I had no idea why Hermione was crying. Surely she knew that I always got my way in the end, though whenever I did she would always act so defeated. And it turned me on, to always have the upper hand on circumstances that drastically affected her. It was a compulsion, an urge I had deep within me to constantly torment her either psycologically or physically. She wasn't stronger than me, and she would never be.

Standing mere feet from me with tears sparking in her eyes, she was yelling at me in the Ravenclaw Common Room. All around us, the fury of the storm was raging, shaking the glass windows, the rain hammering down ruthlessly. Yet despite this her voice drowned it out.

"You're insane!" She was screaming. I smirked, the break in her voice revealing just how much pain she was in.

"At least I'm not the one labouring under a delusion that I could save the entire world from evil." I said. "How utterly pointless of you to run around thinking you could've stopped any of this. If you had the slightest shred of self respect you'd just give up. Corbin is mine. Everything you fight for is a lost cause."

Hermione froze, her pale face becoming whiter, her lips parting in what looked like surprise.

"You astonish me, Tom." She said quietly. "There is really no limit for you, is there? Well. I'm not about to give up anytime soon, I promise you."

"And I in return," I replied smoothly, "Am going to promise you that I will make your existence pure Hell. This is nothing compared to what I can do, I assure you. You have cracked the ice of my patience, but lying beneath the surface of this... I can promise you horrors you have never dreamt of."

Hermione stepped towards me, coming so close to me I reflexively clenched my wand.

"Bring it on." She stared directly into my eyes, I could see the defiance shining behind her so clearly revealing the reservoirs of strength within her I hadn't yet crushed.

"I see now." My voice was cold.

"Well, say hello to the beginning of your end, Hermione. Now. How about you run along and start preparing. Because my powers are realms beyond you, and if you want to challenge me and be taken seriously you will at least need to be able to match me for magical strength first. I am tired of your childish antics. Come for me when you are at my level. Spare me these dramatised demonstrations of your personal weaknesses."

"You undermine me, Tom." Hermione stood, unwavering before me like the stubborn fool she was. If only she knew what she was doing. "But what's new?" She gave a laugh that sounded somewhat strangled. "I know things you don't already. I'm already realms ahead of you, and you know what? I could almost say I feel something like sympathy towards you, because you have no idea of how much so."

"Go ahead," I said carelessly. "Why don't you show me what you're truly made of, then." I tilted my head to the side as I considered her. This little show of bravery was... amusing. It was always appealing to see that crooked persona of hers rising up with the false impression it could overcome what I was throwing at it.

"Maybe I will." She snarled. She stormed past me, her braid half out and a livid look on her face. I waited until she had left, giving her a moment to give her that false sense of security that I wasn't on her heels.

Not long after, I walked out of Ravenclaw Tower deep in thought. This was going to end with death, the rage sparking within me was rearing its head, her defiant look driving me into a state of absolute incomprehensionable rage. After everything, she still refused to submit to me?

I walked down the spiral staircase, lost in thought as I passed random group of Gryffindor girls in the Hall who squealed as I neared them. My mind was racing miles ahead, I wasn't focused on my surroundings. I had work to do. I had to destroy this threat. I had to eliminate it from the source, at any cost. I had to look at ways of protecting myself at any cost. She was insane, and she was somewhat right. I did underestimate her. I underestimated her insanity, her hellbent mind intent on conquering me by any means possible. I had to make myself absolutely indestructible just to contend with the idea that she would not rest until she "won" over me.

I had to further investigate methods of becoming indestructible. It was not only Hermione who triggered this, but for a long time I had come to realise that I was gaining too many enemies and wouldn't be able to focus on any of the work I had to do in order to prosper if I had to keep watching my back every second expecting some idiot to attack me. My life was too precious. I was a rare commodity on this pathetic world run by Muggle loving, magically regressed fools. I knew what I wanted out of this world.

I walked the many halls of the School, coming to end up in the library. I had to get more books, particularly on the subject of rendering myself indestructable. It was out there, no doubt. Beyond Hogwarts selective educational teachings I knew Dark Arts that couldn't be sourced within the Restricted Section. Knowledge which could only be drawn out of the minds of the Hogwarts staff. I considered many times, to speak in depth to Horace Slughorn about parts and pieces of rare Magical terms I had come across in my years of reading. He had grown to trust me, he would be easier to manipulate. And although he wasn't by any means a genius, he wasn't stupid. He had a weath of useful information and connections. I knew he would come useful in due time, and this was it.

I stepped into the library to find the Librarian Madam Pince in a heated conversation with none other than Hermione. I stepped closer, torn between destroying her right then and there and then my interest and slight amusement got the better of me. So she thought the library's lousy resources were going to help her beat me? Imbecile.

I walked until I was standing directly behind her, until her body was directly in front of me.

"Since when do we need the Headmasters consent before we go into the Restricted Section of the Library?"

She said impatiently.

"Since Hogwarts was established!" Madam Pince snapped. "I don't know what time you think you're from but this is the way the School is run, and has been for over a century!"

"What book does our innocent little Hermione want to loan?" I said.

Hermione paused. Well, stiffened head to toe before turning around.

"What, are you stalking me now?" She demanded, her brows drawn together. She was hot when she was pissed off, it was slightly distracting.

"No." I said complacently. "I'm here to do some research and speak to Madam Pince. Now step aside. I, unlike you, have actually

"Yes, silly girl, do get out of the way. Now Tom, my dear. What have you come to see me for?"

I stepped forward as Hermione stormed off, muttering something about how I was a "manipulator."

"I need a particular book from the Restricted Section." I said, making my tone light and carefully carefree. "I have completed an assessment for a Defence Against the Dark Arts course and found I still had some questions regarding the nature of the verbal incantations we used. I wanted to know a bit more about the Dark Arts side of the matter, to better my understanding."

Madam Pince smiled as she removed her spectacles from her crooked nose before putting them back on.

"If I didn't know you as well as I do, I would have said no. However, you know me well Tom. I do hold a great deal of respect for those avid readers and researchers such as myself. We are so alike in many ways, you and I!" She gave a grunt, or what was apparently supposed to be an endearing laugh.

I forced a smile that melted her, whilst deep down I was somewhat offended. What on Earth could the pair of us possibly have in common? I was almost certain I had already read more books than she ever would in her lifetime and she was older than the damn Castle itself. She reached out toward me, enclosed within was a old black key.

"Stay for as long as you like. Of course, make sure everything is put away neatly after... But of course you would, you always do..." I took the key for the barred door to the Restricted Section from her and walked off. There were rumours the School was looking to remove the gates barring the Restricted Section from the rest of the School, but so far of course none of that had come to pass and entrance was only permitted by the key that Madam Pince kept which would allow select student within its mysterious depths.

I entered through the barred gates, running my hands across the books until I could feel only the most powerful. I took about 5 different books, tucking them under my arm and heading back to the front desk.

"You certainly have an appetite for the Dark Arts." Madam Pince said, noting the books I had placed before her with a sharp eye. "Be careful of that one."

She placed a hand on one of the older books, a volume titled Journeying Into Realms Unknown: A Comprensive Investigation into both Dark and Darker Arts.

"Why is that?" I said sharply.

"That is the only novel in the Restricted Section that has been cursed to stay within Hogwarts. The Headmaster himself has forbidden me to issue this to anyone, after having attempted to destroy it on 3 different occasions for its unspeakable content. I am trusting you, Tom. Be caught with that novel and we will both be in trouble."

"I will keep it hidden." I assured her, making a mental note to read that one first. What did it contain that Headmaster Dippet had tried to destroy it not only once but 3 different times?

"I never knew there were books within the Restricted Section that could be cursed to stay within Hogwarts grounds." I frowned.

"It doesn't happen often, Tom." Madam Pince told me, her dark eyes sharp. "It is merely the blurred line between what this School decides to teach its students and the truth of the greater darkness of the outer world meeting. Hogwarts is a great School, but of course as you will understand, there are many topics us staff are forbidden to teach. That book in your hands... Do not by any means share to anyone or use the Magic it contains."

"You don't have to worry. I won't be using any of the Magic." I lied.