AN: I'm not going to threaten to hold chapters hostage for reviews, but it would be nice if I received a couple. I'm not very good at writing, I know this, so I need some nice constructive (non flaming) criticism to help me improve. Also, reviews help keep me motivated.
Anyway now thats out of the way I would like to point out one more time that this is AU so a few major things have been changed. And last of all, this chapter has some language and is from Tom's PoV.
The rusty chains of the swingset let out loud screeching noises as he swung back and forth, his scuffed shoes digging into the little dirt patch that countless of feet had worn into the grass over the years. Sometimes when the idiots at the orphanage pissed him off too much he would just leave and come to the park, especially on nights like this.
At least at school everyone fawned over him, the students mostly because of his looks, charm and obvious superiority in every subject that he took. The teachers also found him charming and a great student, which allowed him to receive a lot more freedoms and privileges than the other students, not that they minded. He often would do favors for his 'friends', who would return the favor when he asked for it. Most of them would have done what he asked even if he hadn't helped them, but it was always better to have someone indebted to you. On the other hand the orphanage was a different story, they didn't appreciate his brilliance there but at least they were afraid of him. Everyone there knew bad things happened to people who crossed him.
"Hey." The voice broke his train of thought and the first thing that crossed his mind was great. He would have recognized that swotty voice anywhere, even though they had only met twice before. As annoying as she was he did admit she was fun to taunt and make angry. She always managed to get angry quickly and her whole face would turn an interesting shade of pink, it was quite entertaining. At the moment he decided he could use a little amusement and motioned for her to take the swing beside him, and she did.
"We have to stop meeting like this." A smile lit up her face, almost making her pretty. If it weren't for that hair and those teeth she probably would have been. She must have just gotten done trick or treating because she was still dressed as a witch and holding a bag of candy, reminding him of the first time they met two years ago. Like then, he didn't get her, her mood was all over the place most of the time, like she couldn't decide whether to hate him or not. It was bothersome, she should just pick one and be done with it.
"I'm beginning to think you're stalking me." He had meant to sound condescending but to his disdain he could detect a hint of weariness, Halloween always got to him like this. It was, after all, the day his mum had died. His fists clenched and he had to take a deep breath to clear his head of old memories.
"Unlikely, I can't see myself willingly seeking the attention of someone like you."
Someone like him? Was she looking down on him? The stupid bint, he was Tom Marvolo Riddle, the smartest student in his school and probably the most intelligent person from their generation, if not in existence. He had big plans for his future, he was going to be someone very important if things went his way, actually he was already someone important. But he had ambitions to reach so much higher than what was already in his grasp. In reality she should be thanking him for allowing her to be in his presence, for giving her this opportunity to talk to him and maybe learn a thing or two. Well now he was mad, so he refused to favor her any longer. If she didn't like his company then he could care less.
"Then leave." The words had taken a slight hissing quality to them in his anger, he was a little amazed at how he always forgot to keep up his charming and nice facade around her, how he always lost control. It was probably because he just didn't care what she thought about him, she was nothing. Insignificant.
"You can't make me leave if I don't want to." Hermione's face was that shade of pink he had recalled earlier, it tinged her freckled cheeks in anger, in an infuriating kind of way it was almost cute. Before he really knew what he was doing they both ended up on the ground, him on top of her while she was pressed down into the dirt and soft grass.
"If you wanted to be with me so bad all you had to do was ask. I wouldn't mind giving you a kiss, I've always been one for charity." which was a lie, he despised people who depended on others. Why should he help people, just let them help themselves or get weeded out. Life is hard, you had yourself and nobody else to rely on.
"Get off you pervert!" She was trying to push and buck him off of her, her eyes sparked with fury as they bore into his own, drawing him in like a cobra being charmed. With that overly gag worthy thought he snapped back to his right state of mind and began to notice that she was actually hitting him and. . . Fucking hell. Her knee hit a little too close to a certain part of his body for comfort and it had bloody well hurt.
"Calm down, kid, like I'd really want to kiss you." The words seemed to calm her down a bit and he waited a few seconds before actually getting up, satisfied that she would realize he could have pinned her down longer if he wanted to. That he still had power over her and could use it if he wanted.
"I'm not a kid." She instantly protested, "I'm thirteen." She was busy dusting off her clothes, completely missing the blades of grass currently stuck in that wild mess she calls hair, to his ever growing amusement.
"Still a kid." He motioned at her, "Look at you, you even still have the body of a ten year old boy, and I would bet you're still as naive as a toddler." He felt, and probably looked, smug as he took in her reaction. All her anger was gone and replaced by embarrassment making him feel a keen sense of satisfaction at how easy it was for him to rile her up.
"You're not much older." Her protest was pure petulance, a weak objection and a little pathetic too.
"Old enough." he countered, "And I have more life experience." Age didn't matter, it was life that really made you older, not time.
Once again she was looking up at him in irritation, her hands placed on hips. He distinctly remembered something like this happening before, my my. Tonight was just full of parallels. Next thing you know he'd revert back to kicking over her bag of candy and storming off like a child having a temper tantrum.
"Yeah but that doesn't mean I'm not grown up now. There are people older than you that have more life experience, doesn't that make you still a kid?" Ah, so her intelligence finally decided to make an appearance, turning his logic back on him like that.
"No, but it might if I were dressed up like a witch and begging people for candy." And like that he suddenly grew bored of their conversation, and he enjoyed being the one to leave her every time. To be the one to walk away first, the one less invested in whatever this was that kept bringing them together every Halloween and only on Halloween. With that he turned towards the direction of the orphanage and took off walking.
"Wait! What's your name?" She called after him.
"Ask again next year." He called back without looking back at her. if they happened to meet again he might tell her, or he might not. He didn't know yet. It was kind of freeing to not know what was going to happen for once. He was so used to controlling everything in his life and planning for things weeks ahead of time that he forgot what it was like to lead a normal life. Matter of fact, he was so busy enjoying the feeling and the chilly night air as we walked he forgot to be angry about the life fate dealt him.