Hermione listened intently to Dumbledore's explanations. Unlike Harry and Ron, she had always been interested in the theory behind Transfiguration spells, and she always found that she could learn a lot of new things here in the past. Of course, it did not actually matter what she learned here, but if she wanted to repeat time travel perfectly, it was necessary for her to finish at the top of her year. And for that she had to study and be attentive in class. Tom next to her did the same. When a teacher spoke whom he trusted to have something new to tell, Tom was indeed quiet and focused, even if it was the hated Professor Dumbledore.
"As homework for next week, you will summarise the content of this lesson in your own words," Dumbledore said just as he paced the rows, "I am aware that we have done a lot of talking and very little magic over the last two weeks. But before we can get into the deeper transformation magic, I need to make sure you understand the theory. There are various books in our library on today's subject. If you have been paying attention, it will be easy for you to find at least three different ones. I expect three rolls of parchment in which you write down my words as well as contents from at least three different sources. You will only achieve an O if you are able to weigh the different arguments and take an independent stance."
Eagerly, Hermione jotted down the instructions on her parchment. She was not aware of it, but her eyes lit up. She missed homework like this in her Hogwarts days. Very few teachers still trusted their students to use the library and its books on their own. She was already looking forward to spending Saturday morning in the library.
"You won't make yourself more popular with your housemates if you display your enthusiasm about such a homework assignment so openly," Tom suddenly whispered to her.
Snorting, she stuffed her books into her bag. "It's too late for that by now anyway. Thanks in no small part to you."
A grin appeared on his face. "Not everyone can have my natural talent with people, love. And you were the one who openly declared war on me right at the start. That my friends would rush to my aid shouldn't surprise anyone."
Hermione raised both eyebrows. "Of course, that's one way of putting it."
Tom offered her his arm and as was now customary, she took it without hesitation. Their interactions when other people were around took on a surprisingly normal appearance. They were probably what a perfect couple should be at this time: he was by her side at all times, they chatted amiably and with obvious familiarity, but never showed excessive attraction or even intimacy. It was so simple. No one seemed to doubt their relationship. Inwardly, Hermione could only shake her head at this. How blind did the other students have to be that even she, a Gryffindor at heart, could lie and pretend so effortlessly?
"It's ridiculous, isn't it?"
Surprised, Hermione looked up at Tom. "What are you talking about?"
Unperturbed, he looked straight ahead as he replied, "I could feel your suppressed giggle. You're amused at how blind everyone here is to what's really going on around them. Blind to you and me."
Pouting, she pursed her mouth. "It's a bad habit of yours that you keep reading my mind, Tom. I'm going to have to ask you to stop doing that."
Now it was up to him to stop a laugh. "Oh, my dear, if I could read minds, things would already be very different. But, as fate would have it, I haven't got very far with that yet."
Hermione's grip on Tom's arm tightened. Why had she never seriously considered his talents in Legilimency before? He was not known in her time as the greatest Legilimens in history for nothing. She had been there herself when he exploited his special connection with Harry to send him false dreams and visions using Legilimency.
More quietly, so that other students in the corridor could not hear her, she huffed, "I would have expected you to already be a master. Someone like you could use that ability, couldn't you?"
She felt Tom tense up too. "Believe me, Hermione, I've already mastered Legilimency and I'm good. But I'm not good enough yet. More has to be possible than what I can do so far. It just has to be possible."
Taking a deep breath, she said, "But you just said you can't read minds?"
"First of all," he rebuked her sharply, not breaking his stride, "Legilimency is not mind reading. Someone like you should not make such a mistake. And secondly - I know Legilimency. But to really see something, to really get into the minds of others, I still need my wand. I can read slight emotions, tell if someone is outright lying if I want to, I don't need a wand for that. But if I want more ..."
They arrived at the Charms classroom. Hermione stopped and let go of Tom's arm. They still had a short moment before their teacher would arrive. Her hands clutched the strap of her school bag as she spoke out what had been on the tip of her tongue for a few moments, "Then why haven't you ever used it on me before?"
Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Tom leaned against the wall. "Too risky. Like I said, I'm not good enough yet. I've ... tested it. It's still possible for others to just fling me out of their minds if they're just strong-willed enough. And when that happens, it can easily happen that I allow them glimpses into my mind. I can't let that happen, even for a split second. And with a gifted witch like you, the chances of you resisting me are high."
Thoughtfully, Hermione tilted her head. What he was saying sounded logical. Even Harry, who had absolutely no talent for Occlumency, had once managed to push Snape out of his mind and reverse the spell. And Snape was, after all, very talented in both Legilimency and Occlumency. If Tom spoke the truth, that he was not ready, she could understand his hesitation. However, she certainly would not let on that she herself was an easy victim. Back when Moody - or rather, Crouch junior - had tried the Imperius Curse on them, she had not been able to resist him, not for a second.
"Fortunately, I don't need Legilimency to see inside your head," she declared with a grin, placing a hand on Tom's chest.
Surprised, he straightened. "Excuse me?"
Mischievously, she winked at him. "Everything I need to know about you, you tell me of your own free will. It's better than any Legilimency."
Warmly, his hand settled on hers. "That is indeed true. What secrets should I keep from my beloved?"
"Or me from you?" returned Hermione's question. They both smiled at each other, looking firmly into each other's eyes without blinking. Both knew they were playing a game here, knew the other was lying and had more than one secret. And both knew that the other knew that. But that was not the point here.
This brief moment when they both understood each other, however, did not last long. Their professor appeared and shooed them into the classroom, cutting off any further conversation. But it did not matter to Hermione that they were interrupted. She gained infinitely valuable information that she would later incorporate into all the knowledge she now had about Tom. Perhaps she could gain something from her new knowledge.
oOoOoOo
Rufus sat bored in the chair at Tom's desk. It had been a long time since he had been called in alone, lately he seemed to have only ever been interested in the young Black. Not that he really minded. He knew that Tom and he shared something that set him apart from the others: intelligence. The others in their little conspiratorial group might be more loyal and ambitious, but they definitely lacked intelligence. Accordingly, he was not worried about ever sinking in Tom's esteem.
"Impatient?"
Surprised, he looked over at Tom, who addressed him out of nowhere. Then he followed the latter's gaze and saw that he unwittingly started drumming his fingers on the tabletop. Momentarily he stopped. It was an annoying habit that always came to light when he was tense. Was he tense? He had no reason to be.
"No," he replied simply. Tom looked straight at him, but he stood his ground. Tom might be an intelligent, powerful wizard with important ancestors, but Rufus would never grovel in the dust before him. He had his pride.
"Ah, Rufus," Tom muttered, shutting his book closed. "Always unimpressed with everything, eh?"
"I'm sorry I'm not impressed watching you read a book in bed," he returned dryly. He was sure this power play worked on others, but not on him. Not on him. He was a Lestrange. A Lestrange kept his pride in every situation. A Lestrange did not let games upset him.
"You're so refreshingly different," Tom said as he slowly sat up in bed, "Always have been. That's what I appreciate about you."
"Thank you."
Still, they gazed at each other and still Rufus was unwilling to lower his gaze. Slowly it dawned on him why he was here. Tom had not forgotten that the last time they met he had spoken out of turn. He had immediately shown him then how little he appreciated that behaviour. Apparently, to this day, he did not believe Rufus would really defer to him. That was good. Because he would not. He would support him, but never follow him blindly and uncritically.
"So," Tom finally broke the silence and leaned forward, "What are your plans after Hogwarts?"
Rufus raised his eyebrows in surprise. The question was unexpected. But if Tom thought he could throw him off balance with it, he was wrong. His future had been decided long ago. "I'm going to the Ministry. Probably in the legal department."
Tom nodded. "That's the fastest place to climb the career ladder."
He was right, but Rufus was not willing to admit this motivation so openly. "Possibly. Most importantly, that's where you have the most influence on the laws in our country."
"But you don't make much money in that branch," Tom pointed out.
Rufus tilted his head suspiciously. What was he getting at? The Lestrange family had never been known for their wealth, yet they had always been an influential family. Precisely because they sat in central positions of power. That was far more valuable than mere money.
"Money isn't everything," he replied simply.
A smile came to Tom's lips. A smile Rufus knew only too well. He felt a chill.
"Of course, you're absolutely right. Money isn't everything. Money can't buy the most important things in the world, am I right? Friendship. Love. That can't be bought. Money is only valued by those who don't have such noble motives," Tom agreed with him. He was still smiling, but his tone spoke a language all on its own.
Rufus swallowed. Was Tom threatening him right now? Trying not to let his nervousness show, he joked, "You're not exactly blessed with wealth yourself."
Tom's smile widened. "Oh absolutely, I'm not. But I have what money can't buy: Friends. Real friends. Loyal friends. Like Abraxas, for example. We all know that little comes close to the wealth of the Malfoy family... At most, the wealth of the Black family. How fortunate that Orion is also such a really, really good friend of mine."
He actually threatened him. Tensely, Rufus licked his lips. "It's nice to have good friends. Especially in politics, it's worth a lot if your family can count on loyal allies. And you want to be in politics, don't you?"
"Ah, yes, loyal allies. That kind of thing is so hard to find in politics. Far too many politicians who have anything to say have only got to their positions because they have not been loyal. Some could even be called corrupt. It's a ghastly notion when loyalty can just be bought with money, don't you think?"
He could only stare at him open-mouthed. Tom had never been so clear before. And there was nothing he could do to counter that, because Tom was right. No one in the Lestrange family could compete with the wealth coupled with the influence of the Malfoys. And Abraxas was indeed a blind follower. Trembling, he bowed his head.
He was a Lestrange. A Lestrange was proud. Bowed to no one. The Lestrange family had always got on well with the Malfoy family - precisely because they did not want the Malfoys' wealth against them. He had grown up with Abraxas, had befriended him after his parents' wishes to continue that tradition.
And now Tom was getting in his way. Tom Riddle, a gifted wizard who seemed insignificant to many, even though he was Head Boy. If he himself had not known who Tom really was, he probably would have thought to this day that he had all the power in the world to destroy the friendship between Abraxas and Tom once they were out of school. But there was more than friendship between them.
Tom Riddle was the Heir of Slytherin. Nothing Rufus could say would ever convince Abraxas to turn his back on Tom.
Powerlessly, he slumped his shoulders. For the moment, Tom had won. He would not concede defeat, he would do everything he could to find a way out of this dilemma. But if he found nothing, if all avenues remained blocked ...
He would not sacrifice the political influence of the Lestrange family to his personal pride. If he had to grovel before Tom to continue the family tradition, he would not sacrifice his family.
"Ah, what a lovely evening, isn't it?" Tom stated blithely, "I won't keep you any longer."
Quickly Rufus rose, bowed curtly and then walked away with determined steps. He would not admit defeat so quickly. Tom had threatened him, plainly and bluntly. He would pay for that.