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Chapter 9

Hermione's POV

I spent most of the next few days reading in my room with Annie securely wrapped around my shoulders. We hadn't had much time together the past few days. She didn't think much of me avoiding my next door neighbor, but after my revelation on Saturday, I could hardly look at Tom, let alone talk to him. I had barely left my dorm room at all the past two days. Unfortunately, each time I had left-Tom happened to be wherever I went.

First, when I had left for dinner on Saturday. He sat down right next to me. He either chose to not notice the color rising to my cheeks, or he relished in it. I couldn't tell. Tom hadn't seemed too worried about anything. He had nonchalantly filled his plate and idly chatted with Abraxis. Until the latter turned his eyes on me.

"Hermione," Malfoy had whispered. "Tom told me the gist of what happened between you and Zambini. I just want to let you know that he will never come near you again, and that Berrati and the Headmaster had him suspended for a month."

'What else did he tell you?' I silently wondered.

I looked over at Tom, he seemed fine. Like last night had never even happened. Maybe it hadn't happened? Had I made that up? I squinted my eyes at him to see if there were any underlying emotions he was masking. There weren't. I nodded my thanks to Abraxis, and left the Great Hall shortly thereafter.

Then on Sunday, when I ran into him in the hallway on my way to Professor Berrati's office, we locked eyes. I couldn't seem to tear my eyes away from him even though I could feel my blush staining my face. That was when I noticed the weird look in his eyes. It was like something clicked in his brain and his blue eyes held a look of understanding in them...and something else, embarrassment?

'Oh god. He knows I know that he knows that I remember...' I thought to myself. 'Wait, what?'

I had shaken my head to clear my thoughts and when I glanced back up he was gone.

By the time I had made it to Professor Berrati's office, I felt that my cheeks would never return to their natural colour.

"Hermione," the Professor said to rouse me from my thoughts, "how are you feeling?"

I gave him a small smile in return. I was embarrassed to be around him, too. He had to of known that I was under a Lust Potion? Of course he had, he was the one that got Zambini suspended. The blush had spread down my chest now.

"I don't want you to think that all Hogwart's boys are like Zambini. I know you're new to this school and are probably scared, but don't be...that was my first time ever hearing about anything like that." His eyes took in my form. A concerned, yet appreciative look in his eyes. "You know, it takes a very powerful, resilient person to fight off a potion like the one he gave you. I'm proud of you."

"It wasn't without struggle, sir, I assure you…" I managed to mumble out.

He gave me a smile and seemed to shake his head to clear his thoughts. "Right. Well, I want you to be comfortable here, Hermione. Know that you can come to me whenever you're feeling out of sorts or if anything is bothering you."

'Yes, I'm sure we would be having a different conversation if I hadn't held my ground and not tried to snog you to death...' I thought bitterly.

"Thank you, Professor, " I said outloud. "I appreciate your concern."

"You're welcome, Hermione," he said politely. "I will fully understand if you want to take an extra day to collect yourself and get some extra rest."

"I just might do that, actually, sir," An extra day to lie around and read? I couldn't say no.

Now all of that had led me to today. I had made it through my Tuesday classes without anyone saying anything to me about Zambini. It made me feel better knowing that Tom and Abraxis hadn't mentioned anything to the rest of the school. I could just go on pretending that nothing had happened.

When I made it to the Defense classroom, there was a note pinned to the door.

'Duel Today! Everyone meet in the Great Hall,' It read.

I had completely forgotten the duel was to begin today, what with the Zambini drama and my enhanced libido, it had slipped my mind. I liked the way Professor Berrati had set up the duel. Not with just our class participating, but all the seventh years from all four houses.

I walked over to Jesse when I made it to the Great Hall. He greeted me with a half hug, while I smiled cautiously at Alice. Who gave me an awkward grimace and walked away to stand with Aimee Boot. Jesse chuckled and pulled me tighter to his side, "She'll get over whatever it is eventually. Red heads, you know?"

I didn't have the chance to respond, because the Professor chose that moment to jump up on the conjured dueling platform to get the attention of the students.

"Good afternoon, students! Welcome to the first round of the Dueling Competition!" There was a round of cheers and catcalls. "As you can tell, I've decided to just mix both of my seventh year classes into this duel, so we can all have a chance to study and learn from each other. You should all know who you're up against first, so let's get this thing going so we can have it finished by the time dinner is supposed to start!"

He started to call out names, and one by one students ambled up to the platform. Some of the duels were relatively short. For instance, Tom versus Davies lasted about a minute and a half. While some were longer, Corrine versus Jesse. Which lasted about eight minutes, and ended up with Jesse sending a well placed shield charm up while disarming Corrine in the meantime.

When my turn came to duel Selena Turpin, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had never really gotten to know Selena, I had seen her around-mostly hanging out with the other Hufflepuffs. I hopped on stage and took my stance. I hoped that I could keep it simple. Not having to pull any tricks I had learned from my time in training with Ron and Harry. Selena was just a normal seventeen year old girl from the 1940's. They didn't put too much on females and dueling in the forties. It should be simple. There had been only two others girls to win their rounds so far, and that had been Romilda who had been up against Alice-who seemed to afraid to raise her wand. And the other had been some girl in Hufflepuff.

"Three, two, one…" Berrati had counted down.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Selena had said first.

I was easily able to step to the side of her spell, while sending a simple, 'Expelliarmus!', toward her. She blocked it with a hasty 'Protego'. It continued on like that for a couple minutes until I caught the Slytherin boys smirking and shaking their heads, like Selena and I's duel was some sort of joke.

I gritted my teeth and decided it was time to end the duel. I cast a tripping jinx, a stinging hex, and a disarming spell in quick succession. It caught my opponent off guard, and her wand had sailed into my waiting hand.

"Congratulations, Hermione!" the Professor shouted while a round of polite applause had started from the side lines. I walked over to Selena to hand her back her wand, who was still on the floor from my tripping jinx.

"Good round," I said as I extended my other hand to help her up.

She ignored it, "Yeah, thanks Smith." She got up and walked back over to a group of sympathetic Hufflepuffs.

"So how's that for a birthday present? An advancement to the next round?" Berrati said as he came up behind to me to clap a hand on my shoulder. He said that loud enough for the whole room to hear. I smiled and happened a quick glance over to where Tom and Abraxis were standing. They were both frowning.

"Perfect. It's lovely. Thank you, Professor," I said as I made my way over to the boys. Purely focusing on Abraxis, so I wouldn't have to make eye contact with Tom.

"Congratulations on your duel, Smith," Tom said casually without looking at me.

"Right, yes. Congratulations…" Abraxis said in a monotone voice. "Were you just going to not tell us it was your birthday...or…?"

I cringed, "Abraxis, I-I...I don't really like celebrating my birthday. It's just...this is the first year without my friends and family. And, eighteen is just another year before thirty" I laughed jokingly. "Besides, you wouldn't know what to get me anyway." I tried to end on a less depressive note.

"That doesn't even matter, Hermione. I still would have like to have known it was one of my 'actual' friend's birthdays. You know when mine is, and when Tom's is…"

"I know, I know...I'm sorry! I'll be sure to make you privy to all important dates in my life," I apologized hastily.

He put a hand on my shoulder, "That's what friends do. Either way, happy birthday, Hermione."

I looked over at Tom to see him examining me closely. He gave a half-hearted grin and said, "Happy birthday." Before walking away.

I didn't have much time to mull over my thoughts, when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

It was Alice.

"Hermione, I just wa-wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for being such an atrocity of a friend the last week or so. I just got worked up over nothing and I didn't mean to say those things to you. I know we aren't the closest of friends, but I still consider you to be a good friend of mine. And I really, really hope you can find it in you to forgive me, because it would just ma-"

"Alice!" I interrupted her. "It's fine. It's all in the past. You're forgiven."

She beamed at me and pulled me in for a bone crushing hug.

"Oh, yay! Thank god!" She cheered as I patted her on the back awkwardly as I pulled away. We idly chatted about random things as they cleared the Great Hall to set the tables for dinner.

Alice had asked me to sit with her during the meal, so we could keep on talking. If this was what it took for her to not be mad, I guessed I'd have to do what she asked. I kept my eyes peeled for Tom. A part of me decided that I needed to clear the air with him. Before my date with Zambini, Tom had been possessive and demanding-his usual self. It wasn't like him to give me space or to be coy or embarrassed or whatever he was! I had to talk to him. To get things back to how they were. Or close to. I could do without the whole 'must control Hermione' thing that he had going on…

"Alice, I am going to get up to my dorms...need to finish Charms…" I mumbled as I stood up and walked out of the Great Hall.

Tom wasn't in the common room, so I went to my room and left the door ajar so I could hear if he walked in through the door. I put my bag down beside my desk and went to lay on my bed, when I noticed a single red rose with a card next to it on my pillow.

I picked up the rose and pressed it gently to my nose.

The card read in perfect, scrawling cursive,

'Hermione,

I had made it my plan to learn everything I could about you, and yet I forgot to ask when your birthday was. This is my bad, and I apologize. I feel as if we need to talk. I know you remember. And I'm sorry if you find yourself embarrassed.

I, on the other hand, have no complaints. But for the sake of your modesty, and whatever other unsightly feelings you may be having-we can forget it happened, if you would like?

Happy birthday.

Tom M. Riddle'

I set the card back down from where I had picked it up. He had no complaints? That meant that he enjoyed himself? Did that mean he wanted to do that again? They had kissed twice. And both times were passionate and wonderful all in themselves. Did that mean she wanted to do that again?

I laid face first onto my comforter. What if this wasn't part of my destiny? What if this was just interrupting what I was originally supposed to do?

Alright, logically, if I dated Tom-it might be a wonderful romance. One full of passion and attraction. But it would also be full of possession and dominance. He would never let me feel like I was on par with him. I would always be a 'goal' in his eyes.

That's what he is to you, though… the rational half of my conscious chimed in.

True. That was true. He was my project, of sorts. Must solve before world domination.

If I didn't date Tom, things might be able to continue as usual. We could keep 'this', whatever 'this' was, going.

I needed more time.

I needed more time to decide my fate.

I heard the common room door slam, and I jumped up from my bed. I started to wring my hands in front of me nervously. I could hear his footsteps approaching my door. I could see his perfect, masculine hand pushing open my door. I could see his well kept, leather shoes crossing the threshold. I could see the flat planes of his chest, and the square of his jaw. And finally, I could see the candlelight dancing in his dark blue eyes.

"Hermione…" he said slowly.

"T-Tom," I stuttered out weakly.

"You got my note," he pointed out.

"I did," I said as I continued to wring my hands.

"And?" he asked imploringly.

"And...I-I don't ...I don't want to forget, Tom," I finished defeatedly. "I genuinely enjoyed every second of that kiss, and it wasn't just from that stupid potion, okay? This is driving me crazy, because I'm not even sure what 'this' is," I indicated between us. "Can we just go on like we were for just a little bit longer? I-I need more time."

Tom had his eyebrows raised.

"Hermione," he started slowly. "when I said I had no complaints, I meant it. I had no complaints about kissing you-which was hard for me to admit. When I said that, it wasn't a hint at a bigger picture. I'm not looking for...for a relationship with you. I just was telling you that I enjoyed our encounters and I wouldn't be upset if it was to happen again. I'm not even saying that it has to happen again..."

Okay. There was that. He put his feelings on the situation out in the open and so did I. There was no pressure. We could progress as friends at our leisure.

"Okay," I said confidently.

"Okay?" he asked as I walked toward him and stopped right in front of him

"Yes, okay. No pressure, no awkwardness. Nothing. We can go back to you being a pushy, demanding arse, and I'll go back to being the brilliant, top student that I am," I joked.

On a whim, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in for a hug. His body stiffened as he timidly placed his arms around my waist. We stayed like that for a second. Just breathing and taking in each others presence. I pulled away before it could turn into an embrace. We locked eyes before letting go. His face was mere inches from mine and his blue eyes had darkened to something akin to the night sky. I could have easily let myself fall in to catch his lips-but I didn't, I pulled away and gave him a reassuring smile.

Alright, yes! Finished another chapter. Thank god.

I know that it is kind of weird that I haven't updated this story in three years and now I'm adding chapters again, but yeah. I don't know. Let's just go with it.

Thanks for reading!