Disclaimer: Most of the Characters and settings in this story don't belong to me. I take no credit for any of it, except that which is mine. Which is everything that isn't JK Rowling's. And so on and so forth.
Chapter 7: Booking It
The next few weeks passed without incident. Unless you count the innumerable arguments that occurred between Tom and I, often ending in a full-fledged duel.
But that's to be expected.
Leontes and I had actually come to be pretty good friends. We weren't as close as I was with Harry and Ron, but it was alright considering the circumstances. Because I had told Tom that I was a half-blood, in order to avoid chaos in the Slytherin house, Leontes didn't despise me like he did the other muggle-borns in the school. I had tried to talk to him about that, but he remained adamant in his views. Just like a Malfoy.
I'll continue my story on October 27th. Halloween was approaching, and schoolwork was increasing now that the students were settled into Hogwarts. On this particular day, I was sitting in the library, completing an essay for Transfiguration. I felt at home in the library, and for a while I almost forgot that I wasn't at home. That is, until my favourite person came up to my table and dropped his books noisily onto its surface. I groaned and put my head down on the table.
"Note to self: Learn a vanishing spell that sends annoying gits named Tom to the other side of the Earth," I muttered into my arms. "What do you want now? Aren't you tired of making my life miserable yet?"
I heard Tom chuckle as he took the seat across from me. I lifted my head up and shot him a glare. The one I reserve only for him when he's being a prat. Which is always. In return, his face broke out into a malicious grin. The one he reserves only for me when I'm hurt, sad, annoyed, or angry. Which is when I'm around him. His face must be dreadfully sore from that twisted expression.
"Don't be ridiculous, Granger," he replied lightly. "I could never be tired of making your life miserable. "
"You're in an awfully cheerful mood today, Riddle," I said casually. "Did someone die?"
"Unfortunately, no," Tom replied.
"Unfortunately? I was only joking, but I suppose I can kill you, if you'd like," I suggested. " Perhaps it'd make your day better. Merlin knows it would make my day better. All you need to do is ask."
"How very sweet, Granger," he responded sardonically. "You'd do that for me? I'd have to think about it, though…"
"Don't hurt yourself," I retorted. "Otherwise the world might be spared from all the torture your going to put us through."
"Me? Torture the world?" Tom said innocently. "Who needs the world when I have you to torture?"
Hmm. He has a point there. I was about to counter that comment when Leontes dropped into a chair in between Tom and I, interrupting us.
"Do you guys ever stop bickering," he asked exasperatedly, opening a book titled, 'Transfiguration and You.' He turned to Tom. "I think she won that one, mate. I could hear you guys from behind the Transfiguration shelves."
"Shut up, Malfoy," Tom replied sourly, his mood taking a nose dive.
I winked at him, beaming wickedly. His frown deepened, and he turned his attention toward the book opened before him. Sore loser. I pushed my chair back and walked off to the bookshelves, looking for some information for my essay. Leontes followed, and set off to the other side of the shelf. I slid my fingers across the leather bindings, pausing when I found one that might help. I pulled it out, examined the contents, and then walked back to my table.
As I was walking through the bookshelves, intending to sneak up behind Tom and hit him upside the head with the book, I heard another voice at our table. I peered through the gaps on the shelf I was currently behind. There was a girl there, perhaps a year or two younger than me, talking to Tom. Correction: Flirting to Tom.
Now, I'd say she was flirting with Tom, but then he'd have to be returning the favor. And he wasn't at all. He was looking at her as if she was the scum of the Earth, and she was going on, blushing, inching closer to him. I thought it would be my duty to help this girl. So I did.
I sauntered over to the table and took a my seat across from Tom. I looked back and forth between the girl, who had abruptly stopped talking and opted instead to shoot me a rather nasty glare, with a mock insulted expression on my face.
"Why, Tom!" I gasped, my dramatic-ness plainly false. "I though you reserved that expression for me alone? I'm hurt."
The girl, a Gryffindor with long brown hair that partially masked her prefect badge, looked at Tom oddly. Tom was giving me a similar look. I winked at him and turned to the girl.
"Hey there!" I greeted her. "How are you doing? Why don't we step over here and have a little chat! That's right, come on! " I led her over to the bookshelves, my hand on her shoulder. When Tom was out of earshot, I held out my hand and told her, "I'm Hermione Granger."
"Anna Horace," the girl replied cautiously.
"Gryffindor, eh?" I said to her conversationally. "You were certainly sorted correctly, Anna. You're a brave soul, taking on this one. Oh, the stories I could tell you! Has he told you about that bad case of fungus he had growing on his foot? Or perhaps that one time when he forgot his meds and went a little—"
"Oh! No, no, he didn't," The girl interrupted hastily, her eyes darting over to Tom, a bit fearful. "Oh, I nearly forgot! I have an…erm… essay to write. Have to go!"
"Alright!" I replied as she turned to go. "Perhaps sometime we can have a little chat over some butterbeer, hm?"
The girl just looked at me as if to say, "Are you effing crazy?" and walked away. Rather quickly, I noted.
I returned to the table and sat down, brushing off my hands studiously. For once, Tom looked a bit happy. Now, don't get carried away thinking that he was a smiley and perky. That'd just be gross and wrong. It was in his eyes. The arctic chill had ebbed, and they looked as if they were, dare I say it, twinkling.
"Thanks for that," he said casually, acting as if he didn't really appreciate it. "She was really irritating me."
"Riddle, I didn't do it for you," I laughed, as if it was the most obvious thing ever. "I did it for that poor girl. Thinking about dating you? What on Earth was going through her mind?"
Yeah, he wasn't too happy anymore. His face dropped, and his eyes froze over. I almost thought, 'Whatever. It happens all the time.' But normally he would just ignore me and move on with his life. This time, however, he packed up his books and stood up.
"If you don't mind, I have better things to do with my time than sit around the library and be put down by the likes of you," Tom stated.
"Actually, I do mind," I replied. "What's your problem?"
"You're my problem, Granger! I'm sick of this!"
"Sick of what, exactly? I didn't do anything out of the ordinary!"
"I'm sick of you! Forget Dumbledore! I'm not going to be your babysitter anymore! You'll get along just fine with Malfoy, I'm sure." His voice had a tint of taunting in it.
Babysitter? Oh, he had no idea how much that ticked me off. Not really so much at him, but more toward Dumbledore. I couldn't believe he was making him watch over me! Tom was the very last person on Earth I would want to be associating with! And so he blows up on me, because Dumbledore makes him stay? And he's taunting me as well? Who the hell does this guy think he is? I felt pride swell within me. Pride that was bruised ever so slightly.
"Damn right I will! I don't need an arrogant prick like you sticking around! Move on with your life, and stay out of mine! GO!"
Then he stormed out of the library. That was kind of strange. I can't believe that guy just spent the past five minutes acting like a bipolar teenage girl. Boys.
Leontes returned to the table and looked around. He fixed his gaze on me and sighed.
"Tom having another one of his episodes?" Leontes asked sympathetically (Yes, that's right. I said sympathetically. Can you believe it? A Malfoy! Sympathetic!).
"Worse," I replied, still a bit confused by Tom's behavior. "He went completely mental on me. All I did was help him out a bit, and he went crazy!"
"Aye, it happens," Leontes replied.
"Of course it happens, just not normally with him," I responded thoughtfully. I shook my head, turned my attention to my book, and muttered, "Hormones."
>>>(Pretend there is a line here)
((A/N: Yeah. I know. Short chapter. Way late. But you guys will get over it. I think Tom was a bit too out of character there, but I don't really know his real character, so I suppose it's fine. That's what happens to a person after being constantly in the company of the Hermione I created. The end is near. I'm going to move things along pretty quickly, skipping weeks at a time. As you can see, it's already late October. I'll probably finish up the story in three chapters, and then add an epilogue. There won't be a sequel, because there'd be nothing to write about. What do you guys think? That is the review subject this time. Should I just add three chapters, an epilogue, and be done with it? Or should I draw it out for about 5 or 6? The latter probably won't be quality writing, but if that's what you want… I do intend to write a new story. It will probably be Draco/Hermione, after Hogwarts, and Hermione will still be a sardonic genius. That's the best they come. Have a nice day, and if your review, Answer my question!))
Sakuya Kaleido: I don't think she'll be talking to Gryffindors in this one, sorry.
Black-rose23: Glad you liked it. Like I said earlier in the story, I wanted to add a few homey touches. All in the form of Malfoy. As you can tell, I love Malfoy, so he'll be there no matter what.
Strandedinreality: Refer to the second review I left you. Your story sucks, get over it.
Setsuna Bu: I'm glad you're enjoying it. There's a bit of Tom/Hermione interaction for you. Not as romantic as I'm sure you'd like it to be, but that will come with time.
Yummyguitars: takes a bow Thank you, thank you! Haha… Yes! A sane person at last! I also hate it when Tom and Hermione are all fluffy and lovey dovey. If a teenager has a cold enough heart to set a basilisk on Hogwarts students, I don't think he'd be all too fluffy. Anyways, I really appreciate your review and I'm glad you like my story! It makes me feel all warm inside!
Tom x Hermione: Thank you very much. No, I'm sorry, I don't take requests. And I think it'd be difficult to do a TomXHermioneXVoldemort love triangle anyway, because I'd be horrible at characterizing Voldemort. And besides, that's just plain weird.
Nathonea: Thanks. I'm glad you like Hermione. I do, too!
Jessi Brooke: Wow, It wasn't necessary to do a review for every chapter, but thanks! Here, I'll split up my response into parts:
((1)) I'm flattered that you like my style of writing, and also that you think I mastered the sarcasm. The sarcasm wasn't too difficult, because I'm uber-sarcastic already. But I do wish I was as cool as Hermione.
((2)) Time Changing Do-Woppers? Sorry, I don't think that's how it goes, so nothing is changing. You'll understand later.
((3))Hermione IS OOC. She's my own creation. Muahahaha! To be honest, I just randomly picked a personality for Dumbledore. I don't really like him all that much (It's his fault, ultimately, that Sirius is dead. In my opinion.) so I didn't put too much effort into his character. Lucky guess, I suppose.
((4))That's right. Brainy sarcastic people are few, but we still rule the world!
((5)) Hmm…I didn't think it was all that funny, but thanks! I guess it's because I think my own stories and jokes are stupid. My own worst critic.
Jess: Glad you like it! Hope you liked this chapter as well!