AN: A fair warning, the smut scenes are going to be graphic so if you're not into that thanks for stopping by, but turn your butt around pronto! If you are into it… grab a vibrator. *cackles like Bellatrix on crack* P.S. I had way too much fun writing this chapter and hope you enjoy reading it! Much thanks to those who took the time to give me feedback, including story alerts/followers/etc – I really appreciate you all and am extremely grateful for your support.
There's no place like FF, Aunty Em! *tap dances in ruby slippers*
Hermione entered the girl's dormitory to find a massive, rainbow tarp of silk scarves. They were crudely sewn together and sectioned off the back corner of the dorm. Behind it silhouettes emitting low giggles and whispers moved, as well as the outline of what she guessed was a record player. Music could be heard from the opposite side.
The other Slytherins were staring enviously at the tent when Elphy's head suddenly poked around the edge. Catching sight of Hermione, she grinned and waved her over. "Come on!" she called. "We've been waiting for you for the last twenty minutes. Now we can finally start!"
What Elphy meant by start, Hermione had no idea, but she made her way over to the tent, ignoring all the jealous glares girls she'd never meant sent her and gratefully slipping behind the Transfigured scarf curtain. Her eyes widened on finding Fabia Lynch, Rosy Parkinson, Alecto Carrow and Elizabeth Fletcher inside as well as Elphy.
"Is this, er, girl's night?" she asked, confused.
"Yes, welcome one and all, blah blah blah," Elphy said, patting the frilly cushion she'd saved for Hermione beside her. Hermione sat, realizing everyone else also perched on fancy pouffes, and the floor was covered in green comforters with silver trim and pillows that had been kidnapped from nearby beds. Off to the side Alecto Carrow was replacing a record.
"Those two tramps were lucky to be invited," Elphy muttered under her breath, tossing a careless glance over her shoulder at the newcomers. Rosy and Fabia snickered. Elizabeth, who had overheard, flushed bright red.
"I want to turn the music up!" Fabia whined. "I wish those stupid babies out there wouldn't rat us out to Sluggy."
"Have you tried a Silencing Charm?" said Hermione.
She frowned and scratched her head. "Well, none of us know how…"
"I've got it." Hermione waved her wand, casting a nonverbal Muffliato! and Rosy sent Elizabeth outside to do a sound check. Elphy cranked up the music and after a minute Elizabeth returned, confirming she hadn't heard anything. The Slytherins beamed at Hermione in admiration.
"Nice job, princess," Elphy said, winking at her. "You'll have to teach me that spell sometime." She clapped her hands for attention. "Now, since everyone is here we can get to the good part. Elizabeth, Alecto, you two are in charge of getting the bottle of Firewhiskey from Dippet's liquor cabinet-"
"But Elvy, what iv we're caught!" Alecto cried.
"That's your problem, not ours, and it's El-pha-ba to you," Elphy sneered. Continuing, she said, "The password to his office is Peter Rabbit and everyone knows he keeps his alcohol stash under his desk in a trunk marked 'keepsakes.' It should be easy enough to break into."
Alecto looked nervous, but Elizabeth was already on her feet, determined to win her way into their good graces. "Come on, Alecto. Let's go," she said bravely and marched out of the tent. Alecto slinked after her, shoulders slumped sulkily.
Once they were gone Fabia grabbed the box of chocolates she had hidden in her pillowcase, waggling it temptingly. "Excellent work, Elphy," she laughed. "I thought they would never leave."
"You know Elizabeth would have eaten this entire box in two seconds," Rosy sniffed.
"I know! Did you see her muffin-top in that skirt? Time to get a bigger dress size, Fletcher," Fabia cackled, turning to Elphy. "Didn't you say you brought something?" she said, passing the half-empty case of chocolates to Hermione. She only took one, resisting the urge to dump the rest on Fabia's head.
"Oh yes, here it is." Elphy produced a six-pack of Butterbeers, which clinked merrily against each other and shone bright gold as she dangled them in the lamplight. "Who wants to go first?"
"Ooh me!" Rosy squealed, scurrying forward.
"Say Hermione, how about you? Did you bring anything?" Fabia said and Hermione started, surprised the girl was addressing her.
"Er, no actually," Hermione muttered awkwardly. "I didn't know I should have-"
"It's fine, Hermione. No one asked you to," Elphy interrupting, sending Fabia a withering glare. Fabia rolled her eyes and popped open a Butterbeer, looking away. "Don't let anyone try and degrade you," she whispered in Hermione's ear. "If you do, these girls will walk all over you in a heartbeat. Show them you're boss."
"Right," Hermione said, but Elphy's words bewildered her. Show them she was boss? How was she supposed to do that? And who said she was boss anyway?
Fabia and Rosy had already opened their Butterbeers. Hermione uncorked the metal lid on hers, sipping the syrup-sweet liquid down sparingly. She put it down, licking her lips. "Now what?"
"Well, I did mention getting a new makeup kit, didn't I?" Rosy giggled, unsticking her mouth from the bottle lip with a loud smack. Fabia hiccupped beside her. "Take a look at this," she said, rifling through her schoolbag and knocking a few books around before she surfaced with a fluorescent-pink drawstring purse that jingled with what Hermione assumed was a boatload of expensive makeup.
Ceremoniously, Rosy flicked her wand through the knot on the bag and all at once the contents spilled onto the cushiony floor in a colorful array of brushes, pigments, lipstick, foundations, a bronze eyelash curler, mascaras, and a bunch of other utensils Hermione didn't know the names of. She watched with interest as Elphy snatched up a pointy stick and read the label, smiling felinely a moment later. "I love this brand!" she exclaimed, whipping around to face Hermione. "This color will look great on you. We'll try cat eyes."
"Er, I've never worn makeup before," Hermione hedged, inching away from the sharp-tipped 'eyeliner' stick. "It looks dangerous."
The Slytherins burst into laughter at this. "Don't worry, Hermione. Elphy is great with makeup," Rosy assured.
"Oh yes," Fabia agreed. "She'll make you look good."
"Here, close your eyes," Elphy said, taking the cap off the eyeliner to reveal an even pointier end underneath. Oh Merlin. Hermione reluctantly did so, gulping. "No, don't squeeze them! You'll make it all wrinkly," her friend growled, swatting her cheek with the surprisingly cold end of a blush brush. "Relax, will you?"
Relax? How? She was going to stab her in the eye! Elphy wasn't going to let off anytime soon, however, so Hermione tried to do as she asked. She stiffened at the sound of a pop, coming from whatever the hell Elphy was holding, and then something wet was licking across her lash line. She cringed and Elphy shrieked in outrage, grabbing her. "Don't you dare move an inch! You'll mess it all up," she hissed. "Now stay still before I Stun you."
"What is that?" Hermione whimpered.
"Liquid eyeliner," Elphy explained and she felt the wet tip flick in a neat finish at the end of her eyelids. Elphy pulled away and Hermione started to open her eyes, but hastily re-closed them when the Slytherin barked, "NO! It's not dry yet! Do you want to look like a raccoon?"
"Geez," Hermione grumbled. Fabia and Rosy giggled from behind their face masks, which were seaweed green and made them look like some sort of witch-Merpeople hybrids from the Black Lake.
After Elphy had painstakingly applied eye shadow, mascara, lipstick a shade of pink so deep it border lined burgundy, and 'a hint of blush' Hermione was finally allowed to see again. When she opened her eyes she found Fabia and Rosy less than two inches away from her face, staring at her with huge grins. Elphy smirked behind them.
"I can hardly recognize you," Rosy breathed.
"How did you get her eyes to look so smoky?" Fabia said, pouting. "You have to do my makeup next time!"
"Yes, yes, Fab. All in good time." Elphy flipped her strawberry-blonde hair and sat down next to what Rosy reverently called 'the new Hermione.' "Where the hell are Alexis and Elizabeth?" she said irritably. "I want to get a buzz on."
"They should be back soon, they left thirty minutes ago," Rosy said with a shrug. "Do you want to do manicures?"
"Yes please." Elphy stuck her hands out for all the girls to see. "Look at my cuticles, they've gone – uh, what's that word-?"
"Feral?" Hermione suggested.
Elphy shot her a pretty smile, which was further beautified by the gloss on her lips and kohl-lined green eyes. "You're so smart, Hermione," she cooed. "Our little dictionary."
"Use this grey," Fabia said, shaking a nail polish bottle and passing it to Hermione. "It will match your eyeshadow."
Another twenty minutes later, Hermione's chipping nails had been filed, buffed, and painted charcoal grey. She could hardly believe it, but she was actually…enjoying herself! Alecto and Elizabeth had returned looking scared out of their wits, but victorious and with Dippet's Firewhiskey in their possession. Now it was going around their little circle and Alecto, who was on her third Butterbeer and suffering from a severe sugar rush, was hopping in her seat as they played truth or dare. Fabia had just chickened out on another truth and shimmied out of her stockings as truth or dare protocol called for, flinging them at Hermione, who laughed and sent them up to join the scarf-curtain with a flick of her wand.
"No fair," Fabia cried. "I can't reach that high!"
"Elphy, truth or dare?" Rosy said.
Elphy took a large swig of Firewhiskey. "Truth."
"OK, let me think." Rosy bit her lip, attempting and failing to repress giggles. "Have you ever kissed a…a lady?"
"Hmmm," Elphy pondered, tracing a newly-manicured nail around the lip of Dippet's bottle in thought and ignoring Alecto and Elizabeth's girlish chitters. "Why yes, yes I have."
"Elphaba Wictz!" Fabia gasped.
"Lor' love a duck! Who was it?" Alecto shouted too loudly.
"I'm not inclined to answer more than one question," Elphy sang, smiling secretly.
"Oh come on," Rosy groaned. "At least tell us how many times!"
"Too many to count," Elphy whispered seriously and the girls stared at her in shock for a minute, then fell into fits of laughter.
Hermione received the Firewhiskey next and drank deeply at encouragement from the others before pulling away with a huge burp. Everyone fell into another round of hysterics at her belch and blushing, she mumbled, "Lizzy, truth or dare?"
"Dare."
"Ha, wrong answer," Elphy snorted and leaned in to Hermione, nearly falling on her. "Think of something good!" she whispered, sniggering.
"Erm…" Hermione bit her lip, thinking, and the girls watched her intently. "OK, I dare you to ask Professor Slughorn to take you to Madame Puddifoot's for the next trip to Hogsmeade when you have Potions tomorrow."
They stared at her. She frowned. Was her dare that pathetic?
"Oh brilliant!" Fabia roared, snickering at the look of dread on Elizabeth's face. "Wait until Monday, I can't wait to see the look on Sluggy's face. HA!"
Alecto clapped Elizabeth on the back, looking sympathetic. "Just stick to truth next time, eh?"
Thirty minutes later, the Firewhiskey bottle lay empty and forgotten on the ground until Rosy kicked it under a random bed in a clumsy spin, tripping and landing in a pile of discarded candy wrappers. She laughed hysterically for ten minutes straight and Fabia, Alecto, and Elizabeth skipped around her in a hand-linked chain, singing Ring around the Posies at the top of their lungs. Suddenly, the record player started Green Eyes and Fabia cried, "Elphy, it's your sooonnng!"
A silk scarf was suddenly thrown over Hermione's head and she turned around to see Elphy on the other end of it, sauntering toward her. Behind them the girls started to sing along, bowing and curtsying to each other before breaking off into couples. Elphy took her hands and pulled her forward, throwing her arms around Hermione's shoulders and starting a clumsy waltz with her.
"I don't know the name of this song, but I really love it, even if it is Muggle," Elphy slurred, snickering when Hermione accidentally stepped on one of Rosy's records and snapped it in half. "Oh my- Rosy is going to have your head when she finds out!"
"Don't you dare tell her," Hermione said, baring her teeth threateningly. A few feet away Fabia almost dropped Rosy flat on her arse when they dipped at the same time.
"I won't if you sing with me." Elphy batted her lashes. "Please?"
"Oh I don't know…"
"Well, Green Eyes with their soft lights
Your eyes that promise sweet nights
Bring to my soul a longing,
A thirst for love divine.
"In dreams I seem to hold you, to find you and enfold you.
Our lips meet and our hearts, too, with a thrill so sublime," Elphy began, voice cracking on a high note. "Now you go!"
The other girls, who had gathered around Hermione and Elphy in a circle on the floor, laughed uproariously. When Hermione chimed in they hushed to giggles.
"Those cool and limpid Green Eyes.
A pool wherein my love lies
So deep that in my searching for happiness
I fear that they will ever haunt me.
All through my life they'll taunt me,
But will they ever want me?"
Everyone burst out the final line. "Green Eyes, I love you!"
Elphy and Hermione joined the circle of girls, sitting down. Rosy had a stupid grin on her face and was still humming. "Oh Hermione, what a lovely voice you have," she complimented, eyes a little unfocused.
"Elphy, truth or dare?" Fabia asked.
"Dare!"
"If you say so," the Slytherin sang, twirling a Butterbeer cap around her fingers. "OK, my little green-eyed sapphist, I dare you to kiss…" She looked around the five of them, weighing her options, and everyone inched back. She grinned evilly. "Hermione Granger."
Elphy smirked and turned to Hermione, who was gaping at Fabia in shock. She looked at Elphy and couldn't help but laugh as the witch crawled toward her, swinging her hips in an exaggeratedly voluptuous manner. When she was close enough she slung her arms across Hermione's neck and the girls erupted into giggles, scurrying forward to watch.
"Well, I don't want to smudge her lipstick," Elphy teased.
Alecto squealed, covering her eyes. "Gawdon Bennet, I can't watch!"
"Oh come on, just do it!" Rosy shouted.
Elphy smelled of Firewhiskey and Butterbeer, Hermione realized when she leaned in close. The girls quieted as their lips met. Elphy broke the silence, pretending to moan "Oh Hermione, it's too much!" and pulled away, resulting in the hyena-like laughter that immediately followed from everyone else.
"You taste like vanilla icing," Elphy said, waggling her perfectly waxed brows. "Can I have one more taste?"
"Oh Elphy, get off her," Rosy laughed, shoving the witch off Hermione's lap and pointing at Hermione. "You, truth or dare?"
"Eh…truth?"
"Did you like kissing Elphy?"
"Chicken," Hermione replied curtly and Alecto started howling, earning a smack over the head from Elphy.
"OK, your punishment for chickening out is…" Rosy tapped her lip, thinking, and Elizabeth chimed in, "You have to switch underwear with Fabia!"
"Ew, gross," Fabia sneered.
Elizabeth blushed, but Rosy said, "No, no, she's onto something!"
"Um, I didn't agree to this," Fabia interjected. "My knickers are staying on moi."
Rosy rolled her eyes. "Fine, put Elphy's garter belt on, Hermione," she amended.
Garter belt? "Please tell me you don't wear a thong, too," Hermione said warily, turning to Elphy, and the others laughed. But she was serious.
"Lucky for your sorry eyes, I'm wearing proper knickers today," Elphy teased and led the way out of the tent, hopping over empty Butterbeer bottles and a spilled cup of powder. "Be right back, ladies!"
It was silent except for gentle snoring in the girl's dormitory and Hermione couldn't stop chuckling as they made their way to the bathroom. "Take off your stockings," Elphy said once they were inside and both girls did, until they were down to bare legs. Hermione put on Elphy's lacy number and heard the witch herself snicker as she watched. "Nice granny panties, princess."
"They're not granny, they're cotton!"
"Whatever you say…"
Hermione reached for her stockings, but Elphy stopped her. "Uh-uh! Keep those off. We'll need to prove you didn't cheat."
"Oh fine," she grumbled, feeling self-conscious as she tugged her skirt down and Elphy picked at her flawless nails. "How do I look?"
"Very nice," Elphy said, looking her over. She paused. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Did you like it?"
Hermione blinked. "Like what?"
Elphy shrugged. "Kissing me." She smiled, twirling a lock of her hair. "I thought it was nice, personally."
"Oh yes, very nice," she chuckled. Elphy grinned and danced another step toward her, clasping their hands.
"You know," Elphy began. "I hate it when we fight and I've been quite lonely since my sweetheart stopped talking to me." Hermione nodded empathetically. "I'm sorry for what I said, but…you could be my sweetheart again, you know, if you forgave me."
"I could?"
"Of course! We'll be more careful this time, Mer. Your parents won't catch us again."
"Hm…" Hermione, who wasn't really paying attention, eyed her. "Want to try something?"
"Drugs?" Elphy said curiously.
"Better," she said, smiling, "but you have to come closer."
Elphy giggled and did, waiting patiently as Hermione summoned her magic. The witch didn't notice anything, not even when Hermione's energy thrummed strong and powerful in the air, closing in around them like a thunderous storm on the horizon. Hermione cupped Elphy's face. "Breathe in when I tell you to, OK?"
"Mm hm."
Concentrating, Hermione gathered her magic until it was vibrating on the back of her tongue, eager to be put to use. "Go!" she whispered and Elphy obediently took a deep breath as she blew her magic toward her, a breeze of energy that dived into the Slytherin without question.
Elphy's eyes suddenly flew open and she stumbled back, scratching her throat. "Wh-what is that?"
"Magic, of course," Hermione laughed. "How does it feel?"
Elphy fainted.
Hermione stared at the crumpled Slytherin, surprised. Whoops. Maybe she didn't do it right? At least she won't remember this in the morning, she thought, biting back a giggle. Why was everything so funny? No matter. Hermione pulled her upright, muttering a Rejuvenation Spell through her chuckles.
A second later Elphy awakened. Bewildered, she mumbled, "What are we doing in here?"
"Going back to the party," Hermione said, pocketing her wand. "Ready to go?"
"Well, I'm not going to spend the night in the loo, now am I?" Elphy quipped with a sly smile.
They were exiting the lavatory when Elphy suddenly stumbled to a halt with a horrified squeal, making Hermione bump into her. "What is it?" she asked, standing on her tiptoes to see over the girl's tall height, and also shrieked at the sight of Tom Riddle staring at the bedraggled girls in a mixture of shock and amusement.
"Cover your eyes, Tom!" Elphy yowled. "We are indisposed!"
Riddle rolled his eyes, but looked away as requested. "I apologize for the interruption, Elphaba," he said smoothly. "I came for Miss Granger. Would you excuse us?" He glanced at the witch in question over Elphy's shoulder and quirked a brow on seeing her hastily pulling at her skirt.
"Came for Hermione? What on earth for?" Elphy retorted, jutting out her hip.
In reply Riddle cooly said, "Do I need to report your being awake after hours to Headmaster Dippet, Miss Wictz?"
Elphy's sneaky grin dropped. "See you later, 'Mione," she grumbled.
Once she had gone back to the girl's dormitory Hermione turned to Riddle, crossing her arms over her chest - for she was trying to distract his gaze from the garter belt peeking out below her skirt – and said, "Did you need something?"
He scrutinized her. "Actually, I thought I'd stop by to save you from any impending boredom. However, it seems you're having plenty of fun without me...?"
"It's, um, girl's night," Hermione explained, removing the feather boa that had somehow ended up wrapped around her waist like a belt. "How did you even get up here?"
"I have my ways," he replied evasively. "Come, we'll go to the Room of Requirement." He held out his arm – she looked a little dizzy – and Hermione took it without question, letting him lead her down the staircase and out of the common room.
"What time is it?" she asked in a hush after he had cast Disillusionment Charms on them.
"About eleven o' clock," Riddle responded and if Hermione hadn't been so close to him she wouldn't have heard him at all, for both his body and voice were nearly lost in the darkness of Hogwarts at nighttime. Her heart beat fast with excitement. "What were you thinking getting drunk on a Sunday night anyway?"
"How do you know I'm drunk?" she demanded.
"You stink of Firewhiskey," he said drily, "and you tripped six times down the last hall."
Well, he had her there… Hermione bit her lip. "You think I stink?"
"The scent won't kill me. Is this your first time drinking?"
She hiccupped. "Meh, maybe."
"Brilliant." Riddle sighed and left her in the middle of the corridor, walking back and forth three times before rejoining her, somehow finding her despite the fact she was invisible. He took them through the conjured door and they arrived in what Hermione had started to affectionately call the Book Room. Not very creative, but she'd never been that imaginative. She was book-smart, not inventive.
"What are you babbling about?" Riddle asked and she shut up. Oh shit, she'd been talking out loud?
"Sit down," he added, lifting their Disillusionment Charms. He took off his robes, sending them across the room where they folded themselves and landed on an end table next to an ugly lamp. It was a miniature statue of a troll in a tutu that held the light bulb in his mouth and lampshade with his extended hand.
Tom lay down next to her – when had he become Tom? She didn't know, nor did she care – and pulled a coarse afghan off the back of the couch, throwing it over them before he sighed, sticking one arm behind his head and lazily dragging his other hand through her hair. She hummed contentedly.
"Did you just purr?"
"No, I hummed in satisfaction," Hermione corrected, but her words were a mumble of gibberish because her face was smooshed against his abdomen. She pulled back. "There is a distinct difference between the two."
"Of course there is."
She nipped his hand when it came down to pet her again and he yanked it back, narrowing his eyes at her. "Now you bite, too? What are you, a temperamental housecat?"
"I prefer the term lioness."
"You're much more fun drunk."
"I'm going to remember that," she declared waspishly, "and resent you for it."
"You'll forgive me when I cure you of your horrible hangover tomorrow morning."
Hermione made a face. "I do not look forward to awaking."
"Then don't go to sleep," he suggested.
"Aren't you full of bright ideas today?"
"Technically, it's nighttime."
She rolled her eyes. "And they call me a know-it-all."
"Your friends just haven't met me yet," Tom said, grinning wickedly, and she suddenly noticed how white his teeth were. Had they always been like that? He should smile more often, it makes him so much prettier, she thought bizarrely and traced his lips with the tip of her finger, transfixed.
"So I'm pretty, too?" he said smugly.
"Do me a favor and forget I said that," she responded and he sniggered, mouth opening in a short laugh. She slipped her thumb in, wanting to feel his tongue, and he started. His eyes met hers and a smirk curled his lips as his tongue wrapped around the digit sensuously, sucking. Her breathing went shallow.
"Tom, are you really a virgin?" she breathed and he pulled back, glaring at her.
"Are you planning to tell the entire school?"
She looked affronted. "No, of course not! I'm just…surprised."
Exasperated, he said, "Well, it's not as if I'm completely inexperienced, Hermione."
"Oh." She frowned. "Really?"
"I've…kissed girls," he muttered, staring at a chip in the wooden floor intensely. Hermione perked up.
"That's it?"
He glared at her.
"I mean, it's nice. That you're saving it," she amended kindly.
"Stop talking."
Well, if he wanted her to.
He quirked a brow. "Yes, I do."
"What did you come get me for anyway? I was having fun," she grumbled. "Was there something you had to tell me?"
"Not exactly." His dark eyes explored her face before dropping further, raking over her wrinkled shirt and zeroing in on the black garter belt poking out from under her hiked–up skirt.
"It's Elphy's," she blurted out and he blinked at her, bemused. "I mean, we were playing truth or dare and Rosy dared me to put it on so we…uh...went to the loo and I did. Then you found us, of course." Hermione didn't think it was a good idea to tell him the part where Elphy fainted, so she kept this to herself. Yes, better not to tell him that.
"Ah, so that's why you look so different," Tom said, nodding. He ran a finger along the edge of her cheekbone, which looked much sharper, experimentally. "You've been Elphy-fied."
She stared at him hesitantly. "Do you like it?"
"I'd like you better with your clothes off."
"Pig."
He grinned.
Hermione thought for a minute and sat up, shocking him by stripping off her shirt. "Better?" she sniffed, shaking back her hair in that righteous fashion of hers he'd come to recognize. She felt quite heady – and kind of invincible.
Tom eyed her thoughtfully, weighing the pros and cons of using an intoxicated Hermione to his advantage. Not one con came to mind. He smirked.
"Almost," he said, appealing to her competitive side, "but I'd enjoy this much more if you were…wearing less."
"Oh really?" Hermione rolled her shoulders and slowly reached behind her, watching him through slanted eyes as she unclasped her bra. His gaze darkened and she slipped off the straps one by one.
"All the way."
It fell to the floor in a quiet swish of fabric.
"No, leave the skirt on," he added sharply when she reached for it. She stopped and stared at him, waiting for the next direction. Lust built under the weight of her undivided attention. "Come here."
Smiling triumphantly, she crawled up his body. His hands rose up to cup her breasts and she sighed, feeling more hazy than usual when he kissed her. She went limp as a puppet in his arms as his tongue entered her mouth, fingers twisting...
"Are you sure you've never done this before?" she mumbled and he laughed lowly.
"Quite." His tongue swept across hers and she moaned when he pinched her nipples at the same time, heat spreading through her like liquid silver. "Have you?"
"N-no," she gasped.
Tom groaned, bucking his hips into hers. "Good," he breathed. He took her hand and slipped it between them, bringing it to the front of his trousers where she felt his hard member. "Touch me, Hermione," he ordered, stroking her hair down her naked back and nipping a trail of bites down the side of her neck. "Go on."
But she'd never… Hermione gulped, suddenly nervous as well as terribly aroused, and cautiously rubbed her hand over him. His hips jerked in response. That's a good sign, right? she thought.
"Harder," he hissed.
She took a deep breath and unzipped his trousers. She'd never touched a man's – er – reproductive parts before. Oh for Godric's sake, it's a penis! she reprimanded herself. The next thing she knew she'd be calling Tom's member You-Know-What and the-Peen-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Damn it all to hell, I'm done for. "What do I do now?" she said, all drunken haze gone, and his hooded eyes flicked up to meet hers.
"You mean you haven't read any useful books on oral sex?" he teased. When she narrowed her eyes at him he had mercy on her and added, "Just stroke me."
"Stroke?" she squeaked.
He rolled his eyes. Oh Merlin, what god forsaken idiot took her virginity? "Yes, in an up and down motion," he explained in a show of exaggerated patience.
Oh alright, that didn't sound so bad… Hermione bit her lip and scooted down to kneel between his thighs before she ever so carefully pulled down his boxers, slowly revealing his prominent V-line that actually looked very sexy, and his hips automatically flew into the air when she accidentally brushed his length. Whoops. She glanced up to see if she'd done something wrong, but his eyes were clenched shut and every inch of him was rigid.
Yes, even the- Peen-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Right, so he told her to 'take it'. She steeled herself and did so, wrapping her hand around his erect length and eliciting another rough jerk from him. A flutter of anticipation went through her. "Now I stroke?" she asked, feeling incredibly stupid when he cracked his eyes opened into black slits and nodded stiffly.
Hermione tried not to hold him too hard or too lightly as she guided her hand up and down, and it seemed she was doing her first hand job right, for Tom soon started to rock his hips into her hand repeatedly and without pause, her name flying from his lips a few times along with a stream of curses. She decided she liked seeing her name come out of his mouth like that and sped up. A bead of sweat started on his handsome brow. Hermione watched it dart down his cheek and felt the strangest urge to lick it off. Her magic surged up around her, racing over her body and stoking his.
He started to breathe heavier, abdomen flexing when he reached up and grabbed the couch cushions, clenching them as she increased her pace, flicking her thumb over the head experimentally. He thrashed at that, cursing again, and abruptly froze.
She watched in fascination as his brow furrowed, kissable mouth parting slightly while he jerked into her hold a few more times. A growl, long and low like an animal, rumbled out of his chest and then his release was suddenly spilling through her fingers.
Surprised, she let go.
After a minute or two Tom recovered and sat up, taking his wand and casting a Scourgify on them before he pulled his boxers back on, although he left his trousers on the floor. He turned to her and kissed her long and deep, rubbing off the last remnants of lipstick on her mouth. He really was a great kisser. "Was it good?" she asked curiously when he pulled away, words slurring a little.
"Oh yes, darling." He chuckled. "Very good."
She beamed.
Feeling very self-satisfied, he leaned back, arranging them into a comfortable position, and pulled the afghan on again. "Go to sleep, Hermione."
A beat of silence.
"Er, Tom?"
"Yes?"
"You didn't give me my top back."
"And?"
"But…this blanket is itchy."
He sighed. "You're not getting your shirt until we wake up. I'm far too comfortable to move again."
"You cheeky-"
"Watch it," he interrupted, placing a finger over her lips. "Or your skirt goes too."
"You can't confiscate my clothes!" Hermione protested hotly.
"Is that a challenge?"
"No."
"Oh alright," he said, disappointed, and Summoned her shirt. She snatched it from him, pulling it on and buttoning up before he could change his mind. She lay down again, reveling in how nice his arms around her made her feel. Hopefully, Elphy would be too out of it tomorrow to realize Hermione never came back.
Within moments she was asleep, snoring lightly, and the Room of Requirement was dim and quiet. Tom spoke softly, uttering Parseltongue in hush, and the pipes inside the walls shuddered in reply at his whisper of strange, fiery hisses. He flicked a lock of hair out of her eyes. Staring down at her in the dark, he saw an object. A corruptible, vulnerable, succulent object who had just begun to succumb to his manipulation.
He had caught the perfect prey.
And the Basilisk wouldn't get one bite.
…
Dumbledore had returned.
He was at the highest point of his career, the most renowned wizard in the entire world, and would be a new addition to the Chocolate Frog cards. However, he did not return to Hogwarts as happily as a reveled hero might have been expected to, but with the weight of his former best friend's death on his shoulders and the mystery of an unknown killer some magical folk referred to as the Mysterious Cloaked Figure in mind. Dumbledore was determined to find him, for he had not come to save the Wizard World from a power-hungry tyrant's regime but for the Elder Wand. Now the Mysterious Cloaked Figure had it and Dumbledore could only guess what his intentions were.
But who was he?
Hermione entered the Great Hall to find three familiar faces had come back since the weekend. The first she saw was of course Dumbledore, for Dippet announced his return and gave a speech full of praise and admiration that had students actually listening to for once, the second was Regulus and the third Meredith Smith, who sat at the opposite end of the table looking sullen and a little blank. She didn't glare at Hermione at all when she sat down, not even looking her way once.
The other Slytherins noticed Meredith's behavior as well and shifted away from the witch uncomfortably. Many of them tried to find out what exactly happened to her, but she said the same thing to everyone: "I drank too much Firewhiskey and thought the classroom was a lavatory, slipped on some potions, cracked my head on a desk. I didn't wake up until Gregovitch found me."
Fabia tried talking to her, but gave up when Meredith continued to only respond in a monotone. She trudged back to her seat beside Regulus, looking annoyed. "She's acting strange," she grumbled.
"She's just doing it for attention," Regulus said off-handedly. "Leave her alone and she'll go back to normal."
"He's right," Abraxas agreed. "You know how Meredith is, if she gets the spotlight for even a second she'll do whatever it takes to make her minute of fame last longer. This is just another one of her ploys."
Reluctantly, Fabia conceded.
Tom walked in then and was pleased to see Hermione next to his chair again. It was as if the blunder with Meredith had never happened, except now he had his locket back – and an upcoming ally on his side.
His plans had never proceeded so smoothly.
"Tom, maybe you can talk some sense into Mer," Rosy said when he arrived, turning to him hopefully. "She's acting very odd."
"Ah yes, Meredith," he said, sorrowfully. "Unfortunately, I've already tried talking to her, but she's resisted all my attempts. She even told me before leaving the dance she wanted to end things between us. I don't understand why. Then again, she'd been acting quite…out of sorts." He sighed and all the females at the table, excluding Hermione, looked at him pityingly. "It is her decision, however. I don't think she'd listen to me now on any account."
"It doesn't make any sense," Fabia pressed, glancing down the table at the girl herself. Meredith stared blankly at her untouched plate, brown eyes a little vacant. "I thought she really liked you!"
"I did too, but I suppose this has been coming," Tom said, although there was a sliver of irritation in his gaze. "She has been acting strangely lately, hasn't she? Attacking Hermione, getting detention, leaving the dance and hurting herself – and now this. I'm worried about her."
Through all these seamless lies he fed the Slytherins, Hermione stared on in amazement. He was so goodat this, she half-believed Meredith was off her rocker. He made the girl seem like a helpless troublemaker, as if harm had never come to her by someone else's hand but was self-inflicted, which made Meredith sound even crazier! The fables flowed from his lips as if second nature, like lying was another language and he spoke it fluently. Would shebe able to tell if he lied to her?
Probably not.
The bell rang and everyone listening to Tom's mesmerizing tale jumped, startled by the interruption. He smiled graciously and stood, bidding them a good day. Hermione followed suit and they left the Great Hall, oblivious to the excited chatter recounting Dumbledore's epic battle and the mystery murderer of Grindelwald around them.
"The shortcut?" he suggested.
Hermione nodded and they went down one of the less popular corridors, stopping outside of the tapestry hiding a secret passage. He pulled it back, rapping the wall with his wand several times, and the bricks grinded as they wriggled out of the way to create an opening large enough for them to walk through.
Inside, the long hall was lit by flickering torches, but a few feet in she stopped. He halted too and arched a brow questioningly, eying her. "What is it?" he asked, low voice echoing off the low stone walls. What is it? Is it? It…?
"Tom, do you really think Meredith is alright?" she burst out.
"Meredith Smith?" he said, looking at her strangely. "What are you thinking about her for?"
"The others were right," Hermione said. "She was acting oddly this morning-"
"It's just school drama," he interrupted, rolling his eyes. "I'm sure she is perfectly fine."
She frowned, unconvinced, but didn't push it; he didn't seem too interested in the subject.
"Then can we meet tonight to research the essences?" she asked. "I still haven't found anything else on them and I want to get rid of those things before they can do any lasting damage."
"How concerned you are for the well-being of others, Hermione."
"I'm serious! Besides, not all of us have the moral standards of the devil," she retorted.
A bladed smile took shape at this. "But that's where you're wrong, isn't it?" he said, softly. "Because I don't have any morals at all."
AN: I was contemplating whether to call this chapter Like a Virgin or G.N.O. but figured that'd be too Have You Ever. *go FF bashing!* I also giggled a lot while writing it and I hope you did too (but if you just envisioned a super sexified Tom Riddle and kind of went crazy with the lemon, that works too…) *growls* If Hermione seemed a bit OOC it's because she was drunk and Tom is a very good manipulator.
Thanks for reading and review for the-Peen-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. If you have any dirty synonyms for Tom's wood in mind also let me know.
You know, if you've got the guts. *flexes biceps the Fight Club style*
Love you guys, XX!