I stormed off to Headmaster Dippets office, bitterness and rage clouding my thoughts. I couldn't get Tom's wickedly amused face out of my head. Whether I turned right or left he was there taunting me beyond endurance. I was sick of it. I stood panting outside of the office entrance, the weight of the situation crashing down on my shoulders.

I was in trouble. I had spoken back to a teacher. I had defied school rules... But at the same time I didn't give a damn, somehow. Or rather, I couldn't muster the energy nor the emotions to do so.

Of course, I had long since learnt that school rules weren't as important as I had always made them out to be. I walked up the spiral staircase that I had grown to love, feeling more confident as I climbed each step. I knew what I was doing. I wasn't in the wrong here. Was I?

I knocked twice on the large ornate door, anxiety starting to rear its ugly head only cutting off as the anger resurfaced again.

"Come in." Dippets merry voice invited.

I turned the door handle, stepping into the cosy room. I looked around bitterly, noticing how different the place looked without Dumbledore's furnishings and ornaments adding that sentiment, that characteristic touch I had come to love.

And then I noticed someone sitting on the seat opposite Headmaster Dippet. Professor Dumbledore himself.

"Miss Granger." Dumbledore said, turning to face me. He was smiling. "You've chosen your timing well. The Headmaster and I were just discussing the situation between yourself and Mr Riddle."

"You were?" I approached, taking a seat on a plush armchair on Dumbledores left. "Have you reached a conclusion yet?" I asked boldly.

"Not as of now." Headmaster Dippet answered me. "Professor Flitwick has already, very kindly, filled us in on what has happened. But I think that we will need to hear from you what your perspective regarding all of this is. But firstly, I will offer you a drink. I really have quite a few bottles of Butterbeer from Rosmerta that I am keen to do away with."

"Considering the circumstances I'm not going to say no." I said. Dumbledore chuckled as Dippet placed a bottle before me.

"Now." Headmaster Dippet leant towards me, his hands clasped together. "What has happened between yourself and Tom? Is there anything you'd like to add? You do of course have awareness of the rules of this School, and if I am being honest with you I am very surprised to see you here."

"Its funny you should say that." I said, trying not to let any of the bitterness i was feeling creep into my voice, "Because I believe the situation has been ridiculously blown out of proportion. Tom Riddle should be the one getting questioned here. Not me."

"And why do you say that?" Dippet asked lightly.

"Well." I said calmly. "He is a bully. And a very undermined one at that."

"But you do understand that it is not only Tom that is at fault here." Dippet told me. "You have mocked him-"

"Only because he was provoking me!" I said indignantly.

"About what, exactly?" Dippet raised an eyebrow.

I felt my face turn red.

"Tom was... making sexual jokes regarding me. That was what pushed me over the edge. He was laughing about me with his friends."

"Professor Dumbledore." Headmaster Dippet gave the other a significant look, "Please can you get Tom from his class and bring him here."

"I can do it." I said at once. "I mean, I have to go back anyway."

"An excellent idea." Dumbledore said. "I have many errands which require a wizard of my, forgive me in saying so, shockingly rare magical ability."

"Albus, my dear friend," Dippet said warmly, "Before you leave I will thank you for appealing Miss Granger's situation.

I will consider what you have told me regarding Tom as well."

"The pleasure has been solely mine." Professor Dumbledore stood, inclining his head to the Headmaster.

Within moments he had left, and I stood at once.

"One moment Miss Granger. I understand you are somewhat desperate to impart my request to Mr Riddle, however I will let you know this much. I have discussed the situation quite thoroughly with Professor Dumbledore, and we have both agreed that an evening detention with your Head of House Professor Slughorn will suffice. Consider yourself let off lightly. Next time you will find I will not be so lenient."

I bit my tongue. I didn't think I had done anything wrong at all, but I knew that my word didn't really mean anything. Especially considering it was everyone's favourite student that I had fought with. Tom certainly had an untarnished reputation within Hogwarts. Only I and a few others knew his real character. But that wasn't going to help me now.

I fought for patience as I endured a small talk about School rules with Dippet, all of which I could remember off by heart and recited quickly very much to his astonishment.

I was soon dismissed. I knew how to impress when I needed to. Another thing I had in common with Tom...

I took to the spiral staircase quickly, eager to be the one to tell Tom that he was next in line to speak to the Headmaster. I had to admit I was very much looking forward to seeing Tom get in trouble.

I reached the class completely out of breath. Through the glass of the closed door I could see Tom standing before the class, appearing by the looks of things to be quite satisfied about something.

I entered the room, Tom catching my eye immediately.

"Tom." I said loudly before the class. "I've been asked by the Headmaster to let you know you have to meet with him in his office. He is extremely displeased with you."

That obviously was an exaggeration, Dippet was mildly annoyed at best. But in the spur of the moment I wanted to milk the situation for what it was worth. I mean, how often did I get to have one up on Tom? Never.

"Excuse me, Professor Flitwick." Tom put down a pile of papers he was holding onto a desk before him.

"What's there to be excused for?" I heard myself say aloud. "You havent left the class yet."

The class fell deathly silent, and Tom's eyes narrowed, the intensity of his look burning me from across the room.

"Did the Headmaster really say that?" He asked me. "Did he really ask for me?"

"Are you suggesting that I'm a liar?" My voice rose an octave.

"I am sure Hermione wouldn't dare lie before an entire class." Xavier Malfoy defended me, much to my surprise.

"Adding to that," I said heatedly, "I think we both know who the real troublemaker is here."

"Miss Granger." Professor Flitwick squeaked. "If you have anything you wish to say to anyone in this room, then I suggest you tell them directly. Not in front of the class like a spectacle!"

"I couldn't agree more." Tom commented, his face livid.

"I understand, Professor. However I have nothing left to say. That was it."

"Well I have questions." Tom said, speaking up. "When exactly does Dippet want me in his office?" He asked. His voice was light, but there was a heavy note of danger and irritation hinted in every word he spoke.

"When?" I repeatedly sweetly. "Now."

Tom, who already had his bag slung over his shoulder made to walk past me. Before he left he paused for the briefest moment, turning to look at me dead in the eye.

"This game that you're playing." He growled, "I will win." He pushed past me, elbowing the door open with enough force to have it slam behind him once he'd left.

"Now, really!" Professor Flitwick spluttered.

Beaming, I sat down in my usual seat opening my bag and pulling out my Charms book.

"There will be no need for that, Miss Granger." Flitwick told me.

"But Sir," I said, "There's still half an hour left of class. I've just about finished the assigned questions you gave us." A few murmurs rent the class. Because I was Slytherin no one dared to mock me for being miles ahead of anyone else academically. And to my surprise, no one from Slytherin did either. This was probably the only time this had ever happened to me. It felt nice for a change, to not be picked on.

"For the others there is. However not for you. Because you have wasted my time in class today, I'm going to take your time off you. Instead of finishing the other questions on the board, you can finish them outside of class for homework."

"Brutal." I muttered. "It's easy as hell, anyway."

"What was that?" Flitwick raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, nothing..." I bent down over my open book.

"She said that was easy." I looked up. Leaning in the doorway stood Tom Riddle. He wasn't smirking but he might as well have been, that arrogant look plastered all over his face. He wasn't even looking at me, the bastard.

"Tom." Flitwick said in astonishment. "That didn't take long."

"The Headmaster saw no need to interrogate me. Apparently the trouble has already been taken care of." He gave a rather pointed look at me but I was too busy trying to piece the puzzle together.

How on earth did he leave the Headmasters office so quickly? Did he even go at all? I clenched my fists beneath my desk, surprised steam wasn't coming out of my ears.

Flitwick looked at Tom. "Well then. I am happy that it is sorted. Take a seat, Tom." He told him with a tad too much fondness for my liking before turning to me. "And as for you, Miss Granger." He said, the warm glint in his eye apparently deceased, "Every bonus question at the back of the book will suffice. That will be roughly two pages of parchment. Since you clearly like a challenge."

"I do like a challenge."

What the hell was wrong with me? I couldn't shut off my argumentative inner dialogue, apparently.

"Is that so?" Flitwick didn't miss a beat. "In that case I expect you to return the questions to me before breakfast tomorrow morning."

Tom didn't hide his evident amusement. Walking over to his desk he sat down. He looked at me and said something too quiet for me to hear but everyone within earshot exploded into laughter, looking at me. I hunched over my book, trying to think of something to calm me down. Rainbows? Sunsets? But nothing could stop the months worth of built up rage burning through me.

I stood up. Tom's eyes found me, narrowing in confusion. Of course he could insult me openly, and joke about me to members of the class, but I couldn't physically stomach it. I grabbed my bag and stormed out of the room. This class was over.