Okay everyone! I just want to say thank you for your patience..... your calmness..... your love.... etc....

However... I'm afraid I cannot thank you for all the death threats I got! Bloody hell people, it wasn't that bad! :P

pstibbons: Hey... Wow. I was just reading over some of my reviews, and when I looked at this one again, my jaw literally dropped in realisation. lol. Your review was just about bang on the mark. The only thing that I hadn't thought to have in my story was the whole (P)Otter idea, although it was a great point you made there :) So that will all be explained in this chapter, that way you'll see exactly what I mean.

Okay people... this chapter is A) Ridiculously long. B) Complete and utter rubbish.

I managed to put myself into a really tight spot, considering the fact that I really can't write a good detailed duel. So I'm very sorry about all that. It's quite bad. Also I didn't really know how to write this chapter... It's been rewritten three times, and this copy you're about to read now has been done for about a week, sorry, but I didn't have the guts to put it up.

So I apologise.
(For the third time ^^)

I've thought about it, and I recon that this story probably has about... 14 chapters left... I think.
???????????????????????????????????????????????????

Chapter 17

A deep, and low breath left Hermione's lips. Her gaze never left Dolohov's as she made her way onto the platform, and over to her side. She gulped slightly for the second time, looking at the intense glare he sent her way. For him, this would be vengeance.

Hermione may currently be crapping herself, but she'd fought one too many battles, to let someone like him best her in a class duel. If she could argue with him, if she could knee him in the balls, then she sure as hell could best him a duel. Besides, she had a repayment to make for the lovely scar he'd left on her chest.

Unconsciously, her hand reached up and touched her chest.

Go for it.

Hermione smirked, and straightened her shoulders, trying to look more confident than she actually felt. Hermione Granger never failed.

Swiftly, Hermione began walking to the centre of the platform, only a few seconds ahead of Dolohov. They met each other at the centre, where he sneered in her face.

"Hope you'e ready to loose, Granger." He snarled.

Hermione cringed. The best way to overpower someone, was if you got them angry. "Whoa there, Ant. Ready to get a breath mint first?" She fanned her face and turned round to walk back up, hearing a few chuckles on her way.

Hermione only got the top of her end, before her senses picked up. Obviously, someone wasn't patient enough to wait for the professor to count down.

She heard a small murmur, and a whooshing sound.

Her back still turned, Hermione simply bowed to her knees, as the charm flew over her head. She spun and shot a quick 'Expelliarmus' before getting to her feet. Dolohov dodged her curse by taking a simple step to his right.

"Someone seems eager." Hermione commented.

His sneer only grew as he looked at her.

Then the fight began.

"Defindio!" He shot.

"Protego! Incarcerous!"

The ropes shot out of Hermione's wand. Dolohov set them alight before they could even get near him, turning them into ashes.

"Petrificus Totalus."

Hermione quickly dodged the spell.

She was getting nowhere. They were sticking to the basics, which actually confused Hermione. Maybe she would have to up the beat a little?

But she was still gonna stick to the basics.

An idea popped into her head.

But will that even work? I can't remember that being done before... It was worth the shot.

"Engorgio, AVIS!"

A large flock of yellow birds flew their way over to Dolohov.

Silently, as Dolohov vanished the birds, Hermione quickly thought of something that would make her laugh.

She pointed her wand.Riddikulus

Hermione pressed her lips so tight together that she was sure they drew blood. Her eyes watered. Her experiment most certainly worked. And needless to say, it hit it's target.

Everyone in the room burst out into laughter. Including the professor.

There, opposite her on the platform, was Dolohov clad in a florescent yellow chicken suit. The remaining birds started to fly around his head, before popping one at a time, out of sight. All his movements stopped. He seemed too mortified to do anything at that moment and time. Hermione cast a quick 'nox' on the lights and drew the curtains. His suit even glowed. The laughter doubled.

As funny as this is, when he gets back to his normal composure, you're soooooooo at the top of his hit list. Harry half scolded, half chuckled at her.

I already was....am. She reminded him.

Hermione knew he was right, however, so she pulled back the curtains and turned the lights back on. He looked murderous. His breathing had deepened.

Now, this game just got serious.

"Incendio!" He shot at her.

The bottom of Hermione's skirt caught flame. Quickly, Hermione cast water onto it.

"Relashio!"

Not having much time to move, she lent back, but not before it narrowly missed her stomach. Although a cutting sound could be heard.

"Shite." Hermione cursed under her breath. "Protego." Hermione shielded herself from the next attack. She managed a look down at herself, only to notice that her skirt had shrunken due to being turned into ashes, and the bottom of her shirt had been chopped off. Leaving her stomach on display. She looked back up at him, he had banished the suit away by now and was smirking at her. "Fucking perv."

"Expelliarmus. Impidimenta. Incarcerous." She shot all three straight after the other.

He was able to shield the first one and move out of the way of the second one, but the third caught him in ropes.

It wouldn't be long before he was out of his bounds, and Hermione wanted to end this battle. NOW!

"Expelliarmus!" She shot at him, but despite his binds, he used his feet to maneuver the spell. He got the ropes off just as she sent another reducto his way.

"Protego!" The spell bounced back off his shield and headed back to Hermione. She side stepped it quickly.

"Relashio!" 'Dupleeco stalka' she shot.

He easily dodged her hex, but was caught off guard when another relashio began making it's way straight to his head. He tried to dodge it, but the hex was still successful in cutting off half of the hair on his head.

He usually wore his deep, brown, curly locks down, to rest on his shoulders. Now the right side of his head was missing a large chunk of hair, making it look lopsided.

This, Hermione noted, seemed to piss him off more than the chicken suit.

Suddenly, sending a death glare straight at her, he made a spinning movement with his arm, wand kept pointed downwards.

Hermione's eyes widened to a significant degree. This was not too good. Yeah, sure, fair enough his spell had never became lethal till about the sixties, but according to 'Moody', it could still pack a wallop!

I swear, if the bastard even thinks about shooting a purple flame at me, then I'm personally gonna cut off his crown jewels! Hermione found herself more angry than afraid. Although afraid, she should be.

Suddenly, a purple flame shot from his wand and made it's way towards her at lightning speed.

Hermione knew her shield wouldn't block this. It was aimed again, right at her chest.

It all seemed to happen as if in slow motion. Flash backs of the 'Night' - as Hermione referred to it as - came back to her, hitting hard against the front of her head. The way she got her scar. How they'd all been led into a trap. If only she'd stood her ground with Harry, maybe they never would of went. Maybe Sirius would never of went through the veil.

A sense of something began to flood Hermione.

A sense of failure.

She'd failed them all. If only she had been strong enough in her beliefs, then they never would of went in the first place.

With nothing but her will to carry through, and show this son of a bastard who he was messing with. That she wouldn't frighten down at the first sign of an actual threat. She did the only thing she could in defense at that point.

She screamed, "PROTEGO!"

The spell hit her shield with force, but Hermione kept her shield up. The spell never diminished, but stayed and continued to try and push through. It didn't even make a dent.

She could sense the shock and confusion radiate straight from Dolohov, making her smirk slightly, before turning serious again.

She focused hard, looking straight through her shield and at the spell. "Provertum!"

Just then, as if being pulled inside out, her shield change ways, and the edges began to move outwards, and started to encircle the small purple flame, until it was secured in round ball. It began to shrink till it was smaller in size, ending up like a floating, silvery blue, football.

Taking advantage of Dolohov's speechless state, she whispered tiredly, "Stalka Antinon Dolohov."

Dolohov didn't have a clue, until it was too late to do anything. When he saw the blue ball head his way, he only got about half a step away before it hit him on his left shoulder. His body flew back with the force and he hit off of the back wall. Falling back down unconscious.

His wand had dropped to the platform.

"Game...." Hermine was breathing deeply, "...over."

And with that, she jumped off the platform, and walked straight out the classroom door.

Tom looked around. Everyone was gaping after her, looking nowhere else but the classroom door. He couldn't understand it, but he felt the sudden urge to run after her. Ask her what's wrong. Make sure she was alright. Again, it unnerved him, but he remained composed.

What had just happened?

Again, just before, Dolohov had made that stupid and irresponsible mistake, her eyes seemed to glow silvery blue again. This action confused him greatly and he planned to spend some time in the library afterwards finding out about it. Curiosity was in his nature.

Tom had been the one to help Dolohov when he'd came to him with his ideas for the spell. Tom knew it could have great potential, and had helped the boy bring it to life. It was nothing lethal, but it was dangerous and could put someone in a coma if it contained enough power. Tom knew Dolohov was short tempered. Especially if he was going to let a simple hair cut and a chicken suit get in his way. They were the sort of things you just count to ten in your mind over.

But one thing that they both had made certain on was that the spell wouldn't be blocked by any simple form of 'Protego.' How Hermione had done it was a question that would greatly annoy Tom until he finally found out.

Tom looked back at the professor, who had ran over to the unconscious Dolohov to check if he was alright.

"Okay, everyone. I'm going to take Mr. Dolohov to the hospital wing, class is dismissed for today. If anyone sees Miss. Granger, tell her I want to talk with her as soon as possible. Clear?"

Everyone nodded and left behind the professor who levitated Dolohov behind him. McGonagal bolted straight out the classroom, and Tom followed shortly after, but in a more casual sense. Everyone else around him whispered about the intense duel they'd just witnessed.

Hermione couldn't help it. She was scared.

It was that moment in class that everything that had been lifted from her shoulders in just a short few days, seemed to fall back down on them with a stunning force.

She'd been foolish thinking that everything from her 'past' would just disappear. That everything would be okay. That she could have some peace for the first time in sixteen years. Some fun. Make some friends that wouldn't be risking their lives every time she saw them. Get to know people that wouldn't die or disappear so soon after she'd gotten close to them.

But who was she kidding? She'd never escape.

Not caring if he was busy. Not caring if he had a class. Not even caring if he was naked in a hot tub. She charged down the second floor hallway and made a bee line towards the Transfiguration classroom.

On her way there she'd managed to fix her clothing back to normal. If she continued to walk around the school in shreds, people would get the idea that she was a slut. That was the last thing she wanted.

Once she reached the door, she pulled down hard on the handle and threw the door wide open. Yes, Dumbledore had a class full of third years, but she still didn't care. They all looked at her. Some in shock, some in curiosity. Dumbledore looked at her with a pitiful glance, the twinkle gone from his eyes the second he'd seen her face. She hadn't realised till now that she had tears running down her face. She charged through the isles of desks, walking past Dumbledore on her way, and went straight to his office, shutting the door behind her, but a little more gentle this time.

A lot of people looked for her. McGonagall had been all over the place, wanting to find her friend. That didn't surprise Tom. However, Tom was a little curious when he found Charles Potter and his lackeys looking. He couldn't remember her making friends with him... but then again, he wasn't with her all the time.

Even Malfoy and Lestrage had tried looking for her. But after a long, hard, and tiring five minutes, they'd called it quits and went for lunch in the great hall.

There was a few places that they hadn't checked, however. Tom didn't bother with certain places, cause he knew that if Hermione was going to hide in any way what-so-ever, then she wouldn't be wondering the halls. He checked the kitchens, the forest areas where she had met the thestrals, and had even checked with the Room of Requirement. Now he was standing in front of the one place he hadn't checked with, and was sure no one else had either. He didn't know exactly why he was here, but he had a strange feeling about it. He didn't get along at all with the old goat, but he always seemed to be involved. He hadn't heard about them knowing each other well, outside of school or in, but it was probably worth a shot if anything.

"Hermione."

Hermione spun round. She'd spent the last five minutes staring deeply into the fire in Albus' office, lost deep into her thoughts.

Luckily she'd charged in when there was only five minutes left to class, or she probably could of stood there for eternity.

His soft voice had pulled her from her thoughts, however. When she turned sharply to look at him, he stood there staring at her with soft blue eyes, void of any twinkle. All that remained there was pity and understanding. His purple robes swirled around him as he walked slowly towards her. Hermione didn't know how much she could stand there without breaking down. This man had disappeared during the battle. Where had he gone? She didn't think she'd be able to stand it he had died too. Remus was enough.

She couldn't stand it. She ran over to Dumbledore before he could get any closer. But he seemed to expect it as well, and opened his arms. She dived into them and wrapped her own arms around him, pushing her face into his chest while she cried openly.

He didn't say anything, just let her cry. He used one hand to rub soothing circles over her back and his other to rest on her head. He swayed a little while quietly humming a soft tune.

It was just the kind of comfort she needed.

Tom entered through the door, poking his head inside to make sure no one was there. He hadn't worried about knocking because he knew that whatever happened in here would happen in the old man's office, not his classroom.

He walked quietly over towards the office door. Stopping just outside it. He could hear the cries from inside, making him hesitate and think. Maybe he should wait and listen? He didn't want to enter or knock.

He felt something in him bang hard against his chest when he heard the cries. He'd never heard Hermione cry. He knew it was her, it had to be. She'd never broke under pressure inside the orphanage. She'd never let Malfoy or Lestrange get to her. She'd dealt with Dolohov easily. She'd talked to him strongly with only a little tear as she told him about her parent's death.

He could hear the old man humming softly to her.

He couldn't help the feel of slight jealousy towards the man he hated. He wished he could be the one in there holding her as she cried. It confused him greatly.

Why did he feel this way towards her!? He'd only known her for about two weeks!

He shook his head when he heard the cries soften. He lent in a little and listened.

Hermione tried her hardest to stop the tears, but it felt too good to let it all out. She needed this.

"I-I c-c-c-an't d-do this." She sobbed, sniffing as the cries subsided. She stayed in his arms though. "I-It's j-j-j-just not r-right. I sh-should be w-w-with the others." She buried herself deeper into his robes. "I c-can't be h-here, when t-t-the p-people I l-l-l-love are b-back there. I d-d-deserve t-t-to be in...in their place." She whispered the last bit.

She was suddenly pulled away at arms length. She was startled at first, but she was held up firmly by Albus' grip. She looked into his eyes. They were like a blue fire. One of his arms waved over to the door, before coming back to rest on her shoulder, although, a bit softer this time.

"Now. You listen to me, Hermione Granger. You fought along side with the rest of them in that war. It's not your fault that you survived and they didn't. Do you understand? Never blame yourself, for the mistakes of one man. You are much more than that. You are a Tiger, Hermione. It's in your nature to survive, and look after those you love."

Hermione was shocked. She's never seen him in such a manner. He looked angry. Her cries fully stopped, along with the tears. She just looked at him.

After what seemed like a good few minutes, she nodded her head. She was pulled back into a hug before they stepped apart. His eyes were soft again, and he was a lot more relaxed. He waved his arm back to the door, before taking a seat on one of the chairs next to the fire. He gestured towards the one opposite him.

Hermione complied and sat down on it, crossing her leg over the other.

"Now. I believe you have some questions for me?" He asked.

It was then Hermione remembered. Yes. As a matter of a fact she bloody well did.

"What's happening to me professor?"

"Well... What do you want to know?" He asked amused.

Hermione wanted to rip her hair out at the one. He knew exactly what she meant by that.

"Well... what was it that happened to me during charms, when I produced the patronus? How come afterwards I felt stronger? During DADA I was casting spells with a lot more ease than I was used to. When I cast a simple 'Protego' to stop a spell that should have been able to fly straight through and hit me, it never did. I felt so... consumed. I don't understand what's going on with me." Hermione let it all spill out of her mouth. She'd been dying to ask these questions. Hopefully now she would get them answered.

Dumbledore's eyes seemed to twinkle again. Brighter and brighter the further she got with the questions.

Mood swings, anyone?

Hermione shushed Harry before Albus began to speak.

"Before I answer your questions, I must ask you to keep an open mind. This will sound rather complex." Hermione nodded readily. She was up for anything at this point. "You're coming into your powers."

Huh?

Huh?

"What do you mean by that, professor?"

"Remember the boys you told me about? How you were so close to them? How they'd always been there for you, and you for them?" Hermione nodded, not quite sure where he was going with this. "You told me they saved you when you were younger. Since then, I believe, it caused you to become dependent of them. You've never been away from them. You relied on them. One fought, one came up with strategies, whilst you were normally referred to as the brains. So that was what you used throughout that time. You never used your powers to their full potential because you never had need of them. Now, that you're without them, you need to fight more. Use your brains, and came up with your own strategies. That time, in charms, you couldn't find a memory, where you weren't reminded of something bad that happened. This caused you to become emotional, and more powerful, and part of your magic was finally released. In Defense - yes I know everything that happened. The walls have ears remember - the spell young Mr. Dolohov used, reminded you of your past. Everything that had happened to you, came rushing back to you. Your emotions became too much to handle, causing a rather large outbreak in magic. This, however, will probably be the last time. Don't take this the wrong way, Hermione, but you finally broke."

"And it's because of this, that you can finally be the witch you were meant to be."

Tom stood there. Shocked.

It turned out that there was a lot more to Hermione Granger than even he, of all people, had ever expected.

Yes he knew she'd had a bad past. Loosing your parents was supposed to be a very traumatic experience for someone that young, but to loose everything else along with it was something else entirely.

Yet. He couldn't feel angry at her for not telling him. Hell, it's not as if he'd go around screaming that for all of Hogwarts to hear either. In fact, he felt a little good, knowing that she'd been willing to at least confide in him a little bit, with how her parent's had died. Now he knew. If he ever got close enough that she'd willingly tell him her story, then he would listen to her.

He still couldn't help but wish, however, that the room hadn't been silenced so he could of heard what else there was to the story.

Despite knowing everything that he did, there seemed to still be a lot missing from Hermione Granger's story.

But the whole 'coming into powers' thing was a bigger shock. Apparently she'd been part of some 'group' back at home. And they'd obviously been very close if she hadn't been able to come into her true powers yet. Now that she was separated from them, she could be herself. Tom could understand that much. And from what he'd seen already, she had the power to be a very influential witch. And a powerful one at that.

Tom was suddenly very, very glad that he was on her good side, cause he'd sure as hell hate to be Antinon Dolohov.

Hermione had no idea what to think at that precise moment and time.

Everything that the professor had said made complete sense, and was understandable. It was just a bit of a... shock!

Never-the-less, realisation dawned on her.

Before the whole 'Troll' incident, she'd mastered spells with such ease. She had no problems at all with a spell. After she'd became close with Harry and Ron, she'd stuck more with her books. Yes, she still worked hard on the practical side of things, but not as she had done before. She kept to a certain pace, focusing more on her books. What would she have been like if she hadn't been dependant on Harry and Ron? Would she still be the person she was today?

She'd like to think so.

She was a Gryffindor after all. She was sorted there for a reason.

Before she could sit in the comfortable silence for much longer and think, a knock came from the door. Hermione looked at Albus. He nodded at her and then the door, a knowing smile slapped onto his face.

She got up from her chair, looking at Albus a little confused before turning fully and walking towards the door.

She pulled it open, only to see Tom standing there. He looked into her eyes, before shifting his glance to the professor, who - much to his confusion - winked at him.

"Sorry to bother you professor, but the defense teacher has some students looking over the school for Hermione. Would it be okay if she came with me to speak with Professor Merrythought?" Tom asked politely.

Hermione's eyes widened slightly, and her cheeks turned a bright red. "Oops," she muttered.

Albus chuckled slightly, before saying, "It's alright Hermione. I shall speak with your professor. You and Tom can head to the kitchens. I believe you will have both missed lunch. I'll write you each a note for your next class and give them both to your professor. After all, no one should learn and do magic on an empty stomach."

Hermione smiled at the man and said a small thank you. He understood the double meaning and smiled back down at her.

Tom managed a nod, before he and Hermione walked from the office, through the classroom, and started to head down to the kitchens.

As they walked, Hermione thought she'd strike up conversation, and joked a little by saying, "See. Told you. You should of just told me whatever it was you were gonna say because we never even make it through a class when I don't wind up leaving at least five minutes early."

Tom feigned a glare down at her. "And who's fault is that? Not mine that's for sure."

Hermione stuck her tongue out at him, but then she smiled, looking at him all smug. "Just wait till next class in Defense. Me and you will be going head on. Then we'll see who leaves class early." She thrust her chin up, doing an imitation of Malfoy before they'd fought.

Tom snorted down at her and shook his head slightly. But Hermione caught the smile on his lips, before he said, "We'll just have to wait and see."

Just then they reached the fruit bowl portrait. Hermione reached over to tickle the pare before standing aside and letting Tom open the door. In a mocking manner, he bowed dramatically stretching his arm out while the other held the door. "After you, Milady." He stated in a polite tone.

Hermione walked past, but not before curtsying and saying, "Why thank you, kind sir. How very generous of you." This earned her a scoff from Tom.

As soon as they were both in and the door was shut, house elves swarmed them. Hermione simply asked for a few sandwiches, and a glass of pumpkin juice.

Tom didn't ask for anything. When Hermione asked him why, he simply answered. "Why ask for something, when there's your plate to eat off of."

This just earned him a good slap on the shoulder from Hermione.

"So..." Hermione started a she sat down next to Tom on the small table next to the kitchen's fireplace. She put the small tray of food in front of them, along with two glasses of Pumpkin juice. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about after class?"

Tom's head snapped up and his eyes caught her own ones. He'd forgotten about that. Now that he'd been reminded about it, he didn't have a clue about how he was going to do it.

He'd never done this sort of thing before.

"Eh, well, I'm not quite sure about how to say this, to be honest with you." He said to her honestly. If there was one thing he did know about girls, was that they liked honesty. So honest he would be.

However, what he didn't know, was that honesty was something Hermione was completely unused to.

"Go on..." She said, keeping her eyes on his. She could easily become lost in them, if given the opportunity.

"And, well. Okay, I'm just going to come out and say it-"

"You're rambling, Tom." Hermione cut him off, giving him a bright smile.

Tom couldn't help but smile back at her. He found those sort of smiles positively endearing on her.

What the hell was happening to him!?

"Well, would you like to-"

"There you are!"

Both Hermione and Tom's heads spun to their sides to see in the direction of the loud booming voice. Both of them, however, must of turned too fast because two loud 'cracks' could be heard coming from both of their necks.

"Ow!" They both moaned at the same time.

Tom recovered the fastest, and looked over to see one of his least favourite persons. Charles Potter.

"Potter." Tom acknowledged with a nod of his head, one of his hands rubbing the side of his neck.

Charles didn't even reply to Tom, choosing to beam at Hermione instead. "Hey, Granger. You've had almost the whole school out lookin' for you." He stated jokingly. "And you've been in the kitchen the entire time!? Honestly."

Hermione smiled sheepishly, although rather uncomfortably. She was also rather annoyed at the fact that her conversation with Tom had been interrupted so rudely. "Hey. Yeah, I'm sorry about all that. Just rather steamed is all. Needed some air, and then something to eat, I didn't want to be with a large crowd, so I came here. Tom came in and found me, and was just about to ask me something important before you also found me."

Tom looked at her with raised eyebrows. He'd have to ask her later why she'd just lied to a guy that a lot of girls normally fell all over. Yet, for now, he rather cleverly kept his mouth shut.

"Yes, well my apologies. But I, myself, Granger, need to ask you something important." He stated leaning onto the tips of his toes.

Tom was sure that if he didn't have such good control over his facial expressions, then his eyes would of widened at that one. Potter was going to...

"I was wondering, whether or not you would do me the honour in being my-"

"Hermione," Tom smoothly interrupted. For the first time since the man had entered, Charles looked over at him. Tom was pretty sure that if looks could kill, he'd be six feet under by now. Tom turned his glance over to Hermione who was looking at him with furrowed eyebrows. He could faintly detect a twitch at the side of her lips, along with slight amusement in her eyes. But when he looked closer, he could almost see a sort of... pleading? "Sorry to interrupt." Lie. "But I just thought that I would quickly ask you my question, as I need to be somewhere right now. Then Charles can ask you his own."

"Riddle, I nev-"

Tom never let the man finish the sentence that he'd begun to say through gritted teeth, as he stood up from his chair and went over to stand in front of Hermione. No way was he going to get himself this close to just let Potter of all people ruin it for him. "Under my own terms, not Slughorn's, would you like to be my partner for the Slug Club Welcome Back party?"

A.N.

Yup. Sorry people but thats another lovely cliffy all ready for ya! lol

But no more death threats, please, if you don't mind ;P

Thank you all so much for the reviews I recieved for my last chapter. The reviews I get have a big impact on this story, and helps me to think about it's direction, if you know what I mean.

Anyways, keep up the reviews please, I'd love to reach 300 soon, cause I still can't believe how big of a success this has been for me :) This story is my little baby ^_^

I love you all

Always & Forever yours

Madame Dee! xxx