A\N: Hey guys! A few notes. I am trying to kick start the plot so the next few chapters may be a bit jumpy as you have to remember they are in 5th year when this story starts so we have to get to 7th and beyond! Also please leave a review or a follow if you liked! Really does mean the world to me! Thank you!

Hermione looked to her left to see Tom engrossed in his book. She had returned from her room after putting her stuff away to see he hadn't moved from his position. She took the book she brought out and sat beside him again. He barely noticed besides the dip the cushion made as she sat.

The fire roared in front of the pair as he read. Hermione quickly became enamored in her book. Time had passed and the pop of a house elf bringing lunch jarred both. Hermione thanked the elf for the sandwiches and pumpkin juice before it bowed and popped out of the room once again.

Hermione nibbled her sandwich as she asked, "How is the book?"

Tom swallowed the bite he had just taken and nodded, "very interesting thank you. I think this is the first time receiving a book where the entire contents have been interesting and not something I already read."

She smiled, "I know what you mean. My friends back home would always get me a book but I didn't have the heart to tell them that eventually, I was getting duplicates. I ended up donating the duplicates to libraries."

Tom smiled, "I know what you mean."

Both turned back to their books, quickly becoming lost in their respective books once again. The entire day was spent reading their new books, only taking a break when house elves brought food at meal times.

Night fell and the light from the fire became the only light source as both finished their books. Hermione sighed and laid her head on Toms' shoulder, "Do you know how long it's been that I've been able to read with someone like this? Everyone at my old school used to roll their eyes when they saw me with a book and I would go to the library just to get away from the judgmental eyes."

He smiled, "well that's just ridiculous, how do they expect to get anywhere not knowing anything?"

Hermione laughed, "Preaching to the choir Tom."

Each was content just sitting with each other for a while. Hermione began to drift off to sleep. The set up from last night still by the fire so Tom just set her down and got into the makeshift bed after her.

She sighed and sleepily smiled at him as the fire dimmed down, "Happy Christmas Tom."

He smiled and said, "Happy Christmas Hermione."

For the second day in a row, Hermione woke up with Tom beside her. She also realized it was two of the best nights she'd had since being here. She saw that Tom was still sound asleep so she walked quietly to her dorm washroom to have a quick shower and get ready for the day. Once done in the shower she got dressed in pants and a t-shirt.

She walked back to the common room to see Tom just waking. She smiled as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. She climbed over the mountain of blankets to sit on the couch behind Tom. He rubbed his head and she found herself wanting to run her fingers through the wavy black hair. She shook her head of the thoughts. No matter how soft it looked, she really shouldn't be thinking those things about him.

He got up and padded his way to his room to get ready for the day. She waved her wand and all the blankets folded themselves. Just as the last one folded a house elf popped in with a small breakfast for the pair. Hermione smiled and thanked the elf. She also asked if she could take the extra blankets back. With a nod the house elf and the blankets popped away as Tom walked back into the common room, dressed for the day in khakis and a sweater.

She smiled at him and gestured to the breakfast on the table. He sat beside her and began to peck at the food," So what would you like to do today Hermione?"

Hermione thought, "I'm not sure, what is there to do when there is no one here?"

He thought, "I'm not sure, we can go for a walk, show you around the parts you haven't seen yet."

She nodded, "I'd like that."

The rest of the day was split between walking through the castle, pretending to not know anything about the castle and taking the rest of their meals in the great hall.

While in the great hall, Dumbledore came up to Hermione to thank her for the gift and the outstanding wrapping job. She smiled and nodded in welcome as he walked back to the front of the hall.

The rest of the week, leading up to news years went the same way, Food and exploring. Wither it be exploring the grounds or reading.

News years came quickly. The remaining students gathered in the great hall to view fireworks in the enchanted ceiling. Hermione wished this is was still a thing in her time as it was a beautiful sight.

As the time counted down, Hermione couldn't take her eyes off the ceiling as the fireworks got brighter and more vibrant. They burst into numbers counting down until New Year's. Just as a gold one faded away and a large starburst formed into the Hogwarts animals wishing the students a happy new year she turned to Tom.

She noticed Tom was already looking at her. His eyes, shown in the flashing bursts of lights but never did he stray from her face. She turned to face him, wondering if there was something on her face, not even considering what was about to happen. Just as she tipped her face up to ask if there was anything, he bent down and brushed his lips against hers.

Hermione mind erased of all thought. She didn't know how to respond but she knew if she didn't it would mess everything up. In a very non-Hermione fashion, she through logic to the wind and she quickly decided to kiss him back and analyze everything after.

She moved her lips with him. His hands moved up to cup her face as he slightly deepened the kiss. Her hands moved to rest on his now bent elbows. The kiss lasted only seconds but to Hermione, it was outside space and time. It was both long and short. It took her breath away and filled her lungs too much they felt they would burst.

As they split apart both had slightly puffy lips reddened from friction. Neither broke eye contact until the rest of the students seemed to be drifting out of the hall. They walked out together and walked down towards the dungeons. As they walked, Hermione decided to be bold herself and slipped her hand into Toms as they walked.

Tom reacted by holding back and they didn't part until in the common room and went to their rooms.

Hermione got ready for bed and laid down. Sleep would elude her for a long time tonight as she thought about the last few days. He nodded off after several hours of going back and forth with pros and cons. The last thought before her eyes closed was of the boy in the room across the hall.

Little did she know the last thought of that boy was of her as well.