Authors Note: Hello again! Oh man oh man oh man….I currently have over a hundred and twenty reviews! I have some serious tears in my eyes! I never thought I would get more then ten and now I have over a hundred! (Whew…calms down for a minute). Thank you all so much…every review has been positive and some have been very informative and helpful and even brutally honest (That means you Misty Ocean Blueberry! Love ya!) So thank you all again and I hope you enjoy this chapter. It is the last of the "opening chapters" as I call them…now I can move on to the body of the story! Thanks again (I know, I say that a lot)!
Hermione let out an exasperated sigh as she absentmindedly stirred her potion. It had been a few weeks since Tom and Hermione had left the hospital wing and things seemed to be going ok…but Hermione was not happy.
Tom had kept his promise and had not done nor said a single thing that went beyond friendship with her. Hermione knew she should have been relieved but instead she only felt frustrated. She would often find herself daydreaming about Tom, especially in class when she had ample time to think.
She was, in fact, thinking about him at that very moment and remembering the time they had spent in the hospital wing….the last time Tom had mentioned his feelings for her. Hermione wondered if he still had any at all.
"Remember to keep stirring in a counter clockwise motion or else you run the risk of ruining the potion." Snape's voice brought her out of her reverie. She looked down into her cauldron and turned her focus to her Amortentia potion. It was beginning to turn pearly white meaning she was mixing it properly and would soon be done with it. Snape passed by her cauldron and peered inside at his contents; since he could find nothing wrong with it, he merely sneered at her and continued down the row.
Hermione smiled to herself, loving the fact that she could show Snape up like that.
The class was soon over and Hermione bottled up her perfectly made love potion and headed towards the front of the class. She was one of last students up there and Snape was watching her intently as she came to his desk. She set the bottle down and turned to leave and was instantly halted by Snape's oily voice.
"Ms. Granger, would you please stay after for a few moments? There is something I need to discuss with you." He sounded very serious and Hermione was worried if she was in trouble for something.
She nodded and set her bag down. As the last person left, Snape stood up and shut the door with a mere flick of his wand. He came around from behind his desk and stood in front of Hermione, eyeing her questioningly.
Hermione raised her eyebrows and waited for him to speak.
"I would like to know how Mr. Riddle has been fairing."
Hermione was so surprised by his question that she merely stared at him dumbly for a moment.
"Ms. Granger, I have been trying to get you to shut your mouth for five years and now that I want to know something you appear to have gone mute. Is this the moment my prayers have been answered or do you simply not understand the question?" He gave her the most unpleasant smile she had ever seen.
"I understood you just fine Sir," she told him, giving him the most hateful look she could muster. "I was just surprised by what you were asking. Why do you care how Tom is fairing?"
"Do not act as foolish as you seem you silly girl. I know you know who he is; that is why you have brought him here, no?"
"It is not who he is Professor…it's who he was."
"You think you will be successful at changing him? You are even more unwise then I thought. A man like that can not…"
"Yes he can!" She interrupted. "He is already changing. Surely you have noticed?"
"He does seem rather "uplifted" to say the least, but do you honestly think it will last?"
"Yes I do." She told him strongly. "Tom is going to…"
"Going to what?" Hermione stopped dead mid-sentence and felt the blush creep up in her cheeks. Why do these things happen to me, she thought miserably.
"What am I going to do?" Tom asked as he walked into the classroom.
"Mr. Riddle, do you have your paper for me?" Snape asked as Tom approached the two.
"Yes Sir. I am sorry it is a bit late, but I have been really bogged down with work."
"No need to explain Mr. Riddle. I understand that you have an extensive course load."
Hermione grunted silently. Tom was no doubt getting special treatment from Snape because of who he was.
Tom handed over his paper and then looked over at Hermione who was steadily avoiding his gaze.
"If you don't mind me asking," Tom began. "Exactly why were you both discussing me?"
"I simply wanted to make sure you were doing fine in Gryffindor, but Ms. Granger decided to go into dramatics about my curiosity." Hermione blushed even more and glared at Snape hatefully.
"I appreciate your concern Professor, but you can ask me anything you would like; I will not take anything offensively." Tom gave Snape a charismatic smile.
"Of course Tom…I just didn't want to burden you with my questions and I figured someone so less productive like Ms. Granger here would be more adequate for my questioning." He sneered.
Hermione had had enough. "Well if that's all Professor Snape then I will go. You have wasted enough of my time with your questions." Hermione didn't even look at Tom once as she picked up her bag and flung it over her shoulder. She stormed out of the classroom and slammed the door behind her.
She could not believe Snape had embarrassed her like that, and in front of Tom no less! Did the man have no sympathy? Not for Mudbloods like me, she thought sadly.
As she turned a corner she heard her name being shouted out from behind her. Tom was panting by the time he caught up with her and he was thankful she had stopped when she did so he didn't have to run anymore.
"You know, you sure walk fast when you're mad." He told her as he caught his breathe. Despite how she was feeling Hermione chuckled at him.
"Wouldn't you be mad if someone had just degraded you like that?"
"Hermione, you shouldn't let what people say bother you. I mean, who gives a damn what they think? You are better then all of them anyways…especially someone like Snape who chooses to remain ignorant to your brilliance." Hermione blushed at his compliment.
"Thanks Tom," she sighed. "It's just…it all gets to me, you know?"
Tom smiled warmly at her and brought a finger to her face and brushed a piece of her hair behind her ear. Hermione shivered at his touch.
"Hermione why are you so perfect?" He asked her seriously.
"I'm far from perfect Tom."
"You are to me." Tom had been moving closer to her while he stared into her eyes.
"Tom what are you doing?" Hermione whispered. The hint of anger in her voice did not go unnoticed by Tom.
"I'm being friendly." He told her with a wicked grin.
Hermione grew red in the face as his fingers began to lightly stroke her cheek. Feeling that frustration again, Hermione moved out of his grasp and stared at him angrily.
"Tom I thought this was done with? It has been several weeks since we talked about us and now you start up again! Why?" She whispered furiously. Even though she was a bit mad, there was also a part of her that wanted to dance a jig at knowing that Tom still had feelings for her.
"I like how you said us. It makes it sound like we are the couple we should be."
"Damn you Tom! What am I going to have to do to get you to stop liking me? Maybe I should cut off all of my hair and don the ugliest robes I can find!"
"You would still be beautiful to me." Tom told her sincerely.
"Maybe I should date someone then? Maybe you would get the hint then that I don't want to be with you!" Hermione felt terrible at seeing that pained look on Tom's face.
"If you were with someone else then I would only want you more." Tom told her sadly. He would die if she ended up with someone rather then him. "And don't pretend you don't want to be with me." He told her quietly.
"Why are you so arrogant?" Hermione fumed once more.
"I am not trying to be arrogant….I am trying to be honest; something you should try more often." He was starting to get mad himself. Why did she have to be so difficult about this?
"Stay the hell away from me Tom." Hermione spat. She turned away from him and proceeded down the hall.
"Hermione bloody hell, don't walk away from me!" Tom shouted as he grabbed her arm to stop her. There were only a few people around at the moment, but those that were stopped what they were doing to see what was going on.
Hermione looked around at them nervously. "Tom stop…people can see us." She whispered urgently.
"I don't care!" Tom told her. He looked both angry and frustrated and he was still holding on to her arm quite forcefully.
"Tom you are hurting me! Let go!"
Tom did not let go of her arm but merely loosened his grip on it.
"If you think we can't be together because of who I am then I will accept that." He told her a bit more calmly. "But please do not lie to me and tell me you don't have feelings for me."
Hermione could do nothing but stare at him. What the hell was she supposed to say? Not only were they arguing in front of others, but they were arguing about their feelings for each other, which was something that should not be discussed at all.
"Ok Tom," Hermione sighed in defeat. "I admit I have feelings for you." Tom smiled. "But," she began, which wiped the smile off of his face, "We-can-not-be-together." She told him slowly and clearly.
Tom frowned and let go of her arm. "That's all you had to say Hermione." He said without any emotion at all. "I guess I will see you later."
Tom turned around and walked away without looking back. Hermione sighed; feeling relieved and extremely put out at the same time. She hoped this would be the last time this discussion was brought up between them. She feared that if it happened again then she might not be able to turn him down.
She turned and glared at the several people who still staring at her and she quickly walked past all of them with her head held high. She prayed that this little "scene" would not be front page news by tomorrow at breakfast.
Unfortunately, she didn't even have to wait that long….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
"Hermione I heard what happened.' Ginny told her solemnly as she approached her best friend. It was late in the afternoon and Hermione had spent most of her time in the Common Room alone while she waited for her friends to return from whatever they had been up to. Much to her luck, Tom had not entered the Common Room once and Hermione had not seen him since the "dramatic hallway scene", or so she was calling it. Ginny had just walked in when she spotted Hermione and rushed over to her.
"What are you talking about?" She asked confused.
"Oh Hermione, its all over the school! You and Tom are the new gossip." Hermione groaned. So…one of the witnesses to the "dramatic hallway scene", had already gossiped about the whole thing. Hermione wished she knew who it was so she could hex them silly.
"Oh Ginny…what did you hear." Hermione asked with her face in her hands.
"Well the rumor is that you and Tom had a tiff in the hallway about your relationship. They are saying that Tom accused you of cheating on him and that you admitted to it and he was crushed by it." Hermione's face shot up out of her hands.
"WHAT!" She yelled. "That is the biggest lie I have ever heard! Who are the people who are saying this?" She demanded.
"That's just it Hermione," Ginny told her sadly. "Everyone is saying it! It is already around the whole school."
"Well that's just bloody terrific." Hermione groaned out.
"There's more." Ginny told her cautiously.
"Oh no…now what is it?"
"Well…a lot of people have been going to Tom to find out if this is true, since no one has been able to find you."
"And what did Mr. Riddle say?" Hermione asked, trying to remain calm.
"Well…um…he told everyone that his relationship with you is none of their business and if they wanted answers then they would have to go to you…the one who is at fault." Ginny said the last part in a rush.
"He said I am at fault? At fault for what? I did nothing….I only told him that despite what feelings I had for him, we could never be together! And he has the nerve to….oh I cant believe him!" She yelled.
"I know Hermione. I'm sorry this is happening….Tom is just…" Ginny was cut off by the portrait door swinging open.
People started to pile in from their afternoon activities and were all talking animatedly. When their eyes rested on Hermione however, a silence seem to pass over them and some even began to point and whisper to one another. Hermione felt her face heat up.
"THAT'S IT!" She exclaimed. "I am going to find Tom and sort this out with him." She whispered to Ginny, lest anyone else would hear and decide to follow her in hopes of seeing if the rumor was true.
"Alright love. Just be careful ok?"
"I think I will live to tell the tale." Hermione gave her friend a weak smile before she made her way through the crowd of people and out of the portrait door. She could hear all of them whispering amongst themselves, but she acted as if she had not heard them.
As she stepped out of the doorway and made her way down the hall, she heard the two voices call out her name.
"Hey Hermione, hold up a minute!" One of them called and Hermione groaned when she saw who they were.
"What do you want Fred and George?" She asked wearily.
"What's this we are hearing about you and Tom little Ms. Granger?" Fred asked with a devious smile.
Hermione let out a long sigh. "Whatever you heard its not true. I don't know who started this lie but whoever it is better hope I don't find out."
"Oh, those are some harsh words you have there Granger." George told her amused.
"Especially for something you claim is not true." Fred finished.
"Listen you two; I don't have time for this right now." Hermione said as she tried to move past them.
"Off for another lovers quarrel?" Fred asked while George chuckled.
"NO! Now leave me be!" Hermione yelled as she moved around them.
"What's got her knickers in a twist?" Fred laughed.
"Tom," George replied and both boys howled at their joke. Hermione just rolled her eyes and continued down the hallway.
She didn't know where Tom was, but she was sure as hell going to find him.
As she turned another corner she saw Ron and Harry headed her way and she let out another aggravated moan.
"Hermione we need to talk to you." Ron said rather angrily.
"Ron, now remember what I said." Harry told him warningly. Ron didn't seem to notice that Harry had even spoken.
"What's this we are hearing about you and Tom Riddle?" Ron asked. His whole face, including his ears, were red, which indicated to Hermione that he was really miffed by this whole thing.
"Ron it is not true! Me and Tom merely had an argument about Professor Snape and somehow it got blown into this huge ordeal." She had to lie about the real reason to them; she didn't want Harry and Ron to know of her feelings for Tom, although she was pretty sure Harry knew anyways.
Ron seemed to calm down a bit and his face was beginning to lose some of the red. "Well it is going around school that you and Tom are dating and that you cheated on him."
"All lies Ron….I promise. I don't have feelings for Tom." Ron smiled but Harry looked at her with a raised brow, as if he knew she was lying.
"Well then hopefully this stupid rumor is forgotten soon." Ron told her sympathetically.
"I hope so." She replied with a feeble smile.
"Where are you headed to Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Oh, I just have to go to the library to get a few books." Hermione tried to sound casual.
Harry merely nodded but still looked at her as if he knew she was hiding something. Hermione felt uneasy under his gaze and she looked away from him.
"Well...I-I guess I had better get going." She told them.
"Alright, we'll see you later then Hermione." Ron told her happily.
"See you," was all Harry said.
Hermione moved past them and continued on her way. She ignored the stares and the whispers that seemed to follow her wherever she went. Why is my personal life suddenly everyone's business, she thought angrily.
"Ms. Granger, do you mind if I had a word," came a soft voice.
"WHAT IS IT NOW?" Hermione shouted out. She turned around and saw Dumbledore standing there. She could not believe she had just yelled at the Headmaster.
"Just a quick question Hermione," Albus told her with a soft smile.
"I'm sorry Headmaster, I thought you were…"
"One of the other curious students," he told her with an understanding smile.
"Well…yes."
"Well Ms. Granger I am not a student as you know…I am however quite curious about something I'm afraid."
Hermione nodded and waited for him to continue.
"There is an interesting rumor that is going around the school. Now, I am not one for gossip, but this rumor is quite interesting indeed and I was wondering if…"
"If me and Tom are an item," Hermione finished for him.
Dumbledore nodded and stared kindly at her.
"No sir, it is not true. We had an argument between friends and nothing more." Hermione was tired of explaining herself.
"I am sorry I asked Hermione, but you understand that a relationship between you and Tom could turn out quite disastrous."
"I understand Headmaster, and you don't have to worry about that."
Dumbledore caught the sadness in her voice and he touched her shoulder gently.
"You are a wonderful student and a great friend Ms. Granger. I don't need to be a wizard to see that you are an exceptional witch and will no doubt become an even greater one as you grow."
Hermione smiled. "Thank you sir….I hope I don't disappoint you or anyone else for that matter."
"As long as you follow your heart Hermione, then no one will be disappointed in you." Dumbledore's eyes shone with their familiar twinkle as he removed his hand from her shoulder and continued on his way.
Hermione wondered what he had meant by that, but she didn't have much time to dwell on it. Just as Albus walked away, a group of girls walked by her; all of them were looking at her with jealousy and hatred and a few looked like they were ready to curse her. Hermione just rolled her eyes and moved on down the hall.
Tom was not going to get away with this! She would find him eventually…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
One hour later
"I am never going to find him." Hermione sighed.
She had searched all over the castle and even checked at her favorite spot on the balcony, and yet Tom was no where to be seen.
Hermione kept on walking though, determined to find him and get him to explain.
As she walked by an open window, a gust a wind came through sent a chill down her spine. Hermione wrapped her cloak around her more tightly as she shivered from the cold; then a thought hit her.
"How could I be so stupid?" She said out loud. "I didn't look outside!"
Hermione rushed down the hallway and ran as fast as she could to the giant doors that led outside. As soon as she reached them she rushed out into the cold air and searched for Tom.
Sure enough, she found him sitting under a tree and staring out at the Black Lake that was just down the hill. He seemed to be in a daze as he sat there and he didn't even hear Hermione's footsteps coming nearer. The thick snow must have muffled the sound.
"TOM RIDDLE!" She yelled as loud as she could. Tom's head snapped up and he watched her approach with an unreadable expression on his face.
"We need to talk…no I need to talk." She told him when she stood a few feet away from him. Tom stood up and faced her without saying anything.
"How could you Tom?" Hermione began. "I mean, it is one thing to have other people spread a false rumor about misinterpreted information they heard…but the way you added fuel to that fire is just unbelievable! I would have thought you had better sense then that…or I at least thought you were more considerate of others feelings. There is a rumor going around that I cheated on you and you practically defended it by telling them to come to me…the one who is at fault! How could you do such a thing? What were you thinking? Did you do it to get back at me or something?" Hermione stopped her raging for a moment to let him answer.
Tom had remained silent the whole time she was yelling at him; he was just looking at her with that same unreadable expression.
"Well Tom…what is your reason?" Still no answer.
"TOM I…" Hermione stopped and stared at Tom in shock.
He had suddenly grabbed her shoulders and pulled her right up against him. Their noses were practically touching and Tom was staring at her with such desire that Hermione could actually see his eyes darkening from it.
Before she even had time to react, Tom had firmly planted his lips on hers and began to kiss her hungrily.
Their first kiss had been something completely innocent; soft and sweet and slow. This kiss was the complete opposite from what that had been. Hermione was all but moaning as Tom ravished her mouth with the most passionate kiss she had ever received.
She shivered as his experienced tongue traced the inside of her mouth while he tried to taste as much of her as he could.
Tom's fingers were laced throughout her hair while her hands caressed his sculpted features. Hermione smiled into his mouth as she felt him tremble whenever she would touch a particularly sensitive area.
Tom was in heaven. He didn't mind the fact that Hermione had never snogged someone before; he quite liked teaching her how to maneuver tongue over his own.
Hermione's lips pulled away from his and Tom looked down into her beautiful doe eyes, wondering if she was mad at him again.
"T-Tom…oh God we c-can't do this." She said softly.
"Yes we can Hermione." Tom told her pleadingly. "Please give me a chance…I am sorry for what I said earlier about it being your fault. I was just so upset about what you had said before and I was confused…I still am confused. Why are you so afraid to be with me?" Tom was stroking her face tenderly and Hermione has closed her eyes for a moment and melted into his touch.
"Tom if we were together then who knows what could happen? I care about you so much Tom; you have no idea how much." Tom smiled lovingly at her and continued to stroke her cheek. "But that doesn't give us the right to…"
"To what Hermione? To be together? I think that gives us every right. I care for you too….perhaps too much."
"Tom listen we…"
"Why are you so afraid?" He asked impatiently.
"Because I don't trust myself with you!" She yelled, pulling away from him. Tom looked at her a bit stunned. "Are you happy now Tom? I know that if I was with you then I would fall in love with you and that just can not happen…do you understand? My God, what if Voldemort found out? He would come after me and use me as bait to get to you. And then it would be over Tom…he would turn you back to your old ways…hell he may even Obliviate your memory and send you back to your time where you would continue on as if this never happened. Do you want that Tom?
He just shook his head no.
"Now I do love you Tom….but as a friend, and that is how it must remain."
"Hermione, I cant promise anything, but I don't want your scenario to happen…so I am going to try and forget about my romantic feelings for you."
"Try?" Hermione said unsatisfied.
"It is the best I can do. Like I said….I fear I may like you too much." Tom blushed and looked at the ground.
"Apology accepted." Hermione told him while holding out her hand. Tom smiled and shook it.
"Now can we please go back in the castle? It is getting dark and I don't fancy becoming another ice sculpture this year." She giggled.
Tom laughed as well.
"Lead the way my lady." Hermione smiled and headed back towards the castle with Tom close behind her.
Neither of them ever noticed the person hiding close by behind a very thick bunch of bushes, listening intently to everything they had just said.
Dun dun duhhhhhhhh (is that how that song goes? lol) Bet you are wondering who that person is? Aren't cha? Well now…you just going to have to wait for the next chapter to find out! Things should start to pick up now….a new character is coming into this story next chapter. Not new as in he is original to me, but new as in he is finally a part of the story now…oh never mind, you'll see…lol…
I just wanted to thank you all again! You guys rock so very much! It still amazes me that this story is so well accepted….I can't thank you all enough! Tons of holiday kisses are being sent to all of you!
Next chapter is called Tattle Tale… (Just a little hint as to what it may be about)!