was as nerve-wracking as Malfoy's. They had to be related somehow, especially since Krum claimed to be pureblood, which was most probably true anyway.
Tom heard Krum utter a single word. A word that made him somehow feel happy. "Whatever." the arrogant newcomer spat and walked swiftly back to the Slytherin-table, his face a perfect mask. 'You are learning fast, Krum.' Tom thought.
"So what are your plans for tonight?" Zabini asked.
He groaned but didn't answer. What was Natalija thinking?
'Why is he watching me the whole time? Is he really interested or is he just trying to get information out of me? Is it really almost my sole responsibility to change him? Can I do it? Should I keep up this strategy of charming him?' Hermione thought.
She watched Draco walk back to the Slytherin table and remembered a book that Lavender had talked about. A book. But of course about how to get the boy you wanted. It explained that you shouldn't be too obvious. That you should keep changing track. One time, you act as if you liked him a lot, charm him and be very sweet and caring and the other time, you are cold and keep away from him, maybe even flirt with another guy.
Hermione was sure to use this tactic. She had a beautiful day with Tom. Tonight she would keep her distance from him and instead watch the sexy Ravenclaw quidditch players practice.
She turned towards Richard. "Yeah. I'll be there tonight."
THTHTH