A/N: I told you guys I would have this out really quick! This is strictly a Tom and Hermione chapter…I wanted them to be alone for a change! No Myrtle, no Voldemort…just our two love birds, doing what….love birds…um, do….lol. Hehe…I hope you all like it! WARNING: MAJOR FLUFF AHEAD. IT COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH. Lol…. I love you guys!

"Love, people are staring at us." Hermione whispered out of the corner of her mouth.

Tom smiled down at her and gave her hand a light squeeze. "Let them stare." He told her, just as a group of fourth year girls walked by, all glaring daggers at Hermione.

"Easy for you to say," She whispered, "You don't have homicidal girls cursing you under their breaths when they walk by."

Tom laughed and drew her closer to him as they walked. "I'm not that sought after Hermione. I mean…I'm just one boy…"

"Tom, please don't be modest and just admit to that fact that you are completely gorgeous. I hear even some of the boys want you…not that I want to know who though."

Tom looked at her stunned. "Boys like me? You're kidding?"

She giggled. "No, I'm not kidding. Why are you blushing Tom? Are you…flattered?" Hermione joked.

"N-no…why would I be?" He mumbled.

"You don't sound very convincing love. If you want, I could always talk to some of them for you? All of your blushing makes me think you are right up there alley."

"Hermione Jane Granger, do you want me to tell your boyfriend about this?" Tom said in a girly voice. "I don't think he would appreciate you harassing me."

Hermione laughed and kissed the back of his hand. "Please forgive me my lady. I wouldn't want my boyfriend to find out, lest he leaves me for another."

"I would never do that." Tom said firmly. He had abandoned his silly girl voice and resumed his deep, soothing tone that could have charmed a dragon to sleep.

"Tom, I was only kidding." Hermione said as the couple turned into the abandoned hall that led to the balcony.

"I know, but I wanted you to know that I would never do that. I love you too much." Tom looked at her and smiled at her thoughtful expression.

They stepped out onto the balcony and their teeth began to chatter immediately. Tom pulled out his want and pointed it at Hermione first. Sudden warmth spread over her like water and traveled all the way down to her toes. She wasn't even the slightest bit cold now as she watched Tom point his wand at himself. The smile on his face indicated that he too could feel the heat from his spell.

"Let me clear away some of this snow so we can lay down." He told her while pointing his wand at a large pile of the miniature white crystals.

Moments later he had all of the snow melted and had a comfy looking blanket spread out over the stone floor.

"Ladies first," he said while smiling at her. Hermione just stood there staring at him; the same thoughtful expression adorned her face.

"What?" Tom asked, smiling at her.

Hermione went from thoughtful to gloomy in a matter of seconds; she still stood there unresponsive.

"Love, what's wrong?" Tom asked worriedly. He walked over to her and placed his hands on her arms.

"I don't want to tell you that 'I love you'." She said feebly.

Tom was stunned by her response and could do nothing but gape at her.

"I'm afraid you'll leave sooner if I say it."

Tom tried to speak up but Hermione placed a finger over his lips and held it there.

"Tom, don't give me that look. You are going to go back, I just know it. What am I going to do without you?"

Tom eye's softened and he tenderly kissed the finger over his lips.

"I don't know what I'll do either." He said glumly. Hermione had removed her hand from his lips and began to gently trace his profile with her index finger. Tom shivered from both her touch and from a memory it brought on. Bailey had done the same thing when they were about to break up. Realization hit him and he stopped her hand that had been tracing his cheekbones.

"Hermione, your not planning on breaking up with me are you?"

"Am I being that obvious?" She asked sadly.

Panic surged through him as he grasped her hands in his.

"I won't let you leave me Hermione. I need you, and I refuse to be here for one second without you."

"But Tom, wouldn't it be easier if we…"

"I don't want what's easy…I only want you."

Hermione smiled and looked at him thoughtfully once more. "How could I have been so foolish?" She joked. She stood on tiptoes and nuzzled her nose against his creamy cheek.

"Forgive me?" She whispered in his ear.

Tom leaned forward as if to kiss her and Hermione instinctively closed her eyes.

"Nope…" He said while sticking his foot behind her leg. Tom held onto her as they both tumbled towards blanket. Hermione shrieked as she fell but was surprised to feel how fluffy the blanket was beneath her; she couldn't even feel the stone floor.

Tom laughed as he landed on top of her. "Now I forgive you."

"Tom Riddle that was not funny." Hermione said while giggling.

"Then why are you laughing?" He asked while lowering his face close to hers. Hermione suddenly became aware that he was on top of her and her heart began to race.

"Hmm, it seems your giggles have subsided. Any reason why?" He teased. He adjusted himself on top of her and smirked when he heard Hermione's sharp intake of breath.

"Aren't you supposed to be showing me some homework?" Hermione asked.

"I like this plan better." Tom whispered in her ear. Hermione tried to suppress another shiver and ended up gasping softly instead.

"I think you fancy it too." Tom said smugly.

"Don't be so sure of yourself Mr. Riddle." Hermione grinned. "I may just have to…"

Tom pressed his lips to hers and cut her off. "Do what?" He asked when he pulled away from their chaste kiss.

"Uh…what were we talking about again?" She asked dreamily while staring at his lips.

Tom gave a triumphant laugh and kissed her forehead. "Can it be that I have stumped the great Hermione Granger? Maybe I am no good for you after all…you seem to have lost some of your intellect." Tom sighed and got up off her.

Hermione groaned at the loss of contact and looked up at him with curious eyes.

"And where do you think you are going?" She asked.

"I'm off to find some dull twit whose intelligence I can't steal. I refuse to be the one who robs you of your brilliance."

"Tom Riddle, don't you dare." Hermione warned, but the effect was lost with her evident grin.

She sat up on her knees and stared up at him with the biggest puppy dog eyes she could muster. Hermione's red and gold sweater had shifted off to the side a bit and exposed a creamy white shoulder to Tom. He sat back down in front of her and kissed along her neck down to her nude shoulder, causing her to moan from surprise and bliss.

Hermione leaned into him more and let out another groan when Tom pulled her up onto his lap. They both leaned their heads in at the same time and found each others lips instantaneously.

Hermione's mouth melted against his as she pressed her body even closer to his lithe form. Encouraged, Tom thrust his hips up into hers and moaned in her mouth. Hermione, though particularly blissful at the moment, pulled away from his mouth and stared at him anxiously.

"Tom," She panted, "I uh…I don't think I'm ready, to ah…you know…" She blushed and tried to focus on calming her fervent breathing.

Tom gave throaty laugh, for he too was breathing harshly from their previous actions. "You can say it you know." He grinned when she bit her lip out of embarrassment.

"Fine…I don't think I'm ready for sex." She said while meeting his gaze. Tom looked so compassionate and understanding that Hermione was tempted to give in to him.

"It's ok love. I have no intention on rushing you into anything you are not ready for…especially sex. I'm in no hurry."

"You're not a virgin are you?" She asked him.

It was Tom's turn to blush and he averted his eyes for a moment before looking back at her.

"No, I'm not. I've only been with one girl and it was just once…at the end of my fifth year."

"Oh Tom, you were so young." She thought out loud.

"I know, but I didn't care back then. I had just learned that my father was a Muggle, and I was so angry that I had to take it out on someone."

"So you took it out on another girl…with sex." Hermione stated. Tom nodded solemnly.

"I didn't like it too much though. It was quick and sloppy, and I hadn't a flip of what I was doing. I just went along with what seemed to be giving her the most pleasure."

"Didn't you get any pleasure from it?" She asked. Hermione, with any other person, would have never had a conversation like this, but with Tom she knew she could talk about anything.

"Not really…I just felt empty whenever it was over. The girl, who was a Slytherin, tried to get me into her bed again, but I acted like she was a piece trash after that, and I ignored her completely." Tom looked away in shame. He had done a lot of cruel things in his past…worse in his future.

Hermione, who was still nestled on his lap, nuzzled her nose against his cheek and kissed his prominent cheekbone. Tom sighed and looked back into her honey colored eyes. How could one girl make him feel so weak and so strong at the same time?

"Tom, don't ever be ashamed to tell me about your past. I know it wasn't pleasant, but I will never turn away from you, no matter how horrible it was…I…I love you." Hermione could have died from the stunning smile that lit up his face. She felt fortunate to be the one who gets to see that beauty, and be the cause of it.

"I knew the second I saw you that you would be different." He commented thoughtfully.

"I'm different because I love you?" Hermione giggled. "Tom, I could name dozens of people who would kill to love you."

"Not like you do though. God, all of you Gryffindors wear your hearts on your sleeves." He laughed.

"It's a trait that you're steadily picking up Mr. Riddle." She retorted with a smile.

"Is that so?" Tom said while tickling her on her sides. Hermione giggled as she fell onto the blanket and pleaded with watering eyes for Tom to stop.

"Alright, I'll stop." He laughed while lying down next to her on the fluffy blanket. In the midst of all that had been happening, neither teen realized that sky had been steadily darkening. Hermione looked up into an ocean of black dotted with millions of diamonds as far as the eye could see.

Sighing, she cuddled up closer to Tom's side. He put an arm over her and she moved her head onto his chest; her chestnut colored curls splayed over his heart.

Tom could hear Hermione's soft breathing a few minutes later and knew that she had fallen asleep while lying in his arms.

Left alone with his thoughts, Tom couldn't help but think about Voldemort. What was he planning? Ever since the attack in the Great Hall, there had been no sign of Voldemort, save for a few nightmares that Tom had occasionally.

Just waiting for something to happen had him on the edge and he couldn't stand that helpless feeling anymore. Then, a brilliant idea occurred to him.

Maybe Severus would know what Voldemort's up to, he thought. That man seemed to know so much anyways…who's to say he wasn't up to date on the Dark Lord's doings? Tom made a mental note to have a chat with the greasy potions professor as soon as possible.

Just then, Tom felt Hermione shift against him in her sleep and decided it was time to go back to their dormitory. He slowly sat up and placed an arm under her neck and under her knees. Tom lifted her up as if he were merely picking up a feather, and he placed a small kiss on her forehead before setting off down the deserted corridor.

When he reached the Common Room he was surprised to find to completely empty. It was later then he thought it was.

He realized then that he couldn't get Hermione up to her room. The girls' dormitories were magically protected to keep boys out. He could have woken Hermione up and sent to off to her room, but she looked so peacefully asleep that Tom didn't have the heart to do it.

He decided to take her up into his room instead. He walked up to the boys' room and entered as quietly as he could. The sound of familiar snoring reached his ears as he silently walked passed Dean's bed and over to his own.

"Don-…don't wake the spiders." Ron mumbled in his sleep. Tom let out a soft chuckle and carefully lowered Hermione's sleeping form onto his bed. Taking out his wand, he spelled a pair of his own pajamas on her and then did the same for himself.

Hermione looked so cute in the slightly baggy bottoms and the crinkly white shirt, and Tom stood above her for a moment watching her sleep. Her long eyelashes fluttered every now and then and her chest rose and fell with each breath she took. He wondered yet again how someone so lovely could possibly be his…

He slid in next to her and pulled the warm comforter over both them as he let out a sleepy yawn. The contour of her body fit flawlessly against his and he placed arm around her waist to pull her in closer.

Hermione sighed but didn't wake up and Tom kissed the tip of her nose before his eyes fluttered shut.

He was happy to find that it was Hermione, and not Voldemort, who invaded his dreams that night….

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Just consider this chapter the calm before the storm! Wasn't it cute though? lol….if you thought it was too sappy then I understand…I got a little carried away with the mushy gushy stuff didn't I? Hehe……