Chapter 7: His Muse, His Charm
Tom stretched his arms and shoulders as he made his way back from helping his drunk potion professor, who surprisingly weighed a ton when inebriated, reach his office. He found his feet making their way toward Gryffindor Tower for some reason and tried to override the action but his body seemed momentarily detached from his mind. Guess Tom was going whether he liked it or not.
The wizard took several secret passageways that saved him half the time and his ears perked up at some voices echoing down the corridors. More stragglers? What a lucky night for him.
"No! Where did that ghastly name come from?" a voice screeched. Tom recognized that all too familiar voice to belong to Granger which meant Potter was probably with her.
He softened his steps without slowing down and slithered closer toward the voices as he hid himself in the shadows casted by the flickering flames lining the stone wall. When he was close enough, he listened as Potter rambled on about him and his knights. Hermione stood with her back to Tom but from her body posture and Potter's amused look, Tom could piece together that the witch was not happy with their conversation's topic.
"Cat got your tongue, Princess?" the four-eyed Gryffindor asked.
Princess? When did they get so close that the Gryffindor was using names of endearment? If there was one thing Tom knew about Potter, it was his unfortunate detest for Slytherins. Well, he could go on and say that the feeling was mutual.
The wizard watched as the Fat Lady portrait creaked open and Tom could see a pair of students making out on the couch in the red and gold themed common room. The Slytherin rolled his eyes.
"Hey, I am sorry for, you know, my behavior. You're not so bad for a snake," Potter complemented, sounding almost sincere.
"Um, thanks?" was Hermione's dry response.
"Geez, maybe you should have been sorted into Gryffindor. You wouldn't be so uptight like you always are." His declaration received nothing but silence from the girl and what Tom could only assume a roll of her chocolate eyes.
Granger? A Gryffindor? The thought of losing Hermione to that useless of a house made Tom cringed. Her talents would be wasted, her knowledge unappreciated and she would end up with pathetic friends that would drag her down. In Tom's opinion, Slytherin was- is- the perfect house for a brainiac of her caliber.
"I don't have 'followers'," came Hermione's edgy voice, snapping Tom back to their conversation. He wished he had been listening closer instead of spacing out on the idea of Hermione as a Gryffindor.
Next thing Tom saw was Potter walking up to the girl, scooped up a hand and ghost kissed her knuckles before retorting, "Whatever you say, Slytherin Princess." The boy then bowed mockingly and escaped into his common room leaving Hermione behind.
Riddle heard her sighed, obviously annoyed and decided to make his presence known. He walked over toward the witch who just turned around in time to see him slip into the light, her hand shot to her chest as she yelped out surprised.
"Well, wasn't that cozy?"
"How long have you been standing there?" her shaky voice demanded.
"You sure like asking that question today, don't you? Got a secret you're willing to share with the rest of the class?" He spread his arms in an open gesture as if there was an audience behind his back.
She checked her watch, clearly ignoring his sass before looking back at him. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back in the dorm? It's almost midnight now."
He started to pace closer. "Well, when I saw you weren't back yet I got worried and assumed you lost your way so I thought I would be a gentleman and decided to come look for you. 'A young lady like yourself shouldn't be wandering a dark castle so late at night'," he mocked with Slughorn's exact words from a few weeks ago. "Though I guess you weren't alone now, were you? You and Potter seemed close."
She snorted. "Close? I don't know how much of our conversation you heard but he and I are as much 'close' as the Earth and the moon." She walked past the tall, dark haired wizard and he spun on his heels to follow beside her.
"So what is going on between you two? Secret love affair I take it? If so it looked like there was trouble in paradise."
"Our relationship is strictly business."
"Business?" he raised his voice curiously. "Well that doesn't sound scandalous at all."
Hermione quickened her pace as if trying to run away from their conversation but much like her earlier encounter with Abraxas in the library, Tom used his height advantage to easily keep up.
"Look," she began, her breath a bit winded from trying to outrun Riddle, "Professor Dumbledore asked me to tutor Potter. That's it."
"Oh, well it seemed more than that back there, Slytherin Princess."
Hermione's footsteps came to a screeching halt which caused Tom to almost crash into her and send them both tumbling down the moving stairs.
"What did you just say?" her voice high pitched with anger.
"Slytherin Princ-"
Hermione whipped out her wand and pointed it squarely at Tom, cutting him off effectively. He rose in eyebrow at her surprising action but Hermione could see the amusement on his face. "Don't call me that."
"You were the one who asked," he pointed out casually. He leaned forward until Hermione's wand was pressed against his chest as if daring her to make a move. He could feel her heated magic through his clothes from where her wand was connected to him and he wondered if she would actually hex him.
He knew she wouldn't though. Despite being a Slytherin, Hermione was too soft to attack someone so bluntly, even if that someone was him. Shame.
The two shared a moment of silence as Hermione calmed down from her impulsive action. She withdrew a wand and the two continued their way back toward their common room as if nothing happened.
"If you two are not as close as you claim to be, why was Potter calling you-" Hermione shot him a killer look, "-that," he decided to say. He didn't want to deal with an angry Hermione. Her sassy, bossy attitude was annoying enough, Tom didn't need her to be pissed off to boot and he didn't want to deal with it at this late hour.
"He seemed to think that because of the people I sit with and talk to that I'm instantly royalty within these walls. 'Slytherin Princess'- can you believe that?" she shared, throwing her hands up at the ridiculous notion. "It's as if he thought I was a dirty gold digger and that I'm putting myself on top with their reputation under my bum. It's as if he thinks I'm the new Bellatrix Black!" she practically roared and laughed.
Tom snickered darkly at her words and found her rambling to be quite amusing and ironic. "Well, with the way you acted a minute ago. I could see why."
Hermione wanted nothing more than to push the boy over like she does with Abraxas so many times. But this was Riddle and one simply does not push Tom Riddle over in a jokingly manner. The two would probably walk the rest of the way to their dorm while trying to hex each other's heads off if she did such a thing.
"Can we talk about something else?"
"How often are you tutoring the boy?" he willing complied.
Hermione wanted to laugh as she heard Riddle refer to Potter as a boy when both were the same age. "Every Wednesday and Friday night, maybe Sundays as well since Professor Dumbledore likes having tests on Mondays but I'll have to talk it over with him this Wednesday."
He hummed to himself and said, "That's a lot of time you're spending tutoring him. How about we increase our tutoring schedule as well? Say, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning?"
That made her laughed. "No."
"Why not?" he asked, sounding hurt. "It hardly seems fair to me that you're spending all of your free time with that slacker. You are wasting your time and he will only drag you down."
"You almost sound jealous, Riddle," she quirked one of her thin brows, clearly amused.
It was Tom's turn to scoff. "Please, I have nothing to be jealous of other than the fact that you seem so determined to spend all your time with a Gryffindor rather than with your own housemate. Besides, how would it look if people found out that a Gryffindor and a Slytherin, especially the Head Girl, were sneaking around the castle at night?"
"We weren't 'sneaking around'," she curled her middle and index figure into air quotes. "Don't go assuming what you don't know."
"I'm only looking out for your wellbeing," he edged his voice to make it sound caring but Hermione wasn't going to fall for it. She knew him for too long and well to fall for any of his tricks.
"Dumbledore personally asked me to do this and I am not going to let either of them be disappointed."
Tom was annoyed by her determination as they argued in circles. He grew more annoyed when she tossed the Dumbledore card in his face knowing how much he despised the man. "I still find it unfair how much more time you're committing to him. I almost feel neglected."
"Neglected?" she chuckled at the word. "We just spent the whole afternoon together in a locked room. I doubt anyone would say I neglected you today." He didn't respond. "Besides, I'm sure that once my lessons with Potter start up I'll have my hands full."
"Then you should cut his tutor time and give it to me. I would be more than happy to practice back to back on Friday nights as well at Saturday afternoons. No use in spending two days with him."
"I don't think that's a good idea either."
"Why not?" he asked but she didn't give him an answer and it only irritated him further.
The two students came to the entrance of the Head Dorms and Hermione gave the password before they both walked in. Hermione made straight for her side but Tom decided to convince her one last time.
"Why don't I tutor the boy," he started to feel vomit bubbling up at the thought, "for just one day and in return you use the extra time to have another tutor session with me?"
Hermione turned around, her eyes the size of saucers. "You want to help a Gryffindor? Sweet Salazar help us now for the great Tom Riddle has surely gone mental," she called to the ceiling before meeting Tom's eyes which had darken considerably at her sarcastic prayer. "Did you and Slughorn share a drink when you brought him back?"
"Why not?" he ignored her cheek and proceeded to close the distance between them until they almost stood chest to chest. She could smell his faint, intoxicating scent and took a step back to clear her mind. He smirked. "Do you honestly think you can handle the load you're staking on your plate?"
"Yes, otherwise I would not have stacked it so high. I'll say this for the last time: I'm going to tutor Potter and we are not going to change our," she wagged a finger between the two, "schedule. As for your 'concern' for my wellbeing, I'm more than capable to teach both of you along with taking care of my academic and Head Girl work."
Tom shot her a look of doubt and the witch groaned at his lack in confidence. She turned away to go up to her room but before her foot met the first step, Tom's calling voice stopped her.
"Hermione."
She turned around, a bit irritated that he stopped her again but at the same time surprised at the use of her first name. It wasn't the first time they called each other by their given name but Hermione still couldn't get used to it when it came from his lips.
"What?"
He looked at the clock and back at the girl before saying, "Happy birthday."
Hermione's mouth fell open at the two words. In the few years she had known Tom, he had never wished her a 'happy birthday'. Quite frankly, she didn't even know if that phrase was in his vocabulary. The clock struck midnight and there were twelve soft rings to signal the new day.
Damn he was good.
"Thank you." She muttered a hasty 'goodnight' and disappeared up the spiral stairs to get ready for bed. Tom did the same as the conversation was clearly over.
Hermione made straight for the bathroom as she needed a long, relaxing bath to clear her aching head. After a few minutes of soaking in the hot water, she waved her hand and the bathroom door opened, exposing her bag that sat on the ground by the foot of her bed. She quickly summoned her bag and blindly dug around for a book to read. Her fingers brushed against something smooth with a thin, rough pack of fabric. She fished it out and her eyes fell upon a small lime green box with silver ribbon wrapped around that came together in the middle as a neat bow. Under the bow was a note.
Hermione,
I hope you honestly did not think I would give you a single, pathetic piece of candy for your 17th birthday, did you? Truly, what kind of friend would I be to give you such a sad gift? If word got out I fear it would be enough to ruin the Malfoy name. Inside the box is your real present. Happy seventeenth, bookworm.
Yours truly,
Abraxas Malfoy
Hermione giggled as she could practically hear Abraxas smirking through the ink stained parchment. She traded the note for her present and opened it to find a silver charmed bracelet with a gold and silver charm in the shape of a tiny snitch. She palmed the charm in her hand and watched as it would occasionally flutter its wings as if ready to take flight.
How Abraxas, she thought and rolled her eyes playfully at the Quidditch inspired gift. She gingerly placed her present back in its box and sunk back into the warm water.
Tom unbuttoned his white shirt and tossed it carelessly on the ground. He quickly got ready for bed and slipped himself under the heavy, hunter green comforter as Hermione's and Potter's conversation replayed itself in his mind.
"Slytherin Princess," Potter's words echoed.
He thought about Bellatrix and her small reign of terror during her time at Hogwarts. She was a loyal- no- obsessed was a better word, but she was a worthy follower all the same. She never questioned Tom's order but she was also too stupid and careless to carry any of them out effectively. She did, after all, get caught with a student half dead at her feet. Perhaps he should have kept a closer eye on her. Then again, he was not a babysitter.
"Slytherin Princess."
Hermione's face flashed into the boy's mind as he thought of the word. The title was so… fitting. Hermione Granger, muggle-born witch extraordinaire who held herself up just as high as any pureblood.
"I don't have followers."
He smirked. Oh, how wrong she was there. Potter couldn't have been more correct to give her such a title. Hermione was almost as good at ordering his knights around as he was. Almost.
She was best friend with Abraxas, heir to the Malfoy's fortune, as well as Black, Avery and Lestrange who all would be promised a great cut of their family's wealth when they all met their parent's expectation and requirements. Could she honestly say she was just friends with those boys, that she had no interest in using them for their money and connection? Maybe. Maybe not. She fought and clawed her way toward the top, just like Tom.
And just look at Tom now. Top student at Hogwarts, Head Boy, the favorite of all teachers- minus Dumbledore-, and leader of the Knights of Walpurgis, a group of people who wanted to explore the fields of dark magic. It was only a coincidence that they were all purebloods with desirable money and connections so why not use that to Tom's advantage? It also didn't hurt that they all shared a dislike for non-purebloods, Tom could easily feed that need and create a group that stood to stomp the weak under their cleanly licked boot. But then fourth year came, and Hermione had enough of the teasing. Ever since her friendship with Malfoy, it would seem that the rest of his knights had grown a soft spot for the girl, not that he really cared. He just recently found her interesting. It wasn't a bad thing that his knights liked her. On the contrary, it would be easier when he makes her one of them. He could use another person with brains to get him to the top.
As he laid on his comfy bed, his mind wandered to this afternoon. The lesson couldn't have gone better and in a few weeks' time, he would probably have it down pat. The only question was how much time it would take for him to master the spell and when the whole ordeal was over would things return to the way they were? His and Hermione's relationship had changed quite a bit after all and it would be such a shame to revert back to their old bickering ways although he did enjoy their banter. It was rare finding someone that could hold a conversation and she had become so interesting lately. He would consider going out on a limb and admit that he actually tolerated her presence to the point where it could be acknowledged as enjoyable.
He even used the memory of their accidental embrace to produce a patronus! What was wrong with him tonight? How could that memory be powerful enough to cast a patronus when none of his torturing ones did the trick? He had more fun seeing his knights screaming on the ground than being in Hermione's arms.
It did feel good though.
He shook his head at the laughable thought that crossed his mind.
And why was he so irritated tonight when Granger was with Potter? Tom didn't hold any feelings for the girl so why did he press so hard tonight about their relationship? It didn't make sense.
Tom rubbed his tired eyes. His mind was still on Hermione and for some reason he couldn't stop thinking about her. She was making him feel jealous, attached, annoyed. It was a frenzy of emotions he wasn't used to feeling. He even offered to tutor Potter! What was he thinking?
Easy. He was thinking about the possibility of spending more time with his counterpart.
He enjoyed their time together. Not only could he be himself and speak parseltongue, an ability he had to hide his entire life, but he could also duel with her and she was a worthy opponent. She didn't hold back like his brainless followers because she was scared Tom would punish her for the tiniest scratch upon his marble skin. She wasn't afraid of him at all, something he had mixed feelings about. Tom was so used to surrounding himself with people that either kissed his shoes at the sight of him or cringe away but Hermione would have the audacity to spit on his shoes if she was angry enough.
He sighed and looked at the clock. It was already half past twelve and he needed to get some sleep. Tom had the rest of the week to think about next Saturday and the muse on the other side of their dorm that seemed to be the key to his patronus problem. It would be interesting to see what other things Hermione would do to give him "happy memories." He laughed at his last thought and shut his eyes for the night.
Wednesday had come faster than anyone had expected. Hermione sat at her desk, an arm propping her head up by the chin as she listened to her Care of Magical Creature professor lecture on about Bowtruckles. Her eyelids began to droop and she could do nothing but will them to stay open.
The class had been going on for what felt like hours as the teacher rambled on about the size of the small creature, the characteristics such as the wood color skin that allowed them to blend in with their surroundings and the locations one could find a Bowtruckle. Hermione was beyond bored but didn't stop her hand from taking notes.
"Mature Bowtruckles can grow to be eight inches tall and have long, thin, branch like fingers that help them hide, climb and fight enemies. However, these creatures are fairly peaceful and will only attack if it is threatened or if it believes it's home tree is threaten," Professor Kettleburn explained a bit too enthusiastic. Hermione liked the man's passion but she wish they would go over a more exciting topic. The man had a knack for repeating lessons from past years.
"Questions?" A Hufflepuff raised her hand. "Yes?"
"If one was cruel enough to do it, could a Bowtruckle be used to make a wand seeing as their characteristic resembles that of a tree?"
The man smiled brightly. "Fantastic question! And no, these creatures are simple guardians of their home tree. It is common that Bowtruckles select trees that are used to make wands but once their tree is cut down or dies, the Bowtruckle will also die. Not because there is a bond that links the Bowtruckle's and their home tree's lives together but purely because they have failed their life purpose and feel no need to continue on."
"That's so sad."
The man nodded. "Yes it is. Oh my, is that clock right?" he asked astonished that he had mere seconds before the bell rung. With a wave of his wand a piece of chalk wrote the reading and homework assignment that would be due at the end of the week.
Hermione quickly wrote it down and the bell rung at the draw of the last letter. She let out a relieved breath loud enough for her partner to hear.
"What a boring lesson that was," Riddle muttered as he packed his things.
"You didn't enjoy it? I found it positively fascinating," Hermione sassed.
"Yes, I'm sure that's why you nodded off during the part where he went into their mating season."
"That was the best part, wouldn't you agree?" Her eyes widened as she registered what she just said and blushed furiously at Tom's quirked eyebrow.
"Well, aren't you just full of surprises?" They exited the classroom and walked down the hall in a hurried pace as if trying to out walk the other.
"Oh, shut it. I'm just a little tired that's all. I spent all last night writing notes and drawing diagrams for Potter's lesson tonight." Tom look a breath to calm down his nerves. Did Granger just order him to shut up? He swallowed the burning feeling in his mouth.
"Did you make sure to color code it for him?" he asked childishly, taking his small anger out by poking fun at Potter's lack of intelligence. Hermione rolled her eyes causing him to smirk as he took her eye roll as a "yes."
Girls that passed by muttered a shy greeting to the black, haired boy who didn't bother acknowledging them as he focused half of his attention walking while dodging other students and the other half on Hermione's mane of tamed soft curls. For some reason, he wondered if her hair was naturally soft or if she, like the other girls with their inaudible "hello", used gallons of junk and spray to mold their hair into a society approved piece of artwork. Just a touch would let him know but he was in no position in their current relationship to just reach out and grab the answer.
"Tom!" an unwelcome screech echoed down the halls. Both Head students turned around and saw Cassidy running full speed as she ungracious bumped a group of first years to the ground in her hurry to reach her goal.
Hermione let a soft giggle slip at the sound of Tom's audible annoyed groan. Her giggling ceased when Cassidy latched her arms with Riddle's and glared at the other witch.
"Ew, what are you doing here, Granger?" the younger witch hissed with her venom coated words. "The smell of your dirty blood is so putrid it's making me want to vomit." Hermione couldn't help but mentally curse the wannabe Bellatrix. Ever since the female Black got expelled, Cassidy had stepped up to fill her shoes.
"Watch your tongue, Umbridge, before I give you a month detention with Professor Sprout. I'm sure she would be more than happy to have someone help her transfer dragon dung for hours and then we will see who smells putrid."
The leech attached to Riddle's arm gasped at the horrible idea of spending everyday up to her ankles in dragon dung.
She tugged Tom's arm. "Tom, did you hear what she said to me," the girl pouted like a four year old and battered her eyelashes in an effort to hypnotize the boy to protect her.
Tom suppressed the urge to push her to the ground. Cassidy gripped his arm tighter as if to cut off his blood circulation.
"Come on," she spoke in her best, seductive voice, tugging the arm like a leash attached to a pet. "Let's go do something more fun." She released a vice gripping hand off of the Head Boy's arm and used it to draw tiny circles on his chest, lustful eyes shining with hope.
Hermione almost vomited at the pathetic display of affection.
"I have to go tutor," she announced to dismiss herself and turned away from the awkward and embarrassing scene Cassidy was creating. Hermione ignored that false cheer Cassidy echoed down the hall as she turned a corner to leave the two Slytherins behind.
When Hermione was out of sight, Tom ripped his arm from the girl's clutches sending her to trip over her feet and land in front of his. A group of onlookers laughed at the girl rather than question Tom's ungentleman-like behavior.
"So sorry but I have lots of work to do and must really be on my way," he told her cruelly.
He turned away from the fallen girl without offering a hand to assist her up and started toward the corner Hermione disappeared behind. When he stepped into the next corridor, Hermione was nowhere in sight.
"I don't. Under. Stand. Anything," Potter muttered stubbornly into the wooden table as he banged his head repeatedly to punctuate every syllable. "Isn't human transfiguration, metamorphmagus and animagus the same thing?"
They were coming to the homestretch of their first lesson and it would seem their last subject was a bit too complicated for the boy.
"No. Human transfiguration can be done by a wizard to change a body part on either himself or on another person. A metamorphmagus is a person who is born with the ability to change only their own body like giving yourself a pig's tail or changing your feet to be web-like to help you swim. An animagus is a person who can turn into an animal at will but unlike a metamorphmagus, it is a skill that is learned. However, an animagus can only change into one animal which is undetermined until one does transform."
"So basically all three allow you to turn into an animal."
"Yes but you are thinking too shallow. Transfiguration is all about changing an object's appearance, it's not enough to say, 'you can turn into an animal'."
"Why would someone go through the trouble of being an animagus when it takes years to master? Why wouldn't they just use human transfiguration?"
"Suppose the situation had you wandless."
"I'm never wandless."
"But suppose that you were. You're an Auror chasing a band of criminals in the forest. They have a hostage and have taken your wand as insurance for her survival but that doesn't stop you from following them. You finally find their hiding spot but there are wards to detect magic and humans. What can you do?"
Potter sat on the edge of his seat, his eyes shining with the hypothetical situation.
"I'm guessing I would turn myself into an animal?"
"Yes, but how would you do it?"
"With magic-"
"There's a ward," she reminded. "The criminals would escape. Try again."
He sat back and thought. "I'm not a metamorphmagus so I can't do that."
"Uh huh."
"... I don't understand. If I can't use magic then wouldn't that rule out human transfiguration and animagus?"
She shook her head. "No, not necessarily. Think, you know this. In fifth year when we went over the differences between an animagus and a werewolf. Animagus are wizards or witches that can turn into an animal. When they complete their training-"
"They can change at will with or without a wand," he finished perfectly. Hermione beamed as she could see the answer in his eyes. "A werewolf has no choice and does not require a wand, it is just a natural transition. But with transfiguration you need a spell which would mean magic which means I should be an animagus and turn into a wolf to tear those criminals apart!"
Hermione took a moment pause at his last statement. "Well… yes I suppose you could. But anyway," she waved her hand to get his attention back to the point of the hypothetical situation, "do you understand now?"
"Human transfiguration requires a spell and wand as does an animagus that has not mastered their transformation but once they do, they are like a megamorphmagus and can change at will without the use of detectable magic."
"Because using a spell with a wand…"
"Is considered detectable magic and so it would set off the wards. And if you are in an animal state you technically have no magic so you can cross the wards!" he exclaimed as he solved the problem.
"Yes! You got it!" Hermione jumped with excitement making a few students nearby shush them angrily.
Potter leaned back in his chair with his hands cradling the back of his head, a smiling reaching from both ears as he stretched.
"Not bad Granger. I almost thought this was a waste of time but I have to admit I like the whole Auror situation thing. It really makes me think on my feet."
"I'm just glad it helped."
He turned his grin toward her. "It really did. Thanks."
Hermione couldn't believe that the Gryffindor was actually smiling at her. Just a few nights ago they were at each other's throats. She looked at her wristwatch and back to her pupil leaning dangerously in his chair.
"Alright, we got through everything I wanted to get through and it's almost curfew. You're free to go," she dismissed, gathering her books and scattered papers of diagrams and notes.
"Finally," the boy muttered and started to do the same.
"Yes, I know, you're finally free from this horrendous lesson and I'm sure you are just eager to run back to your room and hit the books hard," sarcasm practically pouring out of her. "Just don't let me catch you wandering the castle again. I don't think any professor would let you off as easily as Slughorn did last time."
"So as long as I don't get caught I can sneak around after curfew?" he asked cheekily.
"No," was Hermione's stern reply as she shifted into her Head Girl mode, a natural transformation that occurred the closer it got to her patrol time. "And if you do get caught again I won't bail you out like last time."
"Aw, c'mon Granger, where is your sense of fun and adventure? Did you leave them in those books of yours?" He picked up a book and flipped rapidly through the pages as if expecting to find a neon sign that said 'Hermione's sense of fun and adventure' between the pages.
She didn't think twice to roll her eyes. He laughed and gave back her book which she stuffed into her bag.
"So, I wanted to ask about our schedule," she started while simultaneously slinging her bag over her shoulder. "I was thinking we would get together Wednesday and Friday nights if that was alright with you."
The boy lost his smile. "Friday nights? Why so many days?"
Hermione shrugged. "It wouldn't hurt and I assumed you would want your weekends open. Professor Dumbledore usually gives weekly assignments on Mondays so I thought Wednesday could be used to answer any questions and review what we learned in class and Friday could be used to solidify the lessons we covered over the week. I was also thinking we could plan some Sunday tutoring but-"
"Sunday?" he cut Hermione's rambling. "Merlin, woman take a breath why don't you? Why would we need three sessions? I'm not that rubbish, am I?"
"No nothing of the sorts," she reassured. "Professor Dumbledore likes to give quizzes on Mondays so I thought it would help."
The Gryffindor grimaced. "As much as I appreciate how passionate you are about this," he waved his hand over the table to gesture their tutor session, "I think I will be fine with just two days."
"Two?" her voice giving her astonishment away. She expected him to ask for just one day.
"Yeah. This was really helpful and I actually understand the lesson from Monday now. Wish we set this up earlier, I'm pretty sure I did horrible on that last quiz."
Hermione couldn't help the proud smile on her face as the two walked toward the library exit. The librarian gave them a nod farewell when they got to the door.
"So Wednesday and Friday night?" she asked for clarity. He nodded.
They walked together as the Head Dorm and Gryffindor Tower were in the same direction. The silent pause between them was a bit awkward as the rivalry tension could still be felt in the air. Hermione started to run through her list of assignments she had to finish, distracting herself but the list was short and the assignments weren't due for at least five more days.
Potter leaned over and muttered, "Here comes your boyfriend."
"What?" Hermione sputtered at the absurdity of his sentence. She looked up to fine none other than Riddle walking toward them "He is not my boyfriend," she practically growled.
He shrugged. "Prince, boyfriend, narcissistic arse who thinks he can do whatever he pleases; same thing if you ask me."
"Ugh, are you seriously still going on about that again?"
He just shrugged his shoulders in answer. The three stopped when they were just a few feet away.
"Evening Granger, Potter," Tom greeted politely although Potter's name came out as a low grumble.
"Riddle."
"Snake," Potter spat.
Tom ignored the boy's insult and turned to Hermione."What are you two up to?"
"None of your business, Riddle," the Gryffindor answered. Tom narrowed his eyes.
"I don't see the need to be so hostile, Potter," his tone taken down an octave that sent shivers tickling Hermione's spine. She could feel the magical tension in the air as the two titans clashed.
"I can't help it when people like you are in my presence." Hermione could see Potter holding back the urge to spit on Riddle's iron pressed uniform.
"Well, don't wait for my dismissal." Tom took a side step closer to Hermione and swept his hand over the spot where he once stood. "Hop along before I deduct your precious house points."
Potter pressed his lips into a hard, thin line and shot a glance at Hermione as if saying, "see?" before stomping off toward his common room.
"Why did you do that?" she asked when her pupil was out of hearing range.
Tom looked down on the fuming girl. "Do what?" innocence masking his facial features. Damn he was good.
"You know how much Potter hates Slytherin. You didn't need to provoke him like that."
"What? Provoke him? In case you missed what really happened, he was the one provoking me," he argued.
"That may be, but you didn't have to treat him the way you did."
"Maybe so, but he should learn to control his temper."
She huffed. Their lesson went so well and Hermione really thought she and Potter could be friends. It would be a nice change from her Slytherin group. Hermione stepped around Riddle and continued her way toward the Head Dorm. Much to her surprise Tom followed and quickly fell into step.
"Going to chase after him?" he asked.
"What? No, I'm going back to my room so I can drop my stuff off before our patrol starts. Why?" He shrugged. "Why are you following me? Weren't you on your way to do something before running into us?"
"No, I was going to check out a book for an assignment but considering how tight it is to patrol time, I thought I would walk with you instead."
"Well you don't have to wait up for me. It's not like we have to patrol together."
"But it's so much more fun to have another person."
She snorted. "Why don't you get Umbridge? She seemed more than eager to have some alone time with you."
"Are you jealous?" he paired his question with an eyebrow raised. Hermione sensed the deja vu from the question as it was the same one she asked him only a few days ago.
"Jealous? Me? Of her?" her voice got higher with every word and then scoffed as if coughing something up, "Hardly."
"You sound like you're jealous," he pushed.
She chuckled. "Just because you have every girl here flocking over you doesn't mean I'm going to follow suit." They made it to the portrait hiding the entrance to their dorm when the large bell started to chime as it was now nine. "Just go patrol first. It will be faster if we split up."
He couldn't argue with her there and Tom had been getting back late recently.
"Alright," he gave in surprisingly. "I'll take the fourth floor up."
"Fine," Hermione yawned.
"I take it you are tired from dealing with Potter's lack of brain power?"
She narrowed her eyes. "No, and for your information our lesson couldn't have gone smoother."
"I still find it unfair you are spending more time on him."
"I already told you-"
"And I have already offered to tutor him," he cut in. "Why not make it easier on yourself and take it?"
"From the display I saw just a few minutes ago you two would be at each other's throat, so no."
He expelled an annoyed huff. "You are going to overwork yourself and I will be stuck with all the work."
"You shouldn't worry so much or else your hair will grey and we wouldn't want people mistaking you for Abraxas."
"I'm touched by your concern," he said moodily.
"Likewise," she replied, and quickly added, "And I'm fine. I can take care of myself as well as cater to yours and Potter's need."
"You are stacking your plate high, Granger," his voice a warning.
"And you are supposed to be patrolling, Riddle." Hermione gave the password to open the entrance to her common room before turning back to the Head Boy. "I will take the third floor to the dungeons." With that, Hermione stalked through the hole in the wall leaving Tom alone.
Despite her confidence, Hermione was starting to feel the weight her high staked plate bear. Now with another person to tutor, Hermione found her time split into fragile threads between Tom, Potter, homework and her Head Girl's responsibilities.
The next couple of weeks had been brutal and Hermione was glad to finally have it be a Sunday. She and Potter had been making great progress and could even hold a conversation without giving the other a snarky comment every ten seconds. Hermione felt that he was really warming up to her. Still, as happy as she was to be getting along with the Gryffindor, the extra work she took on was tiring her out.
The day before, Tom seemed determine to use all of their time up on him. Hermione didn't mind though, she was mentally and physically too tired to sit through a parseltongue lesson. Their usual routine would start with Hermione's parseltongue lesson, followed by a duel and then finished with Riddle's Patronus lesson. With every duel, Hermione picked up on Tom's fighting style and even a couple of his own spells which to his surprise, she was able to learn and use on him. She had yet to win a duel, although, she did give him a few good cuts and bruises. However, she also had a few good cuts and bruises of her own. After their fight, the next hour or so would be spent with Tom attempting the protection charm while Hermione sat on her black treasure chest, watching him. There were moments where his attempts looked like a success but like the others, it disappeared as fast as it came. When Hermione asked what memories he was using to get an idea of where to help him, Tom wouldn't say. If it was any other day she would have pushed for an answer but since she was so tired, she left it a mystery.
But all of that did not matter now. It was finally a Sunday which meant no tutoring but regrettably that did not mean her time to relax had come. This Sunday wasn't just any Sunday. This Sunday was the first Sunday of October which mean it was the day of Slytherin's Quidditch tryout and there was a certain Quidditch obsessed, silvery blond haired boy who wasn't about to let his best friend miss out on such a momentous day. Now here Hermione was, sitting in the Great Hall with her tired head propped on her hand as she blankly stared down at her breakfast which strategically had pieces of toasts and eggs to look like a scoring hoop and quaffle.
Hermione closed her eyes for five blissful seconds of sleep until she felt the table shift beside her and a voice commented,
"You look awful."
"Your Malfoy charms are at their peak, I see," she joked into her hands, shutting her eyes for a few more seconds.
Abraxas gave a quick laugh. "You couldn't handle the power of a Malfoy's charm. It would be too much for your good health and quite frankly, I like having you around," he exaggerated.
Hermione opened her eyes and looked at her friend. "I think I've manage quite well over the past few years. Maybe you are not as charming as you believe you are."
"Oh really?" he asked, taking her statement as a challenge.
As if on cue a group of sixth year Ravenclaw girls walked by as they eyed Abraxas lustfully in his arousing Quidditch uniform with the title "Captain" on the back. He flashed his perfect white teeth and ever so lightly winked, causing the girls to squeal in delight. Distracted by the handsome blond, one of the girls who wasn't paying attention to her surroundings fumbled into another student which caused a domino effect as her other friends crashed into her. They saw Abraxas laugh at their embarrassment and fled to the furthest end of their table as they tried to hide their beet red faces of shame. Abraxas looked back to Hermione with nothing but a smug look on his face.
"You were saying?"
They both looked at each other before bursting out in laughter. Hermione picked up her fork and stabbed her egg yolk. She watched as the yellow goo ran down and sunk between the pieces of toast.
"So, where have you been lately? I feel like I have hardly seen you and the day I finally do you look like a zombie... a pretty one at that," he added when Hermione glared playfully at him. "Something I should know about?"
"No. I have just been busy."
"With?" he poked for further explanation.
"Stuff," was all she cared to give.
"You have been spending a lot of time with Tom nowadays. Didn't you two hate each other?"
Hermione turned her head to meet his grey eyes. "Where did that come from all of a sudden?" He just shrugged. "I've never really hated him."
"Oh? So it was just my imagination that the last two years weren't you being, 'That damn Riddle got a higher score than me again! Oh, he thinks he's so clever sucking up to all the professors, does he?" The blond waved a hand over his shoulder to charade flipping long hair out of his way and continued in his best take of her voice.
"Alright," Hermione gave in, "alright, I get it. I guess I have had my fair share of Riddle complaints in the past." Abraxas snickered victoriously before taking a bite out of his eggs in a basket and washed it down with orange juice.
"So," he went on as if nothing happened and reached for a biscuit, "what are you two doing all the time? I hardly see you and him anymore."
"We're helping each other with a project."
"Hermione Granger asking for help on a project?" he dramatically exclaimed. "Now you have to tell me what it's for."
"Sorry," she shrugged. They had a mutual agreement to not disclose their tutor sessions and she wasn't about to be the one to break it. Besides, she was a horrible liar. A crafty Slytherin like Abraxas could see through her pathetic lies. Hell, a five year old could see through her lies.
"Aww, c'mon, I can keep a secret," the blond playfully nudged her in the side and gave her a wink that made a few girls across the room sigh with envy.
"Nope," she said and shook her head.
"Ah you bookworms are never any fun," he whined. "It's probably Runes or Transfiguration."
Just because you're rotten at Runes doesn't mean everyone else is, she wanted to say but caught herself before the sentence escaped her lips. It was odd. Did she almost defend Riddle? Now she knew she had been spending way too much time with him.
Hermione let out a small yawn, covering her mouth in the process of being polite, although, she did hang out with boys who wouldn't give two hoots about manners. Even Abraxas and Cygnus had been caught wiping their mouths with the back of their hands.
"Remind me again why I'm up so early?"
"Because I need my lucky charm to make sure everything goes smoothly today."
She raised an eyebrow. "Lucky charm? Me? Since when did that happen?"
"Since when I was knocked off my broom during the match against Ravenclaw fifth year and you saved me from a nasty neck break. I could have died!" he roared dramatically.
She laughed at his outburst. "You wouldn't have died, there were plenty of professors that would have done something."
"Yeah but you were the one that slowed down my fall." He took a large chomp into his buttered biscuit.
"But you still ended up in the infirmary with a broken foot. How is that lucky? If anything, it seems like you break a bone every time we're together."
"I caught the snitch and won that match, didn't I?" was his smug answer. "And I haven't gotten hurt that many times, right?" She nodded. "Name another time that I broke something in your presence."
Hermione straightened her back at the challenge and Abraxas knew he made a grave mistake. "Fine. Fourth year during Defense, I broke your ribs, fifth year, as we have already covered, you broke your foot during a Quidditch match, sixth year Cassidy ambushed you with a tackle while we were walking to Charms and you fell down the stairs and broke your hand-"
"I sprained my hand," he quickly corrected.
"Not the point. The point is that you always get hurt and I don't want to start this year with you in the Hospital Wing."
He waved off her worries as if it was a huff of smoke in his face. "I'm not going to get hurt so quit your worrying. You are going to work your lucky charm magic and everything is going to go smoothly."
"Is that what you say to all the girls?"
"You're the only one," he easily said and took a sip from his goblet.
She sighed dramatically. "Well, fine I guess I will work my magic and keep your safe since you seem to be so accident prone."
He spit his drink back into his goblet making Hermione giggle wildly. "I am not prone to accidents. If anything, I blame my bad luck on my looks."
"Your looks?"
"Yeah. I assume there's a higher being up there who is jealous of my looks and wants me dead."
"You are incredible."
"So I've been told." Hermione looked up to ask him what he meant but stopped at the sight of that devious smirk on his face.
"Oh," she whispered, a blush coloring her face when she caught onto his reference to the girls he had bedded in the past. They took a pause from their conversation to eat. Hermione looked around and noticed the other teams, including Slytherin's weren't in the Great Hall.
"What time does tryout begin?"
"An hour from now, give or take."
"A-an hour?" she squealed. "Why did you make me get up so early? We've been sitting here for at least half that time."
A tired laugh came from behind her. "Oh come now, Hermione, you aren't still going on about not wanting to come, are you?" Cygnus said as he took a seat in front of Abraxas and started to load his plate with food. "You are Head Girl, not to mention a Slytherin. Show some support for your fellow housemates."
"See? Even Black here wants you there."
The dark haired Slytherin leaned in closer and said, "Just be grateful he asked you to wake up early instead of breaking into your room. If it weren't for me, he would have gone through with it."
Her eyes widen at the seriousness of his face, waiting for him to break the mask but he never did. "Honestly?"
He chuckled deeply, "Ambition is one of the many qualities of a Slytherin and he isn't entirely against using brute force."
"Hey," the fair haired wizard cut into his friend's whispering conversation. "I'm still here, you know. You guys are making me sound like an abusive friend."
"You can't deny what I told her to be nothing but truth," Cygnus smirked earning a lopsided frown from Malfoy and a muffled laugh from Hermione.
Hermione looked over Cygnus and saw he wasn't wearing a jersey like Abraxas. "Will you be trying out this year Cygnus?"
"Yeah, what with it being our last year together and all. Why not?" He took a bite of his toast and washed it down with some coffee. "I'm thinking I'll try for chaser."
"Is Avery and Lestrange trying out too?" Hermione asked to make small talk. She could care less about those two.
"You know it, sweetheart" Avery said from behind her. Hermione wrinkled her nose at the pet name he used for all girls. Sweetheart, darling, love, girly, hun; Hermione hated and found them all degrading toward women when it came from his lips, as if Avery thought they were all fine pieces of meat laid out for him.
Avery took a seat away from Hermione and Lestrange sat on the other side with Cygnus. "Me and Owen will be taking the beaters position again," he declared confidently as him and Lestrange shared a wicked smile.
"So, Hermione," Lestrange began, "haven't seen you around much. Abraxas has been complaining non- Ouch!" the boy was cut off with a rough whack to the head with a rolled up newspaper Abraxas snatched from Hermione's hands.
"I have not been 'complaining'," Malfoy gritted through his teeth, shooting a fiery look down to the boy as he cowered away. His expression eased at the sound of Hermione's laugh.
"I've been helping Potter with Transfiguration," she told the group that practically gasped in horror.
"Why are you doing such a thing with Potter," Avery spat the name as if it was the vilest thing to touch his tongue. Avery hated Gryffindors just as much as Potter hated Slytherins.
"Dumbledore asked me and I accepted," was all she said.
"Of course," the bulky boy said with practically relief in his voice. "Why else would you tutor him? Salazar forbid a Slytherin and a Gryffindor be seen together out of their own free will." He shuttered to strengthen his obvious disgust at the thought.
"You're really tutoring Potter?" came Abraxas' voice mixed with worry and annoyance.
"Yes, why?"
He turned back to his plate. "I can't believe Dumbledore is making you fraternize with the enemy," he growled. "Asking you to help his house? I'm not surprised."
"I'm not fraternizing with the enemy."
"Maybe you can teach him all the wrong stuff so that he fails," Cygnus grinned which eased the tense atmosphere.
"Yeah! That's a fantastic idea," Abraxas agreed with his dark haired friend. "Then Pothead would lose his Captain title which means-"
"Slytherin will win the House Cup for sure," finished Lestrange earning a wicked grin from the rest of the boys.
Hermione groaned at their childish behavior and let the conversation end there as she did not want to continue what would have been an idiotic argument.
Everyone began eating while Hermione took back her copy of the Daily Prophet and started to read. She wasn't really hungry this morning but forced herself to nibble on some toast anyway. The next half hour was filled with nothing but Quidditch talk and Hermione was having a difficult time concentrating on her reading. A hand gripped around her upper arm suddenly and she felt herself gently yanked up from her seat, dropping her reading in the process.
"Let's go, Hermione," Abraxas said excitedly as the other boys made their way for the exit. He continued to pull her along impatiently, fighting the urge to just wrap his arms around her waist and walk out of the room with her over his shoulder if that was what it took.
"Wait my bag!" she yelled fighting against his grip. Every time her hand was within touching distance Abraxas gave her a strong tug back. It was like taking one step forward and three steps back. Literally.
"You won't need your bag at the Quidditch Pitch," he stated a bit annoyed and continued to pull her harder until he was dragging her along. She started to fumble as he continued to roughly pull her out of the hall with green-eyed girls following her every movement.
She knew that Abraxas didn't like it when she brought her books to what he considered to be sacred ground. It was like an insult that she would rather have her eyes on inked pages than on the players risking their necks for entertainment purposes. Still, Hermione wasn't about to leave her stuff out in the open.
They were almost at the door when Hermione pulled out her wand from the waistband of her skirt and yelled,
"Accio bag!"
Her bag floated up and soared into her hands right before Abraxas pulled the witch from the dining hall. She smiled with her bag in hand as her blond kidnapper groaned at the sight of the item. He continued to lead her straight to the pitch as he chanted,
"Don't worry, it will be loads of fun."
It was not loads of fun. In fact, it was anything but loads of fun and after discovering that she somehow forgot to put a book in her bag, Hermione was close to bursting into tears from boredom. Every now and then Abraxas would hover down to her but then one of the older players, namely Avery or Lestrange, would knock an underclassman off their broom and Abraxas would have to fly off to scold the injured boy for falling in the first place.
Hermione took this as an opportunity to really try to like the game. She watched attentively as Avery and Lestrange expertly passed the bludgers between them as they knocked people out one by one. That caused her to cringe so she turned her attention to Cygnus who was showing off by scoring effortlessly. The pitch's stands were filled with a large group of girls from all houses including Gryffindor. They squealed when Cygnus threw the quaffle through the hoop and the young wizard did nothing but gave them a teasing smile. Hermione cheered along with the other girls but with less energy. Sleep deprivation was something she rarely experienced and the new sensation was hitting her hard. She wished she had a cup of coffee during breakfast.
The stands cheered and shrieked when Abraxas decided to play. He soared at a neck breaking speed as he tailgated the flying gold orb. The others who were trying out for beater were hot on his tail but Hermione wasn't worried. She knew Avery and Lestrange would keep him safe.
"I don't understand why they even try," came a voice from behind.
Hermione turned her head and instantly groaned at the sight of that irritating grin.
"Hey," Cormac greeted.
Hermione hung her head and closed her eyes in prayer. Oh please, God, please no. Please Salazar, let me open my eyes and find that I was just hallucinating McLaggen.
Hermione opened her eyes and lifted her head to find a smiling Gryffindor standing above her. She mentally gagged within her head. "You aren't allowed up here."
"Sure I am," his tone playful.
"No, you're not. Quidditch players are not allowed to observe other house's Quidditch tryouts or practices without permission from their Captain and I would bet that Abraxas didn't give you his blessings."
"I'm not allowed to watch but those other girls are allowed to?" he asked pointing to the other colorful stands representing the rest of the houses.
"Yes, because they are not trying out for Quidditch," you dense git, she add silently.
Cormac shrugged his shoulder and took a seat beside her. He tried his best to strike up a conversation with Hermione but the girl would not have any of it. Not after he tried to force himself on her in the halls last time. Hermione continued to watch as the boy beside her chattered about his great saves and unrivaled leadership.
"Hey, Gryffindork!" Avery yelled. Both Cormac and Hermione turned toward the hovering Slytherin with a bat in his hand. Lestrange was just a few feet from his friend with the same angry look. "Get your filthy self off the Slytherin's stands and get out of here! You aren't allowed to be here while we have our tryouts."
"Like I am going to listen to a brainless bird like you!" he yelled back. "What is the point in having tryouts anyway? Once I make keeper, you snakes won't even score a point!"
Avery turned himself so that he was facing them straight on. He pointed his heavy bat at the Gryffindor and said,
"Get the hell out of here before I knock you off those bleacher and we will see how good of a keeper you are with a brace around your neck and a piece of wood stuck up your arse!"
At that, Avery soared off to join Lestrange as the two duo continued their onslaught at knocking people off their brooms.
"Glad that mutt is out of our hair." The curly blond haired boy sat on the bench where Hermione's feet rested so he could face her.
"Avery is not a mutt and I think you should leave now," her tone clipped of any amusement. His eyes didn't say the same thing.
"Are you still mad about the night in the corridors?" Hermione turned her head away to show she was finished acknowledging him. The boy just shifted to counter her. "Look, I'm sorry alright? Wasn't it enough that I got sacked by Malfoy?"
"You don't sound sorry and since it's so obvious that you have learned nothing and can't take a hint, I only wished that Abraxas punched you harder."
"Pff," he waved her off, "That sissy couldn't throw a decent punch if he tried."
"It was decent enough to send you flying," she bit back.
He smiled and leaned in closer. "I like it when you get all feisty like this."
She groaned, "you never learn do you? I'm not interested." She shot to her feet and McLaggen did the same to block her way. "Move."
"No," he sung.
Hermione narrowed her eyes and took a step to go around him. McLaggen matched her step with one of his. Hermione tried to step around him again but McLaggen repeated his action as the two fell into a repetitive dance. She stopped her fruitless actions and the boy did the same as his larger structure shadowed over the tiny witch, cutting her vision off from the Quidditch tryouts like a curtain.
"C'mon Hermione-"
"That's Granger to you," she flared.
"Won't you give me a chance? Come out with me next week to Hogsmeade. I promise you that you will have a great time. I mean, who wouldn't?" he asked with a cocky grin and an obvious flex of his muscles.
"You are unbelievably egotistical." He made a face as if he didn't know the meaning of the word. "Will you move now? I would like to watch the rest of the tryouts in peace."
"Why would you want to watch them when I'm right here?" he wiggled his eyebrows.
Salazar, is this what Riddle and Abraxas have to deal with all the time? Hermione questioned. She felt pity for her fellow, overly handsome Slytherins.
Cormac wasn't shaken by her silence and continued on with trying to persuade the girl. "Let's get out of here an-"
A high pitched scream cut through the air and Cormac ripped his eyes away from Hermione's to see what all the commotion was about. Flying straight at him was a bludger, courtesy of Avery who floated several feet away with a smirk on his face. A cry ripped from the blond Gryffindor's throat and his first instinct was to throw himself to the ground for safety only to leave Hermione surprised and defenseless. She whipped out her wand when her senses came back and roared,
"Aresto Momentum!"
Her breath hitched several notches as the ball still grew slower at the dangerous speed and she wished she had sent a reducto instead. She opened her mouth to call the spell but it got lodged in her throat leaving her frozen and speechless.
The next events happened in a blur. She heard a voice, then saw a bright, jet of light whizzed by. A large explosion followed, knocking her backward as she was caught in the after blow. She must have slammed herself against the hard bleachers as there was a painful sting from her leg up and Hermione could feel liquid running down her leg. Stars danced in Hermione's eyes as the world beneath her began to shake like an earthquake, the last thing she heard was a familiar voice shouting her name before her mind fell into darkness.
Author's Note: Hmm... Did someone febreze jealously into the air?
I have decided to put this story ON HOLD until I can map out exactly what is going to happen later. I am NOT abandoning this so no worries. In the meantime, I will focus on my other story, The Orphanage. Sorry if this puts a sour taste in your mouth. I was going to write as I go but now I don't think that is fair to you, my lovely readers. I just wanted to give you all a heads up. *Shrug* We'll see what happens.
Thank you everyone for your support and kind words for both of my stories, they really motivate me to sit down and write a chapter. When I saw that I hit the 200 follower mark for both stories I nearly screamed my head off. THANK YOU!
Until next time.