CHAPTER 3
She was surprised by the sight that greeted her. Opening the door, she noticed the two Professors Dumbledore and Slughorn talking to each other merrily, chatting away as any two Professors would. As they heard her enter, they both acknowledged her, introducing themselves to her.

"Professors. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Hermione said. It was nice to see her old professors alive, well and…happy. If she didn't have the whole future ahead of her and on her shoulders, she would have been happy to see them too. But she knew better. Time was on her side but she didn't know if fate was.

"Everything's ready and set. You may take your seat here. Professor Dumbledore will begin and I will be back tomorrow for your Defense Against the Dark Arts test" Slughorn said, making his way to the door.

At last, she was left alone with Professor Dumbledore. "Sir…" She began, she wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him so badly of she was there and why she had to come to Hogwarts. She wanted to confide him. She desperately needed an ally whom she trusted with her life and there he was, Professor Dumbledore. Could she risk telling him the truth about her future? Their future? Could she risk telling him of his plan for her?

She took a deep long breath, stared at her beloved Headmaster, noticed his twinkling blue eyes and the smile on his face and dropped her head. It wouldn't be fair to him. This was her mission and hers alone. Dragging him into the danger and telling him about the future could have dire consequences that she didn't dare to imagine. Keep it simple, she reminded herself. The less people knew of her mission, the better. When she succeeded at killing Riddle, she didn't want anyone else implicated for her crime. And she was about to commit a crime because "he's the future Dark Lord" was hardly going to be enough of a reason to justify her current actions.

With that, Hermione looked up, smiled and said "I was just wondering what subject you taught Professor"

"Transfiguration, Ms. King." Dumbledore replied.

The rest of her time at Hogwarts with Dumbledore and Slughorn were uneventful and, very repetitive. Everyday she would arrive at Hogwarts at exactly 8am at the Third Tower Chamber Room, accompanied by Professor Nichols, and greeted by either Professors Dumbledore or Slughorn. The subjects matter were hardly hard, they were quite easy in fact. Considering that that was her second time taking the tests, Hermione had to remind herself to act as normally as possible and a normal person would occasionally incorrectly answer a question or two. So, much to her dismay, Hermione made sure she got at least two questions wrong in each of the subject tests. At first she only permitted herself to get one question wrong but then decided with two, just to be safe. Some of the tests she had to answer with wand work which was a much needed break from all of the writing that she had to do during her eight hours of testing. She didn't know who would have passed these tests if they hadn't been to Hogwarts. The tests weren't hard for her because she had already been taught at Hogwarts but the questions were specific to the assigned books Hogwarts gave. She had to make up a reason why she was so adept and knew just the answer for it- if she was asked she would say that her home schooling schedule was made off of Hogwarts' schedule. Yes, that's it- she thought glancing up from her parchment. She had finally finished her last test, Herbology and Slughorn was seated at the corner desk reading and writing excitedly.

"I believe I am finished, Professor" Hermione said. Slughorn looked up startled.

"Ah yes, Ms. King. Finished just in time I see." He said looking up at the clock. It had taken a lot out of Hermione not to declare that she had finished a half hour ago instead, she decided to go through all of her answers and check them to take up more time.

"Professor, if I might ask- when will my test results be ready?" Hermione asked, appearing to look somewhat stressed and curious.

"Your tests are currently being graded by each of the Professors who have written the tests and you may come back on Thursday for the results." Slughorn said taking her parchment and packing it away with his things. "But you needn't worry Ms. King. From what I have seen of your Defense Against the Dark Arts test, you seem to have studied quiet well on your own" He told her assuredly.

"Thank you Professor. I really do appreciate you, Professor Dumbledore and Headmaster Dippet's allowing me to take these tests. After my parents died, I wasn't quite sure what to do with my schooling and then a friend mine mentioned going to school…and well…here I am" Hermione rattled on.

Hermione was glad that all of her tests were over and that all she had left between her meeting the young future Dark Lord was her test results. She spent the rest of her time returning to her job and wondering when Thursday would come so that she can finally return to Hogwarts again.

On Thursday, she returned to Hogwarts and was greeted again by Professor Nichols. "Ms. King" Professor Nichols beamed at her, seeming very happy at her sight. "So good to see you once again. Why don't you follow me? Headmaster Dippet is most excited to meet you in person." Hermione attributed the Professor's change of demeanor at her arrival due to her test results. Well, at least I know she likes me already because I'm smart- Hermione thought.

"What subject do you teach Professor?" Hermione wondered aloud.

"Arithmancy, dear."

"My favorite subject." Hermione replied. The professor was gleaming with pride.

"Here we are" Professor Nichols said, waiting outside the gargoyle to the Headmaster's office entrance.

"Professor, I think I can find my way back to the carriage."

"Very well. If all goes well, we should hope to see you on first of September Ms. King" the Professor nodded and with "Tortoise Turtle," she left leaving Hermione.
Hermione stepped onto the moving gargoyle.

"Ms. King. How wonderful it is to finally meet you. I've heard so many wonderful things about your tests from the professors." Headmaster Dippet greeted her. He seemed to be indeed very happy with her.

"Thank you Headmaster. I hope my results were satisfactory." Hermione said smiling. She missed this. She missed the simplicity of this life. But before she could reminisce, she remembered why she was there: to kill Tom Riddle.

"They were very, very outstanding Ms. King." Headmaster Dippet began. "They were so outstanding that you might have just been a Head Girl if you had been a student here at Hogwarts. Nonetheless, you only missed about twelve questions which is very good indeed. Professors are very excited to have you join your fellow classmates."

"Thank you Professor. I'm so very excited" Hermione said, acting surprised at the news.

"Here is your Hogwarts letter which contains everything that you will need for this upcoming year."

Dippet said handing her the sealed envelope, "you will of course arrive with the first years and you will be sorted with them as well on September 1st." Hermione was hoping that she would be sorted by herself considering the circumstances however, her plan was going well enough that she didn't mind this hinge. She knew that she'll be sorted into Gryffindor House anyways so it was only a matter of time before everyone else knew this information.

Hermione spent the rest of her days in Diagon Alley buying her supplies, books and clothes for the upcoming year. She was fortunate enough that she had emptied almost half of her Gringotts bank contents in her shrinkable bag during the last days when she was running away hiding.

As the days near, she grew more and more confident that her plan to kill Tom Riddle was go as planned. She wasn't sure as to the when and how of she would kill him but she knew instinctively that his demise would be at her hands.