Chapter Fourteen: Never Have I Ever
Previously: I allowed my left hand to release its grip on her waist and lifted my fingers to brush against the soft skin of her throat and trace patterns on the silky texture, causing Goosebumps to appear on her naked arms and a shudder to erupt down her spine.
"Thank you," I barely whispered in her ear, making certain to breathe on her neck and softly touch my lips to her ear.
"What for?" she replied, closing her eyes and leaning into my touch.
I chuckled quietly and pulled back so that I was only inches from her soft plump lips, slightly parted and gleaming. "For this…" I breathed, and closed the distant between us...
Tom Riddle P.O.V.
You know when one does something magnificent, like produce your first patronus or successfully brew your first potion, and you get such a mind-blowing rush of satisfaction, adrenaline and pride? That's what it felt like to kiss Hermione. Even just a gentle brush of her lips against mine was enough to trigger such a sharp pang of adrenaline in my chest that I felt fit to burst with it! It was like being struck by lightening…being so close to her really had the strangest affect on me, but at least it was there; and it was a totally unknown feeling to me. I just knew it meant something, how could it not if I'd never felt it before?
Stop getting ahead of yourself, I thought irritably, she probably doesn't even like you in the least bit. I mentally scowled at the truth in those words.
But she's kissed me, she came to the ball with me, she's bought me a birthday present for Christ sake! I was infatuated with this strange, caramel haired girl. And that should have been good news; but not for The Dark Lord. I was evil, cruel; I was supposed to be a heartless manipulative bastard! Why did she have to come along and make me develop feelings for her?!
Her lips felt so damn soft against mine, and slightly damp from when she had graced her tongue over them before I kissed her. For saying it was just an innocent brush of my lips against hers, it felt like eternity was engulfing us; like it would never end and we would never part, and for a moment I wanted that so badly! But that wasn't possible obviously; as much as neither of us wanted this rare moment of pure bliss to come to an end, we knew it had to…eventually.
I put a little pressure on her waist, pulling her just a tiny bit closer to me then I allowed the everlasting flame to flicker out of existence. I pulled back slowly, breathlessly, reluctantly and smiled a little whilst staring into her chocolate brown eyes with more tenderness than I dare admit.
Her eyes sparkled like diamonds and she returned the smile and clutched my hand in hers. Such soft skin, I thought, allowing myself to lose all train of thought in her intense gaze.
"Come on," she whispered, leaning her head against my chest as we swayed to the music, her ringlets of hair tickling my chin. "let's get out of here," she continued and placed a feather-light kiss on my cheek then pulled us away from the crowd of couples and back into the corridor.
I assume she had arranged to meet everyone after the ball, because Eileen and Muciber were sitting together on the staircase, quietly talking to each other. Druella and Cygnus were walking eagerly over to us, hand in hand. And Avery and Mona Parsons were in a rather uncomfortable looking position in the corner of the wall, engaged in a furious lip-lock. I couldn't help but snigger at the couples before us, but Hermione elbowed me sharply in the ribs and my laughing immediately stopped.
"Hermione, Tom!" Druella exclaimed when she reached us, "We're all going to the Slytherin common room now for a little drinking game, if you're up for it." She continued and winked in my date's direction, who narrowed her eyes at the dark haired girl but giggled none the less.
Cygnus glanced at me and rolled his eyes, smirking. I laughed along with him and wrapped my arm around Hermione's shoulder, pulling her tight against my side. Well, I thought, this drinking game doesn't sound like a bad idea.
You can say that again, Cygnus replied, we're lucky bastards eh? He laughed.
"Right," Mulciber began, rubbing his hands together eagerly and watching Avery pouring the shots for each of us, then placing the whisky bottle in the middle. "The game goes like this: each of us goes in turns to say, never have I ever…then you obviously say something that you've never done, can be anything from…setting your boxers on fire to humping a teacher, yeah?" when everyone nodded he continued, "whoever hasn't done whatever they've said, remain still. But if you have done it, then you take a shot. Understand everyone?" he asked, grinning.
We remained silent and prepared for Mulciber to begin the game.
Why am I dreading this so much? Hermione groaned.
I mentally chuckled and grasped her hand in mine, because you're a light weight? I replied and winked at her shocked expression which soon changed into a smirk.
"Never have I ever…" Mulciber began, eyeing everyone in the circle evilly and smirking before saying, "had sex in a cupboard."
I could feel the colour drain from my face as he said those words, and three sets of eyes landed on me. Avery, Mulciber and Parsons narrowed their eyes in my direction, calculating my next move.
Fuck it, I thought and lifted the shot glass to my lips, then downed the burning liquid.
Hermione Granger P.O.V.
"WHAT?!" I shouted, jumping up from my spot on the floor after I watched Tom, Mona Parsons and Avery raise the shot glasses to their lips.
Tom shot Mulciber a threatening look, but all he did was smirk in reply. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! I couldn't wrap my head around it! Just…I wanted to throw up…but that would have given the worst impression; I wanted to curse him…but what right did I have to do that? I wasn't even part of his private life…I didn't have a say in who he shagged and who he didn't…but I felt jealous. I felt so, so jealous…and I didn't know why!
"Calm down, Hermione," Tom sighed, "I'll explain it later." He promised and smiled a little, resting a hand on my arm to calm me.
Dammit, I thought, you shouldn't give in so easily.
I sighed, and sat back down, ignoring the numerous stares in mine and Tom's direction. Mulciber leaned over to refill the three shot glasses and leaned back casually with his hands behind his head and a triumphant smirk plastered on his face. I scowled at the Slytherin before me but let it slide for the moment and focused my gaze on Eileen who was next in line.
She frowned for a few moments, clearly stuck on something but soon enough, her face lit up and she said, "Never have I fallen in love."
it was so silent in the room once she'd said that; it was as if a veil had fallen over us and frozen us in place. But once Cygnus had the guts to take his shot back, Druella followed him and I couldn't keep the truth from tripping from my lips and I raised the glass to my lips and knocked the foul, burning liquid down my throat. It was horrible; like my throat was set on fire and growing in my stomach. I mentally prayed that they wouldn't ask another question like that.
I wouldn't be in this situation if Ron was still with me, I thought sadly, tears threatening to overspill at any moment as I remembered some of the best times I had experienced with my love. But he wasn't with me anymore, and my life depended on this moment in time.
Yeah, I thought, and here you are betraying Ron by hooking up with the future Dark Lord.
That was when I noticed a lot of eyes focused on me. Druella was watching me carefully, a knowing expression on her face, as was Eileen. But the rest…well, I don't know what they were thinking, but the majority were looking…sort of shocked really. I glanced at Tom through my eyelashes, almost frightened of his opinion. I couldn't quite decipher the expression on his face…but, once I had seen him, I felt a sharp pain strike my chest and I had a horrible urge to ask him to hold me close and cry. He looked hurt.
A cough from my right brought us out of a trance and Cygnus muttered, "Yeah well, we can talk all this over later on when we're all hammered and on the verge of passing out;" he clapped his hands loudly and I tore my gaze relentlessly from Tom's dark eyes, "it's my turn now…" he growled playfully.
We laughed at his tone of voice and for a moment, all the tension vanished.
"I've got a good one," he barked, "Never have I ever pushed someone out of a window!"
Avery and Tom took yet another shot of whisky and leaned back, grinning proudly. I raised my eyebrow at the dark haired boy next to me and smirked. "You pushed someone out of a window?" I inquired, trying to sound as if I didn't believe it.
But I did believe it. Of course I believed it; it sounded just like him for Merlin's sake! Avery smirked at me and opened his mouth to explain, but Tom cut him off by raising his hand and said quietly, "He had it coming to him." And ended the conversation.
"Right," Druella piped up eagerly, her big dark eyes flickering to everyone in the room and laughing like an evil scientist, "Never have I ever…" she turned to look intently at me and wink mischievously before continuing, "measured my penis."
I couldn't hold back the fits of laughter this time; neither could the other three girls, and the look on Avery's, Tom's, Cygnus's, and Mulciber's faces were priceless!
Tom Riddle P.O.V.
"Right," Druella began, glancing at everyone in the room and smirking, "Never have I ever…" she paused for a moment, then winked at Hermione and the pair of them sniggered.
Brilliant, I thought, I can't imagine what this next ones going to be.
"…measured by penis." Druella continued, and the room was filled with girly giggles and unpleasant grunts of frustration.
I leaned back, watching the scene unfold before me with my trademark smirk in place and Hermione seated curiously beside me. I turned my head to see her staring at me with her eyebrows raised and a cheeky smirk playing at her lips.
"Oh, come on," I laughed, "I'm not as sad as those three-" I nodded towards my fellow Slytherin's who were currently knocking back their shots with uncomfortable expressions on their faces, "-and I don't need to measure it, love." I said, and lifted my hand to trail my fingers slowly down her throat and earn a nice shiver from Hermione.
Merlin, I thought, you don't know what you do to me, girl.
Hermione laughed and shifted a little closer to me so that her side was pressed close to my chest. I liked this position; it made me feel like a boyfriend, and I wanted to be. Why couldn't I be?
You saw her earlier you prick, a voice spat; she took a shot when Eileen said that crap about being in love!
I winced and curled my hand around her waist to hold her tighter, currently forgetting what had happened. I'd interrogate her later, as I was certain she would do exactly the same when we had some time later.
"Tom, it's your turn…" Hermione whispered, smirking and leaning her head against my jaw. I could feel her warm, soothing breath tickling my throat and it took all my willpower not to throw her against a bloody wall and take her there!
I coughed uncomfortably and smiled a little before muttering, "Never have I ever…" hmm, I thought, there's not an awful lot I haven't done really. I could say I've never shagged Hermione…but then no one would drink. Well, I bloody hope no one would anyway! I was really stuck on what to say, but after a long think, I thought of a half decent one to say. "Never have I ever had seventeen shots on my seventeenth birthday."
Avery and Hermione smirked at each other, raised their glasses and chugged the content down in one. I felt my eyes bulge. Seventeen?!
"Are you having a laugh?" Druella asked, bewildered but laughing.
They both shook their heads and refilled the glasses, triumphant smirks plastered on their faces. I really hadn't expected anyone to say yes to that one!
I glanced down at the girl beside me, a grin spread across her face and her brown eyes fixed on the shot glass before her. Someone can't control their alcohol, I thought amusingly.
"Right!" Hermione boomed, raising her hands to clap enthusiastically, "My turn! Hmm, never have I ever…" she used her left hand to stroke her chin dramatically whilst the other snuck around my shoulder and held firm. "…smuggled a dragons egg out of Mexico!" she finished happily.
I chuckled quietly and watched the circle as, seriously unexpectedly, Mulciber downed his shot glass.
This is getting stupid, I grumbled, hiding my amusement.
Shush up! Hermione replied, just because you haven't done something so amazing as that!
Amazing?! I exclaimed, stupid more like! This game better get exciting or we're out of here.
Hermione laughed, and spun her head to quickly peck my cheek then turn back around to Mulciber and question him. But I didn't pay any attention to what they were saying; I was too busy savouring the warm sting she had left on my cheek. I was too busy gazing at her big brown eyes, creamy skin, and her ringlets of hair. I was too mesmerized by her pure beauty to care about anything else. I was too caught up in her to honestly think that she might have had any…serious previous relationships. It didn't surprise me though; who wouldn't want a girl like Hermione?
"Never have I ever gone skinny dipping," Avery slurred, slinging his arm roughly around Mona and slapping a wet kiss on her cheek, which made her giggle and smack his arm playfully.
Well, I thought, I think everyone will be drinking to that, I laughed mentally.
"I'll drink to that!" Hermione said, lifting the whisky to her lips and winking at me before downing it.
Everyone apart from Avery took a shot, which I found rather amusing. Well, by the looks of it, he didn't need any more to drink, and neither did anyone else. Everyone was pretty much screwed; giggling, flirting, and being utter pricks. Sometimes I wondered why I hung around with this lot.
"My turn!" Mona squealed.
I think my ear drums just popped, I groaned.
Wouldn't surprise me, Hermione laughed, I can't wait until this game's over. I'm quite tired.
Well, I began, staring at the girl beside me smirking, once Mona's said hers, we'll be off, yeah?
She nodded and smiled, leaning further against me and taking a deep, shaky breath.
The huge orb of light reflected onto the surface of the lake and revealed the content of the watery depth. Rumour has it their were Mer-people living in there once; it was just a rumour though, and as if anything could possibly live in such a place. The weeds were impossible to tame, the depth too deep for anything to exist at the bottom, and the giant squid? Well, I wouldn't fancy my chances much against that. But still, although the lake wasn't much for its living conditions, it was a sight and a perfect place to relax.
I lay back, resting my arm behind my head and the other lying limply over my stomach, watching the surface of the gleaming water ripple. Hermione sat peacefully beside me, her legs crossed, and her eyes fixed intently on the moon. I could see her large brown eyes sparkling with…tears? Was she crying?
"Hermione," I propped myself up on my elbows and focused on her quiet figure, "are you okay?" I asked, reaching out to stroke her arm.
She turned her head slowly to switch her gaze to me, and what I saw unnerved me greatly. A single tear was gliding down her cheek and her eyes were tinged red. She made no indication that she was upset, save that.
"I'm fine, Tom." She whispered. She lied. I hated it when people lied.
I fought back the sneer that threatened to pass my face and nodded instead, leaning forward and removing my hand from her arm to stroke her cheek with cold fingers. I shook my head and growled, "Don't lie to me, Hermione."
I felt her stiffen at my voice. Most would regret their words, but pity is not the way round people, especially women. Begging at their feet won't do the trick, so why not be firm? I could feel her trembling under my touch; Merlin knows what was going through her mind, and I certainly didn't want to know either.
"Why are you crying?" I asked, softer than before but still upholding the firm edge.
She closed her eyes slowly and hung her head. "We need to talk." She whispered and shifted away from me slightly, leaving my hand to hang in the air like a twat.
"Ok," I nodded, "let's talk. I assume you're referring to the things that were said this evening."
She nodded sadly and shivered again. Only then did I realise she was still only wearing her gown. I removed my jacket and draped it around her cold form, earning a thankful smile. "So," she began nervously, "the cupboard; who?" she asked quietly.
She reminded me so much of a child; innocent, quiet, cold…but she was the most amazing woman I had ever met, no doubt about it.
"Mona Parsons." I replied almost immediately.
She name no sound, she only nodded. Although, I was certain by the way her eyes lit up when I replied, that she was still shocked. In my opinion, it really wasn't very shocking at all; she wasn't the only girl, and she was the Slytherin slut anyway. Who hadn't she shagged?!
"Tell me about this person you're in love with then," I said, resting back once again and trying my hardest to act like I didn't care. Honestly, it was like a hundred knives striking me directly in the chest, over and over again. I couldn't stand to think she could love someone else. When had I begun to be so possessive over her? Here I was, cursing someone I probably didn't even know just because they had the heart of the girl I lo- No, I shouted, she's just a girl for Merlin's sake! Don't you even consider finishing that fucking sentence!
"His name was Ron." Hermione replied, biting her lip, obviously trying to hold back the tears.
See what she does to you? The voice shouted.
A hundred more knives.
Hmm, I'm sort of happy with that chapter. It's smaller than I had hopes for, but if it pleases you lot, then that's all that matters hey? :) Keep reading and reviewing my lovelies =] xx