patty-slytherin goddess- lol…you didn't tell me to finish the draft! See ya in school ü

Chapter Twelve- It Must Be Love!

Somewhere in the dusty Slytherin spare room, a beautiful angel leaned against a wall, crying. She couldn't help it because she's very sensitive and she just got insulted and slapped by a stranger. Come to think of it, she didn't even know who that girl was. It was probably a dumb slut of a person anyway. She rummaged through her robes pocket for a hanky or a tissue or something to wipe her tears away, but there was only a note from Tom in her pocket.

Tom. Tom, Tom Tom Tom. His name was stuck in Hermione's whole being, and her insides jump up and down whenever she sees him.

"Could this be love?" she thought. "Nah, it's just a mere infatuation. After all, Draco's the only one. The rest are all crushes and Tom falls in that category. But still.."

She began to miss the present. She began to miss Draco, Ginny, her parents, Harry, Ron, everybody who were great to her. Just the thought of them made her sober again. From afar, she could hear a voice call: "Hermione? Hermione where are you?" It was Tom. She closed her eyes. She didn't want to talk to Tom because he won't understand. Guys don't understand and they don't really show their emotions. Hermione doubted if Tom even HAD emotions. If he had, it was going to be full of anger with people in her lot, hatred for Harry, and revenge to those who have betrayed him (Snape is one good example I suppose). Suddenly, she heard a door creak. She didn't bother to see the person, since her eyes were all wet and blurry so what difference does it make if she's going to avoid him? She could see the figure coming closer and closer, until…

"Hermione?" Tom gazed at her chocolate-colored eyes, full of hurt and pain. He could relate to that. He wore the same expression in his young orphanage days. Oh, how badly he wanted to hug her tightly, wipe away all her pain, and reassure her everything's going to be fine.

Hermione looked away and wiped her tears with her hands. Tom quickly took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to Hermione.

"Here," Tom said.

"Thanks," Hermione mumbled.

"Look Hermione, I—.." Tom started to say.

Hermione motioned for him to shut up.

"Tom, you don't need to apologize because you didn't do anything wrong," she said. "Maybe they just hate me that's all. And if they hate me, what's a girl to do? Let them be what they wanna be." She sniffled again and Tom sensed she was dangerously close to crying her heart out. And he was right. She did cry her heart out and Tom qucikly gave her a hug. He put his hands on her cheeks and wiped her tears away.

"Hermione, it's going to be fine, don't mind that girl, she's nothing but a dumb load of garbage," Tom said. Then, his face grew near Hermione's. His hands were still on her face. He gazed at Hermione's eyes. "Trust me."

Tom's eyes, once cold, once heartless as well as merciless, were now full of warmth, love, and concern. Hermione smiled feebly and nodded. "Yes, Tom. I trust you."

Tom flashed her a grin. Then……silence.

"Er, I have to go," Hermione said oh, so suddenly. But Tom grabbed her arm kissed her soft lips softly. She thought that Tom was her darling Draco so she closed her eyes and forced her tongue in his mouth and put her arms around his neck (as they were almost the same height).

Tom realized what he was doing and suddenly backed away.

"Er, I…I'm sorry it was all too sudden and I…" he started to say, his cheeks turning red.

"It's okay," Hermione said quickly. "Really, Tom. I didn't know you'd make a good kisser!" she supplied, trying to shake Tom out of his bashful state.

"Oh my word could this be the Lord Voldemort? The heartless fool? He can't be him!!"

"I………gotta go," Tom said, running towards the door and getting the hell out of there.

Tom walked in the hallway, breathless. He had just kissed Hermione. Oh my gosh he hoped she wasn't mad. Well, she actually didn't sound mad but still…he felt like a nuthead.

"But, Hermione did kiss you back too!" said a voice in his head.

What must this mean??? Ah, dear friends, it MUST BE LOVE!!!

Tom went to the Great Hall, with a huge grin plastered on his face as if he won a bazillion dollars.

A/N: YES!! Finally done…at last! I found out about Disclaimers in some fanfics and I am a disclaimer myself. So, here I am…going to disclaim:

Disclaimer- I, nikki, do not own the Harry Potter characters (except for Aphrodite Burns and Professor Julia Sewell and Delilah the house-elf) SO THERE! DON't sue me. Please?