A/N: Many thanks to RachaelLA26 for her beta work! And we're officially caught up across all platforms! Starting next week, it'll be entirely new content on FFN, AO3, and Wattpad!

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Chapter 14: Opening Shots

February 2003

Piccadilly Circus

London, England

"Love…" Tom trailed off.

"Tom!" Hermione screamed. She threw herself on top of him as the last breath left his body. "No! Tom!" She shook him, trying to wake him. He couldn't be dead. He just couldn't be!

She could barely see for the tears that were pouring out of her eyes as she screamed and cried. A moment later, it felt as though a calm had overcome her. Tom wouldn't want this. He wouldn't want her to be weeping over his body. She glanced down and saw the necklace in his hand. The precious malachite necklace that she had almost refused when he'd given it to her. But she hadn't and instead, she'd worn it almost every day. Thank Merlin she had. Thank Salazar, Godric, and anyone else who was listening. She pulled the necklace from his limp fingers. More tears coursed down her cheeks at the feel of those limp and rapidly cooling digits in her own. Then she slipped the necklace over her head, nestling the stone between her breasts once more.

"Tom, I'm so sorry. I'll fix it. I promise," she whispered. Then digging out her wand, she took a deep breath and pictured the gates that led up to Nott Park.

A sickening feeling like being sucked through a straw later and she and Tom landed before the gates. She wouldn't be able to get a Patronus out, not in her state. But she could begin dismantling the Nott wards. That would send a message. She knelt near the gates, a hand on Tom's chest and the other on the gates as she began plucking apart the ancient Nott wards, one by one.

"Woah! Granger! What the fuck are you doing?" Nott suddenly appeared on the other side of the gates. His face drained of color when he saw Tom.

"You have to help me," Hermione said. "You have to help me bring him back."

"Holy…"

"NOTT!" she screamed getting his attention. "HELP ME!"

"Right, come in," he waved his hands and the gate opened. Hermione stood on wobbly legs and Nott levitated Tom before him. "Lippy!"

A house elf appeared at Nott's elbow. "Fetch Draco, Pansy, and Millie. Immediately. Don't take no for an answer. We'll be in the study."

Hermione followed after Nott, unable to tear her eyes from Tom's limp body.

"Nobody can know," Hermione whispered when Nott had settled Tom onto the wide couch in the study. "Nobody can know and if you and the rest of your cronies can't keep your mouths shut, I'll Obliviate you," Hermione said fiercely. She knelt next to Tom's body, holding tightly to his cold hand.

"No need for Obliviations, Hermione," Pansy said from behind her. She whirled around and stumbled to her feet to greet Pansy. She almost fell when Pansy wrapped her arms around her. Hermione allowed herself to cry into Pansy's shoulder some and soon another pair of arms was around her and Millie was there, smoothing the hair from Hermione's forehead as she cried.

"We're here for you and Tom, Hermione," Millie said.

"You said to help you," Nott interrupted. "What exactly does that entail?"

"There's a potion. It's going to take three days to make it and we can't fuck it up. We have one shot to get it right."

"I know it," Malfoy said from the doorway. "Tom discussed it with us."

"Good. We need to get started on it immediately," Hermione said. "Nobody can know. They can't know this happened. They can't know he died or that we brought him back. Whatever the… after effects of the potion are, I'll figure out a way to downplay them.

"What after effects?" Nott asked.

"This potion isn't all that different than the one that brought him back in fourth year," Hermione whispered. "But I won't let him become like that."

"Don't worry, we won't either," Malfoy assured her.

The next day was a work day, so Hermione owled in for both her and Tom—claiming a terrible Muggle flu and that they'd likely be out for the week. Then she and Malfoy set to work on the potion while Pansy, Millie, and Nott helped where they could. Malfoy and her were by far the most competent with potions.

Pansy and Millie shoved cups of tea into Hermione's hands whenever she wasn't preparing potions ingredients and begged her to eat more than a few nibbles of toast, but Hermione couldn't. The thought of eating, while Tom laid dead and cold under a Stasis charm in Nott's study made her vomit up her tea on more than one occasion.

On the second day, Malfoy shoved a copy of the Daily Prophet under her nose. Hermione tried to push it away, she didn't care about the wider wizarding world at that moment. Her sole focus was Tom and the potion.

"Granger, you need to read this," Malfoy insisted. Suddenly, Pansy and Millie were on either side of her and Hermione somehow knew that this was going to be bad news.

'AUROR DEAD IN PICCADILLY CIRCUS BRAWL' was splashed across the headline. Beneath was a smiling photo of Ron Weasley.

"No," Hermione whispered as she ran a finger down Ron's newsprint face. "He was the only casualty?" She couldn't bring herself to read the rest of the article.

"Yes," Pansy said quietly. "Several injuries were reported, Potter among them. But Weasley was the only casualty."

"Tom will live because he died," Hermione said. She tried to harden her heart, but she knew this was another thing that would make her cry for years to come. "I tried to warn him and Harry both off this path, and they wouldn't listen."

"We know," Millie assured her. "We're here for you, Hermione. Whatever you need."

Hermione nodded then shoved the Prophet away. "Let's get back to work."

She was particularly wane by the time the potion was finished three days later. "Let's go," she said to Malfoy the moment it was bottled.

"Woah, Granger, slow down. You need to rest and eat before we bring him back. He's going to be pissed if he wakes up and sees you looking like this."

"I don't fucking care what he sees when he wakes up, Malfoy," Hermione hissed. "I care that he wakes up at all. I'm not going to be able to eat or sleep until this is done. You promised to help me."

"I did, of course. Let's go, Granger," Malfoy held her arm and escorted her from the potions lab in the cellar. Hermione was weak enough to actually need his help as they ascended the many stairs up to the ground floor and Nott's study. She kept her back as ramrod straight as she could and ignored the looks Nott, Pansy, and Millie shot to Malfoy as they entered the study. Hermione had insisted that Tom not be left alone for even a moment.

She knelt on the plush carpet before Tom and brushed his hair back from his forehead for perhaps the hundredth time in the last few days.

"We're ready, love," Hermione said. "It's time to wake up now."

She pulled the Horcrux off and felt a keen sense of loss. Five years ago, proximity to one of Voldemort's Horcruxes had been enough to make her want to tear her hair out. How different this one felt in her hands.

Reaching a hand back, Malfoy handed her the potion vial and Hermione, with Nott's help, tipped Tom's head back and opened his mouth. Due to the Stasis charm, Tom's body was still pliant enough that she could open his mouth. She poured the potion inside, massaging his throat to get him to ingest it. Then she placed the malachite necklace holding a portion of his soul over his closed lips, the chain coiled around the rock.

At first, nothing happened. Hermione held her breath and screamed inside her head to every deity she could think of to make him wake up. Pansy's hand was clenched into her shoulder in a claw and Hermione focused on the pain there in order to not let the screams escape her mouth.

After what felt like an eternity, but was perhaps only fifteen minutes or so, Tom gasped and opened his eyes. Hermione watched in horrified fascination as a small silver light left the Horcrux balanced on Tom's lips and entered his mouth. His soul. He had his soul back.

"Hermione?" Tom murmured, his voice hoarse and Hermione removed the necklace from his lips, slipping the chain around her head once more.

"Hey, love," Hermione said, cupping his face in her hand. "What do you remember?"

"Everything," Tom replied. His voice sounding stronger. "Although I suspect some time has passed."

"Only three days," Hermione replied. "Oh, Merlin, Tom!" She dropped her forehead to his shoulder and couldn't stop the gut-wrenching sobs from pouring forth. After that first day, she had pulled herself together and hadn't shed a tear. She also hadn't eaten or slept. She was overcome with exhaustion.

"Oh, Hermione," Tom slipped an arm around her shoulders and Hermione heard the door close behind her. She assumed that meant Tom had shooed everyone else out. Something she was thankful for. It had been hard enough to show her grief to them earlier. The last thing she wanted was them to see it now.

"Hermione, love," Tom said, tilting her head up to face him. She was sure she looked a mess, tears and snot streaked along her face.

"Do you still love me, Tom? Is your soul whole enough for it?" Hermione whispered. It had been her biggest fear for the last few days. Would Tom still love her? And even if he did, was his soul capable of it?

"I put the largest part of my soul into the Horcrux," Tom admitted. "I needed to come back as close to the man as I was when I left. I've learned from the past. I won't become him."

That brought a fresh round of tears from Hermione and at Tom's urging, she clambered onto the couch, snuggling into his arms as he held her. He let her cry and didn't attempt to get her to stop. He seemed to know instinctively that she needed this. That she needed the cathartic release that this was bringing.

"You can't leave me again," Hermione whispered. "I don't care what we have to do, but I can't do this again."

"I'm not going anywhere," Tom said fiercely, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

"You can't do another Horcrux though," Hermione insisted. "I'm already terrified that this one has made you less humane," she whispered.

"Then we'll figure something else out," Tom replied. "I… who was it that I killed?"

Hermione kept the sobs from escaping as she whispered, "Ron. Ron Weasley."

"Oh, love," Tom tightened his arms around her and Hermione buried her face into his chest once more. He still smelled like Tom, his heartbeat was the same, familiar rhythm and Hermione knew what they had done was unnatural, but she couldn't find it in herself to feel bad about it. She had Tom back, and, at the moment, that was all she needed. "This is going to add complications."

"I know," Hermione whispered. "I… I've been holding out hope that I could talk Harry and… and Ron around, but now? I don't think that will be happening."

"Opening shots of war," Tom mused.

February 2003

Hermione's Flat

Diagon Alley, London, England

"This one," Hermione pointed to the spell she'd been researching any time she hadn't been working on the potion for Tom.

"That will bind us together for life," Tom said. "It'll mean that we share one soul. Are you sure—"

"I'm not going through that again," Hermione said firmly. She met Tom's gaze. "I understand if you aren't willing, but this is the one I want to do."

Tom's look softened. "It's not that I don't want to do this one, Hermione. You misunderstand, I'm… I'm completely willing. I want to make sure that you are sure you are alright with our souls binding completely."

"Of course, I am," Hermione said. "I would rather die than watch you die again. This will ensure that if you die, I die. The unfortunate side effect is that if I die, you die. So I understand if that's not something you are willing to risk."

"You idiot witch," Tom murmured as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely. "I would follow you to the sun and back, don't you know that?"

Hermione released a breath that she hadn't known she'd been holding. A weight seemed to have lifted from her. "Thank Merlin," she breathed as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pressed a kiss to his lips. "I love you."

"Same," Tom murmured against her mouth. "What do we need for the ritual?"

"This one is slightly involved," Hermione said. "A blood sacrifice from each of us, a very simple potion that we both consume, and a second potion that is rubbed into the skin over our hearts,; then sealing the whole thing with sexual congress."

"Seems simple enough, let's get started on the potions," Tom said. Hermione smiled at him. It was good to have him back, she almost couldn't believe she'd almost lost him.

The potions were easily made, especially with both of them working on them. Tom left to prepare the bedroom as Hermione cleaned up in the kitchen, bottling the completed potions and cleaning and packing away the potions gear.

"Ready," Tom said from the doorway of the kitchen. He was already down to his boxer briefs and Hermione felt her pulse quicken at the sight of him. He'd only been back a couple of days and they hadn't had time to make love in those few days. Hermione had slept through most of them. It was Saturday and they'd both be returning to the Ministry in two days time. It was slightly terrifying, although they decided that they both would be taking security along with them. Why Tom thought Pansy and Millie were 'security' Hermione had no idea. But he did, and she'd accepted the fact that Pansy and Millie were now to be her constant companions. In truth, the idea didn't bother Hermione as much as she let on. She was spooked. Both by her own attack in Diagon Alley and more so by the open warfare that had taken place in Piccadilly Circus.

"Are you sure you're ready for sex again?" Hermione asked picking up the potion bottles and following him back to the bedroom.

"Yes, I'm sure," Tom said with a finality that Hermione knew she wouldn't be testing. At least not at this moment. She was too thankful to have him back to want to argue with him. If he said he was ready, she accepted that.

The ritual circle was set up in the bedroom with the sacrifice bowl placed on the nearest bedside table. Hermione set the potions next to the sacrifice bowl and was surprised to see silk cords attached to the headboard of the bed.

"What are these for?" she asked Tom over her shoulder as she fingered the brilliant green silk.

"What do you think?" Tom asked huskily. He was standing right behind her and ghosted his hands along her waist.

"Me?" Hermione asked, confirming her hunch.

Tom's chuckle was low, from his chest and Hermione's breath sped up at the sound of it. "Well, I guess they could be for me, but I think we'd both prefer if they were wrapped around your pretty wrists." Tom picked up one of her hands and kissed just wear the cord would likely dig into the flesh, causing Hermione to shiver.

"Alright," she agreed with a nod.

"Good," Tom said, then spun her in his arms and began undressing her. Soon they were both naked and Tom closed the circle of salt. Hermione cut her left palm, then held the knife up for Tom to do the same. They held their fisted palms over the sacrifice bowl.

"To Freya, goddess of love and sexuality, I offer you my life-blood. Please help us bind our souls as one. To live forever more with one soul between the two of us," Hermione said, keeping her eyes locked on Tom's.

"To Freyr, god of phallic sexuality, I offer you my life-blood. Please help us bind our souls as one. To live forever more with one soul between the two of us," Tom repeated, his gaze boring into Hermione's.

Their blood mingled into the bowl and when Tom had deemed enough had fallen, he unfisted Hermione's hand and kissed the palm, healing the cut there without even a whisper of a spell crossing his lips. Hermione hadn't even thought about all the work they had put into the various sex magic rituals and how they would affect Tom's magical core, but he seemed as powerful as before he died. Hermione wondered if that meant the magical core was part of the body or the soul. It was hard to know.

"Come back to me," Tom said lowly.

Hermione blushed and stepped around the end table so she could kiss him. She stood on her tiptoes to do so and Tom wrapped his arms around her, crushing her to him.

"Wait," Hermione said, just as Tom pushed her onto the bed. "The potions."

Tom grabbed both vials, and swigged from the first, before offering it to Hermione. She drank the rest, then Tom opened the second vial. He scooped a large dollop of cream onto his fingers and handed it to Hermione. She did the same. Then at the same moment, they rubbed the potion into the skin over the other's heart.

"My heart, your heart," Tom said. Hermione repeated after him. "My soul, your soul," Hermione repeated his words again. A brilliant blue light flashed around the room, emanating from where the potion sat on their chests and the magic sank into their skin. Suddenly, Hermione felt inflamed with desire for Tom.

"Tom, I need you," Hermione said, pulling him on top of her. Tom allowed a brief, but intense kiss, then pulled back and grasped both of Hermione's hands. A moment later, they were tied to the headboard with the pretty green silk cords. Hermione tested their strength and grinned when there wasn't much give there.

"Alright?" Tom asked. Hermione nodded. "Good." Tom flashed a heart-stopping grin at her and then climbed onto the bed at her feet.

"Tom," Hermione whined as he picked up on foot and kissed each toe on it. "I can't wait, please, Tom!"

"I have yet to properly thank you, love," Tom said. "I'm going to do that now. You should lay back and enjoy it."

Hermione whined in the back of her throat as Tom kissed along the instep of her left foot, then on either side of her ankle, sliding his hands sinfully slowly up her calf and bending her knee. He placed that foot on his shoulder, then picked up the other, giving it the same treatment, before placing it on his shoulder as well. He kissed the back of both of her knees, and Hermione's legs were trembling. Her center ached to be touched, to be filled and Hermione strained her body, arching her back, trying to get Tom to speed up his actions.

Now she knew why he wanted to tie her up, she would certainly hurry this process along if she wasn't tied to the bed. Tom kissed his way up each thigh, slowly laying himself down between her legs. Finally, his head was right where she wanted him and Hermione practically sobbed. He hadn't even touched her core yet, but just feeling his hot breath there was enough for Hermione to feel the hot liquid of her essence begin to seep out of her.

"Ready, love?" Tom asked.

"Yes!" Hermione shouted and Tom licked her with the flat of his tongue. She keened her response, hooking her legs around his shoulders and trying to pull him closer. Tom placed a hand firmly on her hips—to keep them on the bed. Then with the other, he parted her lips, tonguing first her entrance, then circling her clit. "Tom!" Hermione gasped. She was suddenly right there on the edge of her orgasm and wasn't sure she'd be able to hold it back. Heat pooled heavily in her belly as the tension wound tighter in her core.

"That's it, come for me," Tom murmured into her core. "I want to hear my name on your lips as you fall apart." He wrapped an arm around each of her thighs and buried his face into her cunt. He licked and sucked and fucked her through her orgasm as Hermione thrashed on the bed. She screamed his name and gripped the cords that held her hands so tightly she was sure she'd torn the skin on her wrists open. As her climax ebbed, Tom continued his ministrations, softly licking her cunt, occasionally tapping her clit with his nose or his tongue.

"Tom," she pleaded. She was sensitive, too sensitive, but Tom didn't stop.

"You're coming at least twice more before I fuck you," Tom informed her as he moved one hand and slid a finger inside her tight sheath.

"I can't, please Tom, don't make me," Hermione begged. "Just take me. I want to feel you inside me. Filling me up, please."

Tom sighed and Hermione thought he might relent. Instead, he pushed two fingers inside her firmly, rubbing at the spongy patch at the front of her canal and began sucking on her clit. Hermione's orgasm hit her like a wrecking ball, tearing her apart from the inside out as she shrieked Tom's name.

"See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Tom asked conversationally as Hermione slowly came down from her high. "Just once more, and I'll be fucking you." Tom sounded almost blasé about the whole thing, but Hermione could see his hips undulating into the bed beneath him.

"Tom," Hermione sighed as she realized he was working four fingers inside her and thumbing her clit at the same time. It felt amazing to be stretched so and her entire body felt relaxed and languid.

"Hermione," Tom breathed, tapping his tongue to her clit. He began making letters over and over again and Hermione was trying to figure out what he was tonguing, but she was soon mindlessly overcome with an orgasm. She thought perhaps he was just tracing 'Tom's' over and over again. But she wasn't sure.

"That's three, Tom," Hermione rasped. "Please, please fuck me. I want to feel your cock, please." She didn't even care that she was begging. The wizard had just brought her to orgasm three times in record time and she just wanted to feel him invading her entirely. She wanted to feel him inside her as she wrapped her legs around him and held on while he fucked her into the mattress below.

"Hmm, right you are," Tom murmured. He stretched his body over hers and Hermione shivered in anticipation. She widened her legs, bending her knees, allowing them to fall to either side as Tom settled between them. His cock was heavy and long at her center. She bucked her hips, trying to get him to fill her. "Mmm, patience, love."

"Tom, please," Hermione begged. She wished she could touch him. She wanted to run her fingers through his hair and hold him close as he took her. Tom braced his forearms on either side of her, his hands slid under her shoulders, cupping her there as he finally slid his length home inside her. She arched her back, wrapping her legs around his waist, and pulling him into her as tightly as she could.

"Fuck," Tom muttered, dropping his head to her shoulder. He dropped it a few more inches and kissed along her breast, finding a nipple and sucking it into his mouth as he slowly pulled out and pushed back in.

The tension between her nipple and clit felt amazing. A line of pleasure ran between the two and soon Hermione was panting as another orgasm began building inside her. She undulated her body in time with Tom's thrusts. She wanted more. She needed more. She wished Tom could crawl inside her skin and stay there.

Tom moved his attention to her other breast as he continued pounding inside her, a relentless rhythm that was going to force her to her completion sooner rather than later.

"Tom," she gasped just as her fourth orgasm began. Four was an insane number for orgasms and Hermione felt her entire body clench, holding Tom's cock inside her as wave after wave of pleasure exploded in her.

"Salazar, witch," Tom grunted when she'd finally relaxed enough to release her hold on him. "Hold on," he muttered and soon his pounding gave way to hammering, hard and fast. Hermione's felt another small ripple of an orgasm that seemed to drag itself on and on and on as Tom thrust away. The room flashed a brilliant blue once more and Hermione felt a warm, almost too hot sensation deep in her magical core.

"Hermione!" Tom shouted as he came inside her. Hermione smiled at the sound of her name on his lips and promptly slipped into a semi-conscious sleep.

Dimly, she was aware of Tom untying her hands and caring for the wounds he found on her wrists. The candles all went out at some point as well, and soon Tom was cuddled behind her, pulling her close, making her feel safe and warm as she slept.

March 2003

Ministry of Magic

London, England

Tom didn't particularly relish having bodyguards surrounding him at all times, but he felt it better to be safe than sorry. It was clear that the red-cloaks—as he'd come to call them—were willing to be ruthless. Tom could be just as ruthless, although he has purposely not recruited followers in the same way he'd done fifty years ago. Hermione had a distaste for it, and now that they were bound together for an eternity, he found himself unwilling to do things to upset her purposely. And he'd foisted Pansy and Millie on her, the least he could do was to allow Theo and Draco to escort him. It was even easy, really, to pass it off as friends and colleagues spending time together.

Even more than the bodyguards though, was the amount of self-defense training he was insisting on anyone in his circle to be trained with. He was not about to be caught out by the red-cloaks again in such an egregious manner. Tom was actually embarrassed that they had been caught out so badly, and he vowed it wouldn't happen again. In fact, he had plans that afternoon to submit into evidence at the Wizengamot that Potter was behind the attacks. He ate the sandwich Theo had brought him as he went through his files one last time.

This was unorthodox, generally, the DMLE brought cases to the Wizengamot, and the Wizengamot ruled on them. Members of the Wizengamot might introduce legislation, but hardly ever criminal cases. It was complicated, but Tom knew that the DMLE was never going to bring a case against Potter. He didn't know for sure, but he suspected that there had been several Aurors present during the attack. More than just Potter and Weasley.

Tom sighed as thoughts of Weasley crowded his mind. He didn't care that he had killed the other man, but he did care that Hermione was mourning his loss. Even if she tried to pretend she wasn't, Tom could see how hard his death had hit her. Tom would need to end this conflict without anyone else dying. A bloodless coup had always been his ambition, and now that blood had been spilled he needed to mitigate the next actions to avoid spilling more blood.

"Ready?" Draco asked from the doorway, adjusting his robes slightly. Tom finished his tea and nodded. He donned his own plum-colored Wizengamot robes and gathered up his files. Theo and Draco escorted him through the hallways and to the Wizengamot chamber. Tom had bribed the clerk to put his name on the docket but to not put a subject matter.

Tom breathed deeply, relishing the feeling of air in his lungs, as he entered the hallowed chamber. Other members of the Wizengamot were filtering in post lunch, and Tom took his seat, as Theo and Draco sat next to him. It was slightly unorthodox, but Tom didn't care about orthodoxy, he cared about safety.

Finally, the clerk called the session to order. Tom was pleased to see that the Minister of Magic had foregone attending today's afternoon session. It meant that Shacklebolt would be unable to block him.

"Tom Riddle, you are on the docket for this afternoon," the Chief Warlock, Tiberius Ogden stated. "Strange, there's no subject matter?"

"Thank you, Chief Warlock," Tom said smoothly as he stood. Theo and Draco remained sitting as did every other member of the Wizengamot. "I am saddened to say I bring forward a criminal case. One that the Department of Magical Law Enforcement have refused to acknowledge, despite the fact that there was extensive damage to a Muggle shopping district."

Murmurs arose at this introduction.

"My esteemed colleagues, as you'll no doubt recall from reports in the Daily Prophet several weeks ago, there was a severe disturbance in Piccadilly Circus—a busy Muggle shopping and tourist center—I am here to tell you the story behind that disturbance. It left one of our own Aurors dead, a man who had fought valiantly in the war against the Dark Lord, Voldemort just a few short years ago."

Tom took a dramatic pause, dropping his head slightly as if he too were remembering the brave sacrifices of Ronald Weasley.

"That attack, for it was an attack, was perpetrated by none other than wizarding world savior, Harry James Potter. He along with several of his associates attacked me and his once dear friend, Hermione Granger. I am here to bring evidence forward of that attack, including Pensieve memories in hopes that my revered colleagues will see fit to bring Mr Potter forward for justice."

Gasps and exclamations were heard across the chamber. Tom stood solemnly as he waited for the Chief Warlock to bring everyone back to order. He knew how volatile this subject was and had fully expected such a reaction.

"How do we know you aren't lying?" One elderly witch asked the venom in her voice was clear.

"Madame, Pensieve memories do not lie. I have my own to show you, but also Miss Granger's. A venerated war hero in her own right," Tom explained. He was careful to modulate his voice. He had to approach this delicately and with great reverence for the players involved.

"Bah! Harry Potter wouldn't attack his own friends!" a wizened old wizard shouted.

"I am afraid that he has," Tom said sadly. "He seems to have become deranged these past few months."

There was more shouting and arguing and inside Tom was smirking at the chaos around him. His disruption of the wizarding world had truly begun. He couldn't wait until it was finally his time to shine and bring the right sort of order to it all.

March 2003

Ministry of Magic

London, England

Tom was riding on his high from yesterday. The Wizengamot had decided they would table the discussion for a day as they reviewed the evidence Tom had brought forward. That morning had been spent going through Pensieve's and he was in a delightful mood. It was lunchtime and he needed to see Hermione. He had doffed his plum robes and strode through the Ministry in one of his Muggle-style suits. Several witches threw him admiring looks, as did a few wizards and Tom found himself winking at them all. Nothing could get his mood down today. Harry Potter and his feeble resistance were going to be crushed under the boot of Tom's power.

He conjured a gorgeous bouquet of roses and waltzed into the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. He spotted Hermione immediately, her head bowed over her work at her desk outside her bosses office. Even the sight of her doing menial work couldn't dampen his mood today.

"Hello, love," Tom murmured, startling Hermione.

"Tom! What are you doing here?" she looked up at him, ink from her quill blotting her parchment. Tom snapped his fingers, sopping up the spilled ink, and she smiled her thanks to him.

"I thought perhaps we could have lunch," Tom placed the flowers on her desk, and brought up his other hand, showing a bag to one of the fanciest take-out places in Diagon Alley.

"Oh! Well, I think the conference room is empty…" she trailed off as she glanced around her department.

Tom knew what she was looking at, everyone had their eyes on him. Thus far, their relationship had been kept seperate from work. He was sure Hermione did not want to draw attention to herself by talking about her personal relationships at work.

"To the conference room then," Tom said. He held out a hand, helping Hermione to stand, before tucking her hand into his arm. She guided him to the small room near the doors of the department and the moment they were inside, Tom sent a locking spell at the door and a silencing spell around the room as a whole. The windows were already obscured with opaque glass, but Tom sent a complicated illusion charm at them to make it look as if two people were sitting and eating. He had no plans to eat during his lunch break today.

Hermione was digging through the bag when Tom stepped up behind her. He pressed his already hardening cock against her backside and heard her hiss.

"Hello, love," Tom said again as he nuzzled her neck. He moved her hair to the other side of her shoulder and began planting kisses on the soft skin below her ear.

"Tom," Hermione whined. "We shouldn't," she said even as she pushed her bum back against his cock.

"Oh, but we should, my dear," Tom said. He slipped his hands from her shoulders, down her front, cupping her breasts through her robes. "We'll make it quick, so you still have time to eat."

"Oh, what a recommendation," Hermione snarked at him.

Tom chuckled. "Don't worry, you'll enjoy it. I'll have you screaming my name by the time we're through."

"Tom," Hermione pleaded as he plucked her nipples. Tom grinned, knowing she had conceded. He pushed her back so her front was pressed to the table before them, shoving the bag of food out of the way. Lifting her robes and skirt, his fingers quickly found her core. He draped her robes over her back, sliding her knickers to the side. She was soaked.

"Apparently, the lady doth protest too much," Tom grinned, placing a kiss just under her ear. He stood and dragged both of her hands above her head, bidding her to grip the other side of the table. Then he used both hands to caress down her sides before kneeling behind her. He pushed either leg open farther and nuzzled his face against her sex. She smelled fucking divine.

He licked her closed pussy lips, before separating them and delving his tongue as far inside her as he could reach.

"Tom!" Hermione sobbed above him and Tom reached his index finger forward and began circling her clit. He wanted her absolutely shaken with the force of the orgasms he gave her. It was his favorite look on her. He applied himself with vigor and was pleased when he felt the first telltale flutterings of her cunt around his fingers. He rubbed the front wall of her sex while tapping her clit and she screamed as she gushed over his hand.

He stood then, unbuckling his belt and freeing his iron-hard cock. He pumped himself lazily, giving Hermione a small break to catch her breath. Soon enough, he placed himself at her entrance and she bucked her hips when she felt the head of his cock beginning to split her.

"Please, Tom! I need you," Hermione groaned.

Tom sighed and sank into her tight heat. "Fuck," he muttered as she fluttered around him. He loved this feeling best in the world. The way she tightened so beautifully around him. It felt like coming home. He never wanted to leave it. He skimmed a hand along her arse, concentrating as the magic gathered in his fingertips and sparked between his hand and her skin. Her back arched then and Tom reached his other hand forward, fisting his hand in her hair, pulling her taut.

He slipped a hand around her hip and began thumbing her clit, pushing pulses of magic into the sensitive skin there. Hermione shuddered around him, coming so hard he couldn't move his cock. He bottomed out inside her and stilled while she wailed through her orgasm. Finally, when her body went limp, Tom let go of his hold on her hair and gripped both hips. He pounded furiously taking his own pleasure as she mewled beneath him. Impossibly, she came again as he did, both of them shouting through their climaxes.

"Good thing for silencing charms," Hermione muttered.

Tom laughed and helped her to stand, sending a gentle Scourgify her way.

"What did I do to deserve that?" Hermione asked as they settled down to eat their lunch. Tom had cast a stasis charm over the bag, so the steaming food was still delicious.

"Nothing." Tom winked at her. "I'm just in a good mood, thought I'd share the cheer."

Hermione laughed and they both dug into their meal.

That afternoon, Tom was ready and waiting for the Wizengamot to decide whether charges against Harry Potter and his cohorts should be brought forth. He felt assured that the Wizengamot had been appalled enough at the Pensieve memories.

Even when Shacklebolt entered the chambers with a scowl, Tom was assured in his victory.

With a bang of his gavel, Ogden brought the session to order. "Minister Shacklebolt has asked to address my revered colleagues. Minister?"

Tom's smugness dropped momentarily as Shacklebolt made eye contact with him.

"My esteemed colleagues," Shacklebolt began, "I am afraid that the case you have been contemplating these last two days will have to be put on hold. For we cannot charge a hallowed war hero with such grievous offenses without definitive proof."

"There's Pensieve evidence, Shacklebolt!" A nasty old witch shouted, one Tom was surprised to see had aligned with him so quickly.

"And Pensieve evidence is not enough. Testimonies must also be mad—"

"I'm sure Tom Evans and Hermione Granger would be happy to testify," someone else insisted. Tom could hardly believe this was happening. He had thought he was headed for an afternoon of argument; and yet, as he glanced around the chamber, there were angry mutterings. Had Shacklebolt not interfered, things would have gone Tom's way. Now, it seemed that unless he did something, they would not.

"Indeed, I would," Tom said, standing. "I would be happy to testify before my colleagues, as would Miss Granger. We feel a dangerous wizard must be stopped before he causes more harm to our world or the Muggle world."

"Be that as it may," Shacklebolt shouted, "as Minister, I cannot allow the charges to move forward. That is my final word." Shacklebolt stormed from the chamber then, leaving the Wizengamot to mutter angrily behind him.

Tom was angry at Shacklebolt's interference. Potter would have been gone. But Tom knew that the war wasn't over. Half the Wizengamot was on his side. He just needed Potter to do something stupid so that Tom could convince the other half. Perhaps a call to the Daily Prophet might be in order.