A/N: Getting back into my Tomione groove. Enjoy!

T*R*T*R*T*R*T*R*T*R*T*R*T*R*T*R*T*R*

I could corrupt you
It would be easy
Watching you suffer
Girl, it would please me

~Corrupt by Depeche Mode~

T*R*T*R*T*R*T*R*T*R*T*R*T*R*T*R*T*R*

"Your obsession with the boy isn't healthy, Albus," Armando Dippet said as he came to stand with his Deputy Headmaster on the steps outside the main doors of the castle. It was a rare warm October day and groups of students were outside soaking up the warm sunshine before the cold Scottish winter descended upon them. The old Headmaster could clearly tell that Dumbledore's eyes were fixed on the group of Slytherin 6th year students. He was honestly at a loss for what to do with the Transfiguration Master. The man had been vocal about his dislike of the young Tom Riddle since his sorting six years ago…and had not let up. He'd put his foot down last year, when the man had all but accused Tom of murdering that poor girl in the lavatory.

It was true that there was a darkness to Tom Riddle, Armando was no so blind as to miss it completely, but given the young man's tragic circumstances he could hardly hold it against him. The boy had overcome his poverty and isolation, in fact he was absolutely flourishing these days. He was proud of the young man, and was not ashamed to admit he considered him one of his favourites currently at the school. He was intelligent, talented, and capable of doing anything he set his mind to. A student like that truly only came along once in a lifetime.

He couldn't help the small smile that crossed his lips as he saw Tom slipping his hand into Miss Granger's. He was unsurprised to see such a swift attachment between the two Slytherin students. They were truly two of a kind, and inwardly he was happy for them.

"I've said it before Armando, but he's dangerous," Albus said, scowling.

"And Miss Granger? Is she also dangerous?" Armando sighed, finally addressing the formal complaint that Horace and Mr. Mornet had left with him two weeks ago.

"The attachment between them is too sudden, and she's been defensive of him since she arrived. I believe she may have come to this time intentionally, seeking to meddle with the timeline," Albus said.

"Do you have any evidence of those charges? They are very serious accusations, Albus," Armando said carefully.

"Evidence, no…merely a feeling."

Armando sighed. "The Ministry has contacted me, formally requesting your assistance with the Grindlewald issue," he began.

"I have declined their requests, my students need me and I cannot see what use I would be to the Ministry," Albus said dismissively.

"I've told them that you will be taking a sabbatical from teaching after Yule," Armando said firmly.

"I will do no such thing." Albus turned suddenly, looking at Dippet.

"You will, or I will have no choice but to dismiss you from the school. There have been a number of formal complaints Albus, and with the latest infractions I cannot let it stand. Your bias against young Tom Riddle, and the Slytherin students in general, has gotten out of hand. The Board convened a session last night and it was decided that we would offer you a sabbatical of no less than 18 months, but preferably a full three and a half years. It would allow you to consult with the Ministry, and get your head back on straight. If you refuse, the board has asked that I present you with termination papers, effective immediately," Armando said, giving him the news as efficiently as possible.

Albus looked enraged. "That boy murdered Myrtle Warren and yet you still protect him. Sending me away won't change the fact that I'm right about him, and his little circle of friends. I will not go quietly, if you want me out, you'll need to fire me. I will not willing walk away and leave my students vulnerable to that boy's evil influence."

Armando looked saddened, and took a sealed letter out and handed it to him. "You will be expected to be off school grounds by tomorrow night. Your severance pay will be deposited in your Gringotts account within twenty-four hours of leaving the premises."

"You can't do this, Armando," Albus fumed.

"You'll find that I can," He said. "You are not the Headmaster here and you are done. Pack your things, and leave Hogwarts. I will not ask you again." Armando turned and went back into the castle. He liked Albus, a great deal, but the blinders he constantly wore in regards to Tom were worrisome, and then turning that same distrust and rampant suspicion onto Miss Granger, a girl stranded here and clearly vulnerable, had been the last straw.

o.o.O.o.o

Renaud approached the group sitting under one of the sprawling oaks and was grinning brightly. "I have news," he announced and sat down.

"What kind of news Lestrange?" Hadrian asked, looking up from his charms text. Professor Flitwick had set a beast of an essay and they were all struggling with it. Well, everyone except for Tom and the Granger girl. Bloody brains.

"Dumbledore just got sacked." His dark eyes gleamed with malicious glee.

Tom sat up straighter. "How did you hear?"

"I was walking up towards the main doors from the far side of the lawn and I saw them talking, so I ducked behind the hedge. He has to clear out by tomorrow, he refused to talk a sabbatical and made Dippet outright fire him. The Board authorized it, and Dippet gave him the papers not ten minutes ago," Renaud reported.

"Excellent news, good job Renaud." Tom smirked and reached over, pulling Hermione to lean against his side, tucked under his arm. "Nothing could make this day any better."

Hermione just smiled, outwardly pleased but unable to help the uncomfortable twist of guilt in her gut. What had she done? She leaned her head on Tom's shoulder, returning her attention to the book she was reading. She'd discovered a whole wealth of books on the shelves of the library that had been missing in her time. She couldn't help but suspect that Dumbledore had removed them, though for half of them she couldn't imagine why. The book she was reading right now was about elemental magic and using rituals to draw on the magic inherent in certain times of the year like Samhain, Midsummer, and Yule. It was utterly fascinating to her.

"Hermione?" Tom leaned down, whispering in her ear.

She blinked and turned her head, looking into his eyes. "Sorry, I was just…"

"Reading, I know." He chuckled. "Come on, we're all going to sneak into the kitchens for a celebratory mug of spiced cider." Tom put his books away and offered her a hand up, the others already starting across the lawn.

"I didn't think they'd actually fire him…" Hermione said quietly, as they were walking towards the castle.

"Don't you dare feel sorry for him." He paused and looked at her, the soft school-boy façade falling away to reveal a harder, colder wizard. "I saw what he put you all through. Losing your parents, torture, nearly dying when you were just sixteen…all because of him. He could have fought me himself, instead he threw untrained children into the path of adult wizards, and stood by while you were hurt. Do you think he would have shed even one tear if you'd died that night? He likely would have been pleased, another martyr to lay on the pyre to stoke your friend's rage. That's all you ever were to him, a piece on board…and an unimportant one at that." He stepped in close, eyes intense on hers. "You were the straw that broke the camel's back, Hermione. You're his enemy now and he'll come after you just as hard as he will me once we're gone from Hogwarts. We're in this together now, do you understand?" he asked.

Hermione shivered but didn't break his gaze. "I understand just fine," she bit out, not needing him to talk to her like she was a child. "Unlike some of your other 'friends' I'm perfectly capable of comprehending just how involved I am now. I knew it the minute I made that complaint." She stepped in close, lifting her chin. She hated that he was so much taller than her, and he loved to use that size to intimidate her. "I just hope you understand that I'm not always going back down, if we're in this *together* I am going to make decision of my own too."

Tom leaned down and brushed a kiss against her temple. "I can't wait to see it," he whispered, and dropped his lips down to brush against the shell of her ear. "But if those decision run contrary to my interests, I'll take full account of it out of your beautiful body."

Hermione shivered hard, but didn't move away. If she folded now, he'd never respect her. "I'd expect nothing less," she replied, turning her head and brushing her lips against his. To anyone watching, they were just stealing a moment alone, nothing so strange for two teenagers. No one could guess at the delicate power play being acted out.

Tom pulled back and smiled. "Let's go join the celebration." As if nothing had happened, charming Tom was back, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they headed into the castle together.

o.o.O.o.o

Hermione remembered reading once about Sherlock Holmes' mind palace, and that was what she was using to create her mental defences. It was a massive labyrinth of rooms and hidden corridors, tangled and endless. All of it was designed to confuse and trap an attacking Legilimens. Tom was a demanding teacher, attacking every inch of her mental construct until it could withstand the punishment. It was excruciating, but there was also a dark sense of pleasure at managing to hold her own against one of the most powerful wizards in modern times. She'd never had anyone that could push and challenge her like he did. It was thrilling in a way that honestly unsettled her, so much that she buried that particular aspect of her mind deep within the core of the labyrinth.

She came out of her head and was lying on the padded bench in the empty classroom they used for their secret 'practice' sessions. As usual, she was shaking and sweating, but for the first time…Tom wasn't looking as calm and collected as normal. He looked paler than usual and he managed a small nod.

"Better?" she asked, wanting make him admit it.

"It's…sufficient." He smirked a little and ran a hand through his hair to straighten it. "You are so unique," he said and stood, walking over to offer her a hand. "I've never seen an approach like that, it's brilliant."

Hermione couldn't help but smile as he helped her up. She swayed a little as she gained her feet, and didn't protest as he held her against him. The smell of old parchment always clung to his skin, and she admitted that she found it utterly alluring. People used to tease her about her being attracted to books, and the truly sad thing was…they weren't entirely wrong. What she smelled in Amortentia proved that out.

"Are you looking forward to the Yule ball?" he asked.

"Actually yes." She moved back, feeling steadier on her feet now. "The Yule Ball we had in my fourth year was one of the best memories I have from Hogwarts." She blushed a little. "I got to dress up and just be a girl for one night."

"It's a great opportunity to network, but I'm sure you'll have fun as well. Abraxas is quite eager to see you again," he said shrewdly. "You've caught his interest."

Hermione just gave him a look. "It wasn't intentional." There was an undercurrent to the casual statement that she didn't much like. Dealing with Tom was often like playing with a cobra, you never knew what movement might entice a strike.

"All the same, you did." He walked closer, an odd expression on his face.

Hermione backed up slowly until she hit the wall, her heart speeding up as he rested his hands on either side of her head, caging her in with his body. She cursed her traitorous body as it reacted to his closeness. Even though she was completely aware of what he was, she still wanted him. What was even more maddening was the fact that he knew it too. "Tom…"

"Don't forget that you're mine," he warned her and leaned down, brushing his lips against hers.

Hermione returned the soft brush of lips, shivering at the control that was radiating off him. A dark little part of her wanted to see what would happen if he let go of that control, and just how far he'd take things. He was the one that moved back first, and she opened her eyes only to be caught in an intense gaze. "You'd never let me forget, even if I wanted to."

He leaned in closer, his body pressing against her slowly, inch by inch. "And do you want to forget?" he whispered into her ear.

Hermione shook her head a little. "You know I don't." She closed her eyes again as he nuzzled her neck, trailing burning kisses along her skin, and lightly nipping the skin. She couldn't help the moan that slipped past her lips when he slipped his knee between her thighs and pressed even closer. "We shouldn't do this…" she gasped, her hands sliding down his sides. She was pulling him closer rather than pushing him away.

"Why not?" He nipped her earlobe. "Why deny yourself what you clearly want?" He grabbed one of her hands and slid it down his chest to let her feel just how hard he was. "We both want this, are you really going to say no?"

Hermione was flushed and couldn't help the way her hand instinctively cupped him, stoking against his length. "I've never…" she trailed off, embarrassed by her lack of experience.

He chuckled against her skin. "And you don't want your first time against a wall in a filthy classroom in the dungeons?" He guessed and reluctantly pulled back, but the hunger in his expression spoke that he wouldn't be putting this off for long.

Hermione let out a shaky breath and closed her eyes. She had to be certifiably insane, that was the only explanation for it. 'Hermione Granger, you've gone native…' she thought cynically.

TBC