AN:Special thanks to aisha99022 who listened to all my ideas and encouraged me, and to my lovely reviewer, Aerin, who I hope I'm not disappointing too much with this chapter.
I had originally planned to write one chapter per year over the span of ten years, but instead I ended up skipping ahead 7 years (a period of time in which neither had talked to each other) because what I had planned out required them to be older. From here on out I'm going to write like it's a normal timeline (Which makes the first three chapters a sort of drawn out prologue), and if you haven't noticed, as of chapter 4 they have known each other for ten years.
It had been years since Hermione had actually been home to celebrate Halloween, for six years now she had successfully managed to be out of town for that certain holiday, at first she practically begged her parents to let her stay with Aunt Patty and Uncle Toby, claiming that she would prefer to trick or treat in the small town with her cousins rather than in the city. And, in a way, she really did prefer the country roads and quaint little streets to the loud hustle of the city neighborhood, especially since her aunt and uncle would always take them out to the local corn maze every year where they would spend hours just having fun getting lost and drinking apple cider, and then afterward they would pick out pumpkins to carve before trick or treating. After a while, after Hermione out of trick or treating, she declared it had become tradition and spent the time at her aunts, her parents sometime joining her when they didn't have to work.
This year, however, Aunt Patty was having surgery to remove her gallbladder and wouldn't be able to make it. Her cousins, too, decided to skip this year and Hermione not wanting to be a burden settled on giving them all a quick visit the day before Halloween, leaving them with her best wishes and a bouquet of sunflowers.
With her one escape temporarily barred to her Hermione was stuck celebrating Halloween at home, a problem that she didn't really want to think about let alone deal with. She hadn't really had to deal with it since seven years ago. Hermione pursed her lips in irritation, soon Ginny would find out and start pestering her about attending one of her famous Halloween parties. It seemed that every year Ginny was in college she had to host the campus party and was determined to get Hermione to join the fun. With Aunt Patty having outpatient surgery, leaving her excuseless and out of options since she had no other traditions to fall back on, she knew denying her friend had risks of hurting her feelings and most likely making Gin angry. And an angry Ginny was a scary Ginny.
In all honesty it wasn't that Hermione didn't want to go to the party, she had spent years at Hogwarts University hearing about how fun they were, it's just she didn't want to risk meeting a certain someone. Not once had she run into Tom Riddle while at her aunts, but if she went to this party? Who knows, he always showed up whenever she went out on Halloween in London. This certain someone had threatened her and her parents lives and if she met him she honestly didn't know what he would do, most likely leave the party or knee him in the jewels. Whichever one struck her fancy at the time, right now she was leaning towards the physical violence. Because violence is always fun.
A loud knock on the door disrupted Hermione's musings and disrupted her whole thought process, she had just been picturing the look on his face when she hit him really hard when it had happened too. Shame, that would be a daydream for another day then. "Coming." Hermione made her way to the door of her apartment only to find an excited redhead on the other side.
"Hermione!" Arms were flung around her waist as the younger woman tried to squeeze all the air out of her best friends lungs, "How are you? Is your aunt okay?" A touch of concern showed on her face when she asked the latter question, slightly dampening the happy atmosphere at seeing each other.
"We're both fine, don't worry. They just want to keep her for a few days, normally they would have released her right away but with her age they just want her to rest and not move as much as possible until it heals a little." She assured her friend, unable to keep herself from smiling. Think of the devil and she will appear in all her redheaded glory.
"So, you're staying here for Halloween then? It;s official?" Biting her bottom lip Hermione stared keenly at her friend, Ginny was smarter than she let on, she knew without a doubt that Hermione would be spending Halloween in London. She was obviously fishing for something and Hermione knew, without a doubt, exactly what it was. That sly little fox, she wanted Hermione to admit she'd be staying here for Halloween before asking so that Hermione couldn't try to wriggle out of it with an excuse.
"Yeeeees. . . " She drew out the answer, internally groaning at the smile growing on Gin's face, moments like this she wished her best friend couldn't tell when she was lying or she would have said anything right then to get out of it. Even if it meant staying up to three in the morning watching bad horror movies and eating pumpkin cookies until she wanted to puke.
"Well, one should never be alone or depressed on Halloween, and the dorm is hosting a party that," Ginny dramatically flipped her hair back, giving a tiny pose before continuing, "I put together single handedly, and you, Hermione, should definitely come. We still have time to find you a costume and everything too it's only twelve still, we have plenty of time since the party starts at seven and ends when everyone leaves or passes out. Whichever comes first."
Ginny looked so excited at the thought, to share an opportunity to spend time with her friend, which was hard to do even though they went to the same school. Since Hermione was studying to be a doctor and Ginny was on a girls football scholarship the two rarely crossed paths. It was at the point that the two were talking about moving in together when Hermione's month was up.
"You're already mentally picking out costumes for me aren't you?" Hermione gave in, unable to say no. She missed her friend too, and the last thing she wanted to do was say no and hurt Ginny's feelings. She'd feel horrible if she did and would probably fret over it all night until she ended up going anyway so she might as well cave now and save herself the trouble.
However, that did little to stop the strange feeling of unease creeping into her heart and latching onto it like a parasite.
A hour later found Hermione trying on costume after costume. If shopping were a sport Hermione had a feeling that Ginny would have been a pro, where was she even finding all these costumes?
"Wait, here, try this one on." Ginny held up a scrap of purple fabric for Hermione's inspection, "The color would look gorgeous on you." She brought it near Hermione's face, "See, look this shade is simply perfect with your eyes and skin tone."
Ginny attempted to hand the outfit over to Hermione but was outright rejected, her friend wouldn't even touch the thing, "No way, Gin, I'm not going to this party dressed like a slut."
Ginny rolled her eyes, making sure Hermione could see, "It's Halloween you're supposed to show a little skin."
"Gin, that is going to show more than a little skin." She shook her head, seriously that woman sometimes with her strange ideas. Even if hermione had been less modest than she was now, she would never have had the daring to wear something like that. Unlike Ginny she did not have a great figure and she was definitely not beautiful, she couldn't have pulled it off if she wanted to.
It was moments like this that Hermione could see why people were so shocked to find out the two were such close, best friends. Hermione was bookish and unathletic, preferring a good story to actual human interaction while Ginny was outgoing, athletic and so easy to like she made friends wherever she went. The contrasts were blindingly obvious, and yet they just clicked. It was like they were such extreme opposites that being together helped balance each other out.
"How about this one then?" Ginny had a costume scrunched in the crook of her arm causing Hermione to frown at it, she couldn't exactly see what it was because Ginny had yet to properly display it to her but it vaguely looked. . . Tight, especially the cinch-like corset.
Her voice full of resignation she couldn't help it, she had to ask, "Exactly what is that supposed to be?" It looked awfully similar to one of those specialty stripper outfits. The ones where the girl dresses up like a German barmaid with her breasts practically hanging out of the top just waiting for that one too-deep breath that sends them fleeing the too-small confines for freedom.
"It's a pirate wench costume, doesn't it just look adorable?" Ginny finally unfolded it, showing the full costume as if it were a hidden treasure to be instantly claimed and plundered.
"No. Absolutely not." Her protests fell on deaf ears. Why couldn't she just go as a nun? A normal nun, not one of the ones that carried around a leather crop and wore their skirts barely long enough to cover their fanny.
"At least try it on for me, just this once." Blue eyes looked at her so hopefully, accompanied by such a sweetly pleading smile that Hermione knew she lost. With the air of one heading to a funeral of a dearly departed friend she held out her hand and accepted the outfit.
"I'm trying it on, nothing more." She clarified, wanting to set Ginny straight before she got her hopes up that Hermione might actually be interested, "So try not to get too excited because this is the only time you'll ever see it on me."
When Hermione left the changing room Ginny began looking her over, probably already planning how to fix Hermione's hair and makeup for her. They both knew Hermione was bollocks at it and neither of them were afraid to say so, it was just one of those well known facts that they both accepted with ease.
"I'll be taking this off now, then." With a quick turn Hermione was about to head back into the changing room to take the thing off when Ginny pulled her back by the shoulder, guiding her to a full length mirror.
"Look at yourself first." She insisted as she placed Hermione directly in front of it, leaving her with no choice but to gaze at her own reflection.
Stunned Hermione stood there blinking at herself, already she didn't look like the person she saw every morning, this must have been some sort of magic mirror that could show your hearts desire because the girl looking back out at her was, in her way, beautiful. The costume consisted of a black, white and red pirates hat with a plumed white feather, a deep cut neckline that, thankfully, covered up most of her cleavage. Under that was the cinched corset that ended right below the bust with the full layered skirt of the dress ending a few inches above her knees.
To finish the look was a pair of heeled, knee high boots that Hermione wasn't brave enough to put on. She'd probably end up breaking her neck, but hey, if she broke her neck then the chances of her running into people she didn't want to run into were pretty slim. Always got to look on the plus side of life.
Ginny, noticing Hermione's awestruck silence, practically glowed with satisfaction and triumph, she had known that if she showed Hermione the skimpiest thing she could find then anything after it would look like a godsend and therefore made Hermione more likely to try it on. It wasn't very often Ginny could really trick Hermione, so when she did, the silent gloating, and sometimes very vocal gloating, could go on for days.
"You like it?" Once again Ginny was asking questions she knew the answer to, with the added difference that she was doing it to gloat this time.
"Yes, Gin, I love it. Once again you have proven yourself to be the goddess of all things shopping related. Now that I have found a costume can we leave?
Six more hours and the two friends were still together but this time they were fully bedecked with Halloween cheer and arriving at a certain party, with Hermione dressed in her pirate costume and Ginny dressed up as Ariel from the little mermaid, seashell bra and all. The only difference was instead of a tail she opted to go with a green sarong wrapped around her waist. Hermione personally though she looked amazing, and her other friend, Harry, must have thought so too because he barely acknowledged Hermione's existence with a half hearted hello before stealing Ginny. Not that Hermione minded, she was extremely happy that her two friends had finally gotten together, it had taken them years. Poor Ginny had been head over heels for Harry since she was eleven and he was so oblivious he probably didn't even notice she was female until she was fifteen and started to date guy after guy, all to try and make Harry jealous.
The stupid idiot of course finally did realize, eventually, that his best mate's little sister was attractive and asked her out. The two had been dating ever since and were still so madly in love after two years that Hermione could hear the distant ringing of wedding bells.
"Hermione?" She heard a feminine voice calling her name over the loud music and turned around to see Padma Patil slowly making her way through the crowd towards a familiar looking bushy head, I didn't know you would be here."
"I didn't either." She replied laughing, instantly hugging the the Indian girl tightly, "and I didn't know you actually dressed up as something besides a bird for Halloween." Hermione couldn't help pointing out that Padma was dressed as a fairytale princess instead of her usual preference, which was birds. Every year was a different type of bird costume, all of them beautiful. The most uniquely beautiful one being the peacock costume, which Padma had sewn real peacock feathers on.
"I guess we're both full of surprises tonight then." Padma bumped Hermione's shoulder playfully with her own, "So how are you, with your studies I mean." That was one of the reasons Hermione had loved Padma so much in school, Ginny was her best friend but even she couldn't stand sitting and listening to Hermione babble on for hours about research and school work. Padma on the other hand, while quieter than Hermione on the subject, was just as equally passionate about learning and loved to listen to Hermione go on about some difficult equation or obscure piece of world history.
"I'm loving it, this semester has gotten so challenging and interesting." Hermione leaned forward a bit towards Padma so they could hear each other better, "Just last week the professor was explaining this really fascinating bit about the heart where. . . " She was really getting into describing her lessons and some of the more complex parts of the human anatomy and why certain surgeries were difficult to perform. She was about to go into a detailed explanation about fixing up punctured lungs to an intently listening Padma when she was rudely interrupted by someone.
"Well, haven't you grown up." The voice was mocking and she could feel eyes looking her over, making her feel exposed. That wasn't the only thing making her feel uneasy, that voice seemed so familiar. Oh yes, she definitely knew that voice, as soon as she identified it it was like a ball of lead landed in the pit of her stomach and settled there. Turning around slowly she came face to face with him for the first time in seven years. "Although I see you're still unable to stop talking."
If Hermione hadn't hated Halloween before, which in all honesty she didn't, she definitely was starting to hate it now. Fate had the worst sense of humor.
"And I can see that you still haven't grown up." Her retort came out sharply, her anger and disdain too strong to ignore, even with Padma looking at them both in confusion, brows slightly furrowed, "Nor do you seem able to keep your snide remarks to yourself."
"hermione, how do you know Tom?" Padma interjected, curious as to how the two had met. Tom Riddle was pretty much famous on campus, an up and coming political figure that had very few classes since he spent most of his time working as a sort of intern, and the few classes he did have were on the complete other side of the University from where Hermione's were held. Also, from what she had heard, it sounded like the two knew each other longer than just college. Childhood friends maybe?
"Hermione and I go far back." Padma and Hermione were flashed a heart-melting, beautiful smile from the charming young man, who was dressed up like a wizard of all things. Padma felt herself turn into putty with that smile, while Hermione remained seemingly unaffected, it would have been easier to get the same response out of her had she not known what a prick he was.
"Unfortunately." She affirmed, not looking a bit pleased about it.
"Hermione, I'm hurt. I saved your life and you're acting like I'm the villain." How did he do that? His whole demeanor changed from confidant charmer to hurt little boy in an instant, "I thought we were going to be friends again when you finally showed up."
Even his tone was perfect, just the slightest tremble, almost unnoticeable, Hermione almost believed what he said was true and she of all people knew him, what he was like, and what really happened between them. How he had 'saved' her. The look on his face as he threatened to hurt her parents, kill them. Of course murder and kill were never actually said, but his tone had heavily implied it before.
"As I recall you were the one who almost got me killed." She corrected him, no longer the young girl to be controlled by threats, she faced him head on and instead of breaking down she grew a backbone. It would be stupid to confront this man with anything, not until she knew what exactly she was up against and had enough proof to condemn him. So instead of outright accusing him she decided to play this little game for now, see where it led.
"I did play a part in that, and I'm sorry, but I told you not to take that shortcut that night. You're too stubborn for your own good, I'm thankful every day when I remember how close I was to not looking for you. If I hadn't you could-" He stopped, his face stricken with grief at the very thought of losing her, making Hermione want to laugh. He was way too good at this, the whole situation was priceless, in a demented kind of way. And then, out of nowhere, his eyes took on an angry gleam, "I swear if I ever see those three men again this time." He stopped again, going into another sudden mood swing as he looked at Hermione, face softening, "But that doesn't matter. You're still here, and yet, sometimes I feel like I lost you that night anyway. Hermione, please, whatever I did wrong forgive me and be my dear friend again."
He grabbed one of her softer, warmer hands with his two colder ones, his eyes pleading as he looked into hers, so hopeful and innocent that Hermione changed her mind and wanted to throw up instead of laugh. yes, she was definitely going to be sick now.
It was so easy for him, how he lied and twisted events, made up situations, that never happened just to make her look like the bad guy here if she said no and refused him. How he cornered her in front of all these people, who by now, were either secretly or outright watching the pair. She would beat him at this game, he didn't win yet.
Remembering what Padma had called him earlier Hermione began to play, "Oh,Tom, I'm sorry." She willed her eyes to water, trying to think of ever sad thing she could possibly come up with that would make her cry, and was rewarded with a single tear.
"I was so scared after that night, and then embarrassed. I thought you would hate me for sure for what happened, if I had only listened to you. . . " She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled them to each other, hugging him close as her head rested against his chest.
Angling her head up slightly she whispered so that only he could hear her, "You're a good actor, Tom." His name was said mockingly, her way of telling him that she waited this long to discover it, she could wait that long to find out whatever he was trying to pull. She would eventually win, it was only a matter of time. Persistence would always pay off in the end. Even as she reveled in her small triumph she couldn't help but notice his mouth-watering scent, the feel of his chest cushioning her head, her own chest pressed up against him.
She couldn't help but remember, when she had first turned around and saw him, how dangerous and appealing he had looked dressed in black robes and carrying a wand that looked as if it were carved from bone.
"And you're a good actress." He countered, his soft words tickling her wild hair, his mouth so close to the shell of her ear. He could move just centimeters and kiss her. They must have looked so intimate in that moment, with his hand reaching up to cup the back of her head to his chest, fingers running through her hair and resting at the nape of Hermione's neck, sending shivers down her spine.
Just what the hell had she gotten herself into.
AN:
For those interested Hermione's costume looked something like this www . costumeshopper mm5 / graphics / 00000001 / 83321 . jpg (remove all the spaces) but with different colors and slight changed to some of the smaller details.
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