Hermione's POV

I can't believe I've been here for two weeks now. Classes are going well. Despite me being paired up with Tom Riddle in potions. Anyway today's my fifteenth birthday. Though it doesn't feel like it as it hasn't been a year since my last birthday. Especially as I'm not getting any presents today from my parents or friends. If anything, it makes me miss home even more.

I sigh as I play with my food. "What's wrong Hermione?" Filius asks me.

"Just thinking" I tell him.

"Want to duel later? Might cheer you up" he states. "Or I could perform a cheering charm" he adds. I give him a small smile.

"I'm fine, really" I assure him.

"Hey mails here, maybe that'll cheer her up" Jeremy states looking up. We follow to see he is right. An eagle owl lands in front of me with two letters and a parcel. I open the first letter as the owl accepts a piece of bacon from Jeremy.

Dear Hermione,

Happy birthday, hope you are well and school is good. That you remember what I told you about potions. Anyway totally up to you, but my mother your new grandmother. Wants to meet you and we wondered if you'd come home for Christmas?

Owl me with you new owl, he is my gift to you. Hope he serves you well. I was told he was the smartest owl they had at the shop. I thought a smart witch deserves a smart pet. Happy Birthday.

Love your dad Hector

"It's your birthday?" Millicent asks shocked. "Why didn't you tell us?" she demands.

"No wonder you were sad, you thought no one would celebrate your birthday" Filius chirps.

"Well that won't do, we're having a party tonight" Jeremy states.

"You don't have to do that" I tell them. But they ignore me. Going further down the table to talk to Andrew and Zachary.

"Open your other letter" Millicent encourages me. I sigh and do so. I notice a more feminine hand writing.

My dearest Hermione,

Welcome to the family dear. I can't wait to meet you in person. Whether it be this Christmas holidays or at the end of the school year. Anyway Hector told me it was your birthday today. So I've sent you one of my favourite books as a gift. Hope you enjoy it, happy birthday.

Your loving grandmother Constance Dagworth

I put the letter down and open the parcel. It was a book. A copy of Advance Defense Against the Dark Arts, by Galatea Merrythought. I wonder if she was any relation to Professor Merrythought? I muse.

"Oh you got one of professor Mrrythought's books. At least you won't have to buy one next year" Millicent states.

"Professor Merrythought wrote this?" I ask her intrigued.

"Yeah, and another defense book. This was before she started teaching here. It was one of the reasons the headmaster approached her with a job offer" she tells me.

"I hear she's thinking of retiring" Myrtle states joining our conversation.

"I thought that was a rumor" Millicent states.

"Not according to my source" Myrtle states. "Apparently her book sales have done really well and she has saved up a lot of money. So she was thinking of retiring after this year" she explains.

"Huh, I wonder if Professor Dumbledore will go back to teaching defense" Millicent ponders.

"I don't think he will" I tell her. I then notice my new owl still present. "Oh you need a name" I state and become thoughtful. "I'll call you Virgo" I tell it and he coos happily. Giving my hand an affectionate nip before flying off.

"So what are you going to do today?" Millicent asks.

"I'm going to the library to do my homework" I tell her.

"But it's you birthday, you should do something fun" she tells me.

"Doing homework and reading is fun to me" I tell her. I finish breakfast and grab my book bag. Putting my new book in it. "See you at lunch" I state and left.

(Elsewhere) Tom's POV

"I'd like to welcome our newest members. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle" I drawl. "Thank you for joining us" I state. Malfoy just gives me a pointed look. He wasn't here of his own free will. We had to threaten his precious Lydia to get him here. But it mutters not, he won't cross me. To much of a coward to do so.

"My lord, is it time?" Avery asks me.

"Yes, it's time to continue Salazar Slytherin's noble work or ridding the school of those not worthy" I state smirking.

"Not worthy?" Crabbe asks confused.

"He means mud bloods you dolt" Goyle tells him.

"Indeed I do" I state.

"My lord, sorry I'm late" Nott says as he appears.

"Why are you late?" I ask him annoyed.

"Was in the great hall, I heard it's Granger's birthday" he states. I freeze, this is news to me.

"I care not, take a seat before I punish you" I sneer and he immediately sits beside Malfoy.

"How do you plan on ridding the school of mud-bloods my lord?" Malfoy asks.

"That's for me to know" I tell him. "But before that, Crabbe Goyle I have a task for you" I state. "I need you to kill all the school roosters and any other the school gets to replace them" I tell them.

"Of course our lord" they say. I can tell they were confused by the order. But they will obey anyway.

"Who's our first target?" Dolohov asks me.

"A gryffindor mud-blood" I tell him. They all smirk happily. Not only were we attacking a filthy mud-blood. But a gryffindor. "Dismissed, Malfoy stay a moment" I say as the others left. I wrote in my diary about the meeting as Malfoy waits silently.

"What is it Riddle?" he demands. I torture him and he screams in agony.

"It's 'my lord'" I remind him as I lift the curse. "Now, at the end of your year I'll be entrusting something into your care. I expect you and your future family to guard it well from our enemies" I tell him.

"Of course, my lord" he states. I smirk.

"You're dismissed" I tell him waving him away. He gets to his feet and left. I then think about Granger, it's about time we got to know each other. I'll send her a gift and ask her to meet in the Astonomy tower tomorrow night. Anonymously, of course.

A/N

Picture above of Hermione's gifts from Constance Dagworth and her new father Hector Dagworth-Granger.