Tom looked seconds away from killing Corbin, his pale face demonic, contorted in rage. I had to do something.

"Corbin." I said, thinking very quickly, "I'll accompany you to Professor Flitwick's office."

Tom's eyes flashed. "You'll do what, Hermione?" He demanded. His stance, previously relaxed, stiffened imperceptibly. It was crazy how such simple mannerisms stirred a deep fear inside me.

"You fucking imbecile, Hermione." He said dangerously. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Hey man," Corbin interrupted. "Don't talk to her like that."

I grimaced. As much as I commended Corbin for his bravery, this was Tom Riddle, not some average school boy that could be reprimanded easily.

"What is this?"

Tom smiled wickedly, walking toward Corbin slowly. "Do not," He said lowly, "Ever speak to me like that." His smile had vanished within a moment, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Corbin didn't back down. However I stepped forward, putting myself in between the two of them. I was so over this shit.

"Hermione, get out of the way." Tom hissed.

"Hell no. How about you leave Corbin alone, and stop being such an ass!" I exploded.

"Hermione, leave it." Corbin muttered. "Let's get out of here."

"You don't need to tell me twice." I shot Tom a look before turning and walking away, following Corbin up the Hall.

It was beyond my comprehension that Tom didn't pursue us. Corbin and I reached the end of the hall, I several steps behind him, pretending not to be in agony. It was getting easier, perhaps because I was growing increasing more stubborn and I had been through a shit load of pain before.

"What the hell was that?" Corbin dragged a hand through his light brown hair, perplexed.

"Dont ask me." I replied. "Tom Riddle isn't something I could easily explain to anyone."

He is a damn monster I wanted to add, but thought better of it.

"I'm worried about you." Corbin told me, his green eyes serious. "I've heard the rumours about him. He's the most dangerous guy in this School."

"No offence but I really don't need people that don't know a thing about me or what I've been through to be worried about me. I can take care of myself."

"Right." Corbin said. He smiled sadly. "I just think it's devastating that someone like you has to put up with someone like that."

"Someone like me." I repeated. "Tell me, Corbin. What do you know about me?" I turned to him skeptically.

"I've shared almost every class with you for 2 months." Corbin said, staring at me directly. "I suppose I know a few things."

I frowned. I didn't remember seeing him in any of my classes. I suppose that I was too busy being distracted by Tom to notice anyone else.

"I know that you're smart. You get every question right, and know the answers to things the teachers haven't even mentioned yet. You're kind. You help others with their work, although you have no need to."

"A lot of people do that." I dismissed. If that was Corbin's reason to fancy me I was... disappointed.

"I'm not saying I know you." Corbin said quickly. "I'm only asking for the opportunity, if you possibly wanted to... Well, to let me-"

"What are you trying to say?" I demanded.

"I'm asking you, Hermione if you would let me know a bit more about you. I'm intrigued by you. And I know you won't believe me, but I could offer you protection from Tom."

I stared at him with a blank look.

"You can't be serious." I started to laugh. Pretty boy Corbin protect me against Tom?

"I'm not playing, Hermione." Now it was Corbin's turn to be annoyed. "Do you like being so careless with your life?"

I stopped laughing, Corbin's words hitting a little too close to home. "Ok then. How do you think you're going to protect me from Tom?"

"I have a lot of friends." Corbin explained. "I can get them to watch out for you."

"That's not going to work." I said instantly. "Tom will realize what's going on and adjust his schemes accordingly."

"Who said he has to know?" Corbin reasoned. "Only we'd have to know. When Tom has you alone, there's a higher chance of bad things happening to you. But not if there are people looking out for you who can intervene and pull you away."

"Don't these friends of yours have classes to go to?" I thought aloud.

"If you mean the classes we are in, then yes. They are in our classes."

We started to walk up the hall, talking over it all until we reached Professor Flitwicks office, Corbin pulling out the parchment Tom handed him and looking it over.

"Shit." He said. "Tom may be an asshole but he's fucking smart."

I took the parchment from Corbin, looking at line upon line of detailed description of Charms theory. Tom was smart. It certainly didn't help that he was also an evil mastermind. It only made him more terrifying. It was one thing facing an evil idiot, but someone fucked up but highly intelligent was a whole different game altogether.

"What House are you in?" I asked Corbin, realizing I actually had no idea.

"Gryffindor." He replied.

I smiled to myself. Finally, I had made a friend from my original Hogwarts House.

"I have no idea why, though." Corbin mused. "The Sorting Hat seemed dead keen to place me in Ravenclaw."

"The same thing happened to me. The Sorting Hat wanted to put me in Ravenclaw but then decided on Gryffindor."

"But you're in Slytherin, aren't you?" Corbin raised an eyebrow, eyeing my robes.

"Right. I meant to say that." I amended quickly. Shit. I had to be more careful with what the hell came out of my mouth. I took the opportunity to take my Charms questions into Professor Flitwicks office. He wasn't there, so I left them in the centre of his desk. There. He couldn't complain now.

"Let's go." I told Corbin, pulling the office door closed behind me. "I'm going to get my ass kicked if I miss more classes."

"What are you talking about?" Corbin said. "It's lunchtime."

"Is it? Damn." For someone who had come to the past I was surprisingly useless at keeping track of time. Guess I was too busy pretending to the world that I wasn't in pain. I didn't want to think about how I had coughed up blood. Just thinking about it made me panic. I wanted to get it sorted out today, if I could. I thought of making a visit to Madam Pomfrey. If I did, she would know that I was hit with the Cruciatus Curse. I pictured Tom's face when he found out I had succumbed to the desire to end the pain and shook my head. I couldn't do that. He wasn't going to win this time. I was.

We started walking to the Great Hall, and then Corbin turned to face me.

"I've got a different idea." He said to me. "How about we eat outside for a change."

"That sounds great." I said truthfully. "But we don't have any food."

I wasn't interested in Corbin romantically, but I did value having a new friend. And the possibility that he wanted to protect me from Tom provided me more comfort than I could ever admit.

"Imagine a picnic without food." Corbin said. "I'll get some. You meet me out the front by the Lake."

"But what about Tom?" I fretted. "He's probably in there right now."

"So are a large group of teachers." Corbin reassured. I must've still looked doubtful because he smiled. "Hermione. I think I can handle him. I dont have these guns for nothing." He flexed his arms, and I couldn't help but laugh as he walked away. As if Tom Riddle was going to be scared of a tall guy with muscles, though. As far as I was aware, Tom wasn't scared of anything except love.

I walked past the Great Hall. As soon as I was outside I forgot my pain. It was a glorious day, the sun was hanging high in the sky nestled between an array of white clouds. It was warm out here. I trudged over to the Lake, sitting down slowly as if I was three times my own age.

I laid back and closed my eyes, my hand hanging beside the water.

"I wouldn't get too comfortable if I were you." Someone called to me from beneath a nearby tree. "You might provoke the Merpeople."

I sat up, annoyed. Couldn't I have a single moment of peace around here?

"What are you talking about?" I yelled in their general direction. The sun was blindingly bright my eyes couldn't register who the person was beneath the shade of the tree.

"What do you think?" The annoying voice said."Do you know nothing about Merpeople? They get quite aggressive when it's their feeding season. I dont even know why I'm telling you this of all people."

I blinked. It was that Claudia girl that I had caught making out with Tom. I laughed, lying back down. She was obviously trying to upset me. I rolled over on my side away from her, staring into the depths of the sparkling water.

It was so clear, so beautiful. I wished I wasn't in the past so I could take it all in more, I felt like I could stare at it forever. And then the sun caught something gold at least two feet beneath the rippling surface. I leant closer. Sure enough, a golden necklace was sparkling at the bottom of the lake within reaching distance.

Without thinking, without considering what could possibly happen, I plunged my hand into the water, reaching around for the chain. Without warning, something cold and scaly grabbed my hand and tugged. Hard. I screamed as i plunged into the freezing Lake, cold water and what felt like seaweed all around me. I was in the Lake. Something was wrapped around my wrist like a single handcuff. I opened my eyes underwater and screamed again. It was a Merperson, all long and scaly with hair like tentacles. It screamed back at me underwater, turning and tugging me deeper. Fuck. What had I gotten myself into? I fought against the Mermaid as much as I could, but I was struggling to release myself from its grip. My beaded bag with my wand was on land, beside the water where I left it like the idiot I was. I tried to use my foot to kick its hand. Bad move. The Mermaid whipped around, hair fanning in the water, and struck me in the leg with something cold and sharp. A blade.

Pain ricocheted through me. The blade was in deep, I couldn't yank it out.

Just when I was about to give up and relent to my fate the Merperson let me go.

I blinked, struggling to see anything in the water. Why would it suddenly let me go? And then someone's arm snaked around me pulling me up to the surface. I gasped for air, hearing cheers all around me as if I'd just won the damn Quidditch world cup.

I couldn't even see the face of my saviour. They hauled me unceremoniously onto land. I didn't care. I wasn't drowning anymore, nothing else seemed to be computing.

And then I saw Corbin on land, running over to me.

"Hermione." He pulled me into his arms, letting go the second I screamed. He looked down at the Mermaid's blade still stuck in my leg, realising at once what the problem was.

I had attracted a shit lot of attention. Students gathered around me as I lay on the grass gasping for breath. I could hear a lot of rude words being thrown my way since I hadn't heeded Claudia's advice. But what did people expect? I wasn't her friend, and why should I trust what someone who didn't like me said?

"What should we do?" Someone shrieked.

"It's obvious." A cold voice drawled out from behind me. "Get out of my way." Tom Riddle leant down, lifted me up off the ground. I screamed again, reflexively. Tom ignored me.

"Everyone get out of the way. She's hurt."

"Put her down." Corbin said angrily. I couldn't see what was happening but I imagined Tom giving Corbin a look of absolute loathing.

"Maybe if you hadnt have left her alone you would've been here to be the hero of the day and save Hermione." Tom said sadistically. "But you weren't."

I was starting to see little bright lights in the corner of my vision.

"She looks really pale." Corbin said, forgetting Tom momentarily.

"That'd be the poison." Tom said, walking me up to the School with ease. I could hear a whole crew of students following us, like some creepy procession. "The weapons Merpeople use are toxic to human blood."

"Fuck. Shouldn't we take the blade out, then?" Corbin sounded horrified.

"That's the idea." Tom said coldly.

I closed my eyes, slowly fading into the darkness.