Author Note- This is not helping me finish my history project. Voldy and Pakistan really don't have anything in common, at least to my teacher that is.
Thank you I-ARE-COOL for the enthusiastic reply, it made me and Voldy happy. (watches muse go skipping through flowers) Scary sight.
Melanie Potter- Thank you for the information. I forgot about that part. I will remember that in the future.
Disclaimer- I do not own HP or anything close to it.
The week moved by at a snail's pace after that. Hermione just was not as happy. She tried to be and her friends did their best to cheer her up but there was that rain cloud overhead. Tom had barely spoken to her since Saturday. It had been a dry, emotionless conversation. I mean how much emotion does "Does that say gillyweed?" contain? It was Thursday and the gang was heading off to the last class of the day, Potions.
"Hermione, are you listening?" Gretta asked impatiently.
"What? Oh sorry, no," she responded.
"Still thinking of your rift with Tom?" Ashland asked, wrapping an arm around the girl.
"Guys, it's silly I know, I mean, I just met him, but I don't know, I want to be around him, get to know him and what not," she explained. "I'd be content being his friend. Wow, I sound hopeless right?"
"Just a bit, but hey, if he's as great as you think then he'll come around. You just contradicted his entire moral code!" Sydney pointed out.
"That I did. You know what's funny? I didn't realize I liked him until he walked away. Not that that's clichéd or anything?" Hermione laughed. The others joined in as they walked through the door.
"I'll see you after class," she called as she went to take her normal seat. "Hi Tom." Tom nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of her voice. He had been twirling his wand between his hands thinking deeply and had not heard her approach.
"Hi Hermione, can I talk to you after class?" he asked nervously.
"Of course, or we could talk now," she suggested.
"No! Definatly not, it's on that subject and I'm already under enough pressure for Saturday so we don't need that," he declined. She nodded and got through the lesson in a much better mood.
Class ended and the students slowly filed out, reviewing their potions.
"Hermione, you coming?" Sydney asked impatiently.
"No, I'll catch up to you guys later," she said gently gesturing towards Tom. Sydney clearly got the message and rushed the other three out after giving her two excited thumbs up.
"So what did you think?" she asked finally.
"Do you want to go for walk? It's a nice day out," he asked totally changing the subject. Hermione just shook her head with a small laugh and agreed. They walked out of the castle in silence, Tom shaking, and thinking quickly and Hermione trying not to burst out laughing. This could be blackmail material someday. They began around the lake, the sun just starting to set in the spring evening.
"Alright, out with it!" she finally shouted with anticipation.
"Are the nineties so devoid of manners? Alright, just put the wand back, I don't want to have to jinx you," he exclaimed quickly, trying to regain some dignity. "I thought about what you said. I guess you could be right, some muggles could be decent people, and you do have a point, I am much more advance then my peers. So, I don't see why that should affect our relationship, if you want to continue it that is," he added hastily.
"You'll be nice to the 'mudbloods' then?" she asked evoking the Slytherins' favorite word.
"I'll be civil, or ignore them out right, except you," he told her.
"Alright, it's an improvement," she said, taking his hand in hers. "So we shouldn't be expecting anymore basilisk attacks then?"
"No, that'd… WAIT! How do you know about that?" he asked quickly.
"I know everything, and don't worry, I won't tell anyone. You're not the same person," she told him softly. They walked together in silence for a few more minutes. Then slowly Tom untangled his fingers and pulled Hermione to his side.
"What have you done to me Miss Granger?" he asked her softly, pressing a kiss into her hair.
"I haven't done anything Tom, you did it all," she replied with a smile.
"No it was all you, I'm sure. Am I under the Imperious curse?" he joked.
"The simple fact that you can think that is enough to prove that you're not," she countered.
"Oh you're no fun. What if my thought process is a result of something you want me to think? What if by you making me think that by thinking about me being under the spell you are just strengthening the holds of my mind? LET ME GO GRANGER!" he cried. Hermione had to hold onto him to keep from falling over as her knees gave way with laughter.
"And people say I'm confusing! Merlin that was complex," she finally said when she regained breath. "So Thomas, what is your opinion on teaching the Dark Arts in schools?" she asked seriously.
"Thomas? Never call me that again or you will end up in that lake. Um, I don't have a problem with it. The line between light and dark magic is very fine, nonexistent almost. Light magic can be used for evil while dark magic can be used for good. It's not right to label things as good and evil. Anything can be good and evil," he lectured. How right he was, he being a good example. "Take Parseltoungue for example. It can be used to set giant snakes on people, though why someone would do that is beyond me, or it can be used to call off dangerous snakes from attacking people, but people can only see the first use and so it's dark magic."
"Why did you open the chamber?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"It was my great-great etc. grandfather's wish that only pure blood wizards were allowed in the school, I felt I should carry that out, besides, once I was out I would have fulfilled his wish," he reasoned. She could understand that, family obligations. "So what do you think dark arts in the classroom?"
"I think minor stuff is okay. Students need to be able to recognize it to fight it, and that ability is vital in my time," she added softly. Maybe now it would not be true though.
"It's getting dark, we should head in," he decided. She agreed and they turned around, slowly made their way back. The castle was silent when they entered. It was down right eerie.
"Where is everyone?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know. Let's go check the Hall," he decided and steered her to the door. They pushed the door open to find the entire hall staring at them.
"Thank you for deciding to join us Mr. Riddle and Miss Granger," Professor Dippet called to them, annoyed at the interruption.
"Sorry Sir," Hermione called back as she headed to her table.
"So as I was saying, a spring dance is to be held in two week time on the evening of April 17 at eight o'clock. Dress robes are to be worn and I want to assure you, tomfoolery will not be tolerated!" he warned. The crowd burst into loud whispers as friends discussed whom they wanted to go with and dress arrangements.
"Is Jacob Hanigin single?" Ashland asked eagerly.
"I think so," Lindsey whispered back excitedly. "Do you think Toby will ask me?"
"Girl, he is so into you there is no chance he won't. Now Henry asking me is a different matter," Gretta told her.
"What are you talking about? He had your name all over his history notes!" Lindsey assured her. "Sydney, who you hoping for?"
"You now Bobby O'Neil?" she asked timidly.
"Yes why… OH! That's adorable. I never would have thought you'd go for him," Ashland cooed.
"Well, he's a sweet guy and cute in a smart way," she explained shyly. "At least you don't have to worry about getting a date eh Hermione. Just have to watch out for the angry mobs," Sydney teased her. Hermione blushed and looked Tom's way. He noticed and air wrote 'Want to go with me?' the letters burning the air. She quickly nodded and the others turned to see him erasing the flaming letters.
"THAT'S SO ADORABLE!" Gretta shrieked, silencing the room. "Oh, sorry," she apologized as Hermione tried to strangle herself with her sleeve.
"Don't worry about it. Hey, I'm going to go turn in. It's been a long day. I'll see you later," she told them and made her way up the tower.
"Hey wait up!" Tom called after her, running up the stairs two at a time to catch up. "So what was with the banshee impression from your friend there?"
"She saw the message and thought it was the cutest thing in the world," she explained, turning red from the memory.
"Really, flaming letters cute? What?" he asked defensively as she began laughing.
"You say 'cute' really weird, almost like you struggle to say the word," she explained, calming down.
"Well it's not a word I use frequently. I mean, can you imagine me, Lord Voldemort, saying cute?" he asked. Hermione froze again; she had almost forgotten who he was. "Do you not like the name?"
"Umm…uh... well, I just like Tom better, very simple, classy, and you," she explained, glad that he could not read her mind yet.
"I guess I can allow you to call me by that name then," he said, pulling her into his arms.
"You are a sucker Tommy," Hermione teased him, getting a broken puppy face. "A very handsome sucker though." He smiled at her and their eyes locked. Slowly Tom leaned down and softly brushed his lips against hers, but pulled back quickly.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that," he muttered apologetically. His pale cheeks were now a bright red that would make Ron proud.
"No, it's ok. It's more than ok," she whispered and kissed him back. She leaned her head against his chest and for a moment, nothing else mattered. "I should probably get back to my room," she murmured. He hummed his reply and she slowly backed away. "I'll see you tomorrow then?" she questioned as she continued backing her way down the hall.
"What you're not going to let me walk you back?" he asked in mock offense.
"You don't have to," she tried to argue, being polite.
"I'll take that as 'Yes Tom, I'd love you to' then," he finalized, spinning her around and holding her to his side. They walked up to the entrance, talking about everything and nothing.
"Well good night Hermione," he said finally when they reached the portrait.
"Goodnight to you too," she replied quietly, accepting a final kiss before climbing through the entrance.
"So, what happened?" Gretta asked slyly as she entered the room. Hermione looked at her and then back at the door, then back to the mischievous girls.
"How did you get here so quickly?" she nearly screamed.
"We took a couple short cuts. Now out with it!" Sydney explained, nearly falling out of her chair with eagerness.
"Nothing happened, we just talked," she told them almost truthfully.
"Talked my foot. From the twinkle in your eye and the slight goofy smile, I would say something more happened," Gretta pressed.
"Ok fine, we kissed," she gave in. Four squeals filled the room and questions assaulted her.
"Yes Sydney it was very pleasant, not Lindsey it was just a simple, completely innocent kiss, not a snog, and Ashland, wedding bell? Please," she answered. She trudged her way up the stairs and collapsed into bed, reliving the last ten minutes
