Chapter 13

Transfiguration.

Now here's a class Tom Riddle could learn to like.

Too bad he hated the teacher.

Tom silently sighed as he sat down at his desk at the front of the classroom. Professor Albus Dumbledore thought it would be a great learning experience to make up a seating plan. Therefor, on his time table, next to Transfiguration, was the table number and name of his partner. And he was 'oh so lucky' enough to get put next to McGonagall, at the bloody front!

What made things worse though, was that he was extremely tired and there was an over growing chance that he would wind up snapping at the Gryffindor prefect more than usual. It had been well past midnight when he got back to his common room.

Minerva sat down next to him. "Riddle." She stated curtly. Tom didn't even bother answering her, but when he looked over to her he noticed that a lot of her hair was sticking out at odd places and ends. When he concentrated hard enough, he could almost feel a sort electrical aura come from her body. Before he could ponder the thought further, Dumbledore started the class.

"Welcome students." Profesor Dumbledore stood enfront of the class, "It's nice to see I will be teaching so many people this year." He smiled, eyes twinkling to such an extent it made Tom want to cringe. "As you'll of noticed in a lot of your classes so far, you've just been reviewing to see what you've remembered over the summer. Well, always one to break tradition, we'll get down to some practical work today, and then we might do a short review during your next single period."

His eye brows furrowed when he looked across the classroom. Dumbledore then turned to face Minerva. "Miss McGonagall? I don't suppose you know where Miss Granger is, do you?"

Tom, himself, then turned to look around the classroom where he also noticed the missing Gryffindor. He then turned to Minerva. He, without people's notice, attempted to slide away slightly from the girl. She looked about ready to explode.

"Hermoine, sir, should either be here very shortly or not at all."

As if on cue, the doors banged open. Everyone turned to face the back of the room. A smirk played across Tom's lips as he looked at the sight before him amused.

Hair pulled back into a messy bun. Face red from running. Clothes ajar. Hermione Granger made her way into class, and boy did she look pissed. Hermione stormed up to Dumbledore and shoved a note into his hand, before she headed down and sat next to her new partner, Orion Black.

The class had been fairly easy enough for Tom. They were just using different transfiguration spells that they had learned through their years at Hogwarts. So, to Tom, it was basically like an overall revision.

Tom was heading down to the great hall when he felt something grab his shoulder. He didn't have much chance to retaliate before he was pulled inside an empty class room.

He raised his eye brows mockingly when he realised it was actually Hermione who had pulled him inside. She stood there glaring at him with her hands on her hips.

"Have I done something wrong?"

"No." She breathed deeply, trying to get her anger back in check. "Have you spoken to Slughorn since last night?"

Tom looked at her with a mixture of interest and confusion. "No."

"Good!" She shouted back, making Tom step back warily. "You wanna know why I was late? On my way here, Slughorn stopped me, said he needed to have a quick chat with me. Right? And you wanna know what the talk was about? It was all about how I should not let my studies FALTER due to any relationships that I may find myself in whilst at this school!"

Hermione let out a loud huff as she sat on a table and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

Tom looked about ready to start laughing. He pressed his lips together, preventing such an outburst.

Hermione wasn't as oblivious. "HA! I wouldn't even bother to think about laughing if I were you. If that was the sort of talk I got, wait till it comes to speaking to his star pupil."

Tom sobered up immediately. She had a point there. This time Hermione was the one to smirk. "Doesn't sound too appealing, does it?"

Hermione sighed. "Well, I'm going for lunch. I just wanted to warn you to try and stay clear of the buffoon for a while." She got up and walked back towards the door. "What do you have next anyway?"

Tom looked up at her. "Divination. Why?"

Hermione snorted. "What ever possessed you to take such a class?" Except she really wasn't looking for and answer. Hermione knew that Voldemort had a thing for prophecies. "Well. I guess I'll see you around, Tom."

Tom watched as Hermione left the room.

She really should check the time tables. Tom thought with a smirk.

Lying ass. Hermione thought as she shut the door behind her.

However, Hermione grinned to herself as an idea popped into her head.

Spinning on her heels, Hermione re-opened the classroom door. "Tom?"

Tom looked up at her quizzically. "Yes?"

Hermione smiled at him innocently. "Well, it's just...." Hermione looked down, faining nervousness. "I have a free period..... and.... well..... I don't have much to do, so would it be okay....if I maybe walked you to your next class of Divination?" She looked at him hopefully.

Oh bugger. Tom inwardly grimaced.

"So...." Tom started as they walked up to the Divination classroom. There was no possible way to get his ass out of it, so all he could do was answer 'yes'. Luckily she hadn't requested to sit in on the class, or else he really would of been screwed. "Any idea as to why I felt that I would end up being electrocuted if I sat too close to McGonagall in Transfiguration today."

He watched as Hermione screwed up her face in what could only be called a grimace.

"Well......er...... you know how we didn't get to bed for quite a while last night?" he nodded, "well, I slept in this morning, and Minnie tried to get me up. I'm not really the type of person you want to be near in the morning. Especially when I'm sleep deprived. I kind of zapped her with shocking hex."

She looked up to see Tom looking down at her with his eye brow raised. "A shocking hex? What hex did you actually use that could be described as 'shocking'?"

Hermione looked at him innocently and smiled. "Exactly that. A shocking hex. I haven't had the chance to apologize to her yet....... I'll probably do that in our next class together....."

Before the pair knew it, they were standing outside the Divination classroom. "Well have fun in Divination, Tom." Hermione tried not to snort. "You better get in there before you're late." As if on cue, the final bell rang, signaling the start of class.

"Eh, yeah, sure. Well, it was nice of you to offer me the company and all, so I guess you can, er... leave .... now."

Tom was hoping she'd leave, meaning he wouldn't have to chance walking into a class of god knows, 'what' years.

"Yup..... Well? Are you going in or what." Hermione was thanking the gods for gifting her with such acting skills. She was, after all, trying her hardest not to burst out laughing there and then.

"Err.... yes, I guess so."

Oh, fuck it. Tom inwardly sighed to himself. I'm a well respected pupil. I little bit of charm, a good excuse, and then I can get to the library.

Wanting to just get it over and done with, Tom opened the classroom door and stepped in, making sure to shut it behind him. To his ultimate relief, it was only some third years. The profesor, Professor Nector, looked at him half quizzically, and half annoyed.

Tom used the first thing that came to his head. "Sorry for not knocking profesor." Tom bowed his head slightly in a sign of fake respect. "Professor Slughorn wanted me to do the honours of asking you to the next Slugclub party. He wasn't sure if he'd already asked you, so he wanted me to make extra sure." A charming smile placed itself across his features.

Professor Nector looked at her favourite pupil and also smiled. "Yes, Tom. Horace has already asked, but thank you anyway for checking."

"It's perfectly alright professor. See you in class." Tom turned and walked out of the classroom.

Peice of cake, He thought cockily as he began to walk away from the classroom.

"Wow, that must of been one quick class."

Tom turned at the full blown sarcasm, only to see Hermione standing there with her arms crossed and foot tapping. She had seen the whole thing with the charm that seemed to be turning into one of her specialities. She walked up to him, sighed, shook her head, and walked past him.

How the fuck did she end up in Gryffindor?

"TOM!"

Tom groaned a he heard his name being called. When he turned to face the caller, he tried not to visibly turn pale as he saw Slughorn bustling up to him.

"Profesor Slughorn." Tom greeted, deciding on an impassive look. He waited patiently as Slughorn ran over.

"Tom, my boy. I'v been....."He caught his breath. "I've been meaning to talk to you about last night...... oh! And apologize."

"Appolagize, Profesor?" Tom's brows furrowed.

"Yes. I realised that I had eaten most of your cake and had only left you the two slices..... but anyway, that's not what's important. I saw you two walking together earlier," Tom's eyes widened slightly. "Granger and you have gotten pretty close in these mear two days, eh Tom?" Slughorn winked at him. Tom was pretty sure that his attempt to keep the small amount of colour in his face had failed completely by now.

Tom decided that his best option was to remain silent.

"Well, I won't keep you long as I'm sure you will be busy during your free period."

Well you hit the nail on the head with that comment.... Tom thought annoyed.

"I only have two questions and some advise for you, then you may go. Firstly, Tom. You are sixteen now, soon to turn seventeen, if I am correct, and I realise that when a boy reaches this stage in life, emotions tend to take over...."

Yup, Tom had definitely gone pale.

"All I want you to do, is make sure that you stick to your guns and do well in your studies. You have much potential, Tom, and I would hate to see you get distracted by such things. I'm not saying you should stop seeing other young women..... such as Miss Granger...... but just don't let your school work drop. I'm sure people like her will be doing the same and keeping to their school work." Slughorn placed an arm around Tom's shoulder, and beamed at him. Tom pressed his lips together in order to stop himself from snapping at the man. "On that note, Miss Granger is new to this school and on her first day showed she can be an intelligent young woman. I have also heard many great things about her from the other profesors who had been here for a few weeks before term and they have told me all about what a delightful young woman she can be. After seeing this all first hand, I decided to envite her to join the Slugclub. Miss Granger shall be coming to our small 'Welcome Back' party, but she keeps insisting on bringing her friend Miss McGonagall........ Now. Not that I hold anything against her, but I think it would be best seeing her there with someone much better suited. And this, my boy, is where you come in. I would like it if you would accompany Miss Granger to the party."

Tom took a deep breath, calming his anger. "Are you sure professor? I don't think Miss Granger would apprecia-"

"Nonsence.... Nonsence." Slughorn waved it off with his other hand. "I'm sure you'd make the perfect pair at the party."

Slughorn was completely oblivious to the growing anger bubbling up in Tom's body. "Well, now that that's sorted, I have one last thing to ask of you..... and Miss Granger."

Tom's eyes widened at that one. What the hell was the man planning now?

"I would like it if the two of you could make a few more batches of that beautiful Chocolate Cake for the party."

R&R