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Oh, Merlin. No. No no. Not good. Shit.

Tom almost missed a beat as he danced to the music. His body was on autopilot and he wasn't putting much thought into his performance anymore. The seductive smile on his face didn't come so easy anymore. Tom knelt down and allowed one of the women to slip a folded note into the hem of his pants. Mechanically, he threw the woman a kiss and barely registered how she turned into a pile of giggles.

Shit. Shit. Damn.

He cautiously glanced in her direction. Oh Merlin, she was still there. Shit. It wasn't really her, though, was it? Shortly, Tom allowed himself to nurture a tiny hint of hope. The music still thudded and he danced. Another turn, another twist, and he could risk another glance at her. The slim woman lounged on one of the chairs. He hadn't noticed her at first, but now his whole attention was glued to her. Her gaze on him burned like fire. The woman had long frizzy hair, that she'd failed to tame with a pony tail, and was dressed in a halter-neck top and teal skirt. There was a pink badge pinned to her top. Obviously, she was part of a hens party. Many of those came to the club. The woman's chocolate eyes bored into Tom, never leaving him. The worst, though, was the smug, knowing smirk that curled her full lips. Tom's last rest of hope shrivelled up and died.

It was her.

Hermione Granger.

As that realization dawned on him, Tom felt his face heating up and he knew he was blushing fiercely. Why? Why her? Why here? Damn. Dammit! Fuck! He desperately wanted to leave. Feeling disgustingly shaky, Tom's gaze longingly wandered to the door to the change rooms. Maybe he could cut this short?

As if she'd been reading his thoughts, amusement glistened in Granger's eyes and she casually raised her arm. Tom sucked in a sharp breath of air as he spotted a folded note held between her index and middle finger. Her gaze clashed with his and she cocked her eyebrows in a challenging manner while a gleeful smirk hung from her lips. 'I dare you', Tom could almost hear her voice mocking him.

He really didn't want to.

Gritting his teeth angrily, Tom still followed her call. He wasn't one to back down. The music played loudly and the women cheered him on. Tom barely heard anything. There were only Granger's eyes on him. The woman lazily lounged in her chair, watching him expectantly as he stepped over to her. Unfortunately, she sat right in the front row at the stage, close enough to touch. Allowing his body to flow with the music, Tom sank down on his knees, directly before that infernal woman. His thighs were spread and he arched his back, using his left arm to lean back on. With the thrums of the bass, he moved his hips, thrusting them up and down. He was pretty sure he was giving Granger quite the show and he couldn't help it as again a flush of heat hit his face. Hiding his embarrassment behind an attractive smile, Tom bent up from his arched position.

Instantly, he was trapped in Granger's gaze. The woman's lips formed a sharp smirk and her eyes never left his as she reached for him. Tom felt her fingers skimming over his belly, teasing along the waistband of his pants. He had to hold himself back or he would've shuddered under her intimate touch. Her fingers gently hooked under the elastic band of the pants and pulled the fabric away from him. The smirk still tugged at the corners of her lips as Granger pushed a twenty pound note into his pants. Gingerly, she released the elastic band and patted his hip.

Feeling thoroughly humiliated, Tom stood up from his kneeling position. Before he could finally get away from the woman, Granger blew him a kiss, her eyes burning with glee.

ooOOHGTROOoo

Tom was never gladder to get out of his stage clothes. Gratefully, he slipped into his boxer shorts. Then he reached for his distressed jeans. He carefully pulled his black T-shirt into place before he left the changing rooms and stepped back into the guest area of the club.

All he wanted to do was leave and forget this night ever happened. Unfortunately, he couldn't just run away from this. Narrowing his eyes, he let his gaze wander over the club. It wasn't long and he spotted a head of curly hair by the bar. Burrowing his hands into the pockets of his jeans, he reluctantly trudged over to the bar. Lips pressed into a thin line, Tom slid into the seat beside Granger. The woman didn't even look up from her glass. Still, he could hear the grin in her voice as she greeted,

"Parsel luv."

"Granger," Tom spat out.

She only laughed as she heard the irritation in his tone. Then she gestured for the barkeep to bring Tom a glass of whatever she was having. For a moment, they sat in silence. Granger calmly sipping from her drink while Tom glared down at the amber liquid in his glass.

"Look," he finally pressed out, voice strained. "You can't tell anybody about this."

Granger laughed. "Are you crazy?"

She turned to him, eyes twinkling with amusement, and slipped a thin mobile from her bag to hold it up to him. Faux pity on her face, she said, "I'll tell everybody I know first thing in the morning. You can be sure of that, Mr Parsel luv."

Tom ran an irritated hand through his hair. The scorn on Granger's face made his stomach twist into knots and a heavy feeling stole over him. He glared at Granger, trying to ignore the empty feeling, and hissed,

"So what? You think this is what? A dirty job? Do you like laughing at me?"

Brown eyes flashed to him and Tom stiffened as they cut into him. Then Granger replied sternly, leaving no room for doubt, "No. I don't care what people do for a living. As long as you don't hurt anyone, it's fine by me. Nothing to be ashamed of."

At her acceptance, Tom relaxed involuntarily. In turn, this reaction she could evoke in him made his anger rush back to him. He didn't need the approval of a Mudblood. As if she'd read his thoughts, the smirk crept back on Granger's face. Innocently, she continued,

"The thing is, I know that you're ashamed. Mortified even?" She looked at him, amusement hidden beneath a mask of false sympathy, and sighed, "I understand, of course. Just imagine if all your little Pureblood friends heard of this. Whatever would happen to the image of thee great Tom Riddle if it came to light that he is a stripper, dancing for the amusement of Muggleborns even?" She gestured at herself, smiling widely. "Those Pureblood bigots aren't as unprejudiced as I am, are they?"

No, they're not. Tom's hands balled into irate fists. He certainly didn't need his followers to know about his job here. Granger laughed in his face and sipped from her drink.

"And suddenly it all comes back to me," the woman exclaimed theatrically. "You and your friends, what did you call me back in school? Hm? What was that again?"

Tom didn't reply, lips pressed into a thin angry line. Obviously, Granger didn't need his participation in the conversation. Sneering at him, she continued,

"Mudblood. That's right. That's what you all called me. Like you had the right to judge me."

She leaned over to him and Tom's breath hitched as he felt her so close by. Her curly hair fell over his shoulder and her hot breath skimmed over his skin as she whispered into his ear, voice sultry,

"That hurt, you know? Is it such a surprise that I want you to see how it feels when the same bigots now turn on their king?"

She bent away again, granting him more room. The smirk still hovered around her full lips.

"What goes around, comes around, Riddle." Granger patted his shoulder consolingly. "Say bye-bye to your reputation."

His temper flared and angry magic crackled around him. He narrowed his eyes at the girl and ordered, menacing tint seeping into his voice,

"You're not going to tell anyone. I can't let anybody know. If you don't promise to keep your big mouth shut, I'm going to curse you and then I'll obliviate you."

Granger arched her eyebrows at him and commented tonelessly, "I see."

She didn't add more and Tom furrowed his brow in confusion. Was it that easy? He watched as Granger swiped over her mobile's display to activate it.

"What are you doing?" he inquired suspiciously.

Granger threw him a glance. A small smile curled her lips as she replied, "Well, what do you think? If you plan to obliviate me, I just have to tell everyone right now. This is my chance; I doubt you'll dare curse me here. With all those people around." Granger laughed. "You know what? I'm even gonna send myself a text. Merlin knows this is something I really do not want to forget. Ever."

Still chuckling annoyingly, she continued to type into her phone. Tom growled darkly, frustration mounting up in him. She was right, he couldn't teach the insolent Mudblood a lesson, not here.

"Okay," he hissed. "Okay. Stop. I'm not going to curse you. Just stop writing."

Granger's finger hovered over the send button and she looked at him, amusement in her brown eyes.

"How very nice of you," she said and her innocent tone was mocking him.

Completely ignoring his furious magic, Granger smiled at him widely. She tipped her index finger against her chin in contemplation. Then she mused, "I really wasn't in the mood to go out tonight. But, you see, I'm Ginny's maid-of-honour and couldn't very well skip out on her hens do." A sharp smirk split her face. "So here I was, having a drink in a strip club of all places. Now imagine my surprise as suddenly you turned up, brightening my day with that cute little outfit of yours."

Granger's brown eyes travelled over him and Tom raised a surprised eyebrow as he spotted appreciation mirrored on her face. A small teasing smile hovered around her lips and her gaze clashed with his again. In a low voice, she said,

"Say, are you still wearing those green knickers? They were quite hot."

Tom's eyes widened and to his chagrin he felt his face heat up. The smirk on Granger's face widened triumphantly and he knew he must be blushing. Never taking her eyes from his, she reached for him and brushed her fingers over his chest, lightly skimming over the fabric of his shirt. Downwards her fingers went, now dangerously close to the waistband of his jeans.

"I never understood why you were such a heartthrob during school," Granger murmured and Tom felt her fingers playfully tugging at his belt. "I gotta admit, though, that show you put on just then got me quite…" She leaned closer and whispered in his ear, voice breathy, "hot and bothered."

Tom swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing in his throat. Granger didn't immediately lean away again. He could smell her scent. Sweet and strangely exciting. Tom then felt her fingers hook under the waistband of his jeans, holding him tightly, so she could pull him decisively closer. Granger's soft lips left his ear and skimmed over his jaw-line. The touch was light, barely there, and still Tom shuddered under her ministrations. Her lips had almost reached his own and he could barely breathe. Her fat lower lip was ghosting against the corner of his mouth. The contact burned like fire and Tom was hit by the urge to tilt his face to her so he could finally capture that teasing mouth with his. Before he could do anything, though, Granger abruptly released him. Her hand left him and her enticing lips disappeared.

Granger sat comfortably back on her barstool, perfectly composed. A wide grin revealed her teeth as she contentedly eyed the ruffled look on his face. She casually held her glass in her hand, lazily swirling the amber liquid around, while her piercing eyes raked over him.

Voice hoarse, Tom whispered, "You've change since school, Granger."

A soft laugh fell from her lips. "Yes, it's been a while, hasn't it?" She raised her thin eyebrows at him and inquired, "Do you remember our last school day? I distinctly remember you enjoying to rub it in how you got slightly better grades than me. DADA, if I'm not mistaken?"

Tom nodded, not seeing where she was going. Smiling slightly, Granger continued, "Tell me then, why are you doing this, Riddle?" The woman gestured at the club's interior. "You could have got any job you wanted. Still, the last thing I heard, you were working as a shopboy in Knockturn Alley. What happened?"

Banning all embarrassment from his tone, Tom replied, "I still work at Borgin and Burkes. But this pays quite well and I got to save some money."

Granger frowned at him and prodded, "For what?"

Tom shrugged and explained, "I plan to travel a bit. Mostly eastern Europe. And I need some money for that. You know international Floo isn't exactly cheap and I still need a bit to travel around there."

"I see," Granger allowed.

Then she seemed to mull that over for a while, now and then taking a sip from her drink. The silence stretched between them until Tom broke it again,

"What do I have to do to make you forget this ever happened?"

Granger's eyes wandered back to him. The teasing grin re-appeared on her face and she pursed her lips in contemplation. "You know this is golden, right? This is gonna cost you."

Tom sighed tiredly. "What do you want?"

"Hm-hm, what do I need?" Granger wondered, the innocent streak in her voice destroyed by the smirk on her face.

Tom narrowed his eyes at her in irritation. He only managed to widen that grin on her face. Finally, Granger brightened up and exlaimed, "I thought of something. You know Ginny and Harry are going to marry this weekend, right?"

"So what?" Tom growled.

Granger smiled at him toothily. "I want you to come with me to the wedding," she told him. "As my plus one."

For a moment, Tom blinked at her in confusion. Then he inquired, "What about Weasel King? Isn't he your boyfriend anymore?"

At the mention of Weasley's name a dark shadow crossed Granger's face. In a tight voice, she said, "No. He isn't." She glared at Tom. "Are you gonna do it or what?"

At her sharp tone, Tom raised his hands in clemency. "Geez, okay. I'll do it, okay. And you're going to keep silent about my little additional income?"

"Like a grave." The dark look dropped from her face and Granger again smiled at him. She offered him her hand to shake on it. "But only if you're gonna be the perfect date. Don't let your usual toxic personality shine through."

"Toxic personality…" Tom grumbled. He glanced at her and, seeing no other option, caved in, "Okay, then."

He raised his hand and shook hers. Granger smiled at him sweetly and 'deal with the devil' came to his mind.

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