
AU where Hermione finds Tom Riddle’s diary and sees him everywhere, but no one else can see him or knows who he is. She finds this fascinating, albeit irritating, but is determined to discover what properties exactly the diary possesses. Tom isn’t very hostile (or hostile at all, really, other than when they’re debating the usual topics) and Hermione loves the fresh intellectual combat. He’s charming, handsome, and is the only boy she knows with as much intellect as she. Her friends, however, are less than thrilled, becoming more and more concerned for her well-being as the year progresses. Tom slowly begins draining her energy for himself until eventually leading her to the secret chamber beneath the girls’ bathroom on the first floor - a private place where he can finish the job. He mocks her as she falls to the wet floor, staring down at her as he watches her life literally slip away from her. Hermione cannot fathom how much of a fool she has been, but has no energy with which to voice her protests. Her vision fades in and out with her life force as she wonders if his sneer is the last thing she’ll ever see.
“Yes, Hermione, dear. You were right. I am very real.”

He was on her tail. She could feel it.
Even after all this wasted time, she wasn’t going to let him kill her so easily.
fate don’t fail me now… ( x )