Authors Note:
So I said it would be coming soon in WTDK and I kept my word. Don't tell me. I suck at updating, I know. i'm a terrible writer who can't keep anything updated like I'm supposed too.
Worse things have happened though. I feel like this is coming along okay. I'm no J.K. Rowling and honestly, I have no fucking plot for this and I started it like twelve years ago. I think I'm going to sit down sometime tomorrow night and just outline this shit real good. I know I'm working up to a plot right now, but I'm like. what am I working up to here.
And you know what's funny? I actually started writing another Tomione the other day and I'm like. Before I start a third story, I have to work on these two. I can't just keep starting other stories and never finish these two.
BUT THE NEW ONE IS GOOD. but I'm not sure if I'm going to post it.
Anyway. Review because it tells me what I need to work on and if I should just give up. Either way, I'll take criticism on both ends. I'm a chill person, I just enjoy reading reviews.
Enjoy =)
"You're wrong." Tom said simply looking away from her with his arms crossed.
"No, you're wrong. His dreams all hold a very strong symbolic meaning, especially the dream of the mare being whipped. It symbolizes gratification and punishment." She steamed.
Hermione had never really been the kind to call herself unlucky, however for the past week or so she'd definitely come to use that term more often. Her gothic literature class had taken to reading Crime and Punishment and they were assigned to discuss and write a paper with a partner on the symbolic meaning of his dreams throughout the book. Tom seemed to disagree with her about every single thing that was going to go onto the paper, whether it be the correct placement for punctuation or simply her interpretation of the symbolic meaning.
"It symbolizes a contemptible society. His absolute disgust at the sight of the destruction of the mare shows his guilty conscience, as well as a contempt for society. Not to mention he believes himself to be a man above greater society. He thinks he has the authority to kill and believes that the murder of the woman and her cat were completely justified, and this dream as well as his character show this." Tom was starting to become irritated as well.
Usually his playful teasing demeanor held strong and he would torment Hermione to no end. However, they'd been arguing in one of the library's private study rooms for almost an hour now and had only written a measly paragraph. They were supposed to have three pages done within the next two days and they weren't making any progress.
"Why can't we just use both?" She asked, exasperated.
"If we turn this paper into Snape with ideas and symbolism all over the place rather than just one solid idea, he'll mark us off." He snapped back.
"What a sorry day it will be for poor Tom Riddle when he receives a 99/100." She scoffed at him.
"Oh? And you're any different? Just the other day I saw you about blow your stack when Slughorn knocked one point off your lab for forgetting a decimal." His eyes narrowed.
"That was different! I had put a decimal and he just didn't see it!" She ran a hand through her curls, trying to breathe and calm herself. "This is insane Tom! This paper is due in two days and we aren't getting any closer to finishing it than we are to seeing Professor Snape marry Professor Tonks!"
"If you would just listen to me, we wouldn't be having this problem. You're supposed to be listening to me anyway." He jumped off the desk they were seated at. "In case you don't remember our little deal? I get to be in charge and you just do as I say."
"That doesn't pertain to school work!" She exclaimed.
"Well, we didn't exactly write out the deal in fine print, now did we? So what I say goes." His voice sounded final.
She stared up at him and a part of her began daydreaming about how her pencil at this precise moment was sharp enough to stab him in the chest. It had been an incredibly long week and a half and most of the school had finally started to move past the detention ordeal and such, however some students still held on tightly. Specifically Pansy Parkinson, who had been all too eager to continue spreading rumors and shoving her in the hall. Hermione had brought this to Tom's attention the other day in class and he had simply brushed it off.
"Fine." She gritted through her teeth. "We will do it your way, I don't even care."
"You're only pissy because we haven't had an intimate moment in over a week." He sat down across from her as she began writing.
"If this were a game of hot and cold as to why Hermione is pissy, you would be in Antarctica." She gripped the pencil even harder. "Besides, I'd rather jump into an erupting volcano than spend another minute with your lizard lips on my face."
"You know I love it when you talk dirty to me." Tom winked, standing up and coming over to her side of the table.
"Go away. I'm trying to work!" She shoved her elbow at him as he moved his chair right next to hers.
"I don't feel like working on this project anymore, I think we should have another lesson."
"Right here? Are you off your rocker? Do you've any idea what would happen if a professor happened to walk by or even worse another student?" She scooted over on her chair.
"I like to live dangerously." He moved in closer to her face.
"Tom, I swear to god. If you do not get out of my face this instant, I will punch you in the nose. We have to finish this paper." Anger shone heavily through her voice, she wasn't in the mood for games.
"All work and no play make Tom a dull boy." He stood up, rolling his eyes and began pacing the small room. "When do you think you'll be done with our paper then?"
"I'm sorry, don't you mean when do I think we'll be done with our paper? I'm not writing this paper all by myself." She asserted.
"Hermione, so far, I've really let you off easy with this whole deal we have going on. I've given you time to mull over and prepare and I've hardly asked anything of you. I've been so kind and the least you could possibly do is write this paper….how I want it done though." He reassured.
Hermione felt her fingers shaking from the anger that was dwelling within her body. She had no idea how much longer she was going to be capable of dealing with this. Her grades weren't falling and she still maintained a high GPA, but since this entire ordeal, the small lead Tom had on her had grown to six points and Hermione wouldn't have it. She could care less about her social life, her social life wasn't what was going to make her a successful doctor after graduating. Tom had begun to ruin her grades and it was going to be the straw that broke the camel's back.
"How a stupid, egotistical, thoughtless, useless, preppy baboon like you ever got as popular or smart as you are now boggles my mind, Tom Riddle. I'm already starting to think I would be better off with the entire school hating me than I would being your stupid little hand-servant that pleasures you on the side." She spat out.
"Oh Hermione, don't hold back. Tell me how you really feel." He mocked in a sarcastic tone. "Do you treat every boy who shows you genuine affection this way, I'm very curious."
"Tell me Tom, do you treat every girl like some lowly stupid piece of ass, or am I your golden exception?" She snapped back.
"I've told you before Hermione, all you have to do is say you enjoy our time together and do as I say, and this would all be over in a snap. You don't have to torture yourself like this." He shrugged nonchalantly.
"I'll kiss Snape before I just give in to what you want."
"I'm sure that could be arranged. I doubt he's ever even seen a girl below the be-"
"Tom!" Hermione felt a blush creeping into her cheeks. "Be quiet, you're awful! Just truly awful!"
Tom gave her a crooked smile and then walked over and sat down, grabbing the paper from under Hermione's hand and began reading it, his eyes narrowing as he studied the paper. Hermione glared at him as he read it. She caught herself staring at a small dimple in the corner of his cheek where his mouth had turned downward in a small frown, one she noticed appeared when he was paying attention or working hard. He grabbed his pen from the table and began marking on the paper, writing small notes and citations, crossing things out underlining.
"There is no way I've made that many mistakes." She protested as he continued marking down the page.
"Your writing is just appalling. You know, I have a cat at home, his name's Cheshire, he could probably write better than this." He shook his head at the paper as he continued to tear her paper apart with red marks.
"You named your cat after The Cheshire Cat? From Alice in Wonderland?" She snorted.
"Does it surprise you? That I'm literary proficient?" He didn't turn to look at her.
"Possibly. I find it hard to believe someone such as yourself sits at home quietly and reads out of pure pleasure. I more or less pictured you sitting at home looking at woman on your computer and reading magazines with busty women."
"Who's to say I don't do both?" He turned and winked an eye at her.
"You're disgusting." Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.
"You're the one who said it Hermione. What about you? How don't I know you sit at home looking at pictures of big, thick-"
"I'm leaving. I'm done. You can bring me the paper tomorrow and I'll edit it then. I have to get away from you." She stood up, grabbing her bag.
"I'll see you tonight then?" He asked, leaning back in his chair to block the door, looking
up at her.
"Are you kidding me? I have a huge test tomorrow in Advanced Physiology and I honestly need the sleep. This entire bet is so stupid-"
"Tonight, twelve. No exceptions." He pointed a finger to the door without looking at her.
Her eyes turned into small slits of anger and she huffed before slapping his arm away and throwing open the door to leave the room. She stomped out and made her way up to her dormitory to drop off some of her book before their free period was over. She sighed a deep breath of relief when she saw that Ginny wasn't in the room. She knew that Harry, Ron, and Ginny believed her but she had a feeling that they were starting to tire of how friendly she seemed to be with him after what he had done to her. She didn't blame them. She could hardly imagine how it looked when the person who'd caused a majority of the school to turn against her was constantly talking to her and being chummy while she sat and did nothing about it.
Any normal person would have punched him in the face and sent him packing, or at least ignored him. Hermione didn't think she could ignore Tom Riddle even if she had too. It didn't matter that he teased her relentlessly about every single thing she did, or that it seemed like every time he spoke her blood began to boil. There was simply no other way to put it, Tom Riddle was the kind of person you couldn't forget about. No matter how much she hated to admit it, and she never would, especially never to him.
She left her dorm and made her way down to the commons where she ran into Ron, waving and smiling at her to join him. She was all too happy to partake, she needed to be around someone who she actually liked.
"Hey, where've you been?" Ron asked sitting down on the free couch (Hermione felt her face redden when she realized what couch they were sitting on).
"I have an essay due in Snape's class and I was lucky enough to be paired with Tom. He's an awful partner, really. We've been in the library working on it, but I had to leave. I was getting ready to bust an aneurysm." She shook her head, sitting down next to him.
"Ah, well. Things could be worse." He said shrugging. "We get to go to London this weekend though, so it's not all bad. We usually all go out and go to this little pub, they call it the Three Broomsticks. D'your parents give you permission to go to London?"
"Yeah, It's just been such a bum week, I don't even know that I'm in the mood to go anywhere, especially with all these people. They'd probably tie me up and leave me in alley so they wouldn't have to see my face anymore." She leaned her head on Ron's shoulder.
"Nahh, it'll be fun. I promise. I'll make sure nobody leaves you in an alley." He leaned his head on hers and they sat there for a second.
Hermione didn't mind sitting like this with Ron, in fact she didn't mind being this close to Ron one bit. He was probably the nicest to her out of all three of her only friends. Ginny was of course very sweet, and it was lovely to have someone to just simply be a girl with. However, she preferred being around Ron because something about him just made her feel cozy, like she was at home.
"Cozying up with Weasley, I see?" Hermione shut her eyes and held them closed, maybe she had just heard it in her head. She was mistaken, She felt Ron tense up and turn around.
"Bugg off, Riddle. Nobody asked you over here." Ron's voice was angry and Hermione watched as his ears began to pink.
"I mean no harm," His voice was polite and calm. Hermione glared at him, hoping he could feel it in his soul. He wasn't going to act like he did around her around anyone else and it pissed her off. It made Hermione look like she was lying about the things he did and said to her. "Student's aren't allowed to engage in intimate activity. If you two don't separate, I'll have to write you up."
"That didn't stop you the other day in the hallway with Hermione." Ron mumbled angrily under his breath as Hermione scooted to the other cushion away from Ron.
"I'm sorry Mr. Weasley, I didn't catch that?" Hermione felt a hot stone drop into her stomach as she saw the look that came across Tom's face. "Miss Granger, would you please inform Ron what happened in the stairwell."
The look on his face was telling. He was giving her two choices, she could lie to Ron right here and tell him what Riddle wanted her to tell him. Second choice was she could tell Ron the truth and Riddle would continue to wreak havoc on any dignity that she continued to carry. She grinded her teeth, staring at Tom as if to test her theory about what he was doing. His face held only the expression of someone being patient. His eyes however, held it all. His dark blue eyes shone, like his eyes were smiling and laughing at her expense while she sat here and suffered. Ron was looking expectantly at Hermione, waiting for her to answer Tom's question.
"I was angry with Tom, so I followed him to the stair well," Her voice sounded so forced it was almost as if she were having trouble breathing. "When I reached the stairwell, I was angry with Tom. Tom told me he was only teasing me because he thought I was beautiful and smart, and he was jealous that I was smarter than him." Tom's eyebrow cocked up. "Tom leaned in towards me, and I got the wrong idea, and I kissed him."
Hermione was praying for something in Ron's head to click and figure out that she was only saying this so Tom wouldn't make her life a living hell. Tom's face held nothing, but his eyes gleamed and Hermione could swear she could almost hear him laughing inside her head. He turned to look at Ron and Hermione followed suit. His face was red and at any other point, Hermione might have laughed because it looked like his head was on fire, but she didn't laugh. She turned to glare back at Tom who met her gaze.
"See, Ronald. It was just a mistake. She's new and she didn't know any better, now like I said. Keep a foot's length apart now." He nodded at Hermione, smiling before he walked off out of the common room.
"Ron, I was just lying...he's making me say all this stuff…" She trailed off, Ron was still glaring at the spot where Tom had been standing. She laid a hand on his shoulder, and he jumped slightly, turning to look at her hand. "Come on, let's go to class."
Ron looked at her, heaving a deep breath and nodded. He didn't speak to her the entire way to class, actually. He didn't speak to her the rest of the day. If he was angry, he didn't say anything. Hermione didn't want to say anything either, she wanted to let him cool off and she didn't want to make anything worse than it already was.
Hermione didn't care what happened, she was going to slap Tom Riddle in the face tonight, even if it cost her the last three friends she had.
Hermione noticed that the closer to midnight it got, the angrier she seemed to become. A part of her was furious, so bloody furious she could have smashed holes in every wall that she passed on the way to common room. She had made up her mind, she was going to tell Tom Riddle she didn't want any part of this anymore. She knew (or at least she hoped) that she would have three friends left no matter what happened after she told him. There wasn't much more he could do honestly. Pansy Parkinson had found a new hobby in bullying Hermione every chance she got and Draco and his cronies seemed to enjoy teasing her just the same.
She rounded the corner and ran straight into Tom Riddle who had been standing in front of the hallway waiting for her. She had no hesitations, she rose her hand quickly and with as much power as she could muster into her small hand, she moved to slap him. She could have guessed that Tom had seen it coming, and he grabbed her hand inches before it smacked into his face.
"Ah Ah Ah, no hitting." He mocked her, holding her wrist above her head. "I thought we'd at least established a well negotiated compromise, are you breaking the treaty?"
"I just thought I'd try something new, I seem to remember you saying you liked it rough." She yanked on her hand, but to no avail, his grip remained strong.
"Oh, I do. Very much so," He pulled her hand slamming it back into the wall, using his body to push the rest of her with it. "However, I like to be the one who administers the pain, rather than receiving." His voice was hot and deep in her ear and it made her entire body shiver with a mixture of anticipation and fear. "Tell me Hermione, do you like it rough?"
She didn't answer, her lips remained sealed and her eyes pinched themselves shut. He used his other hand and brought her other wrist to meet his, gripping them both in his tight hold. He ran his mouth down from her ear to her neck, testing the water. His teeth bit softly into her neck and she gasped, her eyes opening wide. She felt the skin beneath her cheeks redden when she heard a small chuckle come from his mouth which was still making it's way across her neck. He continued to administer small bites, until he reached the apex of her neck and chest and bit down hard and while she meant to gasp in pain, all that came from her mouth was a small moan of pleasure.
Tom kissed back up to her lips and Hermione may have felt ashamed of herself later, but she certainly wasn't feeling it now. She could hardly bring herself to remember why she had wanted to slap Tom in the face in the first place. Bloody hell, she could hardly remember her name as this point. Her mind seemed to be only thinking in color and feelings, bright splashes of red and purple every time she felt his teeth push into her skin. Black with explosions of color when his lips finally locked onto hers, his mouth coming over hers like he had been in the desert for days, and she was his water.
She found herself concentrating on the sound she was hearing when she realized it was her, her breath making small sounds of pleasure every time she was allowed a breath of air. Later on, Hermione would even swear her body was moving of it's own accord, her mind knowing nothing of it. Her body was trying it's hardest to press itself into every nook and cranny of Tom's body. When Tom had finally released her hands, he moved them down to come around her back and down her legs, hoisting her up so that she was wrapped around him. One hand ran through her hair, gripping it and pulling slightly so that her head tilted away from his mouth allowing him to freely roam his lips across her neck. She had completely lost track of the time, her entire conscious following the hot trail of kisses he was leaving across her skin.
When Tom finally came up to meet her lips again, she felt ravenous. She ran a hand through the soft waves of his hair grasping onto him; her other hand softly gripping his face, as though she were begging him to stay put. Slowly, Tom lowered the intensity of their kiss. His hands, Hermione hadn't even noticed, had found their way to her chest and they stopped grouping and now were softly massaging. His kisses became softer and slowly turned to small pecks. Hermione, aware of the situation she had been placed it, felt a shock of embarrassment. Not over the kiss, but the heavy breathing she felt reeling in her body as well as the earsplitting thudding of her heart, which she was positive Tom could feel and hear.
"You're definitely improving." Hermione was smacked back into reality, of course he had to make a joke and bring it all down.
"Let me down," She unwrapped her legs from around him and pushed him off. "If that's all and we're done here, I'm going back to bed."
"Are you going to London this weekend?" He asked, coming up and walking next to her.
"If I was, I wouldn't tell you, and I certainly wouldn't be hanging out with you either. Your friends are all mindless sociopaths who get off on bullying kids who don't have as much money as them. I'd say you have a lot in common with them, but you're smart enough to do it behind closed doors." She said without looking at him.
"I'll take that as a yes then? Wonderful, it's a date then." Hermione cringed at the word.
"No, it most certainly is not. It's the complete opposite of a date, I'm not going to spend my free day in London following you around."
"Okay, we shall call it an un-date then. you don't really have any other options in the matter. Maybe I'll buy you something nice." He spoke as if he were a father telling a child he would buy them a new toy.
"You know Tom, when I first came here, I was so curious why someone so handsome didn't have a girlfriend," She turned to face him, nearly bumping into him. "You're an arrogant conceited asshole. You love to flaunt how smart you are in other's faces and you're a world class manipulator. You've some how tricked the entire school into thinking you're some charming, polite, schoolboy when you're nothing more than a world class douchebag. I've no doubt that you're more than capable of tricking some stupid girl into bed with you, but you'll never have anything serious because you can't be serious, and you hide everything you think and feel behind this stupid charade of jokes and charm."
"Hermione," His voice was small and saddened, she almost felt a pang of guilt. "I didn't know you really felt that way about me…I love you too." He pretended to wipe a tear from his eye.
Hermione let out a very angry frustrated yell, wanting nothing than to push Tom out the common room window. She felt the sudden need to pull all of her hair from her head and grind her teeth down to nubs. Never in her life had she been so incredibly frustrated with someone. Then again, there really was no one like Tom Riddle.
"You don't even know what love is!" She cried.
"You're going to have a hard time explaining our relationship this weekend when everyone finds out I'm your boyfriend." He shrugged, moving to walk past her.
"You're playing dirty!" She grabbed his arm, stopping him from walking away.
"Oh, Hermione, don't play coy. You like it when I play dirty," He turned and came dangerously close to her face. "You love it, and you can feel it right here," She suddenly felt his hand trailing from the top of her chest down the middle to her the top of her pajama bottoms. "And you can't get enough of it."
She smacked his hand away, ignoring the daze he always seemed to put her in when he touched her.
"You don't think it'll look suspicious if you tell people I'm your girlfriend and us never spend time together or touch each other in public? I'm not about to play arm candy for your enjoyment."
"Oh, don't worry about the minute details, I'll handle everything," He smiled, his crooked teeth showing. "We'll be the happiest couple this school has ever seen."
"I still don't understand. I didn't do anything to you, I was never anything but polite and I kept to myself and left you alone. Why me, why do you have to ruin my life like this? Why not someone else." Her voice sounded almost hurt, defeated.
"I always get what I want Hermione, even if I have to fight dirty to get it."
"That doesn't answer my questions, why me?" She looked up into his eyes, the dark blue gleaming back at her, an intense feeling of heat spread into her body, rolling slowly into the very pit of her stomach from the look he gave her.
"You misunderstand," His face came closer to hers, his stare sending a quiver down her back. "I always get what I want," He leaned in, his hand coming up to stroke her cheek. "And I won't stop until you want me too."
_()_
Hermione woke up on Saturday morning feeling as if she had eaten lead before she went to bed. She was so anxious and stressed about what would happen today, she contemplated staying in her dorm room all day avoiding everyone and everything. However, something told her that if Tom didn't find her in the common room, he had no problem coming up to grab her.
She ended up downstairs anyway, ignoring the gnawing feeling of anxiety that seemed to be eating her from the inside out. Ron must have calmed down overnight because he greeted her with a warm smile and hug and even sat very close to her on the bus ride there. The buses were small, made to fit maybe 10-12 students a piece. However, there wasn't very many students who were going either. Only grades 11 and 12 were allowed. Hermione couldn't help herself, she found herself stealing looks at Tom trying to figure out what he was playing at. Surely if he had told everyone they were dating, he would have done it by now.
He seemed to actually be ignoring her, if she had to guess. Usually whenever the two of them were in the same vicinity, he would be doing his best to look at her and make her nervous and angry. However today, he was doing the exact opposite. Even when Hermione had walked by him on the bus, he'd looked the other way to speak to Pansy Parkinson, who'd even looked up to send Hermione a "look who's laughing now" look. She had no doubt that Tom saw her send it too.
As much as she wished to admit it, it really did bother her. Why would he threaten her with a lie like that then treat her like she didn't exist. She was going to prove that it didn't matter. She was going to enjoy her day in London with her friends and not think about Tom Riddle for one second.
"Where are we going first?" She asked Ron as the bus began to make its way towards Central London.
"Usually the Camden Lock Market and around there, then stop for a bite at Three Broomsticks. Nowhere fancy or anything. However, the richer lot go other places. Dover and Bond usually. I can't even afford to look at places like those." Ron said rolling his eyes.
"I think I've ever only been there once, and it was to help my dad pick out a nice watch for my mom." She laughed.
"Course, your lot wouldn't be welcomed there, would they Weasley?" Malfoy called back from the seat diagonal from them.
"I imagine they don't allow rabies ridden rodents like yourself either, Malfoy." Ron shot back, his ears turning red.
"Why don't you come over here and say that to my face, Weasel. Maybe your little skank of a girlfriend there-"
"Malfoy." The voice came from the seat two ahead of them.
Malfoy's face reddened and he turned forward to look at Tom, who was turned in his seat facing him, a conservatively angry look at his face. Pansy was trying to pull at his arm to make him sit down, but he brushed her off without even glancing at her. Malfoy sat down, his face turning an ugly red color as he faced forward. The girl sitting next to Malfoy, who she assumed was his girlfriend, sent Hermione a glare before putting her hand on Malfoy's shoulder to try and comfort him as though he'd been hurt.
Tom never once looked at Hermione, he just turned back around in his seat. She looked over at Ron who had an odd blank look on his face.
"What was that about?" He asked, still looking forward at the back of Tom's head.
"I've no idea."
Hermione honestly forgot about the entire bus ordeal once they'd started walking around for a few hours, Tom was nowhere to be seen and Ron had bought her several items (though she'd begged him not too). She was thankful when they finally reached The Three Broomsticks to sit down and get something to eat. She was starving and her feet were killing her.
"Put your money away, I'm buying your drink." Ron slapped her hand down.
"You've bought enough. As soon as you turn away, I plan on returning every single item." She laughed nudging into him.
"That's mean Hermione, you already know I'm poor. You'd really do that to me? I used all the money I've ever saved-"
"Oh, shut up!" She pushed him.
"My life savings, really. I won't be able to eat for a week." His voice in mock pity.
"Sad thing is, he's not joking, are you Weasley?" Malfoy came up behind them at the bar where they were seated.
"Can't leave well enough alone, can you?" Hermione turned, glaring at him.
"If I really cared for a cunt's opinion like yours, I would have asked, now wou-"
Malfoy didn't finish, Ron had pulled back swinging his fist squarely into Draco's face. Hermione gasped loudly, not as loudly as Draco's girlfriend screamed when Ron's fist made impact. Malfoy went sprawling, blood squirting from his nose. Ron moved to keep going but Hermione grabbed his arm.
"Ronald!" She moved in front of him, pushing him back. She struggled though, Ron was all too eager to continue what he had started. "Ronald, Stop!"
Draco lay on the ground, clutching his nose which was very steadily spurting blood from both nostrils. The bones in his nose, which were quite hard to see through the blood and his hands, were very clearly broken. He was moaning while his girlfriend kneeled next to him trying to help him staunch the flow of blood.
"Mr. Weasley! Are you out of your mind?!" Professor Lupin had been sitting in the corner of the pub keeping a watchful eye on the students. "Outside! Now! The both of you, Draco get up. Follow me. C'mon now."
Hermione squeezed Ronald's hand as he moved past her to leave. She felt incredibly guilty, though she had definitely not told Ron to punch Draco in the face, he'd only done it because of what he'd said about her in the first place. She ignored the dirty look Malfoy's girlfriend shot as they all walked out the pub. Hermione suddenly realized how very alone she was. Harry and Ginny had yet to make it back and she had no other friends around. The pub had become very silent and a lot of people were staring at her.
"First Riddle, now Weasley. Can't help yourself when it comes to the boys, can you Granger?" A tall brown headed girl shoved past Hermione going over to some of her friends.
Hermione took a deep breath, trying to calm herself and find reason not to act as Ron had. She decided it was best to grab her bags and simply make her way back to the bus. She knew there was another two or three hours before they all left, but she didn't have it in her to wait for Harry and Ginny in the pub with everyone making rude remarks about what a bint they thought she was. She received permission from Professor Tonks and went into the bus and made her way to the very back. She now regretted now bringing her cell phone, she'd left it in her room at the school thinking it'd be noting but distraction. At this moment in time, she prayed for nothing more than a good distraction.
"At least I brought a book." She sighed to herself, pulling out The Haunting of Hill House, a novel which had been assigned by Professor Snape.
She found herself deeply immersed in her novel, reading for maybe little over an hour before the clicking of the door opening at the front of bus sent her reeling.
"Shit!" She shouted, the sound of the door opening causing her to jump.
"Language, Miss Granger. You don't want me to give you detention now, do you? Or were you hoping to get some alone time with Weasley?" She glared at the tall dark haired handsome boy who'd entered the bus.
"Tom, so help me God, if you don't leave me alone." She couldn't even finish her sentence, she was too mentally tired of it all.
"They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, Hermione. Don't pretend you don't know it either." He came too and sat next to her, looking out the window at the passing people. "You sure caused a bit of a ruckus didn't you?"
"I don't want to talk about it, and I especially don't want to talk to you about it either." She snapped, trying to continue reading her book.
"Who else are you going to talk too then? You don't have any other friends." He picked up a strand of her hair, twirling it. She smacked his hand away.
"Thank you for so kindly pointing that out," She found that she was gripping her book so hard, her knuckles were turning white. "Which is even more of a reason why I don't want to speak to you. It's all your fault that no one likes me."
"You can blame me all you want, but I don't control people's action or thoughts. I haven't told anyone to treat you the way they have, and I didn't tell Ron to punch Draco in the face." His voice was almost haughty.
"No, but you certainly don't stop it do you?" She couldn't read, her head was hurting too much. "You just watch your friends tear me to shreds, call me names, tease me, push me, and cause the entire to school to hate me. You don't do a thing to stop it. You think Malfoy would have called me a cunt if you hadn't let him go on for the past three weeks about what a dirty slut all your friends think I am? How pathetic and poor and…and- You don't do anything about it Tom!"
"Grow up Hermione, you're letting a bunch of stupid children calling you names send you over the edge. I'm not my friend's keeper, I can't control what they do or think." His voice became harsh, surprising Hermione even more. "You won't find any of them brave enough to say a damn word in front of me. I could threaten them all within an inch of their lives, and they'd still do it when I'm not around. Grow a pair and take it with a grain of salt, and fight back. Your boyfriend Weasley," He spat the word boyfriend as though it stung his lips. "Had the right idea."
"He's not my boyfriend, shut up. You don't have to be so rude." She felt more than slightly offended at the way he'd just spoken to her. He'd gone from constantly joking and teasing her to simply calling her a baby and telling her to fend for herself.
"I'm not being rude, just honest. You'll have a hard time convincing anyone that he's not your boyfriend now. I heard it was a good punch though, good for Weasley. Didn't know he had it in him."
"I'd rather people think him my boyfriend than you." She said shrugging.
"Oh, but you know who you'd rather have in the sack though," He winked boyishly at her. "Besides, we both know that I'm a better kisser. Obviously, Ron hasn't kissed you yet though, or he'd have hit the road running."
"Oh, shut up. I'll have you know Ron thinks I kiss just fine." She lied, trying to keep a small smile from her lips.
"I sincerely hope you're just joking, for Weasley's sake. I don't like to share, Hermione." His voice had become grave, causing Hermione to laugh aloud.
"If you thought my kissing was so bad Tom, you wouldn't be tricking me into kissing sessions late night in the commons, now would you?" She smarted.
"You must think you're so clever, figuring out my little plan. Is this you finally agreeing with me? Admitting that you enjoy our little talks and night classes?"
"I'd rather Ron punch me in the face." She smiled, turning to look at him.
"I have no doubts that can be arranged. Looks the sort to beat a woman doesn't he?" Hermione glared at him.
"You look more a woman beater than he does, trust me."
"The only time I'll ever do that, is if she wants me too. You seem like the kind who likes it rough, care to try and find out?" He raised an eyebrow, leaning in towards her.
"Tom, you come any closer and I will jab your eyes out."
He quickly closed his eyes and stuck his hands out, quickly grabbing Hermione's chest.
"I guess learning Braille is something I can't handle, though I can't tell what this says." He ran his thumbs over where the peaks of her chest were and she slapped his hands away, her cheeks burning.
"You're abhorrent, honestly. I've never met someone so immature." She was desperately trying to push the blush that had overwhelmed her face away.
"Yet here we are, in the back of a bus. Delighting ourselves in small talk that is eventually going to lead to you snogging me." He said, holding his hands up as if he were showing a sign.
"I've no intentions of snogging you, you're dreaming again." She moved to get up but Tom grabbed her hands, pulling her back down. "What are you doing?"
"Shhh….I don't want anyone to see us." Hermione suddenly realized he was not at all joking when he leaned forward, grabbing Hermione and kissing her heavily.
She moved to push him but he grabbed her hands moving them behind her back and holding them with one hand, using his other hand to twist it into her hair. She soon lost interest in pushing him away, losing herself in the feeling that seemed to settle in her stomach when he kissed her. Her blood rushed through her body, making her feel as though she could have floated from the seat. She felt her hands traveling to grab Tom, trying to pull him closer to her body, desperate to feel his skin against hers.
Hermione could have easily pushed him away, told him no and been done with it. Hermione could have done a lot of things, but none of them seemed to be good enough to stop something that felt so good. His lips were so soft and his skin so warm, the way his hands firmly curled into her hair, pulling it so slightly. She couldn't think of anything that she enjoyed so thoroughly, but that was something she would never admit to Tom, not as long she lived.
As for time, she lost track of it. They could have been kissing for ten minutes, or ten hours. She wouldn't have known. She was only vaguely aware of what was happening around her. She was more concerned with the feeling of his lips moving across hers, the occasional kiss and bite down her neck, feeling his body beneath her fingers, and marveling in the fact that she had somehow been chosen by this stupid God of a boy out of all of the other girls in the school she attended.
When Tom finally pulled away, he was breathing just as heavily as Hermione was. However, her hair now looked ghastly. It had regained its usual frizzy form and more. Tom's hair also lay askew, however it looked as though it had been done on purpose, rather than Hermione's which seemed to resemble someone sticking their head into a tornado. Her lips felt rather swollen and she was sure they looked it too, especially since Tom's were slightly swollen and the area around his lips tinged pink.
"You tell me Ron's a better kisser and I'll give you all the money in my wallet…probably more than he has to his name too." He added smirking.
"You can't just leave well enough alone, you always have to add a snide comment or some stupid joke, don't you?" Hermione rolled her eyes, doing her best to straighten her hair.
"Hermione dear, that's one of the reasons you love me, my sparkling personality and dazzling sense of humor."
"You must have had a serious head injury as a child, to mistake the feelings I give off towards you as love."
"Oh of course. How stupid and daft of me to think that the girl whose just snogged me for," He glanced down to look at the Rolex on his wrist. "Forty five minutes hates me. How completely stupid."
Hermione blushed, unsure of what to say. He'd certainly outsmarted her on that, but she didn't love him. She knew exactly what she thought about Tom Riddle. She couldn't exactly say what caused her to be so unconsciously attracted to him or attracted to moments like what had happened just a second ago. She barely wanted to think it, but she liked how smart Tom was. She enjoyed the fact that he was so attractive to look at, no matter how incredibly annoying she found him. She could never see herself actually being anything but what she currently was to him. His friends absolutely hated her, and her friends couldn't stand the sight of him. The entire school hated her for something that never really occurred, she couldn't possibly fathom what they might think if they knew what was actually going on between the two of them.
"You should go, before someone gets on the bus and sees us alone together. I don't need my life to be any worse than it already is." She said, putting her hair into a high bun on her head.
"Oh, you're life is already terrible. I couldn't possible make it any worse. Thank you though." He said standing up, a smile marking his lips. "Oh, and before I leave."
He leaned forward, his face coming very close to Hermione. She was shocked by the sudden serious look that adorned his face, confused by what could have possibly changed the mood so quickly.
"While Draco deserved what happened earlier, I won't stop any retaliation if I see you and Ron getting any closer." His voice was low, dropping at least two octaves. His usual blue eyes seemed to flash before her in the shadow from which he was leaned into, she would have said they almost looked black for a second.
"I'm free to date whoever I please, you can't threaten me." She said, standing up and coming even closer to his face. She didn't care how rich and powerful he thought he was, she wasn't going to let a boy bully her around (at least not any more than he already was).
"Then I'd suggest you choose wisely." Hermione felt the small hairs on the back of her neck stand up at the dark smile that graced his lips before he began making his way to the entrance of the bus. "I'd hate to see anything like what happened to Malfoy happen to your boyfriend."
He walked off the bus with that, leaving Hermione sitting there staring at the front of the bus.
Hermione had felt terrible when she knew that Ron had done it because of what Malfoy said, but she felt even worse she Ron told her the punishment he'd received for punching him. Professor McGonagall had given Ron an entire month's worth of detention plus a mark on his permanent record (which would show on his applications to University). Although two weeks had passed since the incident Ron continued to assure her she wasn't at fault and it was his fault for having such a short temper; she couldn't help but feel it could have all been avoided if she had just never shown her face in this school in the first place.
"You have to let me make it up to you, I'll do your homework for the next month." She had been begging him all morning to let her make it up to him.
"'Mione, seriously. If you don't bugger off about it, I'm going to punch you in the face." The smile that shown on his face made the threat fall through.
"I just hate-"
"I know, I know. Listen, I'll let you make it up to me on one condition." They were sitting in the common room, studying for a test that Hermione had been studying for all week. Ron had waited until last minute and had begged her to help him study.
"Anything, just lay it on me." She said looking him into his big brown eyes.
"Stop talking about it." The look on his face was deadly serious.
"Oh God Ron, that doesn't count. Jesus, I thought you were going to ask me on a date or something." She wasn't lying, she'd felt the anxiety attack that had racked her body for a second ebb away.
"Well hey, if that's really what you want…" He led away, staring off into the distance.
"No, no that's quite alright. I think I'm going to join the convent when I leave, I'd do well there." She was quite positive she meant it too.
The school was now completely convinced that Hermione and Ron were "an item." She quite enjoyed the perks of that over the perks of being "Ron's girlfriend" over "the girl who molested Tom." Ron and Hermione both knew the rumor but ignored it. Ginny welcomed it with wide open arms. She seemed to be begging the both of them to date. The only person that seemed genuinely annoyed by the rumor was Tom, who seemed to becoming increasingly aggravated with Hermione's careless attitude towards the whole thing. It was during their study period that it finally came up.
"I doubt its truth, but there seems to be a rumor going around about you and a certain redhead being caught in the lavatory in between classes." He'd said it with nonchalance, but his jaw was flexed showing he was angry. His jaw always flexed, showing a little tick in his cheek when he was angry.
"If you doubt its validity, then why bring it up?" They were sitting in the library, working on another partnered essay from Professor Snape's class.
"I'm quite sick of hearing about all your stupid little sexual escapades with Weasley, that's why. I'd much rather hear about you shagging me in the bathroom. Though, I do find it below myself to shag a girl in a bathroom, perhaps a closet?"
"Oh, you're so romantic. Nothing sweeter than a broomstick wedged up your ass while getting frisky." She rolled her eyes, ignoring his snarky tone.
"Well, I didn't say anything about sticking something up your arse, but if you're really wanting to try-"
"Don't even finish that sentence." She looked up, cutting him off.
"Too dirty for your little virgin ears?" His crooked smile appeared.
"Your voice is too maddening, actually. I think a brain cell dies every time you speak to me."
"That would explain why you're so far behind me, what is it, four point now?" He mockingly tapped a pencil against his mouth.
She scowled at him, resisting the urge to throw the book she was reading out of in his face. She was actually secretly happy that all the rumors about her and Ron were annoying him. She was sick of him always being in such a chipper mood when he teased her. She was glad for something that made him at least feel an inch of what he made her feel every time she had to speak to him. Which now seemed to be all the time, Tom didn't seem to care that everyone thought Hermione was a piece of lowly poor trash. He constantly spoke to her in class, came up to her at her locker between classes, and at one point in time, actually sat next to her at lunch.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" Tom didn't wait for a response as he took the empty seat next to Hermione.
Of course, none of her friends wanted to sit next to Tom and none of Tom's friends wanted to sit next to Hermione so they received an entirely empty table throughout one of the most awkward lunch periods she'd ever experience. No matter the fact that Tom spoke to her the whole time, she didn't feel like speaking back. She was certain everyone around was listening to what they were saying, trying to figure out why someone as smart, rich, and popular as Tom wanted to sit with someone as poor, slutty, and unpopular as Hermione.
"Not very talkative are you?" Tom asked, taking a drink of his tea.
"I have nothing to say to you. You've made quite a scene, I'm not going to make it any worse than it already is." She was gritting her teeth.
"Yes, they all seem to be staring at you, don't they?" He looked around at all the people staring at them.
She rolled her eyes, grinding her teeth even harder. She'd completely lost her appetite and had reserved to simply pushing her food around on her plate with a fork. Even her friends, though she knew they also struggled heavily with this weird relationship that she maintained with Tom, were giving her weird looks. The topic of this friendship no one understood had become taboo among them, something she was actually very grateful for.
"You're not eating?" He had noticed her plate which hadn't been touched.
"I'm not hungry, you've ruined my appetite." She pushed her plate away.
"Probably for the best, you're looking a little plump anyway." He shrugged, a noncommittal look on his face.
She'd remembered very clearly the gasps that had emitted from the student body when she turned and smacked him very hard on the shoulder.
"I don't see anything wrong with a little bit of healthy jealousy Tom, it's good for you. You must not be used to it after all, always getting what you want." She began to pack her things away into her bag. "Besides, we aren't dating. I'm just some simple ass on the side, that's all."
"You oughtn't to think so highly of yourself, really." Hermione slammed her bag shut, walking towards the door.
"If you really think so low of me Tom, then I don't see why it matters if I live up to the rumors that've been going around. Surely if you think so low of me, you won't care if they're true."
Tom very suddenly stood up, coming to Hermione. Her eyes widened and she backed up to the door, flinching when his hands slammed on the door behind her on either side of her head. He said nothing, his jaw twitching slightly. His eyes bore into Hermione's so sharply it was a wonder she could still see. Neither of them said anything, just staring at each other in a silence so heavy, Hermione could feel it in her chest. One of his hands slid down, coming to her face and stroking it so softly, it made her body shiver.
"I can see you want to play dirty, that's fine." His voice was so soft and deadly, she felt goosebumps arising all over her body. She turned away, his gaze finally causing her to look away. His fingers slid down and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at him, his face centimeters from hers. "That's my favorite way to play."