Thank you all so much for reading! Took me too long to update, I get distracted so easily, and I'm sorry.

I hope you guys enjoy the chapter!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed for this story. Thanks especially to In This Style and hateme101 who reviewed last chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter


Chapter 7

"Nasty little first years," Hadrien Lupin muttered after he and Hermione caught two first years out of their Common Room and floating pies down the hallways with Wingardium Leviosa charm. Hermione figured that they had probably just learned the charm in Charms class. Hermione could clearly remember the day she learned it and was correcting Ron on his pronunciation of the charm. Both he and Harry had disliked her then, yet that night the three of them became best friends. Now Ron had asked her to be his girlfriend. She regretted her decision. It may have just been better to have accepted. Ron had been acting different around her since then. He was quieter, and would talk to her only a little bit, and addressed what he spoke to Harry. Hermione could not blame him, especially after knowing his behavior after all these years. Yet, it still hurt.

"Hadrien, we were first years once, it's over now, give them a break," Hermione reminisced, and laughed a little.

"No kidding, Hermione. First years nowadays, they think that since they have supreme magical powers they can run this place full of pathetic attempts at pranks. Not all of them do it of course, and we have never had any real pranksters, but they could come one day. I hope when they do, I am already graduated and old," Hadrien countered. Hermione almost scoffed at what he said, if only he would meet Fred and George Weasley, he would probably leave the school in a flash.

"Hadrien, why do you have to be so pessimistic, they are only first years with not even half the knowledge that we have. It is impossible for them to do much damage. It was only floating pies," Hermione replied.

"They were floating pies down the hallway, what kind of a person would do that! What's next, floating, uh, house-elves!" He exclaimed and he threw his hands in the air for a second to try to prove his point.

"Obviously them, Hadrien, and we rightfully scolded them and sent them to their dormitories. We will make sure they never do it again. I have their names latched in my head," Hermione snapped. Hadrien could really snatch her nerves, and she began to wonder if he was just an uncle to Remus Lupin and not his father, they were complete opposites.

Hadrien lifted his eyebrows at Hermione and he groaned, "Then why are we fight-."

He paused in what he was saying and a blank looked invaded his eyes as he stared right at her. His pupils were oddly dilated.

"Hadrien?" Hermione snapped her fingers and clapped her hands in front of his face to get him out of his odd stupor.

His head tilted to the side as he contemplated her and then he asked, "Who are you?"

"Who am I? Hadrien, what's wrong with you?" Hermione moaned impatiently. Then she remembered the Death Eater meeting she had spied on. Little Cygnus Black must have used Obliviate on Hadrien under Riddle's orders. Sudden fear etched in Hermione, if she lost her mind, all would be doomed. She looked around for any movement, and she saw a small shadow outside an abandoned classroom door.

"Homenum Revelio," she whispered, and Cygnus' presence inside the classroom was revealed to her without him knowing, and she ordered to Hadrien, "Stay there." He nodded his head and Hermione stepped forward towards the classroom. She had one chance to get Cygnus' wand.

She jumped inside quickly, caught sight of Cygnus. He had a startled expression on his face, and he had no time to react to whatever she did as he scrambled for his wand which he pointed at her.

She immediately shouted, "Expelliarmus!"

His wand blasted out of his shaking hand and landed inside her palm. She sighed in relief, blowing out air. Out of nowhere, Hadrien plopped his head onto Hermione's right shoulder, shocking her.

"Hello!" he greeted Cygnus, and Hermione groaned.

XXX

"This is a complete shock, Mr. Black, why did you do this to Mr. Lupin?" Professor Dumbledore asked strangely in a calm tone.

Professor Dumbledore was acting Headmaster since Professor Dippet was still searching for some of his family members after a Grindelwald attack on their home. He was seated in the Headmaster's chair, and Cygnus was sitting in the chair on the other side of the desk. Hermione and Hadrien were standing next to Professor Dumbledore. Hermione held Hadrien's hand, so he would not causelessly mess with any objects around. She did not know what he was thinking in his empty brain, and she had to prevent him from causing distress against others, including herself.

"A p-prank, sir," Cygnus stuttered for his answer, and Hermione pitied him, even though he is the future father of Bellatrix and Narcissa. Andromeda was the good one of his daughter, ironically the mother of the Tonks, who is with Remus Lupin. She knew the real reason as to why Cygnus did it, reasons she could not reveal to anyone in this time. Riddle would have to pay for this.

"A prank? This had become more than a simple prank, Mr. Black, it is an attack on Mr. Lupin's mind. I have every right to expel you for this," Professor Dumbledore stated.

"E-expel, sir?" Cygnus uttered nervously, tapping his fingers on the chair he was seated in, and Hermione could see that he was close to crying. He must have so many worries in his life. The door to the office then was thrown open, and Professor Slughorn entered the room looking anxious.

"Professor Dumbledore, what has happened? I was summoned a few minutes ago to your office by the, uh, house-elf, uh, Blinky," He said as he studied the students in the circular office. He was very shocked by the dazed expression on Hadrien's face. "Is Mr. Lupin alright?"

"No, Mr. Lupin is not alright, Horace," Professor Dumbledore sighed. "Mr. Black casted Obliviate on him during Mr. Lupin and Miss. Wilson's prefect runs. Miss. Wilson was able to disarm him after she noticed Mr. Lupin had been Obliviated, and she brought the two of them to me to settle this."

"I see, but why am I here, I'm sure you can take care of this, Albus," Slughorn said as he inched towards the door, not wanting to spend another minute in the office. Hermione had the feeling that the professor was hungry.

"Ah, I cannot, you are Mr. Black's Head of House. I chose not to expel him, but you have to choose his punishment," Dumbledore replied with a smile towards Cygnus. Cygnus seemed to have a weight lifted off his shoulders as he breathed a sigh of relief. Hermione had the feeling that Dumbledore believed that Riddle was the cause of this. He was suspicious of Riddle throughout Riddle's Hogwarts years. Of course, he could be suspicious in the letter the future Dumbledore wrote to him. Hermione did not dare look at the contents of it. Anything could be in there.

"Well, I suppose two detentions every week until the end of the school year, ones on Fridays and Saturdays depending if it is able to occur, fifty points from Slytherin, and no more Hogsmeade visits for him this year only," Slughorn sputtered out quickly, appearing disappointed with the decision he just made. He needed those points, so his house could win the house cup. Dumbledore seemed appeased with his choices, and Slughorn was no longer able to take it back.

"Very well, you heard him, Mr. Black, go to your dormitories, you will receive an owl from Professor Slughorn when it is time to serve your detentions," Professor Dumbledore said to Cygnus.

"Thank you, sirs, thank you, really, thank you so much," Cygnus said happily, and he dashed out of the office making Dumbledore chuckle. Slughorn left the room right after him. Hermione was happy that Cygnus was not expelled, but she did not show it on her face.

"This is quite an exquisite beard," Hadrien said in amazement as his free hand stroked Dumbledore's long auburn beard. "How long did it take you to grow it, sir?"

Hermione could not help herself and she laughed out loud as she gripped Hadrien's left hand tighter. Professor Dumbledore joined her in the laughter while Hadrien stared at them.

When they were able to stop laughing, Dumbledore said to Hermione, "Miss. Wilson, will you please take Mr. Lupin to the Hospital Wing, it may be possible for Madam Reid to recover his memory somehow and analyze the damage to his brain. If not, I will try, but I have things to attend to at this moment."

"Yes, sir," Hermione answered politely, and she escorted Hadrien out of the office. She was shocked that this had happened, but she felt immensely relieved that she had not been the one hit with the curse. She could not imagine herself the way Hadrien was behaving. It scared her to think of all the knowledge that had most likely left his brain in the incident. It could have all been wasted, and she hoped that it would be able to be recovered if that is what had disappeared.

On their way to the Hospital Wing, Hadrien was talking about the most stupid things he could come up with. He kept asking rather odd questions, and he tended to keep saying her name out loud, pronouncing it many different ways, amusing her greatly. The way he said it was worse than Viktor Krum, but this time she knew he knew how to pronounce it. He stroked her hair occasionally, admiring its bushiness, and he felt his own compared to hers. He had even plucked a hair from his head and studied it. Hermione was thankful when they finally reached the Hospital Wing.

"Madam Reid!" She called when she entered the Hospital Wing. A heavy-weighted matron ran from her office in a hurry when she heard her name being called. Her hair was a stringy-dirty blonde, and she wore small glasses, and they were lying on the tip of her pointed nose.

"What's wrong?" She questioned her eyes wide with curiosity.

"The situation was taken care of Professor Dumbledore, but Hadrien's mind was erased with Obliviate," Hermione answered.

"Oh my!" Madam Reid exclaimed. "Bring him to the farthest bed on the right. If you can, please question him to see what he knows while I handle something."

Hermione brought Hadrien to the bed as told by Madam Reid. He pressed the mattress with his hand when they reached it, and he seemed to deem it worthy enough for him to sit upon. Hermione sat down next to him on the bed, and she took his hand in hers.

"Now, Hadrien, do you know anything about Goblin wars?" She said in the beginning of her questioning.

"Yes," he said with his eyebrows creased, and he began to talk about the wars until Hermione shushed him, pleased that he had retained some knowledge.

"Do you know about any charms?"

"Yes, I know some," He replied smiling and began to list some and what they did, and yet again, Hermione had to quiet him to continue questioning.

"Do you know that you are a wizard?" She asked.

"Of course I am, silly."

"Do you know your mother? Your father?"

"No, who are they?" He asked curiously.

"I don't know your mother and father, so I can't say. But, I see, um, do you know what happened between you, me and Riddle?"
"Who is that, that is quite an odd name to have, it's a riddle!" Hadrien said and he began to ponder to himself.

"Do you know what this is," she said as she pointed to her nose. He nodded and correctly answered, then she pointed to her ears, and he nodded and answered. She did the same with her hands and feet.

"I also know what that is," he said and he touched her lips with his pointer finger. Hermione's cheek blushed profusely. "And you do this to them."

He leaned forward and pecked her lips. He backed off and smiled at her, looking for her approval of this action. She glared viciously at the dumb expression stupidly lying on his face. She fumed with anger, and she slapped his cheek roughly.

"Ow!" He shouted. "Isn't that what you are supposed to do!"

"Yes, but to someone you care about and love romantically!" She yelled. "Not to me! I'm just your friend! That was highly uncalled for and highly inappropriate, Hadrien!"

"Okay," he said sadly, and Hermione continued questioning him for what felt like forever to her, since Madam Reid was not returning.

Hadrien could not answer questions about his memories correctly, but he had his knowledge of facts from learning at Hogwarts retained in his mind. He did not know who anyone in his life was, but he could recall people like Godric Gryffindor. Madam Reid later returned and Hermione told her everything she knew. Madam Reid then asked her to leave so she could tend to him.

"Don't go Hermione!" Hadrien begged. "Don't leave me alone with this person!"

Hermione laughed and replied, "I'll be back tomorrow to see you Hadrien. I have to go to bed now anyway." Hadrien looked disappointed with her and he huffed and he lied down on his bed.

Hermione walked away from his bed and headed towards the exit of the Hospital Wing. Outside the door she saw a tall, dark figure, and she paused in her footing. She immediately knew who it was, and then she walked faster as he turned and walked away from the entrance. She reached the door and saw him near the end of the hallway and she ran after him, against her better judgment.

As she reached the corner, she slowed down and she peered her head around the wall and saw him in the middle of the next hallway, no longer walking, but frozen in his steps. She quickly maneuvered her head away from around the corner, and brought her body to lean against the wall. She immediately wished that she had Harry's invisibility cloak.

"Miss. Wilson," a voice rang out, and fear soared through her body. She could die, right now, with one spell from one spell from his evil wand. She clenched her eyes shut, and knew the worst was coming. "I know you are following me."

Footsteps sounded, and they were heading in her direction. She pressed her body against the wall, and she thought better of running. She was not a coward; she was in Gryffindor for a reason. The footsteps finally stopped, and his sweet-smelling breath was blown into her face. She opened her eyes and stared right at him, his dark eyes locking with her own brown ones. Riddle stood right in front of her, not allowing her proper breathing space. Fear was wiped from her face and she glared at him, her eyes full of toxin.

"I know it was you," she said spitefully.

"What was me, Hermione?" He asked teasingly. He said her name slowly, like a lover would, provoking her. He ran his hand down her arm, and then he pressed his hands on the wall, on each side of her head, pulling some of her hairs back. Her heart beat sped up as he did so, but she did not show it on her face, allowing only anger to pass onto her facial expression.

"You know exactly what, Riddle, Hadrien's memory is gone. No doubt you heard about it by now. I know you ordered Cygnus to do it," she whispered nastily, not breaking their stare.

"I see," he answered, and he lowered his arms to his own sides, but he did not step away from her.

"You can deny it all you want, but we both know the truth," she threatened. He hissed, and his hands lunged for her shoulders, keeping her pressed against the wall.

"You're lucky it wasn't you who received it instead of Mr. Lupin," he snapped, his eyes full of hatred.

"Maybe you're not lucky at all, Riddle," she said, smiling viciously.

He let out a low chuckle and replied sickeningly sweetly, "Hermione, we both know that you're not telling anyone. No one would even believe you. Hadrien in his right mind might have, but you're brighter than he is."

"I don't need your approval, Riddle," she answered through her gritted teeth. He simply smiled.

"Of course you don't, Hermione."

Voices were then heard from the other end of the hallway, Hermione could recognize one of them as Slughorn's. At this time, prefects had to be back in their dormitories as well, and Hermione immediately regretted following Riddle. He gripped her arm and pulled her down into the next hallway as quietly as he possibly could. They reached an empty classroom and he shoved her inside it roughly, with him following suit. He slowly closed the door, and used a charm to lock it from the outside only. Hermione filled with relief that she was hidden from the teachers. Riddle did not let any emotions pass his face as he stared at her blankly.

Then it came to her, she was locked, in a room, with Riddle! Of all people it had to be him. He could murder her or torture her. She vowed to herself to never follow him again, in an empty hallway, past curfew. She walked away from him and sat down in one of the desks, waiting for this to end, hoping for a voice to pass the classroom, so she could just leave. Riddle sat in a desk right next to her own, and she rolled her eyes at him. They both said nothing to each other, and she could notice that Riddle detested this as much as she did.

"Oh, Maximus, she is an outstanding student. She's in Slug Club for Merlin's sake! Why do I always feel you have to complain about each and every student in this school!" Slughorn's voice boomed from right outside the classroom she was locked in.

"She rubs me the wrong way, Horace, always acts high and mighty for all these years I've had her. I don't have to like every single student, especially a one that is favored by every other teacher," the other voice pointed out. Hermione could recognize the voice as Professor Spinster's, the Study of Ancient Runes teacher who seemed to hate her.

"Hermione Wilson is a fantastic student! Always gets an O!" Slughorn exclaimed.

Hermione's eye widened. Riddle looked at her, smirking, so she glared at him. This exchange awkwardly reminded her of one she would have had with Harry or Ron, but she brushed that thought aside. Riddle would never be like them.

"Goodnight, Horace," Spinster declared, and she could hear his footsteps retreating away from the door. Another set of footsteps followed suit. Riddle stood from his seat and, he looked through the crack of the door, noting that both of the teachers were gone. Hermione dared herself to stand up from her spot. She walked towards the door, and waited a few steps behind Riddle, her hand clenched on the wand in her pocket.

"He sure loves you Hermione," Riddle said sarcastically. Hermione ignored him. Suddenly he turned around from the door and faced her.

"Aren't we leaving now," she said.

"No," Riddle uttered plainly.

"Let me out, Riddle," she ordered angrily, her hand gripping her wand tighter.

He shook his head, and he advanced on her before she had time to put her wand on him. He pushed her against the wall, and her back slammed upon it. Pain soared through her spine as she crashed on the ground.

"Stand up," he commanded from right above her, not allowing her much room to stand. She glared at him, but she knew it was best to listen and so she stood. She would attack at the moment he was not expecting it.

His shoulders pressed her against the wall and he kissed her on the lips. His tongue was attacking the inside of her mouth viciously with pure anger. She did not return it, and she remained shocked as he invaded her mouth. Voldemort, kissing her, a muggle-born! His hands began to reach up her uniform shirt, catching her by surprise. She did the first thing that came to her mind. She brought her leg in between his, and began to kiss back, making him believe she wanted this. She used her leg, which was between his and lifted it quickly, smacking it against his sensitive area. He buckled away, and groaned in pain as he fell on the floor when she kicked it again.

"Damn you," he groaned and she ran out of the classroom.

Relief flooded her system, and she was left absolutely confused as to why he would do that to her. It made no sense. She had no time to ponder it, and she quickly ran back to Gryffindor tower. The Fat Lady scolded her when she returned.

No one was in the common room area, and she threw herself on the comfy, red couch. Her head was spinning. Why the hell would he do that to her? She began to believe that he wanted to rape her, something which she always thought that Voldemort must have done to women. No one would go into his bed voluntarily, except Bellatrix. Of course, she thought that when he looked like a snake. Here, she had to admit, he was very handsome, and the girls swooned at his feet. Perhaps he thought she would enjoy it. Maybe he believed that it would get her not to reveal anything to anyone, about Hadrien's incident, and about whatever must have happened last year. Or maybe, he wanted her. She had no idea what the "incident" was last year, it always left her befuddled after every encounter she had had with Riddle. This "incident" could have drawn him to her.

She ran both her hands through her head, trying to comprehend all of these thoughts. Yet, it all wounded down to one lone thing.

She kneed Lord Voldemort's privates.

XXX

Saturday morning, Hermione, Harry and Ron sat in the Great Hall during breakfast. Hermione had gotten no sleep at all last night. After a while thinking in the common room she had retreated to her bed, but had only slept for around an hour. She was nervous; Riddle could attack her at any second he wanted to. The only place she felt safe was in her dormitory, as no boy could come into the girl's dormitory thanks to the Founder's charms on the school. Harry and Ron appeared worried when they looked at her almost falling asleep into her cereal bowl.

Harry finally spoke up, "Hermione, what happened last night? You and Hadrien never returned to the dormitory, and Ron and I were worried about you and him, well mainly you. I don't know the bloke well as he's seventh year, you know."

"Oh," she muttered tiredly. "He was obliviated during our rounds."

Harry and Ron's eyes widened as they exchanged look with each other. Most of the Gryffindor table was attracted by this new set of news.

"Hermione! Tell us everything!" One brunette girl ordered excitedly.

Hermione sighed, "He was obliviated by Cygnus Black during our rounds. He's in the Hospital Wing if you want to visit him."

Everyone around her began murmuring with each other about this newfound gossip. Harry and Ron directed their attention towards her again.

"Hermione, what else happened?" Ron asked uneasily.

"I'll tell you guys when we're alone," she said in a hushed tone. She brought her hands through her hair and groaned openly, once again attracting more attention than necessary. She could feel a certain pair of dark eyes glaring at her from across the hall, but she would not even give him the glory of paying any attention to him.

"He deserved the kicks he got, he had no right to touch me that way," she thought. "He's nothing but a slimy bastard, who you are here to kill, not make friends with."

The thoughts kept circulating through her head in a vicious and tiring cycle. She needed quiet, everyone's talking just annoyed her.

"I'm going to the library," she announced to her friends and she trumped off to go hide in her favorite place of seclusion.


Thank you for reading guys!

Now I'm just wondering, which Riddle actor do you prefer, Christian Coulson or Frank Dillane. Personally I like Christian, Frank is too baby-faced to be as Riddle was described, and Christian is perfect. Feel free to say so in your review, I'd like to know!

Au revior for now

-Simply Paranoia