Chapter 5

The following hour was spent in total silence, except for the cups of tea. Tom watched Hermione digests everything he had said, in the silence he also pulled some books to add to his arguments relating to the wizarding world history.

She kept drinking her tea, and read a bit from the books put in front of her while she considered everything.

While the absolute silence wasn't too stifling, Tom felt antsy and was about to say something when the Floo in the sitting room chimed and Severus Snape stepped out.

Severus was glad to finally have a moment to leave Grimmauld Place and Albus' twinkling fucking eyes. He was expecting Tom to be alone and stepped out of the floo unconcerned, dusting the ash away from his robes without looking up.

Hermione was startled from her reading, to see Professor Snape in the room, looking quite cozy and was very much frozen.

Tom rolled his eyes and cleared his throat, "Severus, nice of you to join us, how is everything?"

Severus looked up when he heard "us" and was left feeling flabbergasted, what was Granger doing here of all places? Before he could stop himself and consider the situation he simply blurted out: "Granger?" in a very not calm way.

Hermione had no idea what was happening and just replied: "It's Riddle actually." in a matter of fact tone.

"What the fuck."

The next 30 minutes were spent with a lengthy explanation as to why Hermione Granger, no Riddle, Severus corrected himself mentally, was here and was having tea with the Dark Lord.

"Are you planning on coming out as Hermione Riddle then? And dropping the glamour?" Severus asked at the end.

Hermione looked at her father with panic clearly written all over her face.

"Well, that is ultimately her decision. I would be very pleased if she did, but now might not be quite the right time. Next year will be decisive. We need to take down Albus, his reputation needs to be dealt with if we want to do anything. The man has way too much power it's ridiculous. Headmaster, Chief Warlock and the ICW? Talk about overachiever." Tom mused out loud, and continued "However, I will take down the glamour, and tie it in a small piece of jewellery, likely a discrete necklace. That way, she can come out to a trusted few and have key people to help while at Hogwarts."

"Who?" Hermione asked immediately, "Professor Snape I get, it's too late anyway, and I'm assuming the whole spying for Professor Dumbledore is a big fat lie. But who else is there at Hogwarts?"

Tom considered his next words carefully, "You'd be surprised actually. The whole Dark Lord and his death eaters is a well crafted horror story, and really bad pun might I add. Voldemort too is such a lame name, I'm not French, what would I ever use a French play on words? Thief of death..." Tom rolled his eyes but collected himself "Anyway, in the staff, Professor Flitwick is a trusted ally, as is Professor Vector. The students however, well there's a few children of trusted allies, like Draco Malfoy but he's a volatile little shit so I'm not telling him anything." Tom added with a scowl.

"The Patil twins, the Ravenclaw one especially, would be a good confident for you, her father has been with me for a very long time. No one comes to mind in Gryffondor that hasn't already graduated, Susan Bones in Hufflepuff is fine as her aunt has been a trusted ally in the DLME for a long time and is working on our long-term plan for overhauling the ministry.

Slytherin is complicated, the sane ones have mostly all graduated now, although Theodore Nott should be okay." He nodded to himself.

The conversation continued, plans were made to meet some key people before the beginning of the year but Hermione kept getting stuck on the Gryffondors who had already graduated, wondering who they were.

Finally, she simply asked.

"Well, Oliver Wood, although he's quite busy in professional Quidditch right now to be very useful.

I've also been trying to get Remus Lupin onside but Severus has been most uncooperative on the matter." Tom added with a glare to Professor Snape.

Severus Snape sniffed "The wolf is useless and completely devoted to Dumbledore, he feels he owes the man everything since he was able to come to Hogwarts. Nevermind no other werewolves have been admitted since, or that they used to be admitted without issues before Dumbledore was made headmaster. The castle has a room built for werewolves on the full moon, complete with runes and wards to keep them in the room and keep them sane and calm but no! Dumbledore decided it was too much effort or something, blocked all access to werewolves, except the son of Lyall Lupin but he put him in a fucking dirty shack alone at 11 instead!" Severus would have kept ranting on the subject, clearly touchy about it but was stopped by the Floo chiming again.

Percy Weasley stepped out, nodded to Professor Snape and Tom Riddle, and promptly froze at the sight of his little brother's best friend.

"PERCY?"