Eating With the Enemy

Hermione walked around her new room, taking in its splendor. It was really a grand room and reminded her of her two friends. She missed them so much. She had to find out how to get back to the present, back to where she was really supposed to be.

She sighed and walked to the bookcase looking for her favorite; a muggle classic, Persuasion. It, of course, was not there so she decided to look around for it. She assumed that in such a large house, there would be a library, and she really needed something to get her mind off Harry and Ron.

She assumed correct. It was huge, bigger than any library she had been in, excluding Hogwarts, and she fell in love with it.

"Can I help you find something?" a timid voice came from behind her. It was a small girl, probably about thirteen. She had long, messy black hair and a warm smile, two trademarks of the Potters, and Hermione instantly felt a connection with the Harry-like girl.

"Oh I was just looking for Persuasion, do you have it?" the girl's face lit up.

"Oh, I love that book; it's my favorite, although my brother hates it." She walked over to a shelf near the chair on the opposite side of the room.

"These are my books," she smiled pulling one out and handing it to Hermione, "Mostly muggle, though. Do you read a lot?"

"Yes, I do."

"So do I," she sat down on the chair, "You must be Hermione. Brother told me about you, but he didn't say you were so pretty." Hermione blushed, in the last few years she had grown, but she still didn't consider herself pretty.

"What's your name?" she asked, changing the subject.

"I'm Greta, Greta Potter."

"It's nice to meet you, Greta."

"You too," she got up and headed towards the door, "Are you hungry?"

Hermione hadn't noticed it but she was. "Starved, actually."

"C'mon, let's go eat then."

When they arrived in the kitchen, Hermione stopped, trembling. There, in the kitchen stood Voldemort casually talking to Jack. She felt she couldn't breathe, she wanted to run away from him. She desperately needed Harry and Ron.

Jack turned when he heard them enter.

"Hermione, Greta, it's good you're here; we were just about to sit for dinner. Care to join us?"

"Of course we would!" Greta exclaimed skipping over to her big brother. "Hello, Tom, how are you?" She asked.

"I'm doing very well, Greta."

Hermione felt like dying; this poor, kind family was involved in the dark lord's life so much that Greta was on a first name bases with him.

"Hermione," Jack looked towards her, his face showed concern, "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm quite well, just hungry." She felt the complete opposite of hungry now, but she couldn't let it slip that she knew all about 'Tom' and his cruelty to everyone.

Then he walked over to her and she realized that she would have to talk to him, to be within a foot of him. She wanted to kill him so much her head hurt. He was pure evil. He had killed so many more than innocent people. Her parents, Harry's parents, and so many others. She felt like she was going to be sick, but he kept walking towards her, a sly smile on his face.

"Hello, Hermione," he extended his hand towards her and she very hesitantly reached for it, knowing it would probably burn her skin off. The minute their hands touched she winced, waiting for the pain. Jack was looking at her very oddly and she realized how rude she must seem.

"I'm Tom Riddle." he said.

"Hello." She offered a small smile, although she knew it probably looked fake.

"Well," Jack said clearing his throat at the awkwardness, "Let's eat!"

They made their way into the large dining room across the hall from the also large kitchen. Hermione noted how easily Tom took his seat at the end of the table, across from Jack. It seemed as if he was more comfortable here than he ever should be.

"So Hermione," Tom asked, looking at her oddly from across the table, "Where do you come from?"

"England." She looked down, refusing to make eye contact. She was still trembling, and she realized that it might come across differently than she meant it to. She didn't want to look like she had a crush on the devil.

"That's interesting, so you went to Hogwarts like most of us?" he started eating the pasta the house elf had served him.

Hermione nodded, and then noticed her error.

"Really, I don't remember you." He said, scrutinizing her, his green eyes bearing into her soul. She stared back. They were such beautiful eyes.

"I was, um, quiet." She played with her hands nervously. She knew how easy it probably was to see through her weak façade.

"Really, so was I." He was torturing her now, his eyes were laughing, he knew she was lying. "Funny I never saw you."

Jack coughed smoothly into his napkin. "So, Hermione what do you do for a living?"

She hated the questioning, what was she supposed to tell him? That for the last three years of her life she had been endlessly trying to kill the man sitting at the same table.

"Well I just recently graduated from Hogwarts, so I'm not doing anything yet."

"So you're only eighteen?" He asked easily.

No. "Yes, I am." She smiled. The conversation had lightened but Hermione was still lying and she hated that.

As Jack and Hermione were talking, she looked up to see Tom staring at her. He smiled seductively and she thought she would kill herself for finding it attractive. But, really, he was very attractive, no matter his evilness, or maybe that was part of the draw. Hermione wondered how many women fell over him. She guessed a lot. The way he took a sip of his drink, but did not break eye contact, made Hermione tremble. However, this time she wasn't trembling from the fear.

A/N: Hello everyone, tell me if you like it and think I should keep going, I know I'm having fun writing it! So review it please!! All your advice would be greatly appreciated.