A/N: this chapter was fun to write…so I got carried away. It is a long Chapter and I apologize for that. Christian is losing himself slightly and Hermione is figuring things out. However, the pair have a plan for the break in. Poor Ron just not coping, sometimes it is hard to let go of the person you love. And love can make you do things that you wouldn't normally do.

To Guest reviewer: Don't worry I wouldn't do that to you.

SCOPING OUT THE JOINT

Hermione POV

2pm Thursday 12th December 2013

Out front of the Dorchester Hotel

It took me three days to work up the courage to talk to Christian again and he was respectful enough to let me have my space. He did check in on me every day just to make sure I was ok. It made me miss him, with how sweet he was being. Even with that haunting picture of Tom Riddle looming in my consciousness. I went back and forth many times between cutting him off completely and letting things play out. My heart was overruling my head.

I reminded myself that while potentially he was Tom Riddle in hiding, he wasn't the snake faced deranged madman that was Lord Voldemort. This was an intelligent, well-dressed man who listened to me and valued my own intelligence as well as respected me. In some ways he was my equal. Maybe this was who Tom Riddle was supposed to be if Lord Voldemort never existed. I know I'm getting a head of myself. I could be making everything up in my mind just because of a passing resemblance. Right now, the focus is the tablet and breaking into the museum, I still can't believe we are going to do it.

I'm waiting outside the hotel for Christian to come out. Today we are going to the museum to do a walk through. I have dressed in a black knitted beanie, a dark green tweed knee length coat, a black turtle neck, black wool skirt, thick black stockings and black knee-high boots. It is icy today, we had snow fall last night but not a huge amount unlike what it will be like in a week or two time. London will be knee deep in snow.

Ten minutes later he is exiting through the main doors and he looks just as good as he always does. Decked out all in black- black jeans, black boots, black turtle neck, black peacoat and a black scarf and leather gloves. He was even wearing his black rimmed reading glasses. I fought back a blush as I tried not to imagine what was underneath all that clothing. I then noticed he was on phone, he had a silencing spell on as I could not hear him speak. I looked away I didn't want him to think that I was trying to lip read. It was clearly a private conversation. Although he did look a little cranky.

Tom POV

I was on the phone coming down from my room, I discretely placed a silencing spell on myself so no muggle would hear the conversation I was having with Dermott. I was meeting Hermione downstairs so we could go scope out the museum, to see what security features we would have to bypass. As usual Dermott was being a prat and treating me like an idiot. Luckily for me I know he is somewhat scared of me. He knows he couldn't overpower me, and he thinks that by keeping me 'happy' that I will stay in line, like a good little boy. I snort, when have I ever been good?

"Dermott, shut your annoyingly deluded trap. What do think I have been doing for the last few weeks? Sitting on my arse twiddling my thumbs? This shit isn't easy, some things take time Rousseau"

"You have been there for three nearly four weeks now O'Toole and you barely have anything, you can't tell that this supposedly brilliant mudblood hasn't even translated the tablet yet? I want results Christian not wasting time!"

"Rousseau call her a mudblood one more time and you won't like the consequences of my actions, so keep your pathetic mouth shut or your spine will decorate my mantle"

"You're joking?"

"Try me and we will find out", I gritted out, he was really pushing my boundaries this morning.

"Ok I just expected more from you"

"Dermott are you just thick on purpose or is that your default setting?", I said as I stepped out the front doors and I saw her waiting patiently for me. I liked that feeling. Waiting for me. "This is an ancient artefact, in cuneiform Dermott cuneiform, do you even understand what that means? It was what they used before they had the damn alphabet, like hieroglyphics. It isn't that easy to translate symbols that aren't even words, as what we know today. We are working as fast as we can, so far we have to do it the muggle way, because all the translation spells we have tried do not work. So be patient and I told you I could be the consultant that they are looking for, just keep that in mind", and I hung up on him. I couldn't deal with the idiocy any longer. He puts up with me because I am the best at what I do, and he knows it. That's why he doesn't want to put my name forward for the consultancy position. Selfish prick. I am holding my mobile phone tightly in one hand and the other massaging my forehead. I sense a headache coming on. I feel her come up beside me, she makes me unclench my hand holding the phone and she reaches up and gently places a lingering kiss on my cheek. It's a sweet gesture, that I sense is also an apology. I relax a little, she seems to calm the storm inside of me.

I open my eyes and turn to look at her, I didn't really look at her before while I was on the phone to that moron, too distracted by his small mind.

"Hi", she says with a cheeky smile.

"Hi", I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. I'm still annoyed at her for the other day, but I let her have her space even if I don't understand it. Abraxas was my only friend and he died so long ago that I don't have a yardstick to compare anything to. Don't even get me started on relationships with women, as embarrassing as it is Hermione is my first relationship if you could call it that.

"I'm sorry for the other day, I was being stupid. I don't even really understand what I was doing, but either way it's put somethings into perspective. I want to try. I want to try with us I mean" she intertwined our fingers as best she could while we were both wearing gloves. "That is if you still want too.", she bit her bottom lip, I both love and hate when she does that.

"Yes, I still do. Come, I thought we could walk and talk on the way to the museum. It's about a 30-minute walk from here", I tugged on her hand so we could start walking still hand in hand.

"I still haven't worked out how to break into Pascale's office to get that damn ledger. I don't have any other substantial evidence to prove that they have in fact been selling artefacts from the dark archives. So, without it I have nothing."

"You said that there was a third person didn't you", I looked down at her, she looked cute with her brow furrowed in thought. There was that bloody word again that appeared unbidden in my mind.

"Yes, what about them?"

"Well, my dear" she beamed as I called her 'my dear', "you did say if I recall correctly that this person handled the accounts and was able to disable the tracking alerts on the objects?", her eyes shining as she started to catch on to what I was saying. I waited until she caught up and understood what I meant

"Yes…I did…you mean you want me to find him and get the ledger through or from him?"

"Yes, by all accounts sounds as if he is being forced to do this so it shouldn't be too hard to persuade him to roll on Pascale", It felt …good to assist her. Mentor her and offer some advice.

"I will try that, otherwise I will get by sheer force, but I don't want it to come to that. Oh, and I managed to translate another rune, it means 'life' or the 'soul', so I think we are on the right track", I felt a sense of pride wash over me. I knew she could do it.

"So that could mean that it is like a horcrux…interesting. It will be difficult to destroy then. Even more so if this tablet has been warped over time. I fear it will most likely kill more people before we figure it out ", she sighed, I knew the topic of horcruxes was a sensitive one. It makes me angry at my former self that she had to endure those months in the woods starving.

"I know I worry about that. But I agree with you it most likely is..was some type of horcrux, hell even something that we have never come across before. I feel responsible for this whole mess. I know I'm not but…this is my responsibility to fix", while she was talking, I looked around. I felt as though someone was watching us. I caught sight of the Weasely fellow barely concealing the fact that he was indeed following us. I slid my arm around her shoulders protectively, worried he may try something.

I lean down to whisper in her ear, "Hermione, your red-headed ex-suitor is following us again. What would you like to do about it?", knowing how sickeningly loyal she is to this idiot, I leave to her to decide what she wants to do. Better to let her work it out that he is not worth the effort. She stiffens in my arms at the news, I'm not sure if that is because he is following or because he has seen us with my arm around her.

"We will deal with him later, honestly he will most likely go back to my apartment and wait outside until we return. It seems the message has not gotten through to him that I am not interested. I am getting pre-annoyed right now", she says sounding annoyed so I don't understand how she can be pre-annoyed. She must sense my confusion.

"Because I already know that he is going to piss me off when we get back home, so I'm already getting a head start", I laugh out loud which startles her because I am not prone to laughing. She starts to giggle at me laughing.

" OK, calm down Mr Giggles, we are nearly at the museum. We should probably discuss what we are looking for just to recap", she gets all serious on me, I find I quite like that side of her, her bossiness.

"Yes, I agree. Ok..so we need to enter the shop next to the gallery and check for a storage cupboard if not we will have to look for an alternative. Discretely check for cameras and see if we can see any motion sensors. We will also do a second walk through and time how long it takes to get from the entrance to the tablet, to the tablet to the storage room and vice versa. And we also need to discuss our escape once we have the tablet. I was thinking once we find a motion sensor, if possible, we could test it to see if it picks up the disillusionment charm. My guess is that the toilet will have sensors in them to pick up any stragglers after closing time.

If they don't pick up the charm it will make our lives infinitely easier getting out. Swapping the tablet for something of equal weight quick enough before the silent alarm trips will be almost impossible. I may be able to transfigure something to look like the tablet, but I don't know if it will replicate the exact weight. If I can the charm should hold for a couple of hours before turning back to the original item. What do you think?"

"I think you have thought of almost everything. Yes, I agree to trying the disillusionment charm on the sensors. If it doesn't the guards may just think that the sensors in that area are playing up and may turn off the security just in the gallery. It may actually work in our favour, if we play on human psychology."

"I like the way you think Granger", and I kiss the top of her head. We stop out the front of the museum and take in the grand columns. It feels different know that we are going to try to steal something.

Hermione POV

Everything seems to be going back to normal, except for the fact that Ron, is following me still. I am not looking forward to returning home with him waiting outside. Well I hope he is outside I will be monumentally pissed if he is inside the apartment.

"Ok let's do this", I pull on his hand indicating I am ready. I feel butterflies explode inside my stomach as soon as we pass the through the main entrance. The Great court was filled with people, that means hopefully it won't be so obvious that we are looking around rather than looking at what is on display.

He pulls me close to him, so I don't get separated by the crowds as we try to navigate our way towards room 30. I do notice a couple of cameras situated around the edges of the room and on the circular centre. They are not obvious until you really look. Last time I was here I didn't go through the gift shop, I went directly past the lifts and then entered via the east entrance. Today we were going to brave the gift shop connected to the gallery where the tablet was housed and our hope of a hiding place when the time came to steal it.

We remain silent, not bothering each other while we are engaged in our thoughts. This is what I like about Christian, he knows when to talk and when to stop and think.

We enter the gift shop and it is smaller than I was expecting. There were a few stands of the usual tourist merchandise and a few books and various other items related to the exhibits in this part of the museum. They also had so small packets of trail mixes and bottles of water. Behind the counter there was a small room off to the side, so we were in luck in that respect. One item down off the list. Walking through in the gallery the tablet was three quarters of the way down, if you walked quickly you would probably only take you two minutes from the cupboard to the display. The tricky part was how to do the swap. The display cabinet was completely sealed and so that means we would have to risk using magic so close to the tablet to get it out then place a magical dampener. I guess we'll have to discuss this in more depth. Christian may have more of a plan.

I try to look around the top edges of the room to see there were any motion sensors, a I spot one right at the very end of the room. But like I said earlier perhaps this is not such a bad thing. I watch as Christian circles the tablet like a predator, his keen eyes observing every detail. I can almost see his mind working out all the nuances. A plan formulating, now that we can factor in some of the variables.

He returns to my side and links our hands. We back through the gift shop, then through rooms 29a and 29b, back out in to the Great Court briefly, then turned right into room 24 and straight out then exiting out on to Montague Place. Perhaps we didn't need as much time looking as I thought? Christian anticipates my question.

"Don't worry Hermione, we got what we could, we can always come back. I didn't want to linger too long in case they noticed we were looking straight at the cameras. Now the shop has the back room, that's a plus. There aren't too many cameras, so they must split the time between watching and the occasional walk around, but we won't know how much until the time comes. As for the tablet, we will have to risk right on closing time to vanish the display cabinet. It's a risk but a necessary one, then place a dampener on it. After that hide in the cupboard until it is safe to leave. We will have to listen for when the guards do rounds, I would imagine they would have to do at least one every couple of hours. We are going to exit out Montague street. I am not worried about the motion sensors, because we will be disillusioned, so they will think that the sensors are malfunctioning. We will replace the tablet with our own fake which will hold up for a few hours, so no one will be none the wiser. I will reconjure the display cabinet as well. I haven't forgotten about the cameras. I will cause an electrical surge on the circuit, giving credence to the fact that the motion sensors aren't functioning correctly. What do you think have I missed anything?", I was surprised that he came up with that in such a short amount of time. We must have been in there for maybe half an hour.

"I…wow…I don't think you forgot anything", I was rewarded with a genuine smile. My heart swelled. Before I knew we were back at my apartment building. I was not looking forward to this confrontation. I thought the one at the burrow was enough.

It was quiet on my floor, I was expecting something as we made our way to my door. I sagged a little, I was relieved. I wasn't in the mood to fight. I had taken the afternoon off work, I told Kingsley I was going to have another look at the tablet at the museum. He was fine with it. But, why was Ron following me at two o'clock in the afternoon, shouldn't he have been working?

We entered and there still was nothing. I hung up my coat and beanie and stuffed my gloves in one of the pockets. Christian did the same. I took my boots of and waved a drying and cleaning charm on them, I didn't want snow and dirt tracked through the flat. It was nearly four in the afternoon and I just wanted to cuddle on the couch with a book.

"Tea?", he asked. That man is a life saver.

"Yes please", I watched as he walked over to the kettle, checked the water level and refilled it the muggle way. Not a lot of wizards do that, they use magic literally for everything, but I find it therapeutic making a cup of tea with no magic. He got everything out and set up my tea just the way I like it. I walked over and hugged him from behind. I breathed him in, and I sighed. I could feel the vibration of him laughing as the kettle finished boiling. The click of the switch turning made something click in my brain, where was Crooks?

"Christian, have you noticed something odd about the apartment? I think someone is here or has been here", he stopped what he was doing. He slowly turned around in my arms. His face void of emotion.

"You're right, Crookshanks would normally be all over us by now. You stay here I'll go have a look", I shook my head.

"I'll be right behind you", I followed him as we peaked into the study and found nothing there. Christian then opened the door to my bedroom and there was Ron sleeping on my bed. Crooks was on the floor stunned, I waved my hand and unstunned him. He hissed in anger, upon realising it was me and Christian he huffed and ran out but not before looping through Christians legs in greeting then continuing to I presume his bed. I rolled my eyes.

Then I turned my attention back to the man in my bed. Who was not the man I wanted in my bed. My blood boiled at this violation of privacy, how dare he! I turned and stormed back to the kitchen. Tipping the contents of my handbag out on to the dining table until I found my phone.

I dialled Harry's number.

"Hello"

"Harry get your arse over here now! I have a situation", I hung up I didn't even let him answer me. There goes my quiet afternoon cuddling on the couch reading a book.

Christian comes out looking positively murderous and I don't blame him. The crackle of his magic was dark, but it caressed my magic soothingly.

"Why is he in your bed?", sounding quite jealous. I glared at him, then stepped up pressing my body against his, his magic flaring.

" I don't know, but I want it to be you in there when we're ready", before he could answer the front door burst open. Harry looked around wildly.

"What's going on?", he asked as he realised there was no immediate threat.

"Go look in the bedroom", Christian said to him with barely restrained anger. Harry looked at him funny, then looked to me and I nodded. We chose to wait for him to return.

We heard a scuffle and a 'merlins balls', followed by a 'ouch Harry that hurt' and then out came Harry dragging Ron by the scruff of his neck.

I had my arms folded leaning into Christian who had his arm secured tightly around my waist. Like he thought he might lose me. Maybe that was the jealousy earlier?

Returning my attention to Ron, I couldn't wait to hear this explanation.

Tom Pov

That bloody weasel, the gall of him to break in to my woman's flat and then to sleep in her bed. I'd love to flay the prick while still alive and turn his skin into to shoes. Of course, I'd never say that out loud, in present company.

My woman

Yes, she will be mine and only mine to possess.

I could feel my anger becoming out of control, I could barely contain my magic from lashing out. I clutched Hermione closer to me as Harry came out dragging Ronald by the neck of his shirt. It would have been an amusing sight if I wasn't seething. I'm sure everyone could feel the waves of hatred rolling off me.

Hermione, cupped my chin and forced me to look at her. I could see the worry etched in her face. While my face was blank, I'm sure she picked up on the barely restrained fury storming in my eyes. She kissed my chin and told me to go sit down or go outside onto the balcony to calm down a little before I end up hurting someone.

I relented after a few minutes watching as Hermione returned to glaring glacially at Ron. I'm sure it would be enough to shrivel most men's manhood's. I would not like to be on the end of that stare.

I ended up going out on the enclose balcony. I slid back a window and let some very crisp air flow. It was refreshing and cold enough to shimmer down some of my anger. I left the screen door open a fraction so I could hear what was going on.

Hermione POV

I watched out of my periphery as Christian left to go outside. He was angrier than I was. Then again is the situation was reversed, I'd have hexed his ex-fiancés hair off permanently. Don't get me wrong I am so very angry on the verge of combusting, but I want answers first.

"Well Ronald what do you have to say for yourself?", I didn't move from where I was standing next to the dining table. My arms crossed, he should be scared. Although like most other times I have given him the benefit of the doubt and not wanting to rock the proverbial boat I have let things go. But not this time, yes, he is emotionally hurting I sympathise with that. It doesn't give the right however, to break into my flat and sleep in my bed.

"I just wanted the lie down and I could smell you on the pillows and I just fell asleep. I thought if you saw me then it would be like old times", I was weirded out and wasn't entirely sure how to respond with that.

"Have you been drinking?" Was the question I went with.

"No, I miss you Hermione and Harry said that I should just let it go because you're happy with the mystery guy. I don't like that you lied Hermione. Even with your ruined reputation I would still take you back. ", What in the world is he going on about?

"My ruined reputation? Ron we aren't in a Nathaniel Hawthorne novel. I'm a modern independent woman. We chose to separate Ron and I'm enjoying time with another man. I think maybe some time away from each other would be a good thing. I'm not forgiving you just yet, what you did was an invasion of privacy, and I'm really angry about that", I could see his face turning redder and redder.

"Your angry?! I'm angry, you just left me without even trying and now, because you're with some rich guy, you don't want to give it another go. Maybe I was right about you and trying for bigger and better things", practically spat at me. Harry gave him a yank on the shirt.

"That was uncalled for Ron", Harry said trying to restrain Ron while attempting to admonish him.

"Ron, I didn't leave you without even trying, we tried Ron we did, but eventually I got sick of trying. You just didn't want to see that it wasn't working. I needed more Ron, than what you could give me", I was getting worked up now, I was past angry and now just emotional. He was dredging things up I didn't want to deal with.

"What I couldn't give you? Oh, so now you admit, that it's all about money. Just because I'm not wealthy like Mr Fancy pants over there that I don't count, that we couldn't have been happy!"

I felt Christian come back inside, whether it was a good idea or not I couldn't careless now. He was still brimming with a potent dark magic, I snuck a worried glance over at Harry who was watching him with narrowed eyes. His magic wrapped around me reassuringly, I don't know if he was aware of what it was doing. If he did, he didn't show it.

"Ron it was never about the money, I wouldn't have cared if we lived in a shack. It was emotional and physical needs; our dreams weren't compatible. I want to achieve things before I have children, I want to be content where I am in life before my time gets taken over by little people. That's why I never…" I got carried away before realising I was about to let my secret slip. I felt Christian's hand squeeze mine in solidarity.

"You never what? Liked to have sex? you were frigid most of the time. But I was willing to look passed that because I loved you", my face was burning in embarrassment. Not because I was bad in bed, but Ron was the one who refused to try new things. We lacked passion, there was no red-hot chemistry between us. Somehow, I think with Christian he will open my eyes. Poor Harry he was red faced as well.

"Ron somehow I remember things a little differently, but all of this doesn't excuse you breaking in. We are over Ron accept that please and move on. I have with Christian and I am very happy", I squeezed his hand back, letting him know I spoke the truth. Ron scoffed in derision.

"We'll see Hermione, eventually he'll get bored of you and you'll come running back to me", before I had a chance to answer, Christian stepped up to Ron poking him hard in the chest. Ron may have been a little taller, but Christian had presence and confidence, that you couldn't deny. What surprised me was that Harry let him. He most likely was getting irritated at Ron but was too loyal to do anything. I hated that.

"Let go Ronald Weasley, Hermione doesn't want to be with you what part of no do you not understand? Even if we happen to break up the future, which let's be honest is doubtful. She will never go back to you, and do you know why?", He waited for dramatic effect to see if Ron would answer him. "Because you never placed her as a priority, too busy with Quidditch or whatever else it is you do. You never took interest in what it was she was doing, you took her for granted wanting her too serve you. No wonder she didn't want to have children with you. And while she was waiting for you to wake the fuck up and realise you had the perfect woman right there in front of you, she came to her own conclusion that she didn't need you anymore that she deserved more. Face it Weasley you lost", Christian poked him again for emphasis. Ron lunged at him grabbing him by the shirt. Christian also grabbed him trying to push Ron off to the side. However, because Harry was still holding on to Ron trying to pull him back, lost balance when Ron flung himself sideways, in an attempt to loosen Christian's grip. Which meant Harry went tumbling accidently knocking Christian to the floor. Ron was free then to come over to me and grabbed both my wrists. I frowned at him trying to get his hands off me.

"Ron let me go now", I was angry he had no right to place his hands on me unwanted.

"Please Hermione, I can make you happy again. We can go on a vacation and get away from all this, have some time to ourselves and rekindle the romance.", I really wish he would listen. Even months ago, he wouldn't listen. I don't know what else to do to get him to listen. I'm trying not to hurt his feelings as best I can.

Ron because he was so focused on me didn't notice Christian come up behind him. He looked furious.

"Harry?", I asked concerned. I didn't want anybody getting hurt.

"I'm here, Ron's on his own. He got himself into this mess and now he can get himself out of it. If this was Ginny I'd be pissed as hell too", I looked to Harry incredulously he did have a point, however. Christian grabbed Ron and shot him with a modified stunner. Ron could still move his head and only his head. I yanked my hands out of his grip, my wrists where going to bruise. They were already starting to turn vigorous shade of purple.

"Now Weasley, because I value Hermione, I won't harm you even though you deserve a thorough beating. Instead I will issue a small threat so take heed", he got down close to Ron whispering in his ear although loud enough that we could hear. "Touch her in any way again and I'll make your death as painful as possible…I was thinking disembowelment, not pleasant holding your insides especially all those intestines. Then I could always strangle you with it, use it as your own noose. String you from something…(he clicks his tongue)..ah so many possibilities." and he pats him on the head in the way a parent does to a child. His tone was cold, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. He walks over to me and pulls me into a hug.

Of course, Ron being Ron had to have the last say. "Harry, do you hear what he said? He threatened me! He's sick. What if he hurts Hermione? You should arrest him for threatening an Auror!", Ron shouted at Harry, who just rolled his eyes and undid whatever spell Christian put on Ron.

"No Ron, I won't because then you would have to explain the rest of the situation. I chose to ignore what he said because I would have done the same thing. What you did was wrong Ron and it's time for you to own up to that. It's been 5 months, Hermione is moving on and so should you.", Ron glared at both me and Harry. He mumbled something under his breath that sounded like 'betrayal'.

"He'll be fine, maybe I'll convince him to take a vacation somewhere. Or just to Charlie in Romania. I'm sorry Hermione, he's taking this a lot harder than any of us thought", I smiled sadly at him as he left.

After a few quiet moments of just holding each other, Christian spoke.

"How about I run you a bath before I leave?", he said as he ran his hands down my body, almost like he was memorizing every contour for future reference.

"I would like that", after a moment's hesitation I asked, "will you stay?". A slight blush pinkened his cheeks.

"You're not ready for that yet, but soon". He kissed my forehead, I wished it was my lips.

I slept on the couch that night cuddling Crookshanks, I was too emotionally exhausted to change the sheets. I dreamt about a young Tom Riddle that morphed into Christians face, perhaps the universe was trying to tell me something. But the question remained, did I care who he once was?