Can't run from time

The days that followed Hermione's release from the hospital wing were strangely routine, filled with lessons and solitary hours spent in the library. Tom Riddle seemed to be ignoring her, a fact that oddly left Hermione with a sense of unease she couldn't quite explain. She found herself silently hoping for his attention, even though it conflicted with her better judgment.

One morning at breakfast, Hermione noticed Tom's absence. Intentionally she chose to sit next to Abraxas Malfoy, who ironically proved to be decent company, compared to the rest of Slytherin. As she picked at her French toast, she overheard a conversation among the Slytherin boys next to her.

"There's a meeting this weekend in the woods – pass it on," one of them said to Abraxas.Hermione's ears perked up at the mention of a meeting. Could it be a Death Eater gathering? The thought sent a shiver down her spine. She knew she had to find out what they were up to. If her plan to stop Tom from creating more Horcruxes was to succeed, she needed to act quickly. 

She hadn't even confirmed whether Tom had already made some Horcruxes, as she wasn't as close to him as she hoped to be. Determined, she realized she needed to try harder – for Harry, and for Ron... 

Her heart ached thinking of Ron. I will save them. I'll do anything 

Hermione decided to abandon her food and seek out Tom. She found him in the library, absorbed in his studies. A conflicted thought crossed her mind – if he wasn't such a psychopath, she might have liked him. But she quickly dismissed the notion. No, Hermione, what are you thinking? 

"Do you need anything?" he asked, looking up as she approached.

"No, I just wanted to talk to you," Hermione replied, taking a seat next to him.

Tom scrutinized her for a moment, and an involuntary blush spread across her face. "What do you want to talk about, or are you just gonna stare at my pretty face?" he smirked.

"I was just wondering," Hermione began, ignoring his previous comment. She took a deep breath"if you knew how to actually make a Horcrux."

Tom's expression shifted, his playful face turned stone, dead serious. "You want to make one?" he inquired, his eyes narrowing.

"Well, yes," she replied cautiously. "And I was wondering if perhaps you had seen a book on how to. After all, as much as it pains me to say it, you are an expert in dark arts."

"My, my, Granger. You keep getting more and more interesting, don't you?" Tom said with a smirk. "Meet me in the Head Boy's room at 4 o'clock. Don't be late."

With that, he got up, shot her one more smirk, spun around, and left. Hermione's mind raced.

 She needed to get closer to Tom, even if it meant compromising her own principles. She would do anything and everything. whatever it takes.

__________ TIME SKIP TO  3:45_______________

Hermione decided to learn some appearance spells while she waited to go to Tom's room. She adjusted her hair and even decided to put on makeup, trying to embody the image of someone who could possibly be Tom Riddle's best friend. The very idea made her feel sick. Glancing at herself in the mirror in the girls' bathroom, she sighed. She couldn't compete with the likes of Pansy Parkinson or even Ginny Weasley in terms of looks, but this would have to do.

As she prepared herself, she could feel her heart racing and butterflies swirling in her stomach. The prospect of being alone with Tom in his room filled her with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Slowly, she walked up the enchanted stairs to the head corridor and politely informed the portrait that she had permission from the Head Boy.

Unfortunately, the portrait insisted on the password. Conveniently, the head from Ravenclaw walked out, allowing Hermione to slip into the common room. The Ravenclaw head girl completely ignored her, adding to Hermione's growing frustration with the rudeness of people in this time.

The common room was a cozy blend of blue and green, with Slytherin and Ravenclaw banners hanging across the room. There were leather sofas by the fireplace and overall it was very cosy. She looked at the staircase with two doors—one leading to Tom's room and the other to the head girl's. Knocking on the first door and receiving no reply, she assumed it was the head girl's room. That meant the other was Toms... she felt a wave of nausea. What was she thinking?

Descending the stairs, she heard a door open behind her. "Granger!" Tom's voice called out. Panicking, she spun around, offering him a fake smile. "Hi, Tom," she replied, walking back up to his room.

"You look..." he paused, and Hermione wondered if she was imagining a faint blush on his face. Then, he said, "Oh, you got all dressed up for me, Hermione." he teased

"Stop flattering yourself," she retorted before inviting herself into his room. his room was terribly organised and reflected her in someway. Back at home all the boys room were like pigsty's. The walls were a beautiful shade of green with a little silver versions of golden snitches decorating it. The bed was well-made and she somehow felt more comfortable.Feeling a bit more at ease she thought about what to talk to him about.

"Sit down," Tom ordered, and she obliged, sitting carefully on his bed. As he joined her, the proximity made Hermione hold her breath.They sat in silence for a while, Tom stared at his hands while Hermione studied him, taking in every detail. It was his eyes that fascinated her the most – his face was always emotionless but his eyes- she could sometimes see a hint of confusion or vulnerability. This convinced her he was human...

Breaking the silence, she spoke in a voice almost like a whisper, "Tom, why did you save me?" This question had been bugging her  ever since that night and she looked at him intently for the answer. His eyes met hers, locking in a shared gaze.

"What do you mean?" he replied gruffly, though it was evident he understood her question."Even if you don't want to admit what you did, I just wanted to thank you," she said softly, her hand reaching out to touch his. "I honestly don't know what you mean," he replied, looking down again.

 Hermione rested her hand on his lap. "I mean it... thank you. You really do fascinate me, Tom," she confessed. His gaze met hers gain, and for a moment, they seemed to have a connection that she couldn't explain. 

Suddenly, he got off the bed. "I'm going to get a book about the Horcruxes. Wait here," he said in a soft voice that was extremely unlike his,  before leaving her alone with her swirling thoughts.