AN: This chapters a little shorter but if you pay attention theres a few important bits near the end. Also, I might upload the next chapter tomorrow since this one is kind of short and my last chapter received more reviews than usual. (And I do so love reviews). With that said I would like to thank aisha99022 who has been a huge support and sends me messages, without fail, about every chapter I upload and who listens to my ideas. I would also like to thank my wonderful, beautiful, gorgeous reviewers KnivesandPens13, Hyaci and HeretoRead84.
"I heard you and Tom Riddle were hanging all over each other at the party." Although Hermione could not see Ginny she could hear the smugness in her voice and knew her expression would be similar. She was probably planning on taking credit the moment Hermione announced that she was dating that sorry excuse of a human being. If only poor Ginny knew how unlikely her dreams of Hermione finally hooking up with someone like him really were.
"Oh, no. Tom's just an old friend, we hugged, nothing more." She switched her phone to her other ear, holding it firmly in place with the side of her head and her shoulder so that she could use both of her hands to fix her breakfast.
"Sure he is, because from what I heard you two had a lovers quarrel, made up, he swept you into his arms, and then you had an intimate moment on the dance floor. Honestly, Hermione, I'm your best girl friend, you should have told me you were close to him of all people. There's not a girl at Hogwarts who hasn't lusted after him at one point or another." Fortunately Gin didn't seem too upset that Hermione kept it a secret, she was probably too busy imagining up secret love affairs between the two. That, or she was possibly just happy Hermione found someone she was interested in. Hermione snorted at the thought, not likely. Ginny was brave, smart and sensible, but she was also a closet romantic who read too much book porn.
"Ginny." Hermione suddenly had an uneasy thought, "Exactly how long has he been attending our school?" She brought her plate to the table and sat down, finally grabbing the phone again with her left hand and using her right to take a bite of toast.
"Well, hes been there longer than us, I think by a few years."
Hermione started choking on the toast and had to take a couple of swallows of her juice before she could gasp out, "You mean we've been going to the same University together for three years and not once did I even notice him?" Well really she was asking herself this question aloud, Ginny temporarily forgotten as this new piece of information sunk in.
"Well, not to be rude, but you're kind of oblivious to anything that isn't a book, especially when that something is a man." Ginny interjected as kindly as possible, "Remember in High School with you and Ron?"
"Please don't bring that up again." Hermione moaned into the phone, "And I'm not that oblivious, I'm positive I would have noticed him of all people."
"Oh, so he is special?" Her redheaded friend said knowingly, "Do I get to be the godmother?"
"Ginny, please no. If you keep this up you won't live long enough to be anyones godmother." Hermione threatened.
"Alright, well, I'm actually not too surprised you two never actually bumped into each other. He's something of a genius and last I heard he was going into politics. Apparently he spends a lot of time interning for Fudge himself." She sounded a little awed, "His visits on campus are few and far apart, and then his lecture hall would be on the complete opposite side of yours. So maybe for once it isn't your fault."
Well, that made her feel slightly better. But just slightly. That would explain why they had never run into each other before the party, but Hermione had another thought. Tom Riddle, it felt strange having a name to go by now, knew she knew thinks about him. He had gone out of his way to discover where her parents worked and even possibly where she lived before she had known information she could use against him. She had no doubts about whether he knew where she went to school. So why didn't he approach her sooner, say before the party. Why wait until then to say something to her. What sort of game exactly was he playing with her.
"Hey Gin, I'm going to go. I need to finish my breakfast before it gets cold and then head out to do a couple of errands." She was already half distracted as she bid her friend farewell, trying to sort out her thoughts concerning a certain person that had been puzzling her more and more. It seemed like the more pieces she put together the more pieces she found that had no place in the bigger picture.
"Bye Hermione, give Tom a kiss for me." Ginny began laughing and hung up before Hermione could even get an angry word in. Sighing she hung the phone up, placing it back in it's cradle, and wondered over her friends antics.
Her mind traveled back to Tom though, he was obviously up to something, she didn't know how she was so certain but she was. The public display between them both had been planned, and her eyes narrowed, she had fallen right into his trap. Going along with the whole charade in front of everyone, how had he known she would react the way she did though. She might have called him out on it in front of everyone instead. She shook her head and took another bite of toast.
No, nobody was that smart, they couldn't actually plot something like that. There were too many variables that could change or make the plan go wrong. Like she thought earlier, she could have done something extremely different. There were so many things she could have done, she didn't have to choose to play along. Frustrated she took it out on her breakfast, practically attacking it with a renewed hunger and anger in an attempt to squash out the persistently annoying voice in the back of her head piping up with "But you did choose to."
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It was just by chance that Hermione saw him on her way back from the store, and making a split second decision she made her way over to him, "I need to talk to you." She gritted the words out, stepping in his path and grabbing his hand in order to pull him out of the way of people walking by, a few of them glancing at the pair in curiousity.
"Yes?" He arched an eyebrow at her cockily but a dangerous glint had entered his eyes as he looked down at her, probably because he didn't like her touching him without permission, well too bad. Hermione always did pin him as the type who thought everyone was inferior and below him.
"I ran into a friend while I was shopping, according to Lavender Brown we're dating." She motioned between him and herself, "I'm wondering if you know exactly who would have told everyone that, now I know it couldn't have been me because I left the party early." A look of disgust crossed her face, "I swear if I have to hear someone else gushing about how romantic it is that I'm dating my childhood savior I'll puke." She felt nauseated just thinking about it, her cheeks growing rosy and her eyes bright in anger, "You're behind this and you're up to something I know it. Just exactly what have you been doing over the years, still sending out children to rob stores for you?"
She felt so stupid right now. She should have known when she was fourteen that he was going to do something, she had just been too worried about getting away from him to realize that he wouldn't let her.
"Hermione, I'm hurt." Unlike last time he didn't bother to act, his face was devoid of any false pain and sorrow, no this time it was outright mocking, "How could you accuse your loving boyfriend of such devious behaviour." He tsked, reaching out a hand to stroke her cheek and cup it lovingly.
"I don't care what rumors you've spread, I'm going to make sure everyone realizes you're not my boyfriend. Then I'll tell them what really happened back then." She spat, brushing his hand away from her in disgust, "Honestly I don't know what you're playing at, but I'll no longer be a part of it." She was about to turn away and angrily stomp off but he stopped her, something that seemed to be forming into a bad habit.
He laughed, "I'm afraid it's not that kind of game, Her-mio-ne." He emphasized each syllable of her name, "Once you start you can't just quit. if you don't play it out to the end I'm afraid there will be consequences, and this time they involve more than just your parents." His smile was positively evil, how could someone be so cruel and yet so absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. He didn't look even the least bit guilty as he continued on, "Ginevra Weasley for one, perhaps her little boyfriend or even that brother of hers I remember you being so fond of." His smile widened at her look of shock and hatred, "Oh yes, I know all about Ron Weasley."
"You're sick." She spat the words out as if talking about him left a filthy taste in her mouth, she really hated him with every fibre of her being, "I regret ever meeting you. I wish I had never talked to you."
"Such sweet words for the person you love, but I'm afraid I will not be swayed, no Hermione I'll even let you choose, which victim should I go after first? Personally I think I'm leaning towards the ginger boy." His expression was all kindness again, lighting up in pure adoration and leaving Hermione feeling slightly dizzy. How was he able to change his moods so fast? It was disorienting and made her wonder if he even felt anything at all. She just wanted to slap that expression off his face, slightly ashamed that it managed to make her stomach flip even as it disgusted her.
He continued to look at her expectantly while her brain whirred away, trying to find a way out of this. He was obviously intelligent and had great connections, Ginny said he was even interning for Fudge, and everyone knew how Fudge was. He would be easily fooled and swayed by a person like Tom, most people would really. He was perfect. For seven years, maybe longer, he had been successful in keeping whatever illegal activities he was involved in secret, he had once told her he was very good at covering his tracks and she believed it.
She wouldn't win if she tried to point the finger, so she would have to make him slip up or find evidence against him first. She needed solid, concrete proof that he was breaking the law and to do that she would have to play his game after all. If she didn't she didn't believe he was bluffing about hurting her friends, evil, loathsome prick that he was.
"Fine." She straightened up, "What exactly do I have to do."
"Simple. You do what I say when I say it, if I ask you to go somewhere with me you'll do it without complaining and on your best behaviour. You will tell people about how good I am to you and how in love with me you are." He looked over her critically, seemingly satisfied about something. When she gave him a questioning look he replied bluntly, "You've grown into your teeth, and your hair is acceptable enough."
"My hair and teeth have always been fine."She covered her mouth self consciously, glaring daggers up at him, couldn't she just poison him instead? They might not be able to trace it back to her if she was careful.
"If you say so." Tom said skeptically, still baiting and taunting her, "But a haircut definitely wouldn't hurt."
"I'm not changing anything for you, especially not my hair." She snapped, "I don't even see why we need to hold up this dating pretense."
"Because," He had the exaggerated patience of an adult explaining something obvious to a child, "You come from a well respected family and are on your way to becoming a doctor yourself. Every single person who knows you also knows that you would never fall in love with someone less than perfect. It would have to be someone very special to lure you from your books." He looked at her innocently, "Of course everyone knows I'm perfect but my background is, shall we say, a little sordid. If it makes you feel better consider your help in this matter repayment for saving your life."
"You're disgusting." So pretty much she was there to throw suspicion off of him in case someone did suspect him for something, which confirmed her earlier thoughts. He was up to something, and it was probably big. She just had to find out what so she could throw the blame where it belongs.
He patted her on the head before kissing her cheek, giving any nosey passer bys something to look at, and then walked off, looking way too pleased with himself for Hermione's taste. She'd wipe that smug smile off his face soon enough.
AN: Next chapter will be from both Tom and Hermione's PoVs, and a little of what Tom is up to will be revealed, however, Hermione's full part in it will be uncovered at a later date. The poll is still open on my profile and most likely will remain so until this story is finished, but either way if you're interested go vote now on what story you'd like to read next.