Chapter Seven: Tarot Cards

When Hermione came back out of her room and headed down the stairs, she found Tom seated by the fire with a bunch of cards floating in the air in front of him. With an amused chuckle, she grabbed one of them and saw that it was the Ten of Cups.

"What are you doing, might I ask?" he inquired as he reached over and slid the card from her fingers, and it slid back into place when he let it go.

"Just looking," she said. "What are you trying to do with those anyway? Aren't they Tarot cards? I thought that was just something they forced you to do in Divination class."

"Well, Professor Paris seems to think I'm very good at Divination, so I thought I ought to practice," he answered with a smirk. "I wouldn't want to make a fool of myself, not knowing the meanings and such. I pride myself on being at the top of the class."

"Well, you'd almost think it was me who said that," she chuckled. "I'm at the head of my class, too."

"Oh, I see," he said with a playful smirk. "So in all reality it's me you're trying to replace."

"No, I just thought I'd offer you a challenge," she said. "It must get rather dull with no one around at the same level."

"It's so weird that you know my level," he said. "I really wish I knew a bit more about our future interactions."

"I really don't think it would be a good idea, Tom," she answered, hoping he wasn't going to persist. The last thing she needed was for him to discover they were on opposite sides in some future war that he started. He might decide to eliminate her now and have done with it for all she knew. After all, wasn't that what he'd attempted to do to Harry?

"What are you thinking about that has such a grim look on that pretty face?" Tom asked lightly. She could tell the question was not casual, in spite of his desire that she should think so.

"Nothing," she said. "I was just remembering something my father said. I'd rather not talk about it."

Tom nodded, but he clearly didn't believe what she was saying. "Hermione, let me practice on you," he said, indicating the cards before him.

"You want to read my fortune?" she scoffed. "What a complete waste of time."

"Oh, now, you never know," he said. "Unless you think your unique situation might cloud the issues. It could be quite a curious thing."

"Come on, Tom, that's just so-stupid."

"Indulge me?" he pleaded, his blue eyes sucking her right in. She couldn't say no to such a handsome face.

"Oh, all right, but don't expect a huge reaction."

Smirking, Tom handed the cards to Hermione so she could shuffle them. "Ok, do you have a question in your mind?"

Hermione nodded. What does the future hold for me? Why am I here?

"You don't have to tell me what it is if you don't want to," he said as he took the deck back and flipped out a Celtic cross spread with one hand while patting the spot next to him on the sofa with the other. Blushing slightly, Hermione sat in the place he'd indicated.

"Okay, the first card shows what you want most," he said as he tapped the floating card so they could see what it was. Hermione blushed again as he revealed The Lovers. Tom chuckled, and said, "Well, that explains a lot."

Hermione punched him lightly in the arm, and then realized with shock exactly who she'd just done this to. Shaking her head slightly, she tried to focus on the cards instead of the man who was reading them, but with little success.

"What's next?" she grumbled, trying to sound disinterested.

"The Three of Swords stands in your way," he said, then turned and kissed the top of her head. "Someone has broken your heart."

"Yes, that's true," she conceded. "Go on."

"Go on with the reading, or go on with the kissing?" he inquired with a smirk.

"Tom," she grumbled, but he turned her face up to his anyway.

"Which one, Granger?" he asked, inching ever so close as he spoke. He was going to make her say it, she could tell, but she was just ornery enough not to.

"Mmm, the cards?"

"Vixen," he whispered, turning away and letting go of her chin.

Hermione's heart was beating so fast she thought she would faint dead away. If that was her reaction when he didn't even kiss her, she could only imagine what she'd do when he finally got around to it.

"Hmm, couple of cards here saying you were betrayed and want to find happiness again," he said, flicking them lightly with his fingers until he came to the near future card. "Hmm, two of cups, that looks good."

"What are you doing?" she chuckled. "You call that a fortune telling?"

"I call that getting to the good part," he smirked. Then he ran his hand over the cards, and they all gathered back into the deck. He set it on a side table and turned to take Hermione into his arms. She gasped as his lips came down to trace the side of her throat, then made their way up to kiss her cheeks before discovering her lips. It was a light, playful kiss, over almost as soon as it started, and then he chuckled as an involuntary groan ripped from her before she could hold it in check.

"Tell me," he commanded, and Hermione closed her eyes and shook her head. He caught her chin and turned her face up to his again. "Look at me, Hermione."

Her eyes popped open, and she saw the heat in his. Her breathing came in short little gasps now, her body trembling as he drew her even closer. Then he was kissing her again, but this time with an eagerness bordering on shameful, and Hermione wantonly kissed him right back.

"You know, Granger, we've got class tomorrow," he said. "If you don't want me to ravish you here and now, you might want to call it a night."

"I-I better go," she whispered then, and she turned and went quickly up the stairs before she changed her mind.