A/N: Now, just FYI, I am typing this about 20 minutes after I've uploaded chapter 10. I hope you all liked it; I think it was really cute. But this, however, is the best chapter by far so far.

Oh, and BTW I have a new story posted, Magnetic Attraction. It's a Dramione, but I love it and it's doing really well so far, so check it out. Please? Anyway, I'll just start. Oh, and I'll do a fun disclaimer because I'm bored.

Disclaimer:

Kristyn: Yeah! I come into the story in this chapter!

Tom: And you mess everything up.

Kristyn: Hey, that was a misunderstanding!

Me: A big misunderstanding, thus the title.

Kristyn: (Glares)

Hermione: (Squeals) I'm just so happy!

Tom: Right… I'm just going to go now.

Hermione: Squee!

So anyway, I don't own Harry Potter, or Hermione, or Tom.

Chapter 11: A BIG Misunderstanding

Hermione spent the next day in the library, just reveling in the familiarity of the setting. She told Tom that she wanted to spend some time on her own before they exchanged gifts, and since he understood the value of solitude, he didn't argue. She idly skimmed an early addition of Hogwarts: A History, wondering if writing what she had in Tom's gift had been a good idea. It wasn't something she had told anyone or written anyone before, and she was doing her best to get cold feet. (A/N: The suspense is killing you, isn't it?)

This is a mistake, Granger, a voice from the back of her head drawled. You're moving too quickly, the Malfoy like voice added. She had such a weird conscience.

It's too late, I've already written it, she protested mentally, turning a page. What can I do now?

You are a witch, Granger, do something, it bit back sarcastically. Since when had she been able to corner herself in an argument? Maybe she was loosing it.

I don't feel like doing anything. I meant what I wrote, and I don't want to take it back. I mean, I know he was Lord Voldemort, but at the same time I can't deny that I'm attracted to him. He understands me. He needs me! Snicker filled her mind as she slammed the book shut.

He needs you does he? Oh Granger, you are so doomed. She chose to ignore the snarky comments. She wasn't doomed, she was fine. Fine. Really.

Tom brushed an imaginary speck of dust off the velvet box. He wasn't sure why he was so nervous. It wasn't like he was proposing! He wasn't even telling her he loved her! Ten again, a ring that had cost him half of his savings probably said more than "I like you a lot." This was unnerving, he hated this silence. What would she say when he gave it to her? What would he say? "I wasn't sure what you would like, so I wandered around and this caught my-" no, that wouldn't work. "You're beautiful, and this ring is beautiful like y-," that wouldn't work either. He couldn't pull off the Mr. Poetic persona that just wasn't him. "I thought of you when I saw this." There, that was fine. It was true, and simple. If it weren't simple he would mess it up somehow. That was the thing about Hermione; he let his guards down around her without realizing it. Maybe it had to do with the fact that she already knew his faults, she already knew who he was. There was no way to hide behind wit and charisma; she knew he would have been Lord Voldemort if it weren't for her. Did she know how much about him she was changing?

Reluctantly, he slipped the small box back into his pocket and sat straight on the common room couch. Where was she? His watch read 5:45, she was supposed to be there by now so they could walk down to dinner together after opening gifts. Perry was in her room as per usual. He erratically wondered what she was doing, but the creak of the portrait opening stole his attention from the woeful girl. Hermione eased herself through the opening, not noticing his presence. There was an air of uneasiness about her, which he noticed immediately. It was something that came naturally to him now, reading her aura.

He cleared his throat, and she jerked her head up in alarm. He smiled feebly, and she returned it as she walked over, pulling a small rectangular gift out of her robe pocket. It was wrapped in plain, unpatterned, purple paper and had a thin ribbon of silver wound around it. Great, purple. He hated that color, though he wasn't sure why. It was just irritating. The girl sat down next to him, cross-legged, facing him. She handed the light gift to him, which he took with his slender fingers.

"You're nervous," he commented quietly, probing her honey eyes with his own dark pupils. Strangely enough she shivered, and Tom wondered what he had said wrong.

"As always, you know all," she whispered before pointing to the gift. "Go on, open it." Tom turned his attention back to the gift. What had Hermione gotten him? Had she had such a difficulty in purchasing something as he had? He hoped she had, it showed she cared. Curiosity urged him to tear open the paper and reveal what it was hiding, but manors and self-control allowed him to stifle it. Cleanly sliding a fingernail along the edge of the square parcel, the paper slid off to reveal a leather cover. He pulled the paper away and small notebook fell into his lap, as he began to panic again.

She got me a notebook and I got her an effing ring? She is so going to figure out that I love her! Crap, what now! She noticed his alarm and rested her hand on his shoulder.

"Open it." Mortified, he turned to the first page, but found it was not blank. Written in neat pristine script was a note. He read it slowly, lapping up the word as she bit her lip, rubbing a circle on his sweater clad shoulder with her thumb unintentionally. His features calmed, all hint of panic replaced with excitement, pleasure, and a small amount, no a large amount, of shock. She had expected that, as well as the noticeable amount of relief in his eyes as he read and reread the writing.

(A/N: Originally I was just going to cut it off here, but I'm not that cruel.)

Tom-

I wasn't sure what to get you as a gift. You probably don't realize how hard you are to shop for. So instead of buying you some amazingly rare item I decided to get you something you can make amazing. Fill this volume with spells, work, ponderings, or anything you wish. Because you are amazing.

Now I realize how dumb that last line sounds. You're probably scoffing now as you read this, you never liked people who talk before they think. Well, it's true. I'm not just saying that so that I can go home faster, you need to believe me. I won't leave you. I don't think I can, because I think I'm falling in love with you. There, I said it. We've known each other for about five days and yet I already know it's true. Please don't run from he room screaming like I'm a mountain lion, now that I've said that. Oh great, now I'm ranting. Anyway, merry Christmas.

Love, Hermione

She couldn't have gotten me a better present, he realized as he reread the letter for the seventh time. There was no regret about getting the ring in his mind now. He was loved at last. Real love, not obsession. 'I won't leave you,' he read again. 'I don't think I can, because I think I'm in love with you.' For once in his life, Tom forgot about his muggle father. He forgot about the Gaunts, he forgot he was heir of Slytherin. He forgot he was already a murderer. He forgot he didn't have friends. All he remembered was Hermione. He started, realizing he had yet to say anything, and that she was still uneasily rubbing circles on his back.

"I'm not going to run from the room," he informed her, tearing his eyes away from her pristine script. She was still nervous, her eyes questioning. He knew their question already. "You couldn't have given me a better gift." It only took her a second to comprehend what he was saying, but he simplified it anyway. "I think I love you too," he admitted finally, a tint of gratitude and yet small sarcasm in his suddenly hoarse voice. But she didn't notice the Slytherin sarcasm. "Actually, I know I love you." Instead of answering she kissed him, relieved, before he even knew what had happened. The leather book fell with a soft thunk to the floor, which neither noticed, as Tom slid an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. She entangled her hand into his crisp hair, bad gel boy bad, and pushed him down onto the couch below her. This time around, thoughts of Harry and Ron where nowhere to be seen. A small black box fell unnoticed on top of the notebook after it slipped out of Tom's pocket a minute later. When the couple broke for air several minutes later, Tom reluctantly panted, "Wait, we forgot your gift." Curiosity overwhelmed her urge to just snog him for another hour, and she carefully lifted herself off him. He sat up beside her, and upon realizing the box had fallen to the floor, he slid off the couch onto his knee to pick it up.

"I thought of you when I saw this," he said as he turned around and opened the box so she could see what it held. She gasped in shock as the tiny sapphire glittered in the soft candlelight. "You're not that easy to shop for yourself, Mione." Her eyes grew to the size of dinner plates until she began to resemble a house elf. "Um… hello?" he thought briefly as she blinked.

"Yes!" she finally said, eyes shining and face glowing. Tom was sure he had never seen her this happy. What? "Um, this is so sudden, but I love you, so yes!" (A/N: HA! I TOLD you that there would be a plot twist!)

"What are you-," but he was cut off as the portrait creaked open, and a dark blond girl in time appropriate muggle jeans and button down blue shirt that was much too big for her gracefully slid through the portrait hole.

"PERRY MINELLA GET OUT HERE THIS INST-" but her voice dies as she saw Tom kneeling on the ground extending a ring to someone she'd never seen before. "Oh. My. God," the gossip queen stammered, a sly smile spreading across her face. Her eyes went back and forth between the two as if they were two pairs of shoes she had yet to choose between. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." That was when Tom realized he was down on one knee! Holy shit was the only thought he had as the girl laughed, actually laughed, before yelling, "Perry!" and diving into the head girl's room. Hermione appeared not to have noticed.

"Can I put it on?" she asked, her voice quivering with excitement.

"Ugn…" was all he could manage as she took that as a yes and pulled the velvet box toward her.

"This I beautiful, Tom." Okay, breathe. Just tell her that's not what you meant. But as she slid the silver band around her ring finer, bursting with joy like he'd never seen her before, he just couldn't do it. What would it to? Make her blush, perhaps cry? He couldn't do it. It wasn't worth it, and by tomorrow morning, the whole school would think he was engaged anyway. Queen of Gossip Kristyn Hansen would insure it. Judging by the muffled sounds of laughter emerging from under the door, Minella already knew. And Hansen would tell her boyfriend Kyle Winter in Hufflepuff, so that covered three of the houses. The only house not in the know was Slytherin, but the ghosts would tell them. There was no point. Hermione beamed at him up onto the sofa next to her.

"I'm glad you like it," he said softly, before catching her lips in another kiss. He had a family now! A fiancé! In five days he had gone from being completely misunderstood and alone to loved and appreciated. What if I hadn't been in the Headmaster's office that day? He thought as she wrapped her arms around his neck. How different would my life be? He would be in his bedroom sulking, or scheming up ways to find out more about horcruxes. There was no need for dark magic anymore, he had Hermione. Suddenly he remembered his death eaters. They would be mad, livid that he was disserting them. They would try and hurt her.

Not on my watch, he promised himself. They couldn't take this happiness away from him.

"Professor Dumbledore," someone called as they bashed on his office door. "Professor, are you there?" The voice was young and feminine, and he knew who it was.

"I'm coming Minerva," he said calmly as he swung open the door. Minerva was his apprentice whom he was training. At the young age of eighteen, freshly graduated from Hogwarts, the woman was an asset to the staff. She knew some of the students in the older years and had an ear for gossip and news. "Please call me Albus, care for tea?" Se nodded sleepily and passed him to sit down in front of his desk.

"Sure, sure. Listen, I've heard the most peculiar item of news that I don't comprehend." She looked fairly shocked and Dumbledore didn't interrupt as he poured her a steaming cup of the beverage. "Supposedly our head boy, Tom Riddle, has been," she paused to yawn widely, "Romantic with a girl. We don't know who she is though. Ms. Hansen of Ravenclaw told me that head girl Perry Minella said she is a new student, Hermione something." He chuckled as he sat down behind his desk, holding a brandy.

"Ah yes, Ms. Granger. A Gryffindor like yourself." She sent him a glare.

"I wasn't finished."

"Well do continue, excuse my interruption."

"Fine. Well apparently Kristyn walked in on them while Riddle was…" she took another yawn, secretly reveling in making him wait. "Proposing."

"Really?" he asked calmly. "Well good for them, they seem happy." McGonagall didn't miss the twinkle in his eye.

"Doesn't this seem a little odd to you? You say she's a Gryffindor, correct?"

"And a muggleborn," he added, just to make her nervous. She looked up, alarmed.

"But why on earth is he with her? Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with being muggleborn, I'm not a pureblood, but he's like Joe Slytherin! I've never trusted him." He sighed and drummed his fingers on the wooden desktop. "You can't help but notice that they are a very unlikely couple. How much do we even know of this Hermione Granger?"

"I will admit that they are an unexpected pair, but they should not be broken up. Do your best to insure that no one comes between them." She frowned at his answer.

"But who is she? Where did she come from?"

"That, Minerva, is Tom and Hermione's business." Minerva hated that damn twinkle, it sparkled as she yawned. "Now my dear you should return to your rooms, it is getting late."

"Just keep an eye on them, Albus. I want to know what they're up to." He smiled politely, thinking of his crystal ball.

"Don't worry, my friend. I shall see you tomorrow."

A/N: OMG! DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THAT CHAPTER? They're engaged! HAHA! I am the best! REVIEW! I want your reactions! Teaser?

"I wonder what the half blood would say if he found out his fiancé was a dirty little slut." She gasped as he leaned down to kiss her roughly on the lips.

MWAHAHA, mean teaser, huh? Ok, next chapter, Rosier reappears, (and causes trouble, hint hint.) Kristyn smirks, and Perry feels a lot better. Anyway, check out my new fan fic, and REVIEW!

Final Word Count: 2742 (Semi long!)