Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, no profit is being made, this is just for fun
AN: A Big THANK YOU to Beestung2025, Laumirot, InfernalBooks, Skyrosediamond, MauraderinSecret, Morethanbooks, Franchessybee, LadyKaliska, and several of you who reviewed anon as Guests (you know who you are!) I am so happy that this story already has SEVENTY-FOUR follows only 5 chapters in! and almost 30 reviews! I am trying to keep this story as unique as possible, and I have lots in store, so I hope you'll all stick with me on this ride! I'll also leave a few comments at the end - xo
Hermione's eyes fluttered open as the sunlight streamed in through her window. As her mind drifted back to the events of the night before, she covered her face with her pillow and groaned at her lack of self-control. How was she going to look him in the eye now? It's not as if they were even dating…how scandalous.
An unpleasant thought surfaced in her mind; What if he's just using you?
She dismissed the thought immediately, convincing herself that he wouldn't do that to her, until she remembered exactly who it was that she was dealing with. Of course he would. He was Tom Bloody Riddle.
She let out a frustrated sigh, and climbed out of bed to get ready for the day, strengthening her resolve to not have any more moments of weakness like that again.
She picked up her bag, full of her textbooks that she would need for the day, and yanked open her door, only to come face to face with Tom Spencer's ice blue gaze, his hand poised to knock. She was grateful for his change in appearance if only to avoid the smug look he would surely be wearing if he weren't under the influence of polyjuice potion. She raised her eyebrows expectantly, waiting for him to speak.
He let his hand drop to his side, and then cleared his throat awkwardly, "I thought I'd walk you to breakfast." He said, the corner of his lips lifting into a sheepish smile. Funny, how he can manage to look so innocent.
Hermione regarded him coolly, "That won't be necessary." She said trying her best to look unaffected by what happened between them the night before, and slipped out of her room, scooting past him. He watched in amusement as she hurried towards the portrait hole, practically sprinting from the room.
Hermione walked as quickly as she could to the Great Hall, and slipped into her seat next to Harry. Harry was leaning his chin on his hand, idly pushing his food around his plate.
"Alright, Harry?" Hermione asked in concern, glancing over at Ron.
Harry sighed and looked up at her, "I have no idea what I'm doing, Hermione." He admitted.
Hermione nodded in understanding, and did her best to soothe him, "No one does, Harry, its not as if there is an instruction manual on how to defeat dark wizards, much as I wish there were."
"I know that, it's just…Dumbledore gave me a task to do before he died. I have no idea where to even begin." He whispered quietly.
"Let's not discuss this here…Let's meet in the room of requirement tonight, just after dinner." Hermione said just as a shadow fell over her on the table, and she looked up into the amused eyes of Tom Spencer.
"Tom." She greeted, trying to keep the irritation from her voice, "Is there something I can help you with?" she asked giving him a fake smile.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, there is. One of the first years set off a dung bomb in the girl's lavatory, and I'm afraid it would be quite inappropriate for me to handle alone." He said biting back a smirk.
"Couldn't one of the prefects handle it?" Ron interjected, looking back and forth between the Head Boy and Head Girl.
"They are all otherwise occupied at the moment, I'm afraid." Tom answered giving Ron and Hermione an apologetic look.
Hermione wasn't fooled, but she was not about to let on that anything was out of ordinary.
"Of course, I'll be right there." Hermione answered shooting a glare towards Tom before she turned back towards her friends, "I'll meet you in class later, I suspect this might take a while." She sighed as she stood, grabbing her bag from beside her seat, and followed Tom out of the Great Hall.
As soon as the doors closed behind them, she turned to Tom, ready to give him a piece of her mind, when instead; he grabbed her wrist and pulled her quickly down the hall and into a supply cupboard, locking and silencing the door behind them.
"What do you think you're doing?" she asked incredulously as he turned to face her, taking a step closer to her.
"Why did you run away from me this morning?" he asked as his arms slid around her waist pulling her flush against him.
She squeaked in surprise, placing her hands against his chest in an attempt to put some space between them, but he wouldn't allow it.
"I asked you first" she sighed and her eyes fluttered closed as his lips found the sensitive spot on her neck.
"I wanted to talk to you. Alone." He said between kisses, feeling her relax into his embrace, "You're turn. Answer the question, Hermione", he asked, nipping at her neck with his teeth.
It was difficult for her to think straight with his lips moving against her throat, and she pushed against him again until he reluctantly pulled back and met her eyes.
"Aside from how strange it is kissing you while you are under the influence of polyjuice potion, I know what you're trying to do. It's not going to work." She said crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned away from him so that she could meet his eyes.
"Oh? And what is it, exactly, that you think I'm trying to do?" He asked in amusement, brushing a stray curl back behind her ear as she huffed in annoyance.
"You're trying to manipulate me into feeling sorry for you, so you can do whatever it is that you are planning without my interference." She said flatly, daring him to deny it.
His arms dropped from her waist, and he scoffed, "Is that what you think this is?"
"Isn't it?" she challenged, her heart clenching in her chest at the thought of him admitting that he'd only been using her.
"You know, for someone so intelligent, you are really quite thick sometimes." He said giving her a look of disappointment before he dropped the wards and walked out of the supply closet, leaving her staring after him in shock.
Hermione stood gaping after him for a few long moments, annoyed at his accusation, before she pulled herself together and strolled out of the supply closet with her dignity intact.
By the time she reached their shared Potion's class later that morning, she was relieved to see that Professor Slughorn had decided to change up their seating assignments, making it easier to avoid him. Her relief was short lived when she saw who it was she had been partnered with instead.
"Malfoy." She greeted coldly, as Draco slipped into the seat beside her.
"Mudblood." Draco said just loudly enough for her to hear, sneering at her in disgust.
Hermione resolved to not give him the satisfaction of letting him see how his words affected her, and did her best to ignore him as much as possible.
She was intently focused on chopping the moonflower petals when she was distracted by a soft giggle coming from the seat in front of her. Her eyes drifted towards the sound, and felt a stab of jealousy when she saw the blond sixth year, Astoria Greengrass, leaning towards Tom, laughing at something he said to her.
She gasped as she felt a sharp pain in her finger suddenly, and glanced down at her hands to see that she had not only mangled the petals she had been chopping, but she sliced open her finger too.
Her surprised gasp drew Tom's attention, and he looked back at her, with a raised eyebrow.
"Everything alright?" he asked coolly, glancing down at her bleeding finger and the mangled flower petals, and then back up to meet her eyes, a look of indifference on his face that made her blood boil. How dare he?
"I'm fine" she snapped through gritted teeth as she quickly healed the cut and vanished the blood, watching as Tom nodded and turned back to his own potion and over-attentive lab partner.
Draco looked over at her in disgust, not having missed the exchange between her and Tom, "keep that filth out of my potion, mudblood" he spat.
Hermione bit back a more colorful retort, instead saying through gritted teeth, "I'll just go get some more petals, then."
Draco's eyes followed her as she walked away, and then he turned his gaze to Tom, curling his lip as he watched the way Astoria was looking at him.
When Hermione returned to her seat, she had managed to calm herself somewhat, and returned to cutting the moonflower petals the proper way.
Draco smirked as he glanced over at Hermione, "Did you actually think he would be interested in you?" Draco said snidely leaning towards her talking just loud enough for her to hear, as her eyes flicked once again towards Tom and Astoria.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Malfoy." She snapped as she dropped the petals into the cauldron, giving it a stir.
"Oh, I think you know exactly what I'm talking about, Granger." Draco continued.
Hermione chose not to answer, making it a point to ignore him.
"Your silence speaks volumes. I'll bet you threw yourself at him, like the pathetic trash that you are, and he turned you down." Draco said smirking as he saw her jaw tense at his words, and continued with his verbal assault.
"Unfortunately for you, it looks like he'll be fucking someone else tonight." Draco sneered just before her hand connected with his cheek in a resounding crack that echoed through the classroom.
"Miss Granger? Mister Malfoy? What is going on here?" Professor Slughorn waddled over, a look of concern plastered across his face.
"She hit me, Professor. She should be expelled!" Draco cried, making himself look like the victim in front of their Professor, as usual.
"Miss Granger? What do you have to say for yourself?" The Professor asked his eyes wide with surprise.
"I apologize, Professor, it won't happen again." She said as her eyes met Tom's surprised blue ones, before looking back down at her feet in anger.
"Yes, well, assaulting another student is a very serious offense, Miss Granger. Fifty points from Gryffindor, and you are to report to your head of house, immediately." Professor Slughorn said giving her a disappointed look, dismissing her from the class.
Hermione shoved her text book in her bag angrily, and strode out of the classroom without a backward glance. She held back her tears, mostly angry with herself for losing control over Malfoy, of all people, as she made her way to Professor McGonagall's office. She lifted her hand to knock, and the Professor pulled open her door with a look of surprise when she saw Hermione standing in front of it.
"Miss Granger, what are you doing out of class?" She asked, stepping back to allow Hermione to enter her office.
"Professor Slughorn sent me" Hermione said as her face began to crumple and the sob she had been trying to hold back escaped her throat.
Professor McGonagall's expression was one of concern, as she handed Hermione a tissue and gestured for her to take a seat across from her desk.
"Miss Granger, many students are sent to my office for being disruptive in class, however, I never expected it from you." she said with a tone of disappointment, "Would you care to tell me what happened?"
Hermione cleared her throat, and met her professor's stern gaze, "I slapped Malfoy."
Professor McGonagall Blinked at her, and before she could stop it, she barked out a laugh.
"Forgive me, Miss Granger, did you say that you slapped Draco Malfoy?" the Professor asked in disbelief.
The corner of Hermione's lip twitched at the Professor's reaction, "Yes, Professor" she said doing her best to sound contrite.
Professor McGonagall bit her lip to keep from laughing again, and did her best to school her features into a look of authority.
"Miss Granger, as I'm sure you are well aware, physically harming another student is a very serious offense; one that could cost you your position as Head Girl." Professor McGonagall said as she folded her hands on top of her desk.
Hermione nodded, doing her best to not start crying all over again.
"However, as this is your first official offense in the seven years you've been a student at this school, you will instead serve detention with Professor Slughorn, every night for a month, is that clear?"
"Yes, Professor" Hermione answered, not missing the way she emphasized the word 'official', and also grateful that she wouldn't lose her position as Head Girl. Despite wanting to avoid Tom at the moment, she still had to work with him, and sharing a common room was the easiest way for her to do so.
"If I may ask, why did you slap Mister Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall asked raising her eyebrow in curiosity
Hermione bit her lip, and decided to tell her professor everything that had happened between she and Draco since the beginning of the year. The Professor listened, a look of anger crossing her face as Hermione told her everything, knowing nothing would be done to punish Draco for his assault on Hermione in the girl's lavatory.
"Between you and me, that boy deserves much more than a slap to his cheek." Professor McGonagall hissed angrily.
"I couldn't agree with you more, Professor. In fact, I did punch him in the face once during third year…" Hermione admitted and then quickly added, "Allegedly…" with a small smile.
"That will be all, Miss Granger, you may report to Horace after dinner this evening." Professor McGonagall said dismissing her with a small knowing smile.
Hermione nodded, giving her a nod of thanks as she headed to her next class, one thankfully, free of Draco Malfoy.
LOL, I loved it so much when Hermione punched Malfoy in third year, It needed to be repeated. This time, in a far more public setting. The tension is brewing! Let me know what you think! xoxo