Friday's lessons went by like a breeze. Hermione even got out of Care of Magical Creatures early because Abraxis didn't believe in Thestrals, 'can't see them, aren't there'...so he doused his robe in the pigs blood and ran around in a circle until two of the Thestrals attacked him.
Once Hermione got back into her common room, she ran upstairs to put on one of her '40's style dresses. She liked this style. Dresses that show a little bit of clevage and that flare out at the bottom.
She decided to head down towards the front doors of the castle to meet Andy a bit early. She honestly didn't know what bathing attire the women back then wore. So she went with a two piece. The bottoms came with a miniskirt, and the top was just like a sports bra. Nothing too fancy.
Upon arriving in her common room, she found Tom sitting on the couch apparently waiting for her.
"Going out to meet Zambini, then?" He called out to her.
"Yes. We are going to go for a swim." Hermione didn't like the way Tom was looking at her. He had an odd glint in his eyes.
"Oh. What fun. You know that Zambini has a reputation right?"
Great, nice one minute, then he tries to spoil my night, thought Hermione.
"Oh really? And what might his reputation be? Showing a girl a fine afternoon? Being kind, and sweet?" She asked sarcastically.
"Kind and sweet? Please, that's all just an act Mione! I'm surprised at you. A smart girl like yourself, can't even see a fake right in front of you!" Tom said with a raised voice.
"I can see a fake, Tom, and he IS right in front of me!" With that, Hermione turned and left Tom all alone in the common room.
Hermione honestly didn't need to hear that Andy had a reputation. He's so sweet and handsome. What could his rep. possibly be? Maybe Tom is just making things up, can Tom even do that? I suppose he does have to have an imagination to think up all those cruel things he does.
Ugh, just relax. Everything is fine. You are just going swimming. As friends. Ask him about the reputation thing. It will be okay. Hermione reassured herself.
Andy met up with her at their designated spot. They walked down to the lake together talking about their classes and making fun of the teachers, all seemed to be going well. Plus, they weren't the only ones swimming at the lake. There were at least 15 other kids out swimming!
Hermione looked around at the other girls to see what they were wearing. Two pieces. Thank God. She looked back at Andy to see that he had already stripped off his clothes and was standing there in his suit. He's rather skinny, but had a good body none-the-less. Not as good as Tom's of course...stop it Hermione!
"Come on, then! There's only a couple hours left of sunlight!" With that he took off for the lake. She smiled at his back, and stripped down to her suit.
"Wow." Andy said as Hermione reached the lake. "You..l-look great!"
Hermione squirmed underneath his gaze. He was definitely a boob guy. She hurried up and ran into the water to get out of his line of sight. She kept her distance.
"So Andy. I heard from someone that you have a reputation..."
His face changed immediatly from a smile to a frown.
"Who said that?" His Italian accent thick.
"Oh, just some girls in the bathroom..."
"Hm..." And that was the end of the reputation conversation.
For the next hour or so in the lake went by nicely. They conversed easily, but something didn't feel right. Andy would get so close to her that she would feel his hand (or another part of his anatomy) rubbing against her leg. So, Hermione would scoot over, and be comfortable until he did it again.
Finally after the fifth time of scooting over, Hermione suggested he walk her back to her room.
"Do you think we could head back? I'm feeling a bit tired." Hermione asked.
"Sure, of course."
By the time they got to the outside of Hermione's common room her hair was almost dry and it looked like a big ball of fuzz.
"Well, here we are-"
"Do you think I could come in?" Zambini interjected quickly. "Tom won't let anyone in and I'm just...curious."
"Oh, um...well yes, I suppose. Just for a moment though." Damnit. You made passes at me all evening, and have made no success in those passes and you still want to come in?!
Hermione showed him around the common room, and they talked about the various books she's read from the bookcase so far. And how beautiful the fireplace is.
"So, can I see your room?" Andy asked in a seemingly innocent way.
"Sure." Hermione said as she laid her towel and wand down on the coffee table.
Hermione led him up the stairs into her bedroom. She subconsciencly decided not to tell him about the strange dead man in her wardrobe. She showed him her personal collection of books, and led him into the bathroom to show how big the tub is.
"Hermione, have I told you how beautiful you are?" Andy asked as he grabbed her hand and led her to sit on her bed.
"Um...no?" She said softly.
"Well you are. And...I would like it if we progressed some..." He said as he leaned in...
"Andy, I don-" But Hermione didn't have time to finish for Andy had pushed himself on top of her, pinning her to the bed, Hermione tried pushing him off, but he was definitely stronger than he looked.
"Mm..Andy..I...don't...we...no..."
There wasn't much she could do. It's not like she didn't like it. It's just that it didn't feel right. And there was definitely no connection between herself and Zambini. Slowly, but surely Hermione felt a hand creeping up her skirt. She started to push against his chest and say 'no'...but his hand persisted further until it hit the bottom of her swimsuit.
Finally Hermione shoved hard enough to get Andy to fall onto the floor.
"Andy! What the hell! I said no! Get out of my room!" Hermione yelled.
"No! I've never been turned down before! And I'm not about to begin with a prude like you! All afternoon I've watched as you've tried to get away from me, and I'm not taking it now!" His face was red with anger. He came towards her again, this time he threw her down with little grace.
"Zambini! Get away from me!" Hermione screamed...why, oh, why did she have to leave her wand downstairs!
"No, you're mine..." Andy ripped off her dress and threw it to the ground. Hermione had started to cry now. With her emotions haywire, she won't be able to use any wandless magic! This had never happened to her before. A man was about to have his way with her! And for her first time! This couldn't happen...it couldn't!
"NO!! TOM! HELP ME! TOM-" Andy clamped his hand over her mouth.
"No," he whispered, "Tom cannot help you. And he wouldn't anyways. There are so many things that you don't know about that guy..." His hand went down and gripped her breast tightly. Hermione let out a muffled scream.
"What the fuck is going on?" An angry Tom yelled.
Before Hermione knew what was going on Tom had ripped Zambini off of her and threw him to the ground with his wand pointed at his chest. She heard him say 'Taglio Bruciante' which is the same cutting curse he used on her the previous week. Various sizes of cuts and scrapes came about all over Andy's face.
"I've warned you once before Andy. About messing with people and things you shouldn't. If I ever see you near her again...I will kill you. Also, if I ever hear about this happening to another girl...I will kill you." Tom said with a fierce voice.
Andy took a quick glance at Hermione, who had pulled the covers up over her torso, then a quick glance at Tom. He knew he should get out of there quick, but Hermione would pay.
Tom turned around after Andy left. He wasn't sure what to do or what to say. He's never comforted anyone before...
"Er, Mione...?" Hermione was looking straight ahead. Too stunned to do anything. So many thoughts. Did Andy just do that? Was I almost raped? Why did I call for Tom? Why did he protect me? Why? She looked up at Tom. He looked very handsome with a slightly worried look on his face. Hermione gave him a small smile and did the only thing she could think of.
She gave him a hug.
He was so warm in her embrace. She held him tightly to her, it didn't even matter that she was only in her bathingsuit.
Tom was floored. People didn't hug him. And he didn't hug people, but Hermione was holding him so close, and she smelled so nice, and he really didn't have a say in the matter. He liked it, and not just because she was hardly wearing anything. He wanted more of this so called 'hugging'.
Hermione released him at long last. She leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you...fo-for, and...well...thanks." Hermione said sheepishly.
"No problem, Mione." Tom said just as sheepishly. No problem? Tom thought to himself, I can't even think of anything better to say!
"And, I'm sorry I didn't believe you about Andy," She said with tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm going to go to bed now...Goodnight, Tom." She led Tom to the door and shut it behind him.
"Goodnight, Hermione..." Tom whispered to the door.
Tom couldn't figure out what it was about Mione that he liked. They hadn't really spoken much. Who the hell was she? Mione was smart, opinionated, gifted, beautiful, fiesty, bitchy, and funny. He's never liked a girl like this before. Sure, he is 17, but, most girls don't come up to his standards. They are either slutty and just like him for his looks, or they are so annoying and overly dumb that he can hardly stand to be around them!
Tom could hardly believe that Andy had done this. To another girl at that! First he heard about Zambini going after a fourth year, and now after Hermione. His threat wasn't a joke. He would kill him. He almost did after he once caught Andy spying on him when he was talking to Abraxis about their next meeting. Which he had been putting off a lot recently. Ever since the night Hermione came, that's why he was out so late. He was coming back from a beginning of school meeting with his 'followers' as he liked to think of them.
If he and Mione ever became friends or something more, he would have to tell her about his plans. And who he really is. Lord Voldemort. Maybe she would join his ranks, and stand next to him as his 'followers' wreck havoc on innocent towns. She was very beautiful...no, Hermione is too good to be with Voldemort, he thought, she's even too good to be with me...
For the rest of the weekend Hermione kept to herself. She let Tom bring her food when she needed, but mostly she stayed in her room reading, doing homework, or sleeping. She hadn't really had a good nights sleep since before she went out with Andy. Now it's Sunday night. Hermione just had to keep her distance from Zambini. Part two of the duel was on Thursday, so she had enough time to practice during the next week...although, she hardly needed it.
Tom had been overly kind lately. He didn't say anything that would make her mad and he wasn't teasing her. He read with her in her room, he did his homework on her floor while she was at the desk, he even brought her a glass of water when she had a nightmare on Saturday night.
If opinions had already been formed, but not for another 50 years, could you still form a new one about the same person, before you officially met them? This is so confusing, she thought! Hermione knew she didn't know Tom that well, but she knew Voldemort. Tom. Who was he? He was sarcastic, smart, powerful, kind, cute, but he was also arrogant, needy, stubborn, and a soon-to-be psychopath. Ugh, life is too hard.