Chapter 15: Touching Under Tables

Chapter Text

Ron and Hermione kept trying to stick their nose in places it shouldn't be, asking about Neville and if he was okay. After five minutes of me not giving them an answer, Hermione used her snooty, know-it-all voice to 'remind' me that Neville was their friend too. I merely stated that if that was true, then she'd already know instead of trying to annoy the answer out of me. I asked if her problem was that it was something she didn't know, and that lack of Intel made her feel more like Ron. Before they could recover from their offended state, I went and sat with Tom. He and Remus were discussing the best ways to deal with a vampire since Tom had run into one on his travels. He lifted his sleeve to show a long scratch he had on his lower arm.

"I'd thought I moved fast enough, but it left me with a souvenir."

I stroked the scar with a frown. He hadn't told me much about where he'd been, or how dangerous it had been. Probably because he'd done some evil dodgy shit and didn't want to freak me out. But I wanted to know what he was doing and what his plans were. I guess I have a right since I was changing sides for him and risking my family for him. That had to be enough reason to be given involvement.

"His teachers said Harry did really well this year." Sirius grinned, "I think he's been improving pretty well."

Tom returned his smile, "I'm certain he has, with more positive influences around him."

I recognised the double meaning. He was publicly offering a compliment to Remus and Sirius for looking after me, but he threw Ron and Hermione a sideways glance that showed how he was also saying I was better off without them. I hugged him from behind, and my 'parents' smiled as he looked over his shoulder to kiss my cheek. Mrs Weasley looked like she was caught between swooning and puking. Hermione tried not to look bothered, but she was. She was used to being the good influence on Ron and me, the victim of our stupidity, not someone I was better off without. But she needed to accept the truth eventually.

Neville reappeared just as Mrs Weasley set all the food down on the table. He took the space next to Tom, as I already had Sirius next to me. Conversation flowed and Hermione kept trying to whisper things to Neville but he mostly ignored her. It was just stupid how she couldn't figure out that she was nothing to us now. She didn't take being ignored well, but she tried her hand talking to Tom. He didn't speak to her much, but she didn't stop, so he went along. I felt something touch my leg and tied not to choke on my potatoes. At first, it turned me on because I thought Tom was being so sly and naughty. But he wouldn't do that, he hadn't so far. I peeked down and saw a sock rubbing my thigh. And it looked like it came from across the table.

I controlled my expression as I retrieved the knife from in front of Tom as he looked on confused, and stabbed the foot under the table. Ron yelped, his face a mix of pain and anger as he glared at me. I smiled as sweetly as could and placed the knife back on the table. The table had gone silent, eyes spread between looking at me or Ron or Tom. And Tom looked scary. I placed a hand on his leg and he looked at me. The corner of my lips turned up and his expression slowly morphed to mirror mine. I noticed some people relax, and Sirius tried to change the subject before Neville squeaked.

"Woah. Hermione could you not rub my leg," he scowled. "Or Tom's, if that's who you were aiming for?"

Sirius placed a hand on my shoulder, and everyone on the table looked to me with almost fear in their eyes. Worse than with Tom. It made me laugh. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt and I nearly fell off my chair. Tom caught me with an amused expression. Then we both broke into hysterics. The table looked genuinely terrified. Tom verbally remembered my first hysterical break. He brushed the hair from my eyes, it was like nobody else was there.

"Well, I'm not very hungry," I chuckled.

Tom agreed and asked permission to leave. I tried not to laugh at his 40s manners, but it was cute at the same time. Sirius nodded, still stunned by what was happening around him. We ran out of the room together, galloping up the stairs like in some cheesy romance movie. He pushed me into my door to enter my room as his mouth connected to mine. I pushed him back to close it as our kiss deepened.

"I very nearly murdered that prick for touching you," he growled.

"I think Sirius may have had a problem with that." Shit! Neville! Bad timing dude.

I opened the door to see him covering his eyes with a smirk. At least he was back to his normal, chipper self. Neville thanked us for helping him out. I was worried about him bringing up what I'd said about Tom being Voldemort, and he could see that in my expression. He promised that as long as I was happy, he wouldn't have to kill Tom. Or more probably just tell Dumbledore, who would kill Tom. I laughed and thanked him. One down, three to go.

"Well, Neville, I have a proposition for you," Tom grinned.

"I would have guessed. All I'm gonna say is I'll serve him, not you. No offence, but he's like my brother, so I'm sticking with him."

Tom nodded, agreeing that he'd have it no other way. Neville would be a Death Eater entrusted with my safety, after being trained. Severus was intended to be his mentor, but I didn't agree. I'd always thought Snape was on the Death Eater's side, but now I couldn't risk him truly supporting Dumbledore. Tom adjusted his plans so that Neville was trained by someone else, though asked how I planned to learn where his loyalty lies. I supposed asking him, if he said with Dumbledore then I'd try to kill him and see how he adjusts. If he stills sides with the old man, then I'll need someone there to dispose of him. Tom and Neville nodded to the plan as if they'd be there to ask, and I proposed we go through with it the next day, before the next order meeting.

"Well, head to sleep Neville. If it works, training with Severus."

He closed the door, effectively ending the conversation. He trailed kisses down my neck, pulling me to the bed and ordering me to lay down. My skin tingled at the command, and I obeyed readily for him. He chuckled at my eagerness but insisted that we wouldn't be doing that tonight, he wanted me well rested for my plan. I yawned and relaxed. He laid beside me, the first time we'd shared a bed, and held me to him. I wondered when he would be less conservative with me, and treat me less like a child. I just want him to be more adult with me, like when we were in my head. So I slept hoping to see him in my dirty dreams again.