Thank you all for reading the chapter.

Thanks especially who reviewed last chapter, Britleigh, hateme101, In This Style and Zelma Kallis! Special thanks to hateme101 who seems to always review each chapter!

I hope you enjoy the chapter, it is one of my favorites, same with the last one.

I am also going to be editing old chapters. Nothing drastic will change, just minor edits and such.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter


Chapter 8

The library was a nice and quiet place that Hermione always loved to go to. All the information that surrounded every time she would come never ceased to amaze her. In this time period there were more dark books available to her and other students, ones that should be in the Restricted Section. Under Headmaster Dippet, the library was more easy-going with the books the students read. It allowed Hermione more research opportunities for the questions that she needed to answer. The darker books gave her a more in-depth study of the subjects. Those books did include dark material, but some of them did not only include the dark material.

She would see Riddle lurking in the library as much as her, and it disgusted her to think that they had a similarity. She and the future Dark Lord both the bright bookworms of their day. Now Riddle had competition on his plate. It was only that one time he talked to her in the library, otherwise he would be absorbed in his book, or he would glare at her. She just knew that her life would now be worse in this decade after her encounter with him the previous night.

The question over whether he had an attraction to her, or just wanted to use her kept circulating around in her head, preventing her from fully concentrating on her book. Whatever had "happened" the previous year mystified her. It greatly affected Riddle, and strangely, Harry and Ron had nothing to do with it, but Hadrien Lupin did. Now since Hadrien's mind was wiped, she felt that she had no hope of discovering what it was, this time's Dumbledore did not even know. It was still possible that Dumbledore does know, but he wishes to not release that information to her, Harry or Ron.

She thought of her book and tried to read it again.

Rowena Ravenclaw, founder of the Ravenclaw House at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, deems a great mystery to hundreds of researchers throughout many centuries. It is speculated that she has several hidden secrets within the walls of the school. Some wizards during their time at the school have reported a "Come and Go Room" or the Room of Requirement in the school that is known to have been created by Ravenclaw herself. What remains unknown about this room is that rumors have circulated that Ravenclaw has rooms within the room itself where she hid her many secrets, and the rumored books that she had written, which would spill her advanced knowledge to the world. No one has found any proof that she has done this, but—

"Hermione!" A cheery, annoying voice screeched, causing Hermione to jump in her seat and for the book to fall right out of her hands. She took a deep breath to calm herself, and looked to see Myrtle, who could be more annoying than Voldemort himself and all of the Death Eaters combined.

Through her gritted teeth she said, "Yes, Myrtle?"

"How are you?" Myrtle asked.

"Just dandy," Hermione sarcastically replied. Myrtle nodded her head and she sat down in the empty seat next to Hermione.

"Hermione? Why won't Harry go on a date with me?" Myrtle asked sadly, and Hermione could tell that if she said the wrong thing, Myrtle would explode into tears.

Hermione sighed. She knew that Harry would not go on a date with Myrtle if his life depended on it. She also had the suspicion that he had somewhat of a crush on Ron's little sister, Ginny. At the end of their fifth year, she could tell that he greatly admired her. She had always had a crush on him, but Hermione had recommended to Ginny to see other people, like Michael Corner.

So she replied, "He likes this girl back home."

"What?" Myrtle exclaimed, tears filling her eyes. She bolted out of the library weeping, and Hermione rolled her eyes at the girl's behavior and packed up her belongings. Harry and Ron were expecting her to tell them what had happened between her and Riddle last night. It was not an occasion she was looking forward to.

XXX

"Hermione! Why would you do that? Why would you follow him? For the brightest witch of your age, you sure know how to get yourself into trouble!" Ron yelled in his frustration. They were in the Room of Requirement, so no one would disturb their encounter, and so they would not have to bother with silencing charms. The room that had appeared to them looked exactly like the Gryffindor Common Room, except there were no staircases to the girl and boy's dorm rooms. The fireplace was lit to a nice warm temperature that comforted the teenagers.

"I'm sorry Ronald!" Hermione snapped angrily. "I'm sorry that I want to get to the bottom of this mystery, and I'm sorry that at that moment I felt the need to confront him! Our enemy! Do you forget why we are here? We have to get close to him to strike! You are completely overreacting!"

"I am not completely overreacting! You could have died, and then where would we be? Harry and I wouldn't be able to do this without you!" Ron shouted.

"Where would you be? Alive! You seem to be acting like you all are depending on me for the plans, for everything! What have you done exactly? It's not all on me, Ronald!" Hermione hollered.

"Calm down both of you!" Harry boomed. "This fighting won't get us anywhere! Hermione's right, we have to get close to him to strike. But Ron is also right, you could have died. It's Voldemort!"

"Thank you Harry," Hermione sighed, and Ron groaned.

"What else happened?" Harry calmly asked.

"Well, we were in the classroom waiting for Slughorn and Spinster to pass. When they did, he wouldn't let me out of the room. He pushed me against the wall and well he, uh," Hermione answered.

"He what?" Ron pestered nastily.

Hermione's cheeks grew red at the thought of it, but she answered, "He kissed me."

"What!" Both Harry and Ron yelled at the same time. Harry put his head in his face and began pacing while Ron was simply dumbfounded, his mouth gaping open.

"Yes, well I then proceeded to kick him in his private areas, and I ran out of the classroom to Gryffindor tower," Hermione stated, ashamed of herself.

Harry and Ron were both extremely flabbergasted. Ron's mouth was wide open, and Harry's eyes proved that he was shocked. Hermione closed her eyes and Ron ran a hand through his red mane.

After a few minutes Ron spoke, "Well, you got close to him, and you really struck him, hard." Harry and Hermione stared at Ron for a minute, but then the three of them laughed together.

"Maybe we saved the day, in the future, he will be too afraid of his privates getting hurt to do anything," Harry chortled.

"You know Harry, if we don't succeed, and we have to go back to the future in the state it's in, just kick him where it hurts, that'll kill him and we'll all be fine," Ron snickered.

"Okay, enough, we need to make a game plan," Hermione declared after she stopped laughing.

"As much as I don't like to say it, Hermione, he's taken an interest in you specifically," Harry said after he got a hold of himself.

"I know, it's simply horrible. Whatever it is that 'happened' last year really affected him," Hermione replied.

"It's all Dumbledore messing with his head. He's very intelligent, what if he figures out that we were never here before?" Harry suddenly asked.

"It's very likely that will happen. If it does, we will have to be ready for it," Hermione responded.

"Dumbledore didn't even really tell us what to do in this time," Ron mentioned.

"It's all a blur to me, and we can't return to the future, who knows what it will be like now," Hermione groaned.

"What would the harm be, we have that device thingy, we can just return," Harry suggested.

"I don't know," Hermione moaned. "I don't think Dumbledore would like it if we did."

"Bloody hell with Albus Dumbledore, maybe a kick in the privates would do him good for not telling us anything," Ron proposed. Hermione's lips twitched at the thought of Dumbledore getting a kick in his sensitive areas, and she burst out laughing along with her best friends.

XXX

The classes throughout the week just droned on, and Harry, Ron and Hermione were still clueless as to what they had to do to get close to Riddle as Gryffindors. Ron had previously suggested that he and Harry join the Death Eaters in order to take Riddle down from the inside, but Hermione knew that no Gryffindor would be welcomed into it. It was a society full of Slytherins, and she figured that there must be some kind of latent rule to prevent Gryffindors from participating in their 'activities'. She almost wished that the two Dumbledores made them Slytherins, it would truly be beneficial to the mission at hand.

Riddle did not speak to her in the classes she had to sit next to him unless he had to. She was thankful for that, although, she would receive several glares from his direction throughout the days. It was only late October, and she had in her right mind to punch him square in the face. He had no right to glare at her, for he was the one who attacked her!

During Potions class one day in the next week, she and Riddle captured the class's attention by fighting over the Elixir to Induce Euphoria that they had to prepare together. Slughorn unfortunately was a fan of working in pairs.

"Riddle, listen to me right now, you crush the Shrivelfig, not chop it!" Hermione ordered furiously. Riddle had repeatedly tended to make the potion his own way. He repeatedly dismissed multiple instructions listed in the book, and he would change it up, still earning a perfect potion. Hermione's hair was growing bushier by the second with all the stress she was dealing with having to work with Riddle.

"Wilson, as you see, we will get the potion completely correct in the end, there is no use in fighting with me over this," he said calmly, trying to avoid attracting more attention.

"The book says chop! Don't you dare crush another Shrivelfig! You're wasting them!" Hermione begged in fear that her perfect marks in this class would be ruined by his unbearable, obnoxious attitude.

Riddle stared right at her as he picked up his crushed Shrivelfig and dumped it inside the cauldron, followed by the next. Many future Death Eaters laughed at the sight of Riddle teasing her. Slughorn eyed them suspiciously, but he still had a wide smile glistening his chubby cheeks. Harry and Ron both gave her pitying looks from their different tables.

Hermione's eyes were widened, and disappointment and worry were shown in her brown irises. Riddle examined the potion and he smirked at it. Hermione drew up the nerve to gaze in the cauldron, and she inspected it. It was the perfect shade of magenta that the book required. It appeared to have a smoother consistency than the cauldrons near them, and she breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Just look at that Hermione, as I said, perfect," Riddle said in a tone that showed he was reprimanding her, and that smirk remained on his face. She would not even glorify him with a response.

Slughorn trudged over, and he inspected their potion. A larger smile grew on his face as he let out a little cheer, causing a few students in the class to let out a giggle. Slughorn pulled out a vial from his cloak and poured some of their potion inside it.

"You two are free to go," he said to them as he cheerfully walked towards another group's potion. Hermione slowly packed up her belongings, so that Riddle could leave ahead of her. His arm slowly brushed against hers, forcing a blush to creep upon her face. She let out an angry huff, making Abraxas Malfoy stare at her, since he sat right across from her at her table. She scowled at him, and he gave her a wink in return. She stormed out of the classroom, ignoring Harry and Ron's attempts to communicate with her.

Riddle was right at the end of the hallway, but she could not bring herself to give a damn. He was the reason as to why she was even here, why she even had to bother with this time period. He was the reason that she was discriminated against. She wanted to pull out her wand right then and there and say 'Avada Kedavra.' Yet, for all she knew he could have a horcrux made already, or Aurors would immediately come and arrest her.

No one else was in the hallway; Slughorn had released them too early for her liking. She was stranded with no witnesses to whatever Riddle may endeavor. Riddle stopped walking, but she continued on. She had just past him when he roughly seized her small arm.

"Hermione," he said slowly. She turned her body around and faced him defiantly.

"Riddle," she spat.

"I want an apology," he demanded in a soft tone.

"An apology?" Hermione sputtered. "For what!"

"You know exactly what," he growled as he increased the grip he held on her arm. They locked gazes for a second until Hermione drew back her arm, and slapped him across the face. She stepped away from him in case her were to retaliate.

He shone with pure fury as he drew out his wand and shouted, "Stupefy!"

Hermione blocked the curse and sent her own to him, which he blocked. They continued in this pattern, both getting frustrated with their attempts. Finally, Riddle sent a curse at her nonverbally, successfully sending her backwards, slamming her head against the stone, dungeon wall.

XXX

Hermione opened her eyes slowly as she was greeted by a brightly lit, white room. She groaned and rolled to her side, rubbing her hands along her face. Her head began to fill up with immediate pain and she moaned, pressing her hand against the back of her head. She sat up slowly, and she realized she was in a bed in the Hospital Wing. Confusion infested her brain, she did not remember what had happened to her, and she did not know why she was here. She remembered leaving Potions class, but that was it. She looked to her right, and she saw Hadrien sitting on his own bed, reading a book. As if feeling her gaze on him, he looked up from his book.

"Ah, Hermione, you're awake," he recognized happily.

"Hello Hadrien, do you know what, uh, happened to me?" she asked.

"Professor Spinster found you unconscious in the dungeons," he answered. "I'm learning who these people are Hermione, it's quite fun to see their reactions when I say, what's your name!"

"Really? Spinster found me, that's quite a shock," she commented, fairly amused.

"He does seem like he has a stick stuck way up his arse the way he acts," Hadrien remarked, and Hermione chuckled.

"No doubt about that. Do you know how he found me though?" Hermione questioned.

"Uh, your head was slammed against the wall, that's as much as I know. The teachers were gushing on about it. They summed up that you were probably attacked, or that you were dueling," Hadrien replied honestly. It then all came rushing back to Hermione. She had been dueling, with Riddle of all people. He had cast a nonverbal curse, and had sent her flying against the wall. She inwardly groaned.

"Thanks Hadrien," she muttered unenthusiastically. "How long have I been out?"

"Uh, well, I don't know, I came back from classes about an hour ago if that gives you any idea, but I had a free last as I'm apparently in seventh year," Hadrien said in his response.

"I see, it's great that you are still allowed to take classes, Hadrien," Hermione noted.

"Oh yes, lucky me," Hadrien sarcastically said with a roll of his stormy, blue eyes.

"Was that you, Miss Wilson," a voice shot out from nowhere. Madam Reid came rushing in, and she checked on Hermione's injury. She asked Hermione what had happened to her, and Hermione lied that she could not remember. Madam Reid mumbled about two cases of lost memory, as she checked over Hermione's condition. Madam Reid ordered her to spend the night in order for her to check on her to make sure she is still alright. She would be free to go the next morning.

The Hospital Wing's doors suddenly burst open, and Harry and Ron came rushing inside. They caught sight of her at the far end of the wing, and they dashed to her bed.

"Hermione, are you okay? What happened?" Ron immediately asked. Madam Reid looked at the trio with distaste before she retreated into her office.

She sighed and replied, "I'm fine, Ron, and well, I got into a fight with Riddle. Obviously, he won."

"That little git," Harry sniped.

"I'll kill 'em," Ron muttered.

"That's what we are here to do isn't it," Hermione chuckled.

Then a voice asked, "Who are you two?"

The three of them looked at Hadrien Lupin, who was looking enlightened towards them.

"I'm Harry Potter, and that's Ron Weasley," Harry responded, and as soon as the words left his lips, he knew he had made a fatal error. He slapped his forehead with his hand and groaned. Hadrien left his bed, and he walked over to the three of them eagerly.

"What was that?" Hadrien asked when he was standing right between Harry and Ron, as he could not quite hear Harry well. The three of them breathed a sigh of relief that went unnoticed by Hadrien.

"Harry Evans, Ron Griffiths," Hermione shot out before the other two had a chance to reply. Hadrien smiled. He crossed his arms out in front of him, and he shook the hands of the boys.

"I'm sure we've met before, but I do not have any valid memories," Hadrien stated with a wide smile as though it were everyday talk.

Suddenly, Madam Reid came rushing back in, and she made Harry and Ron leave the Hospital Wing. She then forced Hadrien back to his bed, even though he was not at all physically ill. She tended to Hermione's head and requested that she spend the night. After Madam Reid left the room Hadrien began talking again.

"What happened, do you remember?"

"Riddle and I were fighting, he sent a curse making me fly against the wall, smashing my head," she muttered and Hadrien nodded his head.

"You mentioned that name before didn't you, something happened between the three of us…?" Hadrien questioned. He was eager to relearn all of his memories.

"If only I knew Hadrien, I would tell you," she replied sardonically.

"Did you get hit with that obliviate spell a bit?" Hadrien jokingly asked.

"Hardy har har," Hermione said sarcastically and with a roll of her eyes. Hadrien kept talking to her, and his voice lulled her to sleep after a few hours of chatting.

XXX

The next morning Madam Reid said that Hermione was free to go, but she led Hermione and Hadrien to their classes. Hadrien had Transfiguration first thing while Hermione had Potions again. Hadrien gave her a kiss on the cheek as a parting when he entered his classroom. Hermione could not help but blush when he did so. She could not get those feelings in the way of her mission. She did not even belong in this time. She had to admit that Hadrien was gorgeous with tousled, light brown hair and piercing blue eyes. She had to keep in mind that he could possibly be the father of Remus, and that someone out there was waiting for Hadrien. A cheek kiss would not change anything. If anything, Riddle's horrid, unwanted kiss meant more.

Madam Reid escorted her into Potions, practically shoving her inside the classroom. The whole entire class turned to stare at her. The Slytherin's were smirking at her while the rest were just looking. She slowly walked in the class and took her seat next to Riddle with many pairs of eyes following her movements.

Professor Slughorn then said to her, "How are you feeling Miss. Wilson? I heard about your incident. I can't believe it happened right after my class yesterday! Whoever did it to you is absolutely disgraceful!"

"I'm alright, thank you, sir," she cautiously replied. Slughorn nodded his head and then he continued lecturing the class.

"Yes, you took quite the hit to the head didn't you," Riddle said low enough so that only Hermione could possibly hear him.

"I hope you drink house elf piss," Hermione snapped back in a whisper. Riddle let out a low laugh.

"That's no way to treat your superior," he countered in an easy going tone.

"Superior, don't make me chortle. Slughorn will think he missed out on the best joke of the year, which it is," Hermione retorted angrily while glaring at Riddle. Abraxas and Avery, the other two Slytherins sitting at their table, seemed to sense the tension, and were staring at them.

"I'm sure he'll be disappointed, as you, with your mudblood brain, misinterpreted what I said," Riddle growled.

"Unlike you, I'm proud of what I am," she bit back, causing Riddle to slap his hand against the table. Slughorn looked up from the chalkboard and looked at him.

"Yes, Tom?"

"It was an accident, sir," he replied calmly, and Slughorn brushed it off. Riddle then faced his notes, and he continued writing in his elegant scrawl everything Slughorn wrote on the chalkboard.

Hermione chose not to let his words bother her. He is going to be the future Lord Voldemort after all, a man who feels that muggles and 'mudbloods' sicken him. Though, the kiss from the previous week still bothered her. If he knows that she is a muggle born, why would he kiss her? More importantly, how in the world does he know that she is a muggle born?

XXX

The rest of the classes of the day continued normally. Professor Merrythought was as cheerful as usual, and Dumbledore entranced her with beautiful transfiguration. Professor Spinster of course picked on her during class, but today he seemed angrier at her, even though he was the one who apparently found her in the dungeons.

Hermione snuck into the boy's dormitory at one in the morning and searched through Harry's trunk for the Marauder's map. She found it and whispered, I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. It revealed itself to her and she desperately searched for Riddle's name on it. There had not been a Death Eater meeting in the Room of Requirement that she knew of since the last one she had witnessed. She had checked the map almost every day afterwards. Surprisingly, every time she did, none of the boys in the dormitory awoke. It was a miracle that they could stay asleep through her clambering in their room.

Her eyes caught sight of Riddle's name on the Grand Staircase next to an Alphard Black. Excitement drowned her body, causing her to knock over Harry's trunk as she looked for the Invisibility Cloak eagerly.

Harry mumbled in his sleep, making Hermione's heart thud. He sat up in his bed, and Hermione had no choice but to wait for him to scold her. She felt as though he was her father, and that she was going to be sent to bed by him for staying up too late reading.

Harry stretched his limbs out, rubbed his eyes, and looked straight at her.

"Her-hermione?"

"Yes Harry, it's me," she muttered.

"Wh-what are you doing with my stuff?" he asked.

"I've been, um, well, trying to find Death Eaters on the map, so I could spy on a meeting again. Just go back to sleep," she answered lightheartedly.

"Did you find any on the map?" he questioned readily.

"I, well I found Riddle with an Alphard Black on the stairs," she responded faintly.

Harry got out of his bed and snatched the cloak and map from Hermione's hands, and he also took his wand from the nightstand. He then left the room without waiting for Hermione to come along. She was stunned, and after a minute she got up and followed Harry into the common room.

"Harry!" she screeched.

"I'm going, Hermione," he answered in an annoyed tone.

Hermione rushed near him as he put the cloak on. She felt the cloak in her grasp, and she ushered herself under it. Harry glared at her, but he knew he had no choice but to bring Hermione along with him. He just did not want her to get into anymore danger. They were silent as they left the portrait hall and maneuvered themselves to Riddle's location. He was stationary, remaining in the same spot as when Hermione first spotted him on the map. Alphard was still there as well, curiosity overwhelmed her. A Death Eater meeting could not possibly be occurring.

Hermione and Harry slowed on the stairs when they caught a glance of Riddle's perfected hair. He was situated on the stairs with a boy who looked similar to Sirius Black, Harry's late godfather. Hermione and Harry crouched behind a banister as they watched the two boys' interaction.

"You failed me, Alphard," Riddle identified emotionlessly.

"I don't give a shit Riddle, I'm done with all this crap! For Merlin's sakes, I'm older than you bastard!" Alphard yelled defiantly.

"How dare you!" Riddle snarled. He raised his wand and murmured a curse. Alphard was sent to the floor, screaming cries of pain, his limbs twitching spastically. Harry and Hermione both could not stand watching this torture. Harry threw the cloak over himself, making the cloak fully cover Hermione.

"Expelliarmus!" He shouted, disarming Riddle. Riddle turned around in a second, and his expression flared.

"Spying is not polite, Evans," he yapped.

"It's not as bad as casting illegal curses," Harry retorted, his wand pointed right at Riddle. Alphard groaned and he gathered himself. He pulled himself up using the banister. He snatched his wand out of his pocket and also pointed his wand at Riddle.

Riddle lunged for his wand that was on the ground. A second after he grabbed it he cast a nonverbal spell, knocking both Harry and Alphard off of their feet. Alphard was sent down the stairs, and Hermione could hear a bone crack loudly. Harry was able to get up, and Harry and Riddle's battle heated up. Hermione could not take it anymore. She stood up, and started flinging curses at Riddle from under the cloak. Riddle was mystified, but he concentrated on fighting Harry and defending himself from any curses sent.

"Is Wilson here too? I heard her annoying voice casting spells!" Riddle demanded out of Harry, who said nothing in return. Riddle did not deserve a response.

Hermione inched down the stairs as the boys were dueling, so she could get to Alphard. The stairs began to move, and Alphard was left stranded on the third floor landing, while the rest of them were being turned to the fourth floor landing just as Hermione was about to reach him. Alphard was lying unconscious, making him seem so helpless. In a rage, Hermione flung stupefy towards Riddle, but he easily defended it, frustrating her further.

"Diffindo!" she heard Riddle yell. He sliced Harry's arm open, causing blood to flow out and onto the floor. Harry moaned because of the pain, and Hermione let out an unwanted shriek, causing Riddle's dark eyes to pierce through her, even though she was invisible.

"Wilson," he snarled, and Harry used Riddle's distraction to his advantage. He flung diffindo right back at him, cutting Riddle clothes and his back open. Hermione threw the cloak off of herself, making Riddle growl in anger. "Crucio!"

Hermione was sent to the floor in pain, it was the worse pain she had ever felt in her life. Riddle packed severe amounts of anger behind the Unforgivable curse. She cried out helplessly, desperately wanting it to end immediately. Riddle brought more pain to her body and Harry tackled Riddle to the ground, forcing Riddle to lose his concentration of the spell. The boys wrestled on the ground, rolling down the staircase. Hermione slowly breathed, trying to regain herself, trying to pick herself off of the floor, but she couldn't.

"Let me guess," Riddle uttered out while he and Harry were wrestling, their bright, red blood dripping onto each other. "You know what happened last year. Wilson told you."

"Damn right," Harry snapped, even though both he and Hermione did not know what happened last year at all. Harry had Riddle pinned underneath him and he punched him in the face.

"What is going on here?" A voice boomed.

The three of them were alerted, and they turned to see Professor Spinster standing next to the unconscious Alphard.


Thank you so much for reading!

Please review. Giving a review really motivates me to keep writing, knowing what my readers actually think!

As with last chapter, I asked y'all which Riddle you prefer, Dillane or Coulson. I personally prefer Coulson,and that's who I imagine when I read stories with Riddle and when I write this story, but I wanna know what you all think.

Much love!

-Simply Paranoia