A/N: I had to divide the previous chapter and this one in to two parts otherwise it would have ended up being way too long. I should have the next chapter done by this afternoon. Just finishing up a few things then we will get to the….well I don't want to give too much away.

CONFRONTING EXPECTATIONS PART 2

Hermione POV

Continued Sunday the 8th of December 2013

Oh damn, the feel of his lips on mine was extraordinary, but then Harry had to completely ruin the moment I had been fantasizing about since the night I met him. This is so not going to go down well. Now it looks like I lied. It's not like I planned to kiss him tonight, hell I didn't even know he was going to show up looking all sweet and awkward. It made my heart swell that he made the effort for me.

"Harry", I turn waiting for him to open his mouth and defend Ron. This was how it usually went. We would fight and Harry would come making excuses for Ron, because he is sensitive and insecure. Insecure yes, but sensitive…well that's debatable, but that shouldn't excuse his behaviour to run his mouth.

"Hermione, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?", Harry sounded irritated. What did he expect me to be sitting here wallowing in my self-pity ready to give in to any and all demands? Christian was right, they don't respect me.

"Sure", I step out of the way to let Christian move next to me. "Harry, this is Christian O'Toole, from the American Ministry. Christian this is Harry Potter, Deputy Head Auror at the British Ministry", they shake hands and Christian doesn't falter or wince at Harry's grip. He remains calm and self-assured. Most people are usually gushing by now at Harry's presence, fawning over him. I'm proud that he treats my best friend like a regular person, he doesn't get it often.

" Harry Potter, it's a pleasure to meet you. Hermione has spoken a lot about you and your escapades", merlin he was charming, he could probably charm a house plant.

"She hasn't mentioned you at all, which is unusual", Harry's eyes flick to mine, trying to make me feel guilty.

"Hermione is her own woman, she doesn't have to tell you every miniscule detail of her life at least not until she is ready too", I beamed at Christian, why did it feel like he was the only one on my side? Or at least supportive of my decisions and respect that I am indeed an independent woman. Harry proceeded to glare at him, but Christian just smiled raising his eyebrow in a challenge. Harry decided to ignore that comment it seems and addressed me instead.

"Hermione can we speak in private please?"

"Harry whatever you have to say you can say it in front of Christian, he knows everything anyway", Harry huffed and clenched his jaw, apparently annoyed that I confided in this man next to me about family matters as Harry usually called our fights between the three of us.

"Fine", he gritted out frowning heavily.

"Well, go on, do you want to sit down or are we going to stand here?" I asked, because really, I just wanted to sit down and snuggle into Christian's side again, he smelled so…manly. I snorted, I sound like bloody Lav-Lav. But in all honesty, he did smell good like a good cologne good, not manly as in after a Quidditch game kind of manly. They both just looked at me confused.

"Sorry I was just thinking about something else", I looked to Christian and he winked.

"Hermione focus, you're acting really strangely", that was the wrong thing to say.

"Harry James Potter, what happened to the friend that was willing to support me, if I chose not to stay with Ron. And who listened to me talk about how unhappy I was? Now that I am happy and moving on you all are crucifying me, why?", I really thought that I had an ally in Harry. Logically, I know that the only person really who was pissed at me was Ron, and possibly Molly, everyone else knew this was a foregone conclusion. At least his face softened slightly.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean for it to sound like I am not supporting you. I am. Just seeing you snogging him on the couch just kinda threw me through a loop. Thinking and seeing are two different things. I just hate it when I am stuck in the middle of you and Ron….I just don't know how to handle that", I felt sorry for Harry I really did, but he never really stands up to Ron even when he is just plain wrong. Out of my periphery I notice Christian move to sit on the sofa closest to where we were all standing.

"Harry, I sympathize I do, it is not nice being in the middle, but I am not asking you to be either. Ron was following me; do you understand how that makes me feel? It's a violation of trust", I crossed my arms annoyed that I have to defend myself even though I am the one being attacked.

"He's just hurt and angry. He expected to get back together and here you are with this guy who turns up out of nowhere", he gestures to Christian who just rolls his eyes.

"He didn't just turn up out of nowhere Harry. I didn't say anything because at the time there was nothing to explain. What happened tonight has been building for a few weeks now, but neither of us acted on anything. Until I did tonight. And for the record I have not led Ron to believe that we were ever getting back together, but you already know that. This is your problem Harry, you just can't say no to Ron. I know he is your oldest friend, but I'm your best friend too. He is hurting so I am willing to let certain things slide, but the stalking has to stop", Harry looked guilty at that, he sighed mussing up his already extremely messy hair.

" I know, there's just pressure on me to always things right, because he is family. I'll try to talk some sense into him, but you know that will probably just backfire as usual" and he turns to address Christian. " And you, you treat her right or you'll find yourself in a spot of trouble I doubt you could charm your way out of", the subtext of Harry's threat was clear…men and their posturing so immature. Christian just smiled a dark smile, it made me remember that he is older than Harry and I and has probably experienced a lot more than us.

"Harry, you don't need to worry about Hermione, I intend to cherish her the way your friend could not. He didn't value her intelligence, wants and needs. But if he so much as disrespects or continues to stalk her, he will also find himself in a position that he cannot get out of", his tone was chilling as the threat of his words, made it clear not to cross him. I could sense a small amount of dark magic coming from him. It happened sometimes. I won't lie and say I'm one hundred percent comfortable with it, but I'm not going to condemn him either for it since he does work with dark artefacts.

"Was that a threat?", I swear sometimes Harry is purposely obtuse just to annoy.

"No, it was a promise", they glared at each other for a while, then came to a telepathic agreement that only men understood.

"Ok, I will leave you guys to it. You know you won't be able to hide this" Harry gestured between Christian and I "for much longer. Eventually the Weasleys will demand to meet him and more threats will be issued".

"I know Harry but that will be between Christian and I and when we are ready for that", he nodded, and I followed him to the front door. "Next time knock Harry, I could have been naked", I heard Christian chuckle from the couch.

"Yes, yes sorry I will next time. Have a nice evening Hermione. We'll talk later", I smiled, waved and closed the door behind him. I release a breath that I had been holding and rested my forehead against the door. I suddenly felt exhausted. I could feel Christian come up behind me and wrap his arms around me giving me a kiss on the top of my head. Everything was moving quickly now, what did he expect of me? Would people approve? Would they think as Ron did that, he was taking advantage of me?

"Your doubting", He said from behind me. He twisted me in his arms so I could face him. He raised my chin with his index finger.

"To answer some of the questions that I know you are thinking. People are going to think what they want to think regardless. Yes, I am a little older, but the wizarding world has seen far greater age gaps. Will they think I'm taking advantage? maybe but you are a strong-willed woman I can't see you being taken advantage of by anyone. They need to trust your judgement. I don't expect anything until you're ready. Don't over think this. We can go at the slowest pace if you want or we can chalk this night up to 'in the heat of the moment'", he was giving nothing away in his expression which was frustrating. I wanted to know how he felt.

"No, I want this...I just..it feels fast", I wasn't even entirely sure what I was saying. I don't know why I felt compelled to start making excuses as to why I couldn't just enjoy a night of potential snogging on the couch.

"Does it? We've been building to this moment for weeks now. I wouldn't say it was fast. I don't think this is about us, you're just worried that the Weasley's will think Ron was right. Anyway, to stop your mind from over analysing it, let's talk about the museum", he entwined his finger with mine and pulled me back over to the couch. He sat down and let me decide how I wanted to situate myself. I sat sitting sideways on the couch, with one leg dangling of the cushion.

"This morning I went over the floor plan, and next to the gallery were the tablet is, is a small gift shop. Now I haven't gone in there, but I would hazard a guess to say they have a storage cupboard not huge but enough we should fit in it. We only need to be in there long enough to know the routine of the security guards walking past. Do they walk past every hour on the hour? Or a variant? Or do they change it up so it's not the same? We will plan when you can get away from work to go to the museum for a walk through and we'll make notes. Ok?"

"Ok, I'll look at my schedule and let you know", I started fidgeting with the bottom of my cardigan. I was being ridiculous, here was a man who wanted to be with me and was everything I imagined and now I'm ruining our evening because I'm stressing over the situation with Ron again.

Tom POV

I watch as she plays with the edge of her cardigan, she is pulling into herself again all because of the Weasley twat. This is going to be a frustrating experience to pull out her self confidence that I know she has in there. I run my hands through my hair, I need to leave and blow off some steam. Getting angry with her is not the way to go or she'll never trust me. And I need her to trust me. I stood up off the sofa.

"Hermione, I'll leave you to think about things. Call me when you are ready to deal with it", I lean down and kissed her forehead. She sucks in a breath that sounds more like a sob. I patted Crookshanks and waved my wand at the dining table clearing everything up, so she didn't have to do it.

She didn't stop me when I left, but even in my shimmering state of mind I faltered marginally when I looked back and saw her watching me. She looked heart broken and a complete juxtaposition to when she kissed me, it tugged at something inside of me that I won't acknowledge quite yet.

Once I left, I was free to unleash my wrath. I kept a little something for myself for 'rainy days' in my trunk. I know it's a little maladroit, to keep a victim in stasis, but at times when I'm too angry this is easier than having to go out and actually look for one. Plus, I'm on holidays. I keep the man stunned because really, I don't want to deal with simpering or snivelling right now. My patience is frayed. Being nice can be taxing, especially with upset women. Part of the problem is I want Hermione's focus to be solely on me. Selfish of me but I don't care. I bring my wand down in a slashing motion releasing all my pent-up frustration, when the arterial spray douses my clothes. I sigh. Being bad can be so messy sometimes.

Hermione POV

I am a grade 'A' idiot. I hated watching him walk away, even Crookshanks was giving me the evil eye, displeased I let Christian go. But I needed to think and with him here it was overwhelming. It was like everything that happened today just hit me all at once. Christian was right as usual, respect was important. Ron was going to be hurt either way really so why was I dragging everybody else along as well? I like Christian a lot, so much so I kissed him.

I just gave him mixed signals. He probably thinks I led him on or that I don't really like him, and I just used him for comfort. I'm such a terrible person. I need to take responsibility for my actions and push my pride aside and apologise in first thing in the morning.

I let my mind drift the museum situation as I needed to focus on the other thing that is important other than my shit love life. I would imagine that the museum would have motion sensors, possibly the guards activate and deactivate them as they do their walk through? Or do they just monitor from a security station using just the cameras and they only walk around a couple of times if there is something suspicious? Magic solves the 'being seen' part but I'm not sure if the motion sensors would still pick up a disillusioned person. We would most likely have to place a magic dampening field on tablet, hopefully it would dull the tablets ability to feel if magic is around it long enough for me to get it to the Ministry.

I picked up my phone and opened the photos application. I found a picture that I took of Christian last week while we were spending some time discussing the history of Ancient Babylon. He wasn't looking at the camera but looking at a piece of paper he was reading. He was smiling which he doesn't seem to do much, but I had made him laugh, he thought I was being ridiculous, so I whipped out my phone to snap a picture to have evidence that he did indeed smile and laugh. It was almost painful to look at, the way his black curly hair fell forward on to his forehead, his blue eyes staring intently at the paper, but the corner of his eyes crinkling in laughter. I wanted to kick myself. Love was a far-off emotion, but the potential to love this man whole heartedly was there, I could feel it. More than I ever loved Ron.

I rolled over in exasperation and groaned into my pillow, I lifted my phone back up to re-look at the picture, but my thumb had managed to upset the scroll button and it had opened another folder. It was the folder with the pictures of my notes in case I ever lost them. I quickly scanned through them swiping rapidly. I faltered on one photograph, it was a picture of Tom Riddle when he was head boy. I hadn't intentionally taken the photo of Tom, it was on the page underneath the page I was taking a photo of. Just peeking out from behind. I stared at the photo for a while…it looked a little like Christian the resemblance was there. It couldn't be could it? I looked up staring at the wall. If…hypothetically it was him what has he been doing for the last five years? Just working in America like a normal citizen? Maybe starting over? I had always thought his intelligence was wasted and perhaps if he had known love and friendship, he would have turned out differently. If….by one in a billion chance it is Tom…then I will try to do everything in my power to prevent him from causing the wizarding world to plunge into darkness again. Even if it means sacrificing my heart to him.

A/N: Yes, I felt I had to show Hermione doubting. It is annoying but I feel as though Hermione while such a loyal and dedicated friend, often sacrifices her own happiness to keep her friends happy. Which I think is a little unhealthy. Plus, it was a good segway to get a glimpse of Christian being Tom.