Chapter Two: Laid out in Lavender
Hermione yawned into her butterbeer, nearly inhaling it through her nose. Thalia was off in some secluded booth with Haywood, leaving Hermione all alone. Minerva McGonagall sat at stool at the bar, chatting with a few friends.
It always surprised Hermione whenever she saw Minerva. She was rather pretty, with raven colored hair and caramel eyes, her features weren't so sharp. They were smooth and she smiled and laughed and joked with her friends. Though, in the classroom, Hermione found that Minerva was rather like herself as her hand always in the air.
Sighing, Hermione put the mug of butterbeer down on the scratched and worn round table. Many of the students were packed into the Three Broomsticks, but Hermione had yet to find Tom Riddle anywhere. Not that she wanted to confront him, but she couldn't help but look for him.
Why? You spent so long avoiding him, and now you want to seek him out?
No. Hermione shook her head, and decided that it just wasn't worth it. She was surprised when a black head came into view and sat at her table. Her heart started pounding, but when the face looked up, it wasn't Riddle.
Instead, it was a thin faced Ravenclaw named Pancras Panquette. From what Hermione had seen of him in her classes, he was always smiling, and he rarely seemed to become upset or otherwise hindered. Hermione found that disturbing.
he said, his drawl nearly made Hermione laugh. It was as if he were doing a poor impersonation of Draco Malfoy. How're you....um...Arline Speck, Hermione supplied, smiling. Of course he wouldn't know her. She had a tendency to melt into the background.
Ah, yes, Arline. Panras sat back in his chair and drummed his fingers on the table, something Hermione found extremely irritating. I thought you might want some company, sitting here all by yourself and all.I was waiting for a friend - Hermione was about to say who's in the washroom' but was interrupted by a smooth, familiar tenor voice.
Sorry I'm late, Arline. Tom Riddle stared at Pancras, who blinked and looked from Arline to Tom, than to the Slytherin badge and the Gryffindor badge. Hermione couldn't bring herself to smile gratefully at Tom.
Pancras said, before a noticeably forced smile formed on his lips. Seems as though you no longer need company, Arline Speck. I'll see you some other time.
And he was gone. Riddle took his place, searching her eyes as he leaned across the table, his hands laced together.
he said, nodding toward her. Hermione swallowed the lump in her throat.
Don't give in. Don't give in. Don't...oh hell.
she answered, a smile gracing her lips. At her smile, Tom seemed to brighten considerable, and his shoulders relaxed.
I wasn't sure whether or not I was still scum. he said, smirking. Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.
You always were.
Well, I told you I have my reasons, but I decided my being rude to you wasn't necessary. she said, the coldness was gone from her voice, but it was very business like and Tom bristled at it.
So it's like that, is it? he muttered, looking at his hands. Hermione watched him, wondering whether or not he truly understood. Considering your reasons seem to involve myself, I believe I have a right to know them.They're personal, Hermione replied, narrowing her eyes. She didn't like the way this was going.
Ah, yes, but they're affecting me. Tom said, leaning even closer to her until she could feel his warm breath on her cheek.
How so? How could I ever affect you? she snapped, secretly hoping that he would answer the question. Though the painful, hope-filled feeling inside her chest seemed to be wanting a particular answer.
Do I have a crush on Tom Riddle?
Hermione felt momentarily baffled, before Tom spoke again.
To know such a beautiful creature absolutely despises me, Tom whispered. It burns me inside to not know why, or how I can fix it.
Hermione shuddered. The sincerity in his voice was so pure, Hermione felt as if she were on air. Beautiful. He'd called her beautiful.
Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but found she couldn't. There was nothing to say. Or, at least nothing intelligent she could find.
His piercing blue eyes bore into hers until she could feel the cold sweat drip down her back, and her hands tremble. It was such an intense feeling, to be looked at as such. Hermione felt addicted.
Then he kissed her. Gently. Slowly. Carefully. Timidly.
Hermione briefly wondered if he was scared, and the hesitant feel of his lips made her mentally grin. He was afraid. He was afraid of her rejection. So she kissed him back.
She pulled away a moment later, to stare at him in bewilderment. She'd just kissed Tom Riddle.
He himself looked rather surprised. His breath was shallow, and he was leaning over the top of the table. He straightened himself out and sat himself back into his chair. Clearing his throat. Hermione noticed with glee that his cheeks were red.
she asked, raising an eyebrow. She desperately wanted to kiss him again. He glared at her, but didn't answer. With that, she frowned and stood up, pushing her chair back. I should have known.
And with that, she left a stunned Tom Riddle sitting by himself at a table in The Three Broomsticks.
Hermione found she didn't know where to go. Tom's gentle kiss, the light feeling of his lips against hers, just wouldn't go away. A vivid memory pasted right in front of her eyes. She stopped against a lamp post and sighed, burying her face into her hands.
What have I done?
Hermione felt the first hot tear slid down her cheek, and soon enough they all fell. Months of bottled emotion leaked out. Her hatred for herself, for Voldemort. Her dismay at finding she was attracted to him.
Moments later, a light hand touched her shoulder, and Hermione leapt form it as if she'd been burnt. Glancing up, she looked into the concerned eyes of Tom Riddle.
I - he muttered, before visibly swallowing. I didn't mean to make you cry, Arline.
Hermione was stunned. Her entire body froze up and she stared a him in utter disbelief. His eyes widened.
Was I not supposed to say that? he questioned, the uncertainty in his voice evident. Should I leave?
Hermione was tempted to tell him to do just that, but she could bring herself to do so.
she whispered and buried herself in his surprised arms, where after a moment, she felt the strong embrace and the kiss on the top of her head.
This was what she'd always wanted. The feeling of being wanted, of being needed. The feeling of importance. The fact that she felt safe with Tom did nothing to quell the building feelings she had for him.
They stood there for minutes before Hermione slowly backed away from him, wiping her eyes.
I'm sorry, Tom. Hermione apologized, rubbing her hands together nervously.
For what? she looked up in surprise.
For treating you like a prat. For being a prat. Hermione's voice quivered, wondering whether or not he really was that daft.
Don't worry about it, Arline. It happens every day. The truth in that statement squeezed her heart.
Oh, Tom. she breathed, wrapping her arms around him. This time, the embrace was returned strong.
She had to think of a way home. Though she was loathe to admit it, she really needed to go to her own time. She didn't belong here, enveloped in lies and lies and more lies.
It doesn't help that I fell in love with the worst person ever.
Sighing, Hermione shut the book she was attempting to read. The smell of the library always calmed her, and she needed to be calmed desperately. Not only could she not think of a way home, but the only thing she could think about was Tom. His glittering blue eyes, soft smile. Even the deviousness of his features she missed, even though she'd seen him only yesterday.
After they went back to Hogwarts, she didn't talk to him for the rest of the day. She didn't see him the next either.
Arline, are you always in the library? Thalia asked as she walked in, Haywood in tow.
Hello Haywood, Hermione greeted, smiling at Thalia. And no, I'm not always in the library thank you. Are you always in the Astronomy Tower?
Thalia colored, and cleared her throat.
Wonderful day, isn't it? Sse declared, looking toward the high windows. Hermione laughed and Haywood seemed unduly red. Thalia smiled and scratched the back of her head, a sheepish grin on her face. So what are you doing? Hermione replied tiredly. Thalia rolled her eye as Haywood leaned forward the red the title of the book.
I already finished, he said after a moment, and looked confused when Hermione shot him a glare. What are you guys doing anyway, Thalia, I thought you loathed doing your homework. Hermione questioned, folding her parchment paper that only had a few sentences on it, and put it into her book bag.
I do, but that doesn't mean that there isn't any good reading in the library. Thalia responded, before wandering off into the novella section, where Hermione rarely visited. Haywood followed her dutifully.
Hermione found she missed Tom. In fact, she found that her other life, with Harry and Ron, seemed dull compared to the feeling Tom gave her.
I thought I'd find you here, Tom announced as he glided through the door, the grin that appeared in Hermione's face was bright. Care for a walk?
He held out his hand and Hermione gratefully took it - and didn't let go, twining her fingers with his. He looked at her in surprised, before tightening his grip and leading her out of the library and to the shore by the lake, where he sat her down.
She cuddled up next to him.
Who are you really, Arline? Hermione looked up at him in surprise. He couldn't possibly know...
What do you mean?You have so many secrets, I don't really know who you are. Hermione sobered, and leaned against her shoulder.
I could say the same thing for you, Tom.Fair enough, he whispered, a hand reached out to stroke her hair, eventually her cheek, and then her chin, tilting it up to receive a kiss.
Hermione felt exhilarated, pushing against him harder. She ran her hands over his shoulder, pulling him against her. She gasped when she found herself lying on her back, Tom grinning slyly above her, before he kissed her hungrily.
Years later, Hermione found that her decision not to return to her time period was the best she'd ever made.
She grew up with Tom, became his wife, bore his children. She was his lover, his friend, his confidant.
Eventually, he'd told her about the Chamber of Secrets, and she quietly convinced him to leave it alone.
Hermione looked at the fine wrinkles that had appeared on her face years ago, and than she looked at the bored looking man to her right. Today was the day she'd looked forward to since her decision.
She walked confidently into Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry. The world free of Voldemort's reign, she wondered briefly if Harry and Ron were even friends.
What greeted her made her blink in surprise, nearly having her husband collide with her as she stopped abruptly.
The Hall was filled with students. Headmaster Dumbledore looked up from his dinner, and upon seeing her, grinned, a bright twinkle in his eye.
A shout form her right, and a tall boy with dark hair and blue eyes ran up to her, enveloping her in a hug.
Hermione caught a glimpse of Harry, who was looking at her inquisitively. He was surrounded by friends. A younger girl who looked remarkably like him was sitting next to him, also looking at her with the same green eyes.
Suddenly, Hermione felt her heart well up. She was glad she'd decided to marry Tom Riddle. The hurt of knowing she'd been erased from Harry and Ron's mind seemed overwhelming, but seeing the bright, healthy eyes of Harry Potter, the unmarred forehead, and Hermione felt it was worth it.
A/N: Now that I look back at this, it went rather quickly, didn't it? I may write more, little snippets of things that happened in-between the times Hermione decided she was going to stay and her arrival at Hogwarts as an old woman.
This basically wrote itself, and I find it's rather cliché and Thalia is a little bit of a MS. I also didn't really engage the story with the characters, but I do have to say I wrote all of this at once. It was an idea that just flew into my head, and I decided I might as well post it instead of leaving it to rot on my hard drive. Hopefully someone enjoyed this, the first chapter and the prelude were pretty good, but I think you can tell I was getting pretty desperate for it to end by the second chapter.
Thanks for reading! And be sure to review.