Tom in Hermione walked in a comfortable silence to the front of the Colosseum. Hermione was a tad bit apprehensive. This would definitely be the first time she had ever met a vampire. She kept on thinking back to what Dumbledore said about giving him blood. How much blood exactly?
Stop worrying, Dumbledore said he had everything in order...we just have to pick it up.
Hermione looked up at Tom. He had a determined look in his eyes as he looked for the circle in front of the Colosseum that they were supposed to stand in. Hermione wondered if he was as nervous as she was...most likely not. Stupid boys...and their stupid adventures.
"There's the circle..." Tom said as he grabbed her arm to lead her to where they were supposed to stand. "Alright...do you remember the phrase?"
Hermione reached into her back pocket and pulled out a ripped piece of parchment with the phrase on it.
"Of course I do." She said smugly. "Now, we have to recite it at the same time. I'm not quite sure what will happen...we are supposed to do this in the middle of the day, right?"
"Why else would Dumbledore send us in the middle of the day if we were supposed to get it at night?" Tom asked in an irritated voice.
"Don't be crabby, Tom." Hermione warned him.
He rolled his eyes and snatched the piece of parchment out of her hands. His eyes scanned it for a few moments as if he were trying to memorize it. Hermione could see his lips moving...so he was definitely memorizing it. I had it memorized ages ago, she thought smartly.
"Mione...Mione!" Tom was snapping his fingers in front of her face. "Are you ready or not?"
"Yes. Sorry." Hermione took a step closer to him and closed her eyes.
"On three," Tom said, "one, two...three!"
"Siamo qui ripagare i debiti della nostra societá a lei, il mio Signore." They said in unison.
A great, radiant, white light emitted from around the circle. Visible even through the sunny skies. Hermione let out a gasp of surprise as she looked at the people around her. No one was even giving them a second glance. People were even walking through the circle! How could you not see this light? She asked herself. Then her more logical side kicked in, because there's a charm on it, are you daft?
Suddenly the light began to change colors as the circle began to swivel downward. Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Then finally they were submerged in darkness. Hermione reached out for Tom's hand, which she clasped onto tightly. Tom's demeanor hadn't changed at all. He was just standing there, acting as if this happened daily! Hermione really did not like the dark...AND THEY WERE STILL COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY IT!
After a few minutes Hermione got impatient and began to tap her foot. It seemed like as soon as a noise was made a dimly lit hallway emerged out of nowhere. Hermione stiffened as she gazed down the hallway. Long hallways with a door at the end always lead to bad things.
Tom started walking towards the door once he let go of Hermione's hand. The sudden movement made her yelp and take off after him in a brisk pace. She was almost right on Tom's heel's. He let out an annoyed sigh.
"Mione...stop being so afraid. I don't see how you can be so good a dueling, but act like a child in the dark." He turned around swiftly and knocked on the door, Hermione mimicked him once his back was to her. The door opened without anyone opening it. Tom stepped through the threshold into a gigantic room. White and blue lights hung from the ceiling giving it a sort of creepy look. Hermione thought she felt a movement behind her so she turned around quickly with her wand drawn, but no one was there.
She turned back around the way Tom was facing and let out a startled scream. A man...or a vampire was standing there with perfect posture, his fangs showing slightly. Hermione knew him to be well over several centuries old, but right now he looked like he was in his early twenties.
The vampire, Caesar, circled around them. He had black, shaggy hair that fell easily into his eyes, which were a brilliant blue. He was around Tom's height and had his build (Hermione assumed, since she couldn't really tell). He was wearing a black suit, with a red tie underneath.
"Dumbledore's, I believe?" He said once he was in front of them again. Hermione nodded. "Follow me."
Caesar led them through a series of long hallways, until they came to a room that resembled a potions lab and an office all in one. He gestured for Tom and Hermione to take the seats in front of the large desk.
"Now," He started once he sat down, "who are you?"
"I'm Tom Riddle, and this is Hermione DeLance." Tom began without hesitation. Caesar gave him a hard stare before turning his gaze to Hermione. He stared at her for a long time until Tom cleared his throat.
"Excuse me, sir, but I think we are hear to get something from you." Caesar adverted his eyes back to Tom.
"Right." He pulled out a dagger and a wine glass. "Fill this."
"What?" Hermione blurted out. Was he implying what she thought he was implying?
"Fill this with your blood." He repeated without blinking an eye.
Tom gave him a weird look while Hermione reached for the dagger. Voldemort used one like this on Harry one time, she said thinking back to a battle they had around the end of 6th year. He bled for ages, she thought with a shudder. Hermione put the glass between her legs and quickly flipped her arm over to cut the delicate skin that was her wrist. Without even uttering a gasp she put her arm over the glass that began to fill quickly.
She looked up at Tom to see that he was giving her an impressed look. She gave him a small smile, then she looked to Caesar, who was staring at the cup in her lap with hunger. When the cup was done filling, Hermione took out her wand to heal the cut on her wrist. She put the cup on the desk and sat back in her chair. Tom was up next. He grabbed the dagger from the desk and sliced his arm open the same way she did. His cup filled more quickly than her's did. Once he was done he set his cup on the desk and went to take out his wand. But Hermione beat him to it and healed it with her wand.
Tom gave her a grateful smile.
"Now that you have paid your debt," Caesar said while taking Hermione's cup and taking a sip out of it, "we can now get down to business. First off, here are the vials with Romolus' and Remus' blood." He said while handing them the vials. "Pandora's box. Dumbledore did a lot to get that box, you know. Filled with random spurs of hope. We can only imagine what he could use that for..."
Caesar left the room for a minute and came back with a small wooden box in his hand. On the top it had designs of flowers, butterflies, and other things of nature's beauty. The box look as if it were in meant condition, and as if he read her mind, Caesar answered her internal question.
"There's a spell on the box, so that it never tarnishes. Here you go." He said as he handed the box to Tom. "Keep it safe, I've had it for centuries."
Tom and Hermione stood up as Caesar went to open the door.
"It's a little tricky to get out of here, so I will lead you to the place you need to go." Caesar gave them a charming smile, fangs and all.
He led them to a small room off of one of the dark hallways. Caesar said that it will take them back up to the circle in front of the Colosseum.
"Hermione...good luck with your task, and Riddle if things don't change...I'm assuming I'll see you again in about five years." With that he shut the door and they were submerged in darkness. Hermione reached out for Tom's hand again. He grabbed it and pulled her body right up next to his. He gradually wrapped his arms around her and put his chin on top of her head. Hermione was stiff at first, but she relaxed into his embrace by putting her head on his chest and closing her eyes. Tom's embrace was, calming, she thought.
Then came the colors and a gush of wind as they were sent upwards towards the surface. When Hermione opened her eyes, it was dark outside and only a few people were out walking around. Were they really down there that long? And am I still wrapped in the arms of Tom Riddle!?
Tom pulled back a little to look into Hermione's eyes. He saw a plethera of emotions swimming in her chocolate pools (A/N: corny, I know.) and at that moment, he wanted nothing more than for her to be his. He slowly lifted his hand to his fingers through her soft curls. Tom felt a shiver run through her body at his touch. He needed her. He wanted her and he had to have her.
Hermione leaned her face into Tom's hand as he lightly brushed his finger across her lips. Tom started to lean in towards her ever so slowly. Hermione knew he was going to kiss her, and with all the bad things that come along with Tom Riddle, the good things weigh out the bad. She slowly closed her eyes as she anticipated his lips on hers. Then the sensation came, he kissed her. Hermione thought she had never felt anything as soft as his lips. She got a weird jolt of electricity as he ran his tongue across her bottom lip, she willingly let him in and just as she moved her hand from her side up to his neck, she felt a tugging sensation at her bellybutton and they were whisked away.
Hermione landed hard on something soft, which gave a grunt of displeasure as she put her hand on his chest to get up. She looked up into the twinkling eyes of Albus Dumbledore. She gave him a smile as she put her hand out for Tom to help him get up.
"How was your trip?" He asked with amusement in his voice.
"It was good, sir," Tom said as he brushed off his pants. "We got the blood and the box." Tom handed Dumbledore the objects.
"Did you encounter any trouble?" Albus asked.
"No, none at all." Hermione replied this time.
"Good, good. Now, I've replaced your patrolling tonight with the Ravenclaw prefects, so by all means head back to your dorms I'm sure if you call out 'Angela' a house-elf will be in your service in seconds to get you some dinner."
They said there goodbyes as they left Dumbledore's office. Hermione didn't really know what to say to Tom, should she hold his hand, should she pull him off to the side and snog him senseless? She didn't know what to do, but she definitely knew that the kissed they had just shared sent a feeling through her that she had never felt before. And she wanted more.
Tom was having the same dilemma in his head...but a tad bit more aggressive. She hates you. She hated the kiss. That's why she's not talking to you. You've really messed it up now, Tom. The one girl you've liked...since forever, and you mess it up by kissing her. You are so daft! Best student at Hogwarts my arse! Tom shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts as they came up to their dormitory.
Hermione said the password as Tom pushed through the portrait before her. Hermione stared after him baffled. Was he mad at me?
"Goodnight, Hermione." Tom said in a cold voice as he turned toward his bedroom.
"Hermione? You never call me Hermione...?" Tom didn't even bother to turn around as he said "Thing's change."
He was at his door now, but before he could enter Hermione tapped on his shoulder to get him to turn around. When he turned his icy glare upon her, Hermione pulled his face down to hers and kissed him with everything that she had. Tom's eyes widened in surprise before he smiled into the kiss. Hermione reluctantly pulled away and scampered off to her room.
"Sweet dreams, Tom."