At breakfast Hermione didn't feel like eating anything. She should have been happy that she had a murder plan but the dancing lesson at the end of the day sucked out all the happiness. She avoided looking at the Slytherin table and continued to stare at her food.
"Maya" Susan's voice sounded close to her ear. "Maya, I'm sorry about yesterday"
"It's okay" Hermione said dully. At least Susan had seen the light and dropped her crazy theory.
"I know you guys had a fight" Susan said hesitantly.
"What?" she said snapping her head up. What new story was Susan going to come up with now?
"It's so obvious" Susan said crossing her arms with a knowing look.
"What's obvious?" she said raising her voice.
"Look at Tom, he hasn't touched his food" Susan said looking towards the Slytherin table and Hermione forced herself to follow Susan's gaze. Tom's arms were crossed and he was staring at his bowl of oats with a blank expression. "He normally stares at you and he hasn't looked towards the Ravenclaw table once" The dark lord was obviously thinking about the same thing and he was probably feeling disgusted that he would have to touch something with filthy blood. "He's just staring at his food and everyone at his table's even noticing" Susan finished in a sad tone. The Slytherin's were sneaking glances at Tom and whispering, while Malfoy and his group looked particularly interested.
"Look I told you before theirs nothing between us" Hermione said feeling annoyed.
"I know you want to keep it a secret but I'm not stupid" Susan said looking offended.
"You don't understand Susan, theirs some ----" She started angrily.
"You haven't eaten either" Susan cut in sharply. "and you've been avoiding looking at the Slytherin table."
"Can be a coincidence" she said loudly, knowing that Susan wouldn't buy it.
"That's rubbish and you know it." Susan said giving her a stern look.
"We didn't fight because there is no we" she tried again raising her voice higher.
"I bet he's upset that you burnt his handkerchief" Susan said raising an eyebrow. "You're probably the first girl his ever given a present to and I can imagine the way he's feeling after you burnt it to smithereens" Susan finished with a dramatic sigh and Hermione looked momentarily shocked. Tom give her a present, Susan was seriously living in dream land. If only Susan knew the real reason he had given it to her and he hadn't actually given it to her, he had sort of left it with her. He probably hadn't wanted it back because he had thought her muggle blood had contaminated the handkerchief.
"I told you, I found it" Hermione said angrily.
"You don't have to pretend, I'm sorry you burnt it because of me" Susan said sounding genuinely sorry. "If theirs anything I can do to fix it" Did Susan just say anything? Maybe she could hold her to her word and get Susan to leave her alone.
"Susan I appreciate your help" She started in a fake kind voice. "But it would be nice if you could just leave me alone, so I can think things through" Susan suddenly smiled widely.
"So it's true then. You and Tom" Susan said in a high pitched voice.
"Susan you're not understanding---" Hermione started in an irritated voice.
"Swear to Merlin, I won't tell anyone" Susan whispered. "I'm sure he'll come around" Susan said patting her on the back and Hermione felt like vomiting. "I'll leave you to your thinking" Susan gave her a smile and rushed off towards the Gryffindor table. Hermione glared daggers into the girl's back and turned back around. So much for keeping her so called secret, Susan was probably spilling it to her girls right now. Nothing Hermione said would ever convince that girl otherwise and feeling frustrated she frowned. A chorus of laughter suddenly sounded from the Slytherin table and she looked up. Malfoy and his group were whispering about something and they laughed again. Tom suddenly drew his wand and made his bowl of oats explode. Milk splattered all over the table and bits of ceramic landed on the floor. Everyone stopped to look towards the Slytherin table and the Slytherin's looked frightened.
"Enough" Tom roared standing up. He glared at Malfoy and his group in particular and Malfoy and his boys looked seriously scared while Crabbe started to shake. Waving his wand he cleared the mess and repaired the bowl. Then he calmly walked away with a neutral expression and the minute he was out the door everyone started to loudly talk about what they had witnessed.
In the arithmacy classroom Hermione sat at her usual place near Tom and avoided looking at him directly. He appeared to be doing the same and had his eyes fixed on the black board. The professor started to explain something about Egyptian runes but she wasn't concentrating. After a long explanation the professor asked a question and everyone was surprised when no hands went up. The professor looked a bit shocked and pointedly stared at Tom.
"Tom" the professor said loudly. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Sorry sir" Tom said sitting up straighter. "Could you please repeat the question?" Tom answered the question perfectly while Hermione stared ahead not processing a word.
For the rest of the day they ignored each other completely and Tom answered questions while Hermione didn't even bother to compete. At the end of the day Hermione walked towards the charms classroom very slowly and she had to force each step forward when she felt like not moving at all. She stared at the classroom door and after awhile she bravely pushed the door open. She entered the room to find Bones and Longbottom chatting away with Professor Jane Hedger.
"Ah, Miss Granger" Professor Hedger said. "As soon as Mr Riddle turns up we can start" Hermione felt relieved to know he hadn't turned up yet. The dark lord was always punctual and it wasn't like him to arrive last. Maybe that meant he wasn't coming but her relief was short lived when the door opened and Tom Riddle walked inside. For the first time today they looked at each other face to face and they both didn't blink. Tom's face was expressionless while Hermione looked like she had just seen a ghost. "Great, everyone's here" Hedger said throwing her hands up in a dramatic way. Hedger put on some classical music and the sweet melody of violin and piano filled the air. "Gather in the centre everyone and start" Bones and Longbottom started to dance away while Hermione and Tom continued to stare at each other. "I guess you two don't have much experience in dancing" Hedger said coming over to them and they both automatically nodded to say no.
The only time she had attended a dance was with Victor Krum back in her fourth year and now it seemed such a long time ago. Even back then she hadn't been very good at it and every time she stepped on Krum's feet he would laugh it away. They hadn't spent much time on the dance floor, it was mostly talking and eating. "Once you get the hang of it you'll see how easy it is" Hedger said encouragingly. "Now, step closer" they didn't move. "There's nothing to be afraid of, now come closer" she repeated in a softer voice. With his hands tightly clenched into fists, Tom slowly stepped forward with a blank expression and Hermione couldn't help but look ill. "Miss Granger hold out you right hand and Mr Riddle hold out your left" Tom slowly held out his hand and Hermione did the same but she couldn't stop hers from slightly shaking. "Now hold hands" She could of sworn Tom had appeared afraid at those words but now his face was expressionless as usual.
Lord Voldemort's hand was floating in front of her once again and this time she couldn't let it go with a brief handshake, she would have to hold onto it. She watched feeling helpless as his long fingers slowly moved closer and she really felt like screaming. He momentarily closed his eyes and forced himself to lightly grasp her hand. She shuddered involuntarily from his soft touch and did her best not to pull her hand back. "Very good" Hedger said smiling. "Now, Mr Riddle place your other hand on her waist" Tom looked mortified while Hermione felt like crying. "Mr Riddle" Hedger said sounding impatient. "Your hand, her waist, now" he looked down at the floor and slowly moved his hand towards her waist. This time his hand was slightly shaking and she bit her lips as she felt his hand barely touch her side. "Miss Granger place your other hand on his shoulder" Tom looked up at once and his expression clearly displayed fear but it dissolved in seconds. She lightly placed a shaky hand on his shoulder and he took in a sharp intake of breath.
His blank expression faltered a couple of times in fright and it didn't last more than the blink of an eye. Anyone else would have thought they had imagined it but after watching him closely for weeks she knew better. He was scared of her touching his shoulder and she couldn't really understand why. The dark lord hated muggles and her having muggle blood was a good enough reason to dislike her touch but not a good enough reason to fear her touch, or maybe mere human contact was scaring him since he preferred to be alone. She wasn't sure what the actual reason was but she guessed it was one of the latter or something similar. She had no desire to get close to Voldermort and just like him she was barely touching him.
Hedger gave them further instructions and she tried to concentrate but it was hard to focus when the dark lord was holding your hand. Hedger pointed a couple of times towards Longbottom and Bones throughout her explanation and Hermione looked towards the dancing couple but she didn't take in a word being said. "Perhaps you should lead Mr Riddle" Hedger said and Tom hesitantly took a step back. She felt him slightly pull and with her mind still fuzzy she followed his lead. "Practice the steps" Hedger said leaving them alone. Still holding her, he distanced himself from her as much as possible and he avoided directly looking at her. He started to slowly lead the dance and Hermione was terrible at dancing as usual. Having the dark lord as her dancing partner was causing her to make more mistakes and she stepped on his feet twice. Apart from creasing his brow he didn't react and for a while everything seemed to be going well until she stepped on his feet again. This time he looked at her and his expression clearly showed controlled anger.
"Do it again Granger and your going to suffer the consequences" he whispered loudly.
"It's your fault for not moving your feet in time" she whispered back and glared at him.
"It's clearly your fault" he pulled her to the left. "Why are you so clumsy? Can't you even control your own body movements?"
"Why can't you control your own movements Riddle" she hissed. "If you move out the way in time-" she stepped to the right. "-then I wouldn't step on you, would I?"
"You're meant to move the other way Granger-" he whispered glaring at her. "-but you keep running into me instead" She accidentally stepped on his feet again and he immediately stopped moving. Tom looked furious and Hermione really wished she hadn't done it but she wasn't going to show him she was afraid. She put on an uncaring expression and stared back at him boldly. "I warned you Granger" he whispered harshly.
"Are you going to pull out your wand and hex me Riddle?" she taunted. "Won't that get you expelled with everyone watching?" she said in a low voice and smiled at him nastily. He stared at her silently with a blank expression and she felt great joy knowing he was powerless to harm her. "I thought not" she continued, just to rub it in a bit more and his lips suddenly curled to give her half a smile.
"You really don't have an imagination Granger" he said in a pleasant tone. Tom resumed dancing and Hermione didn't like his sudden change in mood. Why was he happy all of a sudden when he should be angry? "I won't need a wand" he whispered and he gently stirred her around the room. Hermione was starting to get worried by his words and it showed on her face. "Don't worry Granger" he suddenly said smirking at her. "I won't keep you in suspense for much longer" he stamped on one of her foot with all his strength and she loudly cried out. Tears came to her eyes and she was sure most of her toes were crushed.
"Is everything alright?" Hedger said rushing over to them.
"I accidentally stepped on her" Tom said in an apologetic voice and his expression looked like he was really sorry.
"He did it on purpose" she shouted letting go of Tom.
"Now, Miss Granger" Hedger said sternly. "Mr Riddle would never do such a thing" Hedger appeared like she had personally offended her by accusing Tom. "It was a mistake and it happens to the best of us" Tom was still looking apologetic and she had a huge urge to whack him on the head. Why couldn't Hedger see past Tom's acting skills? "Carry on Miss Granger" Hedger said commandingly and Hermione glared at Tom unmoving. "Miss Granger please continue or I'll have to report you to the headmaster" Hedger said crossing her arms.
Hermione slightly limped and reluctantly stepped forward. Feeling angry she momentarily forgot to touch him lightly and roughly grabbed his hand and shoulder with force. Tom jumped and his whole face went blank. He immediately scrunched his eyes shut tight and she suddenly realised with horror what she had done when she felt his warm flesh pressing hardly against her hands. She instantly let go and stumbled backwards. Tom threw open the door and ran out the room while Hedgers shouted at him to come back. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to report him" Hedger said shaking her head. "He has never disobeyed an order before. I wonder what's wrong with him." Hedger finished in a sad tone and Hermione stared at the empty door frame feeling confused.
Being head boy meant a lot to Tom so why would he jeopardise his position by running off like that? All she had done was hold him more tightly and he couldn't be that disgusted at her having muggle blood. She wondered what the hell made him think he was pureblood when he was half muggle himself and even though he probably didn't like to admit it, deep down he must know. Malfoy had presumed from her surname that she was muggleborn and she hadn't bothered lying to Malfoy because it wouldn't make any difference to a Slytherin unless you were actually pureblood. But Tom had been there when she had lied to Dippet and as far as Tom knew she was also a half-blood. He had probably made himself believe he was pureblood but if he wasn't disgusted at her having muggle blood then why else would he run of like that? It had to be something serious if he would risk his position and before she could think any further Tom suddenly walked in through the door again. "Tom" Hedger said in a pleased voice. "I'm glad I won't have to report you."
"I'm sorry professor" Tom said staring at the floor. "I was feeling sick"
"That's okay Tom, are you still feeling unwell?" Hedger asked and he nodded to say no. "Carry on then but don't hesitate to tell me if you feel ill again"
Still looking at the ground he slowly walked towards her and for a while he just stood in front of her. Then he gently grasped her hand and lightly placed his other hand on her waist. Hermione carefully placed her hand on his shoulder and this time she made sure she kept her touch light. As usual they left a large amount of space between them and they slowly started to dance. He kept looking at the floor and Hermione did the same to avoid stepping on him. She didn't want to get into an argument or have him crush her toes again and she momentarily looked up to find him still staring down with a blank expression. She continued to wonder why he had run out of the room like that and after a while a reasonable explanation came to her. It was clear that the dark lord didn't like being touched and the way she had grabbed him must have made him so angry, that he wouldn't have been able to stop himself from attacking her if he hadn't left the room to calm down.
The song finished and a new faster tune started up but Tom didn't seem to notice. He continued to move to the pace of the old song and Hermione couldn't be bothered to point it out. Her toes were still hurting and she didn't feel like moving at a faster pace. After a while Hedger stopped the music and told Bones and Longbottom to leave after complimenting their dancing. Hedger resumed the music and came over to them. "Don't mind me, carry on" she said smiling widely and they both looked at Hedger with annoyed expressions but carried on wordlessly. Hedger stopped them after a couple of seconds. "The amount of space between you two is ridiculous" Hedger said shaking her head. "Move closer" they both stood still unmoving. "Move closer" she repeated and staring at the floor they both moved a little closer. "That's not enough, more closer" Hermione felt Tom's hands slightly shake as he drew nearer and she held her breath finding his increasing distance seriously uncomfortable.
"Excellent" Hedger said clapping her hands. "This is the distance you should always maintain. Now, look up at each other" Hermione instantly released the breath she was holding and started to cough loudly. "It doesn't look like your getting along very well if you two look at the floor the entire time and we are trying to represent house unity." She said dryly. "You will need to look at each other throughout the entire dance, come on now you two" she said sounding impatient. Hermione slowly looked up to find Tom still staring at the floor. "Mr Riddle" Hedger said sharply. Tom slowly looked up with a blank expression and stared at her unblinking. "Good, now lets try dancing" Hedger put the music back on and they continued to stare at each other. "Dance" Hedger prompted and they slowly started to move.
Hermione couldn't watch her steps anymore and she found it hard to control her movements. Having to look at him just made her lose more focus and his emotionless face was disturbing. The way he wasn't blinking made her feel like she was dancing with a wax doll and the warmth of his hands was the only thing that indicated otherwise. She stepped on his feet a couple of times and this time he didn't react at all. Hedger noticed and made them pause. She instructed Hermione to memorise a certain pattern of steps and made her repeat it over and over again without looking. They started to dance again properly and with her newly memorised steps she found it much easier. She didn't step on his feet again and they paused when the track ended. "Very good" Hedger said clapping. "Dance to the next one and if your good, I'll let you go" Hedger waved her wand and a new music track started up.
They started to dance again and this time Hermione found it incredibly easy. The steps were now etched in her mind and she didn't have to think about which way to move anymore. She looked into his black eyes and found they had a hint of brown to them in bright light. He suddenly blinked and she looked away. After a short while the music ended. They both looked at Hedger and anxiously awaited her decision. "Very good" Hedger said looking pleased. "You may leave ---" they instantly let go of each other and rushed towards the door. "--and good luck tomorrow" She finished in a tone that said she was offended by their eagerness to leave. Tom was already out the door and Hermione ran out soon after.
They finished decorating the great hall at night and she had to admit it looked impressive. While Bones and Longbottom had chatted away the whole time, Hermione and Tom had worked in silence. They had both avoided looking at each other and kept more distance between themselves than usual. Hermione had kept her mind focused on decorating and tried not to dwell on the memories of their dancing lesson.
Later in the night she dropped onto her bed feeling exhausted and she felt like falling asleep right there and then. She forced herself to get up and change. She took of her socks and she wasn't surprised to find one of her feet blood stained. Tom had stamped on it very hard and it was to be expected. She cleaned up her feet and threw on her nightgown. Then she blew out the candles and crept into bed. Hermione closed her eyes and immediately fell asleep.
I'm not really an expert in ballroom dancing and I've tried my best, so if anything seems wrong please overlook it. Now, don't forget to review.