A/N: Redshadow43, thank you so much for your beta services. Thanks for all the reviews and follows, they're much appreciated!

Disclaimer: JKR owns Harry Potter, not me. I'm making no money from this story.

Chapter 21

Hermione had expected him to be angry, but not this angry. She calmly stood still while Tom tore apart their entire room. The Muggle way, even. There were books, feathers, and pieces of paper everywhere. She sighed, waiting for him to calm down.

Tom strode over to the wall and punched it. She heard his wrist snap from the impact. His hand was bleeding, but he paid no attention to it.

To be honest, she was incredibly surprised Tom didn't blame her or try taking any of his anger out on her. He really does care about me, she realized.

After a few more minutes, Tom finally stopped destroying things. He stood with his back to Hermione with his hands balled into tight fists. She could literally see the anger rolling off of him. Taking a deep breath, she walked over and took the arm with the broken wrist into a gentle hand. He tried to pull away, but she didn't let go.

"Let me heal you," she muttered.

He let her do what needed to be done. After his wrist was healed, she continued to hold his hand. He needed to calm down before he did something rash. She leaned her forehead against his back and took a few deep breaths. She was scared, there was no denying it. Whether the fear was for herself or him, she was unsure.

Hermione loved Tom. Everything about him drove her wild. The sound of his voice, the way he held her in his arms, everything. Everything, everything, everything. She kissed his back, and he turned around. She could tell he was still fuming.

He tried to break into her mind. At first she blocked him, furious that he would try that again. But she knew he just needed to be sure. She had to make another choice. Once again she was at the crossroads between good and evil, darkness and light. Not the extremes of either, yet she had to choose. She locked eyes with Tom, seeing the fury behind his.

"Please," he whispered, sounding so dejected and broken that she couldn't help but give in.

She let her wards down and gave him access to her mind. He drank everything quickly, like a man who has been starving for knowledge. Memories flashed through her mind. Everything from what had happened since she had been at the Manor, everything she had felt. The issues with Dolohov came into her mind, linking those memories to the issue of the Ministry. Those memories triggered the one of Harry telling her about the prophecy.

She could feel Tom's satisfaction as he listened to the prophecy. Then she brought forward the memory of Harry explaining the Horcruxes. She could feel Tom's anger building, and she knew he was going to snap again. Harry knew his biggest secret, true, but the scariest part had to be the fact that Dumbledore knew it, too. There were many things that Tom would need to do now to prevent the situation from getting worse.

The scene shifted to the incident at Diagon Alley. He saw her make her choice to protect Narcissa, turning her back on the Order. He felt her panic when he and Dumbledore fought. She could feel him about to pull out of her mind, but she didn't want him to be in such an angry mood when he did.

He was likely to be mad at her for not mentioning the Horcruxes before now. Quickly, she kept him in her mind and brought forth the moment when he told her he loved her. She projected forth all the raw emotion she had felt.

Tom abruptly pulled out of her mind, and his lips crushed down upon hers. Hermione sighed and parted her lips, allowing him entrance to her mouth. His tongue plunged in, exploring her. She moaned and threaded her fingers into his hair. The kiss was filled with urgency and desire.

Then Tom picked Hermione up and carried her over to the bed. She lay down and he climbed on top of her. There were a million thoughts running through her mind. Her hand slid down Tom's body, grabbing his manhood through his pants.

Tom growled into her ear, sending shivers down her spine. She bucked her hips, grinding up against him. She wanted him, and she was going to have him no matter what it took. He moved away from where he suckled on her neck and stared into her eyes. She stared back, looking into his own. She swore she could see his soul.

"I love you, Hermione."

"I love you too, Tom."

She kissed him again with more passion, and Tom responded eagerly. She couldn't imagine her life being any other way. She was happy. Tom made her happy and he seemed to genuinely care about her.

Tom moved lover, pulling off Hermione's shirt.

"Tom!" she gasped as he captured her nipple in his mouth. She pulled him closer, rubbing against him. He moaned at the contact.

She grabbed his head so she could whisper in his ear, "Take me!"

That was all he needed before he lost all restraint. He ripped the rest of her clothes off, and shed his own as well. He nudged her legs apart and slipped his hands between them.

"All ready for me, love?" he asked as he discovered that she was soaking wet.

Hermione blushed furiously, but she managed to nod. He positioned himself above her. "Ready?" he whispered in her ear.

"Yes," she answered, but he could feel her stiffening beneath him.

"Hermione, relax," he said soothingly. "I won't hurt you."

Hermione nodded, and tried to do as he said. She was still nervous. She knew it would hurt—she remembered the night Ginny came back to the Common Room crying because she and Michael had had sex. Ginny's description had pretty much scarred Hermione for life. But she knew Tom would try to be gentle, and that was all she could ask for.

She took a deep breath, and Tom entered her slowly. First, there was only a slight pressure, then more pressure, and then a break. Hermione cried out in pain and clutched onto Tom's shoulder. He didn't move as he waited for her to adjust. He lifted her head and looked at the tears running down her perfect face. He gently brushed them away with his thumb.

"Hermione?"

She looked up at him, her eyes full of emotion. She leaned up to kiss him gently on the lips. Tom took this as a signal to start moving. He rocked back and forth slowly at first, and then picked up some speed. Hermione bucked her hips, taking him in deeper. They continued for a while, stuck in their own little world. Hermione couldn't believe how good this felt.

Tom knew he was close—how could he not be? She was so tight. It had been so long since he'd felt the touch of a woman, and now he held a beautiful witch, who cared for him more than anyone had ever cared before.

He was touched. His heart felt like it could burst. He had never imagined he would feel this way about anyone. But he was wrong, so wrong about so many things. This little witch was proof of that. She challenged everything he believed in. And he loved it.

"Come for me, Hermione," he whispered. That was all she needed before her body exploded. The feel of her walls clenching around him was enough to send Tom into oblivion as well. Once they were finished, Tom collapsed against Hermione and buried his face in her chest. He listened to her heart race, amazed by the fact he could have this effect on her.

"I love you," she said as she pulled him closer.

"And I, you," he said as he nuzzled closer to her. They lay that way for half an hour or so before Tom moved to get up. Hermione sat up as well, pulling her clothes on.

As Tom headed for the door, he turned around and pulled Hermione close. He put a hand on her cheek and said, "Hermione, thank you for telling me the truth. I—I really appreciate what you've shown me. I won't let the knowledge go to waste."

Hermione hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. "Just make sure you keep yourself safe," she told him.

Tom nodded. "There's an inner circle meeting later. I'll see you afterwards."

Tom stormed out of the room with his robes billowing behind him. Hermione stifled a giggle. She did not want to tell him that in that regard, Snape had him beat. No one could stalk with his robes billowing out quite like Severus Snape.

She walked outside, needing some fresh air. She was in quite a state of bliss at the moment. She'd had sex for the first time, and it had been amazing. Tom was gentle, caring, and loving—everything she could wish for. She smiled with the knowledge that she'd found an unexpected source of happiness amidst such dark and crazy times.