Hermione's POV

It's been weird since my run in with Tom two weeks ago. Though I never agreed to study with him. He always turned up when I was studying in the library alone. He just studied silently beside me, so I ignored him to the best of my ability. Which wasn't easy as he seemed to love invading my personal space.

"That's in accurate" he tells me looking over my shoulder at my essay on the patronus charm.

"What do you mean?" I ask him.

"There is another dark creature you can use the Patronus Charm on" he tells me.

"What do you mean? I've only heard of it being used on a dementor or a boggart that has taken the form of a dementor" I state confused. He smirks.

"So I know something you don't know?" he asks

"Are you going to tell me or gloat some more?" I ask him bored.

"Wait here" he tells me and left. I roll my eyes and get back to my essay. No way he knows something I don't. Soon an open book is placed in front of me.

"A lethifold?" I say curious. I'd never heard of that dark creature before. I pull the book towards me and read it:

The Lethifold resembled a black cloak roughly half an inch thick, and appeared slightly thicker if the creature had recently digested a victim. It glided along surfaces in an unknown form of locomotion in search of its prey, humans. It attacked at night, when the target was asleep, by suffocating and then digesting them.

The only known effective method of protection against a Lethifold was by using the Patronus Charm. Similar to that of a Dementor, as discovered by Flavius Belby, the only known survivor of a Lethifold attack. Other spells, such as the stunning spell, or the impediment jinx would not work.

"See, I was right" Tom states with a victory smile.

"Yes, you were" I admit begrudgingly.

"You're welcome" he tells me. I grab a blank piece of parchment to rewrite my essay. "Aren't you going to thank me?" he asks with a smirk.

"Depend, did you steal this book from the restricted section?" I ask him.

"Actually I borrowed it for my own essay. As prefect and top in our year. I am allowed to burrow books from the restricted section without a teachers note" he states. Bragging. "You can borrow it from me if you like" he tells me.

"What do you want in return?" I ask him.

"Only for us to study together properly, bouncing ideas off of each other and comparing notes" he states.

"Yo Granger, Dumbledore wishes to see you" Septimus Weasley states interrupting our conversation.

"We were having a conversation Weasley" Tom sneers.

"Does it look like I care?" he asks him. "Anyway in his office after lunch Granger" he tells me before leaving. I look at the time and see it's lunch time. I pack up my things. Leaving Riddle's book on the table.

"You're not going to borrow it?" he asks me.

"Already learnt all I needed from it, but thanks" I tell him and left the library. I go to the great hall and sit at my table. Greeting my friends and we start to eat.

"See you were with Riddle again" Zachary states.

"We studied together" I state. They share a look. "What?" I ask them.

"Are you and Riddle dating?" Millicent asks me and I look at her shocked. "It's just you've be inseparable these last two weeks. And Pomona saw you exit a broom closest with him two weeks ago" she states.

"Nothing is going on with Riddle and I" I state. "He'd never like me, ever" I tell them.

"Why not?" Jeremy asks.

"You're smart, talented and easy on the eyes. You seem to be his type" Zachary states.

"Trust me, I am not his type" I tell them.

"You sound so sure" Millicent states.

"Because I am" I tell her. "Anyway, I gotta go" I state finishing lunch. I grab my book bag and leave the great hall. I arrive at Dumbledore's office and knock. The door opens and I enter it. "Please tell me you've had luck in getting home?" I ask as I sit down in front of Dumbledore.

"Not yet" he states. "I thought we could talk about Riddle" he states. Placing charms around the office, so that we won't be over heard.

"What about him?" I ask confused.

"Miss Granger, the day we meet I looked into your mind. Only a quick glimpse. It's how I knew you didn't come here of your own free will and were not a threat to the students" he explains. "But I wonder why Voldemort had you sent back to this time" he muses.

"Probably hoped the heir of slytherin would find out I'm muggle born. And set his or her monster on me" I grumble.

"That may of been his reason, but I see it as an opportunity" he states.

"An opportunity sir?" I ask confused.

"I've noticed that Tom seems to of taken quiet a shine to you" he states.

"Not you too" I grumble. "He doesn't like me" I tell him.

"Did you know he was conceived under the effects of a love potion?" he asks me.

"No, but what does that matter?" I ask him confused.

"Tom is unable to feel love is because he was conceived under the influence of a love potion. At least that was Hector's view on the subject of babies conceived by love potions. I however have another theory" he tells me.

"What theory Professor?" I ask curious.

"I think those conceived under the influence of a love potion. Don't understand emotions, but with time, patience and love. Can be taught to understand them" he states.

"What's this got to do with me?" I ask him confused.

"I've never seen Tom show any interest in a girl before" he tells me. "Until you arrived" he states.

"But sir, you've seen a snip bit of my memories. You know what Riddle will become. Why would me being here change that?" I ask him.

"I think if Tom can learn to love, he can be saved from becoming Voldemort" he states. "I believe you are the key to him learning to love" he tells me. And I laugh.

"Tom Riddle would never fall for me. I'm a mud-blood to him, remember" I remind him.

"Not here, he and everyone aside from me. Believe you to be a half-blood" he states. "Have you not notice how he longs to be around you? How he's always watching you from a far?" he asks me. I shake my head. "Miss Granger, I am going to ask you a question and I want an honest answer" he tells me.

"Always Professor" I tell him.

"If you didn't know what Tom would become, would you not be developing feelings for him?" he asks me.

"Isn't that mute, I know what he becomes" I tell him.

"But if you didn't. Do you not find him attractive? He's smart, handsome" he states.

"He is" I admit. "But how can I even think of dating him. When I know he'll become a worse evil then Grindelwald?" I ask him. "I just want to go home" I tell him.

"But think of everyone you could save, if you could prevent him from becoming Voldemort. You could save hundreds or lives" he tells me. I go to protest and stop thinking about it. He's right. Harry could grow up with his parents. Mrs Weasley wouldn't of lost her brothers or Mr Weasley his. Sirius would of never of gone to Azkaban. I could save so many lives.

"I understand this is a lot of pressure for you Miss Granger. Be assured I'll continue to try find a way to return you to your time. But until then, get to know Tom and see where it leads" he tells me.

"I'll try" I tell him and he smiles. "Was that all Professor?" I ask him.

"Yes, Miss Granger" he tells me. I nod and left the office. I go back to the library to finish my essay on the patronus charm.

"What did Dumbledore want?" Tom asks startling me.

"Honestly Riddle" I mutter. "If you must know, he wanted to see how I was settling in" I state.

"Shouldn't your head of house be seeing you about that?" he asks me.

"I don't know Riddle, maybe she asked him to talk to me" I tell him. "Can you be quiet? I have to finish this essay" I state. He stays silent and I continue my essay. I soon complete it and bottle the ink. Drying the parchment with a charm. Before putting it in my bag.

"Granger, there's another Hogsmeade visit coming up. What to go with me?" he asks me. I wanted to refuse, then remember my talk with Dumbledore.

"Sure, but I'm meeting my friends for lunch" I tell him.

"Great, see you in the entrance hall Saturday morning after breakfast" he tells me. I nod and we went our separate ways. I put my stuff in my dorm and decide to go visit my owl. As I hadn't seen him since I got him on my birthday. Maybe I can write a letter to Hector and his mum while I'm there. Thank them for the gifts.