Hermione was in a pinch. How could she explain everything to him, without revealing whom she really was? She wrecked her brain and remembered one thing she could use. Hector Dagworth-Granger, the founder of the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers, expert in love potions. She could use his surname and pretend to be a distant relative, if Tom became really suspicious. But right now, she was sitting in her dormitory, with him, as Druella left them and forbid other girls to disturb them. They were sitting on her bed, looking at each other carefully, until he finally spoke.

"What happened with that Ronald person?" Was it really what interested him the most? It was so hard to believe, that she found herself getting quite uncomfortable under his gaze.

"He… we broke up. We were more suited to be siblings that a couple" – she explained, avoiding his eyes, but she knew he was watching her carefully. It was a warning, for her to not even try lying to him, so she didn't. At least not about Ron.

It was true that they should stay being just friends, now, after meeting Riddle, she realized, how wrong it was for them to become a couple, even for a while. She stopped understanding, why did she crush on him too. He wasn't intelligent, to be honest. Many times he acted like an arse idiot. So why? What made her like him in the first place? Especially with Harry near? Harry was more of her type, even though she loved him as a brother. But he was similar to Tom sometimes, she noticed the way he would hide things that really bothered him, he would hide his anger only to let it go unexpectedly, in a moment no one was suspecting anything. He was smart and could work under pressure. So why Ron?

Hermione knew what made her fall in love in Tom, even though, right now she would rather die, than admit it in front of him. It was his intelligence, his charisma, but more than that, it was a way he made her feel like a real woman. With him next to her, she wasn't only a little miss know-it-all, a bookworm or a beaver. No, she was a woman, capable of catching guys' attention with her looks and mind. And it intoxicated her.

"Care to explain what did you mean by last year of Hogwarts? And why are you here as a Potter, if you know your real surname?" He wasn't going to let her off the hook, so she sighed, weighing her words.

"Hector Dagworth-Granger was my distant relative, but I hid it from Potters too. And they really did found me on the street, when I passed out. I recalled my memories with time, but I still didn't know what to do. I know that I didn't really finished my last year in Hogwarts because of a war, Grindelwald was coming closer and we had to fight, to protect ourselves. But then, when I opened my eyes in Potters' bedroom I realized, that it was in a different time, so I agreed to go back to Hogwarts. They were so kind, I didn't want to bother them with my problems more than I already did" – she said, hoping that he would believe her. And he probably did, because he nodded his head, his face still without any emotions on it, but at least he didn't question her anymore.

*.*.*

Tom wanted to hit her in the head, hard. She really was a terrible liar. Her cheeks were more and more red with every lie she told, so it wasn't hard to guess, that she was honest only about that disgusting redhead part. Yet, he wasn't going to press her, he would just wait for the right moment and search her memories one more time.

It still bothered him. How far did she go with that guy? Just thinking about it was repulsive, he felt shiver creep down his spine and almost let his anger get the best of him one more time. She was his. She started it, but he was going to be the one to decide when it all ends.

"Let me get things straight, Hermione. Nothing changed from last time. You are mine, so think hard, before you answer my next question." He leaned in, his face now inches from hers and he heard her swallow. Her breath quickened but for the first time in a while, she looked him in the eyes, making him smirk. He knew that look on a girl's face, more than well.

She fell for him.

The awareness of it was so satisfying, that he wasn't sure how to deal with it. She was finally completely in his grasp, with no way to escape. And she will be doing what he wants.

"How far did you go with him?" Her eyes widened, while he unconsciously held his breath. She was a virgin when she slept with him for the first time, he knew it. But if she did anything more than what he saw… if her body was filthy, because of that insect…

"Tom, i-it was just a kiss!" Her frantic words made him sigh in relief, before he could stop himself and this time he was the one to look away. For fucks sake, he needed to control himself more. "Tom?" Her voice was full of sweetness and hesitation, as she reached her hand to his cheek and stroke it with tenderness.

He seized her wrist, before crashing his lips on hers, without bothering to look into her eyes, as he closed his own, so he wouldn't feel any more unnecessary things. He didn't register everything, before he knew how, she was pressed to his body, lying under him on the bed, her hands wrapped around his neck, as she kissed him back with such passion, he didn't expect her to show so openly. Not now. Her soft lips caressing his own in teasing motion, her tongue slipping into his mouth, deepening their kiss, forced a stifled moan from his throat. Why did she affect him so much? No. Why did he let her affect him so much? When her fingers wrapped around his locks, he cursed under his breath, sat on the bed, motioning her to sit on his lap, her thighs on each side of his legs, straddling him. His hands touched her back, sneaking under her shirt and he grabbed her waist, as she pressed against him firmly, her lips not leaving his, even for a second.

It felt different. For the first time, lust wasn't the only thing that made him act this way, to kiss her this way. For the first time, it was something more, something, that scared him. For the first time, he was kissing her with affection.

And it sucked.