A/N: Review replies to anonymous reviews of these drabbles can be found on the link provided in my profile. Drabble written for the drabble challenge at the Tomione forum.

Prompt: Striped Towel


Striped Towel

She'd been dying to get some time off, some relaxation in these days of war. So, when she'd spotted the Muggle sauna as she was shopping for food, Hermione had decided this would be her moment. War, be damned. It was nice, sitting there in the striped, fluffy towel of the sauna, just soaking her worries away. Steam rose high, blocking most of her eye-sight, leaving vague silhouettes of the other occupants. There was a large group in there, chitchatting about meaningless every day worries.

Hermione smiled, closing her eyes as her neighbours gossiped. It was nice to hear normal concerns, concerns she should've been having; instead, the weight of the wizarding world rested on her shoulders.

Then, when they'd left, she enjoyed the silence. Total and complete silence.

"One should never go anywhere unarmed, Hermione Granger."

She froze. Even though she'd never heard him speak before, that particular voice could only belong to one person. What was Lord Voldemort doing in a Muggle sauna?

"Especially when one is on the run."

Hermione looked into the direction of the high-pitched voice. His stark-white complexion was unavoidably present as he sat on the opposite bench, but she couldn't make out any details. Not that she really wanted that given her current environment.

It was as if her thought made it happen. The mist cleared, giving her a perfect view of him, sitting across from her with only a striped towel around his waist. Her eyes drew to his extraordinarily long fingers, because in it, he twirled not only his but her wand as well.

"Though I do understand the need for a pause, for relaxation, I'd never be as foolish to leave my wand in a locker that can be opened with a mere Alohomora, Hermione Granger." With a flick of his wrist, he banished her wand.

She swallowed, feeling incredibly vulnerable in her current position. Yet, she didn't want to give him the satisfaction by displaying her fear. She steeled herself. "What do you want?" she asked, surprised at and happy about the strength of her voice.

Voldemort looked down, contemplatively, his long fingers stroking the length of his yew wand. Abruptly, he looked up; those red eyes captured her gaze, burning with an intensity that caused her heart rate to spike. Protectively, her arms tightened around her waist.

"Where is Harry Potter?"

xxx