A/N: Not really my characters or plot, sadly enough.

Chapter 9: At a Café with Venus in Furs

I take back everything I ever stood for. Knowledge is destructive. A source of pain and misery.

At least that is how I now see it as I lean back in the chair, crossing my legs yet again. (I am constantly crossing and re-crossing them in lack of finding something else to occupy myself with, it would seem.) Tom is seated in front of me, Abraxas next to me and in front of him, Ginny is nibbling at a cake.
If I had not known of Tom's perversion, than maybe this would have been just the slightest bit less awkward. As it is now I am begging for some kind of distraction to take place at the café we are at. I actually find myself wishing for someone at the near table to choke - just so I can perform the Heimlich maneuver and get the hell out of the confinement of the little square table.
Yes. Ginny, Abraxas, Tom and me are at a café together. Horrible indeed.
It does not help that to the untrained eye, it appears to be a double-date. It is not, I must clarify.
If it was, it would be the work of that evil, behorned guy with a liking for fire. What with; Abraxas liking me, Ginny liking Abraxas and not knowing that he likes me (because I, being a bad friend, have chosen not to tell her) and not to forget, Tom and his disgusting sister complex.
It is all so very very wrong.

It started when Ginny and I walked to the schoolgates, bumping into Tom and Abraxas - both presumably waiting for me. Tom was, to me, visibly disturbed by Abraxas' presence, while I, for once, was grateful for it. The words which he left ringing in my head earlier that day had not yet begun to fade.. still going in repeat and making my stomach churn. Abraxas was smiling, thinking he would take us up on that demented offer he made in the hallway - that me, Tom and he would do something together. Of course, I did not want to be alone with Tom, so I accepted it, hoping he would pass - dumbly forgetting the fact that Tom did not want me alone with Abraxas.
..And that is when Ginny invited herself. Undoubtedly wanting to get closer to Abraxas.
And so we ended up in a café, trying to make awkward conversation seem less awkward. The only thing missing now to fulfill that behorned guy's twisted fantasy would be Bella, but at least he was merciful on that account.
Considering all, Tom was being extremely well-behaved. He did not give me those intense stares that I now found myself dreading every constant hour of the day, neither did he play footsie or something equally ridiculous. He just sat there, pondering the taste of his coffee, interjected a comment from time to time much like I did. Ginny and Abraxas were the ones put in charge of talking, probably because they were the ones unaware of how truly fucked up this constellation was.
They were getting along really well, which brought me some hope. If Abraxas and Ginny were to fall in love, that would be like killing two birds with one stone. Maybe if I were to look under the table, I would find Ginny playing footsie with Abraxas? One can wish.
Either way, my problem lay mostly with the third bird.
The twisted raven.

Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather, shiny leather in the dark..

"Isn't this your favourite band, Hermione?" Tom says, referring to the background-music of the café. I briefly look up to meet his gaze but his face betrays no emotions.

"Velvet Underground? Yeah, it's one of them," I answer, wondering where he is to go with this.

"Mm, I remember now – you're always listening to this one when you're fed up with studying. The lyrics are quite.. raunchy. I never noticed that before."

Oh. So that's where he went.

..Taste the whip, in love not given lightly, taste the whip, now plead for me..

"Yeah well, the lyrics aren't important," I state, wanting to leave the subject behind us. Ginny and Abraxas have become silent and are now watching Tom and me curiously.

"I quite disagree with you there, lyrics can make or break a song."

"Whatever you say." I roll my eyes and cross my legs. Again.

"Well put, Tom." Abraxas then interjects. "Although I didn't know that you liked music. Figured you out to be one of those people who just found it annoying."

"Well, there's a lot of things you don't know about me Abraxas."

I do not fail to miss the double entendre.

..Please don't forsake him, strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart.

"Hermione, we should be going home soon, don't you have homework to do?"

"I've already done it Tom, haven't you?" I snarl. To Abraxas and Ginny it must seem as if I am on my period or something, I am never quite this grumpy. Although I suppose I have a general grumpiness to me.. not as bad as Tom though.

"Of course. I found the assignment to be ridiculously easy. Sometimes I wonder if the teachers even try to make them challenging. Maybe it's just easier for them this way."

Ginny giggles. "What do you know! We can't all be geniuses like you guys. I for one, am only happy when the homework is too easy."

Now it is Tom turn to roll his eyes.

"Which it never is when it comes to you," I hear him mutter under his breath.
Thankfully, Ginny does not hear, turning to Abraxas once again. Tom has never really taken a shine to Ginny. Always referring to her as "that moronic redheaded friend of yours" when in conversation with me. Up until today, I was not even sure that he knew her name. Tom might be smart, but he only bothers with that knowledge which he deems to be useful. The names of my friends not being part of it.

Then, to make the evening more disturbing, Abraxas put his hand on my knee. He does it like an afterthought, like it is a natural consequence to the laughter he shares with Ginny.
Laugh with Ginny. Put hand on Hermione's knee. Like that.
I jumped a little at the sudden movement, at the unwelcomed touching. It was not noticeble, but I swear that Tom is looking suspiciously at me now. God don't let him know.
Abraxas is rubbing his thumb against the inside of my thigh as I continue to hold my coffeecup. It really is an intimate thing, being touched in this manner. I am actually not adverse to it and therefore let his hand remain there, even if the person performing the task is less desirable. But then again, why not Abraxas? Is his constant happiness and easy way enough of a reason for me to not give him a shot? Maybe we would actually be good together. Given, that he isn't actually playing footsie with Ginny right now.
Well, Hermione. It certainly is a step up from your brother.
Ugh head. Don't remind me.

After what seems like forever, we decide to call it a day. Throwing money on the table, I am fast on my feet, pulling the door open and breathing in the fresh air, not really caring if I am being rude.

"Tired?" Tom asks as he comes up behind me. He hands me my scarf which I left behind in the hurry to get away.

"You know I am," I say, accusingly. My head twirling with ideas of how to escape walking home with him.

"I could have made you more tired," he purrs, pulling the scarf from my hands again and beginning to fasten it around my neck.

"Shut up," I say, casting a glare towards the glassdoor and tugging my scarf free from his clutch.

Soon, Abraxas comes out, with Ginny at his heels. She is talking vividly as Abraxas grunts non-committedly in confirmation. For a second, as he regards us, I imagine he looks worried, but then his face smoothens and he is the old, carefree Abraxas again.
Maybe I could do with some carefree people, once in a while.
I give him one of my cutest smiles, feeling slighly guilty for Ginny in the process. Luckily, she is too busy pratteling along to notice.
Abraxas seems gladdened by it though, giving one of his toothy ones in return.

"Are you planning on staying here the entire night, sweet sister?" Tom mewls. "I know where you live, let me take you home."

"Actually.." Actually I have nothing to spare in my defense. No Tom, I don't want to walk home with you because I'm afraid you might molest me.. Funny as it might sound to some, it is serious business.

"Fine," I sneer then, not wanting to think about it anymore. "May I just say goodbye to my friends, oh mighty Tom? Some of us do not think of politeness as a waste of time."

"Couldn't tell with you escaping the café so quickly."

"I have a headache and wished for some air, do you have a problem with that, brother?" My teeth clenched.

"That explains it I guess. And please, go ahead, sister."

The two spectators appear amused with the exchange of words. As I hug Ginny, her mouth reach my ear and she whispers quietly; "Ten quid says I'm going home with Abraxas tonight."

I can not help but to giggle a bit. "Say no more, I don't wish to be a poor woman." Me and Abraxas, Ginny and Abraxas, what does it matter? As long as it's not me and Tom.

I let go of her and hug Abraxas as Tom shakes Ginny's hand. Ever the overfriendly one, Tom is.

"Well then, see you guys tomorrow!"

With that we turn to leave, Tom taking my bag as we are out of sight.
Just two siblings on their way home.

A/N: Thanks for the lovely reviews! Hopefully you will continue to like where this is going. I have some ideas that might be a little unorthodox (remember the part about me being f*cked up?), but just stay with me, okay? *shakes hand*