A/N So I know this chapter is incredibly late and I'm so so sorry. I was feeling terribly under the weather and got a nasty writers' block. I've been working on that one chapter for the whole time. Hopefully next chapters will come to me more quickly, especially since we'll finally be closing on Malfoy and move on.
"'Mione! Hey! 'Hermione! Wait!"
She sighed, stopped and turn to face Leo.
"Yes?"
"'Mione, I just wanted to tell you that Malfoy and McDougal are seriously pissed off after Halloween Feast. I like you and Tom so I don't want you two to get hurt, so, just be careful for the time being. I'm not sure what they are up to, I just know it's not pretty."
Two boys had all the right in the world to be mad at them. Not only did they left the duo without cancelling their hexes, but they also avoided punishment. Even more, Malfoy and McDougal were the ones who got punished, when Tom, Hermione, Minnie and Muriel all claimed that they started a fight and both Hermione and Tom's hexes were just self-defense. The boys earned week of detention and lost 50 points each. But Hermione's heart warmed. Slytherin is warning muggleborn about other Slytherin? She appreciated it greatly and she hoped to make friends with Leo in the future. He seemed like a good guy.
"Thanks for the warning Leo, that's really nice of you. I know Malfoy is your friend. Now, you better go, you start potions in 5 minutes. C'mon. Of you go."
She shooed him with her hands. He smiled, they waved each other goodbye and Hermione resumed her walk towards Charms classroom. Once inside she sat next to Tom and repeated him everything Leo told her.
"I wouldn't worry too much about two plotting first years if it wasn't for my week in Hospital Wing caused by their stupid family spells. As it is, I can't help but worry. Especially with you and McDougal living together."
Tom's hand was instantly on her cheek, thumb stroking her jaw in reassuring gesture. She could tell he was unsure of his action but it was really comforting. He look right into her eyes and smiled.
"I'll be fine, Hermione, don't worry."
She relaxed a little. When his hand left her face, she caught it and laced her fingers through his. She wanted to know that he's really with her now. Safe.
"I think we should go to library to research wards and put some around your bed and stuff. I know they're rather advanced piece of magic, but between the two of us, we'll manage. We're not the brightest duo of the century for nothing."
He grimaced for a second.
"Did someone really called us that?" She could tell that he wasn't pleased.
"Oh, professors do all the time, when they think we can't hear. But it's not a bad thing, Tom. Why would it be?"
She squeezed his hand lightly and he squeezed back, but before he could answer, the class started. They worked in companionable silence, each of them deep in thoughts while still managing to make notes. Halfway through the lesson Hermione slipped Tom a note saying 'join me in the library after dinner'. He read it and vanished it quickly.
xxxXXXxxx
After few hours, when dinner was finished, Tom headed in the direction of the library. He didn't see Hermione at the dinner and he could just hoped that she'll be there. He also found himself worried that maybe something happened to her. They knew that two boys were planning they revenge and Hermione hardly ever skipped meals.
He sighed in relief when he saw Hermione waiting for him in front of the library.
"You skipped dinner" he said rather matter-of-factly. He then shook his head and softened his tone. "I was worried about you, you know?
She smiled at him and waved a piece of parchment in front of his face. "I got us a pass to Restricted Section in case we need it while researching wards. That's what I was up to. I'm sorry if I worried you, I should've tell you." And she really looked sorry when she said that.
"It's okay."
They entered the library and he watched as Hermione made her way through the bookshelves as if she knew the place by heart. And she probably did. He smiled and then frowned slightly. He couldn't understand why or how she could make him smile so easily. This petite witch slythered into his life although he sweared to himself on the Platform 9 and ¾ that he'll keep to himself in school. She made him believe he was worthy of friendship before they even left their compartment. She was the reason he was now in Ravenclaw and not in the prejudiced pit of snakes. She was always kind to him and she really did seem to care for him.
He was drawn out of his thoughts when she came back to him, two heavy books under her arm. She took his hand and almost dragged him to a table, excitement clear in her eyes. He felt grateful that this witch was in his life. It was only few months but he couldn't imagine Hogwarts without her. Tom followed her and sat himself on the chair opposite of her. She passed him one of the books, while she was already fully focused on the other.
After an hour or so Hermione stood up, clearly angry, wand in her hand. She turned her head left and Tom's eyes followed. There, already petrified, stood Abraxas Malfoy, wand clutched tightly in his hand. Hermione huffed.
"To think that he would try to attack us in library of all places. He could've destroyed valuable books!"
"Hermione, I sometimes think that you should really think about your priorities." Tom tried to joke to soften her anger. It worked but only slightly. She gave him a small smile and then turned back to blonde, her eyes aflame. He sighed and put his hand on her shoulder. "I can't believe I'm the one saying that, considering that I'd still love to murder Abraxas for what he did to you, but I think we should just find Mrs. Iris and hand him over to her. Do you really want her to find us and think we're the bad guys? It would only create more problems."
What he told Hermione was true. Tom wanted to kill the snake for hurting his only friend. He realized that some time ago and it was hard not to dwell on that idea sometimes. Like there was something inside of him that danced when he thought about killing. It terrified him. He didn't want to be a murderer. He couldn't imagine Hermione's face if he told her he killed for her. Tom knew her well enough to know, that she would find the idea repulsive.
xxxXXXxxx
An hour later found them in Headmaster's Office, tea in hands, Dumbledore standing behind her. Hermione sipped her tea and let the older wizards talk.
"Headmaster, Ms. Granger spent a week in Hospital Wing, then the both of them are attacked at the Feast and now this? Don't you think it's high time we did something?" Dumbledore was livid, she could see that. Next to her Tom looked as if the whole case didn't involve him. Dippet seemed to consider Dumbledore's words. Charms professor continued. "You know special circumstances around Ms. Granger's live at the castle. Do we really need to make her time in here even harder to cope?"
Dippet turned to his students.
"It would be invaluable to have your insight on the story, children."
The two of them looked at each other. Finally when Hermione was about to start a story, Tom began to talk. "It all started when Leo and Abraxas met Hermione in person for the first time. They used to be my friends. That meeting left Malfoy mad. Hermione proved to be everything he thought she couldn't be as a Muggleborn. She was confident, she didn't see him as someone superior to her and she didn't seem to care when he called her a Mudblood."
He stopped for a second to take a breath, sigh, and take another breath. Hermione nodded slightly to him in encouragement.
"Some time later Malfoy thought it would be funny to hex Hermione with his family version of a Confringo. The hex blowed her down the stairs. While Hermione barely survived, he was showing off to entire Slytherin House until someone snitched on him. He was beaten by his father and threathened that if he's expelled, he will also be disowned. That fueled his rage towards Hermione. I don't know how this happened but he came to associate himself with my roommate - McDougal who's never really liked me."
Hermione finally cut in.
"It's not only that he didn't like him, sir. McDougal openly bullied Tom. And what's his reason? That Tom's familiar is a snake. Anyway you know that the two of them attacked us at Halloween Feast last I was approached by Leo.. I mean Lestrange. He warned me that Malfoy and McDougal were planning a revenge. Honestly tho, I don't think Malfoy sneaking up on us was part of their revenge. Leo said that whatever they were planning was nasty and sneaking up in library 2 vs 1 is not really a nasty thing."
Hermione finished, her face flushed with rage, fire in her eyes. Dippet looked her as if looking for any sign of lie. When he didn't find one, he said.
"Well, if that's the case.."
