Weddings are never about the bride and groom,

weddings are public platforms for dysfunctional families.

–Lisa Kleypas

"Are you here for the bride or the groom?"

Hermione looked up from the elaborate seating chart she had clutched in her hand, to look at the young man, whom she vaguely recognised, that had asked her the question.

"Oh well, actually, I know them both, but I haven't seen either of them in years, and I'm almost certain they didn't expect me to turn up" she said quietly, casting an eye around the Weasley back garden in an attempt to find someone she knew with whom she could sit.

The young man simply nodded at her, before taking the plan from her hands and guiding her to an aisle seat on what she assumed was the groom's side.

"Here should be perfect for you then. I'm Tom by the way, Tom Riddle. Best man."

Hermione shook the hand he was offering and smiled at the old lady he had sat her next to.

"Hermione Granger" she offered, looking back up at him in time to see his lips twitch into a smirk.

"Ah yes. I've heard all about you."

It seemed like everyone Tom and his friends knew, were getting married these days. This was the fifth wedding he'd attended this year alone, and the second where he was best man – well joint best man with Harry, but best man none the less.

He had escaped the room Ron was currently pacing, muttering about how he hoped Lavender didn't change her mind last minute, in the hope of catching some fresh air and had been promptly accosted by Mrs. Weasley into escorting arriving guests to their seats.

He'd smiled politely and nodded, rolling his eyes at Draco across the garden who was watching him with an amused smirk, before beginning his 'best man' duties.

Still it wasn't all bad.

Not now that the infamous Granger had shown up.

Tom knew she'd been in America for the past five years, having decided to attend university there after Hogwarts. He'd never met her and had only glimpsed her a few times while they were in secondary school, having no reason to engage in a conversation with her since she was in the year below him with Harry. With almost all of his friends if he thought about it, but they'd spoken enough about her in the years previous that he felt like he almost knew her as well as them.

She stiffened immediately though, narrowing her eyes at him as he smirked down at her. She looked good, and from this angle he had a pretty good view of her cleavage that the navy-blue dress she was wearing provided – his eyes snapped up from the view though when he heard her question.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Tom waved his hand dismissively and nodded at Harry, who he'd spotted making his way towards him, Ron in tow. "Nothing. Enjoy the wedding."

He knew he'd rattled her. He could still feel her eyes on him as he took his spot beside both Harry and Ron at the makeshift altar, and whispered to them both that she was there.

He had to hold them both in place to stop them sprinting down the aisle towards her as the procession music began and Lavender started to make her way towards them.

"Well, well, well, hello Granger."

Hermione looked up from her conversation with Molly and rolled her eyes at Draco's antics. Anyone would think that they weren't friends the way he was going on, but Hermione knew he enjoyed this little charade of theirs so she played along.

"Malfoy" she sneered, even as she stood to draw the prat into a hug. She squealed when she spotted Ginny, Astoria, Theo and Blaise behind him, drawing them all into hugs and answering their many questions about her life in America before Harry finally tore himself away from their former headmaster, Dumbledore and joined them, sweeping Hermione into his arms and giving her a tight hug.

"I can't believe you came" he murmured quietly into her hair, pulling back to get a good look at her.

"Of course, she came" Ginny said, slapping Harry playfully in the arm before turning back to her friend, "she brought her American accent with her and everything" she smirked.

Hermione bristled, " I do not have an American accent."

"I beg to differ. Several people have already commented on the fact Ron knows an American" the man, who had introduced himself as Tom commented, interrupting the conversation and moving to stand between Harry and Theo.

Hermione blushed even as the other smirked and snickered.

"Do you think we'll ever get married?" Harry asked, taking a drink of the ridiculously expensive champagne that Lavender insisted on, but which actually tastes like shite, and wrinkled his nose at it.

"Do you have anyone in mind Potter?" Draco drawled, his eyes not lifting from his phone and the tinder app he's scrolling through.

Blaise laughed, his arm tightening around Theo's waist a little tighter and Astoria smirked at them, her eyes widening when they land on Tom. She almost knocked the drink out of Harrys hand when she nudged him and looped him in on what caught her eye.

"Do you- do you like Hermione?" Harry gasped as he watched Tom, lounging against the bar and watching Hermione across the room dance with Ron.

Tom snapped to attention, immediately spilling the drink he'd been nursing over his hand and scowled at his best friend, his brother in all but name, as he laughed.

"Oh god you do" he spluttered, pulling a napkin from his pocket and handing it to Tom, "this is the best day ever" he smirked.

"Shut up Harry" he muttered, grabbing a new glass of scotch from the passing waiter and leaning back to continue watching. Harry didn't say anything else, joining him in his drinking until a shrill voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Oh shit" he mumbled quietly putting his glass down as gently as he could, before doing the same with Tom's. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and prepared himself for the shitstorm that was approaching, "I see Bella looking for you."

Tom had already disappeared into the crowd when Harry opened his eyes, Bellatrix fast approaching him, a determined glint in her eyes.

"May I cut in?"

Hermione looked up from the flower attached to Ron's waistcoat and felt her cheeks redden with the intensity of Tom Riddle's stare. Even as Ron agreed and gave her a quick peck on the cheek, her eyes never left Tom's and when she stepped into his arms, the fingers of his left-hand entwining with hers, his right hand gripping her waist tight, she felt the familiar rush of heat gather in the bottom of her stomach and begin to pool in her knickers.

They didn't speak as they wove their way through the crowd dancing through one song, then another and another until they were only one of the few remaining couples still dancing.

Hermione could see her friends across the room, laughing and drinking. Theo had passed out in Blaise's lap, Ginny was blatantly ignoring the man who was oblivious to her disinterest and kept trying to get her attention, Draco was snogging some random blonde, whilst Astoria and Harry were downing shots, attempting to outdo one another in a scenario which mirrored many of their own from seventh year at school. She smiled fondly at the sight and hoped it wouldn't be so long before she saw them again.

"Do you want to get out of here?"

Hermione sighed and hadn't even stopped nodding her agreement before Tom was pulling her out of the wedding marquee and into the makeshift car park in an adjoining field, her hand clasped tightly in his own.

She moaned, darting her tongue out to meet his when he spun suddenly, slammed her against the side of a car and kissed her. Their mouths slanted over one another's, nipping and sucking at each other lips as his hands moved from her hips to her breasts, his thumbs lightly brushing against her nipples. Hermione felt herself get wetter and whined when he pulled away and rested his forehead against hers, both of them panting.

"Let's go. I don't want to fuck you in the middle of this field but, if I don't get you to my hotel room within the next ten minutes I might have to" Tom whispered, not breaking eye contact with her. Hermione moaned and grabbed his hand so he could lead her to his car.

"Fuck" Tom muttered as he leaned against his hotel room door and watched Hermione drop the dress she'd been wearing all day. Black lace knickers were all she was left in, well her heels too, and he had to close his hands and thank God for his good fortune even as he loosened his tie and opened his eyes just in time to see her striding towards him, her tits bouncing with every step, her dark brown nipples standing to attention.

He lurched from the door and lifted her into his arms, his mouth latching onto hers immediately as he walked them to the bed and dropped her on it, falling to his knees, spreading her legs and shoving her soaked underwear to the side so he could thrust one, then two fingers into her cunt while his mouth latched onto her clit.

"Tom" she gasped, her hands finding his head and fisting it as she held his head down and thrust her hips up, "Fuck please Tom."

Tom growled and wound his free hand up to pinch a nipple, as his tongue lashed harder against her clit. He could feel her getting even tighter around his fingers, her wetness coating his face, her thighs, his fingers. She came as he nipped her clit with his teeth and he moaned into her cunt, thrusting his still trouser clad erection against the edge of the bed in an attempt to get some relief.

Hermione wasted no time in ripping his shirt open and kissing him as he pulled himself from his knees and fumbled with his trousers – Hermione pressing herself against him wasn't making the situation even easier and he snarled against her lips as her hand found its way between them and gripped him hard.

She yelped, then moaned loudly, her head falling against his shoulder as he shifted his stance and lifted and subsequently dropped her onto his dick. Tom breathed harshly through his nose as he felt her settle on him – she was so tight. He nearly lost it when she rolled her hips, her nipples dragging harshly across his chest. He gripped her ass tighter, slid his dick out of her, enjoying the whimpering sound she made as he did and thrust back into her.

"Where are you going?"

Hermione looked up from her shoes on the seat across from the bed, to see a very awake Tom staring at her. She took in the sight of his chest, his abs and his hardening cock under the thin sheet they'd managed to find themselves under only a few hours ago and clenched her thighs together.

"Home. Back to New York" she sighed, standing from the chair and moving to sit on the edge of the bed, placing her hand into the one Tom had reached across the bed.

"Tragedy" he murmured, placing a kiss on the inside of her wrist. Hermione smiled.

"Before I go though. When were you thinking of announcing the engagement?"

She had to bite back the smirk threatening to spread across her face at the way Tom's eyes widened.

"Engagement?" He whispered, his eyes scanning her face, which Hermione made sure to keep blank, "Whose engagement?"

"Ours. I assumed since we slept together and everything we'd be getting married. What did you think?"

Hermione wished her phone hadn't died at some point in the night so that she could immortalise the look on Tom's face, as he spluttered and attempted to remember any of the conversations they'd had throughout the night, her smile getting wider and wider as he seriously contemplated the idea.

"You're joking" he murmured eventually, narrowing his eyes at her.

Hermione grinned and nodded her head, "I really do have to go though, and I do think we've missed a great opportunity" she sighed wistfully, winking at him.

Tom groaned and fell back against the pillows before he suddenly sat back up again.

"When will I see you again?"

Hermione stopped, turned to look at him and swallowed, "I don't know. I live in America."

He nodded and leaned forward to place a chaste kiss on her forehead, "I know."

"Bye Tom."

Tom watched her leave and when the door closed, removing any and all trace of her from the room, he fell back into the pillows and groaned as he was assaulted by the scent of her after only one night.