CHAPTER 10- Wounded

{Thanks for the reviews. Sorry these updates have been taking so long, but I promise I won't abandon Hermione and Tom.}

Hermione spent the next day trying to avoid Malfoy and forcing herself not to blush whenever Tom was in the vicinity. What must he think of her? Her actions even surprised Hermione. She had been hoping to squash the fluttery feeling she felt when Tom was near, but it seemed like that wouldn't be happening anytime soon. Quite the opposite, the butterflies seemed to have morphed into full grown hippogriffs. They really were a nuisance. She couldn't concentrate during Charms. His presence always caused her to become the biggest scatterbrain.

Hermione had to do something. She would not let Tom affect her studies. It won't happen.

She made up her mind. Tonight, she would talk to Tom and sort out her feelings for him.

That night after dinner, Hermione sat in her favorite overstuffed armchair and crossed her arms tightly over her chest. She was determined to face Tom the moment he walked through that door.

Unfortunately, Tom didn't show up until midnight. Hermione was lightly sleeping when she heard the soft creak of the portrait hole. Tom's tall form stepped into the common room, slightly bent as if burdened with all the world's problems. Hermione narrowed her eyes. Tom had slight rings under his eyes as if he hadn't slept in days.

Tom stopped short when he saw Hermione's tense figure.

"You know it's past curfew don't you?" Hermione asked sharply, her tone betraying the anxiety she felt at his absence. She had fallen asleep against her will, waiting for the moment when Tom would return.

"Yes, Evans. I can tell time," he said.

"Well? Where were you? I was worried," she said shortly. Hermione had an inkling of where he was, but wanted to here it from his mouth.

"Out," Tom said shortly.

"Out where?" she asked keenly

"Just out," he said evasively

"You were meeting the Knights weren't you," Hermione said softly.

Tom's eyes widened slightly. "Evans," he gulped "Why do you know that?"

"Does it matter why?"

"Yes, Evans, it does. How do you know?" Tom said sternly.

"That's what Malfoy wanted. For me to join the Knights. And you disappear for hours every week. I figured it out," she shrugged.

"And you said no," he stated.

"I said no."

"Why did he want you?" Tom said hoarsely.

"He saw us dueling and wouldn't take no for an answer," she shrugged.

"Don't you dare let him win, Evans. Don't"

Hermione was surprised. Tom seemed so adamant that she didn't join. What had changed from now and Voldemort? What had made him the inhuman beast?

"Why?"

"Once you're in, you can't get out. You'll regret it every day," Tom said softly.

"Yes, you can, Tom," he looked up as she said his name "There's always a way."

He shook his head. "No, there isn't, not for me"

"Tom…" Hermione placed a hand on his arm. He hissed in pain. She looked down at his left arm and slowly rolled up his sleeve, dreading what she would find.

A deep, long gash ran the length of his forearm, crudely bandaged with a scrap of material.

"Tom..how…how did you get this?" Hermione's voice shook.

"Tom?" she said warningly

"Malfoy," he said and Hermione swelled with anger.

"Why?" she bit out.

"It doesn't matter"

"Yes, it does, Tom! Why did Malfoy hurt you?"

"I got in his way"

"What does that mean?" she hissed

"Evans…please, just drop it. It's over now anyway"

Hermione sighed and decided to corporate for now, but Tom had definitely not heard the last of this.

"Come here. Let me have a look at your arm," she led Tom over to the couch to sit down. Hermione slowly unraveled the cloth from his arm and barely held in a gasp as she examined the wound. It was a lot worse than she originally thought; the gash ran a lot deeper. There was half congealed blood close to the surface but the rest was still flowing freely. She cleaned the wound with a quick Tergeo to better see the damage. Green veins ran along his gash, a cursed wound. Hermione felt a rush of loathing toward Malfoy. How dare he hurt Tom?

"Tom…this is going to hurt," she warned him

"Go on, then," he said his eyes fixed on her face.

Hermione gathered up her strength. This was going to take all her energy and concentration. She had only read about the spell in theory, she had never preformed it, but it was the only way.

"Vulnera Sanentur" Hermione looked at Tom who now had his eyes closed and jaw sat, but didn't make a sound. The bleeding eased up immediately but didn't completely stop.

"Vulnera Sanentur," she repeated. The skin slowly knitted back together.

For the last time Hermione said, "Vulnera Sanentur" All trace of a wound was gone. Tom immediately relaxed and leaned back against the couch in relief eyes still closed.

Seeing his relief, Hermione suddenly appreciated how much pain he actually had been in when he walked through that door. Yet he had hardly shown any weakness.

"Did you plan on fixing that yourself?" she asked. He would never have had the energy to do it himself.

He opened one eye to look at the witch, but didn't sit up. "I hadn't really gotten that far yet. I was mostly focused on not passing out in that corridor."

"Hermione. I meant what I said. Don't get tangled up with Malfoy. He wants you for something," he said now sitting upright suddenly serious.

"For what?"

"I don't know, but it isn't good. He's obsessed with you and I don't like it." Hermione could see the honesty and concern in his eyes.

"What does he want?"

"He told us all to tail you, to catch you alone. That's part of the reason he cursed me, I pointed out some of the flaws in his plan."

"Like what?"

Tom smirked. "I told him that no one would be able to stand a chance against you, with or without your wand"

"Really?" Hermione blushed.

"Yes. Malfoy didn't really like that," he smirked again but quickly turned serious. "Hermione. Promise you'll be careful." The silent plea in his eyes.

"I promise," she whispered. He relaxed a bit at her words. Hermione looked down at her handy work, tracing a finger over the skin that had been bloody just a few moments ago.

She looked up at Tom, his eyes fixed on her. Studying her features. Hermione knew then, she knew she cared about Tom, much more than she should.

{Thanks for reading! :) I'd appreciate your reviews}