Hermione woke up the next morning on her own terms. It was the second day in a row that Tom had not been there to wake her.
She slipped out of bed and got dressed. It was Sunday which meant no classes and she would be meeting Dippet later. Today would be like any other day except without Tom and when it came time to meet with her great-great grandfather, she would vent. She really needed to vent.
She wasn't mad at Tom for taking the news the way he had. His emotions were delicate and it wasn't easy for him to trust anybody, and she broke that trust. She knew Tom would need lots of time to get over the fact that she lied to him. She was willing to give him that time.
No, she was angry with herself. She should have found a different way to tell him. Better yet, she should have told him sooner.
Hermione stomped her foot in frustration. Why did Tom have to plan a date! Everything would be fine if that stupid date hadn't happened!
She left her room and entered the living room and stopped. Tom was standing across the room from her in front of his door. "Tom." His name left her mouth in a breathy whisper. "Tom," said Hermione just a little bit louder and with more excitement.
Tom didn't even bother to look at her. "I just came to fetch a few of my belongings. I'll be staying in the Slytherin Dungeons again."
"Oh." At least he talked to her. She was expecting him to just blow her off. "I understand," was all she said, unable to hide the disappointment leaking into her voice. Hermione tore her eyes away from him. It would be better to just give him some space and that's exactly what she would do. She made her way to the portrait.
Hermione glanced down the hallway as the portrait sealed shut behind her. It was probably too early for breakfast. Maybe the library would be a good place to hang until it was time for breakfast.
. . . .
The library was not-so-surprisingly empty. Hermione grabbed a random book off of the shelf and sat down.
Normally, during this time, she would be out on the pitch practicing but Fleamont had canceled practice for the day and the rest of the week since winter break was just around the corner.
A loud sigh escaped from her lips. She had planned a surprise for Tom for his birthday but from the looks of things, they will probably still be on 'not-speaking' terms. Why did she have to fall in love with the emotionally unstable boy?
"Hermione."
Hermione glanced up to see a scowling Fleamont. When did Fleamont ever scowl? He was the happy-go-lucky kind of person that rarely ever showed an angry look. "Fleamont?"
He slid into the seat across from hers'. "Why did you break up with Tom." It wasn't a question but more like a demand.
Hermione couldn't help the confused look that covered her face. When did she break up with Tom? Why would she break up with him?
"Don't give me that look," Fleamont's voice was accusing.
Hermione sighed. She placed the book that she had not been reading onto the table. "I didn't break up with him."
"If you didn't break up with him, then why is he upset and heartbroken?" asked Fleamont.
Did Tom really tell him that? Hermione wanted nothing more than to run to Tom right then.
Fleamont continued to stare at her expectantly. She was debating whether or not to tell him when Abraxas slid into the chair beside her.
"Have you asked?" Abraxas asked Fleamont.
Hermione threw her hands up into the air. These two were insufferable. "Yes! And no, I did not break up with Tom!"
Abraxas leaned back into his seat. "I was just asking."
"Sorry," apologized Hermione. "If you two must know, Tom told me he loved me-sort of."
"How is that a sort-of? You either tell someone you love them or you don't." Abraxas nodded along in agreement.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "He invented a locating spell that works on love. He used it to find me before."
"Oh," said Abraxas.
"Cool," said Fleamont. "What's the spell?"
"You have to be in love. It can't find love for you," joked Abraxas in a sarcastic tone.
"I have no problem in that department," Fleamont defended himself.
Their bickering caused laughter to bubble inside of Hermione. Who would have realized that she needed this?
The boys looked at her curiously. "Did we break her?"
Fleamont shook his head. "Let's hope not."
Hermione wiped away the tears from her eyes. "Sorry 'bout that. I really needed that. Thanks." She leaned back into her seat.
"So, did you freak out on the whole love thing?" asked Abraxas, becoming serious once again.
Hermione shook her head. "My heart leaped with joy when he told me. It also broke my heart. I lied to him-to all of you. Tom knew most of my secrets but not this one."
"What was the secret?"
Abraxas shot up from his seat, fully alert. "You said secrets."
Was she really going to do this? Yes and no. They deserved the truth, or as much as she could give them. In fear of messing up the future even more, she left out the details about being from the future. She would leave that up to Tom if he ever wanted to out her.
"In reality, I'm not the headmaster's granddaughter, though I did find out that we are related. In truth, I was a spy sent here to keep an eye out for Tom. What I didn't expect was to fall in love with him."
"You're a spy!" exclaimed Abraxas.
"You're in love with Tom- wait, why would you be sent to spy on Tom?"
Abraxas and Hermione shared a look. "Might as well be the one to tell him," shrugged Abraxas. "That way you won't be the only one Tom will be mad with."
"Tell me what?" asked Fleamont
"Tom Riddle, who likes to call himself Lord Voldemort in private, holds secret meetings and is planning on taking over the ministry. He used to be planning on ridding the world of muggle-borns but changed his mind. Decided they would be more useful as allies."
When Abraxas finished, Fleamont glanced between the two. "Please tell me you are pulling one on me?"
Hermione shook her head. "Nope. Tom is-was a dark wizard." She hoped that was true. She really wanted the dark wizard part of Tom to be in the past.
"Are you a dark wizard?"
"No," said Hermione.
"I feel so confused right now," said Fleamont in a lost tone.
"Welcome to my world," said Abraxas with a serious face.
. . . .
Hermione slid into her usual seat beside Dippet. It had taken all morning to convince Fleamont to keep quiet about knowing Tom's secret. Apparently, finding out that Tom was a dark wizard was enough of a reason for her to break-up with him, which she didn't do. That also left both him and Abraxas flabbergasted. They both couldn't figure out how she fell in love with Tom in the first place. She didn't know the answer to that either, and she knew the full story unlike them.
"You look like you have a lot on your mind, dear," commented Dippet.
"You have no idea." Hermione then told him the events of the last two days. At the end of her recap, he just sat there, absorbed in his thoughts.
Dippet absentmindedly stroked his long, white beard before speaking. "All I can suggest is to give him some time. But do try to talk to him. He needs to know how you feel."
"I know," Hermione sighed in defeat. "Maybe I should give him a couple of days to cool off first?"
Dippet poured her a glass of butter beer. "That might be for the best, just don't wait too long or he'll get the wrong idea."