Disclaimer: don't own.

THTHTH

Hermione arrived in the kitchens, her knees weak, a flush in her cheeks, eyes sparkling and her lips red and puffy.

Draco and Harry looked disgruntled at her. Hermione shot Ginny a look but Ginny looked equally unhappy.

"What happened?" Hermione enquired softly and sat down next to Draco. Harry's arm was red and swollen and Hermione expected the worst.

"We had our first meeting today, Mione." Harry said quietly, not meeting her eyes. "And well – as you can see I'm hurt."

"That's… really bad." Hermione said with wide eyes. "What about you, Draco?"

As much as she loathed him, she felt really sorry for him. "I had to ENDURE, WATCH and CAST the crucio." he said quietly.

Hermione looked aghast. "Now tell me all from the beginning, please!"

And with that the two boys launched into the horror tale of their afternoon.

"And we were sworn to secrecy." Draco shook his head as if he had to throw up.

"So why could you tell us all about it then?" Ginny asked, dumbfounded.

"I don't know." Harry shrugged.

"I think, it is because you didn't use your real names. A Poliakoff and a Krum should not tell. But a Harry Potter and a Draco Malfoy never made that vow, if I remember correctly." Hermione grinned.

"That's right! Hermione, you're a genius." Draco said, grinning widely and taking a bite of his chickensalad.

"Well of course." Hermione snickered. "Now let me tell you about the photoshoot."

Five minutes later, Hermione was finished with her story but something was still bothering her. "Well, why didn't Harry have to cast this charm?"

"More like, why he didn't have to endure it or to watch it AND cast it? If you remember correctly, I had to do all three." Draco spat.

"No, Draco. He had to watch it, when you and Abraxas and this other guy were being tortured and he had to endure pain when Voldemort cursed his arm. Harry's arm was bruised, red and swollen, so I think that he also had to endure quite some pain." Hermione concluded.

The three time-travellers looked at her as if she was crazy. "Yeah, that's right, that's totally right, Hermione." Ginny said with wide eyes.

"He looked at his watch and wanted to get it over with, said that he had an important appointment." Harry told them.

"Really?" Hermione furrowed her brows. All he did afterwards was pick her up, right? Or was there something else? Was there something Riddle was plotting that his followers didn't know of?

"But at least we are part of the group now!" Draco said smugly as he and Harry both held up their golden coins a bit too proudly.

Hermione looked at the two calculatingly. The tone they had used and the look on their faces said it all. They were proud to be part of the Death Eaters. And Hermione didn't like that look at all. When she exchanged a quick glance with Ginny, she knew that this Ginny also didn't approve of it.

THTHTH

"Why are we continuing our occlumency lesson in the Ravenclaw common room today?" Matthew asked.

"Because Tom was questioning me about it. And as you know, we shouldn't tell him. He shouldn't find out." Hermione explained and Matthew was immediately alarmed.

"Do you think he suspects something?"

"No. He asked me what you and I were doing and I said that we were having a study session." Hermione shrugged.

"He probably didn't like that at all, good old Riddle." Matthew grinned.

"No, he didn't." Hermione had to crack a smile as well. "Now let's start with our training. You try to break into my thoughts first and I use occlumency."

Hermione's walls were getting better and better. She was now almost unpenetrable. Almost. Dumbledore could probably still see right through her. Matthew was a different matter.

He was getting better and better, but they still needed a lot of training, also because Hermione had promised to combine their trainings with active legilimency as well.

"Very well, Natalija. Your walls are up. Perfect." Hermione smiled. "Legilimency." she whispered and Matthew was caught off guard but he reacted immediately and put his shields up. Hermione was looking for wholes but couldn't find any.

"Wow. So did you practice?" she asked sternly.

"Yes, I did. I did the exercises you told me to do…" Matthew shrugged. Hermione gave him an encouraging nod

"You're getting really good at legilimency AND occlumeny."

"Thanks a lot. That's because you are such a good teacher." Matthew smiled.

"I'm going to bed. I'm really tired." Hermione announced, yawning for effect.

"Me too. See you tomorrow."

THTHTH

Dumbledore twirled his goatee absentmindedly. There was something to be done. A slight change of strategy or the future would be changed differently. It was 10:30 p.m. The Ravenlaws or rather most of them were already in bed and the Hufflepuffs as well. The only people wide awake were ALL OF THE Gryffindors and some of the Slytherins.

Dumbledore knew that it was the right time to ask Ginny for a favour.

He walked into the house through the portrait and saw that most of his house was still awake. Of course – he hadn't expected anything else.

"Miss Krum." he announced over the silent students "Could I have a word with you?"

Ginny looked up at him flabbergasted. She had just won a game of chess and now Dumbledore wanted to talk to her? It was probably something because of their mission. And therefore of great importance.

"Yes, professor." Ginny got up and followed Dumbledore out of the portrait.

"Let me apologize, Miss Krum or rather Miss Weasley. I don't usually wake up people at that hour of the night." Dumbledore smiled when they entered his study.

"It doesn't matter, I was awake anyway." Ginny shrugged, her heart beating in excitement.

"Miss Weasley. There is something I need to discuss with you about your mission." Dumbledore began and Ginny braced herself.

"Would you care for a lemon drop?"

Ginny's mouth dropped in surprise. She hadn't expected that. But of course, Dumbledore hadn't changed that much in the future and Ginny smiled slightly. "Yes, thank you very much." She took one and Dumbledore continued with his story.

"So, your mission. Is it going well? You are aware that you only have 5 months left in this time?"

Bummer. She had started feeling quite well in that time and only just remembered that they had to leave this time in half a year again. "Yes, in our time, you stated that we will be here for 6 months." Ginny nodded, remembering Dumbledore's statement. "But I'm not sure about our mission. There is a kind of stop and I don't know how to proceed any further. We don't really know what we have to do."

"I could give you an update of what the future could look like now, IF you went back now. Though everything seems very blurry and unreal."

"An update?" Ginny was surprised. "And why are you only showing me and not the others?"

"Because, you Miss Weasley are the only Gryffindor. Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter are too involved with the Slytherins and Miss Granger and Mister Riddle are very close as well. It wouldn't do good to show them, because they shouldn't know and shouldn't show the Slytherins or Riddle what they had seen. They might also act strange around them. However, you should know though and try to tell them some keywords in a conversation without them knowing that I showed you." Dumbledore said sternly.

"Yes, I will." Ginny had no idea how she should tell the others without telling too much. Hermione was the genius, not she.

Dumbledore smiled and took out a strange looking silvery glass. "You will be allowed there for fifteen minutes only. But remember it's not real. And most importantly, be aware that some people might not be there. And some things have changed greatly. Find out as much as you can."

Ginny nodded. She was excited and breathless how this new future would look like. Hopefully there would not be a too big shock.

She felt a push behind her navel and found herself seconds later in the Great Hall at Hogwarts. If the spell had worked then she was probably in the future. Sighing, she looked around and saw some familiar and some not so familiar faces. She was about to sit down next to Harry when one of the Gryffindors she didn't know sneered at her.

"What are you doing here? You are a Hufflepuff!"

Ginny looked down and saw that she was wearing yellow. To her utter disgust, the badger was there instead of the lion. Her eyes swept the Gryffindor table and she saw Fred and George, Harry and Cho sitting there as well, talking and laughing and to her horror, flirting with each other.

"Harry." Ginny said tentatively. She knew it was not real, but still, Ginny knew that everything would end badly if you angered Cho.

"Miss Weasley?" Harry asked in a voice that she had never heard before. It was distant and also a bit colder than usual. Cho was glaring at her while Harry tried to keep his composure.

"I was looking for Ron, do you know where he is?" Ginny kept her voice even, although it had reached breaking point.

"Ron? Who is Ron?" Harry looked completely lost.

Ginny's mouth dropped open in surprise. What? Didn't he know his best friend anymore? Cho let out a string of shrill giggles and Ginny glared at her.

"Well, I was talking about my brother? Your best friend?" Ginny said weakly. Hopefully not a mistake to mention his name.

Fred and George grinned evilly at each other. "Has our favourite sister now completely lost her mind?" Fred asked and the girl next to him and Cho giggled loudly.

"Looks like it! George, why are you even conversing with a Hufflepuff?" Cho gasped.

They all laughed loudly and smirked at her. Ginny rolled her eyes and made her way to the Hufflepuff table. Didn't she know anyone from that table?

Apparently not. Ernie McMillan and Hannah Abbott were at least there. Oh! Cedric Diggory was also there. Ginny blushed deeply to her dismay.

Cedric and Hannah waved her over and Ginny obeyed immediately.

"Hey, we've been looking for you." Cedric got up and gave her a swift kiss. If possible, Ginny went even redder. "I… I had a talk with Dumbledore." Ginny replied, feeling more stupid by the minute. That was definitely not the planned future. It was weird in a twisted way. Ginny felt the tension of the students around her.

She looked around. The Muggleborns were all missing. Hermione Granger, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Dean Thomas and Susan Bones – none of them were there. Why? Was it forbidden? Or just a coincidence.

"Okay. You know, I thought something happened to you. I was worried." Cedric smiled at her and Ginny blushed, sliding into the seat next to him. "No, nothing."

"He probably told her all about the anti-muggle-policy." Hannah Abbott sniffed. "Excuse me?"

"Well, the minister introduced that law 20 years ago – Muggleborns should live as and WITH Muggles – and so should squibs. Therefore no Muggleborns are allowed to come here, even if they would receive the letter and could do magic. Only purebloods and halfbloods are allowed in this school. Dumbledore, however, wants to change that policy and allow Muggleborns to study magic, if they have magical abilities." Hannah sighed dreamily. "Then my best friend from the neighbourhood could come as well."

"Susan Bones?" Cedric asked grinning.

"Yes. She can do magic. It's a pity that she is not allowed to come here!" Hannah pouted.

"So what is she doing instead?" Ginny wondered.

"Oh, she is attending a normal muggle school. It's a pity!" Hannah shook her head.

"The minister just wants magical people in the magical world." Cedric said. "Not that I agree." he added hastily when Hannah shot him a glare.

Ginny was aware that Cedric had his arm around her waist. Not that she minded terribly. She let her gaze sweep the rest of the Great Hall. Her eyes fell on the Slytherin table. Draco Malfoy. check. Blaise Zabini. Check. Crabbe and Goyle. Check. Pansy. Check. Millicent Bulstrode seemed to be missing as well. Not that she minded terribly. Millicent Bulstrode was a Pureblood for sure. So why was she missing?

Ron, was also a pureblood. But he didn't exist. Millicent Bulstrode was no exception. Seamus Finnigan as well.

Ginny sighed and got up. "I'm going back to Dumbledore. I forgot my book there." Ginny told her boyfriend and Cedric nodded. "It's okay. Would you like me to go there with you?"

Ginny looked at him in shock. Of course, a typical Hufflepuff. "No, thanks. I'll see you guys later."

Ginny waved to her friends and was about to walk out the hall. To her dismay she had to pass the Slytherin table. What would await her there?

"Ginny." a voice called out. A shrill, simpering, fake-sounding voice. It was Pansy.

"Yes, Pansy?" Ginny asked, hiding her surprise that Pansy had even called her by her first name.

"Want to go out for a walk? It's nice weather outside and the two of us haven't done anything for a while." Pansy simpered.

If Ginny had been surprised, it was nothing compared to what she was now.

Struggling inwardly, she tried to regain her composure. "Yes, sure. Let me just get my cloak. See you later then."

Ginny noticed some differences. But some things were still the same. Harry still had his scar. But why were the Gryffindors so hostile towards the Hufflepuffs but the Slytherins so nice? It didn't make sense at all. Furthermore, all the Muggleborns didn't know of the Magical World. Who was this minister for magic?

Her wide shocked eyes fell on today's newspaper that was opened in front of Draco. "Can I have a look at it, please?" Ginny asked Draco. That just couldn't be true, could it?

"At the newspaper? Yes, take it, I'm finished." Draco announced and Pansy smiled a sweet smile at the boy whose arm was wrapped around her shoulders leisurely.

'Some things are still the same.' Ginny thought, looking at the besotted girl who seemed to be a close friend.

Ginny almost gagged when she looked at the picture. Oh no! They had to change THAT future! NOW!

On the front page was the minister, dressed perfectly in black robes, his hair perfectly gelled back, still immaculately ironed clothes and tie. His face was stoic and conceited, gazing arrogantly at the wizard opposite him.

The photograph had caught Ginny's attention, but the headline was even more captivating. "Minister for Magic, Tom Marvolo Riddle introduces new law. Every household is to purchase this magical alarm system, including the muggle-repelling charm. A search will be conducted. Every household that disobeys will be punished."

Ginny wanted to scream in horror! Riddle was minister for magic? No, that should not have happened. They had to change their strategy now.

Before Ginny could dwell on that, she felt again a push behind her navel and the newspaper slid from her numb fingers into Draco's outstretched hand and she was standing in Dumbledore's office in the 40s again.

"Wow!" she gasped when she had regained her breath.

"Yes, it must have been quite some shock." Dumbledore said kindly. "As you probably know, I was there as well."

"I guessed that much… So, my brother is not even born? And I'm in Hufflepuff and getting along with the Slytherins?" Ginny was surprised. "But the most disturbing is that Riddle is Minister for Magic! Muggleborns aren't allowed inside the magical world."

"That's right. It shouldn't have happened. Some other things should have changed." Dumbledore said sombrely.

"I know. It looks as if it were a good future without any wars and deaths. But on the other side, it doesn't look that perfect either. Muggleborns are not allowed in and wizards everywhere have to follow Riddle's rules or they are punished." Ginny said sadly.

"Right. It's not a good future either. Your procedure has to be changed a little bit. Even the slightest change will have a vast effect on the future." Dumbledore said wisely.

"And what exactly? How shall we proceed? What should we make differently?" Ginny's mind was reeling.

Being clueless was a Gryffindor's second worst fear.

"Miss Granger is trying to befriend Riddle, or rather she is trying to be MORE than friends. Or at least this is my opinion and I think you have noticed as well or at least you are drawing conclusions. I don't know if this is the right way. Sure, it is one of many ways. The other way would be to make Mr. Riddle feel how much he needs her when she is not there." Dumbledore said.

"That sounds logical." Ginny nodded. "But what is my part now?"

"Miss Weasley, you know Mr. Riddle from your first year. The diary incident – from what you told me. Take Miss Granger away from him for a short time. Somehow. Like by spending more time with her."

Ginny laughed. "That sounds easy enough. But I doubt, Hermione will come with me willingly. She is already… I don't know how to say it.."

"Say it, Miss Weasley. We both know what Miss Granger is feeling anyway."

Ginny bowed her head. "Yes, I know. She is in love with Riddle."

"Why don't you two go abroad for a week?"

"Excuse me?" Ginny blinked a few times, not sure that she had heard correctly.

"Yes, that's a good solution. The two of you will go to Durmstrang. I will tell the headmaster, that I have two exchange students from Hogwarts just for a week for you to see what it's like in another wizarding school – and you can have your normal names from the future – and we tell the students HERE that you have to take some tests in Durmstrang but will come back a week later." Dumbledore finished.

"Sounds exciting." Ginny replied at the prospect of going to another school. Her mother had always warned her about Durmstrang and therefore she was already excited. "But what are we going to tell Hermione?"

"Miss Granger and you will be sent on a mission." Dumbledore said mysteriously. "Miss Granger will pretend to be devastated about her termination of her engagement. That will keep Riddle interested. And he will assume that she had a love life before him and will therefore make her more interesting."

Ginny nodded. "That is a very good idea, professor."

"And she will be devastated about another reason." Dumbledore grinned, the twinkle in his eye more prominent than ever.

Ginny stared.

"You will pretend to join Grindelwald's forces!" Dumbledore sang and waved her out of the office. "Good luck, Miss Weasley. We'll see each other next Tuesday together with Miss Granger."

THTHTH

Hermione awoke the next day, a smile gracing her lips as she thought about her kiss with Riddle. To her surprise and horror she still became weak knees when she even thought about it. Little did she know that Tom felt similar. He was in the Head dorm thinking about the kiss and the girl. He had never really cared for anyone or even felt desire to kiss somebody. The girl seemed to have a strange effect on him. Who was he kidding? He even dreamed about her at night. A special girl this was.

Sighing, Tom pulled on his Slytherin uniform. He was looking forward because he was seeing her again. Her smile, her lips, her beautiful laugh…

A knock sounded on the door and Tom gritted his teeth. "Yes, Abraxas?" He didn't even turn around and watched the git through the mirror.

"Actually, it's not Abraxas. It's Maxim." the Abraxas-copy said, a slight red tinge in his cheeks.

Tom stared at him furiously and finally turned around. "You look remarkably like Malfoy, Krum. What is it that you are hiding?" he asked dangerously.

Krum did – as predicted – a double-take. "I don't think so."

"Never even dare to contradict me. I'm always right." Tom replied stoically, gazing at his newest follower who flinched under his glare. "So why were you bothering me so early, Krum?"

"Professor Slughorn asked me to give you this." Draco held out a trembling hand, handing Tom the invitation to the first party of the year and Tom's eyes dulled for a second.

"You have an invitation as well?" he asked, disbelief etched into his sharp features.

"No, this is for Miss Karkarova." Draco said dismissively. "I am supposed to give her this."

"I can do that as well. I'm headboy." without further ado Tom had snapped Hermione's invitation out of Draco's hand. "She won't require your service anymore. I'll deliver it to her." his voice was dripping with politeness.

Draco looked at the headboy, barely containing his anger. "Riddle – if…"

"Behave yourself, Krum. You don't want to make a fool of yourself in front of the whole school. Besides, is it nice feeling the crucio? You can have a reminder next week, if you dare speak against me." and with that Tom had swept away, his black cloak billowing behind him. Draco sighed. He reminded him terribly of Professor Snape.

"I know what you are thinking, mate." Harry had appeared next to him. Draco looked at him calculatingly. "Let's go, I'm hungry." and with that the two boys walked out of the Slytherin common room, both lost in their own thoughts.

THTHTH

"Sorry Professor, I am engaged NOW?" Hermione asked after Dumbledore and Ginny had told her about the plan.

"Yes, you are, Miss Granger. To a lovely boy from Durmstrang. You can meet him before if you like!"

"WHAT? So, all of this is real or what?" Hermione was slowly, but only slowly losing her mind.

"In case someone will ask. The son of Aberforth is only too willing to act as a substitute." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

Hermione let out a sigh of relief. "And that ring." she pointed at the silver ring on her left hand, "means that I am still engaged. Every activity with Riddle requires therefore caution. He won't be too happy that I have a fiancée and that I haven't told him."

Dumbledore and Ginny nodded simultaneously. "When will we go? And what test do we have to repeat?" Ginny asked the professor.

"You will be going in four days. You can travel through my fire and stay in Durmstrang for one week."

"So let me get this straight. We tell the Hogwarts students that we are going back to Durmstrang for one week because we have to take this stupid test. And we tell the Durmstrang students that we are in Durmstrang for one week, because we want to know what it's like to be in a different school?" Hermione asked dumbfounded.

"Exactly, Miss Granger."

"Great. And what test do we have to take there?"

Dumbledore smiled at the two ladies. "It's an extra certificate you can only gain in Durmstrang. Does the name MDA mean anything to you?"

Hermione's eyes went as round as galleons. "No way! You are kidding. You want us to do that certificate?"

"Yes." Dumbledore's face showed earnest and sincerity.

Ginny was clueless. Now there was something that Hermione and Dumbledore knew but she had no idea what that meant.

"And how do we practice? The students must have had years of training." Hermione said desperately.

"No, they actually don't. They start the training with you on the same day. Once a year, they are doing this training for one week and after this week they can take a test and receive an MDA-certificate. It might be good, if you obtain such a thing yourselves."

"So we take part in normal classes and in the extra training?" Hermione looked excited at the prospect of doing more schoolwork than necessary and Ginny almost rolled her eyes at her eagerness. Still the same Hermione she knew.

"Yes, Miss Granger, as ALL students do. You will start the extra training with the other students in four days. Good day to you." Dumbledore smiled and opened the door for the two time-travellers to pass through. In his opinion the meeting was closed.

Outside, Hermione turned to Ginny flabbergasted. "He can't be serious, Ginny!"

"Oh, but he is. Yesterday, he told me all about this plan of going to Durmstrang." Ginny assured her.

"Everything fine with me. But WHY does he want us to learn the Dark Arts?" Hermione asked, her voice with a slight hysterical edge.

Ginny stopped chewing her gum and looked at Hermione imploringly. "What?"

"That's the extra certificate he was talking about. We have to take extra classes for this Dark Arts certificate." Hermione said shrilly, turning around to face Ginny, her long blonde hair whipping her Gryffindor-friend in the face.

"We do?" Ginny's face was paler than usual.

"Yes. ..MDA stands for Master of Dark Arts. We'll probably only do the first one." Hermione looked at her friend thoughtfully.

"Hopefully." Ginny shuddered at the thought.

THTHTH

"You are going to Durmstrang? Back?" Sarah asked loudly so that some of the Slytherins also heard.

Hermione was distinctly aware that Tom had heard as well, because his head snapped up and a large frown had appeared on his handsome face.

"No, not back. We will be there for one week. Miss… Krum and I have signed up for that certificate last year and therefore we have to take this test." Hermione waved a hand dismissively.

Tom regained his composure and smirked. He knew what Natalija was talking about. This "test" was something dark. MDA – Master of Dark Arts. How unfortunate that Hogwarts didn't offer such a course as well. If he were minister for magic, he would have introduced that class as well.

He had read it in Hogwarts, a history at first. Durmstrang offered Dark Arts certificates. Once a year.

Though Tom had never expected Natalija to take such an exam. And he never thought that Gryffindor chick to be "dark".

He looked at the beauty at the Ravenclaw table closely. She was not only a right sight, but she was also very intelligent AND now she was going for the MDA-exam. Hmmm, he would think about something. Maybe it was really time to introduce some girls to his group…