Good evening. Tomorrow I have to go back to work and get some things done, so all the extra fast updating will be at an end. I might get another chapter out by the end of the week if I can get my work stuff sorted quickly enough. Then it's going to be weekly posts again, in all likelihood. I'm behind on review replies, so I'll catch up now before I post this. Thank you all to the new reviewers & readers, and for all who have favorited this tale! I appreciate it!

A few things for the anonymous reviewers: yep, the deadline is going to be tight, obviously that is deliberate on my part. :) Till, glad you enjoyed chapter 18. Thank you, Nomadic Lady!

"Please be careful when adding the Snargaluff tubers to your potions! If your potion is too hot, they will react violently with the fresh blood!"

Professor Slughorn's warning was unnecessary at the top table, as Hermione had come to call it, but she had reason to ensure that Tom Riddle, who always had perfect potions, had a problem today with the Ambages potion. She deeply regretted it, but it was absolutely necessary to involve Phineas—specifically, Phineas' allergy.

It became apparent to anyone in Ravenclaw house within days of arrival that Phineas Longbottom was violently allergic to pixypuffs. This was unfortunate, as they formed the base of a very popular candy, pixy dust. It got everywhere and Phineas had to excuse himself entirely from the common room at both Christmas and Valentine's Day, his sneezes rocketing around the room. Today in Potions, Phineas was working on the other side of Tom, and Hermione absolutely had to have some of Tom's potion with his blood in it. Thus, she felt no compunction when she dropped a tiny ampule of pixy dust next to Phineas' feet as she passed by on her return to her seat from the supply closet.

It took precisely two minutes before Phineas' nose started to twitch as Hermione surreptitiously watched him out of the corner of her eye. The small vial containing Tom's blood sat just next to his cauldron, and he had his flame perfectly set, of course. Phineas sneezed once, then twice, this time in Tom's direction. Phineas fumbled for his handkerchief at Tom's dirty look and began apologizing profusely while Tom returned to his work, ignoring Phineas utterly.

Hermione felt a small twinge of regret as the second part of the dust hit the back of Phineas' throat. She winced as he began to sneeze violently, his arm shooting out and endangering Tom's work as he staggered back from the table. Tom turned toward Phineas to grab him and was thanked with a sneeze to the chest for his pains while Hermione quickly adjusted the flame under Tom's cauldron up just high enough to overheat the potion, but not enough for him to notice.

"I'm…I'm so sorry!" Phineas whispered violently as Tom Riddle stared him back into his seat after cleaning himself with a wave of his wand. "I don't know what came over me…does anyone have any pixy dust in here?" he asked a bit louder, clearly terrified to have practically assaulted the Head Boy with his sneezing.

"Just get back to work," Tom hissed as Slughorn raised an eyebrow at the pair of them for a moment before returning to the grading he was doing at his desk.

Fifteen minutes later, as Tom tried to add his blood to the potion, the mixture erupted violently in a cascading mess that caused everyone around him to leap back from their stations and Professor Slughorn to come over quickly, a shocked expression on his face.

"Well, Tom, that is unfortunate! Still, I suppose it's a bit much to hope you'd get every potion perfect the first time, eh?" He clapped his hand on Tom's shoulder and turned him toward the rest of the classroom, an act that likely pissed Tom off all the more as Slughorn continued loudly, "Yes, I daresay there isn't a single one of your classmates who hasn't done the same at some point in their Potions studies. Welcome to the club. Now, clean up, there's a good lad."

In the middle of Slughorn's improvised speech, Hermione snuck some of what was left of Tom's blood into a clean vial and put it in her pocket with no one the wiser. One step closer.

Olivia had grown quieter since Sophie had left, but she wouldn't tell Hermione why. It was yet another in a growing list of things that made Hermione uneasy. The upcoming weekend was a Hogsmeade weekend, and even though she would be accompanied by Tom she was certain he would be pulled away by some Head Boy duties and she could steal some time to herself. There was a passage in the Maleficium that had given her an idea about the blood bond that Tom had cast, but she needed confirmation. She planned to visit the little bookshop he favored again, hoping to find the missing information she sought within its shelves.

"Ready?" Tom seemed relaxed, which instantly put her on her guard. If he was happy, there was definitely something wrong somewhere. Hermione didn't answer, just walked outside, her cloak already fastened tightly. Spring was approaching, but it was still chilly. She knew Tom had duties as Head Boy on this Hogsmeade visit, hence their departure at the same time as the other students. For the most part Tom was a hands-off manager, but when anyone got out of line they were whipped back into shape quickly. Tom did not tolerate horseplay in the village, a fact which was well known. He didn't have to use his followers to enforce this—he simply assigned detentions. It was enough to keep most of the students in line.

They paid a visit to Scrivener's and Hermione was browsing indifferently when Tom was finally called away by a skirmish at the new tea shop—Madame Puddifoot's. Breathing a sigh of relief, Hermione let herself out the back door before Evan Rosier could catch sight of her, then darted down the alleyway toward the book shop. Once there, she began searching for other books on blood bonds. She was in the middle of an interesting passage about magical objects as bonding devices when the bell over the door jingled and Hermione half noticed two wizards walk in and approach the clerk behind the counter.

"Good afternoon, madam," one of the men said courteously, and Hermione's ears pricked up. That was a German accent. It was faint, but it was there. Hermione continued to read the text, but her senses pricked. "It is a lovely village here—and to be so close to Hogwarts, it must be nice for you. You must get a lot of business from the school and its students."

"Oh yes, they are a regular group of visitors, and glad we are to have them here too."

"I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about the students that flood your village during particular weekends. You see, we are friends of Albus Dumbledore, and he was telling us about some of his students. Apparently they are a very impressive lot."

"Oh, they are a good group of kids, I'm sure," the clerk replied, while Hermione inwardly rolled her eyes at the man's stupidity. Couldn't he see they were pumping him for information? She closed the book softly and plucked another from the shelf to begin leafing through it quietly, although she was listening intently to their conversation.

"Yes, and how nice to have them for so many years," the second wizard said smoothly. "But of course you must see the occasional new face?"

Hermione's heart began to beat faster.

The clerk tilted his head to the side. "Well, not so many as you would think about it, but every now and again there are a few transfer students. Mostly those who were schooled at home, private tutors you see, and then the parents decided to send them to Hogwarts."

"I see," the first wizard said, leisurely finishing his browsing of the shelves next to the counter. "It is good to hear that you didn't get any refugees from Europe. That is, of course, why we are here—it is a very nasty business over there at present."

The clerk's brow furrowed. "Well, I believe they did get a new seventh year student this year from all that trouble. Can't remember her name, but seems to be getting along well enough despite the rocky start."

"I see," the man said. "Well, I'm glad you aren't too bothered with that here. It feels good to get away from it, I can tell you."

"Yes," murmured the second man, exchanging a glance with the first before his eyes wandered around the shop. Hermione was glancing at the books on the shelf again, intently searching titles and apparently oblivious to whoever else was in the shop. The wizard's eyes passed over her, and Hermione felt relieved when the first man paid for the book he had selected and they turned to leave the shop. Hermione stepped up to the counter and said, "I'll take this one, please," putting down the book on blood bonds. She felt somewhat relieved when the bell jingled over the door as the men left.

The clerk sniffed and asked, "Do you need a bag?"

"No thanks," Hermione said, and the clerk took her coins and handed her the book, which she promptly shrank and put into her pocket. Hermione ignored the tiny prick from the book's sharp corner, her mind quickly analyzing the two wizards that had just left. She looked out the window and saw that they were now across the road and entering Madame Tweaks' Robes & Sundries, probably about to repeat their little fishing expedition in the bookshop. She turned and nearly squeaked as she bumped into Tom Riddle's chest.

"Hermione? What happened?" he asked, his tone suddenly sharp as he took in her pale face.

"Nothing. Actually, I don't feel well," Hermione said, refusing to look him in the eye. "I think I'll go back to Hogwarts now. I'll just apparate to the gates."

Tom hesitated for a split second, then his expression smoothed again. "Fine, but you're looking pale. Let me walk you back—you wouldn't want to splinch yourself. I'll have to get a prefect to cover for me. I suspect Sylvestrus is in The Three Broomsticks."

Hermione let Tom take her arm and lead her into the pub, where he spotted the prefect in question easily. "Good afternoon, Sylvestrus. Would you mind if we had a chat briefly?"

The thin young man looked up in surprise, but stood easily and Tom slid Hermione into his seat, which caused Sylvestrus' table mates to leave. "Abraxas!"

A Slytherin in every corner, Hermione thought to herself, but a part of her was suddenly delighted by Tom's possessiveness. Abraxas Malfoy ambled over, and Tom exchanged a quick word with them both, then slid into the booth next to Hermione.

"I thought we were going back to Hogwarts," Hermione said, but Tom picked up her hand and kissed it.

"Now, Hermione, I want to know exactly what had you practically running out of the book shop."

His tone was so pleasant, but his eyes were communicating all sorts of other messages. She remained silent, an outward hiss of breath the only sign of Tom's displeasure at her refusal to answer. He continued to softly stroke her hand, his voice equally soft. He didn't need forceful words to make his displeasure clear. "I don't want to use Legilimency on you here, Hermione, but rest assured I will do it if it means getting the answers I need."

Hermione would not let herself flinch under his stare. Nonetheless, she was in a very bad predicament. She had wondered if Professor Dumbledore might be attempting to get information about time travel from Grindelwald. If those wizards were sent by him, she was in a great deal of trouble.

"There were two wizards in the book shop. I think they work for Grindelwald," Hermione said in a rush, her emotions in a mad tumble. Was she really that crazy, that she thought Lord Voldemort was a better choice than Gellert Grindelwald? Under the circumstances, though, Tom Riddle had the potential to keep her safe until she was back at Hogwarts if he wasn't going to let her out of his sight. She wasn't foolish enough to underestimate wizards whom Grindelwald had sent to poke around, and Tom was unquestionably the most capable duelist among all the students.

"Show me," Tom said, then claimed her mouth for a kiss, his eyes fixed on her own. He didn't necessarily need the eye contact now that a proper blood bond was in place, but it would be easier for her if Hermione helped a bit to start. It would be an encouraging show of good faith on her part.

Hermione met his eyes, pushing forward the memory from a few minutes ago. She began at the point when she overheard the wizard's first question, closing her eyes as Tom skipped through, drawing the same conclusions which Hermione had reached, and a few more besides. He pulled out of her mind and easily ended the kiss, his hand lingering at the back of her neck.

"There's never a dull moment with you, is there?" he murmured, catching her eyes again. Hermione instantly stiffened at that, and she replied, "I can just apparate back to the school, and that will be that. I don't need your assistance."

"Ah, but what if Professor Dumbledore decides to hand you over to the Ministry given this new threat?" Tom's tone was arch and Hermione gritted her teeth. They both knew he was right.

"Perhaps that would be for the best. They might not have his compunctions when it comes to the sanctity of my mind," Hermione retorted quietly, and Tom smirked.

"Or mine, lest you forget. So shall we agree that your little problem is also my little problem?" His eyes were bright again, a flicker of common understanding passing between them.

"Yes, damn it," Hermione said, and he relaxed his hold on the back of her neck lightly.

He pressed a brief kiss to her forehead to give those watching their little byplay the impression that they were whispering sweet nothings to each other, then coolly said, "Thank you, Abraxas," as he released her and sat back in his seat, taking a swallow of the Butterbeer which Malfoy slid in front of him. Abraxas slid into the seat opposite, and Tom picked up Hermione's hand, idly letting his thumb caress the back of it as he waited.

"It's being taken care of," Abraxas said, and Tom nodded.

"Drink your Butterbeer, Hermione. We'll head back to the castle with the last students as planned."

Hermione took a sip of the drink with a far steadier hand than she felt herself to possess. She looked across the table and met Malfoy's cool, slightly interested gaze.

"You're a secretive little thing, aren't you?" Abraxas murmured to Hermione, catching the amused expression on Tom Riddle's face. "You should have been in Slytherin."

"So I've been told," Hermione muttered, then turned her head to look at Tom.

"What are you going to do?" Hermione asked, and Tom shifted his hand, intertwining his fingers with hers in an intimate manner that made her feel warm and unclean at the same time.

"My duty as Head Boy, of course. I'll report anything untoward to the Headmaster. And Professor Dumbledore, of course."

Hermione's heart thudded. "Why Professor Dumbledore?"

"Because you're related to him, aren't you? And I would hate for anything he's been up to, to cause you any distress," Tom said, taking another sip of his drink while he kept an eye on the door to the pub.

Hermione felt a little chill at that. Tom had deduced, no doubt correctly, that Dumbledore was asking Grindelwald about time travel. Now Grindelwald was sniffing around, trying to find out if Dumbledore had received any unusual guests. Clearly, he had learnt enough to focus on the students. Thus, Tom was going to use Dumbledore's own ethics against him to keep him away from Hermione. There were too many students with relatives in Europe to risk reports of Dumbledore hovering over one student in particular. If at the same time, it resulted in Dumbledore confronting Grindelwald, so much the better for Lord Voldemort. Hermione shivered as she realized that Dumbledore was soon to have his famous duel anyway. This would just put more pressure on him, maybe make him disappear again from Hogwarts.

"Cold?" Tom asked, and Hermione noticed that the flames in the fireplace nearby leapt higher. It was terribly wrong that a boy so destined for evil could be so solicitous at times. Evan Rosier came in, and Tom relaxed still further. His servants were doing just as they had been taught. He watched Abraxas leave as Evan ordered his own drink then meandered over to chat with them, the conversation light and easy between Evan and Tom as Hermione sat silently and let Tom hold her hand.

After half an hour had passed, the door to the pub opened and Tom finally saw the two wizards in question. They made their way easily to the counter, each ordering a drink and making a casual survey of the room at large. If their eyes lingered on their table, Tom didn't notice it, which meant they were either very, very good at hiding their interest, or they genuinely saw nothing of note. He could feel his magic humming in a pleasant, anticipatory manner. Some inner instinct told him these wizards were aware that something was afoot, and the likelihood was high that he would be dueling them before the afternoon was over. Well, wouldn't that be entertaining?

"What is the likelihood of Merrythought coming up with something more challenging than a banshee at the next trial?" Tom asked Evan, noting that Gibbon had come in the door behind Hermione's roommate Olivia.

"I'm sure she won't do any repeats from last year, that is for sure," Evan said, finishing his Butterbeer and then looking at his watch. "It's a quarter to, the students are going to start heading back."

Hermione realized that it was almost time for them to leave, and Tom squeezed her hand and then released it. "I suppose it's time to get everyone organized then."

He stood and offered Hermione her cloak, which she let him fasten around her neck. His smile was sweet, the consummate boyfriend act firmly in place. She ignored the wizards at the bar and waved to Olivia, who waved back, quickly trying to quaff her Butterbeer before it was time to go. She was with a few other Ravenclaws, although Phineas wasn't among them. He was probably off with the Gryffindors, hanging on Augusta's every word.

"Ready?" the word had far more behind it than was comfortable, but Hermione again asked herself if the wizards who worked for Grindelwald would really dare to attack a Hogwarts student, so close to Dumbledore's home territory. They must be on an information gathering mission only, she reassured herself as Tom rounded up the strays from the pub while she waited with Evan in the chilly air outside. It was dusk now, and no one wanted to be out late at this time of year, the sun not quite setting early but still providing less than adequate light.

Students were starting to move off in groups toward Hogwarts, the path a jolly mix of Houses as bunches of students walked back. Given Tom's role, they were going to be in the last group headed back. Hermione noticed Abraxas loitering close by, and Evan was clearly under orders to not let her go, as he had a firm hand on her arm. It wouldn't be wise to protest under the circumstances. The other Knights had gone ahead with other groups. Hermione had no idea what that meant, but she was glad that Olivia had been in one of the earlier groups, as she would be safe. Tom was having to settle a loud argument that had erupted between a pair of Hufflepuff girls outside Madame Tweaks' shop. Hermione stamped her feet and cast a warming charm on them—it was growing colder as the sun waned, and she wanted to get back to Hogwarts.

"Hey, Hermione!"

The voice was boisterous and jolly, and Hermione turned her head to see Herecles Potter waving at her, and caught Tom's deadly stare at the same time that the fascinated attention of the two wizards just exiting The Three Broomsticks swung towards her. Tom caught it too, and his eyes narrowed still further as the fool Gryffindor bounded over to Hermione, ignorant of the chaos he had just caused.

"I bought these for you, since you were occupied in The Three Broomsticks," Herecles said, offering a package of sweets from Honeydukes. "Sorry we didn't get a chance to chat on this visit. Please tell me he isn't forcing his attentions on you."

"No, I can honestly say at this moment that I'm happy to have Tom Riddle's attention," Hermione said, aware that the wizards were whispering furiously. She caught a small flash of red from the corner of her eye and realized that Tom had used a stinging jinx to break up the witches' argument. He was pissed off, then.

"Oh, good," Herecles said. "I can't say I see what you see in him, but I suppose it's too much to think a girl wouldn't fall for those grades and looks."

"Yes, that's right," Hermione said, wanting to get rid of Herecles before Tom made it back to her side. Evan was silently hovering but she didn't want any more attention drawn to them. "I really didn't have a choice in it."

"Right." Herecles was too innocent to pick up on that subtext, and he gave her a broad smile. "See you around, Hermione."

Hermione exhaled quickly when he joined a group of his fellow Gryffindors and began to walk back toward Hogwarts. Tom was instantly back at her side, and they, too, began to set off for the castle, the miffed Hufflepuff girls setting off at a brisk march that saw them well ahead of them in short order.

"Good riddance," murmured Evan, but Tom said nothing. It was now just Hermione, Tom, Evan, and Abraxas, and the decreasing light was making it more difficult to make out the groups of students up ahead. Tom had his wand out, expectant. He was not disappointed for long. As soon as they were out of view and earshot of the village, but still a sufficient distance from the safety of the Hogwarts wards, the two wizards from Hogsmeade apparated in front of them.

"Good evening," the taller one said pleasantly. "We are visitors here, but we have heard many interesting things about this young lady. We would merely like a word with her, please."

It was ominous that the second wizard had cast a privacy charm on the little path, and Hermione felt the familiar stiffening as her mind and body prepared itself for a duel.

"I think you're going to regret not reading the Maleficium yet, Hermione," Tom said quite quietly to Hermione, his wand glowing enough to brighten up the entire surroundings for about a hundred yards. To the wizards he said, "I'm afraid that won't be possible. You see, I'm the Head Boy, and it is the strict policy of the school that visitors must go through the Headmaster before being allowed to speak to students."

The second wizard laughed. "Ah, but we don't have any intention of going to the school, young man. Your care of your girlfriend is admirable, but we only want to talk to her. We merely wish to learn how she came to be at your school."

Abraxas and Evan both drew their wands, and the first wizard cocked his head. "I would not advise you to attempt such gallantry, young men. I assure you, we are not the kind of wizards with whom you wish to tangle."

The wizard pushed his cloak back over his left shoulder, revealing the Deathly Hallows badge on his chest. It was emblazoned on all the reports of Grindelwald's atrocities, and there was no doubt that it was a threat. Hermione's own wand twitched in recognition, and she viciously tamped down the flurry of memories concerning that symbol.

"I can see that I haven't been clear," Tom said, his cloak falling to the ground. He could feel his magic building, unafraid of whatever these two had to offer. It would be a good test for Malfoy and Rosier. "We will not allow you to talk to this young lady, now or ever."

"So be it," the second wizard said, slashing a hex toward Tom while the first sent a twinned pair of spells at Abraxas and Evan.

He rebuffed it easily. A horn tongue hex, really. As if he bothered with such childish spells. Beside him, Hermione cast her own retaliatory hex at the tall wizard who was dueling Abraxas and Evan. Clearly she didn't think he needed any help. She was right, as he sent a powerful lycacomia curse at his opponent. The wizard's expression darkened when he realized what Tom had just sent, and Tom smirked at him. Let's see what you have, then.

He then engaged in a duel that was as bitter as it was ugly. This wizard was well trained, but he had not Tom's magical depth nor his inventiveness. Abraxas and Evan were managing to hold their own against the other wizard, but only just. Hermione was pitching in as she could to help them, but the shorter wizard seemed to recognize this. He and the one Tom was dueling had targeted her a few times before they saw that Tom was rebuffing anything sent at Hermione by either of them, and still managing to hold up his end of the duel with the first wizard quite nicely. It was then that they probably realized they might be in trouble. A more intelligent pair would have attempted to break it off right then, not that he would have let them—but they seemed to arrogantly think that they would win the day regardless.

Hermione realized that the three Slytherins and Grindelwald's men were now tossing curses she had never seen before, the effects probably too gruesome to contemplate if any of them managed to hit. Of course, they didn't, not for a good few minutes. Tom was dueling with a fluidity that she recognized from the battle at Hogwarts. She realized he was simply toying with them, letting Abraxas and Evan have a good go. He can finish them at any time, she thought as she tossed a sponge knees curse and Tom blocked something from hitting her, again.

"Thanks," she shouted to him, and he gave her a half smile, his attention on the wizard across from him.

Tom could see that his opponent was now considering running, and realized that playtime was almost over. He decided it was time to take charge of things. He cut Abraxas and Evan out of the duel, taking both opponents into hand while his servants dropped back to protect Hermione.

Gellert's men had been doing a decent job of shielding, but Tom had been holding back, assessing their weaknesses with a very clinical eye. He let a bit more of his magic out, then fused through his spells as he picked up the pace of his casting, striking with unerring accuracy at their weak points until their shields crumbled. Hermione's breath hitched painfully as she watched him. The style, the casting, everything was completely Lord Voldemort in his prime. He hit the first wizard with the Avada Kedavra, the green light flashing silently and powerfully, turning to deal with the other opponent without even flinching from the Unforgivable. The second wizard barely took it in before Voldemort took him down with the entrail expelling curse, causing Hermione to gasp and turn her head away into Abraxas Malfoy's shoulder. She felt the brief shudder of his body as he took in the effects of Voldemort's curses, and a part of her was glad that some part of a Malfoy was a bit human. He ruined it, however, with his comment.

"People will fear him greatly once they see him like this," Abraxas said, taking in how Voldemort had quickly cast a binding charm and a silencing charm on the wizard, presumably to prevent the retrieval of any portkeys he may have secreted on his person.

"Like a murderer?" Hermione bit out, glad to feel something familiar like anger toward a Malfoy.

"Like a wizard born to rule." Malfoy's tone was begrudgingly admiring, and Hermione wanted to hex him, if for no other reason than to distract herself.

Voldemort ignored their little exchange, casting another privacy spell over the path since the first had evaporated with the first wizard's death. This was going to get Dumbledore into a great deal of trouble, of that he was certain. He wordlessly told Rosier with a look to deal with the first wizard's body, then summoned both wizards' wands with a flick of his hand. He walked over to the second one who lay dying, his blood now seeping out at a more sluggish pace as his heart began to stutter.

"You made a very critical mistake in coming here. You think your master is powerful, but you realize now that someone greater exists, don't you? Pity you won't be alive to tell him." Tom's voice, Lord Voldemort's voice, was quiet but authoritative, without a hint of mercy. He released the silencing charm on the man, waiting for a response.

"Who…are…you?" the wizard breathed, shock setting in.

"It hardly matters, does it? But you can be sure that your overlord will one day know who I am."

Hermione was numb. She heard Abraxas speaking to Tom, then felt his cloak settle on her shoulders on top of her own.

"Gibbon and MacNair are ahead and waiting."

"Tell them to clean up this mess. I want nothing left of them. Let the people in the village say what they like. Just pick someone suitable to witness them apparating away."

"Yes, my lord."

"Rosier, Obliviate the barkeep. Just erase his memory of us being in there when those two came in, please. No large suspicious gaps, we don't need any complications."

"Yes, my lord."

Hermione could hear the excitement in Evan's tone. She wondered if Abraxas Malfoy felt the same way. They had just dueled highly trained wizards from Grindelwald's ranks, and they had held their own. No wonder Tom inspired such loyalty in his followers. He was obviously an excellent teacher, as well as a clever strategist.

"Come along Hermione. We have to talk to Dippet, and Dumbledore." Tom took Hermione's hand and pulled her away from the scene.

"What am I supposed to say? 'I just took part in an illegal duel with Grindelwald's men, and by the way our Head Boy killed them both to protect me'?"

"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit," Tom reminded her, taking her hand firmly in his own.

"Is there any time you don't find it appropriate to just kill people outright?" Hermione asked, causing his eyes to narrow as he stopped her. When he spoke his tone was hard.

"I can see that you require a change of perspective. First, I just saved your life. Again. Second, Obliviating those two and sending them home would be like waving a red flag begging Grindelwald to come calling himself." He paused briefly, tilting his head to the side. "And unless I mistake your reaction to that statement, that would indeed be 'buggering up' your timeline."

"Fine, then! 'Thank you'. Is that what you wanted to hear from me?" Hermione replied, pulling her hand away and running her fingers through her hair.

"If you really want to thank me, show me what you know about Grindelwald and his relationship to Dumbledore. I've figured out that they must know each other somehow, but no one seems to know anything." Tom's posture was aggressive, and he refused to let her turn away from him, grabbing her arm forcefully.

"I can't show you that," Hermione insisted, turning her face away from him.

"Can't, or won't?" he growled, and Hermione swallowed nervously, then bravely met his gaze.

"Won't."

"Witch, I just saved your life from two wizards who were trying to kidnap you. Again. I need to know what the fuck our Transfiguration professor has to do with the darkest wizard of this decade." Tom's voice was insistent, his irritation bleeding through.

And you are the darkest wizard of the next five decades, Hermione's mind shouted, and she focused hard on keeping her mental shields up. "I won't screw up things any worse than I already have. Please respect that."

"One memory. Either you choose, or I'll find one myself," Tom threatened, and Hermione stared at him. He was running at a high magical peak, his body practically thrumming with it. She could feel the tendrils of his magic seeping around her. He could do it if he wanted to, that cursed blood bond the tool he would use to do so. She would have to choose damage control.

"Fine," she said with a shaky breath, looking away again to gain control of her memories and wrangle the least offensive to the fore. "But only one."

He was in her mind quickly again, and Hermione had to bite her lip at the intensity of his presence in her head. He whirled through the description of Grindelwald's and Dumbledore's adolescent friendship from Skeeter's biography, then removed himself before she even asked him. Hermione felt dizzy for a brief second. He already hated Albus Dumbledore, so Skeeter's biased depictions couldn't make him think any worse of the wizard, she reasoned.

"That explains a lot," he said calmly, his expression carefully regulated while his mind worked through everything he had read. "Hurry, we have to get back. We can't be too far behind everyone else."

"I know," Hermione said, keeping her gaze away from him. His attention suddenly flicked fully back to her.

"You're cold. Do you have a warming charm on?"

"Yes," Hermione replied dully, and Tom suddenly pushed her against a tree, a brief flash of light from his wand letting him look at her closely. She was holding up very well, but there was a slight tremor in her frame.

"You're in shock. You need to recover your equilibrium."

It wasn't romantic, how he kissed her then, infusing warmth and a hint, just a hint of his magic into it. He wondered if she would accept it, or fight it as she fought everything else. Perhaps it was simply the situation, but she accepted it and him greedily, her hands fisting in his sweater as her mouth answered his urgently. His body pressed intimately against hers, making it seem warmer than it actually was, his breathing slightly harsh as he pulled away. He was definitely aroused, a side effect from the dueling.

"You need more experience," he muttered, and Hermione wasn't sure what kind of experience he was referring to. Deciding it was best to not say anything, she let him hurry her along the path, and soon enough Evan Rosier joined them, followed by Abraxas Malfoy, who nodded at Tom. It had been taken care of, then.

"I'm inviting you to the Heads' common room after dinner," Tom murmured. "Right now, we need to speak to the headmaster. Come."

Hermione was surprised when they arrived at the headmaster's office and both Abraxas and Evan stayed with them. As the gargoyle turned and the staircase ascended, Tom murmured to Hermione, "Just tell him what you overheard in the book shop, unless you want the Ministry here to incarcerate you under the guise of protecting you."

Hermione drew breath to reply, but the staircase stopped moving, leaving all four under the curious eyes of Headmaster Dippet.

"Well, Tom, this is a surprise. Trouble in Hogsmeade?"

"A bit of a disturbance, yes," Tom said smoothly. "Perhaps it would be best to let Miss Girard tell what she overheard, and then I will explain the circumstances that compelled me to bring this to your attention."

Headmaster Dippet swiveled his gaze to fix on Hermione, and she told him what she had overheard the two wizards discussing with the clerk, adding, "They were very particularly interested in Hogwarts students, Headmaster. That is what caught my attention."

"And why is this significant, Mr. Riddle?"

Tom was unperturbed by the headmaster's use of his last name. He did not like to bothered for less than consequential matters, but Tom was quite certain he would find it consequential once he had finished speaking.

"Well, sir, it appears that these wizards repeated the same questions throughout all the local shops—"

Here Abraxas reported how he had heard them ask much the same questions in the bookshop and the Three Broomsticks, while Evan said he had heard them ask in the new tea shop and Madame Tweaks' store. The headmaster still seemed unconvinced that this was a problem, but Tom continued.

"Of course, this could have been simply refugees inquiring about the school environs for their own children. It was when these wizards approached me to ask after a particular student—well, I found that to be very irregular."

Abraxas and Evan nodded in confirmation as the headmaster looked at each of them, then returned his gaze to Tom. He had baited the hook well, for the headmaster leaned forward in his chair.

"And which particular student were they inquiring about, pray tell?"

"Miss Girard," Tom said, taking her hand in his own and playing the concerned boyfriend to the hilt. "They requested to know which student bore the name of Girard, and of course I refused to tell them, and directed them to the school to speak with you concerning any student. They strongly demurred, which was strange. But what struck me as most peculiar was that one had some type of emblem on his chest…a triangle of some type, perhaps? It was hard to tell, as his cloak covered it for the most part, but I noted it and wanted to report it to you."

The indrawn hiss of the headmaster's breath was quickly concealed, but not before all had noted it. For her part, Hermione found Tom's acting to be beyond worthy of a BAFTA, so convincing was his appeal to the headmaster.

"This is indeed troubling…" the headmaster began, and Tom quickly interrupted as if he were merely continuing his previous statement.

"And of course I believe Professor Dumbledore should be informed, as Miss Girard is a member of his family and he would certainly wish to know if some strange wizards were seeking her—"

"Yes, yes of course," the headmaster said, standing up abruptly. "Miss Girard, rest assured that I shall inform Professor Dumbledore of these events myself, and shall make my own inquiries in Hogsmeade. I trust you do not feel frightened from the experience?"

The headmaster had taken her other hand and Tom had willing dropped her right, and Hermione swallowed at the nearness of the headmaster. He smelled of menthol and mothballs, an unpleasant combination in her nostrils.

"I am fine, Headmaster. I felt perfectly safe with Tom."

This last was, unfortunately, true, and it seemed to satisfy the headmaster, for he dropped her hand and shook the hands of Abraxas, Evan, and Tom in turn.

"Well done, lads. Off to supper with the lot of you—I will let you know if this prompts any changes to the Hogsmeade rules, Tom."

"Thank you sir," Tom said, and put his hand on Hermione's waist to escort her from the room.