I warned that it would be bad, so I'm just going to apologize in advance. Bear with me, everything happens for a reason.
WARNING: NON-CON, drug use, violence, mentions of murder
I know it's dumb that I fucked up your plans
I wish I was more of a man
I wish I was more of a man
-Ozone, Chase Atlantic
The next few days that Hermione spent on Riddle's estate were, if she were being cliché about it, a blur. She'd been forced to stay drugged up for the first two days, because Riddle "didn't want to deal with her", and she'd done nothing but lie around as a result. She guessed that he'd figured out that if she were sober, she would have put up a hell of a fight. He was right. Theo was there whenever he could be, making sure that she stayed hydrated and fed, alternating between repeatedly apologizing and ranting about Draco.
Apparently, Riddle wanted money and more weapons, but that was the least of it. She'd heard through Theo that Riddle was indeed making Draco take out the current head of his organization, Lucius Malfoy, and handing everything under his name to him. Hermione didn't see Draco ever agreeing to such a thing, so she had long resigned herself to figure out her own means of escape. Of course, that in and of itself was a tricky situation, what with the literal guns aimed at her friends' heads.
Even after the drugs had long left her system, the affects still remained, and she felt groggy and heavy and like her mouth was full of sand. She found herself seated on the couch in the rather nice shack out back. She could hear the familiar sound of music and cheery commotion coming from the mansion. It seemed that Riddle had a knack for having a rather lively gathering every other night or so. She figured that it was full of drunken men with wandering hands and scantily clad women, remnants of coke on their breasts.
Two hours later, she found herself to be proven right. Theo had come and gotten her after being told that she was allowed out –oh, joy– and had all but dragged her to the mansion, looking like something out of The Great Gatsby. There was indeed people everywhere, countless drugs and booze in their already inebriated systems. Theo had weaved through them all with ease, the occupants paying them no mind as something more exciting held their interest. He'd led her up the stairs and into a room, and Hermione was grateful that they hadn't crossed paths with Riddle on the way up.
The music was muffled inside of the dimly lit room, and Theo sighed as he walked towards the window. She watched as he glanced out of the window before closing the curtains.
"What are we doing up here?" she finally asked.
He slowly looked around the room, piercing blue eyes practically glowing in the dim light as he walked around. She sighed when he didn't answer and was about to try and grab his attention again when he gripped her hand. It wasn't long before she found herself leaning against the sink in the bathroom, the door locking with a 'click' and the water running. She was just about to ask him how high he was when he practically slammed something into her hand.
Hermione stared down at the phone in shock. It was an older model smartphone, but it looked brand new. In fact, upon unlocking it, she could see that there was nothing personal about the phone at all. There was no passcode, no extra apps, and no contacts. Well, there was one contact, saved under the name of 'Unknown'. She looked up at him in confusion.
"Theo, what-?"
She was cut off by his hand, index finger coming up to lay over his lips, a shake of his head indicating that she was to be quiet. She followed his instructions, swallowing and glancing down at the phone just as it buzzed. She glanced back up at Theo, watching as he made a 'well?' face before returning her attention to the phone. She clicked on the notification, watching as a single game die emoji appeared in the messages.
Hermione was sure that her sharp intake of breath could be heard over the water. She looked up at Theo, only to find him leaning against the wall, arms crossed and face turned away with a frown, indicating that this was indeed who she thought it was. She couldn't fight the smile that broke out over her face even if she wanted to. She didn't get a chance to reply before more messages were coming in.
I'm sorry. I know that you probably hate me for locking you up like a prisoner, but did what I thought was best. I knew that you'd go running back. A lot of good that did, huh?
He tried to kill me, and the feeling is more than mutual, but that prick and I have come to a temporary understanding. Hence, why you have this.
I'm going to get you back, and you can scream at Blaise and I to your heart's content. I promise. If they touch you I'm slitting everyone's throat.
Hermione waited a few more minutes, shutting off the screen when no more messages came. She looked up at Theo with a light chuckle, unsure of how to respond.
"Thank you," she said.
"There's no need. I owe it to you," he said with a shrug.
There was a brief silence, one that was filled with tension before Hermione turned the water off and hopped up onto the counter.
"What is he going to do to me? If Draco doesn't do what he asks…"
"Don't-."
"I have to. Stuff happens, Theo, and in case that stuff does happen, I need to know what could happen to me. Is he going to kill me? Make me sell drugs? Kill someone? Sell me off? Drag me into his bed?" she harshly continued.
Theo was visibly uncomfortable with that last scenario, face paling as he stood up straight.
"Don't think about any of that, okay?" he said with a pointed nod towards the phone in her hand.
Hermione clutched it before slipping it into her front pocket.
"Draco isn't going to be able to do everything that he asked of him. You and I both know that, Theo."
Theo shook off her concerns, whether naïve or just in denial, she didn't know.
"Everything will be alright."
I'm 'bout to ruin the Ozone
I know you're sitting alone
Everything was not alright. A few days later, Hermione found herself in yet another club with Riddle. Theo was nowhere to be found, and Hermione was sure that Riddle had done this on purpose. The room that they were in was dark, the red lights providing no source of real light anywhere. It was filled with both men and women alike that she did not recognize. Well, save for Riddle, and that was what scared her. In the entire establishment, Riddle was the only familiar face.
She paid them all no mind as she absentmindedly watched a few girls dance in the open spaces, outfits leaving little to the imagination. Her nose was filled with smoke, nostrils screaming in protest. She turned her head in time just to get another face full of smoke in her face. She glared at the smirk that lined Riddle's lips, mouth closing around the cigarette to pull another drag.
"What's the matter? Not enjoying yourself?"
She didn't answer, only really speaking when she felt it necessary lately.
"Here, I thought you'd be happy to get out. Get some fresh air," he said, smiling at his own joke as he blew smoke into her face again.
Again, she didn't dignify that with a response, and she noticed that she now had the attention of a couple. Perhaps couple was a strong word, seeing as Hermione was sure that the short haired girl in his lap was nothing more than a new face for the night.
"Your snooty little princess doesn't seem very pleased with you, Riddle," the man chuckled.
Hermione resisted the urge to sigh, fingers pulling at the end of the sparkly pink dress she'd been forced to wear, looking like something out of a sugar baby magazine.
"She never is. Unfortunately, I don't seem to have completely broken her spirit, just yet," he mused, reaching up to brush his thumb along her neck.
She slapped his hand away to which he eagerly gripped her wrist hard enough to make her hiss. The unknown man sitting next to them grinned wider, green eyes glowing with mischief.
"Perhaps she's tired of you. I'd be more than happy to cheer her up."
Hermione glared at him in disgust, and before Riddle had a chance to respond, a man was bursting into the room, making his way towards Riddle. He was one of Riddle's errand boys. She recognized his face despite not knowing his name, and she wasn't sure what it was that he did for Riddle exactly. He whispered something into her captor's ear, the older man's lips pulling into a smirk as his eyes found hers.
The very next second, he was standing, yanking her up with him. His eyes found those of the man he'd been talking to, brushing his lips along the inside of her wrist as he spoke.
"That will never happen. This one is all mine."
She had no choice but to follow as he dragged her out of the room, the sound of music and rowdy drunks hitting her ears like a freight train. They walked along the outskirts of the huge room, climbing the fancy clear stairs. She stumbled a few times in her shoes, pain shooting up her foot when she stubbed her toe.
She was surprised to find that the entire upstairs of the club was as spacious as it was. It was set up like an entirely private club, complete with a bar, dancing poles, and tinted windows that gave Hermione a view of the city. Fancy white chairs lined the walls, and before the white chairs that were across from her, stood Draco, Blaise, and one other man that she didn't recognize.
Hermione's eyes widened as her gaze fell onto her fiancé, completely aware of Riddle's eyes on her. She could visibly see Draco relax just the slightest as he raked his eyes over her frame. Hermione took note of the healing mark on his forehead, and she wondered if Theo had done that. She was also glad to see that Blaise appeared to be perfectly unharmed, relieved that Theo had been telling the truth.
She gasped when Riddle suddenly gripped the back of her neck, her ponytail making it easy for him, and shoving her in front of him. She winced as his fingers harshly dug into her skin.
"As you can see, she's perfectly fine," he sweetly commented.
Draco's jaw clenched at her treatment.
"I can give you everything you asked for by the end of the week," he finally spoke.
Hermione frowned at this.
"…and dear old Lucius?"
"That will take time, as I've told you before," he spat through clenched teeth.
Hermione's frown deepened at this. He wasn't really planning on killing his father, was he? No, he had to be saying that to buy him time to get her friends to safety. Granted, his father had made it perfectly clear that he did not approve of her, but… Surely Draco wasn't going to kill his own father.
"I'm afraid that you don't have time. I want everything," he shook her, making her reach up to claw at his fingers "I asked for by the end of this week."
Hermione swallowed when Draco's eyes hardened, nothing but pure hatred simmering there.
"That is impossible, and you know it," he hissed.
"Difficult? Yes," Riddle began.
He brought his cheek down to rest on the side of her head.
"Impossible? No. I've seen what you're capable of, young Malfoy. Dare I even say that you can be more cunning and vicious than your father when you want to be," he purred, and Draco stiffened.
Hermione felt him backing up, and she was forced to do the same, her eyes never leaving Draco.
"Hermione and I will be ever eagerly waiting," he said, and the door closed in her face, officially separating them once again.
She was forced down the stairs, fingers trembling from the force of Draco's words. If Draco was calling it basically impossible, then it was, and Riddle knew that. She bit her lip, wondering what that meant for her. The ride back to house was quiet, and she did her best to ignore his unwavering gazed in the backseat.
"You know, I do have to admire his…dedication to you. It's almost enough to tug at my nonexistent heart," he nonchalantly said, lifting his hands to light the cigarette hanging from his lips.
Hermione scoffed, a humorless chuckle escaping her lips, eyes moving to gaze out of the window.
"What's so funny, sweetheart? Maybe I want to laugh too…"
"You really think you're going to get it all, don't you?"
She turned to face him, crossing her arms over her chest with a sneer.
"You think Draco is stupid? Do you think we both haven't figured out that you plan on killing him as soon as he holds up his end of the deal? You really think he'd fall for that?"
It was Riddle's turn to chuckle now, taking a drag, and blowing the smoke in her face.
"He doesn't have much of a choice, now, does he? Not unless he plans to just toss you aside and leave you to endure whatever the hell I want to do with you," he replied.
"We'll see about that."
"Yes, we will, because I will get everything that I asked of him. I will have Lucius Malfoy's head on a stick. I will get the money and weapons that I asked for. I will take everything the Malfoy's have ever known, and I will kill Draco Malfoy. I'll even make sure to do it in front of you, so the two of you can have your last goodbyes before I make sure I go to sleep every night with the memory of your lips around my cock," he boasted before smoke filled her nose again.
Hermione smacked the cigarette from his mouth, nostrils flaring as she glared at him.
"You are a fool, Tom Riddle, and you will lose everything," she spat.
He narrowed his eyes at her, jaw clinching just the slightest before his hand shot out and wrapped around her throat. The back of her head banged against the window, and she dug her nails into his wrist. He leaned over her, a feral grin on his handsome face.
"You're a foolish little girl, Ms. Granger, and I will gladly be the first to tell you that you've gotten way in over your head," he said through clenched teeth, pulling her forward only to slam her against the door again.
She winced and felt the car slowing to a stop outside.
"I can't wait until I have you crying, begging on your knees before me. Just you wait… I will break you, completely wreck you, Hermione, to the point where the mere memory of me will run you out of this city," he hissed.
She coughed when he let go, exiting the car without as much as a backwards glance in her direction.
I made mistakes with these white lines
And I'm clouded by all of the smoke
As the end of the week drew near, Hermione grew more nervous with each passing day. The days were filled with trailing behind Riddle and Theo as they jumped from club to club, warehouse to warehouse, doing business that was dangerous enough to get her killed. Hermione just wanted the nightmare to end, but she was afraid that she would get her wish, and she wouldn't like the ending.
She grimaced as the man next to her laughed, the boisterous sound piercing her eardrums, and she huffed. A sizeable crowd was gathered in the den near the back of the house, and Hermione recalled the first time that she'd been in the room. She recalled being scared out of her mind as Riddle had led her down there, and how that fear had only turned to shock and confusion upon seeing her best friend doing lines.
She was seated on a lavish royal blue couch, in between some unknown blob of a man who smelled like he didn't shower regularly and Theo. Hermione recalled Theo saying his name was Peter. He seemed to be a meek thing, she noted, taking the taunts of his so called friends with nervous, unsure laughs, jumping to do whatever Riddle ordered of him, no matter how ridiculous. She did her best to hide her disgust, but she must have done a poor job.
"You might as well shove him off of the couch if you're going to continue looking at him like that," Theo whispered into her ear.
She shifted closer to him, his arm wrapping around her as she fought the urge to get as far away from the other man as possible.
"Didn't mean to be so obvious," she murmured, and Theo chuckled.
This seemed to catch Riddle's attention, and suddenly he was forcing their eyes on him.
"I do find it quite unbelievable that the two of you are simply platonic," he commented, the noise in the room dimming to a lull.
"We've never been like that, sir," Theo responded.
Riddle leaned back in his chair, a single black broad thing that sat at the head of the room. A small round table was to his left, a glass of brandy and a burning cigar rested on it. His dark eyes rested on them, not a strand of hair out of place.
"I'm curious. How exactly did the two of you meet? I know that you are schoolmates, but how did it evolve from there?"
"Well-."
"I was mainly talking to, Hermione. She has a mouth, and she knows how to use it," he sharply interrupted.
She glared up at him at that, sighing before reaching out and taking Theo's glass. She downed the rest of his drink before answering.
"I picked him up off of the side of the road one night. He was…looking a little worse for wear, to put it nicely," she said, pointedly looking at Riddle.
Riddle hummed, nodding.
"Ah, yes. Was that the Greengrass job, Theo?"
There was a few seconds of silence before Theo answered, voice guarded.
"…it was."
Riddle chuckled, hands clasped together as if recalling a fond memory.
"You see, Theo was to kill this couple. Some snooty socialites who'd gotten on our bad side. He guessed that the easiest way to complete the job was through their daughter…"
Hermione felt Theo stiffen beside her, and she herself tense too, already figuring it out.
"He was right, of course. She invited him into her bed with no protest, allowing him into the house, sneaking past her sleeping parents," he chuckled again.
Hermione grimaced at the way he told the story, as if it was the most amusing thing he'd ever heard.
"He snapped her neck as soon as they were done. Moving down the hall and shooting her sister and parents with a swiftness that impressed even me. Only, he was so eager that not only did he ride there with her in a cab, leaving him completely stranded, but he didn't even notice that they had a bodyguard who lived on the property."
Hermione turned her head away from Theo, looking down at the floor as Riddle laughed.
"He damn near got his ass handed to him…"
Hermione recalled the worry she'd felt upon picking him up that night, even offering to call the police. How silly she felt, in that moment. Theo had been right; he'd had that coming.
"So that was it? You picked him up off the street, one night, and the two of you were fast friends? Your breakup didn't contribute to that, at all?" he mockingly questioned.
She cut her eyes up to him with a huff, heart skipping a beat at the mention of Ron.
"You seem to already know the answer-."
"Well, I want to hear it from you."
She swallowed as the other occupants in the room kept their gazes on the two of them, seemingly amused with the game that seemed to be going on.
"Yes. It did," she finally answered.
"Why? I'd heard that it wasn't exactly…amicable, but what happened?"
"Don't you already know this? I'm certain that you do," she threw out, eyebrows furrowed.
"Refresh my memory," Riddle sternly replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"He confessed that he'd cheated on me, and then ran off that very next morning with the same girl without telling me anything," she choked out, the memory of the hurt she'd felt and the memory of Ron himself almost too much.
There were murmurs around the room, everyone showcasing feigned sympathy and outrage. Riddle made a noise of disapproval, taking a sip of his drink.
"Tsk, tsk. How cowardly… How spineless must one be to do such a thing?"
"Don't talk about him like that," she whispered.
"Hermione," Theo quietly warned behind her.
"I beg your pardon?" Riddle questioned, eyes hard.
"I said don't talk about him like that. You have no right," she yelled, standing.
Riddle didn't move, and neither did anyone else.
"I will talk about him as I see fit. Besides, was I wrong in stating that? Was it not a cowardice act?"
She glared at him, fists clenched.
"Now, sit. Our conversation isn't over," he ordered, eyes daring her to refuse.
She reluctantly did what he said, wrapping her arms around herself.
"My point was that, that must have hurt you, greatly. I just find it amazing that you and Theo never had anything going on," he mused.
"It was never like that," she quietly answered.
"Why not? Theo's a dashing young man, very popular with the ladies…and guys, from what I've seen. With the both of you reeling from heartbreak, I figured it'd only be natural for you two to come together," he continued.
"What do you want me to say? It was just never like that with us," she practically spat out.
Riddle's entire demeanor suddenly shifted, relaxing in his seat as he waved a hand through the air, appearing to let it go.
"A rarity, but perhaps all is indeed as it seems between the two of you. In that case, Theo shouldn't be bothered in the slightest if you put on a little show for us," he murmured from behind his glass, eyes twinkling.
Hermione stiffened, and her eyes widened, feeling Theo do the same behind her.
"What?" she asked, ignoring the excited murmuring from the other occupants of the room.
"Dance for us, Hermione," he said, a chuckle escaping his lips.
She glanced around at the leering faces, breathing picking up.
"No," she quietly said, facing him again.
"Nothing crazy, unless you want to. Just do a little dance, maybe even show a little skin," he continued, eyes mocking.
"No," she repeated, shaking her head.
She felt Theo stand.
"Sir, I don't think-."
Hermione screamed when a shot rang out, and she whipped her head round in time to see Theo collapse onto his knees, clutching his thigh. His face was contorted in pain, teeth clenched together as blood seeped through his fingers. She slid off of the couch, kneeling before him as she pressed her hands over his. The room was deathly silent, aside from the two of them, and Hermione felt a presence over her shoulder.
She looked up through blurry eyes to find Riddle standing over them, face hard and gun aimed at Theo. She hadn't even been given time to see him whip it out, and her lips trembled.
"I've warned you before not to speak out against me. Especially where she is concerned," he threatened.
Before Hermione could say anything to that, he kicked Theo in the face, forcing her friend to fall over.
"Stop!"
She moved to help him when Riddle gripped her hair, throwing her back against the couch before kicking Theo in the stomach. She reached out, gripping his shirt, but he simply shook her off, bringing his foot down onto Theo's face. He groaned, and Riddle raised his gun again, only to halt when she threw herself over Theo, tearful eyes peering up at him.
Theo was trembling beneath her, harsh breaths wracking his frame. She briefly glanced down at him, wiping away the blood that was smearing underneath his nose, gently shushing him.
"You've made your point… Please!" she begged when Riddle didn't lower his gun.
He stared at her, eyes intense and a sneer on his lips before lowering it. She felt a firm grip on her arm, dragging her up with protests as she fought to stay with Theo. Two unfamiliar men helped him up, and she looked over her shoulder at him as Riddle began dragging her away.
"No," he weakly protested, fighting to go with her, blood trickling over his lips.
Riddle paid his cries no mind.
"No. Riddle, no-."
He was cut off with a punch to his stomach, and horror settled into her own when he doubled over, two more men coming to help drag him back. Hermione punched Riddle repeatedly, pulling against his hold to no avail. She could hear Theo's muffled screams, and Hermione's heart ached, fearful of what would happen to him. She didn't stop hitting him, not until he threw her away from him, the both of them standing in a familiar room.
"Why did you do that? That wasn't necessary!"
She pushed against his chest, eyes blazing. He stepped towards her, towering over her with a mirthful glare, forcing her to take a step back.
"…because I can," he sang.
"What are you going to do to him?"
He walked away from her, running his fingers along the plush black couch, eyes roaming around the room.
"He'll live. He's always been very useful to me. It'd be a shame to waste that," he distractedly murmured.
Hermione folded her arms over her chest.
"He cares about you, a lot, you know?"
Her eyes met his then, and she glanced away.
"I'm not going to kill him for that," he said with a chuckle.
Hermione huffed, clenching her jaw as she thought about the pain on his face and his screams.
"Why am I here? Do you need me to trap another poor bloke? Dance for you?" she asked with a scoff.
He walked towards her, and Hermione turned her head in time for his lips to brush against her own. She jumped at the contact, stumbling back with wide eyes.
"W-what are you doing?" she questioned, looking at him like he'd grown a second head.
He reached out, brushing her hair over her shoulder, eyes focusing on the clothed appendage.
"I once recall suggesting that we no longer play with each other, Hermione. You know exactly what I'm doing," he murmured, eyes focusing on her own.
"No!"
She threw herself away from him, hands shaking.
"You said… That's not in my job description, it never was. You have plenty of girls for that," she spat, on the verge of panicking, now.
Riddle inhaled with a nod, face thoughtful.
"That may be true, but I don't want them, tonight," he said matter-of-factly.
"You said-."
"I say a lot of things. What man wouldn't take advantage of the opportunity that I've presented myself with, here?"
He laughed.
"No."
He raised an eyebrow, the ghost of a smile forming on his lips, mood perking up.
"No…?"
Hermione took a few more steps back, chest heaving as she glared at him, prepared to claw his eyes out.
"No. If you want me, you're going to have to fight me, til I'm practically dead, and take me," she said through clenched teeth, hands balled into fists at her side.
Riddle was smirking, now, eyes raking over her frame.
"Where is the fun in that?" he whispered, and she frowned.
With a soft chuckle, he stepped back, hands raising in surrender.
"Very well. You've refused, and no means no, after all...," he said, reaching into his pocket, dread filling her stomach. "You just stay right there while I make a very important phone call to my men-."
"No," she gasped, stumbling towards him.
He held his phone out of reach, a mocking grin on his face, pearly whites showing.
"No? Well, I thought that was clearly what you wanted seeing as you refused me," he whispered, feigning confusion.
Hermione frowned, tears springing to her eyes once again as she processed what he was saying. She felt her entire world tilt, chest feeling incredibly hollow, all of a sudden. She was stuck, having absolutely no choice, and he knew that.
"You can't…you can't do-!"
"I can do anything I want," he slowly whispered, lips a hair's width away from her own.
"No!" she screamed in his face.
"Yes," he said, sounding like a snake, nose brushing against hers as he bared his teeth at her. "Why would I hold you down, taking that choice away from you when this is far more entertaining?"
"You know I don't have a choice!"
"Oh, but you do. You do have a choice, Hermione," he quietly replied.
"This isn't fair! It's not! I…"
He bent down, face practically level with hers, now.
"You what?"
"Please… I'll do anything, anything else," she pleaded.
"I ordered you to kill you ex-boyfriend, and you didn't. Instead, you called the police and almost ruined everything," he began.
Hermione flinched as he threw her failures into her face.
"You were supposed to entertain one of my clients, and you didn't. You and your boyfriend killed him and four more of my other clients, not to mention, killing four of my men. You don't like to listen to a thing I say. Why should I believe you?"
Tears skipped down her cheeks, and he reached up, brushing them away as he shushed her.
"You want to get out of this? Beg me," he finally said.
Hermione faltered, shoulders finally coming to almost be still.
"I've been disobedient. I know that, and I'm sorry. Please, I'm begging you," she harshly whispered, eyes pleading.
He leaned away from her, hands folded behind his back as he looked down his nose at her, eyes the most expressive she'd ever seen them.
"You call that begging? You can beg better than that," he proposed with a sneer.
There was a tense silence, one in which they stared at each other before Hermione resigned, understanding what he wanted and slowly lowering herself to her knees. She briefly closed her eyes at his sound of approval and lifted her head, looking up at him.
"Please," she whispered.
He slowly bent down, arms resting on his thighs as he gazed at her, reaching up to brush a stray curl behind her ear. He tilted his head to the side, a thoughtful expression on his face as she waited with bated breath.
"No."
I need some reasons to live, maybe you could show me some
Hermione woke up in the shack the next morning, mind fuzzy and body aching as she sat up on the couch. She looked around, finding it empty and blinking in confusion before it all came back. She swallowed, tears threatening to spill over as she recalled the memories that she wanted to forget. She tightened the blanket around her, still feeling cold and unclean even after she had scrubbed herself to the point of bleeding.
She pushed her hair away from her face, a lone tear sliding down it when something beneath the couch buzzed. She leaned over, reaching under it with shaky hands as she felt around for the phone that she had hidden there. She opened it up, sharply inhaling as she read the text.
They're safe. I'll see you soon.
Hermione cried out, a sob climbing out of her throat as more tears spilled over. Hermione didn't know if she was crying out of happiness or bitterness. It was just so close. One day earlier and… She dropped her head into her hands, shoulders shaking when the door opened. She looked up at a familiar guard, unsurprised when he roughly grabbed her, dragging her out. She glanced back at the phone, worriedly eyeing its place on the sofa. He was probably aware of what had been done, no doubt, and now she was being dragged inside to be interrogated.
She didn't want to be anywhere near him. She eyed the guard, watching as he kept his eyes focused forward. She swallowed, dreading going back into that house, and made an impulsive decision. Within a span of a few seconds, she'd grabbed his gun, putting two bullet holes into his chest. She took off as he collapsed, running around the mansion, and bumping into another guard.
He wasn't prepared for her being armed, and the surprise was all over his face as he clutched his neck, attempting to stem the bullet wound. She could hear several pairs of footsteps, now, no doubt running towards the sound of gunfire. She stumbled back, turning and running into the house, sliding into the kitchen just as another guard joined her from the opposite entrance.
She ran around the island, hand grasping a knife from the block as he attempted to trap her. With a scream, she sank the knife into his collarbone, yanking it out and jamming it into the side of his neck. Her eyes were wide as she looked up, catching familiar black ones as he stood in the doorway, a thunderous expression on his face.
Her heart dropped into her stomach, the fear and panic that she'd felt the previous night returning. She made the first move, raising the gun and pulling the trigger. She was tackled from behind, the bullet grazing Riddle's shoulder just as she was shoved onto the ground. She yanked against the arms that held her captive, several people in the area, now as they fought to control her.
"Hold her," she heard him growl.
She was yanked up, everyone around her automatically ducking when she fired again. It hit the light, and she fought to keep it as it was yanked out of her hand. She felt fingers coming up to grip her jaw, and she found herself face to face with him.
"You think you're so clever? Your friends are safe, now, so you can escape? Did you think that was how it was going to go?"
She spat in his face, twisting against the hands that held her. Her friends were free, that was all that mattered, and there was nothing more that he could do to her.
"We won this round, and I can promise you that the last thing you'll ever see is me smiling down at you as I kill you," she said, glaring at him.
He ran his fingers down her neck, trailing them along her collarbone, and Hermione shuddered, shrinking in on herself as a cold sweat broke out over her body.
"Is that so? Then why do I feel like a winner?"
He took a step back, nodding to a guard to her right. Her eyes widened when he approached, a needle in his hand. She was held in iron grips, no one allowing her to budge an inch when he sank it into her skin. She felt her senses fading, head drooping as she sank into darkness.
She told me she loved me, but I do not deserve your love
"What the hell is wrong with her?"
Hermione groaned as this was the first thing to reach her ears, senses coming back one by one. She fought to open her eyes, entire body leaning on a more toned one, a familiar scent filling her nose. She blinked, attempting to lift her head and failing miserably. The drugs were slowly but surely leaving her system, and she shuddered as her brain finally registered the cold atmosphere.
"She needed a good nap, so I helped her along."
Riddle.
Oh, how she hated him. Hermione had never really hated anything in her life. Once upon a time she thought that she'd hated Ronald, but it turned out that she was just hurt and angry. She could never bring herself to truly hate him, no matter how much she tried, but Riddle…
Oh, yes, she hated Tom Riddle more than anything in the world. He'd started it all, forcing her to play into Draco's hand, to begin with. He'd taken everything from her, and Hermione felt that she would only know peace when he was dead.
Her eyes finally listened to her brain and remained open, taking in her surroundings with fuzzy vision. They were in something like a warehouse, with very minimal sources of light, she noticed. She lifted her head with difficulty, eyes resting on Draco's angry face as he spat something at Riddle.
"Draco," she murmured.
The grip around her tightened.
"We're going to get you out of here," the person holding her said, and it took her a moment to realize that it was Theo.
She glanced down at his thigh, unable to see whatever bandage he might have had underneath his pants.
"You have your money and your guns. By morning, you'll have confirmation of my father's death. Now, let her go," Draco demanded.
"That wasn't our deal," Riddle hissed.
"What did you expect, for me to bring you his head?" Draco snapped, eyes glancing over to her again.
She noted that there were quite a few men behind him, and she glanced around, knowing that there had to be more. There was a heavy silence before Riddle relented with a shrug.
"Theo," he called.
Her legs felt a bit stronger, but she still leaned on Theo as he walked her across the spacious building, gripping Draco's hand as he pulled her into him. He grazed his thumbs along her cheeks, eyes briefly raking over her before guiding her over to Blaise.
"I'm glad that you're alright," she mumbled with a small chuckle.
"I could say the same about you," he replied, grip firm as he held her next to him.
"I must say that I'm impressed. Taking out my men that were always on the ready to kill her friends with one word from me. I was horribly surprised," Riddle praised.
"You always did overestimate yourself and underestimate everyone else," Draco said, glancing around.
Riddle chuckled, a dark sound that left her nervous.
"Perhaps you are right. Still, such a shame that you couldn't get it done sooner. Maybe then Hermione wouldn't have had to warm my bed for the night."
She froze, eyes widening with a frown on her face as he bragged about what he did to her. She could see Draco's shoulders tense, and for a moment, she just wanted him to look at her. She wanted to tell him that it was nothing like that, at all and that Riddle was scum.
Blaise tightened his hold, moving her so that she was slightly behind him. In that moment, she watched as Theo, who was now back to his original place behind his boss, raised his gun and pulled the trigger. The second that Riddle fell over, all hell broke loose. She found herself pushed against a wall, Blaise's form covering her own as he shot the occasional bullet, looking around for the best route out.
They slid along the wall as more men came pouring into the building. Hermione wished that she wasn't still so out of it, because she'd love nothing more than to shoot Riddle some more. She shrieked when a figure practically ran into them, only to sigh in relief when she recognized the blond hair. He and Blaise traded places, and it wasn't long before he rammed his shoulder against a closed off exit, the door bursting back with a loud noise.
He pulled her inside, hands grasped tightly together as they stumbled through the dark hallway.
"Draco… It wasn't…I would never-."
She cut herself off when he pulled her into a hug, nose buried into her hair as he clung to her for dear life.
"I know, I know," he whispered.
She fought the urge to collapse into his arms and cry, noting that it wasn't the time for it. She breathed him in, fingers clutching onto his shirt, relieved that they'd both ended up on the other side alive. Just then, they both heard several pairs of feet and the sound of gunfire approaching.
They reached a door, and that was when Draco spoke.
"Go ahead. If Theo did his part correctly, and by that I mean if he's still alive, then he should be waiting outside for you," he said, reloading his gun.
Hermione frowned, they'd only just reunited, but she held in her protests, knowing that it wasn't the time for it. She gave him a shaky nod, frown deepening when he tapped her chin with his thumb just before handing her a familiar weapon. She felt more at ease as she wrapped her fingers around it.
"Go. I'll see you back at the house," he said.
She listened to him, pushing through the door and making her way down a set of stairs. The outside seemed quiet enough, and she looked around, hoping to spot Theo. There were quite a few cars, and her eyes rested on his dark blue one when the lights suddenly blinked. She sprinted towards it, sliding in when the door opened.
He looked worse for wear, blood soaking the sleeve of his shirt and hair sticking to his skin with sweat. He looked at her, and she recognized that look in his eyes.
"Don't," she whispered.
He swallowed, glancing away as he heeded her words.
"I never wanted any of this to happen," he quietly said.
"Theo…please…"
His fingers clenched the steering wheel, jaw taught with anger and God knows what else.
"I tried so hard to keep you away from all of this. I tried so hard…"
He shook his head.
"I hope I killed him. I got swarmed almost as soon as I shot him, but I aimed, Hermione. I aimed to kill," he said through clenched teeth.
Hermione didn't want to talk about Riddle.
"Please, just take me back to Draco's," was her only response.
When he didn't start the car, she turned to find him staring at her with wide eyes.
"You're really going back to him? After everything that has happened?"
"Theo, please, not now-."
"He doesn't care about you! If he did, you wouldn't be in this mess," he harshly stated, trying again to convince her.
"Theo, please!"
He snapped his mouth shut, jaw ticking before starting the car. The ride to Draco's house was a silent one, Theo fuming and her lost in her own thoughts. Hermione felt like she was in shock. Theo had driven so far out of the way just in case they were being followed. By the time they pulled into the familiar driveway, she saw Draco's car already parked.
Neither one of them said a word as he shut the car off, and Hermione sighed.
"He asked me to marry him, Teddy…" he sharply inhaled "…and I said yes."
Theo didn't respond, and she sighed again.
"I don't need your approval nor your support, but…it would be nice," she said.
Theo glanced at her, eyebrows furrowed with a thoughtful expression on his face. He lifted his head, staring at Draco's house, now with a small almost nonexistent smile.
"Okay, Hermione."
She nodded, reaching for the door when he stopped her. She turned to look at him in question. He suddenly swallowed, glancing at the house again before resting his eyes on her. He took a deep, nervous breath.
"There's something that you should know."
I put me above you and honestly I think I fucked it up
Hermione was pulled into familiar arms as soon as she entered the house. She didn't return the hug, but Draco was far too beside himself with relief to notice. He pulled away, hands resting just under her jaw as he raked his eyes over her, as if he hadn't seen her in months. He didn't look any better than Theo, hair matted and shirt stained with dirt and blood.
He rested his forehead against her own, and she felt tears spring to her eyes.
"I'm so sorry. I wish…I wish that I could have done more, maybe something different, to prevent all of this."
When she didn't respond, it was only then did he pull away. His eyebrows furrowed as he gazed down at her.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
She looked down, face heating up when he lifted her chin so that he could look at her.
"Hermione…?"
"Did you kill Ron?"
She watched as his eyes widened just the slightest, and she waited. He blinked, an unreadable expression washing over his features. It was only when he looked away, did she let the tears spill over, falling off of her eyelashes as she looked up towards the ceiling. She felt like she'd been punched, the pain reverberating throughout her entire body.
She brought her hands up to her face, frame shaking as she held in her sobs.
"Hermione…"
"Just answer the question," she said in exasperation, the words sounding tired, so tired.
"Hermione," he reached out to brush his fingers against her own, but she stepped back.
"Please," she whispered.
There was a long pause, one that she knew once it was over, it would make or break everything. Hermione recalled Theo's words, the way they poured out of his mouth like water, completely drenching her as she tried to fight them off. She didn't want to listen, not to a word of it, but he'd been determined to let her know. Was it because he felt she should know? Or was it purely selfish reasons? Perhaps both? The real question was, did it even matter? That-.
"Yes."
She closed her eyes, mind going numb as she tried to process this, but she just couldn't. There was so much that she wanted to say. He knew what she'd gone through to protect him, to keep him alive, and yet… He knew that despite everything, the two of them had grown up together, and how that had counted for something to her. He'd held her and soothed her as she had cried for months over the whole ordeal.
Hermione wanted to voice all of this, scream it into his face, but instead she simply said;
"I'm sleeping in the guest room."
Draco let her, understanding the severity of the situation. Then again, maybe not.
That next morning, Hermione was gone, slipping out of the house and out of town without so much as stirring up a speck of dust, and she wouldn't see Draco again until ten months later.
Just go easy on me :)