DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!!

Memoirs

Right, guys and gals, I have an apology to make - yesterday I updated all the chapters, and then 2 minutes later, I deleted some. Really sorry about that but I had some major adjusting to do to those chappies and I had to get rid of them. Sorry.

Chapter 23

Hermione tried to resist waking, wanting to stay in the warm soft bed forever. She felt safe within its blankets and against its pillows, almost like it was hugging her. But a hand on her arm and a gentle shaking interrupted her blanket hug.

"Hermione?" a voice murmured lowly. It was definitely male, soothing and deep. Sounding young but wise and experienced, Hermione decided it was her boyfriend. He'd been around her a lot lately, but she hadn't gotten sick of Him, surprising even herself.

Hermione groaned in her sleep, pushing her head into the pillow and tightening the blankets around her with her clenched fists. "Noooo." She moaned lowly, earning a chuckle and another shake from him, this time rougher.

"Come on. We have Charms in 40 minutes and you still have to have breakfast and I know how long it takes you to get ready."

Hermione's eyes opened mechanically. She sighed, glancing around the part of the room she saw from lying on her side, and then nuzzled her pillow, wanting to go back to her dream. Well, she hoped it was just a dream. Pushing herself up into a sitting position by her elbows, she yawned and ran her hands through her hair.

"You're awake." Said a man. She looked over to where His voice sounded and saw Tom sitting in a chair next to the bed, closing a book.

"Good morning." She said quietly, through another yawn.

"Good morning." He said, smiling back. Yes! Smiling. He stood from the chair and sat down next to her on the bed. "How do you feel?"

"Okay." she said, scooting closer to Him and leaning her head against His shoulder. He gently kissed the top of her head and then wrapped an arm around her, keeping her close to Him.

"Do you want to get up, or stay in bed?"

"I'll have a shower." She said from His shoulder.

"Okay, darling. I'll bring you something to eat."

"I'm not-"

"You've barely eaten in the last week. You need to eat something."

"Alright, then." she said, giving into Him. He'd been really protective lately. She sort of minded but otherwise found it quite flattering. He stood up and helped her out of bed. As he started to help her walk to the bathroom, she shook him off. "I'll be fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes!" she snapped, pushing his hand away from her and stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her, leaving a hurt Tom in the room. He clicked his fingers and a house-elf arrived. Ordering himself a full English breakfast and Hermione toast and loads of fruit, along with a pot of tea for them to share, Tom still had his eyes locked on the bathroom door.

The elf vanished and Tom sat impatiently on the bed until he couldn't take it any longer and left the room. As he walked along the corridors, rubbing his head tiredly and debating what to do over the Hermione situation, he was interrupted by someone calling his name. Sighing and stopping, he waited for whoever it was to stand beside him. The blonde stepped in front of him and Tom mentally groaned as it was Lucius.

"What is it, Lucius?"

"I was just wondering...How is she?"

"To whom are you referring?" he asked lazily, already bored stiff.

Lucius was taken aback. "Well, Hermione, of course. I was just wondering...If I could see her."

Tom said nothing for a moment. "Hermione needs to get her strength back and recover from the...What the blood traitors did to her. She doesn't need to worry about petty things like visitors."

"But milord, I thought that if I could just see her for a moment-"

"The answer is no, Lucius. Now get over it. When Hermione feels that she is healthy again, and has gotten over it, then she can think about seeing you. But not until then." he pushed past Lucius and walked a few yards before Lucius said something neither of them expected.

"And what does Hermione think of your controlling attitude?"

Tom stopped and turned on his heel but didn't approach the blonde. "What did you just say?"

"What if Hermione wants to see me?"

"Then she can, but seeing as since she first woke up 6 days ago, she hasn't even mentioned your name, I wouldn't hold out that you're her first priority right now. Now get out my sight." He ordered.

Lucius just walked away, not bowing or saying anything. He'd be punished later.

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Hermione was finishing in the shower as Tom and Lucius raged against each other a few corridors away. The water just ran down and over her hair - which was plastered to her face - and head as she leant against the wall on her hands. The burning water turned her skin an inflamed red but she was too busy in thought.

She thought of her dream she'd had that morning. She was lying in a bed. Simple. But a man that wasn't Tom nor Lucius but someone whom she was very 'familiar' with told her that they had Charms in 40 minutes. Charms? Was she back at Hogwarts? She had to be. Racking her brain for possible candidates on the Mystery Man; she was completely lost in thought.

It felt like Lucius, even sounded like him, but there was a small feeling in the back of her head that told her it wasn't him. It didn't sound anything like Tom, nor felt like him. Both of the most likely and moreorless possible choices were gone and Hermione had no idea who's bed she had been in - naked. Praying that it was only a dream, she turned the shower off and walked out.

She wrapped herself in her fluffy and warm cotton dressing gown, she left the room. Walking across the room to sit on the bed, she noticed a few envelopes sitting innocently on the bedside table. Reaching over curiously, she shuffled through them. 'The Dark Lord', 'The Dark Lord', 'The Dark Lord' but she paused as she one with 'Hermione (Granger) Riddle'.

She was a little suspicious as she and Tom had agreed that she would be keeping her maiden name - purely due to her absolute feminism and strong belief of 'just-because-I'm-married-doesn't-mean-I-have-to-change-my-name'.

Slipping her finger under the flap and running along, tearing the delicate and expensive paper, she opened it. Dropping the envelope and unfolding the paper inside, she read the black neat ink.

Bitch. You whore. You took him from where he belongs and soon you will take your last breath as I take you from him. He doesn't belong with you. He needs us. If you know what's good for you - jump out a window ASAP. It'll help us all.

Hermione said nothing as the door opened.