(This one is based on Aca-demic Arrangements by . , which is adorable and awful and amazing all at once, plus it features my favorite pairing, Tomione. This chapter is Tomione trash.)
Hermione couldn't hold back a giggle as her hands blocked Tom's vision. He was clearly getting restless with waiting and anticipation. He tried to evade her hands, as she lead him through the house.
"Hey! Stop trying to peek," Hermione scolded, and Tom didn't look particularly apologetic.
"Where are you taking me? Are we even in the house?" he complained. Hermione laughed again, and took away her hands with a flourish. He couldn't stop his mouth from falling open. Fairy lights were strung around the wooden fence around the perimeter of the backyard, while the patio table was covered in dishes and candles. He turned to look at her, and she wore a dark red dress that hugged her curves in just the right ways. He shoved away the thought that Abraxas must have bought it for her.
"This is...amazing. Did you do all this?" he asked, finally able to compose himself.
"Well, Blaise might have helped me with the actual cooking part," she told him. "I put this all together for you, though. We should eat before it gets cold."
They sat at the table, proper dining room chairs, instead of the plastic patio chairs, and music started to play quietly out of a stereo off to one side of the back porch.
"Any other surprises?" he asked, giving her a look, though with a smile.
"I might have one or two things in the works," she told him. "Though I think the biggest surprise is that Blaise can cook."
They ate dinner, and as they finished, Tom was ready to lead her inside, but she held on to his hand firmly. She pulled him towards the yard, and he reluctantly allowed it. The grass was still damp from the morning's drizzle, and Hermione wasn't wearing allowed her to pull him into a sort of waltzing position. They could barely hear the music, but Tom took the lead and danced with her. It wasn't exactly a waltz, but they were both far too talented to merely spin in place, like awkward teenagers at a prom. She opened her mouth, and he expected some witticism, but instead she sang.
"Oh don't you dare look back. Just keep your eyes on me," she began, and a shiver ran through Tom's spine. Her voice was as beautiful as the first time he heard it. So this was her next surprise.
"I said, 'You're holding back,'" he added, and her eyes lit up. "She said-"
"Shut up and dance with me!" she continued, as they danced in circles on the grass.
"This woman is my destiny. She said, Ooh-hoo,"
"Shut up and dance with," They sang together. Tom lead her into a spin, and Hermione laughed. The noise went straight to his heart, and he didn't mind the pang. She was doing this for him.
They went through the whole song, singing, dancing and laughing. When they'd finished, Hermione laid her head against his chest, a little out of breath, but smiling wide. Tom brought a hand up to her neck, and cradled her gently.
"Perhaps I should convince the others to add this to a set," Tom finally said. "Maybe with a bit of a guest role?" Hermione looked up at him, still a little red in the face.
"Oh, no, no. It's one thing if we're just messing around in The Chamber, or having a bit of fun on our own, but I don't, I can't do this in public," she told him. She started to frown, and Tom couldn't have that. He sighed lightly, and pulled her to him in a tight hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist as well. He kissed the top of her head.
"Pansy would be so jealous if she knew," Tom said, unable to keep from smiling once the thought hit him. Hermione snorted out a laugh as well.
"I really don't want to think about what Pansy would do to experience what we just did," Hermione added.
"Come on, why don't we go inside. We can clean up later," he offered.
"Or we can convince Marcus to do it," she countered.
"I knew there was a reason I liked you," he said. He led her inside, up into his bedroom. He supposed it was a good time to give her something.